"The tomb..." Nea began, her voice calm once more, but now tinged with reverence. "It’s said to hold a trial—one that must be overcome to claim the true legacy of the time when Mezes ruled. Legend says the pharaoh wielded power on par with the gods—able to command creatures of the underworld as his servants, and build a desert kingdom untouched by time."
Ren raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly forward, his expression half-impressed, half-skeptical. "Wow. But... how come I’m only hearing about something that grand just now? I mean, this world’s packed with legends, but that one sounds too big to be forgotten."
Nea shook her head slowly, hugging her knees as she stared into the shrinking fire. "I’m not sure. But most people forget the stories of the past. We—our tribe—have lived there for generations. These stories were passed down from our ancestors, who refused to leave that land, even after the great tragedy that wiped out Mezes’ entire civilization."
"I see..." Ren stared into the fire, occasionally glancing at Nea. His tone was relaxed, but his eyes stayed calculating. "Sounds... dramatic. But maybe I’m not reacting like you expected because this is all brand new to me."
Nea looked at him, slightly disappointed by the flat tone in his voice. "You don’t seem very impressed."
Ren shrugged, leaning back into his chair. "Of course not. Because this is completely new info to me, and its credibility is still up for debate. I mean, if someone that powerful—a king with godlike powers—really existed, you’d think there’d be at least one record or mention of him outside this desert."
He looked at Nea with a gaze that was sharp but honest. "And in all my travels so far—reading hundreds of old documents, digging through artifact data and ancient systems—I’ve never come across a single trace of a Pharaoh Mezes."
Nea turned her eyes away, as if trying to swallow the doubt that had just been dropped at her feet. "So you think... I’m lying?"
Ren looked back at her, this time with a voice that was gentler but still grounded in logic. "Not lying. But I can’t take your story at face value. There’s just not enough evidence for me to believe Mezes is more than a glorified local myth."
Nea fell silent. Her long ears drooped slightly—an unconscious sign of insecurity—but there was no anger in her. Just disappointment. Not because she’d been rejected, but because deep down, she knew the truth she clung to might not stand beyond her tribe’s borders.
But before she could respond, Ren spoke again—his tone friendlier now, though still serious. "But... I’m not ignoring it. If that power really exists, it could be dangerous. Speaking of which—did Khan actually complete the trial? What did he do once he opened the tomb?"
Nea looked uneasy. The firelight reflected in her eyes as she clutched the edge of her cloak. She swallowed, then replied in a quiet, uneasy voice. "That... is difficult to explain."
Ren watched her, raising a brow, giving her a gentle nudge without pushing. "Try me. I’ve heard crazier."
The rabbit girl finally took a deep breath, then spoke with regret lacing her tone. "Khan destroyed the legacy... right in front of our tribe."
Ren tensed, his face registering disbelief he couldn’t quite hide. He leaned forward. "Wait. Okay—this is getting weird. You’re telling me he unlocked some ancient tomb, bypassed the seals, and... instead of taking the treasure or keeping it, he destroyed it?"
Nea bowed her head. Her cheeks flushed, either from shame or sorrow, as she recounted the truth she’d been forced to witness. "Well... actually, our village—the elders, to be exact—demanded that Khan hand over one item from the tomb. A significant relic of Mezes. A smooth stone inscribed with ancient runes."
"And let me guess," Ren cut in, his eyes narrowing. "Khan refused. Because he knew how dangerous it was."
Nea nodded slowly. "Yes. He sensed something inside the stone... something he didn’t want to awaken. But our village... they’re bound to the legend. They believed the stone was the key to our tribe’s salvation, that it would restore our former glory."
Ren leaned back, exhaling loudly as if he’d just heard the dumbest decision of the century. "And when he wouldn’t hand it over...?"
"The village turned on him," Nea said, her eyes beginning to well with tears. "They called him a traitor. Some hurled insults, others started spreading lies... until finally, Khan snapped. He took other artifacts from the tomb—not the stone, but ceremonial idols and symbols—and shattered them in front of everyone."
Ren stared at the fire, now reduced to glowing embers. His expression was blank, but his mind raced. "So they saw it as sacrilege. When all he was trying to do was protect you from something even he was afraid of."
Nea didn’t answer—just lowered her head even further. She knew all too well that Khan hadn’t been entirely right... but he hadn’t been wrong, either.
Ren eventually muttered under his breath, eyes fixed on the glowing coals. "People... or any thinking creature, really... they fear what they don’t understand. And when someone tries to stop disaster without being able to explain it, they’re the first one labeled a villain."
"Yeah..." Nea nodded faintly, her voice barely audible. Her head bowed deeply, as if the weight of that truth was far heavier than she could bear.
Ren let out a deeper sigh this time, then glanced over his shoulder. He and Alfred locked eyes in silence—and as if understanding him without a word, the male tiger gave a slow shake of his head, wearing his usual lazy expression. A gesture of resignation... or maybe just the quiet wisdom of a creature that had seen too many of humanity’s messes.
Ren raised a hand, lightly slapped his cheek, and spoke in a flat tone. "Alright... So, what is it that you actually want to do?"
Nea looked at him with eyes full of resolve, though doubt still lingered in her gaze about the steps she was about to take. "I want to meet Khan..." she said softly. "But I know it won’t be easy. Khan is always surrounded—by his followers, soldiers, even spies. But if you give me that pendant... I could use it as identification. It would get me close enough to see him."
Ren narrowed his eyes. "Okay, and what do you plan to do once you’re face-to-face with him? Ask him for the stone back? Or do you have some reckless plan to kill him?"
"NO!" Nea suddenly burst out, stepping forward slightly, her emotions spilling out in one sharp motion. "I don’t care about the stone, or Mezes’ legacy, or the pride of my tribe! All I want is... to see Khan!"
Ren looked at her, this time more deeply. Her reaction was too strong for it to just be about a mission. There was something more personal, something deeper than a conflict between a village and a mercenary leader.
"Why?" he asked, simple but weighted. His voice wasn’t pressing, nor accusatory—just a sincere curiosity, like someone seeking truth without judgment.
Nea stared into the shrinking fire, the flames casting soft shadows that danced in her eyes. That gaze no longer held just sadness, but a longing that had been buried for far too long.
"Please... don’t make me say it," she whispered, almost inaudibly. "It’s embarrassing..."
Ren watched her for a few seconds, then turned his gaze up to the night sky. In his heart, he already understood. The way she looked away, the tremor in her voice—this wasn’t someone shaken by ideology. This was something... personal.
"Ah..." Ren exhaled slowly, a half-smile tugging at his lips—tired, but understanding. "So it’s one of those stories, huh... girl gets rescued by a mysterious man, and quietly falls for him."
Nea didn’t answer, but her flushed cheeks and frozen silence said enough. She lowered her head, her long ears curling back nervously.
Ren didn’t laugh or tease. He simply gave a small nod, as if accepting that truth the same way he accepted the passing wind. "Alright. You don’t need anything else from your village, right?"
"Yes!" Nea answered quickly, this time with firm resolve. As if trying to prove her decision was final.
"Good," Ren said, slowly standing and pointing toward the portable tent beside his van. "Sleep in there. It’s warm, and you won’t be disturbed. And yeah... try not to be too nervous."
Nea blinked in confusion. "Nervous?"
Ren gave her a small grin, pointing inside the tent, where several large silhouettes could be faintly seen curled up. "Because inside there are Bella, Alfred, and three tiger cubs sleeping soundly. They’re sweet—unless they feel threatened."
Nea swallowed hard, her eyes widening slightly as she realized what he meant. "They... they won’t attack me, right?"
"Not unless you bite them first," Ren replied casually, settling back into his folding chair. "Trust me, they’re more civilized than most people I’ve met."
Nea finally stood and slowly walked toward the tent, occasionally glancing back at Ren. A faint, awkward smile stretched across her face—a mix of nerves and relief.
And Ren? He just looked back up at the sky, took a long breath, and muttered to himself. "Tomorrow morning, we begin the most ridiculous trip of the year... again."