I-I... I-I—I want-want back, I want... Want... Want... Need to get back... I want to... Let get back, I want to get back... Co on... Where the fuck! is it!
"Not there." "Not here." "Here? No." "Wait? No, that's not it." "Co on!!!" "Where! Where! Where!"
Dumb shit! Fuck! The fuck did I do! Why the fuck! Why! Did I lose it! Why did I lose it! Peace of fucking shit! I fucking hate you!!! fate! I lived such a great life! I lived a life I had dread of for my whole got damn life! And now—NOW you just rip it away from ! "Just get back to the life I could live without my old regrets, the life I had completed my desires for, the one where I lived happily!" "I fucking hate you!!! Hate-hate-hate-hate you!!! Who or what ever did this, if it was fate or a god or whatever it was, the hell? You ripped it away from ! Why the fuck did you rip it away. What have I done to deserve that!!!"
"Give it back! Give my life back! Give that one life back!"
Where... Where.... Where... Where... WHERE.... WHERE!!!
"Dha!-dha!-dha!-dha!-dha!-dha...!"
Laughter echoes from under a tree, followed by small, chattering voices. I glance over—small trolls? Or are they... sothing else? What are they? They're so small... Are they dangerous?
The one farthest to the front points a stubby finger at , shouting sothing incomprehensible. "Ukjsa!!!" The little troll's scream signals the others, who imdiately begin arguing with each other, yelling and shoving like a chaotic swarm. So even start hitting each other, swinging wildly and fighting amongst themselves.
But then... they stop. Their focus sharpens, and before long, they charge at , a small rumble forming beneath their mismatched, stomping steps.
"Ahhh!!!" "Kjuuuu!!!" "Dughaaaa!!!" "Kjuuuuaaaa!!!!"
Their screams are harsh and sharp, almost like they're cursing at . But why? What did I do?!
For a mont, my mind flickers back to the kingdom—the gate, the wall I need to find—but their screeching tears back to the present. I stand there, frozen, watching them approach. They're small... so small. What could they even do?
Then I spot one—a troll hefting a tiny, rusted sword. It trips over its own feet and crashes to the ground, the blade plunging harmlessly into the dirt.
Frozen.
That's what I am. I can't move. But I realize it too late—these things might actually be dangerous. So are carrying knives; others bare jagged, sharp teeth.
Move. I need to move. They're slow, but there are too many of them! If I stay here, I'll let them overwhelm , tear apart. I can't let that happen! Please... legs, listen to !
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I regain control. I take a step backward, then another, and soon I'm running. But as I look around, my heart sinks.
There's not just one small army anymore.
The swarm is growing, spreading like a flood. They're everywhere. Surrounding , cutting off every path.
My thoughts spiral and my body trembles in fear...
A spell—should I cast one? But no, that would take too long. What should I do? What can I do?!
Am I... Am I going to die again!?
"—!"'
"Kill these Nusks before moving on! They're yours, Ronan!"
A powerful voice cuts through the air as a knife whistles past, piercing the skull of a small troll just before it could reach . The troll's body crumples lifelessly to the ground, but the others pay it no mind, rushing forward in a chaotic frenzy.
A man suddenly appears in front of . His stance is calm yet commanding, exuding confidence. He moves like soone who knows these trolls pose no real threat to him. Before I can take a closer look, he vanishes into the fray, tearing through the trolls one by one with precise throws of his daggers. His movents are sharp and fluid, each slash of his blades cutting cleanly through their small, writhing forms.
"Your turn, Althea!" The sa authoritative voice calls out, now directing a new na.
The brownish-red-haired man—Ronan, I assu—glances up with an expression of mild annoyance, as if disappointed the fight is nearing its end. Despite that, a faint smile lingers on his face as he tilts his head back to look skyward.
A fiery glow illuminates the forest. A brilliant red fla swells in the air, growing larger by the second. Above us, a figure erges, holding a staff. The fire bursts forth, consuming the trolls in its blazing heat. They scream and writhe, but before the flas even touch their skin, they turn to ash, their remains scattering into the wind.
As the fire dissipates, the mana fueling it dissolves harmlessly into the air, leaving the forest untouched by the inferno. The caster, a slender and strikingly beautiful young woman, floats gracefully midair. Her dark, violet-tinted hair swirls around her as if moved by the very magic she wields. She grips her staff tightly, her expression calm and composed, as if casting such a powerful spell were nothing more than routine.
"Hey!" Ronan shouts, breaking the brief silence. "You told they were mine to kill! Sure, Althea looked hot as always, but still—you promised! Co on!"
A new figure steps forward from the trees. This must be the one who's been issuing commands. His presence is commanding but not overly harsh. He walks with confidence, a slight smirk playing on his lips as Ronan continues to complain.
Who are these people? Why did they save ? And where the hell did they co from?
Wait—I'm alive. That realization crashes over like a wave. They saved , and here I am, standing like an idiot, too caught up in their battle to even acknowledge it.
"I know, I know. I told you that because if I'd ntioned Althea was going to help, you'd just argue about it, saying you could handle it yourself. And I believe you could," the man explained, his tone serious and firm yet balanced by a calm smile. "But with Althea's help, it was faster and more efficient. You'll need your energy for the next fight."
The newcor's presence radiates authority. Judging by the way he speaks and the way the others respond to him, it's obvious—this must be their leader.
"I get it, I get it..." Ronan murmurs, sighing before turning his attention to . "So, anyway, what are you doing out here? You don't seem like the kind of guy who can defend himself too well. Correct if I'm wrong."
Yeah... No. Co on, Kaito, speak!
I shake my head, trying to gather my words before they tumble out. "Oh... Uh, yeah. Well, I'm not quite sure how I got here... Mind if I ask where I am?" Ugh, that sounded dumb. Not knowing how I got here? Sure, it's true, but still... it sounds ridiculous.
"Huh? You don't know how you got here? That's gotta be a joke! Haha, good one," Ronan chuckles, brushing it off with a playful grin. "But no worries, I'll tell you where you are—Hey, Orin! What was this place called again?"
This guy... First, he thinks I'm joking about not knowing how I got here, and a mont later, he doesn't even know where he is himself.
Orin, the man walking up to us, sighs before answering, "We're near Jorhavn village. It's not far from this forest. We're here on a guild quest to take down a monster. You can tag along, and afterward, we'll show you the way to the village. It's nothing too strong, so you can just hang back and watch if you'd prefer."
It would definitely be safer to follow them. I an, what if I end up alone with those trolls again? I'd probably be done for.
"I see, so Jorhavn? I've never heard of that village before. Anyway, if you don't mind, I'd be glad to follow you. I wouldn't really want to be attacked again." Nor be able to survive...
Asking about other things can wait for later, so finding out where Luminara is will have to wait.
"Yeah, don't worry, we'd be glad to have you. Anyway, what's your na?" Ronan takes over the conversation as Orin falls silent, almost as if he knew Ronan would pick up the speaking.
"My na is Kaito Nakamura," I answer politely, bowing my head slightly. "And you, sir? What's your na?"
"So polite... hahaha, where are you from? A noble household? I didn't even think about that suit of yours—it looks fancy. Anyway, my na is Ronan. This guy here is Orin, our leader. The one casting that fire spell was Althea. We've got two others, but I believe they can introduce themselves." His casual tone makes it clear that I might've been a bit too polite. I've only been introducing myself this way for the past few weeks, so I guess I let my tongue slip without thinking.
"Yeah, sorry, I let my words slip without thinking. Anyway, so Ronan, where are these other two you were talking about?" I ask, trying to keep my tone steady.
"They should be waiting by the monster we ca here for. We don't know what kind of creature it is yet, but it's just a low-ranked job with decent pay. It shouldn't be too far from here... I'm guessing Althea already headed over there, but they won't start attacking until Orin shows up," Ronan explains. His tone is cocky yet lighthearted, as if the whole thing is nothing more than a stroll in the park.
"Yeah... Let's go. This way." Orin brushes off Ronan's comntary and strides deeper into the forest. His posture is straight, his movents deliberate, exuding an air of pride and composure. A blade hangs at his left waist, his hand resting confidently on its hilt as his quiet yet purposeful steps carry him into the shadowy depths of the forest.
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