The group was led to the Sphinx village.
Hiroaki and Sharin entered the tent they were guided to. The floor was covered with a fur rug, and books, papers, and various other daily necessities were scattered about.
“I’m sorry it’s so messy,” she said, then lit a lamp.
“Oh my, you look very pale. Are you alright?” she asked.
As she said, the dizziness had gotten worse, and even standing was difficult. The wound was hot and the pain was increasing. Following that, his head began to ache as well.
“For the time being, please sit here. You too, cat-eared one. You look terrible. Wait a moment, I’ll bring you some food.” With that the Man-faced Cat woman left the tent. Hiroaki sat down on the floor as he was told. Honestly, even sitting was difficult.
Sharin peeked in with a worried expression. She also said she was going to fetch some water and left.
After a while, Sharin returned with a bucket of water, and the Man-faced Cat returned with a tray held on her forelegs. Two bowls of soup were on the tray.
“How are you feeling? I made extra so you’d have something to eat tomorrow,” she said. Hiroaki and Sharin took the bowls. The soup contained small pieces of chicken and plenty of vegetables.
With one sip, the sweetness of the vegetables and oil, and the warmth of the soup seemed to permeate his tired body.
After finishing the meal, the tension eased, and the pain in his wound felt somewhat less. It was then that Hiroaki realized he hadn’t asked for her name yet.
“By the way, what’s your name? I’m Arisugawa Hiroaki, and this is Sharin.” Sharin, sitting next to him, already looked sleepy.
“I am Elana. Once your companion’s treatment is finished, you two will be going too.”
“But, forgive me for asking, what race are you?” He couldn’t keep calling her Man-faced Cat forever. Elana then lay down on the floor.
“We are Sphinxes. Haven’t you heard of us? We are sacred beasts that grant knowledge, or monsters that give trials.” Sphinxes… Thinking about it, they indeed had human heads, lion bodies, and wings on their backs. They were said to pose riddles to humans, and if answered incorrectly, they would be eaten.
“So that’s how it was. That’s why everyone was after us,” Hiroaki said.
“Yes. Some fool somewhere seems to be trying to make us their pets, though we’re not that cute.” As they were talking, Pauline peeked through a gap in the entrance.
“Um, Hiroaki-san and Sharin-san, please have your treatment as well.”
Turning his head, Sharin was already curled up asleep on the floor.
