Python: “I… Need to tell you something. Something that I’ve been keeping to myself. Would you be willing to hear me out?”

Chirin nodded.

Python: “Alright… When I first met you, I assumed you were just a strange looking Abyssian with a birth defect or whatnot because I found the notion of you being anything else absurd. I was constantly making rationalizations to support my own belief, and I confused you in the process. That’s… my bad.”

Python: “I think it’s about time that I embraced all the absurdities. I can’t keep denying it any longer. Chirin… You’re no Abyssian, and I’ve seen Nirvanians…You have a heart. You’re not one either.”

She turned to fully face Chirin, and laid a hand on his uninjured shoulder. 

Python: “You… must be something else entirely.”

Chirin returned her gaze with one of shock and stunned uncertainty. He suddenly felt different. So out of place in this world of people who think of him as an Abyssinian. Having seemingly understood his fear, Python gently squeezed Chirin’s shoulder.

Python: “This doesn’t change anything Chirin. As long as this stays between us, everything is going to be okay. As far as anybody else is concerned, you’re just an Abyssian with an aesthetically pleasing birth defect, and I’m your guardian. Nothing more, nothing less. If anyone asks, you tell them that and nothing else.”

Python: “You’re already noticeable enough, but if word of you being this much different spreads around, we’re going to have much more than just Hvitur to worry about. Understood?”

Chirin: “Y-Yes ma’am.”

To Chirin’s slight relief, the only implication Python gave at being annoyed at being referred to as ma’am came through a sharp exhale through her nose. She bounced to her feet and stepped a few paces away from where Chirin sat, weaving her coin thoughtlessly between her fingers. Chirin sheepishly fidgeted with the fluff of Python’s coat.

Chirin: (“Hvitur…”)

An image of Hvitur flashed in his mind– the white haired man who stood taller than both he and Python, his dark, equine-like eyes blown wide with what Chirin almost thought was desperation as he begged him to answer his question.

( Hvitur Lockweed: “Please. I have to know. Please. I don't have much time!” )

Chirin: (“He seemed so scared. So desperate. Something was pushing him to act the way he did… but what was it?”)

( Python: “It’s not unheard of for those at the end of their lifespans to prowl the streets in search of an easy, nice looking heart to take to extend it, and I don’t think I’m mistaken to think that eating yours is exactly what that snake wanted to do.” )

Chirin: (“...”)

Chirin: (“...The way his body was breaking apart… Could it be… that he’s nearing the end of his lifespan…?”)

A shiver ran through his body as he seriously considered the possibility—

Chirin: (“No… It can’t be a possibility… H-He really was…”)

 He couldn’t help the look of pity that crossed his face.

Chirin: (“He really was dying… No wonder why he said he hoped he didn’t see me again.”)

Chirin: “...Do you think he’s going to try to come after us?”

Python huffed.

Python: “Doubtful. If he’s smart, he’ll know that if he wants you, he’ll have me to deal with.”

Python: “There’s no telling what would have happened if there weren’t so many people around earlier. That man was all tunnel vision on you. No situational awareness on him at all, but once he saw me he was quick to back down. It’s a good thing he did. I really didn’t want to have to start a fight in such a busy area.”

Chirin winced.

Chirin: “Y-Yeah, back there… you were…”

Chirin: (“Scary. Totally scary. Super scary. Vicious. Witchy. Unrecognizable. Super brave. Powerful. Like a titanium metal bowl thing filled with molten lava, and that molten lava is being poured on our enemies, and then those enemies are trying to punch that titanium bowl and hurting their fists because it’s rock hard and—!”)

Chirin twiddled his thumbs, his face getting warmer by the second.

Chirin: (“Oh, drat! Why did I even think that?! I can’t say that!”)

Chirin: “Uhmm…”

Python: “...I was totally-super-incredibly-insanely-badass?”

Chirin stared at her with the straightest face he could muster.

Chirin: “Yeah... I was going to say… uh… ‘brave and a little scary’ but… I think you phrased it better.”

Python: “Hah. Damn right.”

Chirin burst into a quiet fit of giggles.

Python: “...What’s so funny?”

Chirin: “You! You always have a way of making things less stressful for some reason. Like with the Elder Abyssian… And now! You’re funny!”

Python: “Me…? No, I can’t be. You’re the funny one, Chirin.”

Chirin: “But you’re funnier.”

Python sighed and shook her head, a small smile present on her face.

Python: “Okay, okay. I concede. Monarchs know I can’t argue with you on that one. Anyways…”

She placed a free hand on her chin, her next words a barely audible mumble.

Python: “What was I saying before that guy very rudely interrupted our conversation?”

Chirin: “...I dunno. You didn’t really get anything out before all… that happened, sorry…”

Python: “That’s alright Chirin, that was more of a question for myself. You didn’t really need to answer that.”

Chirin: “Oh. Okay…”

Python snorted.

Python: “Hey now, don’t look so down. I still appreciate your input. We were talking about… coins… Yes… Coin tricks.”

Python: “You remember what I said last night about those?”

Chirin thought for a moment.

Chirin: “ ‘I don’t know what’s so interesting about what I’m doing right now, Chirin’ “

Python: “What? No! Not that, the other thing. After I was done teaching you how to coin-flick?”

Chirin stared at her blankly, and Python sighed.

Python: “Right… You were sleeping when I said it. I’ll say it again, then…”

Python: “About coin tricks: don’t ever expect to get it right the first time. You might be a biiiiiiit frustrated at first, but if you keep at, you’ll be even better the next time you get at it...”

With a flick of her wrist, she produced a coin seemingly from thin air. She stared at it thoughtfully as she began to weave it between her fingers.

Python: “...When you said that my coin tricks were ‘super cool’, that made me really happy. I didn’t think I'd ever reach a point in my life where somebody would be looking at me doing that as if I was some sort of crazy wonder of the ten worlds. Not even Wolfspider. It’s not even that impressive–”

Chirin: “What?! What do you mean it’s not impressive?! It’s super-duper impressive! I don’t even have words to explain how awesome it is! It’s like– your hands do this wavey thingy, and then it makes these noises like ‘clink!’ and ‘clang!’ and then the coins’ just gone like… poof! And then you pull it outta nowhere like… woah!”

He drove his point further home by clumsily imitating her actions in the best impression he could muster of her with his own coin.

Chirin: “It’s impressive! You’re impressive! I really mean that.”

Python: “...Wow. You’re giving me too much credit. I don’t really see myself as the kinda person worth looking up to, but… well… aghhh… Alriiiiight. I guess it is impressive, then. You’re right.”

Chirin: “Damn right I am!”

Python: “To be honest… I was lying when I said that coin was useless to me. I gave it to you because I wanted you to have it. I wanted to see you practice what I taught you, so I can’t possibly take that away from you.”

Python: “It’s yours, and in some kinda way, you…”

She hesitated for a second, her gaze darting between her coin and Chirin.

Python: “Well… It’s kinda weird… But, you remind me of my younger self… in a lot of ways.”

Chirin’s eyes widened.

Chirin: “I do…? How so?”

Python: “Well, you’re kind of a brat sometimes—”

Chirin: “Hey…”

Python: “ —Like me! I was a bit of a brat too. Except, I was more angry at the world than scared of it.”

It took less than a second for her to realize what she had said. When she did, she inhaled sharply, and her face tilted down a bit.

Chirin: “…Angry? Why were you angry?”

Python: “That’s…”

She sighed.

Python: “Something I’d rather not get into right now.”

Python: “...I was actually around your age when I started traveling. That was around the time I started self-teaching myself how to do coin tricks. There’s a lot of dull moments when you travel alone, so I started doing them just to pass the time and keep my mind off things, and man… I sucked at them!”

She laughed a bit, her head gently swaying from side to side.

Python: “I didn’t have anyone to teach me. Nobody was there to tell me what I was doing right or wrong. To tell me where I needed to go, or what I had to do. Everything I know is just what I randomly figured out through trial and error.”

Python: “...I suppose I would have gotten much further progress-wise if I had help…  If I was with someone who actively had my back, maybe there are some mistakes I made that would have never happened in the first place…”

Python fell silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on her coin. She had stopped weaving it between her fingers and was holding it rigidly between her ring finger and thumb. Normally, when she was deep in thought, she’d unintentionally let her thoughts spill out through hushed murmurs, but right now, she was uncharacteristically silent.

Python: “Well… the past is in the past now. The path to a brighter future isn’t an easy one, and the only direction we can keep moving towards it is forward. No use in sitting around and dwelling on things that have already happened. You won’t get anywhere like that.”

(An image of his father flashed in Chirin’s mind: standing alone in a sea of white flowers, staring off into the void that loomed over the edge of Terra Firma and standing deathly still.)

(He really missed him.)

Python: “Anyways, I’m going off topic, I digress…”

She looked at Chirin, a warm yet wiley smile present on what Chirin could see on her face.

Python: “You sure you wanna start pulling your own weight, Chirin?”

Chirin nodded fervently.

Python: “Good. Because you’re technically right about the two-way-deal-two-way-effort stuff. If that’s what you want, then who am I to turn down your free labor? But where to start…?”

After thinking for a moment, she straightened up, as if a lightbulb went off in her head.

Python: “...How about you lead the way this time, Chirin? I’ve pretty much been doing that all day today. I’m getting reaaaaaaaal tired of it.”

Chirin grew pale.

Chirin: (“You want me to lead the way through this huge crazy city full of people who won’t stop gawking at me?!”)

Python: “We ought to try to look for an inn to stay for the night. I’d say this might be a good chance for you to take everything in at your own pace. Get more confident with it, and all that. This is a perfect job for you.”

Chirin: “Uhm, I don’t know… You know Outcry better than me. Wouldn’t this… ‘job’... be more fit for you?”

Python: “Nonsense! You’ll be fine.”

Chirin: “Are you sure?”

Python: “Yes, I’m sure.”

Chirin: “... You’re really sure?”

Python: “... Chirin. I’m sure as hell sure about being sure about this.”

Chirin: “Really?”

Python: “Really.”

Chirin: “...”

Python: “...”

The two of them shared a small laugh before Python gently tapped Chirin on the shoulder, and gestured ahead at the streets that lay ahead of them.

Python: “Now go on. You lead the way. I’ve got your back.”

Chirin stared at her for a moment, still unsure about taking on this menial, yet daunting task, and slightly regretting putting himself on the spot. But when he hesitantly tore his gaze away from her and stared ahead at the streets populated by Abyssians, he couldn’t help but feel hopeful about leading his own path for once.

He thought about the coin she gave him earlier today, and his grip around it tightened, the cold metal warming against the heat of his hand. And then, he shakily stood up and began walking. 

With each careful step he took, Chirin led the way through Outcry, with Python following a safe distance behind him.

They didn’t walk for long before Chirn heard Python pipe up behind him.

Python: “... Wait a minute. Earlier… did you just say ‘damn’ ?”

Chirin: “...Yes?”

After a brief silence, Python wheezed.

Python: “S-Sweet monarchs. Don’t do that again.”

A 𓇗  𓆸 A ᪥ L

As Chirin walked through Outcry with Python trailing closely behind, they entered streets gradually becoming busier with Abyssians. Despite his task of finding a place to stay, the lively chatter and enticing aroma of food in one particular street piqued his curiosity. It was bright; almost deceptively so, illuminated by dozens of brightly colored signs with words he couldn't read.

He cast a questioning glance at Python, wondering if she would be okay with him taking them to explore this more entertaining section of Outcry. As if she sensed his thoughts, she nodded wordlessly, smiling in what appeared to be slight amusement.

Chirin had beamed at that.

They spent the next half hour walking through that bustling street, with Python reading out loud anything that Chirin had asked of her, and Chirin learning what certain letters looked like. At one point, they passed by the entrance of a restaurant, where a stoat-like waitress holding a large plate full of what looked to be dumpling samples skewered by toothpicks approached the pair. 

Initially, when she had approached them, Chirin had a slight flash of nervousness, almost falling behind Python as he pulled her coat tighter over his body, but her hand had fallen on his shoulder, and she gently steadied him; a silent gesture that everything was okay. 

That had given him the confidence he needed to approach the other Abyssian. He remembered how Python had greeted the other Abyssians at Outcry, and he mimicked that behavior as best as he could, greeting the waitress with a curt nod and brightening up when she returned his pleasantries. Chirin glanced at Python.

Chirin: “What are those? The things that the waitress has on her plate…?”

Python: “Those are plum dumplings.”

Chirin carefully took one, and after giving it a couple of sniffs and gazing at it curiously for a long moment, he popped it into his mouth.

In an instant, a burst of a sweet, fruity flavor danced on his taste buds. The outer layer of the dumpling crumbled gently in his mouth, making way to a jelly-like center that made way for another burst of fruity sweetness. There was a hint of vanilla, maybe a bit of honey, and a lot of sugar in just that one small morsel. It was sweeter than anything Chirin had ever eaten.

Python “Well…? What do you think?”

Chirin’s eyes sparkled as he let out a delighted squeal.

Chirin: “It’s like eating a fruit… but like… sweeter… so much sweeter—! M-May I have another one… p-please–?”

Python and a blissfully happy Chirin walked away from that restaurant with a small box full of dumplings and tonight’s meal in take-out boxes. The rest of their walk through that busy street consisted of the pair stopping occasionally at the doorsteps of any restaurants that offered free samples to potentially interested patrons.

As they left behind that bustling and entertaining district of Outcry, and arrived at the most convenient inn available, the looming threat of Hvitur completely escaped Chirin's mind.