☀️ Arselia and Akonia

Who do you mean by "important"?..

- Just the named ones. They are very easy to distinguish from the extras - they have their faces covered, or even their entire silhouettes.

I know about the priests, I know it's better not to run into them.

- It's good that you understand that. I learned this difficult lesson from my own experience, and believe me - you need to avoid them by any means. One mistake and it's over for you - they probably won't be merciful.

By the way! I know Nihongo, but how do the locals react to your Nihongo in your speech?

- Well, I didn't expect to ever meet a Nihongo-speaking person here, and if someone had told me that it would be you, I would have laughed in their face and decided that they were overheated. For the most part, they ignore it, although sometimes they widen their eyes, - Aiyano waved her hand uncertainly. - They are used to all sorts of foreigners, so it doesn't surprise them much. I carry it with me as a piece of my homeland. And besides, I'm not going to re-learn it just for such a small thing. Although, I guess you wouldn't agree with me, because you've already forgotten the past.

Hmm... Since you are my benefactor and we are from the same world, I suppose I can speak freely without hiding anything? With the locals, you still have to maintain a certain restraint, and some things they just won't understand. So... Hime-denka. She seemed very sad to me. As if three incompatible desires were fighting within her. On the one hand, the desire for simple female happiness - a husband and children. On the other hand, her royal duty to her country. And thirdly, some unknown, very heavy mission that overshadows everything else. At one point in our conversation, I even thought that she wanted someone to come and free her from all this. But that's just my assumption, based on feelings, female intuition, and superficial information, so I don't know how true this impression is. She welcomed me well, although she tried to create the opposite impression with words.

- Of course, you can. Yes, she is like that. Don't be fooled and don't have an unfounded feeling of familiarity or, say, solidarity, based on... status. She can be a very harsh woman. But still, there is a certain softness in her. Just don't tell anyone about it, - she said with a smile, taking a few more steps, then stopping. Her gaze wanders aimlessly around, her thoughts fly somewhere else, her body tenses.

Finally, she turns to her companion and looks intently into her amber eyes with the utmost seriousness:
- Listen... I was going to avoid this topic, but the circumstances of life in this world show that some points must be voiced, no matter what. Since we decided to be frank, I'll say it. When I saw you with your friend, I was a little surprised and decided to solve this mystery at all costs. And when I made progress and understood who was in front of me, I was even more surprised. What were the chances of such an event? I'm not one to dwell on the past, although it may seem otherwise at times. Perhaps it serves as a mental anchor for me - in a good sense - in this strange territory. And yet... You walk and breathe this air thanks to Hime-denka and many other kind people. I turned to them for advice because we are both from the same land, and because I realized that you and Azarina-chan have been through a lot and fully deserve a new chance at life. When I think about all those events, my fists clench, because such a thing should not exist in the world. However, when I asked for help, Hime-denka asked me a question that I was afraid of, because I cannot answer it with complete certainty. Am I ready to vouch for you? In the end, my heart overcame my mind, and I gave a half-affirmative answer. I have a rough idea of what Azarina-chan is like, and I can easily imagine the risks associated with her, but I only know about you indirectly. I think you understand what I mean - in any story, there are both white and black stripes, and our collective is no exception. I can see that the past does not burden you, and I really want to believe it. Maybe it's just naivety, but I want to hope for a happy outcome. But I can't get into your head or into the hidden corners of your heart, and even if I could, I would prefer not to. You are an independent, conscious person, and I have no right to demand or impose anything on you, but ultimately, I am responsible for setting this flywheel in motion. So... - the priestess really wants to show firmness, bordering on rudeness and even a threat, leaving no room for misunderstanding, but the words don't come. Finally, she sighs heavily and shakes her head, mentally reproaching herself for her weakness. - ...if you ever have difficult thoughts or problems, even trivial ones, or, on the contrary, seemingly unsolvable ones, then you should not try to work them out on your own or do some strange things. You can always turn to me with them, and I will help, no matter what they are. This is the least we can do in gratitude to the kind people who have accepted us, - she holds her gaze without looking away or blinking. - Can you promise me that? And keep that promise?