After Manahu destroyed the cabin, he lay on the ground for several minutes, staring blankly at the sky. Fortunately, no Beasts of Silence heard the commotion. The tetloch and I tried to bother him to get a reaction, but he simply enclosed himself in a barrier. I sat beside him trying to cheer him up. Strange: up until now it had been the other way around. After a few minutes with no response, I started clearing the debris to salvage whatever could be saved.

  Eventually Manahu stood up and began making some kind of... soup? He dried dulcinigra shells, pulverized them, mixed them with ash, boiled them, and in the end there was a thick red paste.

  "T: Ew... are we going to eat that?"

  "M: It's not food."

  "T: Huh? Then..."

  "M: Sit down. I'm going to dye your hair."

  "T: ...Huh?"

  And after a few minutes I was sitting on a rock while Manahu dyed my hair. It felt like he had gone back to being the same grumpy guy from the first day.

  "T: It wasn't my fault."

  "M: I know."

  "T: Then why are you punishing me?"

  "M: What are you talking about?"

  "T: This... isn't it a form of punishment?"

  "M: No. Is it in your world?"

  "T: Not really. Cutting hair would be, but then why are you dyeing it?"

  "M: Do you remember the first day? When I asked if you were a soldier from Steelson."

  "T: I think so. What does that have to do with it? You never told me who they are."

  "M: Another nation. Eleven years ago there was a war against them. Atloxokli won, but... many people lost their lives."

  He stayed silent for a few seconds, closing his eyes before continuing.

  "M: The vast majority have gray hair and eyes. Although they were recently allowed entry again, some of us still harbor hatred toward them. With your hair like that, it's almost certain people in the capital won't treat you kindly."

  A war? Hatred?... I think I'm starting to understand why he almost never talks about his family.

  "T: But wouldn't it be worse if someone finds out I'm hiding my hair color? And besides, my eyes are still there. I doubt contact lenses exist here."

  "M: It's fine. They're fanatics. Anyone who dares to dye their hair is frowned upon by their own people. It's really not to hide you—it's to make you look less... unpleasant."

  "T: Wow, thanks. You must be really popular with the girls."

  "M: ...Sorry. What I meant was..."

  "T: It's okay, I know you didn't mean it like that... You know, back in my world my parents never let me dye it, and my brother said my natural hair looked more beautiful than any other color I could have... I didn't agree, but... I think I'm starting to miss my black hair. I wonder what they would say if they saw me now."

  I began to remember all the arguments with my parents about it. They were pretty strict about some things. I never understood what the problem was with dyeing my hair, but right now I wished they were here to scold me.

  "M: I don't know, but I'm sure they would be happy to see you."

  "T: Yeah, I'm sure they would."

  I imagined what it would be like to be with my family again: hugging them, telling them how much I love them. I wiped away the tears that were starting to escape my eyes.

  "T: On the other hand... how do you know how to do this?"

  "M: ...I... used to help my father dye my mother's hair. She was a fire mage, so she liked to be 'in tune' with her element."

  Despite his monotone voice, I could feel pain behind his words. I guess I'm not the only one in this world who suffers after all.

  We spent the rest of the day dyeing my hair. At night we lay on our backs in the open air, under the wonderful starry sky. The tetloch curled up together beside the campfire.

  "T: You know, if it weren't for the 'tiny' fact that I don't know how I got here or how to get back, I wouldn't mind coming to this world from time to time. Its sky is more beautiful than mine. I wish I had my telescope."

  "M: Hmm, I think it's beautiful too, though for me it's just the usual sky. I guess that's why I don't appreciate it enough. By the way, what's a telescope?"

  "T: Oh, right. Well, you see, a telescope..."

  I spent several minutes explaining planets, star systems, galaxies, and all the wonders of the universe—at least of mine. And unlike the explanation of the microscopic, Manahu seemed to understand better this time.

  "M: I see... so that's how it works. Though it's a bit hard for me to imagine such abysmal distances and sizes."

  "T: To be honest, I don't think anyone really can. I guess the human mind simply isn't built for it."

  "M: Hey... do you think your world is out there?"

  "T: I doubt it. It's true that our universes seem to share similar laws—I don't think I could be alive if they were too different—but even if we can't use it, we would definitely have discovered magic if it existed in ours. Well... there are magicians, but it's a different kind of 'magic'."

  "M: In what sense?"

  "T: Well..."

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  The night passed as I energetically told all kinds of stories from my world. In reality this was starting to feel more and more like a camping trip; all that was missing was some marshmallows and a guitar. I smiled: somehow it felt similar to all those late-night chats with my friends. Between one conversation and the next, I eventually fell asleep.

  The next morning we used the wood to make an improvised cart, a cage for the tetloch, gathered everything useful and valuable, and began our journey to the capital. It was quite heavy; we pulled the cart up toward the mountain peaks. As we moved farther from the forest, ironically the road seemed more and more lively. The sounds of birds and small insects could be heard. Meanwhile, Manahu looked tired and kept yawning; he had probably spent the whole night keeping watch.

  "T: It's a shame about your cabin."

  "M: You seem sadder than I am."

  "T: Well, I was getting used to it. Even if it was dangerous, somehow it made me feel safe. But anyway, if I'd stayed I probably never would have found a way back to my world."

  "M: ...I want you to know that I'm still not sure we'll be able to find any way to do it."

  "T: I know, but as they say in my world: 'hope is the last thing to die'."

  "M: ...I suppose that's a good way to think."

  We took short breaks from time to time. Unlike Manahu, I still can't properly use light magic to strengthen my body, but fortunately I'm quite athletic. Back in my world I used to practice karate. "I guess it's not a bad idea to get back into exercise." While I got lost in my thoughts, a figure on the road caught my attention: an elderly man covered in cloth, walking hunched over slowly with a cane. He looked tired, so I approached.

  "T: Uh... good afternoon, sir. Do you need help? Are you heading to the capital? You can come with us if you..."

  Manahu, who had been taking a short nap, woke up when he heard me talking and...

  "M: Huh? Titla, who are you...? GET AWAY FROM THAT THING!"

  "T: Huh? Bu..."

  I turned to look at him. He stood up abruptly; his eyes were wide open. And when I turned my gaze back to the man, I could see his hand moving swiftly toward my chest. I closed my eyes, covering myself from the blow with my arms. Moments later I heard something impact. When I opened my eyes again I was inside a barrier. The old man's hand had crashed against it. And upon looking closer I realized: he has no jaw, he's extremely thin and pale. Clearly not human.

  "T: What... what is that?"

  Still not understanding what was happening, the barrier disappeared and I felt myself being pulled back until I ended up behind Manahu, who lunged straight at the creature and swung his sword at it. The creature shielded itself with its arms and cane. It tried to attack Manahu, but he defended himself with barriers. After a couple more impacts, Manahu managed to cut off its arms and finally landed a blow on its body. The creature fell to the ground. The crystals on the sword lit up, releasing a water blade at the same time as he slashed with the sword, severing the head from the body. Blood began to form a small puddle on the ground. I stood watching the scene speechless.

  "M: But what the hell? Why is this thing he...?"

  And without giving time to breathe, a sharp pain struck my ears.

  "T: Ahhhh!"

  "M: Ughhhh!"

  An intense, high-pitched sound pierced through my head. I quickly covered my ears, but it didn't help much. After a few moments the sound stopped. I looked around confused. Manahu had conjured another barrier. When I looked at him I noticed a slight grimace of pain, but he was focused staring at the sky. And there was what looked like a giant bat.

  "M: Don't stop covering your ears. I'm going to lower the barrier."

  The crystals on the sword lit up again and just as he lowered his barrier that infernal screech appeared again. At the same time multiple water blades shot toward the sky, striking one of the bat's wings. The sound stopped and it fell to the ground. We approached it. It was writhing and upon seeing us it attacked again with that sound. Manahu quickly finished it off with an ice stake to the chest. After a few seconds of agony it finally went still.

  "T: What... are those things?"

  I looked closer at the bat. It was as big as a human, with huge sharp fangs protruding from its mouth and one of its arms seemed to form a large blade with its claws.

  "M: The first one was a 'Broken Face.' This one here is a 'Death Bat.' But I don't understand: they shouldn't attack in broad daylight."

  While Manahu stayed thoughtful, I looked incredulously at the bodies of those monsters. I already know I'm in another world, but seeing those... things makes me want to run away like the first day I arrived. My gaze fell again on the first creature.

  "T: Manahu, what... what would have happened to me if... you hadn't woken up?"

  My question snapped him out of his thoughts and, after turning to look at me, he looked away again.

  "M: ...It would have ripped out your heart. That's what they do: they trick people into approaching them, just like with you."

  "T: My... heart?"

  At the same time my heartbeat began to grow faster and stronger. I could even hear it. I brought a hand to my chest and felt how hard it was pounding against it. Death... not even a full day outside the forest and I was already on the verge of dying? What would have happened if Manahu had reacted one second later? Can I really find a way back? What if I die before I do? No, I can't, I won't make it, I won't make it, I won't make it... My breathing grew heavy, the air wouldn't fill my lungs, the world blurred. But right then a hand rested on my shoulder.

  "M: Hey, snap out of it. You're getting worked up. I know that was close, but you're alive. I doubt we'll run into more of those things. Besides, once we reach the capital the most dangerous part will be over. Just... breathe, okay?"

  "It's true, I'm alive. As long as I am, there's always a chance to get back. I just have to keep going until I find the way." I closed my eyes, brought my hands to my face, breathed through them. Little by little, after several seconds, my breathing and heart rate slowed more and more until they were almost normal. I took a deep breath, brought my hands to my chest, and opened my eyes again.

  "M: Are you feeling better?"

  I was still a bit shaken, but for now it was manageable.

  "T: Yeah, I think so... Thanks for not slapping me this time."

  "M: You're welcome. Just—from now on stay away from anything that looks even remotely suspicious and don't get separated from me. Remember you're not in your world anymore."

  "T: ...I know."

  After Manahu made sure again that the monsters were dead, a voice in the distance caught our attention. When we turned we saw two strangers approaching at a run. My heart began beating faster as they got closer, but Manahu placed his hand on my shoulder again, calming me. Eventually a woman reached us.

  —??: Hey, hey... ugh... thank you so much. Those damn monsters wouldn't let us pass. Seriously, thanks for killing them.

  She was... strange, but not in a bad way. In fact... she was kind of pretty, at least her face. Otherwise... cat ears, tail, and fur in some parts of her body... She reminded me of jaguars and definitely looked like some kind of animal-human hybrid from the fantasy stories of my world. Behind her was... a man? But he was different: he looked less human and more like a giant humanoid bird. If I had to compare him to something, I guess the closest would be an eagle. Now that I think about it, these are the first "people" I've seen since Manahu. Could he be the "weird one"? Still shaken from the previous encounter, I turned to look at him. He nodded with his eyes, indicating that the situation—at least for now—was safe.

  —Eagle: Yeah, we've been waiting all afternoon for them to leave, but they just wouldn't.

  —Jaguar: By the way, friend, you were incredible. You used space barriers, right? And ice magic too. That's impressive. You must be really skilled to be advanced in both at such a young age.

  They seemed friendly. They sounded relieved and quite impressed by Manahu's skill. Is he really that rare? Well, on some occasions he had already said he's someone "special," but I guess he's rarer than I thought.

  —M: You're welcome and uh... thanks.

  —Jaguar: No, thank you guys, really. By the way... I see you have a cart with you. Would you mind if we traveled together? We have a wagon. You can put your things on it. You're also heading to the capital, right?

  —M: Yes, but there's no need to...

  —Jaguar: Please, I insist. Without you we would have had to go around or face the monsters. Take it as a way to thank you.

  —Eagle: Yeah, anyway you don't seem to be carrying much. Plus we're not in a hurry; it won't make any difference for us. Seriously, we want to thank you somehow.

  Manahu seemed to think about it for a few seconds before speaking.

  —M: Alright. Anyway, we're already a bit tired. Thanks. By the way, my name is Shilt from Atlan. And you?

  "Huh? Wait... Shilt? Atlan? Wasn't he suppo—"

  —Eagle: I'm Mopat. My companion is Istla. We're from Cuavitra. And you, young lady, what's your name?

  The eagle turned toward me and before I could answer, Manahu spoke for me.

  —Manahu: She's Luz. I'm her partner.

  ...

  WHAT?