Page 37 of Nixx
Rymm's dark wings appear in the sky and he lands in a daring maneuver at the speed of its execution. This is Rymm all over again. I offer him a warm hug, happy to have him back.
Yet, I saw it a few days ago at Oludd’s union ceremony. Only a few days have passed, and yet the direction of my life has fundamentally changed. A few days ago, I sincerely pitied Oludd's commitment.
Since then, it's like the axis of Eris has shifted. I just kept Rymm at a distance from the humans. I didn't tell him about Sarah. And knowing Lokk's loyalty, he didn't tell him either.
“Rymm, my friend. I have much to discuss with you two. Let's go to my home to talk and share a flask of ignis.”
The three of us settle down on the sofas in my house, with a drink. Rymm and Lokk are silent, waiting for me to start the conversation. It's complicated, I don't know where to start.
“Well, as you know, humans arrived by chance on Eris. Their mission is strictly peaceful. They travel to the sky, where many worlds exist. Different from ours, but not completely, from what I understand. Thus, living beings adapt themselves according to the characteristics of their environment. On Eris, the dangers on the ground forced us to develop wings, at least that is what Sarah explained to me. Whereas on their planet, they did not need it. On the other hand, humans are technologically very advanced.”
I pause, making sure I have their full attention. I know I have repeated information they already know. Now I have to get to the hard part.
“I am going to ask for your support and help in integrating these humans as best as possible into our community, as they will be staying here. I must inform you that as incomprehensible as it may be given the context, I have found my Life Partner. The human Sarah is my Life Partner.”
I interrupt myself and support their gaze. Lokk is full of understanding and respect. I suspect that he has already guessed the content of my statement before I even made the announcement. As for Rymm, he is pensive. Knowing him, he is already analyzing all the impacts that this unusual union will cause.
“You have my support, of course!” he finally says. “You know this is going to cause complications.”
“You have my support too!” confirms Lokk. “You finally recognized the signs faster than I thought,” he says with a smile. “Besides, Sarah is a good woman. She's already demonstrated that in record time by winning the loyalty of Azarr and Zull.”
Lokk then explains to Rymm how my wingless human once risked her life to protect a child.
“You understand that even if she was able to quickly convince the people of the south, it will be more delicate here? Especially with the malicious maneuvers and insinuations of Kryll who works in the shadows?” asks Rymm. “But I grant you, we can always spread the word about this feat to appease the obtuse and make her better accepted among us.”
“As Sarah was telling me, the humans are going to need to find their place here, so they need to keep busy. She is a healer and I have asked Jaxx to accompany her to Holly after they have been in the kitchen. We'll have to talk to Marc, their leader, to see what each of them could bring to our community. Lokk, organize it for tomorrow morning, after the first meal!” I ask him.
“It will be done. The best thing would be for the claim to go ahead quickly, Lokk concludes. People will get used to the idea faster.”
“I didn't intend to let things drag on,” I answer as I finish my flask. “I have one more thing to ask you. We should see how to connect the plateau to the forest dwellings, with a footbridge; a single access point. A secure system, however, to keep the houses safe from predators. In short, to be studied discreetly at first.”
“Nixx, we're done with Holly. Sarah wants to go through the kitchen again before getting ready for the last meal!”Jaxx informs me.
“I arrive, I intend to show her where to take a hot shower.”I answer him.
“We're done here.” I point out to Lokk and Rymm as I stand up. “Follow me, Rymm, and I'll introduce you to her.”
“With pleasure my dear friend. I look forward to meeting her.”
We find Jaxx in front of the kitchens.
“Where is she?” I ask him.
“There, with Rajj. She asked him for permission to experiment with the last meal. When I sensed he was going to refuse, I mentally suggested that he not do it. So, from what I understand, we're going to have a culinary experiment tonight.”
I enter the kitchen, followed by Jaxx and Rymm.
My Sarah has prepared different bowls, with different ingredients. And she is currently fiddling with a white ball, under Rajj's doubtful look. When she looks up at me, I see her mischievous look and it is with a big smile that she announces:
“I'll make some pizzas for tonight.”
We all look at each other, not knowing what to say. Rajj has his arms crossed on his chest and shows his incomprehension in front of this invasion that he did not ask for and even less the experiments matched.
“Sarah, we don't know what ‘pizza’ means, but if it's a preparation from your country, we'll gladly try it.”
I accompany my assertion with an authoritative glance toward Rajj who is about to protest.
“Pizzas are a wonderful invention,” she says cheerfully. “The hardest part was making flour from your grain. But I used your system to grind the coffee beans as finely as possible. Now I mix the resulting powder with water and a little of your Ignis ferment that I found in the vial over there. I will then spread it out in several very flat rounds. Then I'll put on top what I set aside in the bowls, hoping I'm not wrong: some kind of bell pepper, some uh . . . green tomatoes? Some kind of onions and most importantly, your cheese. You can even add some eggs. And then you put all that in the clay ovens. You'll see, it's really good. I hope so. On Earth, it's super good anyway.”
