The inn was quiet now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The guests had retired to their rooms, and the common room below had fallen silent. The last traces of conversation had disappeared, leaving only the occasional creak of timber settling beneath the cool night air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gorbluth had retired to his room after dinner of mutton and ale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 and Seralyth had done the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their room was illuminated by a single oil lamp near the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 sat in the wooden chair beside the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth sat on the bed, watching him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was something different about him tonight. K-10 was always quiet and analytical, but his attention seemed farther away than usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What are you thinking about?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Timelines.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Time-what?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Timelines.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I heard you. What timelines?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 explained that he had been reviewing the sequence of events leading to the attack. The assassins had appeared shortly after they repaired the Seal in the Black Forest of Geldanos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth considered the timing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“You think they’re connected?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There is a probability.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They discussed the possibility for several minutes. The timing was unusual, but there was not enough information to establish a direct connection. Gorbluth’s observations through his Detection Affinity had raised more questions than they had answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, Seralyth rubbed her temples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“My head hurts.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 looked at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Do you require medical assistance?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“No. I require sleep.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She stood and walked toward the wardrobe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Kaiten.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Stand up and face the wall.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 stood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Why?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Because I’m changing.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He processed the instruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Understood.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He turned toward the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Do not turn around.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I won’t.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth changed into her nightgown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 remained motionless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When she finished, she slipped beneath the blanket and pulled it over herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“You can turn around now.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 turned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth settled against the pillow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Good night.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Good night.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She closed her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For several minutes, she tried to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It did not work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She shifted onto one side, then the other. She adjusted the pillow, pulled the blanket higher, and finally settled onto her back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When she opened her eyes, K-10 was still standing beside the chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was looking directly at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What are you doing?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Observing you.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Why?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I don’t have a specific reason.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Then stop.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 turned his attention toward the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She closed her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A short while later, she opened them again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 was looking at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Kaiten, go somewhere else.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 glanced around the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There’s nowhere to go.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth pulled the blanket higher and looked away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Fine. Just sit down.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 returned to the wooden chair beside the window and sat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The room grew quiet again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a moment, Seralyth looked toward him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Tell me about Earth.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 regarded her for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What would you like to know?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Everything.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 leaned back slightly in the chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He began with the basics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Earth is another world. It has one moon.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth looked surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“One?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We have two.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I know.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 explained that Earth was divided into seven continents separated by large oceans. The continents contained mountains, forests, deserts, grasslands, rivers, and regions of extreme cold and heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There are seven continents?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes. Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth repeated several of the names quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Are there many nations?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“More than a hundred.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Do they all have kings?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“No. Earth has many different forms of government. Some nations have kings or queens. Others have different forms of government.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth considered the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And the people?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There are billions of humans.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her eyes widened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Billions?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 explained that humans lived across the continents in villages, towns, and enormous cities. Some cities contained millions of people and buildings that rose many stories above the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What do they use to travel between these places?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Cars, trains, ships, and aircraft.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Aircraft?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Machines capable of flight.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Without magic?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Without magic.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth looked at him with renewed interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Then how do they fly?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Science and engineering.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What is science?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The study of how the natural world works.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 explained that humans had learned to produce electricity, build machines, treat diseases, communicate over great distances, and travel through the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth listened closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And how do they communicate?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Phones, radio, computers, and the internet.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The internet?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“A system that connects devices around the world. It allows people to exchange information over great distances.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth considered that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Do you have Vends?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“No.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She turned toward him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“None?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There are no confirmed records of Vends ever existing on Earth.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth studied him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Then why do humans know about them?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 looked at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Humans have stories about them. Legends, myths, and tales.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Stories about Vends?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes. They call them elves.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth’s expression changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And orcs?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“But there are no Vends or orcs on Earth.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Correct.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Then how did humans imagine them?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 was silent for several seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I don’t know.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked toward the ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“That is difficult to explain.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth remained thoughtful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What other creatures?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Dwarves.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Like the Darvenim?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Similar.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Anything else?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 listed several creatures found in Earth’s mythology and folklore. Some had characteristics that resembled creatures of Tarmynia, while others were entirely unfamiliar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth listened carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Your people created stories about races that actually exist here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Apparently.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“How?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I don’t know.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 did not speculate further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth eventually moved on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And there is no magic?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“None that has been scientifically verified.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She absorbed that information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Your world sounds very strange.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It was normal to me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Was?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 remained silent for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She did not press him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, she asked him to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 described Earth’s cities, transportation, medicine, computers, music, and the many different cultures that had developed across the world. He explained that people worked, studied, raised families, created art, traveled, explored, and competed with one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He described technology that allowed humans to travel beneath oceans and beyond the atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Did humans visit the moon?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth looked surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“For what reason?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Curiosity.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth considered the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 continued describing Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth continued to ask questions, but gradually they became less frequent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her breathing slowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 continued speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, there was no response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked toward the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seralyth had fallen asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K-10 remained seated in the chair beside the window, fully awake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The town outside was silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He continued speaking for a few moments before realizing she was no longer listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then the room fell silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[End Linden Arc]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The inn was quiet now. The guests had retired to their rooms, and the common<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4147"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4371,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4147\/revisions\/4371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsantos.net\/_blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}