ALL NOVEL Hala’s Encounter with the Brownies
Hala descended from the fifth floor of her pyramid, her movements relaxed and unhurried. Her bare feet made soft sounds against the Lazurite steps as she approached the lower chambers. The magical energy within the pyramid pulsed in rhythm with her presence, the soft blue glow of the walls intensifying slightly as she neared the ground level.
Her mismatched eyes—one gold, the other midnight blue—scanned the surroundings. She could feel the faint presence of the brownies below, their small hearts still pounding from their harrowing escape. Hala's carefree nature masked her curiosity. She wasn't exactly expecting visitors this soon, especially not a group of brownies, but life in the desert was full of surprises, and she enjoyed every twist and turn.
As she reached the entrance hall, she caught sight of them—six small, ragged figures huddled together near one of the inner walls of the pyramid. They were battered, their faces etched with exhaustion and fear. A few of them were bandaging the wounded brownie, and the scent of blood lingered faintly in the cool air. Their eyes darted around the grand hall, clearly unsure of whether they had found safety or merely wandered into a new kind of danger.
"Huh," Hala said aloud, leaning against one of the glowing Lazurite pillars with a casual grin on her face. "Didn't expect visitors so soon."
The brownies froze at the sound of her voice, their wide, startled eyes turning toward her in unison. Their small bodies tensed, prepared to run or fight, but the sight of Hala—a tall, glowing figure with mismatched eyes and an aura of cosmic power—made them pause.
Inna, the warrior leader of the group, was the first to step forward, her orange hair matted with sand and her muscles tense beneath her dirt-streaked clothing. Her expression was cautious, but she didn't lower her guard. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice hoarse from exhaustion. "Is this your… your home?"
Hala tilted her head, her grin widening as she sized up the tiny warrior brownie. The confidence in such a small body was amusing, and Hala couldn't help but admire her spirit. "Yep, this is mine," she said, gesturing lazily to the pyramid around them. "Built it myself. You like it?"
The brownies exchanged wary glances. Lardri, still holding the injured Ebin, looked from the towering structure back to Hala. "You… built this?" she asked incredulously. "But… how? No one could build something like this, not here, not in the desert. We thought this land was cursed."
Hala gave a lighthearted shrug, her golden eye gleaming in the soft light. "Cursed? Well, maybe it was. But I like to think I've got a way of bending things to my will." She flicked her fingers, and the Lazurite pillars around them shimmered, their crystalline surfaces reflecting the starlight from the fading night sky. "Besides, I've got the power of the cosmos on my side. It helps when you want to build something impressive."
The brownies stood silent, their wide eyes taking in the casual display of magic. They had never seen anything like it—this strange woman, with her nonchalant attitude and cosmic powers, was unlike anyone they had ever encountered. For a moment, they were unsure whether she was friend or foe.
Inna, however, was not one to back down. She straightened her posture, though the exhaustion still weighed heavily on her. "We mean no harm," she said cautiously. "We're just… passing through. Our village was destroyed by dire lions. We didn't know where else to go."
Hala raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Dire lions, huh?" She glanced down at Ebin, noticing the blood seeping through the makeshift bandage on his leg. With a casual wave of her hand, a soft glow of blue light wrapped around the injured brownie, healing the wound in an instant. The blood stopped flowing, and the torn flesh knitted itself back together, leaving Ebin's leg as good as new.
The brownies gasped in unison, their jaws dropping at the sudden display of healing magic. Ebin, who had been unconscious, stirred and opened his eyes, blinking up at Hala in confusion. "W-What… happened?"
Hala grinned down at him. "You were a little broken, so I fixed you up. No big deal."
Inna's eyes narrowed, but she couldn't deny the relief she felt at seeing her comrade healed. She took a tentative step forward, her voice softer now. "Thank you… for that." She hesitated before adding, "We're not here to intrude. We didn't know where else to go. If you don't want us here, we'll leave."
Hala waved her hand dismissively, pushing off the Lazurite pillar and stepping closer to the brownies. "Nah, no need to be so stiff about it. You look like you've had a rough time." She tilted her head, her carefree smile never fading. "Besides, what kind of ruler would I be if I didn't help out a few lost souls?"
The brownies glanced at one another, still uncertain. But there was something about Hala's easygoing demeanor, the way she spoke with such casual confidence, that put them slightly more at ease. She didn't seem to be the type to harm them, despite her immense power.
"If you want to stay here," Hala continued, "you're welcome to. I've got plenty of space, and there's more where that came from." She gestured toward Ebin's healed leg. "I could use a few more faces around here. This place is big, and I'm just getting started on making it into something great."
Lardri, still shaken but hopeful, looked up at Inna, her voice trembling slightly. "Maybe… maybe this is the place we were meant to find, Inna. Maybe we can make a new home here."
Inna looked uncertain, her stoic expression faltering as she glanced back at her group. They were all exhausted, hungry, and desperate for safety. She could see the hope in their eyes—this pyramid, this strange woman with her cosmic powers, was their only chance for survival in the unforgiving desert.
Finally, Inna let out a breath, nodding slowly. "If you'll have us, we would be grateful," she said, her voice quiet but sincere. "We've lost everything. We'll help however we can."
Hala clapped her hands together, her grin widening. "Perfect! I could use some extra hands around here anyway. You brownies seem like you know your way around the desert."
She waved them toward the center of the grand hall, where a crystal platform shimmered with light. "Come on, I'll show you where you can stay. There are plenty of rooms below, and I've got food. You can rest up, and in the morning, we can talk about what comes next."
The brownies followed Hala, their fear and uncertainty slowly gave way to a cautious hope.