She was there. In my arms. Alive. More alive than ever.
MI-GHUMI was looking at me, her eyes shining with a fire that had never gone out.
"Since we parted, you haven't said a word! You didn't even try to check on me!"
I smiled, a little embarrassed.
"Haha… I'm sorry. I had other concerns."
She frowned, mock outraged:
"What? There are concerns more important than me?"
I laughed softly. Still so theatrical.
"Hahaha, you're still so funny, huh."
A rustle behind me made me turn slightly. Something was moving in the bushes. No, someone.
"Damn… my head's spinning…" said Jeanne's voice, muffled, confused.
She emerged slowly, hair tousled, hand on her temple. But her gaze froze immediately when she saw MI-GHUMI and me, still pressed together.
She squinted.
"Uh… can I know what you're doing?"
MI-GHUMI immediately stared at me.
"Is she your friend?"
I hesitated for a fraction of a second.
"Yes. And…"
But she broke free abruptly, and without warning, charged straight at Jeanne.
"Natsa has no other friends but me! You, old hag, I'm going to kill you!"
"MI-GHUMI, stop!"
I grabbed her by the waist at the last moment, preventing her from crushing Jeanne to the ground. She squirmed in my arms like an angry cat, then calmed down, sulking.
"But why did you make other friends? You replaced me, huh?"
I laughed nervously.
"Haha… where do you get that idea from?"
Jeanne, who hadn't moved, was still watching us. Then, against all odds, a slight smile stretched her lips.
She addressed MI-GHUMI:
"MI-GHUMI, right?"
MI-GHUMI looked at her with a still wary, half-dark gaze.
Jeanne continued, calmly:
"My name is Jeanne. And don't worry. Seeing you with Natsa, I'm convinced you're much closer to him than I am."
She paused. Her gaze dropped, sadder.
"You just have to see the smile he shows you… with us, it's rare to see him smile like that."
MI-GHUMI raised an eyebrow, looking slightly touched despite herself.
"Oh yeah…"
Then she turned to me, lighter:
"You're really a big meanie! Loser! Why don't you laugh with the others?"
I raised an eyebrow, outraged.
"A few moments ago, you were complaining that I had other friends… and now you blame me for not laughing with them?"
Jeanne laughed softly, looking alternately at MI-GHUMI and me.
"Natsa, you wanted to talk with MI-GHUMI, right?"
I nodded.
"Yes, but…"
I looked at MI-GHUMI.
"How much time is left before Ilya Roskarov finishes his prayer? I think he shouldn't see us together."
She immediately agreed.
"Exactly."
She rummaged in her pocket and took out a small compact phone.
"You just have to give me your number. We can talk remotely."
I grimaced.
"Uh… let's say I left it at home… in Marlha."
She stared at me as if I had just confessed to eating a baby.
"You idiot… you're really an idiot!!!"
Jeanne intervened, gently:
"You just have to give me your number, MI-GHUMI. That way, you can talk to him from my phone."
MI-GHUMI looked at her, surprised.
Then she smiled.
"Good idea. Well done, Jeanne. Really, if it were only men on this planet, Earth would already be doomed. People who think with their feet."
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. Broken. Shattered. Crushed.
Jeanne, on the other hand, started laughing heartily.
After exchanging numbers, MI-GHUMI became more serious. She looked me straight in the eyes.
"Natsa… we really need to talk. It's very important. Do you understand?"
I stared at her. Her gaze was unwavering.
I nodded, serious.
She smiled in return, this time more softly.
"Good. You can go."
I felt this was only the beginning.
When we left MI-GHUMI, she gave me one last smile before disappearing around the corner of the wall. I knew she would handle it. MI-GHUMI had always been like that. Acting as if nothing, the innocent mask fixed on her face, as if no threat ever hung over her.
As I walked away with Jeanne, I cast a discreet glance toward the church. Ilya had just come out, looking calmer than before, his aura much less heavy. He looked up at MI-GHUMI, alone, leaning against a stone pillar, as if our exchange had never happened. She gave him a small wave. He approached her with an almost light smile, started a conversation, then I even thought I heard him suggest going somewhere to eat.
I exhaled. Perfect. No problem.
Jeanne walked beside me, silently. Only after a few steps did she speak:
— Hey… your relationship with MI-GHUMI is special. You're close, right?
I turned my head toward her, a little surprised by the curious tone she used.
— Hm. Yes, we're close. But we're not a couple, if that's what you think.
She raised an eyebrow, amused.
— Yet, you two have quite a dynamic. How did you get there? It's not the kind of relationship that forms overnight.
I looked straight ahead, a little lost in my thoughts, before answering:
— We just… went through strong things together. When you have someone by your side in the worst moments, sometimes there's nothing to explain. You just need a look to understand that the other is with you, no matter what happens.
Jeanne didn't answer right away; she seemed to reflect on my words. Then, turning the corner of a street, my stomach growled.
— I'm hungry. Want to grab something to eat? There's a little cafeteria over there, look.
She smiled at me, approving with a simple nod.
We sat at a fairly quiet terrace table. A light breeze caressed our faces. I ordered something simple, a plate of cold soba noodles. Jeanne, on the other hand, took a much heartier dish—apparently, she was as hungry as an ogre. I mocked her inwardly.
Then she started talking. No fights. No curses. No bloody plans or prayers. Just… stories. About women. Clothes she couldn't afford to buy. Times she had argued with her best friend because they liked the same boy in high school. Perfumes that reminded her of her mother. Weird dreams where she stood up to a dragon to save a kitten.
At first, I was elsewhere. Bored, almost. My gaze wandered, my attention fluttered. But gradually… I don't know. There was something in her voice. Her way of laughing to herself between sentences, or mimicking the expressions of the people she imitated. It was alive. Human.
And I found myself smiling.
Not the kind of mechanical smile I threw to deflect conflict. Not a strategic grimace. No, a real smile. Light. Natural.
I lowered my eyes to my noodles.
I didn't think I could still live moments like this with humans…
Without fear. Without suspicion. Without running away.
Just… living.
I looked up at Jeanne, who was imitating a grandmother chasing a dog with a slipper.
And inside, for the first time in a long time, I felt… almost good.
We arrived in Marlha at 6 p.m.
Claremont, true to himself, had organized a little party with the other guards. The atmosphere was warm, maybe a bit too much. They were heating up and getting drunk, loudly. I was slumped on the couch, a distant spectator of this euphoria.
In my hand, Jeanne's phone vibrated softly. She had handed it to me a little earlier: a message from MI-GHUMI had just arrived.
"Hello Natsa, I know you traveled and that you returned to Marlha, I hope you're okay?"
A simple message, almost trivial.
I should have been annoyed that she knew we had traveled today. But she wasn't just anyone. She wasn't someone. She was MI-GHUMI.
I replied simply:
"Yes, I got back safely and I'm fine."
A second later, she continued:
"Very good. I want you to know something. Do you remember Krehaan?"
Krehaan. Just that name made me frown.
What a strange turn. As if I could have forgotten him. That character… that madman.
"Yes, I remember him. What did he do?"
"I want you to meet him and talk to him about something very important."
I squinted.
MI-GHUMI... Anyway, I was planning to talk to her sooner or later. But if she was telling me this, maybe we had the same suspicions.
"Would you like me to tell him something in particular?"
"Actually, he wants to talk to you."
Pause.
Krehaan wants to talk to me?
It made no sense. Why now? And above all… why me?
I felt this conversation was going to take another turn. More discretion was needed.
"MI-GHUMI, I want to ask you so many questions right now, but Jeanne's phone doesn't seem very secure. I'll take your number and write to you with mine, what do you think?"
"Good idea." (sent with a smiling emoji)
Very well.
I took a deep breath, then deleted every message exchanged between us on Jeanne's phone. Not a trace.
I stood up, crossed the room, and gently tapped Jeanne on the shoulder, who was dancing, a glass in hand. She turned, a smile on her face.
— Here, thank you. I handed her the phone. I have to go.
She blinked, surprised.
— You're leaving already? Don't you want to party with us?
I shook my head.
— No, I'm too tired. See you later.
Then, I gave a quick sign to Claremont to signal my departure. He accepted without question.
And I left the party, my mind restless.
Krehaan. MI-GHUMI. This message.
Something was brewing.