beewax

A Certain Rhodes Island Branch Office, Sargon

Yep... My brushes, essential oils, and sandpaper strips. All packed away.

Huh? What are you doing in my bag, little bug? Are you coming with me? You can't. Off you go.

Okay! Finished packing.

Wait, no. I need to say goodbye to Mr. Kadeem before I leave.

That son of a bitch just up and left! Even leaving the stuff behind right next to the door! What the hell's with that?!

S-Sorry, Mr. Kadeem. I shouldn't have tossed that bug out the door!

Ankhesena? No, don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about you!

If it's not about me... did something happen?

Eh, it was before you got here. Last month, we had a temporary operator die of his disease. So I packed up his things to ship them back to his family.

But the moment the local Messenger heard the package belonged to an Infected, he straight up refused to deliver it for me, saying it's bad luck. And that's <i>after</i> I got it all cleaned up so there's no risk of infection.

B-But you do so many things for the people here. You give out medicine, you treat patients, and even teach them how to prevent getting infected...

Well, all that's... insignificant compared to the trauma and fear they have of Oripathy.

Oh...

*sigh*... I could deliver all this myself if it weren't for this leg. Maybe later.

Alright, forget about it. I see you've finished packing. Are you leaving today?

Yep, I got a message from Rhodes Island two days ago. My sister isn't there, and doesn't want me to go look for her.

It doesn't say why, but I'm sure she has her reasons, and I respect her decision.

You look real disappointed, though.

I-It's okay. I have my own trials to complete. I can't always be following in my sister's footsteps.

I'm glad you see it that way. That's a great first step. So do you have any plans or goals for the rest of your trip?

Hm... I haven't thought about where to go. But it's okay. I can think about it on the road.

Hahaha. Come on, let me take your luggage and see you off. I've been real lucky to have you here to help out. Things would've been so much harder with just myself and my bad leg.

No, no, I enjoyed helping. I'm the one who should be thankful for you taking such good care of me! Speaking of which...

Eh, don't. No need for all that here.

Mr. Kadeem!

Huh?

If this is everything he left behind, I can help you bring them to his family.

Sargon's deserts may be vast and endless, but our tribe has lived in the desert for a long time. We learn how to tread the sands from a very young age.

And this won't get in the way of your trials?

It won't. Giving others a helping hand is a part of them, too. A really important part!

If that were coming from anyone else, I would've scoffed.

But well... You found your way here from a tribe deep in the desert, all by yourself. I have no reason to refuse.

So? So?!

So... I'll let you handle his stuff. Be sure it gets back to his hometown.

After all, that's the only wish he left us with.

Yeah... got it.

Based on Mr. Kadeem's description, looks like my destination is a pretty isolated tribe... Not sure exactly where it is.

Hm... He did tell me I'd find it if I just follow all the signs after leaving the village.

Really though? I'm not so sure about this... The sign points west to a saxaul forest, and it points east to the red sands there.

Phew...

(Claps hands together) The golden sands, where the setting sun returns. Wheresoever the followers of the gods walk, they will never walk their journey alone.

O Faceless God, grant me your blessings so that I may successfully cross this desert, allowing a soul that has drifted in the lands for years to return to his homeland.

Time to go.

A breeze blows by. The sign lets out an unbearable creak and softly spins in the wind.

The sun... The sun has risen again. Have a walked a whole day already? I see nothing but saxauls here. How come I haven't made it to the red sands yet?

Where's the next sign Mr. Kadeem said I'd see? Didn't he say I'd find it after just half a day?

I'm so tired... I can't walk anymore. Let me find some shade to sit down in and get some rest.

There's no exact location, and the route's already off. How am I supposed to find his hometown?

I wish my sister were here... She'd pet my head and tell me everything's okay.

(Lowers head to look at her own hands.)

Hm... I can do this too.

(Pats her own head)

It's okay, Ankhesena. Cheer up.

Stay calm. It'll work out somehow. Stand up and take a look at your surroundings. See what clues you can find.

Okay, standing up—

Waagh!

O-Ow... I stepped on my clothes.

Oh no, his stuff all spilled out. I gotta pick it back up.

Wah! Don't! Why does the wind have to blow now of all times?

Is this... a diary? I'm sorry, Mister. I didn't mean to look. The wind blew the pages open.

(Closes the notebook)

That short passage just now... Was that a description of his hometown? Maybe... I can find some clues in there.

O God, please forgive this intrusion against the dead.

(Opens the notebook)

'Time and again in my dreams, I make my way home, and my mother stands waiting for me under the date palms. Just like the day she watched me leave my home behind.'

'As my body worsens by the day, I reminisce about that oasis more and more fondly. I left her to chase my dreams, yet I've dreamt of her every night since my departure.'

'The rainy season and the drought season alternate with one another. A small pool of water forms a lake, only for it to dry into a salt marsh just as quickly...'

He really missed that place. Almost the entire diary is about things that happened in his hometown.

Date palms, an oasis, and a seasonal lake...

There are little bugs crawling all around here...

(Picks one up to closely examine)

I shouldn't be too far from a water source. If luck's on my side, I might even find a settlement there.

Just gotta climb a few sand dunes. Good thing I brought a wooden board to sand ski with.

*Knock*... Yep... Gotta tie it a bit tighter.

It might get bumpy. I should roll my clothes up. It wouldn't be good if I tripped again.

Okay...

Three, two, one...

Whoaaaa—!

The town mentioned here? Let me think... I've been there, but it's been so many years. I can't say for sure if it's still there.

Do you know how to get there, Mister?

Ride a burdenbeast and keep heading northwest. Once you reach a rock formation that looks like a mushroom, head southwest a few more kilometers, and you should be there.

Do you remember anything about the environment around the town? Are there lots of date palms? Does a lake form when it rains?

Sorry, that doesn't ring a bell.

'As I almost succumbed to despair, Mr. Kadeem saved me.'

'After a while at the office, my condition started to stabilize, and my mental state has also started to calm...'

Looks like he lived in that office until he died.

Pffft—

Huh? Are you hungry? I have some hay here.

(Munches)

Look at you eat. Your saliva's getting everywhere.

The place you're looking for is hard to find, Miss. There are a number of oases both big and small to the north of our town, and nearly every one of them has a large field of date palms.

Then... Does the seasonal lake narrow it down?

Not much. Seasonal lakes don't always form in the same place. You can't count on finding anywhere with just that.

If you don't mind, could you circle where the oases are on this map?

Are you going to check one by one?

Yep, I made a promise, so I'll do it.

'Finally, I made enough money to leave. I don't know what lies beyond this desert, but everything there is new to me. Just that very thought fills me with excitement.'

'I only hope my enthusiasm will bear fruit. Farewell, my homeland.'

Hm, what are you reading, little girl?