NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: Chill of death
Chapter 9: Chill of death
Musashi barely had time to react as Kenshin rocketed past him, his speed and intent clear. “No!” he shouted, spinning around, but Kenshin was already out of reach, his path set, his eyes locked on Luka in the distance.
Kanami’s heart dropped as she realized what Kenshin was doing. “Luka!” she screamed, forcing her battered body into motion, sprinting after Kenshin with every ounce of strength she had left. But she knew, deep down, that she couldn’t catch him in time.
Kenshin’s laughter echoed through the night as he closed in on Luka, the boy’s form just visible in the shadows ahead. The thrill of the hunt, the anticipation of snuffing out this feeble spark of life, fueled his every step. He could already see it—the terror in the boy’s eyes, the despair that would crush Kanami when he ended this pitiful existence.
With a vicious snarl, Kenshin raised his spear, the weapon crackling with lethal energy as he prepared to strike. He would end this with one blow, quick and merciless, leaving nothing but devastation in his wake.
“Tenrai Yari!” Kenshin roared, the spearhead crackling with fierce, blinding lightning as he unleashed it toward Luka.
The spear’s power erupted. An arc of fire and lightning, devastating everything in its wake was launched. In its course, trees were torn off, burning at a single touch of the wave. The ground was leveled and cracked as the earth itself seemed to recoil from the attack. The night was lit up as if by a burning sun, and a rapid wave of scorching heat raced ahead, incinerating everything in its path—plants, animals, all reduced to ash in an instant.
“Wha—?” Luka barely had time to realize what had happened that the lightning was already there, just behind him, threatening to reduce him to mere cinders.
Just as the wave of destruction closed in, Luka felt a sudden, powerful force slam into him from the side, knocking him out of the lightning’s direct path. He was sent sprawling, tumbling down an embankment, the world spinning around him in a blur of darkness and flashing light. He rolled down, bumping into rocks and branches, feeling the sting of cuts and bruises forming with every impact.
When he finally came to a stop, a wave of heat slammed his face, almost searing his skin. He was disoriented, his body aching from the rough descent.
“What the fuck was that?” Luka groaned, trying to get his bearings. As he looked up, he spotted a small familiar creature, darting toward him.
“Foxy…” Luka muttered. That powerful force pushing him aside must’ve been him, Luka thought. He couldn’t find any other explanation. “Go easier next time, okay?”
Up above, the ground where Luka had stood was scorched black, flames flickering on the ashen trees and plants. The destruction was total, the earth itself torn asunder by the sheer power of his attack.
But there was no time for him to dwell on it. He knew he had to create as much distance between himself and this person.
Just as Luka was about to rise, a chilling laugh echoed, sending a shiver down his spine. He whipped around, his eyes widening in terror as Kenshin emerged from the smoke and shadows, his spear still crackling with residual lightning.
“Damn, you survived?” Kenshin's smile faded, feeling disappointed in himself. He locked his gaze on Luka, his irritation reaching its climax. “Must be that damn goddess.”
Luka’s heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to his feet, his mind racing.
Seriously, where is my luck? He thought. A swirl of bad emotions and despair rushed through him. Ever since he arrived here, it had been one problem after another. He was getting really tired of all of this and at the same time thought it was a message from the universe telling him he should just give up.
Kenshin took a slow, deliberate step toward Luka, his spear buzzing with lethal energy.
“Listen, can we talk?” Luka asked in a desperate attempt to defuse the situation while deep down knowing it was hopeless. The man in front of him was determined to end his life and he had no way to negotiate.
Kenshin’s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. “Sure,” he replied, his tone mocking. “We can talk… after you’re dead.” He lowered his spear, coiling his body like a spring ready to strike.
Luka’s heart pounded in his chest. He knew this was it—the moment that would decide whether he lived or died. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but he knew there was nowhere to go. Kenshin was too fast, too powerful. He had to think, to act—do something, anything—to survive.
As his mind raced, the only thing he could think of was getting back to Kanami. That fox the goddess gave him could be of use, but it was still an unknown factor. The only thing he could rely on…
Was himself.
“Esfelto!” Luka shouted, his voice trembling with fear but also with determination. He couldn’t afford to die here—not now, not like this.
“A measly fire spell? Seriously?” Kenshin paused, not impressed.
Luka’s thoughts went at super speed, his knowledge, his training while in the desert, everything came down to this. What he tried to do—and failed—when the bandits attacked him on that bridge. A simple spell, something that even he with the minimal mana he possesses—could do.
Mana, activate. He practiced it many times, and yet he always failed.
Converge. The book he read was useless as usual methods didn’t work for him.
Ignite. Magic is foreign to him. He was never born to use it, but understanding it?
Swirl, converge, swirl… That he could do.
Two spheres spun around his fingers. Two insignificantly small spheres made out of his condensed mana, unseen to the human eye, swirled in circles until finally… They entered in contact. That small contact is what made the impossible possible.
At first, it was only a spark. Then, a ridiculously tiny flame began to grow exponentially.
Luka covered his eyes with his arm.
And finally, an explosion.
A blinding flash erupted from Luka’s fingertip, releasing a burst of light equivalent to a thousand lumens. The intense brightness surged outward, illuminating the surroundings in a searing, radiant glare.
“Fuck!” Kenshin cried in pain as his eyes were burned from the flash of light. He recoiled, a scream of agony tearing from his throat as he could see only white.
Luka’s heart pounded in his chest. It worked. Against all odds, this ultimate attempt had worked. But there was no time to celebrate, no moment to catch his breath. He had bought a few precious seconds, but they would mean nothing if he didn’t act now.
He ran, forcing his trembling legs into motion. While knowing there was no escape from him, he thought that perhaps running back to the village might help. He ran so fast he felt like he was flying instead. His breath became ragged gasps, the underbrush kept whipping at his legs, bruising him even more, but he didn’t stop. The fear of what would happen if he did was far stronger than his exhaustion.
“LUKA!!” Kenshin screamed, furious, his cry echoing into the forest, waking up every animal sleeping that hadn’t been awakened from the last explosion. His eyes were bloodshot as he sprinted at max speed, cutting everything in its path. He didn’t care if there were no trees in the end, he would DEFINITELY kill him.
It didn’t take long for him to catch up, his body all juiced up with mana as his muscles were reinforced.
Luka’s heart skipped a beat as he heard Kenshin’s enraged scream rip through the night, the raw fury in that voice sending chills down his spine. He pushed himself even harder, legs burning, lungs on fire, but he couldn’t afford to slow down. The sound of crashing trees and snapping branches told him that Kenshin was closing in.
He had never felt so small, so vulnerable in his life. Was it all it was in this world? A small animal meant to be hunted down by everyone living here?
Luka veered off the trail, plunging deeper into the forest’s thickets, hoping the dense foliage might slow Kenshin down. But the sound of destruction behind him grew louder, more intense, a wave of bloodlust as palpable as the thick and moist air of the forest.
He stumbled, nearly falling as his foot caught on a root. He managed to catch himself, but it cost him precious seconds as he could feel his enemy’s presence looming closer.
I can only cast one more spell… He thought. Knowing that there was no way to outrun him more, he had to find a way to take him by surprise again. The flashbang spell wasn’t going to cut it, and the fox still had done nothing as it ran silently to his side. He needed something else.
After taking a deep breath, he started running, albeit a bit more slowly to hear with better precision Kenshin’s arrival. He wanted to make sure he wouldn’t miss the timing.
Sometimes, despair can be overwhelming, taking you and ripping you apart as you shout to the silent world, but other times, it becomes a driving force. A force to survive.
“Come on,” he whispered to himself, feeling the familiar warmth of his mana beginning to pool in his legs. “You can do it…”
His words felt hollow, but he had to believe them. If he didn’t believe, if he didn’t hold on to that shred of hope, then he was already dead.
Kenshin’s footsteps grew louder, crashing through the undergrowth. Luka could almost feel his ragged breath, the murderous intent directed toward him like a noose, tightening with every second.
Now.
Luka stopped in his tracks and poured every bit of mana he had in his legs. It was the same kind of spell that allowed Kenshin to move this fast, a reinforcement of the muscles, one of the basics of magic.
“Svelto!” He shouted as the tip of the spear nearly sliced his neck from the shadows. His muscles tightened, and in a heartbeat, his legs seemed to vibrate with energy. He spun to the side, feeling the sharp gust of wind from the strike as it passed, too close—far too close.
But this is what he needed. After this attack, Kenshin needed some time to readjust. His spell wasn’t strong enough to knock him out nor it was going to last long.
On the other hand, it was enough to escape. Perhaps it was his instincts, but he knew Kanami hadn’t left him alone. With one push from his legs, he jumped. If it was in his world, he would’ve probably beaten the world record of long jump by far. Even with this little mana, pouring it all into one leg was enough to give it a lot of strength, so much so that his body had a hard time adjusting to this new speed he obtained.
Kenshin snarled in frustration as his spear struck nothing but air. His eyes, burning with hatred, snapped toward the now-flying Luka, flailing his legs in the air to catch himself.
The world blurred around him as Luka sailed forward, his heart pounding in his chest. While praying that he didn’t meet a tree in his short course that felt like an eternity, the sensation felt exhilarating. He could feel the strain on his muscles, a power like he never felt before.
“You think you can get away?!” Kenshin roared as he jumped forward as well.
Luka landed with a rough stumble, his legs spinning out of control, flailing beneath him like someone tumbling down a steep hill. His muscles screamed in protest, the force of the landing nearly sending him face-first into the dirt. But even before he could steady himself, a shadow loomed over him—Kenshin. He had already caught up with frightening ease, a single leap closing the distance between them.
Though he was unaware of it.
“Quite the pathetic display, but courageous nonetheless,” A familiar voice echoed in his mind for a split moment.
Before Luka could even register what was happening, the fox at his side began to glow. Its fur brightened, shimmering with an ethereal, golden light, growing more intense by the second. The small creature’s form expanded, the soft glow transforming into something more menacing, more powerful. Kenshin faltered, his predatory grin vanishing as he instinctively stepped back, his eyes narrowing in confusion. The air crackled with energy, the shift so palpable even Kenshin, in his blind rage, could feel it. This was no ordinary magic.
“I shall take care of this. You can rest now.” the voice echoed again, more authoritative this time.
The air around them shifted. The mana(od) in the air started to thicken the atmosphere, creating a splitting headache for the unprepared Luka. It clung to the air like mist, swirling with invisible weight, pressing down on him from all sides. The strain was so intense his consciousness faded soon after, and collapsed on the ground. The last thing he saw was the fox, now towering like a human figure, standing between him and Kenshin in an aura of gold.
When Luka awoke, the first thing he noticed was the stillness—the air was calm again, the oppressive weight of the od gone. His body ached, his head still pounding, but the unbearable pressure had lifted.
For some reason, his body was slightly moving up and down and the ground felt smooth, and his sitting position wasn’t comfortable at all. His limbs felt heavy, but he managed to sit up. He blinked, his vision slowly clearing as he found himself just behind Kanami, the cold air breezing against his face.
He was on Pako, the Tama-O.
“Kanami…” Luka muttered, his voice raspy. His throat felt dry, parched from what happened. How much time has it been since then? He couldn’t remember what happened.
Kanami turned slightly, her tired eyes meeting his. “You’re awake,” she said, relief evident in her voice. That relief transformed into a smile, one as precious as a diamond.
He glanced around, squinting at the vast expanse of desert stretching out before them. The dense forest was long gone, as well as the small village, replaced by dunes and an endless horizon. Instinctively checking his body, he expected to find cuts, bruises, and soreness after what happened with Kenshin. But to his surprise, they were gone. His skin was smooth, unmarred, as if the injuries had never been there.
“What… Happened?” Luka asked, trying to make sense of it all. They were far from the village, way too far.
“Musashi and I found you, collapsed on the floor with the fox at your side,” Kanami replied quietly, her gaze fixed ahead on the desert as the head of the little creature peeked from her shoulder to greet Luka. “Musashi thinks the goddess saved you. You were fine and sleeping soundly when we arrived. Kenshin was gone.”
“Kenshin was… gone?” Luka asked, incredulous. “Just like that?”
“I have no idea either. Just be glad we’re alive.”
Luka ran a hand through his hair, still struggling to wrap his mind around the situation.
“We’re far from the village now. Pako’s been running for hours. We needed to put distance between us and whatever happened back there.”
Kanami bit her lips in frustration, as her gaze took a sorrowful undertone. “We might have lost the water and failed but…”
She knew she had condemned the king by fleeing from Ryuuji. But it was now either him or Luka. There was no way for her to predict that the empire had sent someone to stop them. That’s right, it wasn’t her fault. But now at least, they knew who the enemy was. After all this time searching for the king’s enemy, she had found it.
“What are you talking about?” Luka said with a smug smile. “I still have one bottle with me,” He pulled out the small amphora out of his jacket with pride.
Kanami stared at the amphora, her eyes widening in disbelief. For a moment, the weight she had felt on her shoulders left her.
“You…” she breathed, the tension in her voice cracking slightly as relief washed over her. “You still had one? I thought…”
Luka shrugged, grinning widely. “Of course I did. Kenshin got one but I still saved the second in extremis!”
Kanami let out a small laugh as she looked at the amphora in his hand. She had been ready to accept defeat, to face the consequences of abandoning the mission by returning to Sora empty-handed. But Luka had pulled through, somehow. For the first time, she felt like she could rely on someone else.
“I can’t believe it,” she muttered, still chuckling. “We did it. I thought we had lost everything.”
“See? We’re a good team,” Luka said, carefully tucking the amphora back into his jacket. “Now, forward! Let’s get back to Sora!”
Kanami's heart lifted at his words. The weight of doubt and guilt seemed to vanish, replaced by a lightness she hadn’t felt in years.
"Forward, Pako!" she cried out, her voice bright with newfound energy as she gave the massive creature an enthusiastic pat on the head.
With a triumphant cry, Pako accelerated, his powerful legs kicking up clouds of sand as they raced through the desert. Luka and Kanami held on, laughter in the air as Pako carried them across the vast dunes, the horizon beckoning them back to Sora and their mission.
Kanami laughed freely, the sound filled with genuine joy as the wind tousled her hair. She turned slightly to glance at Luka, her eyes sparkling with a light he hadn’t seen before. As if liberated, something she was proud of showing to the world, a success and a newly found friend.
She felt alive.
For the first time in what felt like forever, she truly felt alive.
Up until now, her life was nothing but loneliness, a world full of strangers aside from her grandmother. During their mission, she had cried out in the forest, she was scared of losing someone, a feeling she never had before. All this time, while she carried Luka’s body, she felt a weight on her stomach.
The fear of loss, the vulnerability of caring. Not long ago she would’ve thought of it as a weakness but now, it was freeing.
She breathed deeply, the cool desert air of the morning filling her lungs. This was it, what she had missed. The feeling of not being on edge, of a liberated chest free of any oppressive feeling.
To be her true self around others, free of doubt.
She turned to Luka, catching his eye, her voice soft but steady. "I can’t remember the last time I felt this way," she admitted, her words carrying the weight of a lifetime of loneliness. "Like… I can breathe again."
Luka smiled at her but furrowed his brow, a bit confused by the sudden change. “After everything that happened? We almost died you know.”
Kanami nodded, her smile still as bright. “Of course,” she said, almost laughing. “But It’s as if… I’ve stopped being an observer. Like I’m no longer just part of the scenery, watching life pass by…"
“Even if this mission almost went wrong, it was worth it.”
After all… Someone acknowledged me.
Luka studied her for a moment, his expression shifting. His face softened at her words, but there was something in his eyes—something distant, a shadow of thought he didn’t voice.
“Yeah…” he murmured, his gaze drifting toward the horizon, his body shifting uncomfortably in the saddle. The subtle movement caught Kanami’s attention, and she watched him closely, sensing the change.
She didn’t say anything, but that small, awkward pause lingered between them. Luka’s simple answer and his distant gaze unsettled her in a way she didn’t fully understand. Was it sadness she saw in him? Or perhaps something else, something deeper, something she couldn’t quite grasp.
There was a quiet tension there now, one she hadn’t expected. It tugged at her, an unease that gnawed at the back of her mind. But before she could gather her thoughts enough to ask him, Luka broke the silence, shifting the conversation.
“Anyway,” he said, his tone casual. “We should stop soon. The sun is going to get high and the heat is going to be unbearable,” Luka said, changing the subject. He also cast a glance at Pako, noticing the subtle signs of the creature’s fatigue. “Pako needs a rest too.”
Kanami blinked, setting aside the strange feeling that had stirred within her. She gave a slight nod, refocusing on the task at hand. “Right,” she agreed, giving Pako a gentle pat. "Let’s stop here for a while."
They guided Pako beneath the shadow of a large dune, its towering presence offering much-needed protection from the sun. The heat of the day pressed heavily upon them, and as the desert’s relentless warmth continued to rise, the weight of their exhaustion finally settled in. The effort of traveling, compounded by their mental strain, had taken its toll.
Once Pako lowered himself to the sand, the two dismounted and quickly set up a simple camp. Luka laid down a makeshift bedroll while Kanami sat beside Pako, her hand resting on the creature’s flank as it let out a tired sigh, clearly grateful for the respite.
“You can rest now,” Kanami said with a smile to the creature which had run for hours now. This whole mission would’ve been way harder without him.
Pako, as if understanding her words, settled further into the sand, his eyes already closing in the cool shade provided by the dune.
“I’m going to sleep,” Luka said as he tucked himself away in the bed.
Kanami arched an eyebrow, a teasing smirk tugging at her lips. “After you’ve slept so long already?”
Luka shot her a half-hearted glare, his eyelids already drooping. “What? That wasn’t a real rest,” he said, pulling the blanket over himself. “I still feel tired. And besides…” He pointed to the small fox curled up next to him, its tiny body rising and falling softly with sleep. “Foxy’s tired too.”
Kanami chuckled softly, glancing at the fox. Like familiar like master, heh? She thought. “Fair enough,” she said with a shake of her head. She leaned back against Pako, watching the yellow and blue horizon. “Try to wake up earlier, this time.”
Luka mumbled something in response, but sleep had already claimed him, a feat for his usual self. His breathing evened out, and the desert seemed to grow quieter, as if the land itself was letting them rest.
Soon after Kanami closed her eyes, the scenery changing into the dark sky of the night and the flowery sakura below the sparkling moon of her hometown.
That’s right… It’s all real.
A smile was tucked at the corner of her lips as she remembered this moment. And while gazing at the moon with her eyes closed, a reassuring presence beside her, she fell asleep.
The longest sleep she ever had.
A week had passed since their successful mission in Ryuuji.
The sun beat down mercilessly in the bustling town of Kaathal, their final stop before reaching the capital. Luka wiped the sweat from his brow, his skin sticky from the heat. It had been a long, exhausting journey, but the sight of the familiar sandy streets made him feel a small sense of relief. They were almost home.
Kaathal, the central hub for trading in Sora, was alive with activity. Merchants and caravans clogged the streets, and the air buzzed with voices haggling over goods. The main road was a chaotic mess of people and wagons, forming a traffic jam that stretched far into the town's core.
“We’re completely stuck…” Kanami sighed. She hadn’t expected the town to be this congested, even if Kaathal was known for its constant trade. The sheer number of people, animals, and carts felt overwhelming. “I don’t remember it ever being this bad.”
“Isn’t there a way to go around?” Luka asked. The rising temperature was unbearable, and the thought of being stuck in this crowd made him feel like he was slowly roasting alive.
“No, we’re stuck for now. Even if we tried, the side roads are just as packed. I guess everyone’s passing through for trade. The town’s way too busy.”
“We need to find some shade. I’m roasting alive here,” Luka said, collapsing on the back of Pako exaggeratedly.
“I know, I know…” Kanami nodded with a slight grin. “How about the tavern from the other day? I slept well…”
“What?” Luka rose up in a hurry, bad memories flooding his brain. “No way! We were almost ripped off because we looked like outsiders!”
“Ahah…” Kanami chuckled awkwardly. Seems like she didn’t know everything that happened during their journey. “We’ll find somewhere better then. How about you go look for one?”
Luka groaned dramatically, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Me? In this crowd? I’ll probably collapse before I find anything.”
“Oh, come on. You’ve survived worse.”
“Barely.”
Luka glanced around, surveying the sea of people, carts, and livestock all bottlenecked in the main street. He groaned again, knowing there was no escape from it. “Fine, but if I come back, you owe me a good meal.”
“Deal,” Kanami said with a smirk, leaning casually against Pako while Luka trudged off into the chaos.
The heat was even worse down there, the sand making it even harder for him to find some air. He even wondered how the people that lived here survived, as well as any animal.
Luka had never been a fan of crowds, and this one was particularly unbearable. Merchants shouted, trying to draw attention to their goods, and carts rattled as they were dragged along the uneven ground, adding to the cacophony.
He muttered under his breath as he pressed forward, his eyes scanning for any sign of a tavern that wasn’t overflowing with people. The streets seemed endless, a maze of vendors and travelers all jostling for space, and the few inns he passed were already bursting at the seams.
“Hurgh… There has to be something, right?” he muttered, wiping his forehead once more. Finally, he spotted a small alley that branched off from the main road. It looked a lot less crowded, and at this point, anywhere out of the sun felt like a good option.
Luka squeezed himself through the gap between two stalls, slightly grateful for the drop in temperature as he entered the shaded alley. It wasn’t much better, but at least the sun wasn’t beating directly on him anymore. As he walked deeper into the alley, the noise from the main street dulled, until only a buzzing sound remained.
“Well, aren’t you the fearless one?” A voice dripping with sarcasm echoed in the hallway just behind him.
Luka turned around quickly, only to meet a strange individual. While in this world he had met different outfits that fit all cultures but this one, it was new yet very familiar.
The first impression he gave him was that of a detective straight out of his world. A flat, brown brimmed hat cast a shadow over his face, and his beige trench coat hung loosely on his frame, the buttons undone. Beneath it, he wore a simple, unassuming shirt and tie.
Is he from Earth? Luka wondered, caught off guard by the sight. After all, he had encountered the goddess with books from his world, and Jason Borone at that meeting wore a suit with a tie, so it wasn’t completely impossible. Maybe some fashion choices or ideas had seeped into this world, too.
“...” Luka didn’t answer, simply staring at the smirking man. His eyes were brown, his hair dark, his badly shaved three-day beard, and he was about the same height as him which meant around 175 centimeters.
“Not much of a talker, huh?” The man’s voice was smooth, relaxed, as if they were old acquaintances. He flashed a carefree smile. “What were you hoping to do, going into that alley exactly? Finding a tavern? Trust me, there are none this way.”
“There is no tavern over there?” Luka frowned, glancing further down the narrow alley.
“Nope. Dead end. Very dead,” he added with a playful emphasis on the word “dead,” tipping his hat in an exaggerated motion as he chuckled softly at his own bad pun. He didn’t seem dangerous—just a guy with a weird sense of humor. Humor that didn’t leave Luka indifferent as he chuckled inside.
“I can show you one if you want. I happen to know this place very well.”
Luka was still wary, but the man’s demeanor didn’t set off any major alarms. Maybe he was just one of those locals who liked to joke around. But he nodded half-heartedly, hoping that he stumbled upon a good samaritan who would find them a place to rest.
“Well, I won’t say no to that,” Luka said after a brief pause, nodding half-heartedly. If this guy could help them find a place to rest, it would save him from wandering the streets in the scorching heat.
The man’s friendly grin widened. “Follow me, then,” he said, turning on his heel with an almost exaggerated flourish of his trench coat. “You’re in luck. I know just the spot.”
Luka trailed after him, keeping a slight distance, still not fully at ease. After all, something ticked him off, a je-ne-sais-quoi that told him to keep on guard. The man walked with a casual, easygoing stride, like he had all the time in the world, his suitcase balancing in his right hand.
Wait, suitcase? When did he get it? Luka thought. Perhaps he was so taken aback by his sudden appearance that he didn’t register the fact that the man had a briefcase. A brown old-fashioned suitcase made of leather with a handle.
“So,” the man started, glancing over his shoulder at Luka. “how was your journey?”
“How do you know?” Luka blinked, caught off guard.
The man chuckled softly, his smirk widening just enough to add a touch of mystery. “Well, I’m a kind of a detective myself. It’s written all over you, niño. You’re dragging your legs like you’ve been walking for days, and your boots are all destroyed. Heh, I would be surprised if anyone thought of something else.”
Luka’s jaw tightened slightly. This man was reading him like a book, and while the explanation was reasonable, he felt a bit overwhelmed. Perhaps if the heat hadn’t taken its toll on him, he would be able to make better conversation but right now, he didn’t feel like it.
“And besides,” the man continued, glancing forward again,” Kaathal’s not exactly a tourist spot unless you’ve got business. Well, even when you have business, it’s still a bad spot…” He muttered the last part more to himself, sneering slightly before letting out a small chuckle.
“Yeah, well,” Luka muttered, trying to keep his tone neutral. “It’s been a long trip. I just need a place to rest.”
As they walked further, something nagged at Luka. “So… You’re a detective?”
“Yup! Not a known one but, hey, small steps, am I right?” The man smirked, tipping his hat up while glancing at Luka.
“And what kind of jobs do you take on? I mean, in this place…”
The man chuckled softly, waving his free hand dismissively. “Oh, I’m on vacation right now. Taking it easy. Just handling some personal cases—small stuff, nothing too exciting.”
“Vacation, huh?” Luka wondered. Who vacations in a place like Kaathal? Luka’s skepticism grew. If this guy really was from his world, or at least connected to it somehow, there had to be something he could ask to find out more. He hesitated for a moment, then threw out a question that had been nagging at him since the encounter began.
“Do you know a place called ‘London’?” Luka asked suddenly, making the man stop in his tracks.
But he turned around quickly, almost in a heartbeat, looking confused. “London? What’s that place?”
Luka narrowed his eyes. The man’s reaction had been too quick for him to show any sign of nervosity or lies. It was a straight-up normal reaction to an unknown name.
“It’s a city. Never heard of it?”
The man furrowed his brow, shaking his head. “Can’t say I have. Sounds foreign, but no, never come across it.” He gave a casual shrug, the confusion still lingering in his eyes. “Sounds like it could fit in around here, though. Plenty of strange names in these parts.”
Luka’s suspicions didn’t ease, but there was nothing in the man’s response that seemed off. If he was from Luka’s world, he was doing a good job of hiding it—or maybe he genuinely didn’t know. But why had Luka expected otherwise? This world was full of mysteries, and jumping to conclusions wouldn’t help him here.
“Right…” Luka responded, his voice trailing off. He wasn’t sure what to make of the man anymore. Everything about him seemed normal, perhaps he was getting too ahead of himself.
They continued walking, the sound of the bustling town growing more distant as they arrived in a small alleyway, opposite where he was going initially. The man suddenly stopped in front of a small, weathered building. Its wooden door was old and the windows dimly lit from inside. The man gestured with a nod. “Here we are. It’s cheap, old, smells like old wood, but is the best tavern in a town where everything’s too crowded to be breathable.”
Luka eyed the building for a moment, weighing his options. He was beyond exhausted, and the promise of rest—even in a place like this—was more than enough to win him over.
“Thanks,” Luka said, his voice soft with genuine gratitude. The exhaustion in his body was catching up quickly now that he had a moment to relax.
The man tipped his hat and gave Luka a friendly tap on the shoulder. “No problem, niño. Enjoy your stay. You look like you need it.”
Luka hesitated for a second, then glanced back at the man. Another thing was nagging at him, and it felt wrong not to ask. He turned back to the man, who was already halfway down the street. “What’s your name?”
The man stopped, his smirk widening as he turned back to face Luka, the shade of his hat covering his facial features. “Names aren’t important. Besides, your friend found you.”
Before Luka could answer, he turned around to see Kanami approaching with Pako near the entrance of the alley. But when he looked back, the mysterious man had vanished, as if he was never here to begin with.
“What the…” Luka scanned the area, searching for signs of him but he found nothing. Perhaps he left and joined the crowded area while he wasn’t looking? Yeah, that was the most plausible explanation.
Still, the encounter left him with a sense of unease and a lingering question that wouldn’t easily be answered. Who was this man? And how did he know about Kanami? Was he observing them the whole time?
Shaking his head, Luka refocused on Kanami and Pako, pushing the mystery of the vanishing guy to the back of his mind for now.
“Hey! Kanami!” He waved at her, trying to grab her attention.
Kanami’s face lit up when she saw him, and tapped Pako’s head to quicken their pace. “Luka! Did you find a place to rest?”
Luka nodded, pointing behind him. "Yeah, it’s right over there. Not much to look at, but it's not crowded, and I think it'll do."
Kanami sighed in relief as they reached him. "Finally. I was worried we'd be stuck in that mess all day." She glanced at the small, weathered building Luka had found. “Not bad, actually. Looks quiet.”
Pako sniffed the air, looking unimpressed but content to stand in the shade.
Luka chuckled dryly. "Quiet's all I need right now. I swear, another minute out there and I would've melted. You owe me a meal now."
Kanami chuckled, smiling at Luka. “Alright, you will get one. Go get inside and rest. I’ll get Pako some water and food.”
Luka nodded, casting a glance over his shoulder where the strange man had been just moments before. There was no sign of him. The street beyond was busy, people weaving between market stalls and carts, but the man had disappeared completely.
Names aren’t important, Luka replayed the words in his mind. What was his deal? Why did he help him? He felt like he would never have the answer to that question.
He stepped into the tavern, setting these thoughts aside. Luka’s first impression was how much cooler it felt compared to the scorching streets outside. The air was thick with the smell of old wood and herbs, but it wasn’t unpleasant. A few patrons sat at scattered tables, chatting quietly. No one seemed to pay them any mind, which was a welcome change after the chaotic streets of Kaathal.
A middle-aged woman with graying hair tied in a loose bun stood behind the bar, wiping a mug with a worn cloth. She glanced up as they entered, welcoming them with a warm smile.
“Welcome travelers. What can I do for you?”
Luka approached the bar, the exhaustion weighing on him. “A room, please. And maybe some food. It’s been… a long day.”
The woman’s smile widened, and she set the mug aside. “Of course, dear. You look like you’ve been through the desert, the road must’ve been harsh.” She chuckled softly as she reached for a key hanging on a hook behind the bar. “We’ve got a room available upstairs. As for food, I can bring you some stew—just finished cooking a fresh batch.”
“Perfect,” Liuka said, trying to muster a smile to repay the old lady’s kindness. “How much?”
“One silver coin, food included.”
Luka fumbled in his side pocket, pulling out a silver coin and handing it over. “Fair deal,” he agreed, relieved that he wasn’t getting ripped off this time.
“Good,” she said, pocketing the coin. “Take the stairs, third door on the left. I’ll bring your meal up shortly.”
“Thank you very much,” Luka nodded, taking the key from her. As he turned to leave, she gave him a motherly smile, the kind that offered more comfort than words.
He trudged up the narrow wooden stairs, his legs protesting with each step. The tavern was old, and the stairs creaked beneath his weight, but he didn’t care. It reminded him of the old home of his grandmother, old but comfortable, a wave of nostalgia taking over him When he reached the third door on the left, he unlocked it and stepped inside.
The room was small, almost spartan, with just a bed, a simple wooden chair, and a narrow window that offered a sliver of light from the sun. The bed, far from luxurious, looked like heaven compared to the makeshift bed he used for the past two weeks. So, he collapsed onto the mattress, feeling the peak of his exhaustion catching up as he closed his eyes, how mind starting to wander.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. “Your stew,” came the tavern woman’s voice from behind the door.
Luka forced himself up, opening the door to find her holding a tray with a steaming bowl of stew, a chunk of bread, and a cup of water. The smell was heavenly, a rich blend of herbs and spices that made his mouth water.
“Here you go, dear,” she said with a smile. “Eat up, then get some rest. You’ll feel better in the morning.”
“Thank you,” Luka said, taking the tray from her.
“Sleep well,” she added before closing the door behind her.
Luka sat on the edge of the bed, spooning a mouthful of stew. The warmth spread through his body, easing the tension in his muscles. The flavor was simple, earthy, but deeply satisfying after the day’s exhaustion. He ate in silence, his mind drifting once more between thoughts about his journey and what was next.
Downstairs, Kanami leaned back on a chair outside, watching Pako finish his meal. She stroked his scales absentmindedly, her eyes wandering around the tavern. There was no one, of course, but she couldn’t help but stay alert. Ever since they arrived in Kaathal, a quiet growing unease had taken over her, as if something watched them from the shadows.
“After everything that happened, no wonder I’m on edge,” she chuckled to herself, looking at the sky. Luka was still being targeted for some reason back in Sora, and she had no idea who was behind it. The empire was now clearly trying to kill King Albius Sora, and some mercenaries were employed around the world to deal with them. Things were starting to tie together but she felt like something was missing.
“I’ve never been good at piecing things together anyway…” She sighed, feeling it was more of a job for Luka as he seemed a bit more intellectual than her. He was weak but reliable. At first, she was worried when they started to travel together, but in the end, she was glad he was there.
She glanced back toward the tavern door. “I should get some sleep too,” she murmured, feeling the exhaustion catching up to her.
Pako nudged her gently with his nose, sensing her unease. She smiled and gave him one last pat before shutting her eyes. “Don’t worry, big guy. Get some rest.”
Luka awoke to darkness. The oppressive heat of the day had been replaced by a cool, almost eerie chill that crept into the room through the cracks in the wooden shutters. He blinked, adjusting his eyes to the dim light of the clear moonlit sky. It took him a moment to remember where he was—the small, cramped room in the old tavern in Kaathal.
His mind was still hazy, the remnants of sleep clinging to him. But something had woken him. He sat up slowly, straining his ears. The tavern was quiet, save for the faint creak of floorboards and the distant murmur of voices from the street.
He felt something else, a presence. The feeling of being watched crawled up his spine, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He turned his head toward the window but saw nothing beyond the endless darkness of the night.
Perhaps he had a bad dream he didn’t remember, perhaps this was just his body getting worked up for nothing. He started to rationalize his feelings.
Still, the feeling persisted. He stood up and crossed the room, careful not to make too much noise. Peering through the narrow gap in the door, he scanned the corridor. It was mostly silent, the only sound being that of a snore coming from another room.
His steps woke up the fox beside him, who crawled up to him on his shoulder.
“Hey there foxy, when did you sneak in here?” Luka murmured to the creature that still had its eyes half-closed.
During their journey, the creature had found a spot on Pako that was both fresh and out of the sun. It must’ve joined me while I was sleeping, Luka thought. The warmth of the fox’s fur and the familiar comfort of its presence helped soothe Luka’s nerves but only slightly. Something still felt off.
With the small fox nestled on his shoulder, Luka let out a quiet sigh and decided to step out for some air. Maybe a walk would calm his nerves and clear his mind. He slid the door open just enough to slip through, careful not to make a sound that could disturb the other guests.
He walked down the corridor without making any noise to wake up the guests and sneaked past Pako and Kanami who were still sleeping in front of the tavern.
The air outside was a welcome relief. It was cool and crisp compared to the stuffy interior of the tavern, though the scent of dust and sand still lingered. The street was quieter than it had been during the day, with only a few figures moving in the distance, their shadows long and distorted by the faint light of lanterns.
Luka decided to take a stroll on the main road now that it was free from the gathering of people, his boots crunching on the packed sand. The silence of this place was truly astonishing to him, seeing how much chaos there was earlier.
He breathed in deeply, taking in as much as possible fresh air.
“Are you afraid of the dark?”
“Huh?”
The world started to spin. A voice echoed in his mind, disembodied and distant. The darkness surrounding him engulfed him until he couldn’t see anything. Stars swallowed by an inky night. Sand now black mud.
The silence surrounded him until he couldn’t hear his own breathing. His inner ear went haywire as he couldn’t tell which way was up or down.
There was nothing, just the void.
And his racing mind.
He had already answered the question unconsciously. It was too late.
The voice murmured behind him, muffled and deep. “You should’ve stayed in your world.”
A sharp pain cut through his body as something pierced his chest from behind, the sharpest pain he ever felt taking over his body. Wet and warm liquid started dripping down his torso and his legs as the hand piercing through him retracted back, breaking his bones and shattered ribs in the process. He was now a simple piece of meat, gushing out blood like a hose.
He felt nothing, just the cold creep of death taking over him slowly.
As he fell to the ground with a thud in the endless void.
An image flashed through his mind.
His parents and home.