Chapter Text
The sun was high in the sky, bathing the vast plains in a soft, warm light.
Around them, the grass was a vibrant green, dotted here and there with small wild flowers; spring had indeed arrived in the Kingdom of Lugunica.
In the middle of this immense green expanse, a dirt road wound as far as the eye could see.
Tap tap tap tap tap
Patrasche’s paws struck the ground rhythmically as the large ground dragon walked tranquilously.
Seated on its back, Subaru Natsuki observed his surroundings with a pensive look.
Since the events of the Sanctuary, many things had changed in his life: he had officially become Emilia’s knight, he had formed a contract with Beatrice, and he had defeated the White Whale, the Archbishop of Sloth, and, against all odds, the Great Rabbit.
Thinking back on it, Subaru still found it hard to believe sometimes that he had actually managed to survive all of that.
He had suffered, and he had died several times.
Far too many times.
Tap tap tap tap tap
But this time, he could move forward without immediately feeling like a catastrophe was about to fall upon him.
Or at least... he hoped so.
Subaru rested his chin on his hand before looking at Patrasche.
Subaru: "Patrasche, I know I’ve already asked you this several times, but do you think I should buy a gift for Emilia and Beatrice when we return?"
Patrasche turned her head slightly.
Patrasche: "Grrrrrr..."
Subaru: "Are you sure about that?"
The ground dragon let out a longer growl.
Patrasche: "GGGGGRRRRRR..."
Subaru remained silent for a few seconds, then sighed.
Subaru: "Alright, alright, I get it, I won't buy anything."
Patrasche calmly resumed her pace.
Subaru: "But I think you're being a bit too harsh; a gift is important in a relationship."
"If you want, I can even buy you some Appas.
"Patrasche: "Grrrr."
Subaru: "What?"
Patrasche shook her head slightly.
Subaru: "Do you mean I should save my money instead?"
Patrasche growled one last time.
Subaru: "........."
Subaru narrowed his eyes, looking at his ground dragon.
Subaru: "I’m really starting to understand your language."
Patrasche did not answer.
Subaru: "You just told me that I spend too much."
Patrasche: "Grrrr."
Subaru: "...Traitress."
Patrasche continued on her way without the slightest reaction, while Subaru sighed before leaning back slightly against her.
Everything seemed perfectly calm.
Too calm, perhaps.
FFFFFfffffff
The wind gently rippled the grass, a few birds flew above them, and the sky was clear.
No threatening clouds disturbed the horizon.
Then
BOOOOOOOM
A violent detonation echoed in the distance, and Subaru sat up abruptly.
Subaru: "WHAT THE...?!"
Patrasche stopped immediately.
A second explosion rang out.
BOOOOOOM
This time, Subaru spotted something.
About two kilometers from their position, a massive column of dust and ash had just risen in the middle of the plain.
Subaru had to squint to see anything, as he could distinguish almost nothing except a huge curtain of dust.
But inside that curtain of dust was a red light; they were surely flames shooting out in all directions and disappearing.
Scarlet and golden flames erupted in every direction, illuminating the dust cloud as if a true wildfire had just been born in the heart of the plain.
Subaru: "......."
His expression changed immediately.
There was no longer any trace of playfulness on his face.
Subaru: "Patrasche."
The ground dragon turned her head slightly toward him.
Subaru: "Let's go."
Patrasche: "Grrrr."
Subaru: "Yes, I know, it's dangerous."
He gripped the reins tightly.
If they were just bandits, he would find a way to stop them: If it was another threat like mabeasts, Subaru would surely find a way to talk things out to resolve the problem without fighting: and if it was a member of the Witch's Cult, Subaru had to act immediately.
Subaru: "But if someone is out there, we can't just turn back."
Patrasche remained motionless for a few seconds.
Then she pushed off on her legs.
TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP
She started to run.
TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP
The wind immediately whipped against Subaru's face.
The grass flashed by beneath them as Patrasche gradually accelerated.
Subaru held on tight.
Subaru: "Faster!"
Patrasche accelerated further.
Subaru: "That's it!"
As they drew closer, the explosions became louder.
BOOM
BOOM
CRAAASH
Subaru frowned: this was no simple explosion.
Someone was fighting.
He could now distinguish several bursts of flames cutting through the dust cloud.
But something didn't add up.
There were no buildings, no forests, no caravans.
Nothing that could explain such a violent fire.
Subaru: "What on earth could be fighting...?"
Subaru frowned.
Subaru: "It wasn't just an explosion; someone was... in the middle of nowhere?"
Patrasche, of course, did not answer.
A few hundred meters from the area, Subaru yanked hard on the reins.
Subaru: "Stop!"
Patrasche slowed down while Subaru jumped off her back.
He rested a hand on his sword and observed the area as the dust began to clear slightly.
A silhouette appeared.
It was small.
It was human.
Subaru squinted.
Subaru: "A person?"
The silhouette stood in the middle of a crater.
Around them, the ground was completely ravaged; burn marks scarred the grass, and pieces of rock were scattered everywhere.
Yet the person in the center seemed completely unharmed.
The young girl had a slender and athletic build, possessing a light and supple figure.
Her fair skin highlighted her long, dark blue hair, which framed her face and fell down to her back, contrasting with her large, brilliant golden eyes
.Her outfit was primarily composed of white, turquoise, and red, with numerous golden details; she wore a light white garment that left a portion of her midriff and shoulders exposed, held in place by golden and turquoise ornaments.
Broad panels of turquoise and red fabric accompanied her skirt and extended behind her like ribbons or sections of a cape, giving her silhouette a particularly dynamic appearance.
Intricate golden patterns were embroidered onto the turquoise fabric.
On top of her head rested a golden ornament evoking a small crown, set with green gemstones, while other jewels were fastened in her hair and near her ear.
And this very girl held a sword in her hand.
Her sword was an imposing weapon, larger than the young girl herself; its upper section sported deep red hues, while the rest of the blade blended dark blue with golden ornaments.
A red pattern resembling a flame ran across its surface to the center of the blade.
Its guard looked particularly elaborate, possessing several golden spikes that framed the blade, and the hilt, wrapped in white bands, ended in a metallic pommel decorated with blue and golden details.
Despite its disproportionate size, the young girl was able to wield this immense sword with astonishing ease.
Tap
Subaru took a few steps and then stopped.The silhouette wore an outfit he recognized, as it looked more or less like some kind of Chinese clothing.
Subaru: "...A girl?"
The young woman slowly raised her head, and her gaze fell upon Subaru.
She seemed confused, as if she herself had just woken up in a place she did not know.
SLASH
Subaru immediately raised his hands as the girl pointed the sword in his direction.
Subaru: "HEY, CALM DOWN, I’M NOT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE!"
The young woman frowned.
???: "...Who are you?"
Subaru: "Me?"
He pointed his finger at himself.
Subaru: "Natsuki Subaru, Emilia's knight."
The young woman remained silent.
???: "Emilia?"
Subaru: "Yes."
The young girl looked around her; she observed the plain, then the sky, then Subaru, and her expression gradually grew more complex.
???: "...Where am I?"
Subaru hesitated.
Subaru: "You are on a plain?"
???: "
I know I am on a plain."
Subaru thought for a few seconds.
Subaru: "You are in the Kingdom of Lugunica?"
Silence.
???: "..."
Lugunica?"Subaru immediately felt that something was wrong.
Subaru: "Yes, the Kingdom of Lugunica."
Yunli tightened her grip slightly around her sword.
???: "I do not know this place."
Subaru: "..."
This phrase, this single phrase was enough.
Subaru knew this situation all too well.
He had lived through it himself.
He looked at the young girl, then at her sword, and finally at the flames still burning behind her.
And an idea crossed his mind.
Subaru: "Wait..."
???: "What?"
Subaru: "You aren't from around here, are you?"
Yunli did not answer immediately.
Her gaze grew more serious.
???: "What are you talking about?"
Subaru was left speechless.
He ran a hand through his hair.
Subaru: "..."
Another person from another world?"
???: "Another world?"
Subaru: "Yes."
???: "......."
Subaru: "......."
The two stared at each other.Then Yunli placed a hand on her hip.
???: "Fine."
Subaru: "Huh?"
???: "I don't understand anything that's going on."
Subaru: "Neither do I."
???: "So start by explaining to me where I am."
Subaru sighed.
Subaru: "It might take a while."
???: "I have all the time in the world."
Subaru looked around, then fixed his eyes on his ground dragon: he then turned his gaze back to the dark-blue-haired girl and asked her a simple question.
Subaru: "Before we begin, I have a question for you: what is your name?"
???: ".........."
As for the young girl, she felt she could trust the boy standing in front of her; she understood that he was honest and had, more or less, a pure heart.
No, he had a pure heart.
???: "......."
"Yunli."
Subaru: "What?"
Subaru asked the question again, perplexed, because he hadn't really heard.
Yunli: "My name is Yunli."
End of Chapter 1