031. Niylath

Martin sighed. He knew Jalu's nature all too well, having been his comrade since they joined Division 96. Iron was still softer than the hardness of Jalu's mindset. And erasing a tattoo was easier than changing his decisions.
Anyone could guess from his name that Jalu was born and raised in Bandung. However, his demeanor was starkly different from the average Sundanese that Martin encountered. Jalu was a man whose emotions were quick to explode. He never restrained from speaking whatever he kept in mind out loud and preferred fighting to arguing. But, despite all that, he never hesitated to do anything to help those he knew well.
Only when on duty could this indifferent man make a one-hundred-eighty-degree shift in his nature and habits. He always maintained professionalism at work. When needed, he could suddenly transform into someone patient, friendly, and courteous. Although he never said it outright, Martin cared for Jalu greatly. He cared for him like an older brother cared for his mischievous yet accomplished younger sibling.
"At least, call Mr. Adiwira," Martin suggested cautiously. Mentioning Jalu's father's name could trigger his anger if not approached carefully.
It was Jalu's turn to sigh upon hearing Martin's words. He was reluctant to have any connection with his father, but Jalu had no other choice. He knew when it was time to set aside ego and personal matters for a greater cause.
"Fine," Jalu conceded. "I'll call him when I get home."
Martin smiled in relief. He took a sip of his coffee and lit a cigarette. "Do you know what kind of creature that girl is?" He asked, exhaling smoke from his mouth and nose. " She looks no more than a dirty human. I've never seen a more human-like creature before."
"At first, I thought she was some kind of naiad," Jalu explained, taking a cigarette from the pack placed by Martin on the table and lighting it. "But she's indeed more like a ragged Asian girl than those pale creatures."
Exactly at the end of Jalu's sentence, the bathroom door opened. A young woman stepped out, appearing shy. She wore dark blue basketball shorts and an oversized wet white T-shirt. Her long, neatly arranged black hair cascaded down, covering her chest up to half of her belly. The woman held her neatly folded clothes with both hands. However, it wasn't the way she dressed that left Jalu and Martin stunned.
The two former members of Division 96 were mesmerized by Liriénka's form after being cleansed of mud and dirt. Her skin had a fair light brown tone, akin to the typical Sundanese girls from West Java. Even from a distance, her skin looked incredibly smooth, as if she regularly underwent beauty treatments. There was no physical difference at all between the woman and an ordinary human. With her hair combed to a middle parting, Jalu could finally see the woman's face without any obstruction.
It turns out Liriénka possessed a striking beauty, a fusion of Southeast Asian and East Asian features. Her eyes appeared large, slightly almond-shaped at the edges, with brown-colored irises. A petite and well-shaped nose complemented her beautifully full lips. From any angle, Liriénka looked no different from a stunning human girl.
Her beauty might not be as seductive as the renowned allure of female élwathis, said to make men willingly do and give anything to capture their attention. However, Liriénka's beauty, combined with her shy demeanor, had a unique charm that was arguably even more captivating.
"Where do you come from, Liriénka? Did I pronounce your name correctly?" Martin asked in the Eldest Tongue, breaking Jalu's train of thought.
The woman nodded and replied, "I come from Léit-Nalamn where our kingdom Arüniylath stands. We call ourselves niylath, the only beings that can live both on land and in water there."
Jalu and Martin waited for her to continue, but Liriénka remained silent. She seemed to dislike talking too much.
"How did you end up in this world?" Jalu broke the silence with a question.
"Our kingdom was attacked by aquatic beings who disliked us simply because we could walk on land," Liriénka explained. "My mother and her friend were able to open an interdimensional gate. I was supposed to arrive in a water realm with my mother, siblings, and the remaining few survivors. However, the gate closed immediately after I entered. And I ended up stranded in your world."
Martin compassionately gazed at Liriénka. He knew that being separated from family and getting lost in a foreign world alone was not a pleasant experience. Moreover, from her demeanor, facial expressions, and stature, he concluded that the age of the being calling herself niylath was no different from a young human in their early twenties.
"Are you hungry, Liriénka?" the sturdy man asked as he walked towards the water dispenser.
"I'm starving," she honestly replied.
Martin handed her a glass of water, which she quickly drank until it was empty.
"What do niylaths usually eat?" Martin took the glass from Liriénka's hand and refilled it.
"Cooked meat and vegetables," she answered, then quickly added, "But I don't mind eating anything."
Swiftly, Martin went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled with slices of bread and a jar of chocolate spread.
"The food in our world is almost the same as in your world. But we incorporate a lot of spices that might not be friendly to your tongue and stomach. This is bread, food that is comfortable even for children. I hope you don't mind eating it to ease your hunger," Martin explained.
He then taught her how to spread the chocolate on the bread, letting Liriénka do it herself while Jalu stored her clothes in the car. Sympathetically, Martin watched her eat the simple meal with enthusiasm. Jalu, too, felt touched by how much Liriénka was enjoying the humble dish.
"Later, Jalu will buy natural foods for you. You can try many vegetables, meats, and fruits at his place," Martin said.
"At my place?" Jalu interrupted, objecting. He seamlessly switched to Indonesian.
"In three hours, my employees will come. What will they think when they see an unknown, soaking wet, beautiful girl in this place?"
Jalu fell silent. Martin's words were undeniably true. The sturdy man lived in the workshop. All the rooms, even his bedroom, were accessible to all employees. For the time being, there was indeed no safer place to avoid human curiosity than Jalu's home.
"At least Mr. Adiwira can see this girl's form and gather information from other task forces," Martin added.
Liriénka turned towards them, her mouth busy chewing. However, when her gaze met Jalu's, she immediately lowered her face towards the plate. She then sipped water from the glass provided by Martin. Swiftly, she tidied up all the utensils she had used for the meal.
Martin and Jalu were amazed at how neatly Liriénka arranged the remaining slices of bread, a small glass jar of spread, and a butter knife that had been thoroughly cleaned on the plate. The girl even seemed to pay attention to the spacing when placing the empty glass next to the plate. Niylath appeared to be a creature that appreciated order and cleanliness.
"Thank you for your kindness," the girl said without looking at them. "Both of you."
"No need to thank us," Martin replied. "It's our duty to help creatures from other dimensions who are lost."
The wavy-haired man glanced at the wall clock and said, "You should continue your journey. This area will be crowded in the morning."