II.5 — различия между версиями

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The Goo was a mysterious substance, often perceived as pollution or disease, which manifested itself as a mauve substance, gelatinous, shiny and translucent. Its incessant growth and its ability to infect and destroy all forms of organic matter led some scholars to consider it a living entity with an insatiable appetite. As guardians of nature, the Kamis saw the Goo as a terrible curse. All the more so because, of all the creatures of Atys, they were the most vulnerable to its harmful effects. As a result, they relied heavily on the help of homins to limit its spread.  Some historians have argued that the Kamis' preference for the Zorais, illustrated by their masks, can be explained by the origin of these people, who were born in the jungles of Atys, thus on the front line in facing the plague. In contrast, the Karavan agents and their followers Matis, known for their expertise in alchemy and poisons, were taking a close interest in this enigmatic material for its potentially exploitable properties… particularly against the Kamis. At least, that's what Pü's mother had taught him. During his childhood, his father was relentlessly hunting down Karavan agents operating in the Purple Marshes. He only gave up this dangerous quest when his wife, after he had had a brush with death during one of these hunts, convinced him of the unnecessary risks it involved. It would have been tragic to lose his life before passing the torch to his sons and before the opening of the Sacred War, event that would mark the ineluctable twilight of the Karavan.
 
The Goo was a mysterious substance, often perceived as pollution or disease, which manifested itself as a mauve substance, gelatinous, shiny and translucent. Its incessant growth and its ability to infect and destroy all forms of organic matter led some scholars to consider it a living entity with an insatiable appetite. As guardians of nature, the Kamis saw the Goo as a terrible curse. All the more so because, of all the creatures of Atys, they were the most vulnerable to its harmful effects. As a result, they relied heavily on the help of homins to limit its spread.  Some historians have argued that the Kamis' preference for the Zorais, illustrated by their masks, can be explained by the origin of these people, who were born in the jungles of Atys, thus on the front line in facing the plague. In contrast, the Karavan agents and their followers Matis, known for their expertise in alchemy and poisons, were taking a close interest in this enigmatic material for its potentially exploitable properties… particularly against the Kamis. At least, that's what Pü's mother had taught him. During his childhood, his father was relentlessly hunting down Karavan agents operating in the Purple Marshes. He only gave up this dangerous quest when his wife, after he had had a brush with death during one of these hunts, convinced him of the unnecessary risks it involved. It would have been tragic to lose his life before passing the torch to his sons and before the opening of the Sacred War, event that would mark the ineluctable twilight of the Karavan.
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{{WIP}}
 
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En longeant la rive sud du Lac aux Temples, Pü comprit que quelques groupes de survivants s'étaient établies sur les îles éparpillées à travers l'immense étendue d'eau. Les kitins, et notamment les fameuses patrouilles d’insectes verts et blancs à l’abdomen dardé, étaient de piètres nageurs, et ne représentaient pas une menace directe pour les insulaires, qui n'avaient à gérer que les attaques des libellules cracheuses de feu, déjà bien assez périlleuses. Cependant, Pü savait que la sécurité apparente était trompeuse. Il avait déjà vu des kitins volants transporter des kitins marcheurs vers des lieux autrement inaccessibles, et savait donc que, à défaut de précautions adéquates, les îles pourraient être aisément envahies. C'est le message qu'il tenta de transmettre après avoir trouvé une embarcation pour rejoindre les îles les plus proches de la rive. Les insulaires lui répondirent que les incursions de kitins étaient rares et que sa présence n’était pas la bienvenue, refusant toute discussion supplémentaire. Cependant, contre toute attente, une survivante se montra plus ouverte et, après une brève discussion, conseilla à Pü de ne pas se rendre à Taï-Toon : elle prétendait qu'un puissant sorcier originaire d’une île voisine avait menacé quiconque tenterait de s'y aventurer. Toutefois, à l'instar des autres survivants, sa présence l’inquiéta : son masque noir était systématiquement considéré, dans le meilleur des cas, comme un signe de mauvais augure.
 
  
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Malgré la déconvenue d’un énième refus, qui écartait davantage son aspiration à devenir un sauveur, Pü dut bien admettre que cette portion du Pays Zoraï semblait effectivement moins infestée de kitins que les autres régions qu'il avait traversées. En retournant sur la rive, puis en escaladant la Grande Muraille pour observer les jungles méridionales, transformées en marécages informes par la Goo qui décomposait la flore et la faune avec voracité, il en comprit la raison : les kitins eux-mêmes devaient craindre la substance destructrice. Il remarqua aussi avec surprise que, trois ans après la chute de la Théocratie et de la civilisation zoraï, la muraille remplissait toujours son rôle de barrière magnétique, empêchant la Goo de progresser plus au nord. Mais cela n’était que temporaire. Un jour ou l'autre, les ambres utilisées comme répulseurs perdraient leurs propriétés électrostatiques. Sauf à les remplacer, cela condamnerait ce qui était autrefois le cœur battant du Pays Zoraï, à une inévitable contamination par la Goo. Ne resterait alors que le recours au feu pour tenter de stopper sa progression. Et non pas un feu magique produit par un homin, dont  la capacité de combustion aurait été finement contrôlée, mais le feu sauvage et dévastateur, fruit d'une réaction en chaîne d'incendies incontrôlables, pouvant atteindre des températures inimaginables.
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While walking along the southern shore of Temples Lake, Pü realised that a few groups of survivors had settled on the islands scattered across the vast stretch of water. The kitins, and especially the famous patrols of green and white insects with spiked abdomens, were poor swimmers and posed no direct threat to the islanders, who only had to contend with the attacks of the fire-breathing dragonflies, which were already perilous enough. However, Pü knew that the apparent safety was deceptive. He had already seen flying kitins transporting walking kitins to places otherwise inaccessible to the latter, and therefore knew that, without adequate precautions, the islands could easily be overrun. Such was the message he tried to convey after finding a boat to the islands closest to the shore. The islanders told him that kitin incursions were rare and that his presence was not welcome, refusing any further discussion. However, against all expectations, one survivor was more open and, after a brief discussion, advised Pü not to go to Taï-Toon: she claimed that a powerful sorcerer from a neighbouring island had threatened anyone who might attempt to venture there. However, like the other survivors, Pü's presence was worrying her: his black mask was invariably seen, at best, as an ominous sign.
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Despite the disappointment of yet another refusal, which further undermined his aspiration to become a saviour, Pü had to admit that this part of Zoraï country did indeed seem less infested with kitins than the other regions he had crossed. As he returned to the shore, then climbed the Great Wall for a closer look at the southern jungles, now turned into shapeless swamps by the Goo that was voraciously decomposing the flora and fauna, he realised why: the kitins themselves must have feared the destructive substance. He was also surprised to note that, three years after the fall of the Theocracy and Zorai civilisation, the wall was still acting as a magnetic barrier, preventing the Goo from advancing further north. But he knew that this was only provisional. Sooner or later, the ambers used as repellents would lose their electrostatic properties. Unless they could be replaced, this would condemn what was once the beating heart of Zoraï country to an inevitable contamination by the Goo. The only recourse then would be to use fire to try and halt its progress. And not a magical fire produced by a homin, whose burning capacity would have been finely controlled, but the wild and devastating fire, the result of a chain reaction of uncontrollable fires, capable of reaching unimaginable temperatures.
  
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Finalement, grâce à la présence réduite des kitins à la bordure des Marais Pourpres, Pü atteignit Taï-Toon plus rapidement qu’il lui avait fallu de temps pour rejoindre Zu-Galam depuis le Jardin Éternel. De jour, cette cité qu’il avait déjà approché dans sa jeunesse, lui apparut comme une version réduite de Zoran : elle se dressait au centre d’une enceinte circulaire, édifiée le long d'une étendue d'eau, et s’articulait autour d'un bâtiment principal. À Zoran, bâtie sur les rives du Lac aux Temples, c’était le Zo’laï-gong, le temple kamiste le plus important du pays, qui régnait sur le cœur de la cité. À Taï-Toon, bâtie au bord du Lac de la Connaissance, le Zo’sok-gong, qui abritait la Grande Bibliothèque Zoraï, tenait cette position centrale. Originellement située à Zoran, la bibliothèque avait été transférée à Taï-Toon après que le siège et les bombardements des armées Fyros en 2328 avaient anéanti ce réservoir de savoir.
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Thanks to the reduced kitin presence at the edge of the Purple Marshes, Pü eventually reached Taï-Toon more quickly than he had needed time to reach Zu-Galam from the Eternal Garden. In daylight, this city, which he had already approached in his youth, appeared to him to be a reduced version of Zoran: it stood at the centre of a circular enclosure, built along a stretch of water, and was structured around a main building. At Zoran, built on the shores of the Lake of Temples, it was the Zo'laï-gong, the most important Kamist temple in the country, that reigned over the heart of the city. In Taï-Toon, built on the shores of the Lake of Knowledge, the Zo'sok-gong, which housed the Great Zoraï Library, held this central position. Originally located in Zoran, the library had been transferred to Taï-Toon after the siege and bombardment of the Fyros armies in 2328 had destroyed this reservoir of knowledge.
 
   
 
   
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N’ayant pas oublié l’avertissement de la Zoraï insulaire, Pü pénétra discrètement à l'intérieur de Taï-Toon. S’il existait réellement, le “puissant sorcier” dont elle lui avait parlé était peut-être dangereux. À l'instar de Zoran, la cité avait été la cible de bombardements par la Karavan trois ans plus tôt, dans le but d'éliminer l’essaim de kitins. Les dégâts étaient bien visibles : d’anciens restes de carcasses jonchaient les cratères disséminés à travers le périmètre et des brèches marquaient le mur circulaire de la cité. Au centre de celle-ci, le Zo’sok-gong, plus petit que le Zo’lai-Gong de Zoran, mais similaire de par sa structure pyramidale à base carrée, était également partiellement détruit. Une fois à l'intérieur de l'enceinte, Pü remarqua un Zoraï en faction, nonchalamment appuyé contre la balustrade d'une tour encore intacte.  Ce gardien n’était pas très attentif, vu la facilité avec laquelle Pü avait échappé à sa vigilance. Ne désirant pas créer un incident diplomatique, il grimpa néanmoins l'échelle de la tour afin de se présenter à lui. Remarquant finalement sa présence, le garde, plus surpris qu’autre chose, dégaina une épée.
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Having not forgotten the warning from the island's Zoraï, Pü discreetly entered Taï-Toon. If he truly did exist, the ‘powerful sorcerer’ she had told him about might be dangerous. Like Zoran, the city had been the target of Karavan bombardments three years earlier, in order to eliminate the swarm of kitins. The damages were clearly visible: ancient carcass remains littered the craters scattered around the perimeter and breaches teared the city's circular wall. In the centre of the city, the Zo'sok-gong, smaller than Zoran's Zo'lai-Gong but similar in its square-based pyramidal structure, was also partly destroyed. Once inside the enclosure, Pü noticed a Zorai on guard duty, nonchalantly leaning against the railing of a tower that was still untouched. The guard wasn't paying much attention, given the ease with which Pü had escaped his vigilance. As he did not wish to create a diplomatic incident, Pü climbed the tower ladder to introduce himself to him. Finally noticing his presence, the guard, more surprised than anything else, unsheathed a sword.
  
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« Qui êtes-vous ? Vous n’avez rien à faire ici ! Taï-Toon est interdite d’accès !
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:''"Who the heck are you? You've no business here! Taï-Toon is off-limits!"
  
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– Je ne me présente pas à vous en tant qu’ennemi, répondit calmement Pü, les mains levées en signe de paix. J’ai justement entendu dire qu’un puissant sorcier avait interdit l’entrée de Taï-Toon. Vous le connaissez ? J’aimerai le rencontrer.
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:''"I don't come to you as an enemy,'' Pü replied calmly, raising his hands as a sign of peace. ''I've just heard that a mighty sorcerer has forbidden entry to Taï-Toon. Do you know him? I'd like to meet him."
  
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– C’est impossible ! Partez immédiatement ! menaça l’homin en avançant d’un pas et en levant son arme. »
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:''"That's impossible! Leave immediately! threatened the homin, taking a step forward and raising his weapon."
  
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Pü soupira et l’examina quelques instants. Corps athlétique, bonne tenue d’épée, mais un bras qui bouillonnait à peine de Sève, insuffisamment pour décupler significativement la force de ses coups. Manifestement, ce n'était pas le sorcier dont on lui avait parlé, même si sa réaction confirma l'existence de ce dernier. Lui était sans doute un simple soldat à son service, probablement rescapé de la garde régulière de la Théocratie ou d'une tribu quelconque. Son manque de maîtrise dans l'art de manipuler la Sève le rendait peu menaçant.
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Pü sighed and examined him for a few moments. Athletic body, good grip on the sword, but an arm that was barely bubbling with Sap, not enough to significantly increase the strength of its blows. Clearly, this was not the sorcerer he had been told about, even if his reaction confirmed the existence of such a one. He was undoubtedly a simple soldier in his service, probably a survivor from the regular guard of the Theocracy or of some tribe. His obvious lack of mastery in the art of manipulating Sap made him little of a menace.
  
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« Je ne souhaite faire de mal à personne. Ni à lui, ni à vous, dit Pü en avançant calmement, les mains toujours levées. Dites-moi simplement où il se trouve. »
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:''"I do not wish to harm anyone. Neither him nor you,'' said Pü, calmly moving forward, his hands still raised. ''Just tell me where he can be found."
  
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La posture de Pü et la confiance qui s’en dégageait fit reculer le Zoraï, qui lança un regard furtif vers le centre de la cité, trahissant sans le vouloir l'emplacement de son maître. Réalisant son erreur, il laissa échapper une injure avant de se jeter sur l'intrus. Pü esquiva aisément l'attaque désespérée et, d'un geste fluide, asséna un uppercut précis contre son menton. Si un soldat de premier rang aurait réussi à utiliser les pouvoirs de la Sève pour encaisser le choc, le garde novice s’effondra instantanément sur le sol. Sans perdre un instant, Pü s'empressa de le ligoter et de le bâillonner. Vu le coup qu’il venait de recevoir, le garde mettrait un certain temps à reprendre conscience et, même s'il parvenait à se réveiller rapidement, cela lui prendrait encore un moment pour se libérer. Cela offrait amplement à Pü le temps de s'infiltrer dans la pyramide sans déclencher l’alerte générale. Alors qu’il s'apprêtait à descendre de la tour, quelque chose attira cependant son attention. L'épée du garde. De très bonne facture, elle serait un remplacement parfait pour la sienne, perdue quelques semaines plus tôt lors de son enlèvement par l'oiseau noir. Sans hésiter, il la saisit avant de s'éclipser discrètement.
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Pü's stance and the confidence it exuded made the Zorai back off, and he glanced furtively towards the centre of the city, unwittingly betraying his master's location. Realising his mistake, he let out an insult before pouncing on the intruder. Pü easily dodged the desperate attack and, in one fluid movement, delivered a precise uppercut against his chin. While a first-rank soldier would have succeed to use the powers of the Sap to absorb the blow, the novice guard collapsed instantly to the ground. Without missing a beat, Pü quickly bound and gagged him. Given the blow he had just received, the guard would need some time to regain consciousness and, even if he managed to wake up quickly, it would still require some time for him to free himself. This gave Pü plenty of time to infiltrate the pyramid without triggering the general alarm. As he was about to climb down the tower, however, something caught his eye. The guard's sword. Very well-crafted indeed, it would be a perfect replacement for his own, lost a few weeks earlier when he was abducted by the black bird. Without hesitation, he grabbed it before discreetly slipping away.
  
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Pü n'eut aucun mal à s'infiltrer dans le Zo’sok-gong, évitant sans difficulté et assommant sans bruit les quelques gardes qu’il croisa sur son chemin. Bien qu'il éprouvât initialement quelques difficultés à s'orienter dans le dédale de couloirs sombres et étroits de la pyramide, il prit néanmoins un certain plaisir à se perdre dans ce labyrinthe, qui lui évoquait par moment les entrelacs de racines creuses de la souche familiale. Une fois à l'intérieur de l'immense bibliothèque, Pü progressa prudemment le long des vastes allées, observant attentivement les signes d'une présence homine récente. Certaines étagères avaient été vidées de leur contenu, suggérant un vol. Par endroits, le sol était jonché de cubes d'ambre et de parchemins éparpillés, tandis que plusieurs étagères étaient renversées, contribuant à l'aspect chaotique des lieux. Le plafond et les murs intacts indiquaient que ces dégâts n'étaient pas le résultat des bombardements de la Karavan, mais plutôt le produit de scènes de bataille ou de vandalisme. Tout au long de son avancée, Pu découvrit d’ailleurs les carapaces desséchées de petits kitins ainsi que les squelettes décharnés de quelques Zoraïs, témoins silencieux des événements violents qui avaient secoué autrefois ce lieu.
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Pü had no trouble infiltrating the Zo'sok-gong, easily avoiding or quietly knocking out the few guards he came across. Although he initially found it difficult to find his way through the pyramid's maze of dark, narrow corridors, he nevertheless enjoyed getting lost in this labyrinth, which at times reminded him of the interlacing hollow roots of the family stump. Once inside the immense library, Pü proceeded cautiously along the vast aisles, carefully observing the signs of a recent homin presence. Some of the shelves had been emptied of their contents, suggesting some theft. In places, the floor was strewn with amber cubes and scattered parchments, while several shelves had been knocked over, contributing to the chaotic appearance of the place. The intact ceiling and walls indicated that this damage was not the result of Karavan bombardments, but rather the product of battle scenes or vandalism. Along the way, Pu came across the desiccated carapaces of small kitins and the emaciated skeletons of a few Zoraïs, silent witnesses to the violent events that had once shaken this place.
  
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Enfin arrivé devant la section la plus privée de la bibliothèque, où autrefois seuls les plus éminents sages de la Théocratie étaient admis, Pü entendit une voix. Il entra discrètement dans la pièce, à peine éclairée par quelques lanternes à lucioles, puis se dissimula derrière une étagère. Observant la scène, Il lui fallut utiliser son nouveau sens pour réaliser que ce qu'il observait n'était pas un animal imposant, méconnaissable dans la pénombre, mais bien un Zoraï. Si Pü avoisinait les deux mètres, une taille relativement commune pour les Zoraïs nés mâles, l’homin qu’il observait devait mesurer dans les deux mètres trente, une taille anormale. Ou plutôt deux mètres cinquante. Il était en réalité bossu, et peinait à se tenir parfaitement droit. Sa taille était tout simplement démesurée. Et pourtant, c’était là l’élément le moins étrange de son corps massif, irrégulièrement gonflé et boursouflé. Seul son masque parfaitement blanc et dénué de cornes, offrait une touche d'harmonie à son apparence autrement difforme.
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When he finally arrived in front of the most private section of the library, where in the past only the most eminent sages of the Theocracy were admitted, Pü heard a voice. He discreetly entered the room, which was barely lit by a few firefly lanterns, and then hid behind a shelf. Observing the scene, he had to use his new senses to realise that what he was watching was not an imposing animal, unrecognisable in the half-light, but indeed a Zoraï. While Pü was around two metres tall, a relatively common height for Zoraïs born male, the homin he was observing must have been around two metres thirty, an abnormal height. Or rather two metres fifty. He was actually hunchbacked and struggled to stand perfectly upright. His height was simply inordinate. And yet that was the least strange thing about his massive, irregularly swollen and bloated body. Only his perfectly white, hornless mask offered a touch of harmony to his otherwise misshapen appearance.
  
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« Charge ceux-ci. »
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:''"Load these ones."
  
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La voix provenait non pas du bossu, mais d’un Zoraï accroupi, qui, en se redressant, saisit un des cubes d'ambre amoncelés en tas à ses pieds. Mesurant environ deux mètres dix et vêtu d'une belle robe mauve, quoique usée, l’homin dévoila des bras étonnamment minces, voire maigres. Cependant, ce qui captiva vraiment l'attention de Pü fut son masque. Parfaitement symétrique et orné d’idéogrammes verts, il était couronné d'une série de longues cornes qui se dressaient des tempes au front, conférant à l'ensemble une allure quasi royale. Ce masque imposant, qui paraissait presque disproportionné par rapport à la maigreur de son porteur, évoqua à Pü celui de Grand-Mère Bä-Bä, bien que l'individu n’eût qu’une trentaine d'années. S'il était communément admis que le masque révélait l'âme de son porteur et son lien intime avec les Kamis, certains estimaient aussi que sa taille pouvait indiquer son potentiel. Pü considéra son propre masque, plus imposant que la moyenne, et réalisa alors qu'il avait trouvé le fameux sorcier qu’il cherchait. Celui-ci fixait en silence le cube d'ambre qu'il tenait à deux mains, tandis que le géant s'affairait à charger les autres cubes du tas désigné dans un grand chariot déjà à moitié rempli. Soudain, le masque du Zoraï pivota vers l'étagère derrière laquelle Pü était dissimulé. Il leva sa main libre vers lui. Une main menaçante.
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The voice came not from the hunchback, but from a crouching Zorai who, straightening up, grabbed one of the amber cubes piled up at his feet. Standing at around two metres ten and dressed in a beautiful, albeit worn, violet robe, the hominin revealed arms that were surprisingly slim, nay scrawny. However, what really caught Pü's attention was his mask. Perfectly symmetrical and adorned with green ideograms, it was crowned by a series of long horns rising from the temples to the forehead, giving the whole an almost regal allure. This imposing mask, which seemed almost out of proportion to the thinness of its wearer, reminded Pü of Grandmother Bä-Bä, even though the individual was only in his thirties. While it was generally assumed that the mask revealed the wearer's soul and intimate link with the Kamis, some also believed that its size could indicate its potential. Pü looked at his own mask, which was larger than average, and then realised that he had found the famous sorcerer he was looking for. The latter was staring silently at the amber cube he was holding with both hands, while the giant was busy loading the other cubes from the designated pile into a large cart that was already half-full. Suddenly, the Zorai's mask swivelled towards the shelf behind which Pü was hidden. It raised its free hand towards him. A threatening hand.
  
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« Je te vois, voleur. Sors de là. »
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:''"I see you, thief. Come out."
  
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À ces mots, Pü réalisa instantanément que le sorcier ne l'avait pas repéré visuellement, mais à travers la même sens qui lui permettait de percevoir le réseau de Sève qui irriguait Atys. La Zoraï insulaire n’avait définitivement pas menti : cet individu était assurément puissant. Sans se laisser intimider, le Zoraï sortit de sa cachette et s’avança, parcourant les ombres jusqu'à ce que la lumière des lanternes illumine pleinement son masque. À cette vue, le sorcier laissa échapper un petit rire.
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At these words, Pü instantly realised that the sorcerer had not spotted him visually, but through the same sense that allowed him to perceive the network of Sap that irrigated Atys. The island's Zoraï had definitely not lied: this individual was definitely powerful. Undaunted, the Zorai emerged from his hiding place and stepped forward, scouring the shadows until the light of the lanterns fully illuminated his mask. The sorcerer let out a small giggle at the sight.
  
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« Oh, mais vous n’êtes pas un voleur ! Ou plutôt, pas n’importe quel voleur. Sang Fu-Tao le Masque Noir, premier parmi les Guerriers Noirs de Ma-Duk, père du prophétique Guerrier Sacré. Votre survie ne me surprend pas. Je dois dire que… »
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:''"Oh, but you're not a thief! Or rather, not just any thief. Sang Fu-Tao the Black Mask, first among the Black Warriors of Ma-Duk, father of the prophetic Sacred Warrior. Your survival does not surprise me. I must say…"
  
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Surpris, Pü laissa le sorcier parler, tandis que le bossu, indifférent à sa présence, s’activait à ramasser les cubes d’ambre que son maître lui avait indiqués. Comme Zunak, le meneur antékami qu’il avait rencontré à Zoran il y a trois ans, lui aussi connaissait sa famille. Était-il, tout comme l’Antékami, un vieil adversaire de son père ?
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Surprised, Pü let the sorcerer speak, while the hunchback, indifferent to his presence, busied himself collecting the amber cubes his master had pointed out to him. Like Zunak, the antekami leader he had met in Zoran three years ago, this Zorai also knew his family. Was he, like the Antekami, an ancient adversary of his father?
  
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« … car à la fin du monde, seuls les Fortunés et les Appelés demeurent.
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:''"… for at the end of the world, only the Provided and the Appointed remain.
  
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– Je ne suis pas Sang. Je suis son fils, répondit Pü, une fois que le sorcier eut terminé son monologue.
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:''"I'm not Sang. I'm his son,'' replied Pü, once the sorcerer had completed his monologue.
  
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– Son aîné ? Ainsi, la prophétie s’est réalisée. Le Guerrier Sacré est en marche. Il est vrai que votre constitution est… singulière », dit-il en en scrutant Pü du masque aux pieds.
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:''"His eldest? So the prophecy has come true. The Sacred Warrior is on the march. It's true that your constitution is… singular."'' he said, scrutinising Pü from mask to toe.
  
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Pü n’eut pas le cœur de lui dire qu’il était encore confondu avec Niï, comme Zunak l’avait fait avant lui. Il préféra se concentrer sur le ton et l’attitude du sorcier, se demandant s’il n’y avait pas une intention moqueuse derrière ses paroles. N’étant pas très habile pour déceler les sous-entendus, il ne pouvait pas l’affirmer. Ce dont il était certain, en revanche, c’est que cet individu aimait s’écouter parler. Face à l'absence de réponse de Pü, il continua.
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Pü didn't have the heart to tell him that, as Zunak had done before him, the sorcerer mistook him for Niï. He preferred to concentrate on his tone and attitude, wondering whether there was any mocking intent behind his words. Not being very good at detecting innuendo, he couldn't say for sure. What he was sure of, however, was that this individual liked to listen to himself talking. In the absence of any response from Pü, he continued.
  
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« Si vous avez survécu, j'espère qu’il en est de même pour votre mère et pour Bä-Bä. »
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:''"If you survived, I hope the same is true of your mother and Bä-Bä."
  
−
S'il était possible que l'individu se soit moqué de lui jusqu'à présent, ce n'était pas le cas cette fois-ci. Pü pouvait lire la sincérité dans son regard et percevoir l'inquiétude dans sa voix. Plus que jamais désireux de découvrir son identité, Pü décida de s'ouvrir à lui et s’avança de quelques pas.
+
While it was possible this individual had been making fun of him until now, that was not the case this time. Pü could read the sincerity in his eyes and hear the concern in his voice. More eager than ever to discover his identity, Pü decided to open up to him and took a few steps forward.
  
−
« Malheureusement, ce n’est pas le cas. Grand-mère Bä-Bä et ma mère sont mortes, tout comme chaque membre de ma tribu. Nous avons réussi à repousser la première vague de kitins au cours d’un combat féroce, mais la seconde nous a été fatale. Par un triste concours de circonstances, je suis le seul survivant. Dites-moi, qui êtes vous ? Vous semblez bien connaître ma tribu.
+
:''"Unfortunately, that's not the case. Grandma Bä-Bä and my mother are dead, as is every member of my tribe. We managed to repel the first wave of kitins in a fierce battle, but the second was fatal. By a sad twist of fate, I'm the only survivor. Tell me, who are you? You seem to know my tribe well.
  
−
– Oh, toutes mes condoléances. Je connais effectivement votre tribu et ses coutumes, comme toutes celles qui peuplaient autrefois la jungle, à vrai dire. Ces choses-là m’intéressent beaucoup. J'ai d’ailleurs eu l'occasion de croiser votre mère à plusieurs reprises à Zoran, lorsqu'elle représentait votre tribu en tant que diplomate. Quant à l’honorable Bä-Bä, je l'ai rencontrée, toujours en compagnie de votre mère, lors de conseils exceptionnels visant à comprendre et à vaincre la Goo, réunissant tous les érudits du pays, y compris les plus marginaux. »
+
:''"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss. I do indeed know your tribe and its customs, as I know all tribes which once populated the jungle, to tell the truth. I'm very interested in such things. I met your mother on several occasions in Zoran, when she represented your tribe as a diplomat. As for the honourable Bä-Bä, I met her, always in the company of your mother, at exceptional councils aimed at understanding and defeating Goo, bringing together all the country's scholars, including the most marginal."
  
−
Les yeux du sorcier, qui le fixaient jusque-là, se détournèrent vers le cube d’ambre qu’il tenait toujours en main. Pü ne sut pas s’il avait volontairement omis de lui révéler son identité, ou s’il était absorbé par ses pensées. Ce qui était en revanche certain, c’était que ses pensées étaient empreintes de sombres rancœurs, comme le démontra bientôt la longue diatribe dans laquelle il se lança.
+
The sorcerer's eyes, which had been staring at him until then, turned towards the amber cube he still held in his hand. Pü didn't know if he had deliberately omitted to reveal his identity, or if he was absorbed in his thoughts. What was certain, however, was that these were tinged with dark resentment, as the long diatribe he launched into soon showed.
  
−
« Ayez au moins le réconfort de savoir que votre tribu est partie avec courage et honneur, contrairement aux sages et bureaucrates de Zoran, qui ont piétiné leurs administrés pour garantir leur place dans les transporteurs de la Karavan. J'espère qu’ils ont été pourchassés dans leur fuite, et que leurs véhicules se sont écrasés dans les régions obscures et inexplorées qui bordent Atys ! Quant aux Kamis, après avoir passé presque trois siècles à nous répéter que nous étions leur peuple élu, aucun ne s’est manifesté au moment où nous avions réellement besoin d'eux, laissant la Karavan, qu’ils nous ont pourtant appris à tant hair, sauver les plus lâches et privilégiés d'entre nous… »
+
:''"‘At least you can take comfort in knowing that your tribe left with courage and honour, unlike Zoran's sages and bureaucrats, who trampled on their people in order to secure their place in the Karavan transporters. I hope they were chased as they fled, and that their vehicles crashed in the dark, unexplored areas bordering Atys! As for the Kamis, after spending almost three centuries telling us that we were their chosen people, none of them showed up when we really needed them, leaving the Karavan, whom they taught us to hate so much, to save the most cowardly and privileged among us…"
  
−
Tandis que le sorcier continuait d’exprimer son ressentiment, ses mains pressaient le cube avec une intensité croissante. Pü comprenait bien cette rancœur. Lui aussi avait éprouvé une profonde amertume, non pas envers la Théocratie, que son éducation l'avait conditionné à ne jamais estimer, mais envers les Kamis, malgré les explications que le Kami Noir lui  avait fourni concernant leur absence au cours de l’invasion. Attendant que son interlocuteur ait terminé son nouveau monologue, afin de pouvoir lui redemander son identité, Pü fixa le cube en silence. Il se demanda si les ongles du sorcier, qui paraissaient s’enfoncer dans l’ambre, pouvaient altérer les idéogrammes inscrits. Plissant les yeux par réflexe, il parvint à déchiffrer ce qui était inscrit, malgré la pénombre : “Traité sur les pouvoirs mutagènes de la Goo. Par Fung-Tun.” Pü, qui comprit instantanément que le cube d’ambre renfermait un savoir dangereux, se rappela qu’il se trouvait précisément dans la section la plus privée de la bibliothèque. Et alors que, jetant un coup d'œil au cube coiffant la pile transportée par le bossu, Pü tentait de se faire une idée de son contenu, le sorcier interrompit soudain sa diatribe et fit trois pas en arrière.
+
While the sorcerer continued to express his resentment, his hands pressed the cube with increasing intensity. Pü understood this rancour. He too had felt a deep bitterness, not towards the Theocracy, which his upbringing had conditioned him never to esteem, but towards the Kamis, despite the explanations the Black Kami had given him about their inaction during the invasion. Waiting for his interlocutor to finish his new monologue, so that he could ask him his identity again, Pü stared at the cube in silence. He wondered if the sorcerer's fingernails, which seemed to be digging into the amber, could alter the ideograms inscribed. Squinting reflexively, he managed to decipher what was inscribed, despite the gloom: “''Treatise on the mutagenic powers of the Goo. By Fung-Tun''”. Pü, who understood instantly that the amber cube contained dangerous knowledge, remembered that he was in the most private section of the library. And as Pü glanced at the cube on top of the stack carried by the hunchback, trying to get an idea of its contents, the sorcerer suddenly interrupted his diatribe and took three steps backwards.
  
−
« Il… Il est avec vous ? »
+
:''"He... He's with you?"
  
−
Il fallut bien cinq secondes à Pü pour saisir à quoi le sorcier faisait référence. Lorsqu’il se retourna, il sursauta en découvrant le Kami Noir lévitant derrière son épaule.
+
It took Pü a good five seconds to grasp what the sorcerer was referring to. When he turned round, he was startled to discover the Black Kami levitating behind his shoulder.
  
−
« Oui, il est avec moi », répondit Pü sans réfléchir.
+
:''"Yes, he's with me,"'' Pü replied thoughtlessly.
  
−
C’était la première fois qu’il revoyait le Kami Noir depuis l’incident de Zu-Galam, et cela surchagea son esprit de pensées confuses. Il était toujours furieux contre lui.
+
It was the first time he was seeing the Black Kami since the incident at Zu-Galam, and that filled his mind with confused thoughts. He was still furious at him.
  
−
« C’est… C’est comme s’il était sorti de vous ! C’est pour cela, ce flux dense de Sève en vous ? Qui êtes-vous réellement et que voulez-vous ? Vous êtes venu me le reprendre, c’est cela ? Jamais je vous laisserai faire ! Il est à moi ! hurla le sorcier en reculant de quelques pas supplémentaires.
+
:''"That's… That's as if it came out of you! Is that why you have this dense flow of Sap running inside you? Who are you for real and what do you want? You've come to take him away from me, haven't you? I'll never let you do that! It's mine!'' shouted the sorcerer, taking a few more steps backwards.
  
−
– Non non, je ne suis pas venu vous voler, ni vous faire du mal, je souhaite simplement discuter ! »
+
:''"No, no, I haven't come to steal from you, nor to hurt you, I just wish to have a conversation!"
  
−
Comme pour le contredire, le Kami leva l’une de ses petites mains et dirigea une griffe étincelante en direction du sorcier. À la vue de ses yeux blancs, chargés d’une terrifiante colère, le corps de Pü se figea. Depuis le jour où il avait libéré le Kami des Antékamis, et que celui-ci avait massacré ses ravisseurs, il ne l’avait jamais revu dans un tel état. Connaissait-il ce Zoraï ? Pourquoi lui voulait-il du mal ? Mais l’heure n’était aux questionnements. Pü sentit les particules spirituelles qui composaient son être entrer en résonance avec celles de la créature divine. Autour de lui, la pièce tout entière s’était mise à vibrer. Toujours perturbé par son apparition soudaine, il réagit en retard par rapport au sorcier, qui, après un moment de frayeur, s’était ressaisi avec une détermination farouche.
+
As if to contradict him, the Kami raised one of his small hands and pointed a glittering claw at the sorcerer. Pü's body froze at the sight of his white eyes, filled with terrifying anger. Not since the day he had freed the Kami of the Antekamis, and the latter had slaughtered his abductors, had he seen him in such a condition. Did he know this Zoraï? Why did he want to hurt him? But now was not the time for questions. Pü felt the spiritual particles that made up his being resonate with those of the divine creature. All around him, the whole room began to vibrate. Still disturbed by its sudden apparition, he reacted later than the sorcerer, who, after a moment's fright, had pulled himself together with fierce determination.
  
−
« Xe-Qe, attrape-le vivant ! »
+
:''"Xe-Qe, get him alive!"
  
−
Répondant aux ordres, le bossu bondit sur Pü avec une agilité surprenante pour un être de sa taille. En parallèle, le sorcier lâcha le cube d’ambre et, sans utiliser de gants amplificateurs, incanta un éclair d’une puissance phénoménale qui fusa vers le Kami, venant s’écraser contre sa griffe juste au moment où une décharge lumineuse en jaillissait. À la force de l’impact, et en voyant le sorcier ne pas flancher, Pü comprit que ce dernier évoluait dans une catégorie autrement supérieure à la sienne en tant que praticien de magie. Il était manifestement aussi expérimenté que l'avait été sa mère, bien qu’ayant plutôt l’âge qu'aurait dû atteindre son frère. Déséquilibré par la vague d’énergie, Pü ne parvint pas à esquiver totalement l'assaut du géant, qui réussit à saisir son bras avec sa main la plus protubérante. La pression de la prise confirma que la force brute du bossu était tout aussi exceptionnelle que sa taille, et Pü réalisa qu'il ne réussirait pas à en desserrer l’étreinte. Voyant que, après avoir réussi à l’attraper comme l’avait demandé son maître, son adversaire restait immobile, Pü dégaina de sa main libre l’épée volée au garde et lacéra le bras du géant. Mais, apparemment insensible à la douleur, celui-ci ne réagit pas et ne lâcha pas prise. Pendant ce temps, le sorcier maintenait son éclair face au Kami, qui contenait son assaut du bout de sa griffe. Malgré le pouvoir déployé, la créature divine, dont les yeux étaient toujours chargés de colère, paraissait à peine affectée. Elle commença à léviter lentement vers sa cible, implacable malgré la puissance de l’éclair. Craignant pour la vie du sorcier et bien qu'il n’ait initialement voulu blesser personne, Pü hésita à peine avant de trancher l’avant bras du géant, se promettant de le soigner une fois la crise apaisée. Lorsque l’énorme membre tomba au sol, son propriétaire réagit à peine et tenta d’attraper Pü avec son moignon. Mais le Zoraï s’était déjà précipité vers le Kami, bien déterminé à l’arrêter. Se rappelant qu'au moment de son enlèvement par l’oiseau noir, guidé par la colère, il s'était senti capable de pénétrer l’esprit son esprit et de le contrôler en aggripant son serre, il posa sa main sur sa fourrure.
+
Responding to his orders, the hunchback leapt at Pü with surprising agility for a creature of his size. At the same time, the sorcerer dropped the amber cube and, without using any amplifying gloves, incanted a bolt of lightning of phenomenal power which shot towards the Kami, crashing against his claw just as a burst of light shot out of it. The force of the impact, and the fact that the sorcerer didn't flinch, made Pü realise that this one was in a much higher category than his own as a practitioner of magic. He was clearly as experienced as his mother had been, even though he was closer to the age his brother should have reached. Unbalanced by the wave of energy, Pü was unable to completely dodge the giant's assault, who managed to grab his arm with <ref>his most protruding hand Oo … awaiting an alternative proposal from the author.</ref>. The pressure of the grip confirmed that the hunchback's brute strength was just as exceptional as his size, and Pü realised that he wouldn't be able to loosen its grip. Seeing that his opponent, once having managed to catch him as his master had asked, remained motionless, Pü unsheathed the sword he had stolen from the guard with his free hand and slashed the giant's arm. But, apparently unaffected by the pain, the giant did not react and did not let go. Meanwhile, the sorcerer maintained his lightning strike against the Kami, who contained his assault with the tip of his claw. Despite the power it wielded, the divine creature, whose eyes were still filled with anger, seemed barely affected. It began to levitate slowly towards its target, implacable despite the power of the lightning. Fearing for the sorcerer's life, and although he had not initially intended to hurt anyone, Pü barely hesitated before slicing off the giant's forearm, promising himself to heal him once the crisis had eased. When the huge limb fell to the ground, its owner barely reacted and tried to catch Pü with his stump. But the Zorai had already rushed towards the Kami, determined to stop him. Remembering that when he had been kidnapped by the black bird, driven by anger, he had felt able to penetrate its mind and control it by gripping its talon, he put his hand on his fur.
  
−
« Cessez immédiatement !  Je vous l'ordonne ! »
+
:''"Cease at once!  I order you!"
  
−
Pü sentit le Kami vaciller, mais contrairement à la dernière fois, aucune chaleur intense ne le repoussa. La créature divine dévia l’éclair du sorcier d’un geste brusque, projetant ce dernier en arrière, et l’arc électrique alla trancher en deux une bibliothèque. Puis elle flotta jusqu’au sol. Elle flotta jusqu’au sol et s’y enfonça, lentement, comme si celui-ci n’avait aucune consistance, jusqu’à finalement disparaître. Pü se précipita vers le sorcier pour l’aider à se relever, mais celui-ci fut plus rapide et, toujours méfiant, brandit ses mains, probablement prêt à incanter un autre éclair.
+
Pü felt the Kami flicker, but unlike last time, no intense heat repelled him. The divine creature deflected the sorcerer's lightning bolt with a sudden gesture, throwing him backwards, and the electric bolt went on to slice a bookcase in half. Then it floated to the ground. It floated to the ground and sank into it, slowly, as if it had no consistency, until it finally disappeared. Pü rushed towards the sorcerer to help him up, but he was quicker and, still wary, held up his hands, probably ready to incant another bolt of lightning.
  
−
« Je suis désolé, je ne sais pas ce qui lui a pris, dit Pü en levant les mains pour apaiser la situation. J’ai croisé d’autres homins ces dernières semaines, et c’est la première fois qu’il réagit ainsi. Il ne s’était d’ailleurs jamais montré à quiconque d’autre que moi avant aujourd’hui. Peut-être a-t-il pensé que ma vie était vraiment en danger. Ou alors… »
+
:''"I'm sorry, I don't know what got into him,' says Pü, raising his hands to soothe the situation. I've met other homins over the last few weeks, and this is the first time he reacts like this. In fact, he'd never shown himself to anyone but me before today. Maybe he thought my life was in real danger. Or maybe…"
  
−
Pu s'accroupit et ramassa le cube d’ambre que le sorcier tenait encore quelques instants plus tôt.
+
Pü crouched down and picked up the amber cube that the sorcerer had been holding just a few moments earlier.
  
−
« Peut-être ne vous visait-il pas vous, mais ceci. Ce savoir est dangereux et abhorré par les Kamis… Après tout, il est apparu au moment où j’ai lu ce qui y était inscrit. Peut-être voit-il à travers mes yeux.
+
:''"Perhaps it wasn't meant for you, but for this. This knowledge is dangerous and abhorred by the Kamis… After all, it became visible the moment I read the inscription on it. Perhaps he sees through my eyes.
  
−
– Il… Il voit à travers vos yeux ? protesta le sorcier. Mais par Jena, qui êtes vous réellement ! Vous avez commandé ce Kami et vous parlez de lui comme s’il n’était qu’un simple animal de protection.
+
:''"He… He can see through your eyes?'' protested the sorcerer. ''But by Jena, who are you really! You commanded this Kami and you speak of him as if he were a mere protective animal.
  
−
– Je vous ai déjà dit qui j’étais. Moi en revanche, je ne sais toujours pas qui vous êtes. »
+
:''"I've already told you who I am. I, on the other hand, still don't know who you are.’
  
−
Décidant à nouveau de ne pas répondre, le sorcier abaissa ses mains et appela le dénommé Xe-Qe. L’imposant Zoraï s’avança, tenant son membre tranché dans sa main valide, et c’est avec une dextérité magique redoutable que son maître le greffa à son moignon. Toujours mutique, le bossu fit bouger ses doigts et observa sa main comme s’il la découvrait pour la première fois.
+
Again deciding not to answer, the sorcerer lowered his hands and called out to the one named Xe-Qe. The imposing Zoraï stepped forward, holding his severed limb in his good hand, and it was with formidable magical dexterity that his master grafted it onto his stump. Still silent, the hunchback moved his fingers and observed his hand as if discovering it for the first time.
  
−
« Avant de vous répondre, je dois m’assurer que vous n’êtes pas ici pour me voler. Pourquoi avoir fait l’effort d’éliminer tous mes gardes pour vous introduire dans cette bibliothèque ? demanda-t-il finalement.
+
:''"Before answering, I must make sure that you are not here to steal from me. Why did you go to the trouble of eliminating all my guards to get into this library?'' he finally asked.
  
−
– Je n’ai tué personne. J’en ai simplement assommé quelques-uns. Et à nouveau, je n’ai aucune intention de vous voler. J’ai entamé un voyage il y a quelques semaines, avec pour objectif de rassembler les survivants d’Atys et de leur offrir ma protection. On m’a récemment informé qu’un puissant sorcier avait interdit l’accès à Taï-Toon. Je voulais simplement voir qui avait pris le contrôle de cette cité, comme les Antékamis l’ont fait avec Zoran.
+
:''"I didn't kill any of them. I just knocked a few out. And again, I have no intention of robbing you. I set out on a journey a few weeks ago, with the aim of gathering the survivors of Atys and offering them my protection. I was recently informed that a powerful sorcerer had forbidden access to Taï-Toon. I simply wanted to find out who had taken control of this city, as the Antikamis did with Zoran.
  
−
– Ne me comparez pas à ces sauvages, cracha le sorcier en tendant la main vers Pü pour qu’il lui rende le cube d’ambre. J’ai ordonné à mes gardes de surveiller les entrées précisément pour empêcher que la cité, et surtout cette bibliothèque, ne soient mises à sac par des individus incultes ou dangereux. Ce savoir ne doit pas atterrir dans n’importe quelles mains.
+
:''"Don't compare me to those barbarians,'' spat the sorcerer, holding out his hand for Pü to return him the amber cube. ''I've ordered my guards to watch the entrances precisely to prevent the city, and especially this library, from being ransacked by ignorant or dangerous individuals. This knowledge must not fall into just any hands.
  
−
– Et qu’est-ce qui vous rend plus apte que n’importe qui d’autre à manipuler ce savoir ? répliqua Pü en reculant sa main. Je ne sais toujours pas qui vous êtes.
+
:''"And what makes you more qualified than anyone else to handle this knowledge?'' replied Pü, pulling his hand back. ''I still don't know who you are."
  
−
Le sorcier fixa Pü avec une intensité palpable, comme s'il pesait soigneusement sa réponse, scrutant chaque détail de son masque. Le silence s'installa, lourd de sens, avant qu'il ne prenne enfin la parole, d'une voix grave et mesurée. Quatre mots seulement furent prononcés, comme si cela devait tout clarifier.
+
The sorcerer stared at Pü with palpable intensity, as if carefully weighing up his answer, scrutinising every detail of his mask. Silence fell, heavy with meaning, before he finally spoke, in a deep, measured voice. Only four words were spoken, as if to clarify everything.
  
−
« Je suis Marung Horongi. »
+
:''"I'm Marung Horongi."
  
−
Et effectivement, cela suffisait à expliquer beaucoup de choses. Parmi la poignée de magiciens contemporains célèbres dont Pü avait entendu parler par sa mère, et qu’il avait envisagé comme pouvant être le fameux sorcier, Marung Horongi se distinguait. Disciple le plus prometteur du Grand Sage Min-Cho, il était vu par certains comme le plus digne de ceux qui pourrait lui succéder et diriger la Théocratie à sa mort, bien que la tradition favorisât Hoi-Cho, le descendant de Min-Cho. L’histoire racontait aussi que Marung Horongi avait reçu son masque de parenté dès l'âge de six ans, un exploit hors du commun. Pü, dont le masque n’avait poussé qu’à dix ans — âge déjà considéré comme exceptionnel — avait eu du mal à y croire la première fois que sa mère le lui avait raconté. Quelques secondes passèrent avant qu’il ne lui tende enfin le cube d’ambre.
+
And indeed, that was enough to explain a lot. Among the handful of famous contemporary magicians that Pü had heard about from his mother, and whom he had considered might be the famous sorcerer, Marung Horongi stood out. The most promising disciple of the Grand Sage Min-Cho, he was seen by some as the most worthy of those who could succeed him and lead the Theocracy on his death, although tradition favoured Hoi-Cho, Min-Cho's descendant. The story also goes that Marung Horongi received his kinship mask at the age of six, an extraordinary feat. Pü, whose mask had only grown when he was ten - an age already considered exceptional - found it hard to believe when his mother first told him. A few seconds passed before he finally handed him the amber cube.
  
−
« Je ne suis pas vraiment étonné, j’ai entendu parler de vous. Et je pense malgré tout que vous devriez vous méfier de ce savoir dangereux.
+
:''"I'm not really surprised, I've heard all about you. Even so, I think you should be wary of this dangerous knowledge.
  
−
– Ce savoir dangereux, comme vous l’appelez, est en de bonnes mains, répondit le sorcier en s’emparant rapidement du cube d’ambre, comme s’il craignait que Pü ne change d’avis. Il est en de bonnes mains parce que je comprends son pouvoir et ses implications.
+
:''"This dangerous knowledge, as you call it, is in good hands,’ replied the sorcerer, grabbing the amber cube quickly, as if he feared Pü might change his mind. It's in good hands because I understand its power and its implications.
  
−
– Vous ne seriez pas le premier à dire cela et à… »
+
:''"You wouldn't be the first to say that and to…"
  
−
La conversation fut brusquement interrompue par une petite voix tremblante provenant d’une pièce voisine. Pü se retourna et aperçut un Zoraï d’à peine cinq ans émerger de la pénombre, avançant d’un pas rapide, trahissant la peur qui l’habitait. Instinctivement, Marung tendit les bras en direction de Pü, prêt à agir au moindre signe de menace.
+
The conversation was abruptly interrupted by a small, trembling voice from a neighbouring room. Pü turned round and saw a Zorai barely five years old emerge from the gloom, walking swiftly, betraying the fear inside him. Instinctively, Marung stretched out his arms in Pü's direction, ready to act at the slightest sign of a threat.
  
−
« Ma … Marung ? Ça va ? Il y a eu du bruit… »
+
:''"Ma… Marung? Are you all right? There was a noise…"
−
 
+
{{WIP}}
−
En apercevant Pü, l’enfant s’arrêta net, ses yeux rivés sur le grand masque noir. Pu perçut immédiatement la peur sur le visage de l’enfant. Un visage encore dénué de masque. À cet instant, il était impossible de dire lequel des deux était le plus troublé par l’autre. Pü n’avait pas vu d’enfant depuis plusieurs années, et le visage innocent du petit, empreint d’une douceur qu’il avait presque oubliée, le bouleversa. Ses grands yeux noirs, emplis de crainte, surmontaient un nez légèrement retroussé et des joues rondes qui trahissaient encore toute la fragilité de l’enfance. Instantanément, Pü fut submergé par une émotion vive et sentit les larmes lui monter aux yeux. Ce visage nu, pur et vulnérable, contrastait cruellement avec l’horreur qui régnait sur Atys depuis l’invasion des kitins. C’était comme un fragment d’un autre temps, une vision d’une vie révolue. Une vie où les enfants chassaient les lucioles et se balançaient de liane en liane dans la souche familiale, tout comme il l’avait lui-même fait, avant que ses jeux ne cèdent la place à d'interminables entraînements martiaux. Une vie sans la douleur d'avoir dû recueillir les graines de vie des vingt-sept enfants de sa tribu, massacrés par les kitins, pour accomplir le rite funéraire qu'il s’était forcé à organiser, seul. Désespérément seul. Pü baissa la tête et fit glisser ses doigts le long des fentes oculaires de son masque.
+
On seeing Pü, the child stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes riveted on the large black mask. Pü could immediately see the fear on the child's face. A face still devoid of mask. At that moment, it was impossible to say which of the two was more confused by the other. Pü had not seen a child for several years, and the boy's innocent face, imbued with a gentleness he had almost forgotten, overwhelmed him. His wide black eyes, filled with fear, were set above a slightly upturned nose and round cheeks that still betrayed all the frailty of childhood. Instantly, Pü was overcome with emotion and felt tears welling up in his eyes. This naked face, pure and vulnerable, contrasted cruelly with the horror that had reigned over Atys since the kitin invasion. It was like a fragment of another time, a vision of a bygone life. A life where children hunted fireflies and swung from vine to vine in the family stump, just as he himself had done, before his games gave way to endless martial training. A life without the pain of having had to collect the seeds of life from the twenty-seven children of his tribe, slaughtered by the kitins, to carry out the funeral rite he had forced himself to organise, alone. Desperately alone. Pü lowered his head and ran his fingers along the eye slits of his mask.
  
−
« Tout va bien, ne t’inquiète pas, dit Marung en faisant signe à l’enfant de le rejoindre, voyant qu’aucun Kami n’avait surgit des ténèbres. Ce n’était rien, juste un malentendu. »
+
:''"Everything's fine, don't worry,'' said Marung, beckoning the child to join him, seeing that no Kami had emerged from the darkness. ''It was nothing, just a misunderstanding."
  
−
Le sorcier se baissa et serra  le jeune Zoraï contre lui, lui offrant une protection réconfortante qui contrastait avec l’image que Pü s’était faite de lui.
+
The sorcerer bent down and hugged the young Zoraï, offering him a comforting protection that contrasted with the image Pü had formed of him.
  
−
« Qui est-ce ? demanda le garçon en pointant du doigt Pü, la curiosité surpassant peu à peu son angoisse.
+
:''"Who is he?'' the boy asked, pointing at Pü, his curiosity gradually overcoming his anxiety.
  
−
– Juste un visiteur. C’est un Appelé, tout comme nous deux. Tu te souviens de ce que je t’ai expliqué sur les Fortunés et les Appelés ?  
+
:''"Just a visitor. He's an Appointed, just like the two of us. Do you remember what I told you about the Provided and the Appointed?  
  
−
– Oui. Dans le nouveau monde, il y a deux sortes de gens. Ceux qui ont de la chance, et ceux qui doivent faire de grandes choses. »
+
:''"Yes, I remember. In the new world, there are two kinds of people. Those who are lucky, and those who have to do great things."
  
−
Marung acquiesça en silence et se redressa. Saisissant l’émoi de Pü, il préféra ne pas le relancer et ordonna à Xe-Qe de reprendre son travail de chargement. L’enfant, figé, continuait de fixer le masque de Pü sans bouger.
+
Marung nodded silently and stood up. Realising Pü's emotion, he preferred not to start again and ordered Xe-Qe to resume his loading work. The child remained motionless, staring at Pü's mask.
  
−
« Je m’appelle Pü, finit par dire ce dernier une fois remis de ses émotions. Et toi, comment t’appelles-tu ?
+
:''"I'm called Pü,'' he finally said, once he'd recovered from his emotions. ''And what's your name?
  
−
– Nung Horongi. Je suis le frère de Marung. »
+
:''"Nung Horongi. I'm Marung's brother."
  
−
Troublé par la différence d’âge apparente, Pü jeta un coup d'œil interrogateur vers le sorcier, qui saisit la question silencieuse.
+
Disturbed by the apparent age difference, Pü glanced questioningly at the sorcerer, who caught the silent question.
  
−
« Nous ne partageons pas le même sang. Je l’ai adopté il y a trois ans, dit-il en posant une main sur l’épaule de l’enfant, la serrant juste assez pour que le geste, censé être protecteur, prenne un tour possessif, presque oppressant. Lorsque je l’ai trouvé, il flottait dans les airs au-dessus de son village, que les Kitins avaient réduit en cendres. Fabuleux, non ? C’est pour lui que je craignais que vous ou votre Kami soyez venus ici. Nung est mon trésor, n’est-ce pas, Nung ? »
+
:''"We don't share the same blood. I adopted him three years ago,'' he said, placing a hand on the child's shoulder, squeezing it just enough for the gesture, which was supposed to be protective, to take on a possessive, almost oppressive quality. ''When I found him, he was floating in the air above his village, which the Kitins had reduced to ashes. Fabulous, isn't it? It was for him that I feared you or your Kami had come here. Nung is my treasure, isn't he, Nung?"
  
−
À ces mots, un sourire radieux illumina le visage de l’enfant, frappant Pü en plein cœur et ravivant en lui une émotion qu’il venait tout juste de réussir à contenir.
+
At these words, a radiant smile lit up the child's face, striking Pü right in the heart and reawakening an emotion he had only just managed to contain.
  
−
« Oui ! Je suis le trésor de Marung ! »
+
:''"Yes! I am Marung's treasure!"
  
−
“Trésor”. C’était ainsi que sa mère l’appelait lorsqu’il était enfant. Pü, qui ne s’était jamais imaginé en tant que grand frère, et encore moins en tant que père, se surprit pour la première fois à s’imaginer responsable d’un enfant. Et cette idée fit germer un espoir dans son cœur. Oui, c’était cela qu’il voulait. Non pas spécifiquement devenir père, mais dédier sa vie à la protection d’êtres innocents, loin de l’obscurité et des fêlures qui le hantaient. Pour échapper à la douleur des pertes passées, aux souvenirs des atrocités qu’il avait dû commettre enfant sous l’emprise des traditions, et à celles qu’il semblait être destiné à perpétrer. Pour s’effacer et trouver un nouveau sens à sa vie.
+
''Treasure''. That was how his mother used to call him when he was a child. Pü, who had never imagined himself as a big brother, and even less as a father, surprised himself for the first time by imagining himself responsible for a child. And this idea sparked hope in his heart. Yes, that was what he wanted. Not specifically to become a father, but to dedicate his life to the protection of innocent beings, far from the darkness and the fractures that haunted him. To escape the pain of past losses, the memories of the atrocities that the grip of tradition had made him commit as a child, and those he now seemed destined to perpetrate. To erase himself and find new meaning for his life.
  
−
Lui aussi voulait avoir un trésor à protéger.
+
He too wanted to have a treasure to protect.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{NavChap|[[Chapter II·IV - Doomed to live]]|[[The Sacred War#Table of contents|Table of contents]]|[[Chapter II·VI - To come]]}}
 
{{NavChap|[[Chapter II·IV - Doomed to live]]|[[The Sacred War#Table of contents|Table of contents]]|[[Chapter II·VI - To come]]}}

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◄  Chapter II·IV - Doomed to live Table of contents Chapter II·VI - To come  ►


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Примечания : (Nilstilar, 2024-11-19)


II·V - The Provided and the Appointed

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Jena Year 2484
“


After being dropped to the ground by the gigantic black bird a few dozen kilometres south of Zu-Galam, Pü's first impulse was to return there. As much to kill the blue-orange kitin as to challenge the authority of the Black Kami. However, he didn't need to hear the Voice to understand the absurdity of his desire. The divine creature was keeping an eye on him, wherever he happened to be. If she had decided that reaching Zu-Galam was too dangerous, then he had to accept it. Having spent three years following its teachings, Pu knew that it was not an entity open to dialogue. Until now, she had only been able to issue directives via the Voice or answer very specific questions. Attempting to return to Zu-Galam would have meant condemning himself to an endless repetition of his failure and would have underlined still more his servitude. Once again on his own, he undertook to travel south-east towards Taï-Toon, the last major urban area of the country that he had not visited. The expedition gave him the opportunity to apologise to the Voice, whom he had unjustly blamed for his abduction by the black bird. He also recognised that attempting to fight the army of kitins alone or to infiltrate Zu-Galam was an extremely risky operation, which would probably have proved fatal. To get to Taï-Toon, Pü followed the route of the Great Wall which separated the Lake of Temples from the Purple Marshes, and which played an essential role in this area against the advance of the Goo emanating from the southern jungles, which were still largely unexplored.

The Goo was a mysterious substance, often perceived as pollution or disease, which manifested itself as a mauve substance, gelatinous, shiny and translucent. Its incessant growth and its ability to infect and destroy all forms of organic matter led some scholars to consider it a living entity with an insatiable appetite. As guardians of nature, the Kamis saw the Goo as a terrible curse. All the more so because, of all the creatures of Atys, they were the most vulnerable to its harmful effects. As a result, they relied heavily on the help of homins to limit its spread. Some historians have argued that the Kamis' preference for the Zorais, illustrated by their masks, can be explained by the origin of these people, who were born in the jungles of Atys, thus on the front line in facing the plague. In contrast, the Karavan agents and their followers Matis, known for their expertise in alchemy and poisons, were taking a close interest in this enigmatic material for its potentially exploitable properties… particularly against the Kamis. At least, that's what Pü's mother had taught him. During his childhood, his father was relentlessly hunting down Karavan agents operating in the Purple Marshes. He only gave up this dangerous quest when his wife, after he had had a brush with death during one of these hunts, convinced him of the unnecessary risks it involved. It would have been tragic to lose his life before passing the torch to his sons and before the opening of the Sacred War, event that would mark the ineluctable twilight of the Karavan.

While walking along the southern shore of Temples Lake, Pü realised that a few groups of survivors had settled on the islands scattered across the vast stretch of water. The kitins, and especially the famous patrols of green and white insects with spiked abdomens, were poor swimmers and posed no direct threat to the islanders, who only had to contend with the attacks of the fire-breathing dragonflies, which were already perilous enough. However, Pü knew that the apparent safety was deceptive. He had already seen flying kitins transporting walking kitins to places otherwise inaccessible to the latter, and therefore knew that, without adequate precautions, the islands could easily be overrun. Such was the message he tried to convey after finding a boat to the islands closest to the shore. The islanders told him that kitin incursions were rare and that his presence was not welcome, refusing any further discussion. However, against all expectations, one survivor was more open and, after a brief discussion, advised Pü not to go to Taï-Toon: she claimed that a powerful sorcerer from a neighbouring island had threatened anyone who might attempt to venture there. However, like the other survivors, Pü's presence was worrying her: his black mask was invariably seen, at best, as an ominous sign.

Despite the disappointment of yet another refusal, which further undermined his aspiration to become a saviour, Pü had to admit that this part of Zoraï country did indeed seem less infested with kitins than the other regions he had crossed. As he returned to the shore, then climbed the Great Wall for a closer look at the southern jungles, now turned into shapeless swamps by the Goo that was voraciously decomposing the flora and fauna, he realised why: the kitins themselves must have feared the destructive substance. He was also surprised to note that, three years after the fall of the Theocracy and Zorai civilisation, the wall was still acting as a magnetic barrier, preventing the Goo from advancing further north. But he knew that this was only provisional. Sooner or later, the ambers used as repellents would lose their electrostatic properties. Unless they could be replaced, this would condemn what was once the beating heart of Zoraï country to an inevitable contamination by the Goo. The only recourse then would be to use fire to try and halt its progress. And not a magical fire produced by a homin, whose burning capacity would have been finely controlled, but the wild and devastating fire, the result of a chain reaction of uncontrollable fires, capable of reaching unimaginable temperatures.

Thanks to the reduced kitin presence at the edge of the Purple Marshes, Pü eventually reached Taï-Toon more quickly than he had needed time to reach Zu-Galam from the Eternal Garden. In daylight, this city, which he had already approached in his youth, appeared to him to be a reduced version of Zoran: it stood at the centre of a circular enclosure, built along a stretch of water, and was structured around a main building. At Zoran, built on the shores of the Lake of Temples, it was the Zo'laï-gong, the most important Kamist temple in the country, that reigned over the heart of the city. In Taï-Toon, built on the shores of the Lake of Knowledge, the Zo'sok-gong, which housed the Great Zoraï Library, held this central position. Originally located in Zoran, the library had been transferred to Taï-Toon after the siege and bombardment of the Fyros armies in 2328 had destroyed this reservoir of knowledge.

Having not forgotten the warning from the island's Zoraï, Pü discreetly entered Taï-Toon. If he truly did exist, the ‘powerful sorcerer’ she had told him about might be dangerous. Like Zoran, the city had been the target of Karavan bombardments three years earlier, in order to eliminate the swarm of kitins. The damages were clearly visible: ancient carcass remains littered the craters scattered around the perimeter and breaches teared the city's circular wall. In the centre of the city, the Zo'sok-gong, smaller than Zoran's Zo'lai-Gong but similar in its square-based pyramidal structure, was also partly destroyed. Once inside the enclosure, Pü noticed a Zorai on guard duty, nonchalantly leaning against the railing of a tower that was still untouched. The guard wasn't paying much attention, given the ease with which Pü had escaped his vigilance. As he did not wish to create a diplomatic incident, Pü climbed the tower ladder to introduce himself to him. Finally noticing his presence, the guard, more surprised than anything else, unsheathed a sword.

"Who the heck are you? You've no business here! Taï-Toon is off-limits!"
"I don't come to you as an enemy, Pü replied calmly, raising his hands as a sign of peace. I've just heard that a mighty sorcerer has forbidden entry to Taï-Toon. Do you know him? I'd like to meet him."
"That's impossible! Leave immediately! threatened the homin, taking a step forward and raising his weapon."

Pü sighed and examined him for a few moments. Athletic body, good grip on the sword, but an arm that was barely bubbling with Sap, not enough to significantly increase the strength of its blows. Clearly, this was not the sorcerer he had been told about, even if his reaction confirmed the existence of such a one. He was undoubtedly a simple soldier in his service, probably a survivor from the regular guard of the Theocracy or of some tribe. His obvious lack of mastery in the art of manipulating Sap made him little of a menace.

"I do not wish to harm anyone. Neither him nor you, said Pü, calmly moving forward, his hands still raised. Just tell me where he can be found."

Pü's stance and the confidence it exuded made the Zorai back off, and he glanced furtively towards the centre of the city, unwittingly betraying his master's location. Realising his mistake, he let out an insult before pouncing on the intruder. Pü easily dodged the desperate attack and, in one fluid movement, delivered a precise uppercut against his chin. While a first-rank soldier would have succeed to use the powers of the Sap to absorb the blow, the novice guard collapsed instantly to the ground. Without missing a beat, Pü quickly bound and gagged him. Given the blow he had just received, the guard would need some time to regain consciousness and, even if he managed to wake up quickly, it would still require some time for him to free himself. This gave Pü plenty of time to infiltrate the pyramid without triggering the general alarm. As he was about to climb down the tower, however, something caught his eye. The guard's sword. Very well-crafted indeed, it would be a perfect replacement for his own, lost a few weeks earlier when he was abducted by the black bird. Without hesitation, he grabbed it before discreetly slipping away.

Pü had no trouble infiltrating the Zo'sok-gong, easily avoiding or quietly knocking out the few guards he came across. Although he initially found it difficult to find his way through the pyramid's maze of dark, narrow corridors, he nevertheless enjoyed getting lost in this labyrinth, which at times reminded him of the interlacing hollow roots of the family stump. Once inside the immense library, Pü proceeded cautiously along the vast aisles, carefully observing the signs of a recent homin presence. Some of the shelves had been emptied of their contents, suggesting some theft. In places, the floor was strewn with amber cubes and scattered parchments, while several shelves had been knocked over, contributing to the chaotic appearance of the place. The intact ceiling and walls indicated that this damage was not the result of Karavan bombardments, but rather the product of battle scenes or vandalism. Along the way, Pu came across the desiccated carapaces of small kitins and the emaciated skeletons of a few Zoraïs, silent witnesses to the violent events that had once shaken this place.

When he finally arrived in front of the most private section of the library, where in the past only the most eminent sages of the Theocracy were admitted, Pü heard a voice. He discreetly entered the room, which was barely lit by a few firefly lanterns, and then hid behind a shelf. Observing the scene, he had to use his new senses to realise that what he was watching was not an imposing animal, unrecognisable in the half-light, but indeed a Zoraï. While Pü was around two metres tall, a relatively common height for Zoraïs born male, the homin he was observing must have been around two metres thirty, an abnormal height. Or rather two metres fifty. He was actually hunchbacked and struggled to stand perfectly upright. His height was simply inordinate. And yet that was the least strange thing about his massive, irregularly swollen and bloated body. Only his perfectly white, hornless mask offered a touch of harmony to his otherwise misshapen appearance.

"Load these ones."

The voice came not from the hunchback, but from a crouching Zorai who, straightening up, grabbed one of the amber cubes piled up at his feet. Standing at around two metres ten and dressed in a beautiful, albeit worn, violet robe, the hominin revealed arms that were surprisingly slim, nay scrawny. However, what really caught Pü's attention was his mask. Perfectly symmetrical and adorned with green ideograms, it was crowned by a series of long horns rising from the temples to the forehead, giving the whole an almost regal allure. This imposing mask, which seemed almost out of proportion to the thinness of its wearer, reminded Pü of Grandmother Bä-Bä, even though the individual was only in his thirties. While it was generally assumed that the mask revealed the wearer's soul and intimate link with the Kamis, some also believed that its size could indicate its potential. Pü looked at his own mask, which was larger than average, and then realised that he had found the famous sorcerer he was looking for. The latter was staring silently at the amber cube he was holding with both hands, while the giant was busy loading the other cubes from the designated pile into a large cart that was already half-full. Suddenly, the Zorai's mask swivelled towards the shelf behind which Pü was hidden. It raised its free hand towards him. A threatening hand.

"I see you, thief. Come out."

At these words, Pü instantly realised that the sorcerer had not spotted him visually, but through the same sense that allowed him to perceive the network of Sap that irrigated Atys. The island's Zoraï had definitely not lied: this individual was definitely powerful. Undaunted, the Zorai emerged from his hiding place and stepped forward, scouring the shadows until the light of the lanterns fully illuminated his mask. The sorcerer let out a small giggle at the sight.

"Oh, but you're not a thief! Or rather, not just any thief. Sang Fu-Tao the Black Mask, first among the Black Warriors of Ma-Duk, father of the prophetic Sacred Warrior. Your survival does not surprise me. I must say…"

Surprised, Pü let the sorcerer speak, while the hunchback, indifferent to his presence, busied himself collecting the amber cubes his master had pointed out to him. Like Zunak, the antekami leader he had met in Zoran three years ago, this Zorai also knew his family. Was he, like the Antekami, an ancient adversary of his father?

"… for at the end of the world, only the Provided and the Appointed remain.
"I'm not Sang. I'm his son, replied Pü, once the sorcerer had completed his monologue.
"His eldest? So the prophecy has come true. The Sacred Warrior is on the march. It's true that your constitution is… singular." he said, scrutinising Pü from mask to toe.

Pü didn't have the heart to tell him that, as Zunak had done before him, the sorcerer mistook him for Niï. He preferred to concentrate on his tone and attitude, wondering whether there was any mocking intent behind his words. Not being very good at detecting innuendo, he couldn't say for sure. What he was sure of, however, was that this individual liked to listen to himself talking. In the absence of any response from Pü, he continued.

"If you survived, I hope the same is true of your mother and Bä-Bä."

While it was possible this individual had been making fun of him until now, that was not the case this time. Pü could read the sincerity in his eyes and hear the concern in his voice. More eager than ever to discover his identity, Pü decided to open up to him and took a few steps forward.

"Unfortunately, that's not the case. Grandma Bä-Bä and my mother are dead, as is every member of my tribe. We managed to repel the first wave of kitins in a fierce battle, but the second was fatal. By a sad twist of fate, I'm the only survivor. Tell me, who are you? You seem to know my tribe well.
"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss. I do indeed know your tribe and its customs, as I know all tribes which once populated the jungle, to tell the truth. I'm very interested in such things. I met your mother on several occasions in Zoran, when she represented your tribe as a diplomat. As for the honourable Bä-Bä, I met her, always in the company of your mother, at exceptional councils aimed at understanding and defeating Goo, bringing together all the country's scholars, including the most marginal."

The sorcerer's eyes, which had been staring at him until then, turned towards the amber cube he still held in his hand. Pü didn't know if he had deliberately omitted to reveal his identity, or if he was absorbed in his thoughts. What was certain, however, was that these were tinged with dark resentment, as the long diatribe he launched into soon showed.

"‘At least you can take comfort in knowing that your tribe left with courage and honour, unlike Zoran's sages and bureaucrats, who trampled on their people in order to secure their place in the Karavan transporters. I hope they were chased as they fled, and that their vehicles crashed in the dark, unexplored areas bordering Atys! As for the Kamis, after spending almost three centuries telling us that we were their chosen people, none of them showed up when we really needed them, leaving the Karavan, whom they taught us to hate so much, to save the most cowardly and privileged among us…"

While the sorcerer continued to express his resentment, his hands pressed the cube with increasing intensity. Pü understood this rancour. He too had felt a deep bitterness, not towards the Theocracy, which his upbringing had conditioned him never to esteem, but towards the Kamis, despite the explanations the Black Kami had given him about their inaction during the invasion. Waiting for his interlocutor to finish his new monologue, so that he could ask him his identity again, Pü stared at the cube in silence. He wondered if the sorcerer's fingernails, which seemed to be digging into the amber, could alter the ideograms inscribed. Squinting reflexively, he managed to decipher what was inscribed, despite the gloom: “Treatise on the mutagenic powers of the Goo. By Fung-Tun”. Pü, who understood instantly that the amber cube contained dangerous knowledge, remembered that he was in the most private section of the library. And as Pü glanced at the cube on top of the stack carried by the hunchback, trying to get an idea of its contents, the sorcerer suddenly interrupted his diatribe and took three steps backwards.

"He... He's with you?"

It took Pü a good five seconds to grasp what the sorcerer was referring to. When he turned round, he was startled to discover the Black Kami levitating behind his shoulder.

"Yes, he's with me," Pü replied thoughtlessly.

It was the first time he was seeing the Black Kami since the incident at Zu-Galam, and that filled his mind with confused thoughts. He was still furious at him.

"That's… That's as if it came out of you! Is that why you have this dense flow of Sap running inside you? Who are you for real and what do you want? You've come to take him away from me, haven't you? I'll never let you do that! It's mine! shouted the sorcerer, taking a few more steps backwards.
"No, no, I haven't come to steal from you, nor to hurt you, I just wish to have a conversation!"

As if to contradict him, the Kami raised one of his small hands and pointed a glittering claw at the sorcerer. Pü's body froze at the sight of his white eyes, filled with terrifying anger. Not since the day he had freed the Kami of the Antekamis, and the latter had slaughtered his abductors, had he seen him in such a condition. Did he know this Zoraï? Why did he want to hurt him? But now was not the time for questions. Pü felt the spiritual particles that made up his being resonate with those of the divine creature. All around him, the whole room began to vibrate. Still disturbed by its sudden apparition, he reacted later than the sorcerer, who, after a moment's fright, had pulled himself together with fierce determination.

"Xe-Qe, get him alive!"

Responding to his orders, the hunchback leapt at Pü with surprising agility for a creature of his size. At the same time, the sorcerer dropped the amber cube and, without using any amplifying gloves, incanted a bolt of lightning of phenomenal power which shot towards the Kami, crashing against his claw just as a burst of light shot out of it. The force of the impact, and the fact that the sorcerer didn't flinch, made Pü realise that this one was in a much higher category than his own as a practitioner of magic. He was clearly as experienced as his mother had been, even though he was closer to the age his brother should have reached. Unbalanced by the wave of energy, Pü was unable to completely dodge the giant's assault, who managed to grab his arm with [1]. The pressure of the grip confirmed that the hunchback's brute strength was just as exceptional as his size, and Pü realised that he wouldn't be able to loosen its grip. Seeing that his opponent, once having managed to catch him as his master had asked, remained motionless, Pü unsheathed the sword he had stolen from the guard with his free hand and slashed the giant's arm. But, apparently unaffected by the pain, the giant did not react and did not let go. Meanwhile, the sorcerer maintained his lightning strike against the Kami, who contained his assault with the tip of his claw. Despite the power it wielded, the divine creature, whose eyes were still filled with anger, seemed barely affected. It began to levitate slowly towards its target, implacable despite the power of the lightning. Fearing for the sorcerer's life, and although he had not initially intended to hurt anyone, Pü barely hesitated before slicing off the giant's forearm, promising himself to heal him once the crisis had eased. When the huge limb fell to the ground, its owner barely reacted and tried to catch Pü with his stump. But the Zorai had already rushed towards the Kami, determined to stop him. Remembering that when he had been kidnapped by the black bird, driven by anger, he had felt able to penetrate its mind and control it by gripping its talon, he put his hand on his fur.

"Cease at once! I order you!"

Pü felt the Kami flicker, but unlike last time, no intense heat repelled him. The divine creature deflected the sorcerer's lightning bolt with a sudden gesture, throwing him backwards, and the electric bolt went on to slice a bookcase in half. Then it floated to the ground. It floated to the ground and sank into it, slowly, as if it had no consistency, until it finally disappeared. Pü rushed towards the sorcerer to help him up, but he was quicker and, still wary, held up his hands, probably ready to incant another bolt of lightning.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what got into him,' says Pü, raising his hands to soothe the situation. I've met other homins over the last few weeks, and this is the first time he reacts like this. In fact, he'd never shown himself to anyone but me before today. Maybe he thought my life was in real danger. Or maybe…"

Pü crouched down and picked up the amber cube that the sorcerer had been holding just a few moments earlier.

"Perhaps it wasn't meant for you, but for this. This knowledge is dangerous and abhorred by the Kamis… After all, it became visible the moment I read the inscription on it. Perhaps he sees through my eyes.
"He… He can see through your eyes? protested the sorcerer. But by Jena, who are you really! You commanded this Kami and you speak of him as if he were a mere protective animal.
"I've already told you who I am. I, on the other hand, still don't know who you are.’

Again deciding not to answer, the sorcerer lowered his hands and called out to the one named Xe-Qe. The imposing Zoraï stepped forward, holding his severed limb in his good hand, and it was with formidable magical dexterity that his master grafted it onto his stump. Still silent, the hunchback moved his fingers and observed his hand as if discovering it for the first time.

"Before answering, I must make sure that you are not here to steal from me. Why did you go to the trouble of eliminating all my guards to get into this library? he finally asked.
"I didn't kill any of them. I just knocked a few out. And again, I have no intention of robbing you. I set out on a journey a few weeks ago, with the aim of gathering the survivors of Atys and offering them my protection. I was recently informed that a powerful sorcerer had forbidden access to Taï-Toon. I simply wanted to find out who had taken control of this city, as the Antikamis did with Zoran.
"Don't compare me to those barbarians, spat the sorcerer, holding out his hand for Pü to return him the amber cube. I've ordered my guards to watch the entrances precisely to prevent the city, and especially this library, from being ransacked by ignorant or dangerous individuals. This knowledge must not fall into just any hands.
"And what makes you more qualified than anyone else to handle this knowledge? replied Pü, pulling his hand back. I still don't know who you are."

The sorcerer stared at Pü with palpable intensity, as if carefully weighing up his answer, scrutinising every detail of his mask. Silence fell, heavy with meaning, before he finally spoke, in a deep, measured voice. Only four words were spoken, as if to clarify everything.

"I'm Marung Horongi."

And indeed, that was enough to explain a lot. Among the handful of famous contemporary magicians that Pü had heard about from his mother, and whom he had considered might be the famous sorcerer, Marung Horongi stood out. The most promising disciple of the Grand Sage Min-Cho, he was seen by some as the most worthy of those who could succeed him and lead the Theocracy on his death, although tradition favoured Hoi-Cho, Min-Cho's descendant. The story also goes that Marung Horongi received his kinship mask at the age of six, an extraordinary feat. Pü, whose mask had only grown when he was ten - an age already considered exceptional - found it hard to believe when his mother first told him. A few seconds passed before he finally handed him the amber cube.

"I'm not really surprised, I've heard all about you. Even so, I think you should be wary of this dangerous knowledge.
"This dangerous knowledge, as you call it, is in good hands,’ replied the sorcerer, grabbing the amber cube quickly, as if he feared Pü might change his mind. It's in good hands because I understand its power and its implications.
"You wouldn't be the first to say that and to…"

The conversation was abruptly interrupted by a small, trembling voice from a neighbouring room. Pü turned round and saw a Zorai barely five years old emerge from the gloom, walking swiftly, betraying the fear inside him. Instinctively, Marung stretched out his arms in Pü's direction, ready to act at the slightest sign of a threat.

"Ma… Marung? Are you all right? There was a noise…"
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On seeing Pü, the child stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes riveted on the large black mask. Pü could immediately see the fear on the child's face. A face still devoid of mask. At that moment, it was impossible to say which of the two was more confused by the other. Pü had not seen a child for several years, and the boy's innocent face, imbued with a gentleness he had almost forgotten, overwhelmed him. His wide black eyes, filled with fear, were set above a slightly upturned nose and round cheeks that still betrayed all the frailty of childhood. Instantly, Pü was overcome with emotion and felt tears welling up in his eyes. This naked face, pure and vulnerable, contrasted cruelly with the horror that had reigned over Atys since the kitin invasion. It was like a fragment of another time, a vision of a bygone life. A life where children hunted fireflies and swung from vine to vine in the family stump, just as he himself had done, before his games gave way to endless martial training. A life without the pain of having had to collect the seeds of life from the twenty-seven children of his tribe, slaughtered by the kitins, to carry out the funeral rite he had forced himself to organise, alone. Desperately alone. Pü lowered his head and ran his fingers along the eye slits of his mask.

"Everything's fine, don't worry, said Marung, beckoning the child to join him, seeing that no Kami had emerged from the darkness. It was nothing, just a misunderstanding."

The sorcerer bent down and hugged the young Zoraï, offering him a comforting protection that contrasted with the image Pü had formed of him.

"Who is he? the boy asked, pointing at Pü, his curiosity gradually overcoming his anxiety.
"Just a visitor. He's an Appointed, just like the two of us. Do you remember what I told you about the Provided and the Appointed?
"Yes, I remember. In the new world, there are two kinds of people. Those who are lucky, and those who have to do great things."

Marung nodded silently and stood up. Realising Pü's emotion, he preferred not to start again and ordered Xe-Qe to resume his loading work. The child remained motionless, staring at Pü's mask.

"I'm called Pü, he finally said, once he'd recovered from his emotions. And what's your name?
"Nung Horongi. I'm Marung's brother."

Disturbed by the apparent age difference, Pü glanced questioningly at the sorcerer, who caught the silent question.

"We don't share the same blood. I adopted him three years ago, he said, placing a hand on the child's shoulder, squeezing it just enough for the gesture, which was supposed to be protective, to take on a possessive, almost oppressive quality. When I found him, he was floating in the air above his village, which the Kitins had reduced to ashes. Fabulous, isn't it? It was for him that I feared you or your Kami had come here. Nung is my treasure, isn't he, Nung?"

At these words, a radiant smile lit up the child's face, striking Pü right in the heart and reawakening an emotion he had only just managed to contain.

"Yes! I am Marung's treasure!"

Treasure. That was how his mother used to call him when he was a child. Pü, who had never imagined himself as a big brother, and even less as a father, surprised himself for the first time by imagining himself responsible for a child. And this idea sparked hope in his heart. Yes, that was what he wanted. Not specifically to become a father, but to dedicate his life to the protection of innocent beings, far from the darkness and the fractures that haunted him. To escape the pain of past losses, the memories of the atrocities that the grip of tradition had made him commit as a child, and those he now seemed destined to perpetrate. To erase himself and find new meaning for his life.

He too wanted to have a treasure to protect.

— Bélénor Nébius, narrator

◄  Chapter II·IV - Doomed to live Table of contents Chapter II·VI - To come  ►


  1. ↑ his most protruding hand Oo … awaiting an alternative proposal from the author.
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