Tomorrow is my graduation day. After years of hard work, I finally completed my studies at university. I need to decide whether to start applying for jobs or pursue a master's degree next, but I'm not in a rush; I'll figure it out in the coming days.
I also promised my girlfriend that we would spend the evening together for my birthday; today, I turn twenty-one.
However, before that, I need to visit my parents, who've asked to meet me. Unfortunately, I haven't spent much time with them lately because I've been so busy with my studies and work.
I'm almost at their place; I just have to wait for the traffic light to turn green so I can cross the road. It's finally—Oh? Where am I?
I suddenly realize I am no longer in the same place, and confusion starts to swirl in my mind. My heart begins to race, but I'm sure I can figure out what's happening; there's no need to panic... right?
I take a look at my surroundings. I can tell I am somewhere closer to the Middle Ages than the modern era. Technology seems completely absent. I hear people talking around me, but I can't understand the words. I'm certified in several languages, but I've never heard of something like this.
BOOM!!
What the hell was that?! It sounded like some kind of explosion, it was nearby. Most people around me start to run in a panic. I'm probably going to do the same—
"--------!!"
I hear someone screaming from an alley. As I glance over, I see a girl with white hair and violet eyes running in my direction. She looks to be in her twenties.
When she reaches me, I sense something traveling at high speed toward us—a sphere made of black fire.
A what?!
I don't have time to process what's happening, and instinctively, I pull the girl toward me, moving her out of the way just in time.
Fortunately, the attack was several meters away, thus giving me the time to move, but if it was closer...
From the alley, a figure emerges—a man in a long black vest, his mouth and nose covered, a cross hanging around his neck.
He stops and screams something, and the girl replies with an equal tone while hiding behind me. If only I could understand what's going on!
Okay, focus, this is dangerous. I need to think quickly before this sort of terrorist throws another fireball!
He begins to move his arm again. I see something black developing in front of his hand. I only have a split second to act, so I take the girl's hand and run toward the terrorist while ducking. He was aiming at the spot we just vacated, and he can't change his aim mid-motion, meaning he will miss. As I predicted, the fireball only brushes against my hair.
It's a technique that soldiers use to dodge bullets: instead of dodging the bullet itself, they move away from the aim of the shooter as he pulls the trigger, slightly before the bullet is shot, making it miss. It's all a matter of timing.
After he misses, the terrorist sets his eyes on us, but it's too late. I'm already close enough to push him down.
But before I can do it, a wall of fire rises before my eyes.
Seriously?!
I interrupt my charge, but as I do so, I lose my balance and fall on the ground.
The girl, still standing, helps me rise to my feet. I try to do it as quickly as possible, but the terrorist has already readied his next attack.
The wall of flames that once stood between us has now been absorbed in front of his palm, which is facing us. It's the same pattern he used before; he's gonna shoot another fireball, but this one'll be much bigger and dangerous.
Since I just stood up, I lost the timing and I won't be able to dodge as I did before... Now what?!
I'm scared. I instinctively close my eyes and sense the hot mass moving closer—
Crack...
Uh? I open my eyes and I see something shattered right in front of me, it wasn't the fire... Is it glass? Did the girl do something?
I don't have time for trivial questions. I survived, somehow.
I see him stepping back, of course, he is going to take some distance, he clearly realized what my plan was, that's why he created that wall of flames in the first place.
His only weakness seems to be that he has to charge up his magic before doing anything, but once he does it he has the advantage.
What he didn't realize is that I don't want to fight...
While he charges his next attack, I start to run with the girl, and we turn down another street.
We are still in his range, therefore I don't lose sight of him, and, when the timing is right, I dodge the fireball the same way I did the first time while speeding up. The girl is doing a good job of keeping up with me.
Since the distance between us increases, he starts to run after us, but I make his chase difficult by creating an intricate path using the streets' corners.
With the small advantage I created earlier, he will eventually lose us... At least I hope so.
Gasp...
We finally escaped… I can finally breathe. What was that?! Was it magic?! I didn't have time to think about it during the chaos, but… Am I dreaming? It can't be real, can it?
Did I really risk my life for nothing…?
No... I guess I couldn't leave a girl alone in that situation…
Sigh...
She hugs me, burying her face against my chest. I can only imagine how scared she has been, being chased by a terrorist and all. I don't blame her at all.
I just wish I understood the situation better, but at least we're safe now.
"Everything is fine now…"
"?" She breaks the hug, taking a step back and looks at me, puzzled.
Of course… She can't understand me either; how dumb of me.
She slowly points at herself and says a single word: "Lyet."
That's how that would be written in characters based on the pronunciation; it must be her name.
I do the same; I point at myself and say "Histrio."
She smiles and makes a quick bow; I assume that's her way of saying 'thank you.'
I'm relieved she quickly grasped that I don't speak her language, but this is still a significant problem. At this point, it's clear—I'm no longer in my world. My current priority is figuring out how to get back. If I can't speak, I can't ask for help. But I'm confident that if I somehow ended up here, there must be a way back. There's no need to panic... right?
...right?
A small tear travels down my cheek...