Translations are provided by Skylar. 

Moon sat up, watching Planet hold Sol in her arms before he fell. She held her up as Moon took in his surroundings: a group of men and a Dragon staring at them like they were sentient statues, his Planetary counterpart rising from the Second Corner, not being able to tell its brightness. He pushed his blonde hair out of his eyes and glared at the men until they looked away, uncomfortable. 

“Plezd od dokriz ali?” he asked, refreshing his brain of Elven as he covered Sol in her cloak and lifted her on his shoulder. What is going on?

“Et yuze kop laxau zaykirz.” Planet announced. He is offering to take us in. 

“Phor?” he asked, staring at the men. Who?

“E xli e ruvia nizaabe.” The sir with the Dragon. 

“Plezd uzukeien ipal?” What do you think?

“Dlegetir ali râdoli amniz ezukeien. Et ne anmi laxaud kop neillø anmi.” I think Sol is being dramatic. He doesn’t want to be taken in. 

Moon shrugged. “Ne phlee-tet e zaykir woenâr yulaxau? Plez ikinâr takko crei? Datir, yuze kop dânør kop buiwâri xlegero meg kipik amnik zkartan. Obiritan, tasil yutiervi dir creiji.” Why shouldn’t we take the offer? What harm could come? Besides, we’ve been in Wizard territory for seven days now. We knew this would happen again. 

“Muvijk uipal kipik?” Do you have doubts?

“Ne dukirz. Yus ødjlu ipal.” Not truly. You absolutely do. 

“Ne eipal.” No, I don’t. 

“Kuupir.” Liar. 

“What are they saying?” one of the men asked. 

“Do you think I speak that foreign language?” another spat. 

“Paxøl tasil lâuwt nir-riki kor. Yuze jieran fuhir woultye.” Just keep this ruse up. We solely speak Elven. 

Planet looked uncomfortable and Moon pieced it together. “Yus zirta torâ kop ziurei oz buiwâri kipik flemagi, ne kipik yus?” You’ve already said a bit in Modern, haven’t you?

She nodded, but he patted her shoulder. “Boliki fliz ali. Ziurei oz buiwâri râiko bodkir mi utiervi, zakeya.” He stared at the men again, and they jumped back. Planet was the only one in the clearing that was engaged. That’s alright. You know more Modern than me, anyway. 

“Ayy, pik-dee fled oz yus boliki kir mâyki esipal rei!” she grinned. “Kir ekwøduar ali.” Ooh, your eyes are so pretty when they do that! It’s so focused. 

“Plezd uipal farâi?” Moon asked, holding a hand towards his eyes, noticing the reflection of dark light on his skin. “Ay. Axørlitad fled. Ne ete edekkøl.” What do you mean? Ah. Embodimented eyes. I never regard it. 

The man next to the Dragon stepped forward, holding out a hand. “If you children would like, I can take you in.” 

“Zirta tasil mâynni uwoulyiet ze.” Planet whispered. I already told you about this. 

“Ta, ne ehenerve rei.” he agreed. Yes, I'm not stupid. 

“What do you say?” The man asked. 

Planet translated the line to him, both of them knowing that it wasn’t required. “Plezd uwoultye ipal? Nepik-dee et zaykir ulaxau?” What do you say? Will you take his offer?

Moon shrugged. “Ete fliz ekzimta. zakeya, yuze il e zirtan rei norii, ne yuze rei?” It sounds well. Anyway, we are here forever, are we not?

Planet smiled and turned to the man, switched to Modern but with an accent. “My brother agrees to take your offer.” 

The man sighed in relief and grabbed Moon's hand, shaking it aggressively. “Oh, thank you, thank you, children. You won't regret this.” 

“Am already.” Moon said, adding a thick accent. 

The man blinked. “So you do speak Modern?” 

Planet caught on and spoke a lie. “Only a little bit. I'm trying to teach him.” 

“Interesting.” the man muttered, covering his mouth with his hand. 

“Zikiete?” Moon whispered as the man turned to the others, and they all followed him northeast.

“Plezd e yor-kik ali?” she asked, slowing down to walk directly next to him. What is the problem?

“Excuse me?” The leading man asked, giving them a smile. “Can I carry your…brother?” 

“Sibling.” Planet corrected, turning to Moon. “And-” 

Moon shook his head. “Ne linâx eztened ipal. Enlaxaur yulixâ anmi kop, jâforr ne ze enipal torr. Zakeya, ze ete kerri rezkla idygi yuze ali. Elaxau woulyiet et ezt nepik-dee." Don't allow them. They may be taking us in, but I don't trust them. Anyway, it feels like a routine between us. Tell him I will take her.

Planet nodded and translated. “He says no, thank you.” 

They found the town walls quickly and passed two sleeping guards through the gates. The Dragon saw the gates and took flight, circling the sky above before she descended towards a field. Planet stepped closer to Moon, grabbing his sleeve discreetly. 

“Plezd e yor-kik ali? Ipal ne-kleetâ uidygi?” What is the problem? Do you feel unsafe?

Planet nodded. “Ikinâr zarkeya uipal?” Could you do something?

An idea came to mind and he smiled. “Kal e zirta Dlegetir laxau?” Take Sol for a moment?

The two stopped walking and Moon put Sol in her arms. Meanwhile, a man stepped towards the leader for a talk. 

“Sir, it's quite late. Do you mind if I leave?” 

“Of course, my good man.” 

“Minute one.” Moon asked, stepping behind them and flipping his head into his Embodiment and stretching his limbs to appear taller. The men backed away, scared. Planet bit someone who tried to touch her shoulder.

“Sirs, our residence a single word town this is I hear you say, all you I find, and sure that ordered under oure parents sure make of you be silence-ed. Understand?”

Planet cleared her throat, adjusting Sol in her arms. “He says if you say anything of our residence here, he'll report you to our parents.” 

The men hardly reacted, so Planet had to fill in the gaps. 

“The Deities. E Idyguol. The Children of the Universe.” 

They realized their mistake at her first words and a few ran away, shouting back their apologies. The rest stood in shock, probably coming to a realization or two.

“Well?” Moon snapped at them. “You to dismiss, I have.” 

It took them an extra moment to follow his words, pushing each other out of the way as they ran home. 

Moon wiped his hands together and faced the man who had the Dragon. “Now that is double is out sort. Can we leave?”

The man blinked before he nodded, waving a hand for them to follow him. Planet transferred Sol into Moon’s arms, who placed him over his shoulder before they ran slowly to catch up with the man, who was pointing out buildings as they passed. 

“Here is Miss. Garria’s fish and butcher shop. A waste of talent, I tell you. She was a fine silk maker in her youth. Ah, there is Sir. Nicou’s weaponry business.” 

He motioned to a building with another stacked on top, both ready to fall at a moment’s notice, but it appeared that Dellun held it stable. “He normally has his sons build the weapons while he makes the pitch. I hear his two eldest ran out of there when they came of age, though no one knows why.” 

“Ne, etiervi wil.” Moon mumbled while Planet tried not to react. No, I can know.

He laughed, seeing another shop. “Of course, how could I forget? Right there, under the burned sign, is Sir. Pender’s cheese shop. I hear he gets the milk from Miss. Garria.” 

As the Sir. continued talking about their drama, Moon saw a tight alley between that building and the next which he marked as another hiding spot in case they had to run. Just because he had accepted the man’s offer didn’t mean that Moon felt safe nor that he wasn’t preparing for the worst outcome. 

“And our last stop is my store.” He held the door open for the two as he kept talking. “I sell supplies to assist Dragons and their riders, such as saddles and whips.” 

“Interestende.” Planet muttered, noticing the wood everywhere. 

“Râiko torâ, ete ali?” Moon asked, examining the framework. A little much, is it? 

The Elves had built their towns from the earth or other materials, keeping their interior simple. The Wizards, apparently, needed every precaution. This home was made of wood and there were posts standing at every square. The roof was held up with more posts to support it. It felt offensive to Yael when simply looking at it.

Planet touched a post, her hand sinking into the wood for a moment before the man turned to a tall pole with hooks on top, removing his overcoat and shoes. Moon examined a post as well, seeing chips of themselves falling off. 

“Odd children.” the man muttered. 

“Yuze burâ rei anmik.” Moon told Planet as she looked into the wooden counter. “Plezd etføbir ali, rezkla?” We're being rude. What's his name, even? 

“Lenik. Ipal boliki umakir?” Quiet. Do you hear that?

“E nømard? E dokri? Ne eamnøbi. Paxøl e mâyki e derrø oz-” The chirps? The leaves? Not my fault. Just the beauty of the night-

“Ne boliki.” Not that. 

Moon shrugged, adjusting Sol on his shoulder. “Fliz, plezd phor boliki fikir veerol norii utiervi enwoultye makir mâynni. Et høraphi ali.” Well, you know what they say about who can hear other voices. He's mad. 

Planet looked at him, not noticing her hair fading into the wood. “Ne ehøraphi rei.” I'm not mad. 

“Zirta. Et føbir?” Eventually. His name?

She sighed and turned to the man. “He asks what your name is?” 

He realized his mistake and crossed his ankle behind the other in a small bow. “Disgraceful, am I? I am Sir. Artos Theodric. A businessman.” 

Moon tugged at the end of his pant, trying to mimic the bow that he had seen the Elven ladies do when meeting an elder male, which was proving to be difficult with his sibling on his shoulder. “Ijero. Tasil urdup Dlegeti Zikiete ali.” Moon. This is Sol and Planet. 

“Zirta, yus e barrokoed rei. Ne uwil yuze mierka.” Planet noted, remembering the Elven tradition. Wait, you're the youngest. You can't introduce us.

“Olck phor kor hzerven?” Who woke up first?

“Dlegeti.” 

“Ne eløkkied kir bodkir wil mierka.” Then the eldest can't introduce us. 

Planet signed a swear towards him which he waved away, noticing an odd shelf behind a counter. 

“Nizabø kreetta oz?” Moon asked, then remembered he couldn’t understand him. “Zikiete, yus zirkik farâik rei.” Vials of blood? Planet, you're meant to exchange. 

Planet blinked at him then sighed. “Obiritan, uwil boliki woultye? Ne ipal yus emakir.” Can you say that again? I didn't hear you. 

“Ewoultye, nizabø kreetta oz. Plezd kal eztene rei?” I said, vials of blood. What are they for? 

“He said vials blood of. Oh, wait. Boliki fliz ali?” Is that right?

“What do you…” His eyes caught on his shelf and he grinned. “Oh, my poor boy.” – Moon instinctively hid his chest with a pull of his top. – “I don’t sell those. Those are from my Dragon, Venul, and the results of her brothers and sisters.” 

“What brothers and sisters?” Planet asked, scratching at a wooden counter. 

“I should have an eye or a skin nearby of– Oh. I mean, it’s nothing. Nothing you should concern yourself with for now.” he said, correcting his mistake before he noticed it. 

“Huh. That was it blood of Wizard I assumed, first look at. It Dragon sole-like is, luck-ee. Clear-like, it that much plural make is.”

The Sir. blinked, trying to understand his “broken” Modern. “W-What a morbid assumption. I am not a murderer.” 

“Alleged.” Moon mumbled as the Sir noticed a scroll next to the vials and handed it to Planet, who spread it across the wooden counter. 

It showed the map of the world they lived in, and Moon saw Planet’s eyes change to reflect a more accurate depiction of it. The map on paper was split in four sections, with the Giants and Witches in the North, though there was no border between them, proving he hadn’t left his town in ages. The Wizard territory was carefully written, while the Elven territory looked smaller than it actually was. 

Moon touched the edge of the page to move it closer to him, but recoiled at the odd feeling. “Hervli.” Gross. 

“Is there a problem?” the Sir asked. 

“P…paay-juh.” He stretched out the word, hitting each syllable. “Wet is.” 

“You put your finger in ink. That’s probably why.” 

Moon wiped the ink on his pants. “That not. I mean want.” 

“What.” Planet corrected, still taking in the map. 

He touched an ink-free spot and showed the debris of the wet paper on his finger. “Watch? Deb-riss.” 

The Sir. took his finger in his hand and examined it. “I don’t see anything.” 

Moon waited for him to let go before he wiped the hand on his pants, feeling disgusted. 

“Dânør jieran oz e mi pudire ali.” Planet noted, her eyes not changing back to the average white-and-brown ball. The Elven Territory is confusing me. 

“Ay, enyøjai yweka døkiete eztened piklu kop datirk sekra tasil tersuk oz.” Moon noted, trying not to touch the page. Well, they used to document everything in their lands instead of this cheap thing. 

“Dukir.” Planet yawned, gripping the counter tight as her hand melted into it. “Wil etoukirâ? Zep-unto? Ete xlegero pek amnik ali.” True. Can I sleep? Please? It's been five days. 

“Xlegero pek?” Moon asked, concern rising for her. “Phlee-tet yus dirl baijøt tasil lerik kørii yus oz?” Five days? Why would you push yourself like this?

“Du yus ekisk jeraz-” I have to protect you two-

“Ne, yuze hjerka e rei. Woenâr yus I eaxøwui?” No, we are the protectors. Should I remind you?

“Zer leanmi woultyed,” she snapped. “Ze fâreti yus du wil jeraz mi kerri toukirâ oz.” As I was saying, I can protect the both of you through my sleep schedule. 

“Urdup xin boliki mâynni xlegero du ali, ne peki! Zkartan toukirâ yudeillâ yus kipbi!” And that limit is about two days, not five! We need to get you asleep now!

“Zer detâ boliki ete kun-e ali.” As if it's that easy. 

“Uekir rei zerig. Mi pejai bilik.” You're set to fall. Hold my shoulder. 

Planet pushed him away and looked up at the Sir. “Is there a sleeping quarter we can put Sol in?” 

“Of course.” 

He led the two to a taller room behind a door that was stacked with piles of hay. There was a window that allowed a faint bit of moonlight through it. Moon set down Sol before he stepped into the ray, merging with it and getting a look at his Planetary counterpart from above. It was shining at less than half, appearing as a twisted smile, or, as the Elves had called it, a crescent. 

He pulled himself back into the room, appearing first in his Embodiment form before he turned to his Wizardly. “Ne ze nepik-dee derrø tasil delak-toukirâ anmi.” Well, I won't be half-awake tonight. 

Planet had already laid down in the hay next to Sol and was fast asleep. The Sir. didn’t notice until Moon did. 

“So,” he chuckled, pointing at Planet as her skin absorbed some bits of hay. “What is her-her sleep schedule?”