(Chapter 122 True Colors)
"How much longer, Faruzan?"
Nahida asked, her voice tinged with worry. Seated in the passenger seat, she clutched the edge of her seat tightly, her eyes flitting to the horizon with increasing concern.
Faruzan, focused on navigating Hatsume's latest invention, the automobile, cast a quick glance at Nahida before returning her attention to the road. The vehicle hummed steadily as it traveled. Outside, four horseback knights rode in formation, their presence a protective escort for the vehicle.
"Don't worry."
Faruzan replied, her tone calm and reassuring. She allowed herself a small smile, hoping to ease Nahida's anxiety.
"The sky has already returned to normal. That's a sure sign they've succeeded. There's no need to fear the worst anymore."
Nahida exhaled softly, her grip on the seat loosening slightly. The sight of the clear sky above brought a measure of comfort, but her concern for Tempest and the others lingered.
"I hope you're right."
She murmured, though her voice still carried a trace of unease.
Faruzan glanced at her again, this time with a more confident smile. "Besides."
She added, her voice lighter.
"Hatsume messaged me just moments ago through the Contact Prism. All six tribes have been secured. We've won."
Nahida's eyes widened in surprise, her expression shifting to one of tentative relief.
"The tribes are safe?"
She asked as if needing to hear it again.
Faruzan nodded firmly.
"Yes. Hatsume confirmed it herself. Tempest's strategy worked, and his forces ensured the tribes were protected. The immediate threat has passed."
The vehicle continued its smooth journey, the rhythmic clatter of the wheels on the uneven road a steady backdrop to their conversation. Outside, the knights kept a vigilant watch, their figures stoic and unwavering.
Nahida finally allowed herself to relax, leaning back into her seat with a small sigh of relief.
"I should have known Tempest would have accounted for everything."
She said softly, more to herself than to Faruzan.
"Still, I can't help but worry until I see him with my own eyes."
Faruzan chuckled lightly, her hands steady on the wheel.
"That's just who you are, Nahida. But trust me, he's fine. He always is."
The two women shared a quiet moment of understanding, their thoughts turning to the battles fought and the sacrifices made.
Suddenly, Faruzan began trembling uncontrollably, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. Her pupils dilated, and her chest heaved as if she couldn't get enough air. The confident demeanor she had shown moments ago was gone, replaced by a look of pure terror.
"No… Don't!"
She cried out, her voice breaking with desperation.
"Don't take me back down there! I… I just got released! I won't return! Please, don't!"
"Faruzan?"
Nahida's voice was soft but tinged with growing alarm as she turned to look at her friend. The steady hum of the automobile faltered as Faruzan released the steering wheel, her hands flying to clutch her head as if she were trying to block something out. Her body convulsed slightly, and beads of sweat formed on her brow.
"I won't! I won't!"
Faruzan screamed, shaking her head violently.
"I won't spend another century down there!"
Her heterochromatic eyes flickered unnaturally, pulsing between their usual vibrant colors and an ominous, inky black. The shifting hues seemed almost alive, as though something was struggling for control within her.
"Faruzan?!"
Nahida exclaimed, her worry mounting as she leaned closer, trying to reach her. Her small hands trembled as she hesitated to touch Faruzan, uncertain whether it might worsen whatever was happening.
"Faruzan, look at me! Please! Snap out of it!"
Before Nahida could do more, her attention was drawn outside. She froze in horror as she realized the knights riding alongside them were also succumbing to the same inexplicable phenomenon.
Two of the knights slumped forward, falling from their horses with heavy thuds. Their weapons clattered to the ground as they writhed, clutching at their heads and shouting incoherently. The other two remained upright but looked equally stricken, their faces pale and their eyes wide with terror.
"No! Not again!"
One knight cried, his voice raw with anguish.
"Don't make me relive it! I can't, I can't!"
The other knight wailed, his words fragmented by sobs.
"I failed her! I couldn't save her… It's my fault, all my fault!"
Nahida's heart raced as she looked back at Faruzan, whose panic seemed to intensify in response to the chaos outside. Something unnatural was happening, something that gripped the deepest fears of everyone around.
"Faruzan! Please, focus on me!"
Nahida pleaded, her voice shaking as she gently placed her hands on Faruzan's shoulders, trying to anchor her. But Faruzan continued to shake her head violently, her cries echoing in the enclosed space of the automobile.
Nahida's mind whirled as she struggled to understand what was happening. This wasn't an ordinary panic attack, something far more sinister was at work, something that was reaching into the minds and souls of everyone around them.
"Stay with me, Faruzan."
Nahida whispered, forcing her own fear aside as she tightened her grip.
"I don't know what's happening, but you're not alone. I promise you're not going back there, not now, not ever."
But as she said the words, a cold shiver ran down her spine, as though the very air around them had begun to twist and warp. Whatever force was at play, it was growing stronger, and Nahida knew they had only moments to act before it consumed them all.
"Sleep, for now, Faruzan."
Nahida whispered, her voice calm yet firm, despite the storm of emotions within her. She placed her small, steady palm on Faruzan's forehead, her touch imbued with a soothing warmth. Closing her eyes, she focused her energy, and within moments, Faruzan's trembling began to subside. Her erratic breathing evened out, and her tightly clenched fists loosened as she drifted into a deep, restorative sleep.
Nahida gently leaned Faruzan back against the seat, ensuring she was comfortable before stepping out of the vehicle. The air outside was thick and oppressive, an unseen weight pressing down on everything around her. The knights were still thrashing on the ground, their cries of anguish echoing across the desolate road.
Determined, Nahida approached them, her steps light yet purposeful. She knelt beside each knight in turn, placing her hands softly on their foreheads, her serene expression unwavering despite the chaos around her.
"Rest now."
She said quietly to each of them, her voice carrying a comforting, almost maternal tone.
"Your fears can no longer harm you."
One by one, the knights fell silent, their strained features relaxing as they slipped into an enchanted sleep, free from the torment that had gripped them. Nahida stood and surveyed the scene, her heart heavy but her resolve unshaken.
"I know you're out there."
She said, her voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. Her emerald eyes narrowed as she raised her voice.
"Show yourself, Columbina!"
A soft, melodic hum filled the air, and the oppressive atmosphere seemed to intensify. From above, a figure descended with an eerie grace, as though she were gliding on an unseen current.
"Ha~ If it isn't the little rat who ruined our game."
Came the familiar, lilting voice.
Columbina floated gently to the ground, her presence both ethereal and unnerving. Her eyes remained closed, as always, yet her smile was as sharp as ever, radiating an unsettling mix of amusement and malice.
This time, however, something was different. The six delicate feathers that usually adorned the back of her head had been reduced to five.
Nahida's gaze hardened, her fists clenching at her sides.
"What have you done to them? To Faruzan? To Tempest's knights?"
She demanded, her voice steady despite the anger bubbling beneath the surface.
Columbina tilted her head slightly, her serene smile widening just a fraction. "Oh, little Nahida."
She said with mock affection, her tone dripping with condescension. "You make it sound as though I've done something dreadful. I merely... reminded them of the truths they try so desperately to bury."
Nahida took a step forward, her aura flaring with radiant energy.
"Whatever game you're playing, I won't let you hurt anyone else."
Columbina chuckled softly, her voice like a haunting lullaby.
"Oh, dear Archon."
She cooed, spreading her arms wide as though welcoming a challenge.
"You've already spoiled my fun once. Do you really think you can do it again?"
"What are you going to do?"
Columbina's voice dripped with mockery as her closed eyes seemed to pierce straight into Nahida's soul. Her haunting smile widened as she tilted her head.
"Attack me with those tiny hands of yours, hmm? You seem to forget something crucial, little one."
Her smirk deepened, and she raised a hand to gesture dismissively at Nahida.
"You're inside a vessel, far from your true body, which is safely tucked away back in Sumeru. What can you possibly hope to accomplish from here? Enter my mind, perhaps?" Columbina's tone turned sharp, her words laced with cruel amusement.
"I dare say, even for the esteemed God of Wisdom, the truths you'd find would be far from pleasant."
Nahida's eyes narrowed, her fists tightening, but she held her ground, unwilling to let Columbina's words shake her composure.
Columbina took a slow step forward, her movements as deliberate as they were unsettling.
"But fret not, little Archon."
She said, her voice suddenly softer, almost saccharine.
"I'm not here to hurt you… nor your pitiful companions."
She stopped just a few paces away, her serene smile faltering for the first time. Her expression shifted, her brows knitting together and her lips curling downward in disdain. Her closed eyes fluttered slightly open, revealing slits of dark, void-like irises that seemed to suck the light out of the air around them.
"I just wanted to say something."
Columbina continued, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper.
Nahida braced herself, her radiant aura flickering as she prepared for whatever venomous truth Columbina would unleash.
Columbina's face twisted further, her disgust plain and unmasked. Her once-melodic tone now carried a raw, bitter edge.
"I hate you. So much...."
The weight of her words lingered in the air, heavy and suffocating.
"Huh?"
Nahida blinked in confusion, her mind struggling to process the venomous words that flowed from Columbina's lips. The cruelty in her voice sent a chill down Nahida's spine, but she refused to back down.
Columbina's smile twisted further, her eyes narrowing with a mixture of disgust and disdain.
"You're ruining him."
She hissed, her voice dripping with contempt.
"Like a disgusting tumor attached to his back, whispering in his ear, feeding him sweet honeyed words, shaping his every thought, until he can't even remember his own true motives."
Nahida's heart skipped a beat as she listened, the weight of Columbina's words sinking in. But Columbina wasn't finished, she stepped closer, her presence oppressive, her every word laced with bitter accusation.
"If you hadn't come to Natlan, none of this would've happened."
Columbina spat.
"He would've done it himself, he would've taken the path he was meant to walk, not me doing the hard work for him."
The venom in her voice was palpable now, her fury rising like a storm.
"I just… hate you so much. You've twisted everything, Nahida. You're preventing him from becoming the person he was always meant to be."
Each word hit Nahida like a physical blow, but she stood firm, her resolve unwavering. Columbina's fury was unmistakable, the air between them crackled with tension, and Nahida's voice cut through the heavy silence, calm but resolute.
"You don't know him like I do."
She said softly, her words carrying the weight of her own deep understanding of Tempest.
"You think you understand his motives, but you're too blinded by your own ideals to see the truth."
Columbina's eyes flickered with a dangerous gleam, but Nahida held her ground. She knew what Columbina wanted, what she was trying to provoke. But Nahida wasn't about to fall for her games.
"You'll never change him."
Nahida continued, her voice steady, unyielding.
"Not as long as I'm here."
"For now…"
Columbina's smile widened, her tone dripping with a cold, menacing promise.
"But who knows? In the future… I might be the one replacing you."
Her words were like a dagger, sharp and deliberate, but Nahida stood unwavering, though the chilling air around her thickened. Columbina's gaze seemed to pierce through her, filled with an unsettling certainty.
"I want to destroy your disgusting vessel so badly…"
Columbina continued, her voice lowering to a dangerous whisper.
"For ruining our game, for interfering with what should've been. For preventing him from becoming the person he truly is."
Her smile twisted as if savoring the thought of what she desired. It was the smile of someone who had long ago abandoned any semblance of empathy or mercy.
"But…"
Columbina paused, her eyes narrowing with an unreadable glint as she tilted her head, considering something.
"Ha~ I want to see him… throw you away. Not me."
Her voice softened into something almost tender, as though she were speaking of a long-anticipated event.
"You'll see one day, Nahida. A man like him, bound by duty and desire, would gladly bear any curse to save his homeland."
Her words hung heavy in the air, thick with the weight of their implications. Nahida's heart clenched at the twisted vision Columbina painted, of Tempest, a man driven to extremes, willing to sacrifice everything for a cause.
"You know nothi-"
Before Nahida could finish, Columbina interrupted her, her voice sweet but venomous.
"I know everything~"
She cooed, her tone dripping with mockery.
"The real question is, do you know everything about him? Hmm?"
Her eyes gleamed with an unsettling satisfaction, as if she held a secret Nahida couldn't possibly understand.
Nahida's gaze hardened, her jaw tightening.
"Of course, I do."
She said, her voice steady but laced with a hint of frustration.
"I know his fears, his motivations, his past... I know the person he admires most. I know him inside and out. I'm his friend, Columbina. Unlike you."
Her words were firm, but the weight of Columbina's insinuations left a slight unease in her chest.
Columbina let out a low, mocking laugh, a smirk spreading across her face.
"Is that so?"
She purred, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"If you know him so well, then why didn't he tell you about his meeting with the Abyss?"
The words hit Nahida like a physical blow, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. Her heart skipped, her mind scrambling to process what Columbina had just revealed.
"…What?"
Nahida breathed, her wide eyes betraying the confusion and shock that gripped her.
Columbina's smirk deepened, satisfaction evident in every line of her face. "I see it now. You really don't know everything, do you?"
She teased, her voice thick with malicious delight.
"He keeps secrets. Even from you, Young Pasha~."
Nahida's breath caught in her throat, and she felt the world around her tilt. The trust she had in Tempest, her unwavering belief in their bond, shuddered. Why hadn't he told her? Why hadn't he shared such an important detail?
"You're lying!"
Nahida's voice rang out with a mixture of disbelief and fury, her eyes flashing with hurt and frustration.
"Tempest would never do such things!"
She was sure of it, her faith in him unwavering, but the seeds of doubt had already been sown, twisting in her mind like a dark shadow.
Columbina's lips curled into a smug smile, her eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction.
"Am I now?"
She taunted, her voice sweet but dripping with sarcasm. "Then you better go find out for yourself~"
Before Nahida could retort, Columbina's wings suddenly unfurled from her back in a sudden, fluid motion, their delicate but powerful form shimmering in the dim light. Within seconds, the wings enveloped her like a cocoon, folding around her with an ethereal grace.
"Wait!"
Nahida's voice trembled, but it was too late. Columbina had vanished, the shimmering cocoon disappearing into the air like smoke, leaving nothing behind but the heavy silence.
Nahida stood frozen, her heart racing as the weight of the words hung in the air. The faint echo of Columbina's laughter still lingered in her mind, mocking her, making her question everything she thought she knew about Tempest.
"Tempest…"
She whispered his name softly as if hoping he would appear from the shadows to reassure her. But instead, a cold, unfamiliar emptiness settled over her. The nagging question echoed in her mind like an insistent drumbeat.
"What did you do?"