Radiance

Chapitre Huit

I had spent days wrestling with the closing phrase of the letter, trying in vain to decipher its meaning. My frustration grew with each passing hour, until finally, I resolved to seek out someone who could help me unravel the mysteries of Ibarian.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I set out into the village, determined to find a translator who could assist me in understanding Kianti's words. The streets were bustling with activity, but my mind was focused solely on my mission.

After asking around, I was directed to a small tavern on the outskirts of town where a man by the name of Pierre Devol was said to be staying. According to the locals, Pierre was a scholar from Tosea, a peninsula across Rethalon- the country bordering the north of Akamesh.

Upon entering the tavern, I spotted a figure hunched over a stack of papers in the corner. He had a worn book propped open in front of him, and his brow was furrowed in concentration as he scribbled notes onto the parchment.

Approaching cautiously, I cleared my throat to announce my presence. The man looked up, his eyes widening in surprise as he took in my disheveled appearance.

"Can I help you?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"I hope so," I replied, taking a seat opposite him. "I'm in need of a translator."

Pierre regarded me with interest, his gaze lingering on the letter clutched in my hand. "I see," he said slowly. "And what language are you looking to translate?"

"Ibarian," I answered, holding out the letter for him to see. "I received this from a friend, but I can't make heads or tails of it."

Pierre took the letter from me, his eyes scanning the words carefully. After a moment, he looked up with a smile. "Ah, Ibarian," he said. "A beautiful language, though not one often spoken outside of Ferlon."

"You speak Ibarian?" I asked, hopeful.

He shook his head and handed me the letter. "No. Unfortunately, I've never had the need to venture into that corner of the earth."

Disappointment flooded through me. "What?" I asked. "I thought you were a translator!"

"I am." He sighed. "But you can't possibly expect me to know every language, especially one so rare as Ibarian. Even Ferlonians rarely speak it nowadays. Frankly, I'm shocked that your little friend knows it at all." He heaved out a heavy sigh and began gathering his things. "Well, I must be going now. But I wish you luck on your journey." He stood up and left me alone in that corner, disappointment apparent on my face.

"But... You're from Toseah!" I tried again. "That's not far from Ferlon!" My words fell on deaf ears, and he was out the door.

Suddenly, a man appeared in the seat across from me. He was tall, with weathered skin and knowing brown eyes. He had dark hair with an occasional gray, which matched his neatly trimmed goatee. "Sorry to bother," he said in a heavy accent, though I couldn't quite tell what it was. "But I overheard your conversation with that other man. You need an Ibarian translator?"

My eyes widened in recognition. He had a Ferlonian accent, I realized. It was just the thickest one I had ever heard. "You know Ibarian," I breathed. Finally.

He nodded, and relief flooded through me. "Would you be willing to translate it for me?" I asked eagerly.

He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Of course," he said. "But first, tell me about the sender. Who is this friend of yours? I am a curious man, so it only seems right for you to share it with me in exchange for translation."

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "Her name is Kianti Viram," I said finally. "She's from Ferlon, like you. She's studying Humanities at the university."

Pierre's eyes widened in recognition. "Kianti Viram, you say?" he mused. "I've heard of her. She's quite well-known in certain circles back in Ferlon."

"You know her?" I asked, surprised.

He nodded. "Not personally, but I've heard of her work. She is a talented scholar, much like myself."

I tried my best not to let my curiosity show. How was she well known? What for? She couldn't be much older than me, so what had caused her to gain such recognition?

I shook my thoughts away and focused on the task at hand. "Well, then," I said, handing him the letter. "Would you mind translating it for me?"

The man nodded, his expression serious as he read the short phrase. I watched, my heart pounding in anticipation of finally uncovering the secrets hidden within Kianti's words.

After what felt like an eternity, he looked up with a smile. "What a beautiful phrase."

I leaned forward eagerly, desperate to hear what Kianti's last phrase was to me. "What does it say?" I asked.

He tilted his head. "Well, direct translation means, 'May sun shine on you'. But in our culture, it is a little bit more of a special phrase. I could give you a whole speech about how we come from a place of ice, so anything about the sun means extreme good luck and prosperity, but that would take a while. So, basically, she's saying she cares for you and wishes you only the best life."

I was a bit disappointed that it was something so small. "Oh," I said dejectedly. "That's not what I was expecting."

"Really?" His left eyebrow tilted up. "What were you expecting then?"

I paused. "I'm not sure," I admitted after a moment. "Something important, I guess."

And then he laughed. It was a big, booming laugh, one that seemed to shake the whole tavern. "My boy," he said, "This is important! That is a phrase you only say to those close to your heart. Obviously, you've made an impact on young Kianti's life, for her to be writing to you at all - much less using that phrase."

I smiled. "Alright then. Thanks..."

"Ibosu." He held out his hand. "Ibosu Raik. If you ever need any other information about Ibarian, feel free to find me. I'll be staying in this inn for at least a few months. I have a woman here in Akamesh." He winked and then left his seat, leaving my letter there.

With a grateful nod, I took my letter and rose from my seat, the importance of Kianti's words echoing in my mind. As I left the tavern, a renewed sense of purpose filled my heart. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, I was determined to find a way to see Kianti again—to explore the connection that had blossomed between us and to unravel the mysteries of our intertwined destinies.