Chapter 36 - 3-13
On the edge of the desert, there are ruins enveloped in shimmering heat haze.
A town as old as the beginning of humanity—one of the earliest attempts by humans who had awakened to the advantages of settling in groups. The people of that time believed in animal gods. The snake god Meki, the lion god Baruon, the giant bird Udowa. In the ruins, which had nearly weathered away under the shower of sand grains, stone statues of such gods remain. Every statue is large. From a distance, they look like the teeth of a comb; up close, they tower with an intensity that makes it seem as though they might collapse.
A woman stands at the feet of a statue that is half-human, half-snake.
A camel was tied to a nearby stone pillar. The woman had traveled alone, first on a horse, and then on a camel. Traveling alone as a woman was dangerous. She had been pursued by strange sorts several times. However, she had evaded the attacks with ease. Her horse had been like a pegasus, and she was a Kosa person skilled in horsemanship. Even after switching to a camel in the south, there was no man capable of catching her.
She planned to let go of that camel soon as well.
The woman gazed at the statue of the snake god Meki. It was an hideous god. A wind containing sand and dust buffeted the woman's yellowish hair as it pleased.
The woman stared at the statue, forgetting the time. The snake god also looked down at the woman intently.
Suddenly, she noticed some old men.
They were sitting in a corner of the ruins, dozing off as if they had merged with the stone walls. The woman approached the three old men. The shoulder cloth worn by Kosa women fluttered in the wind, making a sound.
Perhaps hearing the sound, one of the old men opened his eyes.
He was an old man with wrinkled, grime-stained black skin.
"You were looking quite intently," the old man said in the Kosa language.
While keeping his back leaned against the stone wall, he raised only his face.
The woman took a sip of water from her canteen.
"What are you doing here?"
"We have found a king. We are on our way to an audience."
"A king of which country?"
"A king of a country that does not yet exist... we remember things of the future and foresee things of the past. We have seen the rise and fall of many countries."
"Hmph."
She thought about leaving, but the old man stood up with great effort.
"For example, that divine statue," he said, pointing with his chin toward the snake god statue. "The people who were in the valley of Siddim nearby, and on the hills of Pushan, believed in that god, the snake god Meki. The people of Siddim and the people of Pushan were persecuted by Adonai Bupka, the emperor of the Koroi Empire. Because he is a venomous snake god with human breasts. It is a heretical cult. Adonai Bupka used nomadic horse-riding people who believed in the giant bird god to massacre and exile the followers of the snake god... Adonai Bupka. For example, that is the kind of king we are going to meet. You have likely heard of the great empire called the Bupka Dynasty Koroi. He is a king who builds such excellent countries."
"What happened to the people of the snake god?"
"They wandered north and north, and even now they live at the northernmost edge."
"You speak of things from hundreds of years ago as if you had seen them."
"I saw them," the old man said with eyes that looked as if he were remembering something. "Everything that has happened in this world is recorded. It does not simply vanish. Things that will happen from now on are also decided. The stars draw that out. Young lady, you seem to carry the blood of the pastoral nobility who believe in the giant bird god, and the blood of the snake god followers. And yet, you are now intending to head toward the valley of Siddim. Aiming for the monastery of the Roma faith in the valley."
—Why does he know?
The woman felt it was eerie and did not answer. Her right hand naturally reached for the short sword at her waist.
"I can read faces a little. I simply understand. The Siddim Order of Nuns is a secret monastery said to be a phantom, but you, young lady, will likely be permitted to join. I can see you possess a special destiny."
"Old man, who are you?"
"Manam. Those over there are Persa and Nezumo. Those who guide the king. You are... Kohal? No, it seems you received your true name from your mother. A name of the Siddim people."
The woman stared at the old man and stepped back. It was as the old man said. Only she and her mother should have known about the true name.
She felt fear, but more than that, her chest felt sick.
The reason the woman stepped back was to create distance for an attack.
"You must not lose your feelings. You must not give up."
The old man's pupils were pale and vacant, like diluted ink.
"What are you talking about?"
"The story of your unfulfilled love."
"Shut up. I don't need your meddling."
"Your feelings will surely be conveyed. To our king."
"King? A king is—"
The roar of a strong wind suddenly approached, violently pushing the woman's body, pulling her long hair, and lifting her clothes. Sand grains relentlessly invaded the woman's eyes.
She raised her face which had been lowered, lowered the arm that had been holding her hair, and opened her eyelids. All three of the old men were gone, the wind was gone, and under the shimmering sunlight, heat haze rose from the stone statues. The snake god looked down at the woman, who was looking around in confusion, as if it were about to cover her.
After returning in tears from Geraha's tent, Kohal spent several days in a daze.
Realizing that the conversation in that tent was the first time she had properly faced Geraha, she realized that the man she had been in love with existed only within her own delusions.
Her thoughts wandered in various directions, and Kohal came to think about god.
For one, Kohal was merely a girl in whom a sense of self had finally sprouted, and she was at an age to think about such things. For another, Kohal was a follower of the Roma faith. Under the influence of her mother, Meira, everyone in Kohal's family, including her father Sinkuk, had converted to the Roma faith.
Because she had lived impulsively, Kohal impulsively confessed to her mother.
—Since I cannot be with Geraha,
"I will become a nun."
She thought with sincere feelings that she wanted to know more about god.
Meira Wolf, who at that time was doing the bloody work of butchering a sheep while chasing flies away with her hand, naturally straightened her posture.
After wiping her hands and offering a prayer at the altar inside the tent,
"Marvel."
She called Kohal by her baptismal name.
It was the true name given to her by her mother, Meira.
"To become a nun means to become the wife of god. You, have you forgotten about Geraha? Is that how it is?"
She intended to nod, but she hesitated.
Meira did not miss it.
"Then, that will not do."
"Mother, I have nowhere to go. To the monastery where you were..."
"You intend to enter?"
For a brief moment, the mother's face stiffened. A coldness like a blade dwelt in the look she gave her daughter.
Unlike the detached Kosa people, Meira's expressions of affection had a simplistic quality that was, perhaps, milky or earthy, lacking refinement. Kohal had grown up being held by her mother, with her mother's body scent filling her nostrils. She had never doubted her mother's love.
Yet, in that mother, there was a part that was heartless and devoid of warmth. That coldness occasionally appeared abruptly and carelessly, making Kohal flinch since she was a child.
"You must not enter."
"If you go, I will consider you dead. Be prepared for that."
"The reason?"
"That is, it is..."
Because it is what is best for you.
The mother said in a small voice.
Kohal became enraged. Not because she was opposed to entering the monastery, but because her mother was hiding something. Meira did not talk about her own past. She did not talk about the time she was a nun. She never told her about her birthplace. An evasion, the usual evasion.
"If you don't tell me a proper reason, I'm goin'."
Kohal changed her tone to be blunt, stood up from her seat, and the next morning, she truly departed.
That determination had dulled now that she had arrived here.
—Feelings, will be conveyed?
The voice of the strange old man remained in her ears.
Kohal had been arrogant, thinking that there could be no one other than herself who would love a man with such a hideous face as Geraha's. Although she had been tripped up by that conceit, still.
Could that Princess Sura person love Geraha? Would the two of them get along?
—In the long run, eventually.
Would her own love not win?
Kohal became restless.
The monastery, she'll quit. She decided to go home. In the end, it had been a heartbroken woman's healing trip. It had been a child's running away from home. But now, she could forgive her own foolishness. Or rather, she could forgive anything now. She could forgive the whole world.
Even though he was a dirty old man, he possessed spiritual power. That spiritual power had declared: "Feelings will be conveyed."
He had said something about a king, but that didn't matter.
Kohal's feelings were directed only toward Geraha. Those would be conveyed.
Geraha would notice her. Geraha would be moved to tears. He would acknowledge that they had been close since childhood, that they possessed the same soul. He would embrace her with his thick flesh and swear never to let her go again. Until the stars twinkle out, they would frolic naked. From morning until night, they would love each other forever and ever.
—Forever and ever, forever.
She began to feel excited.
—But.
Another word left by the old man stopped Kohal's feet.
"The Siddim Order of Nuns is a secret monastery."
What did a secret monastery mean? A secret monastery? Had her mother been there?
The valley of Siddim was close from here.
It wouldn't be too late to look for the so-called secret monastery, ask about her mother, and then go home. It was a good opportunity to solve the doubts she had felt toward her mother for many years. Since she had come all the way south, it would be a waste to turn back here.
The day after camping outdoors, she departed before sunrise.
To get to the valley of Siddim, one climbs the highlands for half a day.
The road had many passersby, and since lawless elements were being cracked down upon, it was safe. While leading the camel, she climbed the stony road, and by the time her stomach growled, she reached the top of the pass overlooking the valley.
The valley of Siddim was almost entirely covered in vivid green. It was faintly misty, and the sunlight reflected in rainbow colors. Stone walls drawing curves to match the terrain formed layers on the slope heading toward the valley floor, creating beautiful terraced fields. There were countless small streams flowing into the valley, spread out like a net, reflecting a golden brilliance. There was a town at the bottom of the valley. She could see people moving. The band of light meandering along the valley floor was the "Silver River" that the people of this area took pride in.
Kohal descended the gentle slope.
The town was composed of buildings made of sun-dried bricks and earthen walls, common in the south. The difference from other towns was the wealth. The market overflowed with fresh vegetables and fruits that repelled the morning dew. There were many people in the streets. Everyone was dressed up, and their expressions were bright. Foreigners were not limited to Kohal. There were traveling merchants from the east and mercenaries from the west.
In small southern cities, Kosa people were often looked at from a distance, perhaps because they were viewed as eerie. Southerners believed Kosa people to be cruel invaders.
The residents of this valley did not even glance at Kohal. Since mounted soldiers in matching uniforms patrolled frequently, everyone was likely feeling secure.
She was hungry. She entered a shop where meals could be had.
After taking a seat, she handed about ten copper coins to the server. Plates were brought until the table was full. Food seemed to be cheap. When she tried something that looked like brown porridge, the taste was not bad.
It was a town like paradise. While eating, she thought that perhaps the emperor called Adonai Bupka didn't so much hate the snake god faith as he simply wanted to seize this wealth.
—The terrain looks like it would be easy to attack.
To the thin server with dark skin,
"I want to go to the Siddim Order of Nuns,"
she appealed clumsily in the southern tongue.
"The building with the high wall around that corner is it. The gate is closed, so shout loudly. There will definitely be someone inside."
They told her kindly. It didn't seem secret at all; it appeared to be right in the middle of town.
Leaving the shop, without untying the reins of the camel tied in front of the store, she went to see. Indeed, there was a building with high walls.
"Someone!" she shouted in front of the closed door. "Hey!"
There was no reaction. Just as she was about to return to the camel, the sound of a bolt being withdrawn echoed.
The person who peeked out from the large door was an old woman in black clothes. She was tanned, but her eyes were blue. The old woman opened the door wide as if inviting her in.
Kohal entered. The first thing that jumped into her eyes was a tasteful white building with an arched entrance. A spire extended upward. It was the first time she had seen a church of the Roma faith.
She heard a loud sound. Looking back, it was the sound of the black-clad old woman sliding the bolt.
Kohal silently observed the old woman's face.
"She has come,"
the old woman said in the Kosa language. Her eyes were directed toward the white building.
A woman with a pale face stood at the entrance of the church. She was a white woman with green eyes, her pure white garments fluttering. She looked to be in her thirties.
"Girl, kneel and bow your head," the old woman said.
Kohal, not quite understanding, stood there. Suddenly, pain shot through her, and her center of gravity tilted. Kohal had been tripped. Looking down, a thin chain was wrapped around her ankle. She traced the chain with her eyes. It was the black-clad old woman. The old woman had released the chain, snagged Kohal's leg, and pulled.
The old woman approached Kohal while reeling in the chain and pressed Kohal's head down. She was as strong as a man.
"What on earth..."
"Be silent."
Her face was pushed to the side, and her cheek was rubbed against the ground.
"Once you have made her quiet, bring her to me."
The white woman spoke fluently in Kosa, then disappeared into the darkness beyond the entrance.
Kohal took a deep breath and threatened, "Let go."
The old woman did not let go. While keeping her head pressed down, she thrust a short sword in front of Kohal's face. It was Kohal's short sword.
"How fragile. Marvel Boony. I can't believe you're Meira Boony's daughter."
"What are you..."
"Is Meira doing well?"
"You..."
"I know. I've known your mother for a long time. She truly was a terrifying woman."
"Just let me go!"
"If it were Meira, I'd have had my neck snapped three times already."
Kohal thought that perhaps there was some misunderstanding. Kohal's mother was an honest pastoralist.
"Let go! Let go!"
"Even if I let go, once you've entered these grounds, that's the end; you'll never escape for the rest of your life. I've received word from Meira. You wanted to enter the same monastery as your mother, didn't you?"
Kohal, who had been struggling, listened to the old woman's voice.
"It's a wise thing, Marvel. With your beauty and this body, you can become a good craftswoman. This is a workshop for craftspeople who handle death, after all. —First, what shall we do? Shall we shave your hair and brand your head?"
The old woman dragged Kohal like a fisherman pulling a net.
After being battered by the short stairs, she passed through the arched entrance, and Kohal was swallowed by the darkness of the church.