บท 2: A flash
Calm.
That was the perfect word Lukas could describe what he currently felt. His entire body, which ached from running away from Hilichurls, now felt rejuvenated.
It was as if he was experiencing a cold gush of water run down from his head down to his feet, bringing forth freshness to every part of his body.
Amidst this surreal sensation, Lukas, who was in the state between conscious and asleep, could not help but murmur.
'It's... A pleasant feeling.' He thought while his corporeal form lay flat. 'I... I want to keep feeling this...'
Perhaps it was his response to stress, but Lukas' psyche gradually got drawn to the thought of staying in this state far longer.
'I feel... safe...'
'Tranquil...'
Everything was doing fine, and Lukas wanted to stay it that way. But as if his fate was toying with him, he suddenly discovered that he was being pulled away from this sensation.
It was as if he was a child being separated from his toy.
'Wait... No... Don't... Don't take me away...'
However, despite his mind's efforts, the feeling of a distance between him and that tranquil space began to widen. He can't stop it, and neither did it seem to want to stop.
"Wake up, child."
"...!"
Before Lukas could even realize it, the moment he opened his eyes, he found himself sitting up. He was still in the same position he slept at last night, and had his items on his person.
"What..." Confused, Lukas' mind felt puzzled as thoughts swirled around them, forming torrents of confusion. Beads of sweat ran down his forehead. "What happened..."
"Did you have a nightmare?" Just then, a voice reached his ears. Looking up, Lukas saw the Knave standing right beside him, looking down on him.
Seeing this, his mind went blank for a few moments before remembering what had transpired last night amidst that bonfire.
Speaking of the bonfire, Lukas noticed that it had already been put out and buried underground, leaving naught but faint traces.
"N-No, it was nothing..." Shaking his head, he quickly denied the Knave's question.
Receiving Lukas' reply, the Knave merely gave a light nod before looking away. "Then pack your belongings and let us go."
"Yes..."
Standing up, Lukas put on his Blazer before taking a moment to look down his clothes.
'I got a bit dirty by stumbling down yesterday...' Lukas was never the type of person that liked clean clothes, as such, he was a bit disconcert of his current attire. 'But I think I can still manage with this much...'
After tidying himself up, he made sure to feel his phone in his pocket before looking back to the Knave.
"I'm ready."
"Then let us go."
With those words, the Knave turned around and started walking. Behind her, Lukas followed along in compliance.
'Where are we even going...?' He thought.
---
During their walk, the two barely spoke to each other. Despite this, Lukas stayed optimistic about the situation.
Since it was the crack of dawn, it took a while for the sunlight to illuminate the surroundings, but when it did, Lukas was finally able to see where they were.
"Wow..."
Along the trail they were walking at, Lukas could not help but notice the scenery in the horizon.
Evidently, they were in the mountains. Coupled with its height as well as the illumination of the dawn's light, a scenic view came into vision.
"It's beautiful..." Lukas murmured to himself as he witnessed the breath-taking landscape in the horizon.
Lush, green trees and mountains were present in his view, giving a surreal and enchanting look. He could even see a river flowing nearby.
Glancing over to the Knave, he noticed that she wasn't looking at him. Lukas took this opportunity to take out his phone to take a scenic shot.
For the first time since he awoke in this world, he had finally opened his phone. Just then, when he was about to take a picture, he noticed something.
'Fifty-eight percent battery... Oh no.' Seeing the remaining percentage of his phone's battery, Lukas felt worried. 'I don't have any charger on me...'
'If I ran out of battery, wouldn't this be rendered useless?'
"An interesting device you have."
Just then, while Lukas was pondering over his phone's life, a hand suddenly reached out and took it out of his hands.
"?!" Surprised by this, Lukas immediately turned around and saw the Knave standing behind him, holding his phone with her hand.
'Oh no... My phone!' Lukas panicked— for no person other than him should see what that phone holds.
"W-wait!" Quickly reacting, Lukas tried to take his phone back, but the Knave merely raised her hand higher, preventing him from catching it.
Due to their clear height difference, it was impossible to continue reaching out for it.
"Behave, child."
Just then, the Knave's stern cold voice reached his ears. It was so heavy that it made Lukas feel a chill run up his spine.
"But... It's mine..." Reluctantly, Lukas could only meekly comply and quit reaching up for his phone. All he could do was complain in a whisper.
Looking at Lukas, the Knave's crossed eye moved before she spoke. "Do ease up, I merely wish to borrow your... toy."
"Tell me, what is it?"
'...should I tell her?' Faced with this conundrum, Lukas wanted to avoid the question, but as things stand, he can't possibly change the subject in the heat of the moment.
"It's... a device I use to capture a moment..." Lukas tried his best to describe what a camera is, but with little to no information about this world's technology, all he could do was offer a vague description.
However, what the Knave said next surprised him.
"It's similar to a Kamera then." She said while holding his phone and looking at the glowing screen. "Albeit more advanced."
'Huh? A Kamera?' Upon hearing this, Lukas thought that the Knave was joking for a moment. 'Kamera... Photography? Cameras exist in this world!'
This knowledge alone was enough for Lukas to have some speculations as to how technologically advanced this world was.
"Show me how it works, child." Just then, the Knave lowered her hand and gave it back to Lukas.
Seeing how the Knave was quite curious about his phone, Lukas found no reason to decline. At the very least, she didn't take it and kept it from him— that alone was enough.
"Yes!"
Reaching up, he took back his phone and opened the camera app, all the while the Knave was watching behind him.
Once more, he centered it and, with a flash, he took a photo of the scenery in front of him.
- Click
"Is it finished?" Seeing the flash, the Knave asked Lukas as she stood behind him, watching him navigate the device.
"Ah... Yes. Here, take a look!" Lukas raised his hand and shared the photo he just took with the Knave.
The Knave took his phone once more and observed the image. Her crossed eyes looked back and forth as she observed it in silence.
After a moment, she gave the phone back to Lukas.
"It's an interesting piece of technology." She said sternly as she looked at Lukas in the eyes. "I believe this is the first I've seen it..."
"Tell me, do you remember where you've gotten it?"
'That confirms it... There are no phones this world...' Lukas made a mental note to himself before answering the Knave. "I'm sorry... But I don't remember."
Upkeeping his amnesia roleplay, he continued. "It was just... In my pocket since the beginning..."
"I'm sorry."
"..." The Knave listened to Lukas' excuses without uttering a word. After a few moments, she merely nodded her head. "Very well."
"Later, when we arrive at—"
- Click
Just then, before the Knave could finish speaking, a clicking sound reached her ears. She looked at Lukas and found that he was holding his device further from them.
"What did you do..." Suspicious of what Lukas just did, the Knave's crossed eyes squinted.
However, contrary to her thoughts, Lukas showed her the picture with a mild smile on his face.
"Look, it's us!"
In the picture, the image of a timid young man with black hair and a cold woman with silver hair was present.
"Isn't it a good shot?" Showing the picture to the Knave, Lukas meekly smiled.
"..."
The Knave looked at Lukas in silence for a few moments. For a moment it was as if her crimson-crossed eyes flared up and a menacing shimmer shined from them— however, they were but ephemeral.
"Never take a photo again." She declared coldly to Lukas. "Not without my permission, child."
Upon hearing this, the timid Lukas felt dejected and immediately apologized. "Yes... I'm sorry, Knave..."
"Good."
Turning around, the Knave started walking once more. "Let us continue. We have a ferry to catch up to."
'Hm?' Upon hearing that word, Lukas paused for a moment before curiously asking. "A... Ferry?"
"Yes." Without turning around, the Knave answered as she walked off. "After making a small stop at Yilong Wharf, we shall immediately board a ferry to Lumidouce Harbor."
"Since you, a defenseless child, happen to stumble upon me, then it is my responsibility to ensure your safety."
"As such... be a good child until then."
At that moment, Lukas felt as if he had just been captured.
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