A careless black-haired young man strolled along the beach, his hands stuffed into his pockets. His gaze wandered over the waves, searching for nothing in particular, until he suddenly froze. Two bodies lay face down in the sand, their clothes torn and covered in blood.
"What the hell?" he muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Dead corpses? Am I cursed or something? Why do they have to show up right in front of me?" He stood there for a moment, scratching his head as if deciding what to do.
Then, with a sigh, he crouched down. "Well... if they've got money on them, I guess it's not all bad," he said with a sly grin, starting to rummage through the bags still attached to their battered bodies.
As he shifted one of them slightly, he froze. A faint breath escaped from the figure. His grin quickly turned into an irritated scowl.
"They're alive?" he muttered, groaning in frustration. "Great. Just great. What a pain in the ass this is turning out to be."
In a small wooden cabin lit by the dim glow of candles, the flickering light danced on the worn walls. An old fireplace crackled faintly, the only sound breaking the heavy silence. Two bodies lay in a deep sleep on makeshift beds, their injuries carefully bandaged, as if someone had gone out of their way to treat them.
Near the window, a young man lay awake, trying to sleep but failing. His thoughts swirled restlessly.
"Why did I even help these strangers?" he muttered, his tone irritated. "Curiosity? Maybe. But this isn't the time for fun. Whatever—I'll get my reward from them. That's all that matters."
Suddenly, a gasp pierced the quiet. The girl bolted upright, her face pale and full of panic.
"Roy! Where is Roy?" she cried out, her voice trembling as she clutched at the blankets.
The young man blinked in surprise, sitting up slightly. He raised his hands cautiously, keeping his distance. "Relax," he said, pointing toward the boy beside her. "He's right there."
She looked at the boy, her frantic breathing slowing for a moment, but then her eyes darted back to the stranger, full of suspicion and fear. "Who are you?" she demanded. Her voice shook. "Roy? The village—the fire—" Her gaze snapped to the fireplace, her voice faltering.
Then, as though overwhelmed by the memories flooding her, she slumped back onto the bed and fell unconscious again.
The young man sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Guess her hit on the head was stronger than I thought," he muttered, turning back toward the window. "What a mess."
Understood! Here's a slightly adjusted version of what you wrote, keeping it close to your original text:
The man lying on the bed, Roy, slowly opened his eyes, his gaze darting around as he muttered in a cracked, tired voice, "Where am I? What happened?" He then froze, realization hitting him. "Mei! Mei, where is she?" His voice rose in worry.
The mysterious young man, who had been watching them from the corner of the room, spoke with a cool demeanor, "Must be tired... you tried to cover for someone. Your back injuries are pretty severe."
Roy, still struggling to focus, asked with urgency, "Who are you? Are you the one who saved us? And Mei?" His gaze snapped to the unconscious girl beside him. "Did you treat her injuries? Is she okay?"
The young man, with black hair and an indifferent look, responded coolly, "Well, I'm no doctor. She woke up, started shouting, and then collapsed again. But since she's a woman, I can't—"
Roy cut him off, his voice sharp and serious, "Have you treated her injuries? If not, do it!"
The cool young man raised an eyebrow, his tone slightly amused, "Heh, how funny. I didn't do it for free. You know, if you have gold or silver, I could take another look."
Roy, still unwavering, replied, "So you have treated her. Thank you. I'll give you whatever you need, but we don't have any gold or silver."
With a sigh, Roy clenched his fists in frustration. "That means the village is already gone... and we couldn't save them."
Roy remembered and said, "Yes, we were leaving the village when we saw the fire. We tried to return, but a huge boat bumped into us, and we found ourselves here." He brushed his face in frustration. "No... I'm sure they survived," Roy insisted, his tone growing firmer. "I trust them."
Turning to the man who had saved them, Roy added, "Well, thank you for helping us, but we don't have what you want. However, we have some crystals from our village and other riches. We brought them with us. I'll give them to you, but... can you give me something to eat first?"
The guy, looking shocked, replied, "What the hell? I'm not here to serve you. Give me my property and let me leave! I have work to do!"
Roy smiled, unfazed. "Can I know your name, at least? The one who saved us?"
The cool, black-haired man glanced at him, irritation in his eyes. "No need. I helped you for my own benefit," he replied sharply.
Roy nodded and said, "Even so, you're a good guy for saving us. That's why I asked for food. I'm really hungry."
The cool man, clearly annoyed, snapped, "As I said, I have no reason to give you food. Why would I? I'm trying to survive here!"
Roy pointed at the fish the man had prepared for himself. "What about the food there? Give it to me, and I'll give you all we have in exchange."
The man's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? And besides, this is my food!"
He thought to himself, Is this guy naive and dumb, or am I the delusional one?
Roy didn't care. He took the food and started eating as if nothing had happened. The man, now more surprised, muttered, "What's wrong with this guy?"
Roy, still chewing, spoke between bites. "Aren't you curious about us?"
The cool guy responded without a hint of interest, "No."
Roy smirked. "I'm sure you are curious. Well, when we escaped from—" but the cool man interrupted him with a sharp tone, "I said I don't care!"
At that moment, the girl lying nearby, Mei, started to stir. She opened her eyes slowly, blinking as she heard her brother's voice.
Mei's eyes shot open as she weakly called out, "Roy! What happened? Are you okay? My head hurts! Where are we?" As she tried to sit up, she noticed her surroundings, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar space.
Roy, in a hurry, ran to the fireplace and extinguished the flames. The cool guy, still lounging nearby, looked at him in confusion. "It's cold. Why did you turn it off?"
Mei struggled to stand, still trying to wake up. When she saw the cool guy, she froze, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Who are you? What do you want from us? Where is the guy who was with me?"
The cool guy pointed a finger at Roy, clearly trying to avoid further conflict. Mei glanced at Roy, who was casually munching on food.
"What happened to the village?" Mei asked, her voice breaking, her eyes distant. "It's no longer... existent?"
Roy's voice was low, tired, but steady. "As long as we're okay, I'm sure they are too. Trust me."
Mei, her memories starting to return, frowned. "Yes, the boat… You're fine, Roy? Aren't you injured? And how can you eat in this situation?" She looked at the cool guy. "Who are you? And why did you help us? What are your intentions?"
The cool guy shrugged. "I don't need to introduce myself. I just helped you for my own benefits."
Mei's hand shot to the sword at her side, and she brought it closer to the cool guy's neck, her eyes filled with fury. "What benefits are you expecting, and how did you treat my injuries?"
The cool guy was taken aback, clearly surprised by her swift reaction. "Don't get me wrong, I didn't do anything wrong. I just tried to heal your outside injuries so it wouldn't get worse."
Mei pressed the sword even closer to his neck. "How could you?" she demanded.
Roy, seemingly unbothered, interrupted in a careless tone, "Don't worry, Mei. There's nothing a man could want from you."
The sword suddenly swung toward Roy's face. He managed to dodge it, raising his hands. "I'm injured! How can you—" he started, but Mei cut him off.
In a cold, angry voice, she hissed, "You deserve it."
The cool guy sighed, his patience running thin. "Well, this is crazy. But I took my reward, so I'm gone. Bye."
Mei shouted after him, "What reward?"
Roy, still chewing his food, gave her a half-smile. "I gave him all the crystals and riches we brought with us. He gave me food and saved our lives."
Mei stared at him, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Are you insane? How can we survive after that? And how can you trust this man? And why did you reveal our names?!"
Roy swallowed his last bite of food, looking unconcerned. "Is that so? He looked like a good guy, and nothing's more valuable than our precious lives. I'm sure."
Before leaving, the cool guy tossed over his shoulder, "I left you the map you brought with you. It might help. Don't act like that, lady—you'll get in trouble. Handle yourself. This place isn't like what you know. Bye."
Mei rushed toward the window, trying to reach him, but he had already disappeared like a shadow. She turned back toward Roy, frustration in her eyes.
Mei's eyes burned with frustration as she glared at Roy, her anger boiling over. She smacked him on the head with a force that made him blink in surprise.
Mei: "Can't you realize what situation you've dragged us into?!"
Roy, nursing his head where she struck him, sighed. His expression remained calm, even in the face of her fury.
Roy: "Hey, I'm older than you. You should show me some respect. Look, with that attitude, you made that cool guy fear you and run away."
Mei, seething, crossed her arms.
Mei: "I know you're naive, but that man used us and took our riches. How are we supposed to survive now? And is this place really his? That's the question running through my mind. When I saw him, I felt something was off—he's a manipulative man. But you... you think he's a good guy! You didn't even exchange information with him! Now you've revealed our identities, and we don't even know his name. All we know is that he has black hair and swords on his belt."
Mei's frustration reached its peak. She paced for a moment, trying to organize her thoughts.
Mei: "We're stuck in an unknown place with no idea what to do. And now, you've left us even more exposed. Do you realize that?"
Suddenly, a voice echoed from outside, breaking the tense silence.
Voice from outside: "Hey, you're surrounded, thieves! Get out here quickly! You're running nowhere!"
Mei froze in surprise. Thieves? She thought, her mind racing. I knew it! It's not his property! He must have broken into an unknown place, and now he's gotten us into trouble. That arrogant thief ran away to avoid getting caught!"
Roy, sensing the urgency of the situation, took a serious tone.
Roy: "What should we do, Mei?"
Mei, still feeling the effects of her injury, clutched her head. Her vision swam, but she pushed herself to think.
Mei: "I can't think clearly, but for now... Let's pretend we're husband and wife, just for the moment."
Roy stared at her, incredulous.
Roy: "Have you lost your mind? I thought you were brilliant!"
Mei snapped back at him, her temper flaring once more.
Mei: "How can I think straight in a place we barely know? Who knows how they live here? Maybe we'll be executed right away if I say something wrong!"
Roy's eyes softened for a moment. He understood the gravity of their situation but still seemed conflicted about Mei's suggestion.
Roy: "Alright... Let's do it. But don't make things worse, okay?"
The sound of footsteps outside grew louder, and the tension in the air thickened. It was clear they didn't have much time to figure out their next move.
Roy followed Mei outside, his steps heavy, his posture slouched as if truly injured. Mei raised her hands high, taking the lead as the armored guards eyed them with suspicion and anger.
Guard: "You dare break into a cabin belonging to our tribe and stand before us without shame?"
Mei, without hesitation, swung her arm back and landed a quick hit on Roy's stomach. He winced and leaned forward, groaning.
Roy, in a low, pained voice: "Why don't we just tell them the truth about that black-haired guy?"
Mei, whispering through clenched teeth: "Just pretend to be unconscious. I'll handle this."
Steeling herself, Mei spoke, her voice tinged with faux desperation: "Break in? Us? We would never! My husband and I were injured after our boat broke apart. He saved me, but he's in a terrible state now. He said he found this place open, and we thought it might be abandoned!"
The guards, unmoved, glared at her with suspicion.
Guard: "It's obvious someone broke in. This cabin belongs to our tribe!"
Mei's thoughts raced. Tribe? So, this really is a tribal world. I need to think quickly...
Feigning sadness, Mei gestured to Roy, who remained hunched and groaning: "Please, look at him. My husband is badly injured. Could you at least help him? He might not survive!"
Her plea only seemed to anger the guards further. One of them raised his sword slightly.
Guard: "Look at us, woman! You speak too much for someone like you. In this world, women don't hold men on their shoulders, let alone speak out of turn. There is no such thing as a husband and wife!"
Mei's eyes widened in shock. What does he mean? she thought. But she quickly realized her words had drawn too much attention.
Guard: "Show us your marks! We need to know which tribe you belong to and what kind of trouble you're bringing us!"
Mei froze. Marks? Are they talking about the ones Roy and I have from childhood? she wondered. If we show them, we might get into deeper trouble... I can't risk it.
She crouched slightly and whispered into Roy's ear: "Roy, wake up. I can't handle this alone. We need to fight and escape."
The guards raised their weapons, their swords gleaming in the sunlight.
Guard: "You speak far too much for a woman. Maybe we should cut out your tongue to keep you quiet."
Roy groaned and muttered under his breath: "Are they serious, Mei? You've gotten us into more trouble than we were in before."
Mei, her tone sharp and defensive: "How was I supposed to know that?"
Roy straightened slightly, his voice still strained as if in pain: "We saw a black-haired man break into this place. It was already open when we arrived, so we used it. Is that a crime?"
The guards exchanged a look of surprise.
Guard, whispering to his companion: "A black-haired man? Could it be him?"
The other guard shook his head. "It can't be. The North Tribe spotted him heading their way."
Turning back to Mei and Roy, the first guard scowled.
Guard: "Listen, you two should be executed for trespassing and for your lies!"
Mei, speaking softly to Roy: "Don't overthink this. We're both injured, but we have to fight to make an opening and escape. Do you understand?"
Roy nodded, his expression shifting to determination. "Don't worry. I get it, and I agree with you. But can you fight?"
Mei smirked, her confidence rising despite the danger. "I may be hurt, but I can still throw a few arrows and knives. They won't know what hit them."
Roy, matching her grin: "I guess you're right. Let's do this."
The two prepared themselves as the guards began to close in, their weapons raised and their expressions merciless.
Mei and Roy charged forward, their movements fueled by adrenaline and desperation. Mei's daggers flashed through the dim light, catching one guard off guard, while Roy wielded a broken branch like a club. The guards faltered, their expressions shifting from confidence to disbelief.
"How can a woman hold a weapon like that?!" one of them exclaimed as Mei darted past him with calculated precision.
Seizing the opportunity, Mei and Roy broke through the line of guards, their feet pounding against the forest floor. The sound of shouts and clanking armor faded as the dense trees swallowed them whole.
Breathing heavily, Mei glanced over her shoulder. "Keep running! We can't stop now!"
Roy, clutching his side, groaned, "Do you even know where we're going?"
"No," Mei admitted, her voice sharp. "But anywhere is better than back there!"
Roy let out a frustrated sigh, "Now how can we escape? We're purely lost."
Mei smirked, "There is still a way."
Roy shot her a confused look. "What do you mean?"
Mei reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bag.
Roy's eyes widened. "You stole a property? It's nothing like you, Mei."
Mei rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. "Can you stop? I didn't steal it. I just borrowed it from that arrogant jerkhead who saved us. I took it when he was escaping without realizing."
Roy blinked, clearly not convinced. "So you stole it in the end?"
Mei shrugged, a small smirk on her lips. "Not exactly."
The forest grew darker as they plunged deeper into its depths, the canopy blocking out what little light remained.
Meanwhile, the cool, careless man strode confidently through another part of the forest, his thoughts as calm and detached as his demeanor.
Luckily, I got rid of those two, he mused, his dark hair catching the faint moonlight as he brushed it away from his eyes. They're not my problem anymore. They'd only slow me down.
He paused for a moment, leaning against a tree to catch his breath. I just hope they're not from this world, he thought grimly, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
Suddenly, his instincts screamed danger. His path was blocked by a line of guards, their weapons drawn and gleaming menacingly in the dim light.
The leader of the group, a burly man with a jagged scar across his face, stepped forward. "Well, well. We've finally found you."
The cool man's expression didn't waver, but his hand drifted subtly to the hilt of one of the swords at his belt.
"You can't escape us this time," the scarred leader sneered. "Prepare yourself for the worst."
The man smirked, his sharp gaze sweeping over the guards. "Escape? You seem to be under the impression that I was running."
With a flick of his wrist, his sword was unsheathed, its blade catching the faint light. His stance shifted, relaxed yet deliberate, as though he were entirely in control.
The guards hesitated, but the scarred leader barked, "Don't let him intimidate you! Surround him!"
The man's smirk widened as he took a step forward, then paused, his fingers brushing his bag. He checked it quickly and frowned when he didn't find what he was looking for.
"Ah, perfect timing," he muttered to himself, a smirk still playing on his lips. "Like if you gather all your troops, you'll stop me? Do you truly believe that? Well, I'm in a bad mood now. My small bag was taken from me, and now it's your turn to suffer. Bad timing for you."
With that, he launched into the fight, his movements fluid and deadly.
The forest echoed with the clash of steel as chaos erupted.
After the cool guy,disposed of most of the guards, the remaining ones regrouped, their leader smirking despite their fear.
"We already guessed we couldn't stand against Kuroi Zen," the leader said, his voice dripping with malice. "That's why we brought this."
One of the guards stepped forward, holding an injured child. The boy trembled, his face pale with fear. The guard shoved the boy forward, his sneer widening.
"If you don't surrender, we'll have no choice but to sacrifice this poor child. Sorry," the man said mockingly.
Zen's expression darkened, his piercing gaze locking onto the guards. The air grew heavy with his restrained fury.
The child was handed a knife and pushed toward Zen, his small hands shaking. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he staggered forward, his eyes shut tightly, clearly terrified.
Zen lowered his head slightly, his voice cold and sharp. "You've stooped to using a child against me? How filthy."
As the boy hesitated, trembling and frozen in place, Zen vanished into the shadows. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared, the child now safely at his side.
Zen smirked, his voice cutting through the silence. "Now I should ask this child how your punishment will be decided. Have you underestimated me so much?"
The guards stiffened as Zen's words dripped with menace.
Zen knelt down to the boy's level, his tone softening. "Tell me, child. Do these men deserve death?"
The boy, still trembling in fear, couldn't speak. Tears flowed freely down his face, and his small hands clutched his wounded arm.
Zen sighed, realizing the boy's state. His tone became firm but kinder. "Let me be clear: who sacrificed you to come with them? Are you doing this for your family?"
Through his sobs, the boy choked out, "My father gave up on me and gave me to these men. My mother... she's still in their hands. They hurt me."
Zen's expression hardened, his golden eyes burning with anger. "I see. I think I have my answer."
In a blur of motion, Zen eliminated the remaining guards, his strikes swift and merciless. The clash of steel and cries of the men were over in moments.
The child squeezed his eyes shut, trembling. Zen knelt before him, placing firm hands on the boy's small shoulders.
"Open your eyes, child," Zen commanded gently.
The boy hesitated but slowly complied, his wide, tear-filled eyes meeting Zen's fierce yet calm gaze.
"What's your name?" Zen asked.
The boy stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "S-Shiro..."
Zen's gaze softened, though his tone remained firm. "Look at me, Shiro. These guards? You were the one who killed them."
Shiro's eyes widened in shock, shaking his head. "But I—"
Zen silenced him with a look and handed him a bloodied sword taken from one of the guards.
"Listen to me, Shiro," Zen said, his voice low but resolute. "You're still young, but you have something worth protecting—your mother. Go back to your tribe. Show this sword and say you killed them to protect your life and hers. You'll be respected, feared even. That will give you the strength and standing to grow stronger and change the rules that allowed this to happen."
Shiro stared at the sword in his hands, his small body still trembling. "But what if they kill me? Can't I come with you, sir? You could train me. I want to be strong like you."
Zen shook his head, his voice carrying a somber weight. "I have no time to spare for you, and I am not someone you should follow. My path is one of destruction. I have nothing to lose, but you… you have your mother. And don't worry—when they see you like this, covered in blood and holding this sword, no one will dare to harm you. You'll be strong enough to protect what you care for most."
Zen rose to his feet, turning away. "Go back, Shiro. I can't go with you. My time is too precious to waste. Your journey is your own."
Shiro wiped his tears with his sleeve, clutching the sword tightly. He turned to thank Zen, but when he looked up, Zen was already gone, disappearing into the shadows as silently as he came.
Shiro stood alone, the weight of the sword in his hands heavy but somehow comforting. A spark of determination lit in his eyes as he turned toward the direction of his tribe. He whispered softly to himself, "I'll become strong... for my mother."
Roy and Mei dashed deeper into the forest, their breaths ragged as the sound of footsteps and shouts echoed behind them. The guards were relentless, their torches casting flickering shadows against the towering trees.
Mei's sharp eyes darted around, assessing their surroundings. "Roy, I've got an idea!" she whispered, grabbing his arm to halt his stride.
"What are you—" Roy began, but Mei was already scaling the nearest tree with nimble ease. She disappeared into the thick branches, her silhouette barely visible against the night sky.
"Trust me," she called softly from above, her voice almost drowned out by the distant shouts.
Roy nodded reluctantly and crouched low, his eyes scanning for any movement among the trees. Mei, now perched high above, gathered a handful of small, smooth rocks from the crook of the tree trunk. She hurled one toward the opposite direction from where they hid. It clattered against the bark of a distant tree, the sharp noise cutting through the forest.
"Over there!" one of the guards barked, and the torchlight shifted as they moved toward the sound.
Mei threw another rock, this time to their left, and then another in a different direction. The guards began to spread out, their confusion growing as they chased phantom sounds in every direction except the one Roy and Mei were hiding in.
Roy smirked, impressed. "Smart," he muttered under his breath.
Mei climbed down quietly, landing softly beside Roy. "We'll keep doing this until they're too scattered to regroup," she whispered, her eyes gleaming with determination.
Roy nodded. "Lead the way."
The siblings moved from tree to tree, careful not to make a sound, as Mei continued her diversion tactics. One by one, the guards' shouts faded into the distance, their torches disappearing into the dense forest.
For the first time in what felt like hours, the forest was silent again. Roy exhaled slowly, turning to Mei with a grin. "You're a genius."
Mei gave a small smile but quickly glanced over her shoulder. "Let's not celebrate yet. We need to keep moving."
When the guards' voices faded completely into the distance, Roy and Mei, still perched on the tree, sighed in unison. The tension in the air began to ease, but only slightly. Mei leaned against the trunk, her fingers absently brushing her forehead. Roy's sharp eyes caught the subtle signs of fatigue, her pale face and trembling hands.
"Mei," Roy began, concern lacing his voice, "you haven't eaten anything since we left the village. Are you okay?"
Mei took a deep breath, her expression firm despite her obvious weariness. "I'm fine. I can manage," she muttered, though her tone betrayed her discomfort. "If you hadn't given away all our riches, at least we could've eaten something. But that arrogant black-haired guy took everything from us!"
Roy frowned, though he didn't argue. "You're still angry about that? He saved our lives, Mei. Besides, you stole his bag. Maybe there's something to eat in there. You should check."
Mei huffed, narrowing her eyes at him. "What if it's poisoned? And don't forget, Roy—it's your fault we lost everything. You're the one who made me take his bag! Don't try to put all the blame on me."
Roy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, it's always my fault," he muttered, leaning back against the tree. Then he glanced at her seriously. "But you have to eat something, Mei. You're in an awful state. Let me taste whatever's in the bag for you."
Mei shot him an annoyed look. "Why should we touch someone else's belongings? That's wrong," she retorted. She glanced at the leaves around them and added, "I'll just eat from this tree. I've learned about plants before, and these aren't poisonous. I'll manage with the leaves."
Roy sighed but didn't argue further, watching as Mei reached for a few leaves. Before she could take a bite, a rustling sound from above made them freeze. A shadowy figure emerged from the higher branches of the tree, barely visible under the faint moonlight.
Roy's hand instinctively moved to his side, searching for something to defend them with. Mei's eyes widened, her hunger momentarily forgotten as the figure leapt gracefully onto their branch.
"Enjoying your meal?" the figure asked, their voice low and smooth, carrying a tone of amusement. As they stepped closer, the faint moonlight revealed a familiar face—the black-haired stranger who had taken their riches.
Mei stiffened, gripping Roy's arm. "You!" she hissed, her voice a mix of anger and alarm.
The tension in the air thickened as Mei and Roy remained frozen, processing the sudden appearance of the black-haired man. Mei's breath quickened with a mix of anger and disbelief, while Roy couldn't suppress the unease that crept over him.
"Well, it's not poisonous," the man said, his voice smooth yet laced with amusement. "I tried to eat one of my snacks earlier, and when I couldn't find the bag, I was shocked. But to think you managed to take it from me without even realizing, young lady." He took a step closer, his gaze cold yet almost playful. "But now, can you give it back?"
Mei rolled her eyes, refusing to even acknowledge him, as though his words didn't warrant a response.
The man's smile widened. "Well, are you sure what you're eating is enough? Some leaves won't help you last the day," he continued, almost condescendingly. "You could try some of my snacks instead."
Mei, her voice dripping with annoyance, shot back, "No need. If you want your bag back, you should at least tell us what this place is about and how we can escape."
Zen—Roy and Mei's mysterious encounter—chuckled darkly, his smirk never fading. "Why would I do that? I have nothing to gain from you," he said, his tone almost mocking. "Listen, lady, you're so stubborn, with that attitude you won't survive. Even your brother… and you should listen to him. How can you be so reckless when you're barely standing on this tree branch?"
Roy spoke up, his voice holding a rare hint of concern. "He's right, Mei. You won't be able to keep up with just leaves. You look like you're barely hanging on."
Zen's voice cut through the tension, his words sharp and threatening. "Should I take my belongings by force?" His tone darkened as he stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "I will be merciless this time."
The coldness in his voice sent a shiver down both Mei and Roy's spines, the weight of his threat hanging in the air. They exchanged a glance, both of them aware that the situation was escalating quickly, but neither knew how to handle it.
Zen, seeing this as an opportunity to stir the pot further, sneered. "You just want your brother to die, huh? How awful." His voice had a biting edge, and he seemed to relish the tension building between them.
Enraged, Mei's hand shot out, slamming into the branch Zen was perched on, causing it to shake. Zen's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react further, the branch snapped beneath him. Mei's heart skipped a beat as the ground seemed to rush toward them. In a blur, Zen, in retaliation for her outburst, slashed his blade at the trunk of the tree. The entire branch, along with the two of them, plummeted to the ground.
Mei, Roy, and Zen collided in a heap, the impact leaving them stunned for a moment. As the dust settled, Mei's face flushed with both anger and embarrassment, her breath ragged from the fall. Zen, however, seemed unfazed, rising slowly and brushing off the dirt with a smirk.
"Well, this is certainly... an interesting turn of events," Zen mused, his eyes glinting with amusement, though there was an undeniable hint of something darker beneath the surface.
When the three of them fell from the tree, they scrambled to their feet, each visibly annoyed. Zen dusted himself off with a frustrated sigh and said, "Enough with the amusement. I've saved your lives once before, but I don't want any more trouble related to you."
Roy suddenly blurted out, "I wish you'd join us. We have a goal to reach, and we could use your help."
Mei's head snapped toward Roy, her expression incredulous. "Excuse me? Are you even aware that from the day we met him, people started following us? He's dangerous, Roy!"
Zen smirked, clearly enjoying the tension. "Good guess," he said with a sarcastic tilt of his head. "I am dangerous. Now, give me back my bag."
Mei crossed her arms, defiant. "Why would I? I didn't find anything useful in it anyway. Besides, let's not pretend you're not in trouble yourself. Always running, always looking over your shoulder... It's obvious you're escaping from them too. Your head's worth more than ours, isn't it? That bag must hold something important. If you'd at least explain a bit—like where we are and how to read this blank, wet map—I might consider giving it back to you."
Roy, exasperated, interjected, "Why are you being so mean to him? Without him, we wouldn't even be alive. At least show some gratitude!"
Zen chuckled darkly, his eyes locking on Mei. "You'll die soon, lady. Even if I don't kill you myself, this place will. As for the map," he added with a smirk, "you just need to scratch it to see the details."
He stepped closer, his tone dropping. "Though I might still be the one who murders you both and takes my things back."
Roy and Mei instinctively shifted into defensive stances, their tension palpable. After a moment of silence, Mei huffed and tossed the bag toward Zen.
"Take it. I guess we don't need it anymore," she muttered.
Zen caught the bag and immediately searched through it, his expression darkening when he realized something was missing. Drawing his sword, he pointed it at Mei.
"Listen, lady," he growled. "Where's the thing that was inside?"
Mei met his gaze without flinching. "I knew it was important," she said coolly, her tone almost mocking.
Roy stepped forward, raising his voice. "Hey, stop it! You're crossing the line!"
But Mei held up a hand to silence him, her voice calm but firm. "Roy, give him back his thing. We're injured, and he's stronger than us. It's a lost battle."
Reluctantly, Roy reached into his pocket and threw a small object—a memento—toward Zen.
Zen caught it with a sharp glare. "Why did you keep it away?"
Roy shrugged. "We learned from our childhood not to run with precious things in our bags. We kept it in a safer place. But now, can I ask—"
Before he could finish, Zen vanished.
Roy sighed. "Why didn't you ask him to join us?"
Mei shot him an incredulous look. "He was about to kill us, and that's all you think about?"
Roy frowned. "You were the one who forced him to treat us this way! Why can't you trust him? He hasn't done anything bad to us before!"
Mei's voice rose in frustration. "There's a difference between being vigilant and being kind! You should think about that too!"
Roy crossed his arms, shaking his head. "With your attitude, I doubt we'll ever gain any allies."
Ignoring him, Mei pulled out the map and scratched it lightly with a sharp leaf, just as Zen had suggested. To her surprise, names and landmarks began to appear, becoming clearer with every stroke.
Mei muttered under her breath, "He was right... How did he know this?"
Roy sighed. "So, you blamed him even though he helped us?"
Mei glared at Roy but turned her attention back to the map. "There's a village entrance," she said after a moment. "But I'm guessing it's guarded. It's the only place we can head to right now, even without any riches."
With that, they started moving, tension still simmering between them but faint hope stirring in the distance.
As they approached the village entrance, Roy jogged ahead, glancing back at Mei. "So, do you have a plan?"
Mei sighed, her expression grim. "Sadly, no. I'm just moving forward to face whatever comes our way. That arrogant, black-haired guy refused to give us even the smallest bit of information about this world."
Roy frowned, considering their options. "So, what should we do? Try to enter the village peacefully? That's about all I can think of."
When they arrived at the entrance, they were greeted by two tall, imposing guards with marks etched on their hands. Mei's eyes narrowed as she noticed the marks.
The marks again… Are these related to what Roy and I have? she thought, uneasy. But if I show ours, it might get us into trouble.
The guards, noticing them, barked, "You two—who are you?"
Roy stepped forward, raising his voice confidently. "We're travelers!"
Mei's eyes widened in surprise at Roy's boldness but quickly masked her shock, nodding in agreement with a faint smile.
The guards exchanged a suspicious glance. "From what tribe? Show us your marks."
Mei's mind raced, and she blurted, "We're from the Moon Tribe." She added a random number, hoping it would suffice.
The guards' expressions darkened, and one growled, "Enough with your lies, woman! How dare you speak to me like that? The Moon Tribe is nothing but a legend now—extinct!"
So, the Moon Tribe did exist once… But if they see our marks, it could make things worse, Mei thought, clenching her fists.
"We were robbed!" Mei exclaimed. "A black-haired man stole everything from us. We have no riches to pay."
The guard's anger flared, and he swung his weapon toward Mei. She quickly dodged, her movements swift and precise.
Roy, furious, stepped in. "Watch where you're swinging your weapon!"
The guard sneered, his disdain evident. "A woman has no voice here. She simply follows! Don't pretend to know the rules." He glanced between them, his tone threatening. "If you refuse to show us your marks, you'll face punishment!"
Mei silently shook her head at Roy, signaling him not to reveal their marks. But Roy stepped in front of her protectively, glaring at the guards. "You have no right to harm her! And it's inappropriate to act this way toward anyone."
The guards exchanged a glance before lunging at them with weapons raised. Roy and Mei had no choice but to defend themselves. Mei tightened her grip on her weapon, and Roy glanced at her, determination shining in his eyes.
"Ready?" he asked.
Mei nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Ready."
The guards, shocked at Mei's combat skills, shouted, "How can a woman hold a weapon? Execute her!"
The fight grew more intense as onlookers from the village gathered. Roy held his ground with remarkable skill, while Mei managed to fend off several attackers herself. But suddenly, a strange, powdery dust filled the air.
Mei's eyes widened as she realized what it was. It's a plant dust to make us lose consciousness! She immediately cut her breath short and shouted to Roy, "Don't breathe it in!"
Roy turned toward her, worry flashing in his eyes. "Mei, watch out!"
Mei, already weakened, barely avoided a strike from behind but stumbled. Roy rushed to her side, his focus split between fighting off the guards and protecting her. However, they tricked him, landing a blow to his head and forcing him to his knees.
They continued to strike Roy mercilessly, and Mei screamed, "Stop! Leave him alone!"
Desperation filled her voice as she stepped forward. "Fine! We'll go with you! Just leave him!"
But the guards ignored her plea. When one moved toward her, intent on silencing her voice, Mei's heart raced in fear. He raised his weapon to harm her, and just as the blade glinted in the light, a cool, commanding voice rang out.
"That's enough. Such behavior toward a woman in my presence? Unacceptable."
A black-haired figure appeared, his piercing eyes locking on the guards.
"Kuroi Zen," one of the guards muttered, their faces draining of color.
Before Mei could fully process what was happening, the black-haired man swept her away from danger. Mei's vision blurred as her exhaustion took over. The last thing she saw was Zen standing tall, exuding an aura of power and dominance, before darkness consumed her.