Slowly making my way forward, I spotted a bridge stretching over a gently flowing river. Subaru had just crossed it, wandering into another building without a second thought. I didn't bother to stop him. Whatever fate waited for him in there was his problem now.
Instead, I drifted over to the railing, leaning against it as my gaze settled on the water below.
"Hm hmm hm hmm…"
A soft hum slipped from my lips as I watched the water glide past, weaving between smooth stones and over tiny ripples. There's always been something about water that's drawn me in. Especially when paired with nature, it held a kind of quiet beauty I could never explain. The way it moved, never truly still, felt alive in a way nothing else did.
I let my mind wander with the current, my reflection breaking apart in the ripples below. It was peaceful. Almost enough to make me forget the hellhole I'd been thrown into.
But alas, moments like this never last.
"Ow, my eyes!"
As if on cue, Subaru's voice cut through my thoughts. I lifted my head and watched him stumble out of the building, one hand furiously rubbing at his face like an idiot who'd stared straight into the sun.
I raised a brow as he staggered all the way toward the railing.
"You goo-"
And tumbled right over it.
"Oh… I suppose not then." I muttered, far too casually for the situation. In a split second, I lunged forward, hand shooting out as I tried to use my █████████ to accelerate my mo-
I staggered mid-motion, a sharp pain ripping through my core. I coughed hard, a thin line of blood spilling from my lips.
"What-"
My vision blurred for a moment as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, staring at the blood smeared across it. My jaw clenched as realisation hit.
Damn it… guess that confirms it.
Another shout and a chilling splash snapped my attention back. I dragged myself upright, still a little numb from the backlash, and peered over the railing to see Subaru surfacing by the riverbank.
"At least the fall wasn't bad," I sighed, watching him scramble for footing on the slick mud.
Man, this world really hates this kid.
Shaking off the lingering pain, I quickly scanned for a way down, spotting a staircase nearby. I jogged over, vaulted the last bit of railing, and made my way to the river's edge. Without hesitation, I grabbed Subaru's hand and yanked him out of the water with a firm tug.
He coughed and sputtered, water dripping from his hair.
"Thanks for the help. Cough cough."
I stared at him for a moment, flexing and unclenching my fist before forcing a smirk."No problemo, kid. What even happened for you to hurl yourself into the river?" I teased, trying to play it off - anything to distract from the ache still gnawing at my insides.
But Subaru didn't answer. He just stood there, drenched, staring down at the water, his expression distant.
The sounds of the river and passing chatter felt louder in the quiet between us. It was getting awkward.
"Subaru?" I called again, tilting my head.
---
Without warning, Subaru suddenly burst out while we were walking, after so long being silent. "Wasn't I summoned to another world!?"
His voice was sharp, frustrated - like he was scolding the very air around him. He flung his wet hair out of his face with a huff.
I stared at him for a beat, then let a small smile tug at my lips."We," I corrected lightly.
We eventually found an alleyway, narrow and quiet. Subaru sat on a staircase, his soaked clothes clinging to him as he waited for them to dry. I leaned against the wall nearby, arms crossed, watching the sky overhead.
"Where's my protagonist status?" Subaru wailed, throwing his arms skyward in exasperation.
"Hmm, I think you meant ours," I added again with a teasing lilt.
Subaru shot me an annoyed glare, then slumped his shoulders in defeat, groaning and dropping his head into his hands.
"This sucks," he muttered.
I let out a low chuckle. "Reality check tends to do that."
"Ugh," he groaned again, fishing through his damp pocket. He pulled out a flip phone, flicked it open, and scowled at the screen.
"No signal. Not like it'd be any help anyway," he grumbled, glaring at the little device like it personally wronged him.
I stretched, cracking my shoulders as he kept complaining to the universe. While he sulked, I'd been quietly checking a few things about myself — and now that I was done, it was time to finally do what I'd planned since earlier.
"I've got a couple of things I can pawn off for some cash," I spoke up, pushing off the wall. "Spotted a place earlier that looked like it'd take them. We need food, a place to crash."
Subaru perked up. "Oh, right… Alright, let's g—"
I raised a hand, halting him mid-motion. "Better to let your stuff dry. The place isn't far. Besides…" a sly grin tugged at my lips. "Maybe that oh-so-lovely girl who summoned you will pop up. Could make up for your string of disasters."
"Oh, ha-ha. Very funny," he huffed, flicking water from his hair. "And if she does show, I'm getting the last laugh," he added, pointing a dramatic finger at me.
"Nope. I'd still be laughing," I teased, waving him off. "Stay safe, and try not to pick any fights you can't win."
With that, I turned and headed down the alley, taking a right at the corner.
---
A couple of minutes of walking later, the shop I'd spotted finally came into view. A modest little place tucked between a tailor's and what looked like a herbal remedy stand. The sign above the door was plain, painted in old, faded lettering: Gustus' Jewels & Curios. The display windows showed off necklaces, rings, and odd trinkets that caught the light in a way that made them seem more valuable than they probably were.
I stepped up to the door, grabbed the handle, and pushed it open with a soft creak.
A bell above the door gave a sharp chime as I entered. The air smelled faintly of polished wood, metal, and old parchment. Glass display cases lined the room, filled with rings, pendants, and other shiny ornaments. Behind the counter, a stout man with greying hair and sharp, perceptive eyes looked up from a magnifying glass, his brow lifting slightly as he took me in.
"Hello, miss, how may I-" his gaze lingered for a fraction too long on my hair and clothes before he gave a subtle shake of his head, correcting himself, "-help you today?"
I raised an eyebrow. Is there something weird with my hair? I wondered, catching the glance but letting it slide.
Slipping my hands into my pockets, I pulled out the small collection of things I'd been carrying: a ring with a pale blue gemstone, catching the light like a frozen drop of water — the metal twisted in a spiral around it, elegant and sharp. A silver necklace, simple but well-crafted.
And finally… I reached into the inside of my uniform and pulled out an insignia...
I paused, staring at it for a moment. A golden emblem shaped like a jagged crescent, cradling a black, four-pointed star at its heart. Intricate lines of deep purple metal ran through the star like veins, catching the light with a faint, unsettling shimmer. It was no bigger than a large coin, but it felt heavier than anything else I carried.
I clenched my fist tight around it for a moment. I should crush this damn thing… The urge clawed at the back of my mind, old instincts and bitter memories stirring. a past I could never get back, and actions I had no will in.
But instead, I forced my hand open and placed it down alongside the others on the counter.
The jeweller's sharp eyes flicked to each item in turn, then lingered on the insignia, his expression tightening slightly.
"This is…" he began, his voice dropping a notch. He picked up the ring first, pulling a magnifying glass to his eye.
"Hmm, the craftsmanship is quite intricate," he murmured, turning it between his fingers and letting the pale blue gemstone catch the light. The metal spiralled elegantly around the stone - a design not commonly seen in this region. "A wedding ring, I can only assume?" he asked, glancing at me.
I gave a small shrug of indifference. "Yes. It was my mother's. The necklace as well."
It didn't matter. That part of my life was long buried, better left forgotten.
"I see." He set the ring down and picked up the necklace next, examining the chain links, then the simple yet well-cut pendant. Silence hung in the air for a long minute. When he finally placed it back down, his gaze flicked toward the insignia again.
His brow furrowed, then his eyes widened.
Without a word, he picked it up, bringing both the insignia and magnifying glass close, angling them toward the sunlight pouring through the front window.
"This… this star," he muttered, his voice tight with a mixture of awe and wariness. "It's no ordinary stone. The cut is perfect, flawless. But that's not what makes it valuable." He tilted it again, eyes narrowing. "The material itself… I've never seen anything like it."
He turned the insignia so the light caught within the depths of the star, where a faint, almost liquid shimmer rippled through the gem's black surface like ink suspended in water.
"This isn't obsidian… nor onyx… no natural gem carries this kind of lustre. And the way it holds light without refracting - it absorbs more than it reflects. That alone makes it an anomaly," he murmured, almost to himself.
Then, reluctantly, he set it down as though it might burn him.
"If I'm being honest," he continued, voice lower now, "materials like this don't appear in common trade. Not in this city… maybe not anywhere in the known regions." He trailed his hand across the insignia's edge, hesitant to touch it for too long. "The gemstone — I've never seen its like. And this metal…" He tapped a knuckle gently against the golden crescent, frowning deeper. "It isn't gold. At least, not any gold I know. It's heavier, yet the colour's too rich. And those purple veins… no alloy I've worked with carries that kind of shimmer."
His gaze flicked back to me, wary now. "Truth is, miss… I don't know what this is. I doubt anyone in Lugunica would."
figures, since both materials are most likely only from my world, considering both came from the core of a nightmare. Don't think those things exist here. i suppose it'd be really hard to sell this anywhere.
My gaze lingered on the insignia, teeth gritting just a little. I guess I have to keep hold of you bastards a little longer, huh.
With a sharp flick of my fingers, I scooped it up and slipped it into a side pocket. A small, feral grin tugged at my lips for half a second before I let it melt into a lazy, easygoing smile.
"So," I drawled, leaning a little on the counter, "guess I won't be selling that. But how much would you give me for the necklace and the ring?"
The jeweller cleared his throat, eager to move on from whatever that insignia had stirred up. He picked up the necklace and ring again, his practised eyes moving over them carefully. "Both are fine pieces… good materials, solid craftsmanship." He gave a curt nod. "I can offer you… Let's say 65 gold and 50 silver."
I had no clue if that was a fair price, but judging from his expression and the way his thoughts seemed to line up, he wasn't trying to swindle me, or if he was, it wasn't by much.
I gave a small shrug. "Deal."
He quickly fetched a pouch from under the counter, counted out the coins, and slid it across to me. "Pleasure doing business," he muttered, still avoiding my gaze.
I scooped up the pouch, tied it to my belt, and smirked. "Likewise."
With that, I turned and stepped back out into the street. The door creaked shut behind me with a soft chime of the bell.
Time to check on the kiddo.
--- (walking sounds... idk, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. quack quack quack?
I rounded the corner back into the alley. "Yo kid, you stil- and he's gone..."
The clothes were gone too. No signs of a struggle, no blood. I frowned. Okay, not kidnapped. Either found his summoner… or more likely, followed the first cute girl who wasn't me. I sighed, rubbing a hand down my face.
"No way," I muttered. "Kid actually found his summoner, huh… or got distracted by tits. Eh, who car—"
Then I noticed it. Scuff marks in the dirt, faint and fresh, not there when we left earlier. A trail. Not much of one, but something.
"Hmph. Really wish I wasn't still injured… would've made this whole thing a hell of a lot easier."
I rolled my shoulders, wincing a little at the pull, then let out a long breath. "Oh well."
With no other choice, I stepped out of the alley and started a manual search.
Yippe.
A/N hmmmm, comment below, i love reading comments. comments let me know if you like this or not.