? Ikazkan -> Tezot

- It's a mess, isn't it? - Chernika asks during a break, admiring the play of light on the gold in her hands. - Yes, - Ukon shrugs, glancing at the next landslide behind them, then at the bag of supplies. - Imagine. Out of all the possible options for a journey, you naturally chose the worst one - the only one where you have absolutely no chance. How did you even survive this long in this environment? You could have at least gotten a pickaxe. What are you lacking - luck or common sense? The cavern falls into a long silence. - Both. But mostly - loyalty. To something that never belonged to me. It can give you a boost in the worst of situations, but when even that is gone... - Ukon finally says. - Try to live by the rules, try to be decent, but sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it just doesn't work. For some, you're not quite human, for others, not quite a sorcerer - and that's all there is to it. Even when you don't dwell on it yourself, it gets worse, and you get hit from behind completely unexpectedly. He takes out a file and works on the horns that are starting to grow again. - The only question is - why are you here? - Indeed. Why? - Chernika's voice expresses maximum disinterest and indifference, although, for someone who is at least 15+, one could discern other nuances in it. - I've never had such a useless servant. - You could say the same about others... - Ukon's grumbling is barely audible against the unpleasant screech of the file. - I think you're not who you pretend to be. Something happened along the way, and you were replaced by some simpleton. Otherwise, I can't understand why you've become so calm. - Replaced? - The gold goes back into the bag, her hands go behind her head, and her gaze through her glasses bores into the cave ceiling. - If you listen to you, I'm some kind of storm, incapable of any analysis or change, although in reality, of the two of us, the stubborn worm is you. Maybe I saw the real life of a lackey from the inside and understood a little better what drives you, and what the mistress should do to make her servant function at its maximum potential. Would that explanation satisfy you? The cavern falls silent again. - Let's go, - Ukon gets up, finally finishing with his "manicure". - Let's see this spectacle to the end. - > to top