Chapter 3
The six were gathered together when Nilo, the shortest of them all, made his proposal in a hesitant voice: "Let's talk about family." Kael nodded thoughtfully: "With everything that's happened and the fact that we were transported here all of a sudden, sooner or later we'll have to address it."
Selene swallowed what was in her mouth and cleared her throat: "I don't know how capable my parents are, but I'm not too worried. I'm sure they'll survive."
Adriel interjected analytically: "We still don't know how dangerous this place can be, but the fact that we haven't been attacked suggests that it's not so hostile. Perhaps the hardest thing will be finding food. Even so, I have no doubts about my parents: my mom may not be the best, but my dad is strong and skilled."
Amara smiled slightly and looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "Then tell me, why did you cry when you couldn't reunite with them? Do you feel lonely without your parents?"
"Of course! Who wouldn't want to be with their parents in a situation like this?" Adriel replied, shrugging his shoulders.
Amara looked away. "Well... my parents are capable... or at least I think so."
Nico jumped up and, pointing to the sky, announced, "Our first mission will be to find our families!"
Amara frowned. "You haven't even been awake for half a day, and you're already talking nonsense."
Kael intervened, looking at Nico, who sat back down, embarrassed: "We can look for our families, but you don't need to act like that."
Adriel threw a piece of fruit into the air and caught it on the fly. "We have to decide on a leader."
"You're just like him," Kael, Amara, Selene, and Nico replied in unison.
Adriel stood up proudly: "I think I'm a good choice. As a fan of stories like this, I can predict what might happen."
Everyone shook their heads.
Amara was clear: "There are only two candidates: Kael and me. Adriel, you're too weak to take on that task."
He pursed his lips. "Can I try if I prove that I'll work hard?"
Liora, in a soft but firm voice, suggested, "What if we rotate the leader daily? Today, there will be no leader, and then we'll choose at random until everyone has been the leader. Then we'll choose the final leader based on who did the best job."
The group fell silent, and little by little, the tension seemed to dissipate... except for Adriel. He was convinced that something was lurking, something that would eventually attack them.
While the others resumed the game, Adriel ventured into the forest. He watched every branch and every shadow as if trying to catch sight of imminent danger. No one else seemed to notice, but he wasn't the only one who felt darkness around him.
Amara and Kael shared the same chill: being far from home, surrounded by trees that could hide any threat, filled them with dread. The three of them lay awake, wondering what was watching them beyond their cozy, yet terrifying, trees.
For a few seconds, Adriel's mind went blank as his feet carried him forward aimlessly.
When he regained consciousness, he discovered a small pond in front of him. He followed the outline of the shore with his eyes until he spotted four silhouettes in the distance. "Goblins," he thought, and a chill ran down his spine as his breathing quickened. The greenish creatures carried leather canteens slung over their shoulders. Adriel took several steps back, stumbling and almost falling.
His heart was pounding, but it wasn't just fear he felt—it was excitement. The real world had never interested him much; it was all about work and study. But this new universe promised discoveries and experiences he could never have imagined.
He slowly settled down on the grass, considering his options. "I should look for the others to have a numerical advantage... but if I want to be a leader, I need to show results when it's my turn." Adriel sank into absolute silence, both external and internal. "I want to choose my own adventure, but the sensible thing to do would be to notify the group and wait for the goblins to leave so we can collect water. That way, we would cover our basic needs."
Adriel stood up suddenly and looked at the path he had taken to get there. "I know what I'll do."