"Then do you want to drink engine oil?"
Hearing Nafisah's question, Coppelia's hand, which had been stroking the disabled Moon Spirit, paused. She immediately pointed to Columbina, who was focused on enjoying her food beside her.
"I rely on her to replenish my energy," Coppelia explained. "I do not need to drink engine oil."
"Oh..." Nafisah drew out the syllable, her expression becoming subtle. Her gaze swept back and forth between Coppelia and Columbina several times, as if re-evaluating the relationship between the two.
Coppelia avoided her scrutiny, her attention shifting instead to Nafisah's long golden hair, which was braided intricately and draped over her right shoulder. Following the braid upward, her gaze settled on a hair accessory nestled in Nafisah's hair that looked very familiar.
The accessory was shaped like a small humanoid figure. Its relatively large head was like a green umbrella, topped with two tender green leaves resembling a small bamboo copter. Its facial features were simplified, looking like the character "口". Its slender body had fluid lines, and its surface appeared very smooth.
"The hair accessory you are wearing..." Coppelia asked, "Is that an Aranara?"
"Eh?" Nafisah seemed somewhat surprised. She reached up to remove the accessory and held it flat in her palm. "You... have seen an Aranara?"
"I've heard of them, and I 'know' a bit about what they look like," Coppelia replied. "But I have never truly encountered one in reality."
"Is that so." Nafisah's gaze became somewhat distant. "I seem to... have seen them often when I was a child. However, I can't distinguish whether those were things that truly happened or just dreams I had."
She pinned the accessory back into her hair.
"There were several times when I was having a nightmare, and suddenly it turned into a sweet dream. Their figures seemed to be present in those dreams. At first, I thought they only appeared in my dreams, but later I discovered that the classmates and friends I know have almost all dreamed of them..."
Nafisah turned around, gazing toward the depths of the rainforest to the east—the direction of the Akademiya, where the palace of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was also located. Her voice turned soft as she spoke:
"Everyone says that Aranara are the envoys of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, that they help us in our dreams and inspire wisdom."
She turned back, a trace of a self-deprecating smile on her face. "Though, having seen Aranara so many times, I still can't figure out many of the topics assigned by my mentor. Originally, I wasn't qualified to join this investigation team, but both my mentor and classmates felt my cooking was delicious, so they called me along to be responsible for everyone's meals."
Coppelia's eyes lit up as she looked at the nearly empty plate in front of Columbina. "You made all these?"
"That's right." Nafisah puffed out her chest, pride on her face. "Heh heh, although I can't help much with those complex academic topics, when it comes to cooking, no one in the team can compare to me."
Coppelia looked at her, hesitated for a moment, but spoke up anyway: "Then, when you have time, could you teach me?"
Nafisah was stunned at first. "Don't you not need to eat..." Immediately, realization dawned on her, and her gaze swept over Columbina, who was eating with focus.
"Oh—I understand! It's to cook for Little Yaya, right? Leave it to me!"
...
Around evening, Kelvin, wearing his monocle, found Coppelia and Columbina resting at the edge of the camp.
"The members who were out have mostly returned," he said. "Shall I take you to meet them?"
"Could you take us to find that friend of yours who can speak with Greater Lord Rukkhadevata first?" Coppelia politely declined the social invitation, cutting straight to the chase. "We will feel more at ease if we settle the matter sooner. As for the others, we will go say hello ourselves later; there is no need to take up your time specifically."
"That is naturally no problem." Kelvin nodded and turned to lead the way.
He brought the two to a tent in a corner of the camp and lifted the door curtain. Inside, a hanging ore lamp emitted a stable and warm bright yellow light, illuminating the desk below and the stacks of books neatly piled beside it.
On the chair behind the desk sat a tall, thin man who appeared to be around forty years old. He had light green long hair tied up loosely, and his face bore the weariness left by long hours of desk work. He was holding a cup of water, flipping through a book in his hand.
Seeing Kelvin enter with two strangers, he unhurriedly put down the water cup, stood up, and walked around the desk to welcome them.
Kelvin turned sideways, making a gesture of introduction. "This is Suleiman, one of the team leaders." He then turned to Suleiman. "These two are Miss Coppelia and Miss Columbina, travelers who have come from afar. They have some important matters... they need to seek knowledge from Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, and require some assistance you might provide."
Suleiman's gaze swept indifferently past Kelvin. He nodded, his voice steady:
"I understand."
Kelvin raised his hand to pinch the frame of the monocle on his right eye, showing his habitual smile.
"Then you guys chat, I'll go handle my affairs over there." After speaking, he turned and left the tent.
Suleiman's gaze watched Kelvin's back indifferently until the curtain fell and the footsteps faded away. Only then did he slowly turn his head back. On that weary face, a gentle yet genuine smile now appeared.
He brought two folding chairs from the corner of the tent and placed them in front of the desk.
"Please, sit."
After Coppelia and Columbina sat down, he walked back to his own seat. Once seated, he leaned forward slightly, hands clasped on the table, looking at the two:
"The problem you two have encountered is presumably one that human power cannot solve?"
"Correct." Coppelia nodded. "We can only seek the wisdom of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
Suleiman's gaze shifted to Coppelia, his tone soothing:
"I do indeed have channels to contact Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. However, before that, I would like to hear specifically what difficulty you have encountered."
Coppelia replied:
"My God has felt loneliness and wishes to create kin organisms belonging to herself. She has encountered difficulties in this matter, so she dispatched us here to seek the answer from the God of Wisdom."
"Not a difficult question. Greater Lord Rukkhadevata will surely be very willing to help you."
Suleiman nodded.
"I will take you to seek the answer."
Coppelia had deliberately concealed Columbina's identity as the Moon God. But what she did not notice was that Suleiman, in the moment he nodded, swept his gaze imperceptibly over the shriveled, disabled Moon Spirit in Columbina's arms.
"Then when can we see her?" Columbina couldn't help but interject to ask.
"A pity," Suleiman shook his head gently.
"I cannot establish an immediate connection with her directly. Otherwise, she might have been able to transmit the knowledge to you through dreams tonight. Transmitting information in the rainforest is not considered convenient. I fear we must wait until we complete the current investigation task and return to the Akademiya before I can contact her."
____
New Story: Junji Ito: I Shall Smash Hellstar Remina
✅ Read 40 chapters ahead on every series!
✅ Unlock supporter-only perks and news!
Let's reach these milestones together:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 free chapter for all readers
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 bonus chapters for all series!
👻 Walnutchan on P...