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A plague. That’s the most polite way I can describe humans. Most people in this world aren’t worth their weight. Stupid, aimless mortals wasting their little time away in frivolous endeavors like gatherings, drinking, only to stab each other in the back. It’s in their nature. Spontaneously indulging in time-wasting pleasures, chipping at their own limited resources, honestly I’d kill them all if it wasn’t for-
“Is there something wrong with your tea..?”
The wanderer snaps back into reality upon hearing her voice.
“My… tea?”
“You’re stirring it endlessly Mister... Umn sorry I don’t remember your name. Everyone in the village has just been calling you hat guy…”
“Hat… guy…”- He inhales deeply . -“Kazemaru. That’s enough, right?”
“Thank you. I’m Collei!”
She tops off his cup, and smiles profoundly, before awkwardly trying to strike a pose, stiffing her back and putting her feet together.
“I-I mean, I’m the Forest Ranger a…pe…ren…ti…ce… Collei!”
“Apprentice.”
“Y-Yes, that… sorry.”
“It’s fine. Tighnari mentioned you. But I expected you to be older.” And not resembling a wet puppy.
“HE DID? W-What did he say, exactly?!”
He swears he can see her tail wag and ears perk up as she says that, jumping forward a little too close for his taste, which is instantly obvious on his face.
“S-Sorry I-”
“It’s fine. He just said you’re a good girl and a good assistant. Over. And over.”
She looks down, trying (and failing) to hide a flustered smile.
“Eheh… Master is so nice sometimes.”
“Uh yeah he sure is… nice…”
Have we met the same person..? I don’t think I’ve ever known a more apathetic workaholic than h- wait I definitely did.
Just reflecting on the matter already makes him frown. My hair is gonna get white like his if I keep stressing myself out.
“And you’re staying in the village for how long?”
“Until morning. My current research definitely benefits from someone in the studies of Amurta. He’s overly qualified, if anything.”
“OH THAT’S RIGHT! You’re that rising star in Vahumana that Madam Faruzan was talking about.”
“Faruzan… - Another weirdo. Is this poor girl surrounded by insane academics- You study under her?”
“Occasionally. She’s been helping me with my reading.”
“Oh, what have you been reading lately?”
“Light novels.”
He freezes, trying to inspect her face for a joke, but finding none of the sort in her expression.
“The… fantasy books.”
“Y-Yeah but they have really big words sometimes.”
“You struggle to read… light novels?”
She looks away, and her expression, so earnest and innocent so far, finally frowns, depriving him of an answer.
“Sorry if I touched a nerve. I just didn’t expect someone surrounded by academics to-”
“I got it.”
They both pause. Collei has been trying for months now to clear herself of her apathy, her defensiveness, and internally is cursing herself endlessly for lashing out at a guest. But in truthfulness she’s around the one person that completely understands it. The awkward silence breaks, and before she can mutter the first S of “sorry”, he already interrupts her.
“Don’t. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
She doesn’t dare to give it an answer. Another moment of silence before he finally takes some initiative on the conversation.
“But that damn Tighnari barely has time for me. He told me to wait here and he’ll talk to me at night. But had plenty of time to blab about you.”
The girl giggles, topping off his cup again;
“What’s your paper about?”
“I’m attempting to capture and define the reason for humans to constantly destroy themselves and their own environment.”
Collei blinks twice, tilting her head unsure if she even heard him right.
“Ugh. Tendency to kill each other. To do war. It’s in their instinct.”
“Oh. I know all about that.”
“Pft, yeah I’m sure you do.”
“Yeah well, when Dottore held me captive I-”
She’s cut off by the sound of him spitting his tea at record speed.
“When WHO did WHAT to you?!”
“I think we’re gonna need more tea.”
From afternoon until dawn, the two sat there, sipping tea and munching nuts, as Collei shared her story. From captive, to assailant, to patroller. He couldn’t say how much he related but somehow it felt like she knew. She understood. For as long as he can remember, he wandered these winds alone, and few actually ever came close to levelling with him, such as Hotaru, or the Dendro Archon. But this girl from the desert somehow had the Wanderer, and his centuries of experiences sitting on a table, wanting to hear more. And Collei, usually so reserved, somehow felt compelled to keep going. Like he understood her on a personal level no one, not even Amber did before.
As the girl’s lids were wavering, he heard all there is to know about her. Her struggle, her redemption, her finding herself. By the time he’s back to reality, she’s already fast asleep.
Despite normally not being moved by tears or beggars, he found himself carrying her to bed, only then looking out the window, seeing the morning sun creeping out the night.
The morning sun.
The morning sun.
CRAP I TOTALLY MISSED MY APPOINTMENT WITH TIGHNARI. HE’S SUCH A STICKLER HE’LL NEVER WANT TO HEAR ME AGAI-
“You two caught up?”
Seconds away from basically breaking through Collei’s walls and flying off, he freezes upon seeing his upperclassman by the door, with a smug smile plastered on his face.
“I-I lost track of time.”
“I noticed. But, it’s not like you even need me anymore right?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Your paper. You’re changing the premise, right?”
He thinks for a second, reaching the conclusion that apparently his colleague already had.
“How did you know..?”
Tighnari giggles, putting his arms to the back of his head.
“Call it instinct.”
Without waiting for an answer, he turns back and starts walking off.
“Good luck with your topic change. You should come by the pub with me and Cyno some other time.”
“Pft. We’ll see.”
Finally, the hatted wanderer is left alone with his thoughts, as the sun rises against his face, only the leafage of the rainforest shielding him, he makes sure he’s alone before taking off, leaving behind Gandharva Village.
I guess I’m writing a different paper.