Desert Company: Retrospective

Kwazhak’s next and final step was to research the language of the Khoitan. The language was the oldest of the three national languages, and stood the test of time. Its current rôle in the modern world was a lingua franca, but Azu was slowly taking more influence, now that Azutami was controlling one-third of the entire planet.

Even Tasdaha, had undergone acculturation, adapting Azu culture that blended with the Dineh’s. With two official languages, Khoit and Azu, the protectorate was ruled under a mixed blood aristocracy, the Sultan Shiroganeh Miyuydahaj.

The three languages of the nations could be considered a breakaway from Khoit. As the nomads traveled to various parts of Yahmajô̗ Alą̧̄utl, their lexicon would slowly drift away from the original tongue. Over the course of millennia, the three Khoitan tribes that settled had undergone mass change in pronunciation, and tone. From their mother tongue, Nippong, Kataga, and Renyu were born. It was only until a century before the current era that those proto-languages evolved into Azu, Galag, and Renhua. To Kwazhak, he loved languages. Each tongue was intertwined, but their differences created a diverse set of culture and sounds. It was a literati’s dream. The magi’s swoon. It was also the sole key in finding the origin of his late mother. Out of the five modern Khoitan tribes, the Máak and Kalyk tribes were exterminated. Although it could be assumed that all the tribes’ Khoit were mutually intelligible, his mother’s language was nowhere near the other regional dialects.

Lus yog lub ntiaj teb no.

After examining his mother’s words, there was no similarity to Khoit, or any other language. Just like Chiengg before, Kwazhak came to the conclusion it was a language isolate, an entire separate tongue with foreign vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Such a baffling mystery would send the scholars mad. Kwazhak theorized that perhaps the Máak truly were isolated from the rest of the tribes during the creation of life, given their geographical location was the far north in the Al-Diyu Sands.

“Kwazhak.”

It was all a mystery, but there weren’t many records due to the tribe being enslaved out by his own country, sent to the tournament, while his mother passed before he could grasp her mother tongue.

“K- Kwazhak!”

He lifted his head from the table. He didn’t realize that he was dozing off, book open. Kwazhak touched his forehead. The room was dark, and the clutter stared at him.

“Ah, Ms. Tvuj has returned.”

“I think you should rest. You’ve just been reading for the past few days,” She sat down and placed the last batch of notes on the table.

“I know when to rest,” Kwazhak sat up.

“You lie. In the middle of the night I smell smoke and candle wax.”

“That I am guilty of,” He admitted immediately, for he would never defend a lie of his own. “How was Mr. Khouw?”

“He looked relieved… But the past few he seemed like he was mad at me…” Tvuj recalled.

“Yeow Khouw was assigned to look after me starting from when I could see. He could be harboring jealousy against an extra assistant.”

Tvuj only gaped at the exposition. Kwazhak stood and walked to the table, picking up the papers the girl had brought.

“I thank thee for bringing in everything. Since this is the last batch, you may ask me two questions. Let it be anything,” He said, although he believed she deserved more for her efforts.

“How about this,” She took one of his notebooks and opened it.

The palm-leaf tome contained all of his research concerning his mother’s language. Full of attempts to decipher the words and attach the sounds to a phonetic syllabary using the Dhaj script. Kwazhak touched the journal lightly.

“That is my endeavor to decode the language of a long lost people. Even my mother spoke it. However it was lost to time and imperialism,” He explained, “There shall be one day where you and I, and others will be able to hear this beautiful language spoken again. And my aspirations will one day lead to the revelations of the Máak, the Khoitan tribe of the north.”

“A lost language… There’s many languages in this world. That’s amazing… Though I can’t grasp it,” Tvuj fumbled with her hands. “As for my last question… How can I repay Suruj?...”

“Hoh…” Kwazhak was surprised. The entire question exchange, she could’ve asked for wisdom and insights on money, power, or anything that could benefit her. Yet she was curious about his life and work. It was the first true question that needed advice, but it wasn’t for power, nor monetary gain. However, her face was looking down at the carpet.

“Suruj is the first person I’ve managed to talk to in a long time… I could speak Galag from the books the children of my town gave me. But my parents never let me out of the house. But when I did it out of my own will…”

There he learned of the life she had lived before her capture. She was a child that underwent a life with a father that ignored her, and a mother that took care of the girl. Interesting, he thought.

“I’ve been saved so many times, I feel like a burden…”

“... Ms. Tvuj. No one gets through this life without being helped by others, and helping others in return,” Kwazhak consoled her, sitting on the adjacent chair. “If one makes Suruj happy or benefits him, then that’s already a payment. As long as you are here in this world, Suruj would be content,” He lit a candle with a spell. “That’s fruit for thought. However, the thing is how one will maintain that connection. The most important part is you.”

“...”

“As for one’s family situation,” He pulled out an unfilled document, full of blank lines and words. “I promise thee. After these tribulations with the Dineh Kazaàd and Al-Wa, I will have my father guarantee you and everyone financial assistance, and visas to go anywhere in As-Z̆onghu̐a.”

For a moment, Tvuj did nothing but stare at him with conviction. Le Prince could see his reflection in her teary eyes.

“You really are kind, Kwazhak Laoyuang.”

“...”

“Such a gentle soul. Nothing more of an aristocrat’s son.”

“Thy generosity knows no bounds, m’lord. Even more than thy duty.”

“For whom are you being nice for, Mr. Chingchong man?”

“Are you done filling your ego?”

“I shall give a subtle warning. I am not doing this out of the kindness of my heart. I am doing what I can to achieve for my personal gain and to acquire what I want. There may come the day that those ideals will intertwine with L’s deviation.”

“W- what do you mean?”

“One will understand when our final duel with Thiệu Addja is over.”