Neim slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few more times. His head was still aching.
Neim felt something on his head and took it and put it next to him.
He checked the surface beneath him.
It was soft.
When he turned to his right, he saw a few children watching him with curious eyes.
"What's going on, huh?"
The children suddenly ran toward the door and disappeared from sight.
Neim looked around. It seemed like he was in a room. What he was sitting on looked like a bed. Next to him was another bed. There were also a few wooden objects in the room.
As Neim was trying to figure out where he was, a voice came from the door.
Duis: "Hey, you finally awake, sleepyhead?"
Neim was relieved to see Duis there.
Neim: "Where are we?"
Duis walked slowly and sat down on the bed next to Neim.
Duis: "We're at an dormitory."
Neim: "What does that mean?"
Duis: "It's a place where those who don't have a mother or father—meaning their parents are dead—stay. It's called an 'dormitory.' Elsienette is the one in charge here. Dormytors are divided into two; this one is called the girls' orphanage, so only women are supposed to be here."
Neim: "Then why are we here?"
Duis: "Because we got sick. The hospitals are full, so—"
Neim: "Forget that. You know, I've been holding it for days."
Duis: "Oh, do you need to use the toilet?"
Neim: "I'm about to explode!"
Duis: "Follow me."
Since Duis had already chatted a bit with Juilin, he had figured out the place and was now helping Neim. It took Neim some effort to understand how to use the toilet, which made things rather comical, but eventually, they managed.
Juilin: "So you came here from a mountain, and on foot?"
Duis: "That's exactly what happened. We went through quite a lot."
Juilin: "How did you feed yourselves, or drink water?"
Duis: "Mostly we ate with the 'noses,' and there were places with water that we used."
Juilin: "noses ones? You mean pigs? Ahh, a few days ago there was a case of pigs escaping, quite a lot of them got loose. Sounds like luck was on your side."
Duis: "Yes, yes."
Neim came out of the toilet looking relieved. He saw Duis and Juilin, then walked toward them.
Neim: "Ah, you're the woman from the door."
Juilin: "Hello, I'm Juilin. Nice to meet you."
Neim: "I'm Neim."
Juilin: "How's your head, any better?"
Neim: "Still aching, and I feel sleepy, but I guess I'm fine."
Juilin: "Sorry, today is a day off. It's just me here, and I don't know much about health."
Neim: "It's fine, no problem."
Juilin: "But Duis told me he hadn't felt anything at all."
Juilin seemed like someone kindhearted and sincere.
Neim: "Speaking of Duis - Duis, could you come with me to that place from earlier?"
Duis: "Alright."
Without another word, Duis stood up and headed back to the room.
Neim: "See you, Juilin."
Juilin: "See you."
●●●
Neim and Duis sat on their beds, facing each other.
Neim: "I have a few questions."
Duis: "I'll answer what I can."
Neim: "Where are we? Where's the sword and you'r dagger? What will happen to us, and will this thing in my head go away?"
Duis: "The place we're in is called a 'city.' Lots of people live here, but this part isn't really built yet, since it's only recently started being explored. In fact, monsters attacked the this city a few days ago. Many people ended up injured like me, or lost an arm or a leg. So right now, no one really knows exactly where we are. My sword and dagger are with Elsienette. We'll be going to her soon. They told us, 'you'll be fine.' We don't have much choice but to trust them."
Neim: "So, the outside really is a different."
Duis: "Seems like it."
Neim: "Sorry for this question again. But why are we in a place where only women stay?"
Duis: "Well, the monsters attacked and everyone suffered. Because of that, the hospitals were full. Since our situation wasn't urgent, they brought us here."
Neim: "I kind of understand the hospital part, but what exactly are these monsters?"
Duis: "They're said to look like Kima."
Neim: "Ahhh, I see. So, what do we do now?"
Duis: "I think first we'll talk to Elsienette, then we'll eat. I actually have something I want to ask her, too."
Neim: "What will you ask?"
Duis: "That's a surprise. Shall we go then?"
Neim: "Alright."
Duis slowly got up from the bed and stepped out of the guest room. Neim followed him. The place they were staying in was right next to where they had entered. Neim looked around. Children were sitting here and there, either chatting or busy with something. Once again, Neim was surprised at how big the place was. They started walking toward the stairs.
Neim: "Duis, how many people do you think live here?"
Duis: "No idea, but probably a lot."
They climbed the stairs slowly, both looking around curiously. Once they reached the top, Duis paused for a moment, walked a bit to the right, then suddenly turned left and faced a door.
Duis: "I think Juilin said it was this one."
He knocked softly, doing exactly as Juilin had told him.
A voice came from inside.
Els: "COOOOME IN!"
Neim and Duis slowly stepped inside. There were two tables and a few chairs. The desk where Elsienette sat was larger than the other one. Neim looked toward the left corner; the sword and dagger were resting there. On Elsienette's desk were two bags.
Elsienette looked at them with judging eyes.
Els: "Sit."
She pointed at the chairs in front of her. Neim and Duis walked over and sat down carefully.
Without waiting, Elsienette began to speak.
Els: "To be honest, everyone else got used to you quickly, but I still don't fully trust you. Where you came from is unknown. How you came here is unknown. You're practically wrapped in mystery. That's why your swords will stay with me for a few days –until I can trust you."
Duis: "swords? I only have a dagger."
Els: "They're both swords. Do you really think a dagger would be that long? A dagger isn't even half that size. One is a normal sword, the other a short sword — one that can be wielded with one hand."
Duis: "Is that so? You're more knowledgeable than me, so I can't argue with that. But I do have a question — if you'd be willing to answer."
Neim, in the corner, was silently listening to the two talk.
Els: "Depends on the question."
Duis: "Why did you make a place like this? That's what I wondered."
Els took a deep breath, blinked a few times, then clasped her hands in front of her mouth.
Els: "I once had a good life with my family — my mother, father, sister, and me. My father was a 'relic seeker.' Relic seekers collect the remains and useful things left behind by the people of the past. It was a dangerous job, every moment risking a monster attack. Even if it was hard, we lived happily. Until that day. My father went off once again to search the ruins. For us, it was just another day… until we heard the news. A monster attack. Every relic seeker there had been slaughtered, my father included. We learned of it about five hours later. While we were waiting for my father to come home, we received word of his death. That day poisoned our lives. The three of us could do nothing but cling to each other and cry. For a long, long time… Later, my mother must have felt she had to be strong, because she put us to sleep. That night, a second disaster struck. Another monster attack. The place we lived in was small and defenseless. A huge monster broke into our home. In that moment, my mother took up the sword that always hung on the wall, her heirloom from her father, and she fought the monster. She sacrificed herself to protect us. At that moment, she told me only one thing: 'Your sister is in your care.' I managed to escape with my sister. After that, we did everything we could to survive, in the steress though it was hard even to find food. What could I do? I was only ten years old… Back then, I needed someone to hold me, to protect me, so badly I can't put it into words. After struggling for some time, we heard news: they were bringing people here, to Yaliba — for free. Free food and a free place to stay, too. We were so happy then; we thought we were saved. On the horse car ride, we were literally singing songs. The horse car turned into a place of celebration… until a monster attacked. I lost my sister right there, in screams. I don't even remember how I got here. For days, I just cried nonstop. I came to hate all monsters. I wanted to kill every last one of them with my own hands. My tears had run completely dry. About five days later, an idea came to me: I didn't want anyone else to suffer what Tueme and I suffered. I didn't want anyone's life ruined by monsters. Since that day, for about eleven years now, I've devoted myself to that. But there will always be children who lose their parents. I didn't want them to crawl on the streets, abandoned, like Tueme and me. That's why I established two dormitorys for children who lost their parents. The boys' dormitory is overcrowded, no room to sleep. Here, there were five or six spots left and with you two, it's down to three. That's all I have to say. I hope you got your answer."
Elsienette's eyes had filled with tears; it was clear that telling the story had made her relive it all over again.
She muttered to herself:
"Why was I the one who lived through it… curse it all."
Duis: "Uh… I'm sorry, for your sake."
Duis couldn't express himself properly.
Neim: "Trying to take care of people is a wonderful thing. That must be why everyone respects you and why everyone likes you. You literally put your life on the line for them; you truly are amazing. On behalf of those people, thank you and on our behalf too. Thank you for not abandoning us, even though you don't trust us yet."
Elsienette looked at Neim with sorrowful eyes; she was on the verge of tears, clearly forcing herself not to cry in front of them. At that moment, a voice rang out.
Juilin: "DIIINNER'S REEEADYYY!"
Duis: "I'm starving, let's go?"
Neim: "Sure, let's."
Neim and Duis quickly headed for the door. Just as they stepped out and were about to close it, Neim poked his head back inside.
Neim: "Everyone's waiting for you."
Then he closed the door and went downstairs. Juilin was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
Juilin: "How did it go?"
Neim: "She still doesn't trust us."
Juilin: "She has her reasons. If I were her, I wouldn't trust either."
Duis: "So you don't trust us then?"
Juilin: "I'm just undecided. Come on, I'll take you to the dining hall."
Neim: "What's that?"
Juilin: "It's where we all eat together."
Neim: "Sounds nice."
As Juilin led Neim and Duis toward the dining hall, she began to speak.
Juilin: "I already told Duis, but I'll repeat it: this is a place where women live. That means you have to be extra careful. Never enter a room without permission; even when using the restroom next to your room, knock first – just in case. In short, watch your step."