Chapter – 4
(Satoru, after hopelessly meandering through the kingdom of Rocher, sits beside a flowing river.)
His legs trembled, barely able to support his weight. He collapsed at the riverbank, his face hollow—like the color had been drained from his soul.
"So this place really isn't Earth after all," he muttered, voice dry and shaking.
Everything inside him felt shattered.
His throat burned.
His heart felt... foreign.
"What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go? Why was I brought here?" he cried, staring up at the empty sky as if begging it for answers.
"Tell me… tell me, God — why was I brought here?!"
He punched the ground in frustration, his knuckles scraping against the dirt.
(Satoru sobs in pain and hunger.)
"I'm hungry..." he groaned, clutching his stomach.
"Here, you can have these," a soft voice called out.
A beautiful young girl with silver hair stood before him, holding some bread.
(Satoru stared blankly at her, expressionless.)
"Why exactly are you staring at me like that?" the girl asked, shifting uncomfortably.
"No… it's nothing. It's just… I've been wandering around all bruised up, and you're the first person who's actually tried to help me," Satoru gasped.
"Ooh! That's it? I thought you were a creep for a second," she said, smiling.
"By the way, what's your name?" the girl asked curiously.
"Satoru. Just… Satoru."
"Huh? Just Satoru? What do you mean by that? Don't you have a last name?" she frowned.
"I do… but I don't prefer to use it," he replied, looking away.
"Why not?" she tilted her head, clearly dying to know.
"Umm..." Satoru hesitated.
(She noticed his discomfort.)
"Well, it's not like I'm dying to know or anything," she said casually.
(But truthfully, she was dying to know.)
"It's just… I've never been on good terms with my parents. They don't consider me their son, so I'd rather not carry their name."
He tried to keep his composure.
(She felt bad for asking.)
"Anyway, you haven't told me your name yet," he added, changing the subject.
"Riza. Riza Herms, from the House of Herms," she answered proudly.
"So… what's with your clothes?" she asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"I… I came from a school fancy dress competition," Satoru said, nervous.
"But you don't look like you're from around here… and schools in this town don't host fancy dress competitions. Hmm?"
She looked him over from head to toe.
"Well, I'm not from this—uh—this town. I came from a faraway one," Satoru stammered, avoiding eye contact.
"Ooh, is that so? For a second, I thought you were a thief or maybe a murderer on the run."
She looked disappointed.
Satoru thought,
"I can't believe she actually bought that..."
"Wait a sec—if you thought I was a criminal, why'd you throw me bread?" he asked.
"Umm... actually, that bread's poisoned."
Riza bit her tongue with a teasing smile.
"What the hell?! You were trying to kill me?!" Satoru shouted.
"Not really! I just thought you were a criminal," she grinned.