Nuri: You… found an exit. That quickly? Please explain how.
Cal: Don’t act so impressed, I told you it wasn’t the end of my useless knowledge.
Nuri: You see, I can’t- Hey! Where are you going?
[Cal is already heading into the passageway that opened from his ambiguous puzzle-solving] [Nuri speed-walks to catch up.]
Nuri: You said you don’t know me, but at that pace it seems like you’d like to forget I was here, that anyone was here. I’m just lucky you weren’t here to get rid of me.
Cal: Slow down, I said I don’t know you, but it’d be a helpful start if I could actually see you clearly.
Nuri: Right, I forgot you can’t see well here…
Cal: I’ve felt you staring at me from a while ago, I’m not sure how, but you have some way of seeing me in this darkness. It wouldn’t be a fair conversation, no, interview- if we’re not on equal ground. Don’t you agree?
Nuri: Okay… There’s no need to call this an interview, I practically invited myself. Anyone here would be just as reticent, we all have motives to get out, so why not help your friends escape in the process if it makes the job easier? What I’ve been trying to tell you is that I can’t-
[Cal pulls out a lighter from his suit’s pocket and lights it up to a rough-scratchy texture on the wall]
Cal: There we go, a makeshift torch. Green man would be proud.
Nuri: Huh?
[As the tunnel starts to light up with the fire on the wall growing, Nuri takes in the information and quickly tries to cover her face, albeit quite badly.]
Cal: That’s better. Ah- you’re a Kalta.
Nuri: Yes…
Cal: I’ve heard a fair bit about your kind. Agile, sly, thieves. Embarrassed when caught. They’re also reported to be able to see better at night, which is when most things tend to go missing. It explains how you’re able to see me, and why your eyes are glowing teal.
[Nuri regains her calm composure and stance before speaking]
Nuri: You’ve got some of it right, but let me tell you just how wrong you are. We’re not thieves, and even if we were, it’s not as if you have anything of value on you.
Cal: Really? This is a one-of-a-kind tie, you won’t find anything else like it in the world.
Nuri: Focus would you? Yes, we are ashamed of getting caught, it’s usually why we wear specially made headgear to hide our animal ears.
Cal: I assume you lost it on your way here then, as it isn’t in this room. Did you come from this tunnel and get locked in, or did you enter from somewhere else?
Nuri: Like you, I was unsure. But when you fell through the ceiling, I thought it was possible we had both gotten sucked into this complex.
Cal: Somehow ended up here mysteriously, huh? There must be some reasoning. It’d help to ask more people to get a better understanding of it, but the only other person who could’ve provided any useful information…
[Nuri looks back at that corpse resting against one of the pillars.]
Nuri: It was an innocent guide from the village… I feel terrible admitting it, but my journey here ended up with killing someone, someone not planning to die any time soon. They weren’t destined for this outcome.
Cal: Destiny is a load of crap, blame the culprit if anything when we find them.
Nuri: Have you ever blamed yourself for something that’s happened to those around you?
[Cal freezes momentarily, then seems to snap out of thinking any deeper.]
Cal: Not that I’d be helpful now. I’m allowed to disagree with my past self.
Nuri: When is the last time you’ve actually had anyone around you? There must be some reason you got sent here alone, compared to me, getting trapped with the guide.
Cal: Five minutes, probably.
[…]
Cal: I was with two others, we came here to investigate something important, but it’s in your best interest to step away. Let’s part ways once we leave this tunnel.
Nuri: There’s others? Don’t you think it’d be best to work together to find them?
Cal: I can see you, but I’m not sure if I trust you anymore than I did prior to lighting the wall.
Nuri: Why? Because logically it would be uncertain to let a stranger in on your top-secret plans? Because I could slow you down? Because if I knew about your plans, I could be targeted for knowing that information? If so, all of those reasons are emotional, Cal.
[Cal stops in his tracks.]
Nuri: If you’re so stuck on your ideals, logically, you know you have better chances at finding and surviving with my help. Hell, you could even ask me more questions if you’re so curious.
Cal: You already ask enough questions for the two of us. But no, you’re right, why would I endanger you? I got us out of here all on my own, I’m not sure what else you’d want to do.
Nuri: Danger, is it?… I’m used to being in harm’s way. You’d just never bother to find out unless I went and told you. “What could you want to do? You don’t know me.” Is all that’s going through your head, right? You haven’t thought once about what you could do for me.
Cal: I got you ou-
Nuri: And? Did you know I can’t read? Wherever you heard about us, it seems your “quite a fair bit” wasn’t as much as you thought it was.
Cal: Without reading, you’ve have you been traveling all the way here. For what purpose, why not drop it and learn to read before knowing what you’re after really is?
Nuri: I know what I’m after. It’s taken longer, sure, I’ve also had to wait hours at a time until there was someone willing to translate runes or ancient scrolls for me. But I’m determined, no matter how much money it costs me in the long run. What I do know, is that from what I’ve heard with my own two ears, stopping now would be a waste of time. I must find him. Someone here might know where I can find the answ-
Cal: And you want my help for that?
Nuri: Well I don’t know! You never told me why you’re here, we might even be looking for the same person. Same objective, different reasons. Is that a valid enough reason to work together?
Cal: It seems it’s an urgent matter for the both of us, but I’m not a fan of the “hurry up” attitude. If you can stay silent, I’ll allow you to follow me. We’ll all get our share of answers eventually.
Nuri: T-That… That works for me! Alright, I knew you of all people would understand I need all the help I can get. [She turns into a cheerful mood quite abruptly.]
Cal: Don’t count on me.
Nuri: Oh, thank you, Cal. I take back what I said about your worth, that tie would be worth stealing. You should get the sand washed of first, though.
[A short chuckle escapes Cal.]
Cal: I’ve already made my decision, you don’t have to appease to me out of fear I’ll change my mind. Your arguing or over-the-top-ness doesn’t work on me anyway, but it is a little amusing to watch, Nuri.
Nuri: Really? I thought you found it bothersome.
Cal: It is, it just so happens that your reason for arguing was fairly justifiable. You’re determined. Somewhat alike to those two, once you latch onto an idea for something, you won’t let it go easily.
Nuri: I’m sure you have your obsessions, too.
Cal: Puzzle-solving, maybe. But I don’t waste my time trying to convince others. Brainstorming with their ideas just makes the end-goal cloudier. Though I have a feeling you’ll like them, and one in particular may be able to help more with what you’re looking for.
Nuri: Now it just sounds like you’re taking me to get dropped off.
Cal: I don’t know much more, so don’t waste your time talking to me about it.
Nuri: Yeah, yeah. Whatever, silent I’ll be.
{END OF SECTION} | Next Page >> 1.7 - Are You Experienced?