Kanjira: Hurry up, Ajar! Bring those guys, too! Take the tuk tuk to the train station. Here are a few spots in my caravan!
Ajar: Yes, Boss!
Kanjira: No, wait. Where's Sherjah! What took her so long? Wasn't she with you?
Ajar: She ... I saw her went to the other side of the village.
Kanjira: Over there? I remember that's ...
Kanjira: Tsk!
Ms. Sherjah: Sir, please, please trust me.
She wobbles her head while begging with sincerity.
Ms. Sherjah: You have to convince your father. It's not like before.
Rajesh: sighs Sherjah, it's not that I don't want to talk to my father.
He bends over to place the candle before the stairs, lining it up neatly with the other candles.
Rajesh: You have come to me ... I don't know, so many times. Father has already scolded me several times for letting Jina learn all those unorthodox stuff from you.
Rajesh: You know, those human books ...
His eyebrows furrow, and his face grows red with anger.
Rajesh: You can see, even Jina's mother has no help in the kitchen now. I even have to prepare the candles for Dīpa Festival myself!
Rajesh: No matter what you say, I'm not taking your advice this time. You'd better leave before my father comes out. You know how mad he gets when he sees a human.
Takal: Hey Rajesh, who are you talking to? You, you again?!
Ms. Sherjah: Sir, please listen to me. It's an emergency. I can't tell you the details now, but in a word, this village is going to be destroyed by meteorites! You and your family need to leave here now.
Takal: Enough! You've played that trick a dozen times. We know what you are up to! Trying to get us out of this place? No way!
Rajesh: Please, Father. You know Sherjah has been ...
Takal: I am talking to her! Leave now, or I'll ...
The old man snatches the broom from next to the door.
No one pays attention to the running steps coming from afar.
Kanjira: Punji! Stop him!
Punji: Hiss!
Takal: Oh, oh, ah! Who are you, kid? Why ... why are you on human's side?
Ms. Sherjah: Kanjira!
Kanjira: What, who else should I help if not her? You? An ungrateful old pig?
Kanjira squeezes in between them and confronts the old villager, like an upright snake ready to attack.
Takal: You ...
Kanjira: How many times has Sherjah helped you, and how many things did Jina learn from her? You! You only know being mean to her and talking about something like arcanists and humans!
Kanjira: Stay if you like! Sherjah is being so nice and saving your life, but no one is clever enough to listen! Better let the star fall on you and crush you into ashes!
Kanjira: Let's go!
Ms. Sherjah: I'm so sorry. She ...
Ms. Sherjah: Aah!
Without saying another word, Kanjira seizes Sherjah's arm and drags her away.
Ms. Sherjah: Kanjira, stop! Don't pull me! It hurts.
Kanjira makes a sudden stop. Her chest is pumping up and down out of anger.
Kanjira: They is always mean to you and bullying you! Why you must look for trouble?
Ms. Sherjah: Kanjira ...
Kanjira: After all the things you do for them, how can they treat you like that?! Just leave them alone! Come with me. I still have your spot on my caravan.
Kanjira: The time for entering and exiting the trains of the station is the same every day! I remember it well. There will be a train leaving here soon. There is still time.
Ms. Sherjah: ...
Ms. Sherjah: Kanjira, take a deep breath and listen to me.
Sherjah becomes conscious of her student's emotions. She bends down to the level of Kanjira's eyes, shaking her arms to reassure her.
Kanjira: ...
Ms. Sherjah: I know you said all those things to them for me, and I appreciate that.
Ms. Sherjah: But think about it, if I treat them just the same way they treated me, just stand by and watch them head to death ...
Sherjah chooses her words carefully, as patient as she used to be in every English class.
Ms. Sherjah: Even if I'm doing this out of understandable fury, how would it make me any different to them?
Kanjira: ...!
Ms. Sherjah: Volunteering to help you, and, in your opinion, "risking my life to save them" ... They are all out of my own will.
Ms. Sherjah: Hatred doesn't end itself, Kanjira. It has to be ended by someone.
Kanjira stares at her teacher's face in confusion. Slowly, she lowers her eyes and looks down at her feet.
Kanjira: I, I don't understand.
Kanjira: Do I ... Do we mean nothing to you?
Ms. Sherjah: How come?! What gave you such an idea? You are my most precious children. All of you are my treasures!
Kanjira: This is not the first time you prefer they over we.
Kanjira: You always put they first when there's a problem.
She knows well that Sherjah should not be blamed for this.
But this doesn't relieve her of the bitterness.
Ms. Sherjah: ...
Ms. Sherjah: Kanjira ...
Kanjira: I, I am not able to read, but I'm not a kid now. If I can, I don't want to be an arcanist too, so me, you, and Ajar is the same.
They have no time for this.
Kanjira struggles to choke back the tears.
But she's overwhelmed by the fear of losing Sherjah.
Ms. Sherjah: Kanjira. Don't cry, Kanjira.
Ms. Sherjah: So you've been thinking ... Oh, little one. You're just like us! We are your family!
Kanjira: No, you don't understand, Ms. Sherjah. Enough talk. Maybe I don't understand any of your lectures, but you can't stay here!
Ms. Sherjah: ...
Ms. Sherjah: I'm sorry, Kanjira.
Sherjah has never found it so difficult to refuse someone.
Ms. Sherjah: I have to admit they're unreasonable, but as I said, we should put that aside now. It's a matter of life, Kanjira. I can't ...
Kanjira: ...
Kanjira feels her stomach churning due to the bitterness, urging her to act on impulse.
Kanjira: You ... you is not listening to me at all!
Kanjira: Fine! Be a savior and go! We'll leave here on our own!
Ms. Sherjah: Kanjira!
Sherjah's hand only lands on empty air. Kanjira runs away and disappears from her sight.
Kanjira: sobbing
She leans on the steering wheel, sobbing.
Kanjira: I, I'm never talking to her again!
The caravan stops at the train station, which seems out of place in the small village.
Kanjira: Ajar! Uncle Sinha!
Kanjira: Hmm. Where are they? Why is here so quiet? It was crowded this morning.
*ooze*
Kanjira: This, this is ...
Manus Disciple: UGGGHHHH!
Kanjira: ...!
Kanjira: Blood, so much blood ...
The terrifying masked monsters are staggering among the stone pillars in the train station.
Kanjira: No! Ajar!! Uncle Sinha!!
Ajar: Hey! Boss! Over here. It's safer here. Come over!
A smart head pokes out from behind the pillar.
Kanjira: ...!
She quickly sneaks through the station on tiptoe without being noticed.
Kanjira: Whoa, I was almost scared to death! Good to see you safe. What happened here?
Ajar: No idea! A bunch of dreadful people suddenly showed up. Each of them has a mask on their face. Over there, on the platform. There are a few more!
Ajar: They came out of nowhere and attacked the passengers for no reason.
Ajar seems to be thinking of something. He can't help but shiver.
Ajar: But luckily, the villagers had been evacuated before they came. Thanks to Ms. Sherjah's efforts.
Kanjira: ...
Ajar: We were left behind because we had to wait for you. Did you come here on your own? Where's Ms. Sherjah?
Kanjira: She ...
Ajar: Quiet. They're coming!
Ajar: Don't, don't let them see you.
As he shrinks in fear, something drops out of his pocket.
Ajar: Ah! D**n, my silver ...
Tonk.
A silver bracelet bounces briskly on the floor.
The slight noise is thundering in the quiet station.
Kanjira: Really?! You have to take those goods with you now?!
Manus Disciple: AAARRRHHHH!
Kanjira: RUN!!
Manus Disciple: EEERRRHHHH!
Kanjira: Ajar, watch out!! Ah!
Ajar: Boss!
A sharp rune grazes Kanjira's shoulder, leaving a deep wound.
Kanjira: Ah ...! It hurts so much! Punji, bite them!
Punji: Sssss!
Kanjira: Go hide in the caravan! I can handle this. Ah!
Another rune flashes across her ankle. Kanjira loses her balance and falls to the ground.
Kanjira: Ah! It hurts.
Kanjira: Oh, no, I'm dead for sure.
Matilda: Pafisto Pecise!
Kanjira: Hmm?
As Kanjira looks up, the first thing that comes to her tearful, blurry sight is a head with milky blonde hair.
Matilda: pants Phew! So glad I caught up in time.
Kaalaa Baunaa: There are people over here! Let's take her first.
Shamane: This place is soon going to be dangerous. I know a place. It's close to here. Come, take them this way!
Manus Disciple: UGGGHHHH!
Matilda: Humph, you dirty, filthy, less-than-elegant mugs! Matilda won't even sweat bringing you down!
Matilda: May the peace be with us!
