Yuuto looked at the woman standing before him, sword smeared with the black, tar-like blood of the creature she had just slain. Her eyes—steel-gray and colder than winter rain—locked with his as if she was trying to determine how much use he was going to be.
"Are you alive?" she inquired bluntly.
Yuuto blinked. "I. think so?
She growled and rolled over, wiping her sword across a clump of grass. "Then for goodness' sake, stop lying there like a dumbfounded sheep. You're drawing attention."
Yuuto grunted and stood up, his jelly-like legs shaking. The forest itself was quiet and motionless, except for the soft susurration of the wind and the slow creaking of the decaying body of the monster.
What in the world was that thing?" he exclaimed, swatting at leaves on his uniform.
Lurker beast. They don't usually venture this far out into the open unless something's agitated them." She paused, studying him once more. "Let me take a guess. You fell from the sky?
"Aye. Plane crash. Kind of," he replied, massaging the back of his neck. "There was a storm… then lightning… then—boom—everyone disappeared and I found myself here."
She scrunched up her eyes. "Storm. Lightning. You're one of them, then.".
Yuuto rested his head. "One of who?
"The Starborn."
He laughed nervously. "Good name, though. I'm just a dude who wanted to graduate and not die horribly.".
She didn't laugh.
"Your name is?"
"Yuuto Arai."
She buckled on her sword with a shk. "Kaela. I'll take you to Virestead. After that, you're on your own."
"Virestead?"
The nearest village that is not plagued by bandits or monsters. Two days on foot if you do not tarry.
Yuuto swallowed. "I'll try not to."
Kaela turned and walked away. "Try harder." He hurried to cut in front of the others, tripping over roots and cursing under his breath.
"Uh. so these Starborn. Is that a chosen one kind of deal? Because I'm totally not qualified. I don't know how to fight, I barely got through PE, and I don't even know how to camp without a YouTube guide."
Kaela stood there so abruptly that he nearly collided with her.
She spun, eyes blazing. "Then listen closely, Starboy."
Yuuto swallowed.
"This world does not care if you are ready. It devours the weak. If you wish to live, you learn quickly. Or you die."
And so she proceeded, cloak billowing behind her like a shadow.
Yuuto caught his breath and trailed behind, the two moons observing silently above.