PoV Nick

Nevie and I sat down on the roof of the castle. I've done this a couple of times in my life, but I'm still amazed at this beauty every time. From the height of the castle, everything seems so small and unimportant. But it also reminds me of the fragility of the body, because it is impossible to survive a fall from such a height.

-Nick. Why do you want to go with Murad so much?

-I... I don't want to sit idly by. I don't want to be a burden for someone. Those who only get in the way. Creates unnecessary problems and throws them on the shoulders of others. I don't want to be a such person.

-Ha... it means that I am a burden for him...- said Nevi, twirling her hair.

-What?

-He accepted me and takes care of me. But I'm just a silly little girl from a small town. Although endowed with beauty, but cursed by disease. Because of this, no one wanted to take me as a wife. My parents only dreamed that I would get a loving husband. Thinking about it makes me feel terrible.

-Why? Didn't you find Murad? Aren't you happy?

-My mother always told me. A good wife should always support her husband, help him and comfort him. After all, even great people usually have an equally great woman behind them. That's what she liked to say. But... I'm not like that. I am not capable of being such a woman. Before I met Murad, I liked a very kind boy. Chris. However, all I wanted to do was use it. To use my body to force him to help my parents after my death. After all, as I understood, he is too kind and will not leave them. - Nevie grinned -And where would he go? Sometimes it seems to me that the absorption of Murad is a kind of revenge of Chris. For some reason, Murad liked me. He absorbed me and then comforted me. He gave me his care. But what I did for him? I just spend whole days in my little world and I'm not interested in what he does at all. I don't support it. I'm not comforting him. Yes and more… I put the burden of my illness on him. You're not a burden. I am the burden. Useless one.

-Why don't you talk to Murad about it?

-He shows little interest in this. For this, I really like him. He doesn't see me as just a bed puppy. He doesn't feel anything like that at all. He loves me for who I am. It warms my heart. However, we rarely communicate with him. I feel unwanted. Useless. -Her eyes were sad.

What should I say? Comfort him? Have pity? No. This seems wrong. The best I can say is probably…

-Then why are you still sitting here?

-Huh?

-Why are you sitting here complaining now? Didn't you say that you just sit in your little world all day long? Why don't you take action? Trying to be useful? Not to stay on the sidelines but to be interested in what he does? To be with him in these moments. To be around without forcing him to go to your world every time? How do your current actions differ from self-flagellation? Simply using words instead of actions? Maybe you should try to act and not just wait? After all, who knows, maybe he will someday stop feeling something for you. -

With every word I said, Nevi let her head go lower and lower. After that, she was silent for a couple of minutes and finally raised her head. But now her eyes expressed not sadness, but determination.

-You're right, Nick. I really began to self-flagellate and began to burden Murad. I really need to do something… Thanks. -Nevi hugged me. Just like my sister did. Gently, with love as for a brother. - Thank you for listening to me. It made me feel better. And also thank you for telling me what to do. Without you, I would probably have continued to waste my time.

- I'm always happy to help. We can say that we are now a family.

-Hm? - Nevi looked at me questioningly, then remembering something, she smiled -Oh, I got you. A family bound by the soul? Then ... can I call you little brother?

- Of course! Then I'll call you sister?

-I don't mind. My little brother.

I felt a warmth in my heart. It's a feeling of caring. I've never felt like this since my sister was taken away. A sense of family.

…

We've been traveling for a week now. A couple of days ago we start to go along the river, and if the map is right, we are close. How strange. Even though I saw the map, I couldn't remember it in such detail. But now Murad will remember it by heart. Yes, and he is also able to send me a memory of the map. Very distinct. Thanks to this, I can roughly find out our location. But even so, I am not able to remember everything in detail. Though these are My memories.

On the way, we usually did not come across anyone except a couple of travelers. A bird is flying above us, which will report us if anything happens. What a strange feeling it is, however. When you know where the bird is without seeing it and you can contact it at will. And also with Murad! This sense of connectedness is intoxicating. The feeling that you are part of something big.

I am more and more glad that I agreed at that time.

-A group of people in front -It seems that the bird contacted Murad to transmit this information. We stopped and got off the wolves. They turned and went deep into the forest, and we continued on foot.

Slowly, we began to hear different voices. A crowd of at least 30 people gathered here. It looks like some kind of event is taking place here. To find out what was going on here, we approached the nearest people and asked the man.

-What's going on here?

-Today we are going to present the bride to our Su Iesy (1) to receive their blessing.

- Su iesy?

-They are the ones who control the local lake and river. According to ancient traditions, we must bring a bride here. If luck turns our face, then Su Ata (2) will come out of the lake.

-Aren't they spirits?

-Of course! They are the guardian spirits that have been protecting our city since ancient times. We have been worshipping them for a long time.

Although they were mentioned in the book, as I remember, there were few details there. They protect water bodies and cause storms and hurricanes. In some places, people believe that they are drowning people. There are both male and female Su Iesy. They are often in pairs. That's all written in the book.

-And why do you want to introduce her to Su Ata?

-This is our ancient tradition. If the bride has to go a long way, then we ask Su Ata's blessing. This increases the chance of a good trip without accidents.

-I see

It seems to be a local belief.

-You're not local, are you? You have an Imperial accent. A fugitive?

-No. We are just the children of hunters. During the hunt, we separated from the group. Then we walked along the river for a long time until we found this place.

-Oh. You are very lucky that you did not meet evil spirits along the way.

-Yes, we were very lucky. Uh... can we stay behind? We have never seen Su Iesy.

-Well, why not? Stay as long as you want.

As I know, some of the divided kingdoms were once part of the Empire. But not a Monhimouerian, but another, which was ruled before it. Then it collapsed and was replaced by a new empire. However, during this, the new empire lost some lands with discontented influential nobles. The Empire was for a long time only a pitiful shadow of the past, and then during the collapse of the Great Horde, the Legendary Emperor Fomus was born. He greatly improved the army and developed organizations of magicians and priests. After him, these reforms were accepted by others.

While I was remembering the story, people came to the lake and threw a loaf of bread there. After that, everyone sat down and began to wait. After 10 minutes, a woman swims up to us on the floor of a log.

She is incredibly beautiful! Long yellow hair and fish scales covering some parts of the body. The parts of the body without scales are completely open. Holding a loaf of bread in her hand, she smiled.

-Su Ana(3)! - The people bowed to her with respect.

-Do you want to see my husband?

-Yes. My daughter is going on a long hike. She got married a week ago. - Said the man who seems to have gathered a crowd.

-Alright. Wait a bit. - As soon as she said that, she jumped off the log directly into the water. Her silhouette in the water was moving at an incredible speed.

After a minute of waiting, two figures came out from under the water. One of them was Su Ana. And the second was a humanoid with the face of a frog with a green goatee. From his slightly hunched back and old face(as old as possible for a creature with a frog's face), he gives the impression of a kind, wise old man. His entire body was covered with moss and algae. Instead of hands, there were paws like a frog. But it was as if they were woven from ropes.

-Hi Su Ata! We are very glad that you have responded to us.

-Nothing serious, show me your bride.

- Of course! Zagira!

-Yes, Father! Greeting -The girl came closer and raised the skirts of her skirt and respectfully make reverance.

- Hmm. What a nice girl. With such manners, you will have a good life. Respect is a very important trait. I like such persons.

Su Ata said with a smile. Then he raised his hands to chest level, palms up, imitating a bowl (4). Everyone also raised their hands.

After he said his various blessings after he said Amen and as if he had collected water in his hands and was washing his face with it.

-Thank you, Su Ata. - Said the girl bowing.

-Have a good trip-Su Ata and Su Ana began to dive into the water. This is... very unusual. And very strange