I could see the sunset on the horizon from inside the tent—a pretty sight, nonetheless. The strong heat that had been so oppressive hours earlier had finally died down, and a distinct chill was settling in the air. It was getting colder now. I recalled the basic knowledge that deserts hold extreme temperatures: infernal heat throughout the day and freezing cold at night. The lack of any balanced, neutral temperature was already beginning to annoy me.
The woman kindly offered me a bowl of stew, served in a silver bowl with a strangely shaped copper spoon. At least, I assumed it was a spoon; in my world, it would serve the same function. The handle was richly decorated, and the top of the spoon curled into an elegant spiral. I began to eat my first meal in what felt like an eternity. With the first bite, I identified several ingredients: potatoes, carrots, the distinct taste of onions, and smashed tomatoes with a unique blend of spices. It reminded me of curry or tikka masala. It was delicious. Finally, I tasted the meat. Rabbit. It tasted unmistakably like rabbit, but the logical part of my brain protested—there are no rabbits in the desert. I quickly dismissed the thought.
I looked at the two women and smiled, nodding my head in gratitude. "The food is delicious," I said. They didn't reply, but from my expression, they seemed to understand my appreciation. One of them extended her arm and handed me a copper teapot. Inside, however, was not tea, but a dark violet liquid.
"Is this wine?" I questioned.
"(Unknown Language)"
"Right..." I responded, confused.
I brought the silver container to my lips and drank. To my surprise, I was right. It was wine—the sweetest I had ever tasted. I drank one cup, then another two minutes later, and another after that. But as I finished the fourth cup, a realization dawned on me: I wasn't feeling dizzy from the alcohol. Despite the quantity, it seemed to have no intoxicating effect.
Then it clicked. It looked like wine, it tasted like wine, but it was not wine.
I was both amazed and shocked.
Satisfied with the generous hospitality, I set the pot down and directed my full attention to the two women, studying them with deliberate effort. Beyond their green hair and brown skin, I wanted to absorb the details of their appearance. They looked identical, and I quickly assumed they were twins.
The young woman on the right had short, straight hair that did not reach her shoulders. It was decorated with silver threads and small, precious stones. A fringe of bangs hid her forehead, framing eyes of an intense, beautiful red, like ruby gemstones. Her facial features were fine and delicate. She wore what I could only describe as a crop top, her arms adorned with silver bracelets on her biceps and wrists. Her trousers were white, decorated with golden lines along the sides, reminiscent of traditional Arabian wear, with a long, thin red cloth tightly fastened at her waist. I noticed neither wore shoes. Her feet, like her arms, were marked with intricate designs.
As for the one on the left, she had long, straight hair gathered into a high ponytail that reached her upper thighs. She wore no decorations in her hair, but instead, a delicate necklace rested on her collarbone. Her forehead was fully exposed. She had no bracelets on her arms, but instead wore ornaments just above her ankles. Like her sister, she wore a crop top, though her trousers were a deep green. Interestingly, both of their trousers had a medium slit on the side, exposing a glimpse of their upper thighs. I found the style striking, much like the clothing worn by characters in an MMORPG.
She, too, had a long fabric securely fastened at her waist, flowing down like a sash.
My analysis was complete, I allowed my mind to relax. Being Japanese, I instinctively bowed my head, a polite and sincere gesture of thanks. The young women smiled and laughed in return. Then, one of them began to speak, and for the first time, I could clearly distinguish a phrase, though I had no idea what it meant.
"Dal Un'Zir."
"What?" I asked, confused.
She repeated, slowly and deliberately, "Dal… Un… Zir…"
Her sister stood and walked to a carved wooden table to retrieve something. When she returned, she held a map. She pointed to a specific location, and there, written in elegant script, was the name: ɖǟʟ ʊռ'ʐɨʀ
I finally understood. They were trying to show me a city.