Chapter 2
When I wake up in the morning, I wash my hair in the corner sink, and then walk into the chamber connecting the main rooms of the house. In the chamber hangs a single artwork, which my mother acquired in an unknown way. Unknown to me, at least. The artwork, she has told me, is titled 'Satkii'1, and is by some famous Leyan artist.
I stare at its red plumes, blurred curves and asymmetrical form for a few minutes, hoping to make some meaning out of it, as though trying hasn't been a daily ritual for years. Yet in the end, I simply understand the painting exists, and I, with it.
When I walk into the small kitchen, I find the unnamed woman in front of the stove. Her eyes are closed, and when I walk closer, I can hear her mumbling under her breath. It's not loud enough to be audible, but I know from the stress of syllables and her pauses what she is saying. I let her finish her Food Prayer, before I begin grabbing various foods from the cupboards to make a sort of meal.
She addresses me first, before I have the courage to speak. "Ah, Kemtloire, your mother is in bed." The woman seems fragile and afraid of herself, and so I opt not to correct her on my name. I pour water into a pot and leave it to boil. The woman speaks again. "She would like to see you." I nod, and begin crushing grain.
I continue cooking while the woman stands nearby, seemingly unsure of what to do. I do not acknowledge her. It is after I have prepared the relish and left the mikdobet to drain that the woman speaks once more. "Your mother would like to see you." She says this with enough force and intention and that I understand I have no choice. I leave the woman in the kitchen and head to my mother's room.
My mother is in bed, her illness still present and with less life behind her eyes. She lets me enter and walk to her side, where we stay in silence for more than a moment. She speaks first. "Keme. Will you go today?" Her voice is flat and without desire. I do not know what she wants me to answer, and so I tell the truth, or at least part of it.
"Yes."
"Ah," she says, with nothing more than voice. "While you are out, will you bring me some food?"
"Yes."
She smiles at that, but it is half-hearted. We stand there in silence once more. I stare at her, her wilting body, her blotched face. I stand there and watch as she slowly loses herself and falls back asleep. It is then that I exit.
In the kitchen, my mikdobet has dried, and the woman is gone. I slowly add in the relish and begin to mix it. After many minutes, I realized I have lost track of myself, and the dish is long done. I find two bowls, and put equal servings in both. I bring the first to the dining area, and the second to my mother, leaving it on her bedside table. In my pocket, I find my Lome2, and I message her "eat". I return to the dining area and eat my meal.
When the food is done and the dishes away, I find my bag, a few hundred worth in coins, and slip out of the door. Instead of heading to convene, I walk the other way, out of the neighborhood and into the wooded area. I continue straight for a while until I pop out by the stream. I follow the bank upstream until I can finally make out the bars that keep the city out from the animals. Or maybe, the other way around. I check to make sure no passerby can see me, then scale the fence, getting into the main city.
From the outskirts of the factory district, it's a moderately long walk to the station, but I feel impatient and cover the distance rather quickly. At the station, I put 50 in coins into the machine, which beeps and prints out a ticket. When the Sak'ri carriage3 arrives, I hand my ticket to the doorman and walk on.
The ride lasts for half a day, and the entire time I pray to Truth-dei4, apologizing for lying to my mother. The ride ends as the sun has began its evening setting, and I get off having gone from west Naloei all the way to the northeast. After the station, I walk into the city, wandering aimlessly, satisfied to be anywhere but home.
Eventually, as the sky is mostly darkened, I come across a xaikilren5. I give the receptionist three hundred in coin, leaving me with very little, for a one night stay. She calls a man down who says he will escort me to my room. I follow him up the various staircases and through the hallways until he shows me my room. I thank him and enter the room.
The room itself is rather small, only a bed, facilities, and a small table. I kneel in front of the table, pretending it is an altar, and pray. I let the chants wash over me, hoping to be absolved. And when there is nothing left to say, I sleep.
1tl: Leyan for 'Necessary'
2tl: a mobile device
3tl: slang for Sakaril, similar to train
4tl: God of Truth
5tl: lit. one-room, like a motel
Episode 1