The air was unfamiliar; it didn't fit with the rest of the picture in front if her. A silent dark stone room. Something was horribly wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Maybe it was where she was sitting. She felt it out, a plain, thick wooden chair with armrests.
It felt familiar, but the feeling of dread was growing.
This isn't supposed to be here. I don't know how I know that, but I do.
She started to get up, but froze.
She could hear breathing from somewhere behind her.
There was someone else in the room.
Kage shot up from where she lay, heart pounding out of her chest.
She flailed, throwing off something that was covering her and knocking something else to the floor in the process.
It was still dark, where was this? Same air, where was-
Her eyes finally came into focus, catching on the figure sitting in the corner.
"Who are you?" She accused. "Where am I?"
"You ain't quite awake are you?" He replied, calmly. "You ain't in no danger from me, take your time. Open the door if it's too dark'n here."
Heart still pounding, she backed up, trying to find an escape while keeping her eyes on him. No danger? What's going on? Who was this? It wasn't-
Her hand brushed on a horizantal piece of wood that caused movement in a section of the wall, a door.
Eyes still on the man with the cross scar over his forehead, she flung it open and turned out into the open air.
The sun was setting, casting a red light over the entirety of the dusty, grassy, expanse and turning the floating dirt a reddish colour.
The Dust.
That's what he called it yesterday. Where was the dog? Rag?
Her face contorted as it came back to her mind, seemingly in huge chunks.
Jacob, Finsch, Praella. Islestar, and the Council, and here. A random planet that housed human, or at least human-esque, life.
The flecks of dust catching her face and clothes and landing in her mouth slowly brought her out of her head in to reality.
The heat from the day was almost gone, most likely the sunset to blame for that.
She clenched her fists and inhaled, exhaled and stretched her fingers.
Once more, pull in and release.
"Your shirt might've got teared some around the arm." He said as she entered the cabin again. "Rags pulled you in, I helped lay you down'n my bed. I cain't help any with head 'r mind problems, so's I just left you."
"Thank you." She fidgeted. What should she say in this situation?
"I'd better'nt ask that earlier question again. 'Nd I'm not used to havn' oth'r people 'round."
"I'm sorry, I'll leave." She apologized, getting up.
"What on earth'r you talkin' 'bout? You said you was lost!"
Kage stopped. That was true, but...
He regarded her pause. "Well, do you had family or 'nything near?"
She shook her head. "No, not for a long time. It's just me."
"They dead?"
"No, they're alive. Just...far away."
"I see. I'vent seen the outside world in a long time now. Is there a war goin' on 'r somethin'?"
His calm demeanor made her want to reply honestly, but she still wasn't willing to let her guard down.
"I really don't know, I'm sorry."
His eyebrows raised.
Then again, if she was in this world for good, what difference did it make?
"I guess I have nothing to lose." Kage muttered.
"I just appeared there. I don't know anything about where I am. It probably sounds impossible to believe, sorry." She said.
"Well..." He said. "I don't guess you're gonna explain that more?"
"It'd be a lot to explain. But I guess the gist of it is: I'm from a completely different world, I was kicked out, and now I'm here for good. Wherever 'here' is."
She tried to read his expression, but to no luck.
"Well, I cn' help with that. You're in The Dust, 'nd I think I said that b'fore."
Kage nodded.
"Yes, and The Dust is a more'rless neutral area between a couple countries, _____ and _____ b'cause no'one wants it. It also goes to some forest, but I've never been that way."
He paused.
Her curiosity overtook her nervousness.
"Could you... Could you explain more?" She asked.
He smiled. "I s'pose I could. But perhaps you'd want somethin' to eat while I do?"
"Huh?"
"There ain't much to eat 'n this place, but Rag 'n I get by. You look 'alf starved."
Kage couldn't help a half smile. That was how she looked, but that was more a consequence of not needing to eat in her Mythsian form.
That being said, the mention of food made her current human stomach growl.
He heard it, and smiled. He arose, old wood creaking under him.
This was the first time Kage had been standing next to him, and she could see his full height. He must have been over six feet, but a hunch in his upper back brought his height down to be less intimidating.
He extended his hand. "Sorry again 'bout the scare at first. Name's Rach."
Kage took his grizzled hand and he shook hers firmly.
"I'm Kage."
He smiled. "Good t' meetcha, Kage."
"Far as'n I'cn remember, this whole world is called Iebor." He began as he skilfully used the tip of a knife to remove the stem of a large, round fruit he had obtained from the shelf.
Kage noticed the details of the place more clearly now. It was still dark, but there was still enough light outside to shine in between the cracks of the old wood.
Rickety shelves lay agains the walls holding some odd assortments of simple tools, the bed on which she'd awoke lay against the middle of the wall opposite the door, rickety shelves and storage on either side. She and Each sat on either end of a small table of plan and a stone by the door.
"Wasn't ever of much import t' me." He continued. "I wasn't the smartest kid. When I made an enemy of the wrong noble n' lost my eyes, I somehow survived long 'nough to get 'ere. Lived here since."
She nodded in response, but caught herself remembering he wouldn't be able to see it.
"Okay." She affirmed.
He nodded and handed her the fruit, showing her how to peel the skin as he did.
"I called this pomen. Helps thirst too."
Rach tilted his head as he remembered something a long while back.
"I was from Tobryna, which's to the Southeast. Up 'bove that, North, is Rhoringdall, the capital, the King lives there."
"It's a monarchy then?" She said, peeling the thick skin off the fruit. Those were common, but could be troublesome.
"Right. Th' King 'n Queen rule. There're nobles around too. Dukes 'n such."
"Right."
Kage took a bite of the fruit and the sour-sweet taste attacked her tongue before immediately disappearing. It had a smooth outside below the skin, but the instant she bit into it a full watery inside was revealed.
She did her best to keep the watery juice from spilling out.
"Good?" Rach asked, cutting the stem off of his own.
"Yes, thank you." She smiled, mouth full.
"To the West is Duurchelm, we're the closest t' them. It's an old trading city on th' ocean."
He shrugged. "That's 'bout all I can tell you 'bout the land 'n general. I know th' most 'bout where I'm from in Tobryna."
"Tobryna in the Southwest?" She confirmed.
"C’rrect." He smiled. "It's a crazy place t' live. Fourteen diff'rent areas, always warrin' over somethin' 'r other. Some last only a week, then others like ____ and _____ have been at it on 'n off for, well, fifty years when I left. They're all very different you see, but still have t' be part of Tobryna since they're under th' King's rule."
"But the doesn't keep them in order? Even though they're part of his kingdom?" Kage asked.
"Well, I imagine it's too much effort for 'em up in Rhorin'dall. Snuffin' out wars twelve at a time and still keepin' your hold on all of them probably wouldn't go so well."
"I see."
He tapped his temple. "I didn't pay too much attention back then, but I've 'ad a long time to work it out in my head."
They are in silence for a few moments.
"What're you going t' do?"
That caught her off guard. Good question.
"I don't know. I can't stay here." She reasoned, looking around. "I can't take your food an your house, even though you've been kind enough to offer it so far."
He didn't say anything, which confirmed her thoughts. Food was scarce here, and there wasn't enough for two. Besides, though he didn't say anything to it, Rach probably lived by himself for a reason.
"And going to a warring country sounds like a bad idea." She continued.
Rach nodded. "If you're from a whole other world, you won't be able t' survive 'n the wilderness, so it sounds like a city's your best choice."
"Rhoringdall in the North or Duurchelm in the Southwest."
"Yes." He paused. "And, if you want my thoughts..."
"Please. I um...don't always make decisions very well."
"Well, we can't have that. But either way, Duurchelm is prob'ly your best bet. Smaller n' the capital, and closer from where 'n the Dust we are. Won't be any use if you starve b'fore you reach the city."
"Though," he continued after a moment, "I c'n help with that."
"You see that tree out 'n front'v th' house?" He tilted his head in that direction. Kage cracked the door and saw the tree in that direction. A ragged-looking tree with thick bark that stuck out upward, curved branches, and thin leaves packed so closely together they looked like a few big leaves.
"Those 'r the pomen trees." He said as she closed the door again. "When you're 'round them, make sure t' watch f'r animals. The wild ones'll wait there f'r prey."
Kage nodded, then caught herself again. "Alright." She said. Any predators that would survive in this wasteland she wouldn't want to mess with.
"From your voice, you seem like you're pr'pared to leave any second." He said.
"Well no, I just... Wasn't sure, I suppose."
"I see." He paused. "Well, if you're trav'ling, the sooner the better, but you'd still better wait 'till the next mor'nin. Gets cold at night."
"Thank you, very much." She said, relieved. Setting off into the unknown at night was something she would have done, but would certainly rather not try. She stepped away from the door and sat down on the bed again.
"How is it..." She looked to Rach "-that you survived for so long? Out here, by yourself I mean."
"Besides Rag?" He laughed. "Havin' a fright'ning animal for your friend c'rtainly helps. Though, for you that won't help right now."
He sighed. "Well, I s'pose it comes t' instinct, that 'nd the ability t' do what's nec'ssary. Though," he frowned, " I hope you don't have to do that."
She smiled weakly.
He regarded her silence. "Trust your instinct Kage. It seems t' 'ave brought you this far."
***
The first light of morning came, and Kage woke to the first rays of light through the cracks in the wall.
She lay curled up on the corner of the bed against the wall, and pushed a dream similar to the previous night's to the back of her mind.
Rach was gone from the chair he'd been sleeping in, she wouldn't have taken his bed again if he hadn't insisted.
She sat up on the cot, looking at the light seeping through the cracks of the wall. Perhaps if she stayed seated here a bit longer she wouldn't have to leave.
From the walls to the shelves, everything showed wear from countless seasons in the Dust.
It wasn't that she wanted to stay, but that she wasn't ready to take in the rest of this world.
Then again, she'd never be ready.
"If I stay longer, I'll won't be able to leave." She said aloud. That was her instinct speaking, and it knew her better than her conscious mind.
She didn't have anything to take with her, so she jumped off the cot without bothering to looking around and propelled herself through the door.
Rach was walking back from the pomen tree with a couple of the fruits in a bag, Rag running to his side.
"Mornin' Kage. How're you feelin'?"
She paused, not sure how to get it across, and he noticed.
"Som'thin' wrong?"
"I guess, I have to go now." She tried to formulate her feelings into words "I have to, if I stop and lose all my momentum I won't be able to work up the courage to go."
He paused. "I see. I c'n und'rstand that. You're a brave girl Kage. You don't 'ave to worry 'bout that."
She smiled, then remembered. "Um, thanks." She whispered.
"At least havn' t' talk with me 'nstead of just noddin' might've helped you get those words 'o yours out 'bit easier." He laughed.
Kage blushed.
"Just wait one sec'nd." He limped back inside the cabin and emerged a moment later with an old shawl and one of the pomen.
"It's a long way t' go, 'nd the Dust c'n be ruthless." He held it up. "Not th' prettiest, but it'll give you some pr'tection from the dirt 'n wind.
Kage accepted it and the fruit. "Thank you very much."
"'Nd I don't give this offer for ev'ryone, but if you're ever in this f'rsaken pile 'o dirt again, come tell me how you're doin."
"I will."
"You c'n tell direction? From th' sun?"
"Yes."
"Good. So you're gonna want t' go West from here, and Northwest once you reach the coastline. That'll take you to Duurchelm."
She paused again, facing the direction opposite the rising sun. The dirty landscape stretched out forever ahead of her, but the hills and not knowing what was behind offered a small sense of hope.
She looked back to Rach and his unreadable expression, and Rags, who seemed to tolerate her now.
"Thank you, Rach." There was more she wanted to say, and this might be her last chance. "I'd be dead already if not for you, so thank you."
"You're welcome." He smiled.
Kage spun around and pulled herself forward into the Dust.
ns3.16.149.93da2
然後按「加至主畫面」