Myth Land (unedited)

XXIV

The sunrise warmed my heart through my body calming me down. I had stopped crying, and Ieiunium reminded me that I had not started doing anything to earn golds. Since I was in a decent emotional state, I thought it was the best time to tell her what I had in mind.

I told her about Sphynx and everything that I had learned from her. While telling her about Sphynx, an idea was running in my head. Sphynx just inspired me. But I was afraid of my own plan. Ieiunium tapped my shoulder and asked me what happened. I didn't realize that my face had become so stiff.

'I think I have an idea,' I said to her.

She listened to me very carefully. Not a second she interrupted me, unlike other animals that I had met. Then, Ieiunium offered me a help to do my work.

And within the snap of a finger, it was done.

'I don't know if it's already perfect or not, since I don't really understand what you're doing, but I think you've done a really good job. You should be proud of yourself!'

Clock was ticking as I tried to find a better phrase than 'thank you' to show her how happy I was having her as a friend, yet not a single new phrase came up.

'Thanks you...'

She smiled at my creation.

'What about you? What do you do to earn golds?'

She puckered her lips.

'Well, um... I can't really tell you. I just did it a few moments ago, so I haven't earned any.'

'All right, all right. Hey, do you want me to teach you some of human language?'

She seemed interested, so I taught her some of the legacies which Sphynx was telling me about—which I haven't told you, but I'm telling you now.

I taught her to say 'thank you', 'sorry', 'please', and 'excuse me'. How these phrases are used, when, and why. I also taught her of how to criticize someone. Well, it was all based on what Sphynx told me, of course. Something like you must not only point out someone's mistakes but also give solutions or suggestions as to how to fix it. If you only yell at them of how "wrong" they are, you do not solve anything. You only rant! Sphynx's voice echoed in my ears.

'Those sound very magical for me,' said Ieiunium after I finished talking.

She later on thanked me and convinced me to look for lunch because I was still afraid to leave the tree. In the end, I followed her anyway. Since it was hard for us to find our food at the same place, however, we decided to go separate ways and promised to meet again at the same tree. Her body became smaller and smaller as she went farther until I could no longer see the trace of her.

I bloated my chest with air. Again. I had to walk alone.

Aimlessly walking around, and maybe I was too hungry to be focusing on looking for food, I ended up entering the other part of the center. The next thing I knew is the tall English Yew fence was already standing tall behind me. And Ieiunium was nowhere to be seen.

The place was trying its best to kill me as I distanced myself from the fence. There were at least five different kinds of sounds produced by a group of animals beating a basketball-size coconut shell with sticks. What kind of animals, you ask? I have no idea. Their bodies were all painted in colors and partly covered with either flowers or leaves. I couldn't recognize them anymore.