The air was laden with moisture and arcane incense. The next phase of this strange night began.
The interior was not a simple dwelling... it was a burrow for those who knew how to move in the shadows. The space was dimly lit by burnished glass lamps that emitted a warm, almost golden light, making objects that did not all belong to the same world shine.
On one wall, an elven tapestry with silver threads, too fine and detailed to have been legally purchased. On a shelf, an obsidian figurine inlaid with sapphire, so perfect that it seemed to look at whoever passed by. On a low table, rested a set of dice carved from dragon bone, something that, if it existed on the market, would cost more than several houses together.
Nimue stared at a green crystal vase, adorned with runes that shone subtly. You didn't have to be a magician to feel that this object was not made to contain flowers... but secrets.
Shelves were filled with worn-out books and scrolls rolled up with broken stamps, next to small chests locked with locks too complex to be for domestic use. And in a corner, almost hidden under a blanket, I could make out the silhouette of what looked like a crossbow... but with a magical tensioning system that I had never seen before.
Every corner was clean, but not ordered in a common way: everything was laid out so that it could be grasped in an instant and disappear with the essentials. That house was not a home... it was an escape nest.
The woman motioned for us to sit in a couple of armchairs upholstered with manticore skin—soft but sturdy—and a fleeting smile crossed her face. I no longer had any doubts: she was not just any thief... she was an artist in her craft.
"Take a seat, I'll prepare something quickly for you so that you don't starve," he said in a friendly tone... Too friendly for my taste.
Nimue and I obeyed, settling into the armchairs upholstered with manticore skin. The leather creaked under our weight. The silence between us was thick, as if we still carried the echo of what had just happened in the street.
We hadn't met a glance since we left that alley and followed this woman to her lair. I allowed myself to observe her out of the corner of my eye. Her face remained neutral, expressionless, as if she didn't care in the least about being locked up here... but of course, Nimue always let slip some detail that gave her away.
I looked down and there it was: he was moving the index finger of both hands suddenly, tapping his leg rhythmically small. A tic. A gesture that you didn't need to know much to understand: she was nervous, perhaps even uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, the woman hummed a light melody, the sound of the knife hitting the wood marking the beat. And although she seemed relaxed, I knew that in a house like this, even the knife that cut bread could be a lethal weapon.
"Nimue..." "Don't talk to me," he blurted out, stumbling a little over the words.
That "don't talk to me" didn't have a hint of a joke. Had she really bothered him that he left her alone in that alley? Of course it is... It would have bothered me too, even if it was for a good cause.
"I'm sorry I left you alone there," I said, lowering my gaze, almost offering her the role of judge in this little impromptu trial.
Nimue sighed. He didn't look at me, he didn't say anything. Pure silence. And in that silence, the weight of the distance between us grew like a tightening rope.
The woman then appeared, breaking the moment as naturally as someone would open a window. It's not much, but it will keep you on your feet until tomorrow," he said, placing the plate on the table. Then, with a barely hinted smile, he added, "Now, if you'll allow me, I'm going to take off these clothes."
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and went into a door near the living room, leaving us alone again... although this time, with a new kind of discomfort floating in the air.
There was no cutlery. Nothing to be able to eat in a dignified way.—Well, nothing... it's time to eat with my hands," I murmured to myself, resigned.
I reached out to the salad, ready to catch a good handful of lettuce and devour it like the mannerless pig I was when hunger got the better of me. But before my fingers could even touch a leaf, Nimue slammed my hand away, as if I were a mother berating me for misbehaving at the table.
She closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and began to move her hands precisely. Instantly, small stones from the ground and from some hidden corner of the house floated in the air, spinning and molding into a pair of crude, but functional, stone forks.
Terra magic always left me with my mouth open... although this time it would be for lunch.
Nimue put one of the forks down in front of me, not looking at me, and then began poking pieces of lettuce and vegetables in slow, almost timid motions, as if she was still processing everything that had happened that day. It had not been the most traumatic experience or the closest to death we had ever experienced, but... She seemed to have felt it that way.
"Never leave me lying again," she said in a whisper that barely broke the silence. And even less... in a place full of loathsome humans," he added, with a hint of disgust so marked that he could almost feel it in the air.
"I was just looking for something so we could eat..." I murmured, trying to justify myself.
"What if a human had caught me?" His voice started low, but each word was sharpening. Who knows what things they could do with onis like us.
"You were under a tarp," I replied, trying to sound logical. No one would go into an alley just to see what's underneath it.
Nimue snorted dismissively. "As if you knew how a human's mind works. "He said it with that subtle venom that he didn't need to shout to get into it.
It is in these kinds of situations that I would like to talk about it: my reincarnation. I never knew why I ended up in a world like this. Did the second life exist and that's why I was born again? Or was there a specific reason for it to end here? Nothing made sense. I never thought about it too much, but at times like this... I think it was more than necessary to think about it.
"You don't understand what it's like to live in fear, Nakhúr. Nimue's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Of course I understand..." She cut me off sharply. You can look at a human and see him as an obstacle... I look at them and I only remember... things I don't want to remember.
His eyes darkened, as if he were looking at something that was not in front of us. "Even if I can split them in two with a spell, even if the earth itself obeys me..." They have something I can't fight. Something that me—
A creak of wood made us spin. The woman appeared in the room with a confident smile, wiping her hands with a cloth. "Well, I hope you didn't start fighting without me," she said in a light tone, as if nothing was happening.
Nimue slammed her mouth shut and looked away, burying what she was about to say.
The woman stared at the scene with one raised eyebrow. The silence that settled in the air as soon as she appeared seemed to disconcert her. he asked, scratching the back of his neck with an innocent gesture.
I looked at her and was stunned. She was not human, nor was she a dream... it was something different. And, in a way, I was fascinated by it. Long, fluffy bunny ears rose from the top of its head, falling slightly backward in a gentle motion, as if alive. Her face was impeccable, without a single imperfection, with thin lips and an expression that oscillated between mischief and sweetness. If she didn't know she was a thief, she would never think she could do something like that.
He dressed casually, as if he didn't care at all about the impression he made. He was wearing a white T-shirt that covered his entire torso, although underneath the straps of some tight clothing could be clearly noticed. Her shorts were so thin and baggy that, if she stood still, even a fly could sneak through the fabric.
The woman stared at me, noting that, although she was not lascivious, she could be uncomfortable. He asked jokingly, a mischievous spark shining in his eyes. I shook my head, forcing myself to break my fixation and stop staring at her so intently. nothing," I murmured, trying to focus on the salad in front of me.
I felt a little stupid; Being an Oni, it made perfect sense that in this world there were girls with animal features. In my past life I had been fascinated by the idea, and now I had one of them in front of me, with those fluffy ears that almost seemed to whisper otherworldly secrets.
The woman approached with carefree confidence and sat across from Nimue and me, crossing her arms as she looked at us proudly, as if she was pleased to see us eat comfortable and "happy."
"By the way," I murmured, breaking the silence. "You didn't tell us your name.
You know, when someone is helping you, it's best to know their name. Who knows if one day you'll have to return the favor... or if you end up discovering that he has gone to another world.
She smiled, with that mixture of mischief and mystery that seemed to always accompany her. "My name is Nyari," she said, with a broad smile. Nyari Earhollow.
Nimue raised her head in surprise, and asked curiously, "Earhollow?"
Nyari let out a small laugh and rested his hands behind him, leaning slightly towards us. of that same tribe," he replied with a slight amazement. It is surprising that you know of its existence.
Her gaze descended a little, as if a shadow of sadness brushed against her for an instant, suggesting that this name held more history than it seemed at first glance.
"Of course I know her. "Your tribe gave part of their land to the Oni tribe so that they could build their civilization," Nimue said, clearly more animated than before.
"Wow... looks like you've read a bit of history," Nyari replied, with an amused smile.
I felt totally out of place at that moment, like when you're in class and everyone starts discussing a specific topic with the professor, throwing interesting arguments, and you can only stay quiet because you have no idea what they're talking about.
I just watched them, wishing I could join the conversation, but knowing that I still had a lot to learn.
"I have a doubt," I blurted out, interrupting his conversation and suddenly attracting his curious glances.
They both put aside their conversation to focus on me, and for some reason that made me feel a little guilty, like I'd interrupted something important.
"Tell me, without fear. I don't bite... or yes. It depends," Nyari said with a mischievous smile that disarmed me a little.
I laughed nervously and cheered up: "Are there more tribes than the one you mentioned?" I asked, feeling my red skin flare up even more.
Nimue gave me a sharp tap on the shoulder, looking at me in disbelief, as if she had just said that the sun was rising in the west. He snapped with annoyance.
"Don't worry, Nimue," Nyari interjected with a gentle gesture of calm, raising an eyebrow at my partner's abrupt reaction. Not everyone will have had the same education as you.
"We live in the same village, we've all had the same education," Nimue replied, crossing her arms with a mixture of annoyance and superiority.
"It seems that someone didn't leave the house just to study..." I murmured, letting out an almost mocking smile.
"You little..." Nimue clenched her fist tightly, holding back from giving me the slap she thought I deserved from her face.
"Um..." Nyari chimed in before the "friendly discussion" escalated. Answering your question... yes, there are more tribes than the Earhollows.
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret that wasn't told to just anyone.
"And that?" I asked, intrigued.
"Because we are the shadow of the greatest beast tribe of all... the Urmakka tribe. His bunny ears moved slightly, as if the mere act of naming them awakened memories he preferred not to touch.
Nimue raised her hand with an almost childlike gleam in her eyes. "Oh, oh, in that tribe are the demi-humans with cat-like, wolf-like characteristics and—
"Yes... yes... you don't need to mention them all," Nyari interrupted, with a tinge of resentment that he didn't try to hide.
It became clear that their tribe had been overshadowed by the presence of the Urmakka. Not only were they so big that they took all the limelight, but there seemed to be something else behind it... something Nyari didn't say.
"Is there a reason why they are the largest and most respected tribe of all?" I asked, trying to hide my curiosity, although it was useless.
Nyari let out a brief, almost bitter laugh. "Respected, she says—" she murmured dismissively. If so, they would not be forbidden to live among humans.
"And..." I was going to continue, but she cut me short.
"Enough is enough!" he exclaimed, with a force that filled the room.
The silence fell like a sharp blow. Nimue and I stood motionless, not daring to say a word. I could swear that even our breaths became invisible in the tension-laden air.
Nyari took a breath slowly, as if pondering each word before letting them out. His bunny ears barely moved, picking up on any noise in the room, and his gaze shifted from Nimue to me, measuring our reactions cautiously.
"Listen," he said at last. If you're going to stay here, I don't intend to see you sleep like a couple of awkward statues in those dirty clothes.
He got up with a studied calmness, took a few steps, and pointed to an old dark wooden closet in the corner. Its surface was scratched, but the marks were not careless... They looked like precise cuts, as if it had been forced more than once and closed again without anyone noticing.
"You'll find more comfortable clothes in there," he continued. And if they don't work for you... cover yourself with what you find around the house. Blankets, fabrics, whatever.
He did not wait for a response. She turned on her heels, walked to a nearby door and, before entering, she gave us one last look of those that don't make it clear if she's worried... or if he just doesn't want to talk anymore. The door slammed shut, leaving a brief echo that swallowed the silence.
Nimue and I looked at each other out of the corner of our eyes, as if we had suddenly remembered the same awkward detail: we were going to sleep in the same place. She sighed, looking away with a brusque gesture.
"Don't even think about going by my side," he warned, crossing his arms.
"And who would want to sleep next to you?" I replied, trying to make my voice sound confident, although I felt that the tension in the room was denser than the air itself.
We search the closet without talking too much. Inside there were garments of different sizes, thick fabrics for the cold and some so light that they hardly looked like clothes. I chose something that seemed minimally decent, while Nimue grabbed the first thing she found, but without losing her aura of offended dignity.
The room was divided into two worlds: his and mine, separated by just a couple of blankets on the floor... and an invisible wall of discomfort that no one dared to cross.
Just like Nimue had done, I went over to the closet and started looking for something comfortable to wear. Before choosing, I looked at my own clothes with a certain melancholy. The fabric, the embroidery, even the stains that I had acquired over time... everything spoke of my tribe, of my home. They were not simple clothes, but a piece of my history.
I had a hard time putting them aside, even if it was only for one night. Nimue, on the other hand, didn't seem to care in the least. She had laid her clothes aside with an almost insulting coldness, as if they were of no value to her. Maybe it was his way of being... or maybe nostalgia wasn't a luxury she was willing to afford.
I chose the most suitable garment so as not to die of hypothermia during the night and returned to my side of the room. I knelt on the cold floor, letting the silence envelop me, and for a moment I was lost in my own thoughts.
"Mom... I hope you're okay..." I whispered slightly, as if saying it out loud might break something inside me.
I turned my head discreetly towards Nimue. She was also kneeling, with her hands clasped against her forehead and her eyes closed. Rezaba.La image left me silent, almost uncomfortable. I did not want to interrupt her; I knew that if I did, I would not only earn a killer look, but probably a punch and kick in the balls... And honestly, I had no intention of checking if his reflexes were as quick as his temper.
Nimue finished her prayer with a deep sigh and slowly opened her eyes... to meet my gaze fixed on her.—What? He asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"N-nothing... just..." I stammered, looking for some credible excuse, "I was... hey... checking if... You breathed well.
She raised an eyebrow and frowned, as if she had just heard the worst lie in the world.
I shrugged, trying to hide my discomfort, but the heat on my cheeks gave me away.
Nimue stood up slowly, with that dangerous elegance that only she had. "Now stop drooling over me, I'm going to change," she said, staring at me that was a mix of amusement and menace. Turn around... or I'll kill you.
I swallowed hard and turned my body immediately, so fast that it almost dislocated my neck. "I didn't even look," I muttered to myself, though even I knew it didn't sound convincing.
I heard the soft crunch of the fabric as Nimue changed behind me. I tried not to imagine anything... But every time the rubbing of clothes against his skin sounded, my brain decided to betray me.
"Don't even breathe hard," he warned suddenly, as if he could read my mind.
"He wasn't," I began, but I fell silent when I realized that I had indeed held the air for a few seconds.
A few moments later, I heard him leave his clothes folded on a chair.
I turned and saw her in a baggy T-shirt that seemed to swallow her whole and shorts that barely peeked out from underneath. I didn't need to say anything, his look challenged me to open my mouth. I didn't.
I sighed and began to change my back to her.
"What?" I asked without looking at her.
"Nothing... I was just checking to see if you were breathing well," he replied, returning my own excuse with a mocking smile.
When I was done, we dragged a huge rug that was next to the wall until we left it in the center of the room. It was so thick and soft that we hardly needed blankets. We lay side by side, back to back, as if that centimeter of distance were an invisible wall that neither one wanted to cross.
The dim light of a lamp left everything in a warm tone. Little by little, silence filled the room. I could feel Nimue's warmth behind me, and though I tried hard to ignore it, my breathing synced with hers without realizing it.
I don't know who closed their eyes first, but when sleep overcame me, the last thing I heard was a faint sigh from him... and then, nothing else.