Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 72: Language

Together, Eory and the Astral Elf, Juree, examined the long word Eory was trying to translate. An hour had passed, and Eory consistently rubbed his temples while they worked. Juree, being as talented as he was at translating languages, went over Eory's previous work in translating the long word, and found it to be satisfactory (although he had to make corrections with some letters). Indeed, the Astral Elf was impressed by Eory's ability to recognize patterns in the letters and sentences well enough to discover what an R in the dwarven language looked like in Common.

"This is such an odd language..." Juree whispered. "It's a privilege to be translating it with you. What book did this come from again?"

Eory, who was concentrating intensely on the long word he had copied down onto a piece of parchment, answered without looking at Juree, "Moonpool."

Juree scratched his chin. "Stars above, I didn't even know we had such a book on our shelves."

"You're not familiar with the work?" Eory asked.

Juree shook his head. "No. I'm so very old—so old that I lost count—and yet I've never even heard of or seen this book..."

Eory chuckled a little. He was nervous around Juree like he was around all strangers, but the fact that they had a common interest of translating the word (and a common interest in language) put him somewhat at ease. Nonetheless, he still whispered shyly and had trouble making eye contact. "Everyone I know is so old! Pollyanna and Maruka, and now you, too... Even Them is pretty old!"

Juree smiled. "Ah yes... I think Maruka and Pollyanna might be around the same age, and they are, indeed, very old. Them is one of our newest recruits, correct? He doesn't look very old..."

Eory shrugged. "Well, he's twenty-eight."

Juree covered his mouth with a hand, hiding a grin behind it. "You think twenty-eight is old?"

Eory blushed, lowering his gaze. Embarrassment overwhelmed him. "Everyone seems old to me. I can't tell if it's because I'm so young or if it's because I have so little experience."

Juree realized that his laughter had hurt the fairy's feelings. He uncovered his mouth and donned a serious and compassionate expression. "Youth and inexperience are nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, I think you should enjoy your innocence while you still have it. Before you know it, it will be gone."

Eory momentarily set the long word aside and flipped through the Common-to-Dwarvish translation book that Juree had brought with him—a book that Juree himself had written. While Eory scanned the pages, he replied, "I'm so sick of being inexperienced, though. I want to do things adults do."

Eory's mind flitted to Maruka relentlessly. He couldn't stop thinking of the things he would like to do with him.

He scratched his arm mercilessly like had had been doing the entire night since Maruka had left. The selkie had left an itch that the fairy couldn't scratch.

"You should take it easy. There are things you just can't get back, and innocence is one of them." Juree murmured despondently.

Eory continued scratching his arm until it bled. He sighed, feeling relieved. He clenched and unclenched his fists; he could concentrate again.

He got back to translating.

"Just how old are you?" Eory asked as Juree borrowed the fairytale written in the waif language.

"I'm one of the oldest Astral Elves alive, to give you an idea. I was alive before our ancestry split and Astral Elves and elves became separate races... I have seen whole civilizations come and go. Indeed, there was a species on Yharos—a species that made me fall love with languages in the first place--that is now long dead." Juree rubbed his eyes, looking wistful and regretful.