13 the tablets - 3 (1/2)

I hated admitting it. The scene of the sun embracing the cosmic darkness in the fallen heavenly court was so much more beautiful in Nashi. The twins were on the other side, looking at the runes with the same expression. We didn't know the whole story, but the scene was so beautiful and heart wrenching in Nashi.

”This is why pictorial are the best,” Dia said in a voice drenched in grief.

”Stop crying,” Pratt told Dia, laughing as she tried glaring at him and failed. ”So, don't you love pictorial too,” he asked me.

I nodded.

”Just this once, Nashi is better,” I relented.

”But Vikari is still the best,” Dia completed for me.

And we were all smiling.

”So, I think you should get some sleep now.”

He was looking behind me. I knew without turning, it was Catarina.

”Good night, you two,” Catarina said to the twins before ending the call.

”And you,” she said to me. ”What are you doing still up?”

I showed her my notebook. And I saw her eyes widening in seconds.

She flipped the pages with Nashi quickly, pausing for longer on the page with the translation of the third tablet in Vikari. She was reading for far too long though.

”What is it,” I asked.

It wasn't as if she hadn't read the story on the tablet before. I was sure the first tablets were already translated, in common tongue too. Why did she look so excited?

”Nothing,” she said, shaking her head clear of all expression. ”This is really good. I can't bring myself to be harsh. Still, you need sleep.”

Dropping my notebook onto the table, she dragged be by my hand to the bed in her room.

”Imagine me as mommy, and sleep,” she said, as she hugged me close.

”Why are you being so clingy?”

She didn't miss a beat answering.

”Because I'm certain you'll run away if I let go.”

I was embarrassed at being read so well.

After a brief silence, she asked softly.

”Was that pictorial runes?”

”Yes. Nashi.”

”You learned tonight?”

”Yeah. Dia taught me. She's very good.”

”Yeah, she is. But I think she'd agree with me about who's better.”

”Who?”

She laughed in reply. And silence returned. Less than a minute later, she was asleep. With her arms around me.