Stay with Kishi

Kishi's shy, demure manner is in stark contrast to Alayna's almost overwhelming confidence, and it is something of a relief to have a break from a situation where you feel your every word and gesture is being closely watched and analyzed. Kishi is obviously quite nervous to be in your presence, but it only takes her a few minutes to overcome her outright fear of accidentally causing offense. Once she sees that the young woman has relaxed somewhat, Valerie quietly slips away so that you may speak with her alone.

"I find it most remarkable that you have mastered our tongue so quickly, Kishi-san," you tell her as you sip a glass of chilled white wine. "Have you met people from these lands before this voyage?"

"No, Sire," she says. "The first words I heard of your language, I heard but two moons ago. I have always been able to learn new tongues in a very short time; it is why Kurunoma Kuma-san allows me to travel at his side, so that the great Samurai may speak with the various people we encounter." She pauses for a moment, smiles, and then says, "Mademoiselle Valerie et moi parlions en Français tout à l'heure... sa langue maternelle est très belle, n'est ce pas?"

"Oui, en effet, Mademoiselle Kishi-san; et votre accent est meilleur que le mein!" You both chuckle lightly, and then you continue, "The Samurai is most fortunate to have you. Elyssia is populated by people from far and wide, so I am usually able to find someone to speak almost any language, but it proved near-impossible this time! I have never traveled, Kishi-san, though I have often wanted to... what is it like to be so far from home?"

"There are those who fear traveling so far," Kishi says. "But for me, it is wonderous. I have seen such things as I never dreamed could exist, and people of amazing variety! Our journey began by ship, around the tip of Hindustan, as the lands held by the Khan were already known to us and the great Samurai saw no need to cross them. I saw the great temples of Jerusalem, and spoke the Samurai's words to the holy men of that city. In Constantinople there are the markets, endless and full of people from even further than my own home. In Egypt we saw the Pyramids... I would tell you of them, Sire, but no words of any language I have ever learned can describe them; they were surely built by the very gods. Only the palaces and the Coliseum of Rome may hope to compare, for they are majestic even in ruin."

"And how does Elyssia compare?" you ask.

Kishi glances about the room, as if trying to see through the stone walls at the mountains and valley all around. "When we came here," she says, "for the first time in all my travels, I have seen a castle which rivals even the palaces of the Shoguns, and mountains as majestic as Fujiyama. Did you know, Xavier-san, that in the tongue of the Greeks, 'Elyssium' is what they call the paradise which awaits the greatest of heroes when they pass to the next life?"

"So I have been told," you reply... and it does not escape your notice that Kishi has for the first time called you by name.

"This place was well-named," she says, smiling. "It is a Kingdom of Paradise, in truth... and all the more so because its king is so charming and kind."

Kishi's golden cheeks flush pink as she looks into your eyes... and her own eyes show a touch of that longing and desire which has never needed translation, no matter from where people come.