known as Rahm. It is primarily a pheromone-based language, with vocal modifiers. Today, every Gutter is taught four human languages; English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese. This allows better communication with humans no matter where we go. However, I believe it’s time humans learned a few Rahm words as well.”
I copy the basic Rahm words on the board. Yuosai ; hello. An’hege oir ; please pass me that. Ms. Gianca pronounces a faint hiss after certain words. It sounds snake-like, soft and lilting at the same time. And then we move on. She writes four words on the board; Asara , Umala , Latori , and Shototh .
“Humans have many religions,” Gianca says. “And with that comes many gods. The Gutters too have many religions, but one remains more popular than the rest. It’s called Ki-eth , which roughly translates to ‘path of the four’. Four goddesses of unimaginable power govern the universe, or so we believe.”
Gianca throws her pointer on the word Asara .
“Asara, the Great Mother of Light. She-Who-Births-All-Things. She is kindness and mercy incarnate, and loves all within the universe unconditionally.”
She points to Umala .
“Umala, the Great Mother of Darkness. She-Who-Destroys-All-Things. Umala is destruction, chaos, and fear. Umala is Asara’s sister. Asara’s father, Yu, the Great Father of Nothingness, wanted to kill Umala when she was born from him. But, taking pity on her, Asara hid her sister away within her own body, and Yu could not kill her. Since then, Umala and Asara share a body. They are one, but they are not the same. Umala, in her anger at being seen as inferior, tries to always undo the good that Asara creates in the universe.”
We’re all quiet. Even Gerald, the class clown who never shuts up, is shutting up. It’s the most interesting thing she’s taught so far.
“Latori, the Great Mother of Mountains,” Gianca continues. “She is reclusive, and quiet, and knows and keeps all secrets. She sees everything that will be, or can be, but she never gets involved. She is the great scholar, with her libraries of scrolls that contain the history of the universe, from beginning to end.”
“And finally, there is Shototh, the Great Mother of Ocean. Shototh is the schemer, the planner, the one who twists the fabric of us mortals to her bidding. She wishes only to be entertained. Anything that is interesting will do, even suffering. With her honeyed words, Shototh manipulates Umala’s rage so that she will do great and terrible things for Shototh to take delight in.”
Someone raises their hand. “So none of them are evil? Or is Umala the bad guy? Like Satan?”
Gianca smiles patiently. “There are no good and evil goddesses. There is only right and wrong. Some things they do are right, and some things they do are wrong, just like us.”
The bell trills, and I wait until the class leaves to walk up to her desk.
“Hello, Victoria,” Gianca looks up from her papers. “What did you need from me?”
“I was wondering if you could teach me how to say a sentence in Rahm.”
She smiles. “Of course. It would be my pleasure.”
She writes it down and teaches me to purse my lips just so to make the hissing sound. There’s an awkward quiet after I master that particular phrase. I want to say it to Shadus, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get the opportunity. Maybe it’s stupid, learning this just to say it to him. But it’s worth a try, I think.
Or is it?
Why am I trying at all, if I’m just here for the money?
I look at Ms. Gianca carefully. She doesn’t look any older than twenty five. We all know Gutters are prone to looking youthful. It’s why so many cosmetic companies and modeling agencies snapped them up. I wonder what her real age is.
“Why do the Gutter factions hate each other?” I blurt. She raises an eyebrow.
“Each Gutter does not hate his fellow, rather, healthy competition is considered best for keeping our minds and bodies sharp and
I copy the basic Rahm words on the board. Yuosai ; hello. An’hege oir ; please pass me that. Ms. Gianca pronounces a faint hiss after certain words. It sounds snake-like, soft and lilting at the same time. And then we move on. She writes four words on the board; Asara , Umala , Latori , and Shototh .
“Humans have many religions,” Gianca says. “And with that comes many gods. The Gutters too have many religions, but one remains more popular than the rest. It’s called Ki-eth , which roughly translates to ‘path of the four’. Four goddesses of unimaginable power govern the universe, or so we believe.”
Gianca throws her pointer on the word Asara .
“Asara, the Great Mother of Light. She-Who-Births-All-Things. She is kindness and mercy incarnate, and loves all within the universe unconditionally.”
She points to Umala .
“Umala, the Great Mother of Darkness. She-Who-Destroys-All-Things. Umala is destruction, chaos, and fear. Umala is Asara’s sister. Asara’s father, Yu, the Great Father of Nothingness, wanted to kill Umala when she was born from him. But, taking pity on her, Asara hid her sister away within her own body, and Yu could not kill her. Since then, Umala and Asara share a body. They are one, but they are not the same. Umala, in her anger at being seen as inferior, tries to always undo the good that Asara creates in the universe.”
We’re all quiet. Even Gerald, the class clown who never shuts up, is shutting up. It’s the most interesting thing she’s taught so far.
“Latori, the Great Mother of Mountains,” Gianca continues. “She is reclusive, and quiet, and knows and keeps all secrets. She sees everything that will be, or can be, but she never gets involved. She is the great scholar, with her libraries of scrolls that contain the history of the universe, from beginning to end.”
“And finally, there is Shototh, the Great Mother of Ocean. Shototh is the schemer, the planner, the one who twists the fabric of us mortals to her bidding. She wishes only to be entertained. Anything that is interesting will do, even suffering. With her honeyed words, Shototh manipulates Umala’s rage so that she will do great and terrible things for Shototh to take delight in.”
Someone raises their hand. “So none of them are evil? Or is Umala the bad guy? Like Satan?”
Gianca smiles patiently. “There are no good and evil goddesses. There is only right and wrong. Some things they do are right, and some things they do are wrong, just like us.”
The bell trills, and I wait until the class leaves to walk up to her desk.
“Hello, Victoria,” Gianca looks up from her papers. “What did you need from me?”
“I was wondering if you could teach me how to say a sentence in Rahm.”
She smiles. “Of course. It would be my pleasure.”
She writes it down and teaches me to purse my lips just so to make the hissing sound. There’s an awkward quiet after I master that particular phrase. I want to say it to Shadus, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get the opportunity. Maybe it’s stupid, learning this just to say it to him. But it’s worth a try, I think.
Or is it?
Why am I trying at all, if I’m just here for the money?
I look at Ms. Gianca carefully. She doesn’t look any older than twenty five. We all know Gutters are prone to looking youthful. It’s why so many cosmetic companies and modeling agencies snapped them up. I wonder what her real age is.
“Why do the Gutter factions hate each other?” I blurt. She raises an eyebrow.
“Each Gutter does not hate his fellow, rather, healthy competition is considered best for keeping our minds and bodies sharp and
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