บท 19: Now, tell me

The trio dropped through the wormhole and landed with a tumble onto the deck of the boat. Aoi and Arunika looked around at their new surroundings, but Eva was quick to respond.

"These two are who we're here to retrieve. Turn the boat around before we're pursued."

"Yes, ma'am!" Everyone chorused before turning around and going about their business to sail away.

Eva looked at the two and said, "Alright, If you'll follow me to your quarters, you two."

Wordlessly the two looked at each other and nodded before following Eva into the cabin. Everyone on deck dressed like simple fishermen, but they all had the air of soldiers. They were extremely disciplined and courteous to Eva. She led them to the first room just below the stairs below deck.

It wasn't spacious but it had all the needs one would need for a long journey. There was a wardrobe, a table and chairs, a dresser, and a double bed, enough to fit the two. The room was dark until Eva reached to the side to open up a lantern containing a gem glowing a soft gold color, illuminating the room.

"This will be your room for the trip. We've prepared clothes for you two in the wardrobe and dresser, but we don't know if they'll fit because we don't know your sizes, but it should do the job for now."

"We can always just adjust them, right, Aoi-chan?" Arunika told Aoi, who just nodded in response.

"That's good. The trip back to the Dilmun Island Nation will take about 2 weeks. Dinner will be around sunset. If you'll excuse me, I'll let you two rest and then we can talk at dinner."

"I'd like to talk now if you wouldn't mind," Aoi rebutted.

"Are you sure? We have plenty of time to talk," Eva responded.

"Now." Aoi lowered her voice and left no room for arguments.

Eva sighed and nodded her head. She made a hand gesture at the bed telling them to sit while she took a seat at the table. Once they were all seated, Eva started.

"Look, I know you're a little skeptical about me and why I've been looking for you, but I have no ill intentions towards either of you. Our nation's royal family has been looking for your family for nearly a decade now. Your mother was the King's second cousin, his only remaining relative. That means you are the King's second cousin once removed?" Eva reflected her actual relation to the King while tapping her chin in contemplation. "So. You ARE related to the royal family, although not directly. I would say you're the daughter of a duke and duchess but your parent's never accepted their title..."

Eva went on to explain that her and her family have been guards to the royal family for generations. Her full name is Eva Stalwart, a name titled to their family because of their devotion to guarding the royal family. How Arunika's full name is Arunika Chandra-Soleil, a name combining her father's family name of Chandra, and the royal family's name of Soleil from her mother.

Arunika's parents went on an expedition around the main continent's countries in order to gain knowledge to impart to their own nation as well as a good-will mission to aid those in need. Her father was a healing mage and mother was a nature mage just like Arunika. The Stalwart family offered protection for their trip, but were refused. The family of three left and within a half of a year of their trip all communication ceased. The last missive came as they were about to enter the Kreutz Empire. Everyone assumed the family of three was captured or slain within the empire, never to be seen again, until "Sage" came and informed them of their need to intervene and rescue the parent's daughter.

Arunika interrupted, "Wait. So if I'm from Dilmun, how come I have no memories of it? I should have some recollection of all of this if I was 7 at the time. I thought for this whole time that my parents were travelling merchants and they died from being attacked by a beast."

"Well... we believe that there is another clairvoyant mage working with the Empire, and this mage is altering the supposed path of the actual timeline. Clairvoyants are powerful mental mages and your memories could have been altered to force your stay within the empire. Our forces are unsure if this is the actual case, but it's the most likely."

"Why would they do all of that just to keep her there?" Aoi asked.

Eva's face turned solemn and looked at Aoi. "Because of you."

"That doesn't make sense. I..." Aoi faltered in her speech and took a deep breath, "I-I'm not from this world. I just arrived not even three months ago. How would they even know about me?"

Arunika gaped in astonishment at this revelation, but Eva didn't seem the least bit perturbed. "That's correct, and if this clairvoyant could foretell your arrival then he is indeed a powerful foe. It's all because you're a space mage. A space mage's destructive power and utility are one of the most useful. We assumed they were waiting for your arrival before they would proceed to capture Arunika, who is your chosen one, then use that connection to force you into conquering the world with your power for them."

Aoi looked at Arunika who was still gaping at her and rubbed her back while intertwining their fingers to comfort her to the bomb just dropped on her. "There has to be more space mages than me, right?"

"Those aren't true space mages. They are spatial mages, a sub-class of the true space mage. They can harness gravity, space, and darkness, but not the power of the stars. Look... Aoi, Arunika. I know this is hard to believe, but this clairvoyant working with the empire is assumed to be even more powerful than "Sage". He or she has been able to alter the flow of time to such a specific degree, from the arrival of your parents, Arunika, to your arrival to this world, Aoi. I know this is a lot to take in, but the Dilmun Island Nation is branching out with the other countries to prevent this tragedy from happening. We've already confirmed a collaboration with Musk[1], we're just waiting for the responses from Umun and Eria."

Eva stood up, preparing to leave, and said, "I'll leave you to rest. I'm sure you have a lot to talk to each other about, so we can continue this discussion at dinner."

Aoi looked up at Eva and nodded, confirming she was okay to leave. Once she left, Aoi turned to Arunika, who was still gaping, and said, "You know, you'll catch flies if you keep your mouth open like that."

"You- you're not from this world? What do you mean by that?"

"It's true. I'm from a planet called Earth. I fell into a river, went through a portal, then somehow washed on the beach in a front of you. I don't know how or why this happened, but I'm here now."

Arunika paled a little and asked, "I-if you f-find a way back, w-will you l-l-leave?"

"I would like to find a way back home. I know you're worried I'll leave you, but just know, if I did find a way back home, then I'm taking you back with me," Aoi cupped Arunika's cheeks and leaned up to kiss her forehead, "I know we've only known each other for a short while, but I feel an indescribable pull towards you. I wouldn't be so heartless as to leave you alone like that. I don't know if I'm totally in love with you at this point, but I do like you. A lot, and I want to see where our relationship will lead us to."

Tears welled in Arunika's eyes and started dropping down her cheeks onto their laps. Aoi pulled her head to her chest and held her tight to comfort her while Arunika continued to cry.

"Sshh, it's alright. Let it out. Let's rest, and we'll eat then talk more tonight, ne?"