North x Northwest

Chapter 364

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Epilogue Chapter 364

Epilogue 2: Sawa

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Headnote: We tracked down the language spoken by the clan to Swahili, we tried to be as accurate as possible, but forgive us for any mistakes as we both don’t speak the language. You will find the meaning of the sentences between the brackets according to Google Translate.

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But even that stopped when the bird landed in front of her. Lil saw nothing but the bird. Its appearance, with no feathers and resembling a reptile, was so shocking that Lil, who had only imagined something as grand as a giant eagle or stork at best, didn’t even blink as she stared at the bird—or rather, the monster. When the monster took a breath, its black scales shone brightly, and when it exhaled, the surroundings instantly grew hot. It had yellow eyes with vertically long pupils, black eyelids that closed sideways, and a long, thick tail that stirred up sand with every movement.

‘It looks like a giant lizard with bat wings…’

Someone slowly rose from the monster’s back. The figure of the person with their back to the sun was entirely black. As the figure approached Lil, her forgotten breathing became even more ragged. That was when she realised the person standing on the monster before her, had her life in their hands.

A woman glided down the beast’s vast wings like a slide and stood in front of Lil. With her red hair trimmed short, she looked exactly like Ed had described their race. The villagers who surrounded Lil looked similar as well. Ed had also told her that most of the Northern Island warrior clan had pale skin and bright blue-green eyes, comparable to a peacock’s feathers.

The woman covered her body with a long piece of pure white cloth, fastened with a leather belt. Her limbs already adorned with golden ornaments and leather straps, where daggers and throwing stars were secured.

Lil immediately lowered herself to her knees. A woman’s voice fell over her head.

“Wewe ni nani?” (“Who are you?”)

It was a sentence she heard from Ed. It meant to ask her who she was. Lil quickly scrambled to recall her memory and responded.

“…Shikamu… Mimi… Mimi ni Liloa.” (…Hold on… I… I am Liloa.”)

“Mimi ni Mkuu M’jasiri.” (I am Chief the Brave.”)

‘…Mkuu? …As in chief?’

As the question crossed Lil’s mind, several warriors rushed past her and placed a golden crown on M’jasiri’s head. They garlanded her with various colourful gemstones around her neck and waist as well. Draped over one shoulder was a blue cloth that resembled a ceremonial sash, making it clear to anyone that she was their high-ranking leader.

As the black bird flew into the sky, the warriors of the clan stood behind M’jasiri.

Not only warriors with swords and bows but the seemingly ordinary villagers surrounded Lil, too. Their hair were mostly shades of red, though there were a few with golden or brown locks, and they all wore similar outfits: a white cloth draped around their bodies, leaving their knees and elbows exposed.

M’jasiri asked Lil in a deep, resonant voice.

“Unatoka wapi?” (“Where are you from?”)

This, too, was a phrase she had learned earlier. It was to ask where she was from. Lil also knew that if she was asked this, it was best to respond by saying she was from another continent.

“Bara ningguine.” (“Another continent.”)

“Bara? Bara gani?” (“Continent? What continent?”)

“Bara la Mashariki.” (“Eastern Continent.”)

“Bara la Mashariki? Mashariki? Wapi?” (“Eastern Continent? East? Where?”)

‘Is she asking me where the Eastern Continent is? I don’t follow…’

Lil shook her head as politely as possible.

‘These are powerful warriors who slaughtered the Empire’s first pioneering squadron. They can decide to strike me in the head any minute now…’

When Lil didn’t answer, someone grabbed the back of her neck.

She was forced down, her forehead nearly touching the ground. A hand searched her waist and pulled out her gun.

M’jasiri muttered, twirling the gun around.

“…Silaha hii…” (“…This weapon…”)

At that point, a commotion broke out in the crowd. Several people pointed to the sky, their voices filled with unease.

Both Lil and M’jasiri turned their heads in the direction indicated by the crowd, towards another monster approaching the village that resembled M’jasiri’s black bird but was brown. On its back were two figures tangled together, but only one of them was struggling to keep their balance. The monster wobbled in the air, and then one of the figures fell to the ground. A man tumbled across the grassy field and, by chance or fate, came to a halt right beside Lil.

There was no way Lil couldn’t recognize the man.

“…Edgar?”

Lil had no idea how Ed had managed to ride the monster, but she rushed to help him as he struggled to sit up. Despite her assistance, he could barely lift his upper body. When he looked up and saw the chief, he bowed his head in respect and began a rapid, elaborate speech before Lil could even intervene. She couldn’t understand what he was saying, but M’jasiri, who was standing with her arms crossed, burst out laughing.

“Ni wako?” (“Is he yours?”)

Ed looked at Lil, blood trickling from a gash on his forehead.

“She’s asking if I’m yours.”

As she wasn’t mistaken, Lil nodded. M’jasiri’s interest in her grew stronger, and she bared her teeth in a broad grin. It was only then that she realised how long and sharp M’jasiri’s fangs were—two sets of canines easily two or three times longer than Lil’s, gleamed menacingly.

M’jasiri tilted her chin toward Ed.

“Samama.” (“Stand up.”)

Ed slowly got to his feet.

M’jasiri appeared to be significantly shorter than Lil, as she didn’t even reach her shoulder. With her hands clasped behind her back, she began to circle Ed, her gaze examining every detail. Lil looked at Ed’s shirt, which was soaked with sweat and clinging to his shoulders and back. M’jasiri’s attention was aimed in the same direction. The muscles beneath his shirt twitched with life every time he took a deep breath.

When it became clear that M’jasiri enjoyed looking at Ed, the mood changed. The female warriors began to murmur amongst themselves, while the male warriors began to stare at him suspiciously.

Lil then looked around nervously, her gaze darting from one warrior to another.

‘This feels disturbingly similar…’

When their gazes met, M’jasiri smiled at Lil, her menacing fangs on full display once more.

“Ni mtu mzuri.” (“He is a beautiful man.”)

Lil barely moved her lips and whispered.

“…What did she say?…”

“She said, your man is beautiful.”

Ed remained calm even when he said something extremely embarrassing and even though the words hit Lil like a cold splash of water. Lil couldn’t understand where he found the courage to remain so composed when her own heart was racing.

Lil stepped forward, determined to maintain control of the situation, and placed herself between Ed and M’jasiri. She then firmly shook her head.

“Hapana.” (“No.”)

M’jasiri’s gaze remained fixed on Lil as she burst out laughing. But the laughter abruptly stopped, and M’jasiri’s eyes bore into Lil with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. Her blue eyes, like precious stones caught in the light, appeared otherworldly and unsettling. Lil held M’jasiri’s gaze and remembered the dagger hidden in her waistband.

She subtly moved her tongue to speak to Ed while maintaining eye contact with the chief.

“…Tell her we didn’t mean to trespass and that we’ll leave immediately. We won’t set foot in the jungle if that’s what she wants…”

“…I already told her that…”

Anxiety tightened Lil’s grip into a clenched fist.

‘Then, what does she want?’

Lil and Ed had talked about minimising conflict if they were captured, but they had no idea what to do if the chief became interested in one of them. Worse, Lil had no idea what it meant for an outsider to be considered “beautiful” in this context, especially for a man.

‘What will they do with him?’

Lil repeated herself.

“Hapana.” (“No.”)

M’jasiri’s lips curled into a faint, amused smile as she alternately looked at Lil and Ed. After a brief moment of tension, she abruptly turned and swept her hand through the air, sending a sharp signal to the warriors.

“Bashi, ushiue.” (“Bashi(?), don’t kill them.”)

“She said she’ll spare us.”

Lil exhaled a deep breath of relief as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. The warriors, however, appeared to have a different perspective, as discontent grew around them. M’jasiri quickly approached the rebellious warriors, her presence commanding silence. She easily put an end to their complaints with a few sharp words, and the crowd fell silent again.

M’jasiri returned to the couple, looking more at ease as she stood in front of them. Lil and Ed hastily expressed their gratitude together.

“Asante.” (“Thank you.”)

“Asante sana.” (“Thank you very much.”)

M’jasiri replied, nodding with satisfaction. Then she gave a lengthy speech. And before Lil could ask Ed for a translation, he already started to interpret the chief’s words.

“My men don’t allow other men to enter, but for yours, I’ve made a special exception. Men challenge power, after all.”

After Ed finished his translation, M’jasiri held Lil’s chin and turned her face around. Grabbing Lil’s shoulder-length hair, she rubbed it between her fingers. The chief, who was still looking at Lil’s face, then spread Lil’s eyelids with her thumb and index finger. She continued, examining Lil as if she were about to pluck out her eyeballs.

“I’ve been watching you, a strong warrior with mysterious eyes. You are worthy of entering the water dragon’s territory. You are welcome to see my kingdom. In return, describe the continent to the east. I’m curious about that reckless world. While their future may be different from their past, I need to know if we have to shed blood again.”

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