Sami slowly opened his eyes, noticing the orange-haired girl was still staring at him with eyes as sharp as knives. He couldn't ignore the way she had grabbed his shirt collar and lifted him effortlessly, as if his weight meant nothing. An angry expression crossed his face, and he swatted her hand away, cautiously retreating a few steps.
The girl smirked scornfully and said:
"A real down-on-his-luck drifter, aren't you?"
Sami chose to remain silent. He hadn't yet processed the situation he found himself in. A heavy silence settled over the place as he analyzed every detail, trying to understand what was happening around him. But the girl's patience quickly ran out; anger flared in her eyes, and she said sharply:
"Are you mute or what?!"
Sami looked at her coolly, then turned his eyes to the young man sitting beside her, who seemed calmer. He asked in a low but clear voice:
"Do you have anything edible?"
At that moment, Sami realized just how hungry he was. Since entering this ordeal, he hadn't eaten anything except for drinking a bottle of water he had stolen from one of the men earlier. But now, hunger was gnawing at his bones savagely. In this scorching desert environment, hunger wasn't just a passing feeling; it was the most dangerous enemy possible.
The young man was surprised by Sami's request, but soon moved swiftly, heading to a bag beside him. He pulled out a simple plate and began filling it. Meanwhile, the girl let out a muffled laugh and said mockingly:
"Ah, it seems he's really hungry... Mr. Lam, give him something to eat."
The young man handed the plate to Sami, who took it slowly and looked at it hesitantly. His survival instinct hadn't faded yet, and he considered the possibility of it being poisoned. But he quickly dismissed that thought. If they wanted to kill him, they would have done so while he was unconscious. Or perhaps... hunger was stronger than any caution.
Sami began eating the food, but he didn't find it palatable. He spat out some mouthfuls now and then, but that didn't stop him from continuing to eat. His body needed energy, no matter how bad the food tasted.
The young man said in a calm tone while the girl merely cast occasional glances at Sami:
"Thank you, sir, for killing the beast. We didn't know there was a monster in this lake. We only stopped here to rest a bit from traveling in this cursed desert."
His tone was devoid of any emotion, as if the matter didn't concern him. He looked at the girl then turned his gaze back to Sami, who showed no interest in his words. Perhaps because he didn't believe him, or perhaps because hunger was completely dominating him.
The young man continued in a more serious tone:
"You might be wondering why we're here. This esteemed lady hired us to guard her caravan on our way to Mount Moon City."
Sami stopped eating for a moment, raising his eyebrows with interest. Mount Moon City? This was important information that might help him understand this world more. He quickly realized he should pay attention to what was being said.
The young man went on:
"We didn't expect this beautiful lake to hide a beast of that size. Fortunately, you were here, otherwise we would have met the same fate as the others."
He said the last sentence in a sad tone, but his eyes remained expressionless. There was a gap between his words and his feelings.
After a moment of silence, he added:
"Mr. Kaf and the other men were truly strong. I didn't expect them to lose in a fight like that. But... nothing is predictable in this life, right?"
He directed his question at Sami, who lifted his head slightly and replied in a consoling tone:
"Yes... perhaps you're right."
Then he added, trying to downplay his achievement:
"They were really strong... I think I won by luck alone."
The young man looked at him thoughtfully and said with a faint smile:
"Is that what you think?"
Suddenly, the girl, who had remained silent all this time, spoke up and said coolly:
"Who cares? They're dead, and we're alive. We just need to continue our journey."
Sami looked up at her, then set the plate aside and stood up, ready to leave. He didn't want to stay any longer, but he preferred to be invited to accompany them rather than impose himself. He said in a calm tone:
"Well, I'll be on my way."
Just as he had predicted, the silence didn't last long.
The young man looked at the girl and said:
"My Lady, don't you think it would be better for a strong person like him to accompany us?"
The girl replied indifferently:
"I don't really care. Do as you wish."
Then she cast a quick glance at Sami and smiled a small smile, a vague hint not easily interpreted.
The young man turned his gaze to Sami and said respectfully:
"What do you think, sir? Would you like to accompany us to the city, if you're headed there?"
Sami saw no compelling reason to refuse the invitation. He had to survive, and continue understanding this mysterious world. Staying alone in this desert under that scorching sun wasn't a smart choice.
Sami thought: "Everything seems too easy... but thinking about it later will be better. Getting food, water, and companionship isn't a bad choice now, especially since I know nothing about this place."
He looked at them and said with a slight smile:
"Alright, I suppose it's fine to accompany you."
He returned to his seat and finished his food.
After the three had finished eating, they gathered their belongings. Sami didn't have much to take, he simply stood up and headed towards the last wagon he had been hiding under earlier. But before he reached it, he felt a hand pulling his arm from behind.
He turned to find the orange-haired girl looking at him with her sharp eyes.
She said in a commanding tone:
"You'll be at the front. Come with me."
Sami didn't object. There was no point in doing so now. His information about them was scant, and the best he could do was go along with them until he understood the situation better.
As he walked beside her, he thought to himself sarcastically:
"Dammit... why are beautiful women always so troublesome?"
---