Desert Company: Retrospective

Three girls, the nameless girl, Saya, and Mouka were on the second-floor veranda, laughing and talking. Although there was a difficult language barrier between them; Mouka was a Khoit-speaker, and the girl and Saya were Azu-speakers. Only Saya could speak Khoit to the Khoitan girl. It was the month of Gurav, and they had been confined in the estate for one week.

However, ever since Kwazhak had sent her to rest on that day, that was when his behavior changed. He sent Ashojan to check up on her when she came out from her room, who was quite bitter. L, Zundui, and him were also absent during dinner that night. She thought that they were planning something. Every training session, Kwazhak had a concerned look on his face. But whenever she asked about it, he would deflect the question or answer the same. The day before today, there were loud explosions that came from the main building. It was no different than thunder.

“I’m surprised that you aren’t a full Azu, even when you could pass as one,” Mouka leaned back and stroked her hair, as she grinned, “Heh, too bad you don’t have this angelic Khoitan hair.”

“My dad has your hair color,” Saya responded, staring at the floor, “But black hair is pretty decent.”

The Khoitan wrapped her arms around the girl and Saya, and butted heads with the two of them with a smile.

“Hey, wha-” The nameless girl couldn’t understand what Mouka was saying.

“You girls are luckyyyy,” She rubbed her hand on Saya’s head, teasing her. “Buhang and Khoitan don’t have black hair like Azu and Z̆ongren. Black hair absorbs more heat from the sun, which means you must break out in sweat every time you’re exposed to the sun. Yet they are considered the ideal hair color, pssh.”

“But some inventors in Buhanggilog have made a prototype called ‘hair dye’, that can change your hair color-”

“Nahh those Buhang products probably have a drawback, just like Suruj,” Mouka soon stopped herself. “Oh, that idiot.”

“S- Suruj?” The girl with no name had only picked up his name.

“I thought he was going to be an ultra-powerful sahar user but he can’t use anything,” Mouka arched over, smirking. The other girl couldn’t understand Khoit.

“Oi, no gossip,” Saya bonked Mouka’s head, and turned to the girl to speak in Azu, “Ah sorry…?”

“Tvuj,” Mouka snapped her fingers and pointed. Saya tilted her head.

“Tvuj?”

“Right, right, mhm!” She stood proud, head raised. “That’s what I’ve decided to call Tvuj ‘Tvuj’. Cool right?”

“If that’s okay with her, then I’ll call her that,” Saya then told the context to her in Azu. She nodded her head. Saya didn’t know if calling someone ‘the unnamed’ in a different language was rude.

A siren blared throughout the vicinity. The three looked at the doors that connected the right wing to the main building. Several Al-Wa staff members burst through the entrance. They were dressed in gray and covered their faces. The others soon came out in curiosity.

“This is an important announcement, so all fighters must head down to the first floor,” The soldier in the front yelled. After some time, everyone was on the first floor. L was nowhere to be seen.

“Fighter No. 06 has been changed due to a request of alteration,” The soldier presented, pointing at Tvuj. “They will be switched to ‘Kwazhak Laoyuang’.”

The other employees were meant to be translators. A switch in the fighters. This was unbeknownst to them. Kwazhak had mysteriously swapped places with her. L was missing also. Were they caught, Saya questioned. Everyone was talking their minds.

“Wait, you can’t do this,” Shunji made his way through, “What will happen to her? What about us?”

“Mr. Thiệu has informed us for her not to be harmed and will continue their stay here until the Dineh Kazaàd starts. Laoyuang will take residence with her in former accommodation after this announcement.”

“Where is he? What happened to him?” Saya demanded, walking up front. She held up her fists.

“That is all the details for this exchange. As for the next order, Mr. Thiệu has permitted all fighters to be able to exit the Al-Wa Wakoku branch for a twelve-hour period under certain guidelines starting Gurav 2nd. These guidelines will be stated tomorrow. That is all.”

The group of Al-Wa soldiers and employees soon turned around, and marched in the opposite direction. The girl, or Tvuj, only watched in silence at the words of the exchange. No one said anything. Saya saw Suruj clench his fist and pushed everyone away as he walked towards the doors on the right.

“Suruj! Where you goin’?” Hyun-woo called out to him in vain. “Zhè ge rén…”

“Oi, let him go,” Mouka shrugged her shoulders. “Besides, did they say we could leave this place for one day?”

“Where’s L?” Saya’s heart raced. “How did this happen?”

“Tch,” Ashojan grunted, “The girl is lucky. She gets off free. And Kwazhak is going to murder us all.”

“Letse kayo. We have to face other fighters from other Kazaàd companies, not our own, just like fightin’ in a gang,” Perez replied in Galag, squatting.

“Ay!”

Everyone turned to Saya who shouted. She moved to the center of the crowd. Thiệu must have done something. Kwazhak could have been caught, being that he teleported away when the CEO was about to walk in on them on that day. She knew that he was aware that L and Kwazhak were plotting a rebellion. If Kwazhak was captured, and had to switch places as punishment…

“Let’s make a plan for when we can leave this place tomorrow.”

 

It was dusk, and the stars came out to spy on this world.

Saya briskly walked over the white tiles, making several clinking sounds with her shoes. She exhaled deeply and placed her hands on the knobs of the door, and opened it slowly. Saya could feel her heartbeat as she saw Suruj sitting on the bleachers, alone. She had to question him.

“You’re missing the evening’s meal you know, Zundui,” She made her way up the stairs, and seated herself one row ahead of where he was sitting. Suruj’s face was stone.

“You too, Izdaha,” He responded in Azu. Did he study Azu before, she perished the thought.

“I already ate. You know what happened to Kwazhak and L, right?” Saya turned around and stood up. She put her hands on her hips.

“...” Suruj avoided her eyes. “I- I know too much.”

“Well,” Saya leaned forward and stared a hole into him. “I know too much as well. So when we can go outside tomorrow, some of us are going to look for L and Kwazhak’s whereabouts. And you’re coming with us. Tvuj will be coming as well.”

“Tvuj?...”