Work Text:
Obsidian suspended in the air, a dark ceiling dotted with fluorescence, and an environment so quiet that time seemed to stand still.
The Night Kingdom spreads tenderness and tranquillity to every soul that falls into it so the mortal world cannot disturb the souls that have already parted with the world.
However, there are exceptions to everything.
Kinich blinked and asked the Wayob in front of him a question that everyone who came before would ask: "Am I... already dead?"
——
Three days ago, Natlan welcomed another sunny day. The warm sunshine shone on everyone who walked out from the shadow of war, silently brushing away the pain they carried.
At this time, Ajaw was in a rare moment of boredom.
He doesn’t know if his servant drank expired juice today or if he was affected by the hot weather. After Ajaw caught Kinich, who slipped down for the third time, he could no longer bear it and flew to his servant, who was leaning against the stone and complained loudly, "Kinich, if you are in such a hurry to go to the Night Kingdom, you don't have to use such a roundabout method. As long as you are willing to kneel and beg me, I swear in the name of the Almighty Dragon Lord that I will let you leave the world painlessly." After Ajaw finished his rambling, he was prepared to be whacked away by Kinich or for his servant to retort in a monotone voice. But today was destined to be unusual. Kinich completely ignored Ajaw's chattering and quietly lowered his head. His gaze–which was more dazzling than the most gorgeous fire opal– fell into his palm. Ajaw, who had been waiting for a long time without a response, flew in front of Kinich. The small pixel figure blocked Kinich's sight. When the two eyes met, Kinich whacked Ajaw as he wished. "Kinich!! You scum-sucking swine! How dare you not respond to my words and act so rudely!!!"
The disruption around him brought Kinich back to reality. He glanced at the irritating dragon, who was turning red with frustration, snapped his fingers, raised the Fang of the Mountain King and headed for the next commission location.
Everything seemed to be back to normal.
But Ajaw's annoyance did not diminish immediately; instead, it increased.
He felt that he probably drank too much Quenepa juice; otherwise, how could he see traces of undisguised confusion in the servant's eyes?
——
Perhaps Ajaw's "advisory" worked (at least Ajaw himself thought so), or it could be that the remaining commissions were not tricky (obviously, this is the truth). One person and one dragon quickly completed all the commissions on the list and returned to their small house far away from human civilization with groceries.
The clinking of Mora falling into the box, the crackling of firewood burning under the strike of flint, and the bubbling of the fragrant broth on the stove make every evening feel warm and comforting.
"Hey! Kinich! Hurry up and bring us our offerings! You can't bear the sin of starving the Almighty Dragon Lord!"
Of course, the evening in this house is always accompanied by the loud noises of one very noisy dragon.
Blazed Meat Stew, Stuffed N’ Massage Potatoes, Fried Shrimp Beanballs, and two cups of Quenepa juice, the favourite of the Almighty Dragonlord. Dinnertime is always a precious time for the Sauriun Hunter to unwind and relax. The “Almighty Dragonlord” who "accepts offerings" will become less abrasive when presented with gifts (although Ajaw has no awareness about this at all).
The whole pot of Blazed Meat Stew disappeared quickly without a trace. Kinich looked at the pot, which was twice as large as Ajaw's body, silently sighing about how easy it was for Ajaw to be satisfied.
He was picky about most things, but whether it was the Quenepa juice–made with "defective berries"—the Blazed Meat Stew—that was served to him daily—or the dozens of grapes at the celebration banquet, Ajaw seemed to have never been picky about anything served by Kinich.
But if he considers it carefully, Ajaw's hypocrisy seems to be covered by a layer of double standards that is difficult to detect. Only when facing Kinich, his servant, would the Ajaw standards be empty talk.
After placing the washed dishes upside down on the rack to dry, Kinich wiped down the stove and sink, wiping off all the puddles of water.
The crackling sound sparked to life as the flames and lanterns ignited, and accompanied by the gurgling of water in the bathroom, a bird- song was sung to welcome the coming of the night.
There were few things in the small bedroom: a single bed against the wall, a desk with a matching bookshelf, and a shelf for the Fang of the Mountain King. Weapons are always no more than an arm's length away from you, even when sleeping. This is a truth that every Natlan Local knows. Even if they are told that the threat of the abyss is no longer as severe as before, the habits left over the years are difficult to change.
That is why Ajaw, who Kinich classified as a weapon, naturally got a small hammock side by side with the Fang of the Mountain King. To prevent Ajaw from torturing his ears with a long speech (complaint), Kinich did not intend to tell him why Ajaw was in his bedroom.
When Kinich walked into the bedroom with the clothes he would change into tomorrow and his earrings in a small box, the Almighty Dragonlord was already sleeping soundly in the wobbly hammock.
At this time, he looks like a stuffed toy...
Kinich thought so, put everything he needed tomorrow within reach, and blew out the candle with a soft puff.
The silvery white moonlight gently spread to everything she could touch. The silent silvery glow enveloped every sleeping child, brushing away their fatigue and sorrow like a mother until the morning light brought them to a new day with a new sight.
——
"It's more like a dying state. After all, you are different from the souls that truly belong to the Night Kingdom... Something connects you to the waking world. The result is this state now."
The Wayob's voice was very gentle. Kinich listened quietly and only showed a thoughtful expression when the Wayob mentioned the "connection with the waking world."
He waited until the Wayob finished speaking and said carefully: "I may have some thoughts about this connection, but can you tell whether only my mind exists after death or my body is alive as well?" Kinich's words seemed to have a different meaning at first, but after thinking carefully, he realized that he had just asked a question he had said earlier: "I am dead?" in another way.
The Wayob flashed momentarily (Kinich judged that this should be a chuckle), then answered more kindly: "Let me see... There is an aura of death in your soul. So the answer is the first one... But your body is actually still full of vitality, so the second answer is not wrong. How is it? Are you satisfied?"
"..."
Kinich nodded silently. Even if only the soul was left, it was still difficult to read his emotions from this reaction, so it was difficult to tell whether he was really satisfied.
However, Kinich's contemplation did not last too long.
"When you can't find the path forward, looking back can always help." The Wayob 's voice became gentle again, like a soft silk wrapped around Kinich's palm, leading him, blind in the middle of the night, step by step into the depths of the truth. "Let's recall from the beginning... Do you remember how you died?"