Mars, RK, and Eris continued to stay a good distance behind Deygo, giving him space and time to brood over recent matters. They walked in silence for a while, until RK at last spoke.
“Hey, Eris?”
“Yes?”
“Just how is it that Spirit dude listened to you? He was gonna kill us.”
Eris was quiet a moment, the question bringing back troubling memories. After some indecision, she answered.
“I was there. When it happened.”
“Wot? Where?”
“In Origin, with them, the Spirits. Only they weren’t Spirits then; and I was neither changed nor immortal. I…” She hesitated, taking a deep breathe before continuing. “I was in the classroom where the first vial of Libitina was released. As the chemical spread, bombs and grenades were set off in the room, obliterating and severely mutilating many. The doors were barred from the outside; no one could escape. I remember blood… and bodies. They were everywhere, it was everywhere. I only managed to escape the Death Room by blasting open a door with an unused grenade.
“The Spirits do not attack me because I was there. I am one of them, in a sense, though I manage to live on. We… have an understanding. I remember them, and they make sure that I always have a safe place to return to.”
“Eris… I’m sorry,” Mars said sympathetically. RK nodded her concurrment.
Eris shook her head, then smiled weakly and replied. “It’s okay. If it hadn’t have happened, I never would’ve had the chance to save you two.”
Mars and RK were respectfully silent for a minute before Mars asked another question.
“Out of curiosity, what did that head Spirit guy say to us before he disappeared?”
“Who? Viodeh? He wished you luck. Mai’ah’loo tute lee’vay’loo loo’ng’tu ai’n’du nay’vay’reh bay’loo fu’r’gu’tay’neh. Which means, ‘May you live long and never be forgotten.’”
“That’s Nay’weh Spay’chu, right?” RK asked.
“Yes, it is.”
“Do you think you could teach us some of it? I mean, it would be useful as long as we’re gonna be stuck here.”
“Yah, that’s true,” Mars agreed. “Then we’ll at least know what Deygo is saying when he hollers at RK, too.”
“Hey!” RK protested.
“’Tis true, tho,” Mars replied.
“Yeah, yeah, wotever. Anyway, would you teach us, Eris?”
Eris studied the two women, then smiled. “Sure, why not. It would do you good to know something of it, anyway.”
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