4 Shattered Illusions

"Are you ok?"

"Ya.. I'm fine.. just a little dizzy"

Ugh.. She's moving too fast to the point where I can't even see anything.

I feel like puking.

She started giggling and slowed down her pace.

"We should be fine now"

"Uhm.. can you put me down now please.."

What's wrong with me.. shouldn't it be the other way around? Why is it me who's swooning?!

"Ehh~ It's fun to see your flustered side though~"

"If you don't put me down, I won't tell you stories anymore hmmph"

I playfully pout and turn my head the opposite direction.

"Noooo"

She placed me down and started giggling once more.

"Will your brother be fine?"

"No problem. That bastard is no match for my brother"

If she says so.. I still can't help but be worried though.

He's so nice after all so I wouldn't want for him to be harmed.

"What should we do now then?"

"For starters, I'll take you to my secret hideout"

Oh my god she has a secret hideout. How much cooler can she get.

"Sorry for troubling you.."

I hang my head down.

She's been taking care of me this whole time yet all I've done is hold her back.

"Were connected by fate so this is natural"

…

"Who's the flirt now"

I started laughing.

"Mou~ You know that's not what I meant. If you keep saying stuff like this, I'll pick you up again"

She playfully smirked at me.

"I'll behave"

While talking about random things, she led me to a hidden cave. The entrance is covered with vegetation so it's quite appropriate to call this a secret hideout.

On the way here, she killed some wolves and picked up some vegetables.

I'm guessing this is for food.

She waved her hand in a hypnotic matter and the vegetation started moving to the side.

After five seconds pass, the entrance to the cave can finally be seen.

We enter and she waved her hand once more and the vegetation closed off the entrance yet again.

The inside looked oddly comfortable.

It was a magnificent sight.

The floor is covered with vibrant verdant greens while there are mysterious trees that are glowing blue. There are fruits on the trees as well or at least I think they're fruits.

I've never seen this shape before but since it's a different world, it's nothing to be surprised about I suppose.

At the center of the cavern, a lake as clear as spring water can be found. It occupies about 2/3 of the cavern yet it's not imposing at all. In fact, it feels like without it, this cavern wouldn't be complete.

"This place looks so serene and tranquil"

"Ehehe~ You like it? I found this place by chance and I've treated it as my second home for the longest time"

"Second home?"

"Whenever I'm tired or feeling frustrated, I would go here in secrecy. You're the only person who knows this place. Not even my brother knows"

She winks at me while placing one of her fingers in front of her lips.

"Eh.. so that means this is our little secret then"

"Yup!"

She sat down on a rather small hill and patted her hands on the floor signaling me to sit beside her.

Wow..

So soft~

I feel like melting.

"You're so funny ahaha"

"How so~"

"Your expression"

"It's fine right.. this is so soft~"

Not good..

It's so comfortable that I feel my consciousness slowly fading away.

...

(*)

I open my eyes softly and see Leiya laying down while staring at me with a radiant smile.

"Did you have a good sleep?"

"Yes. How long have I been out for?"

"I don't know"

She giggled and got up.

"Are you hungry? I'll make something"

Before I could respond, she's already preparing to cook food.

Grrrr

My stomach roared in an embarrassing fashion.

I just realized that I haven't eaten in awhile now.

I get up as well. After stretching, I walk over to see what she's doing and became dumbfounded.

She was holding a piece of wolf meat in her hand while her other hand is emitting flames to roast the wolf meat.

Cooking with magic..

I give up.

Logic? I know not of it. Reasoning? Meaning I know not.

She took back her flames and all of the sudden, the wolf meat was cut into perfectly cubed pieces. She placed them on top of vegetables and handed me a plate.

This smell is too irresistible.

I didn't hesitate and quickly ate it.

Mmm!

It's delicious!

What the heck..

My mind blanked out and all of the sudden the plate was empty.

Eh..? What happened?

She started giggling and handed me another plate.

After eating god knows how many, I plop to the ground with a satisfied look.

"Did you like it?"

"Yup! I need to find out the recipe.. Is it magic? Is magic the secret ingredient to create such a magnificent dish?!"

I mumble while being in a daze.

"You don't look like someone who just got sent to a different world"

"I can't help it.. When I'm with you, it feels like all of my troubles are gone. Maybe you're right. We're connected by fate"

"Mou!"

She got up angrily and picked me up.

"Oy!"

"I told you if you keep saying things like that I'll pick you up again"

She picked me up and brought me to the soft small hill once more.

"Hey Leiya, what's going to happen now.."

Even though all my worries disappear when I'm with her, I still can't help but have this looming question on my head.

"When my brother persuades them, he'll find a way to send you back. If not then at the very least, we will treat you as an important guest so you wouldn't have to worry about anything. Worst case scenario, I'll just keep you here for the rest of our lives"

She seductively looked at me with a suggestive smile.

…

"Why are you so nice to me? We just met so you don't owe anything to me. In fact, it's me who owes you. You saved me from the wolf, defended me from more wolves and even protected me from those people.."

She stared me deep in the eyes and said,

"I should ask you the same. I tried to take your life once, and even trusted me with your life. You're from another world so you should be very confused about everything yet you're treating me as if we've known each other for so long"

I quietly ponder to think of what to say.

"...I guess we're connected by fate after all. When I'm with you, all my worries are gone"

"...I feel the same way"

She quietly holds my hand.

"If the day ever comes, I'll definitely bring you to my world. I'll show you the beauty of life and what it means to be alive. I'll bring you to many places to eat food, I'll take you to see the beautiful sceneries and I'll make sure that you have fun"

Her eyes lit up and instantly grabbed both of my hands.

"Really? You promise?"

"I promise"

"Yay!"

She got up and started jumping around.

"It's a promise ok! You can't go back on your promises!!"

"Ahaha I promise I promise"

"Oh no.. I don't know what to do first. Should we go to aquariums or should we go play video games"

I smile at her warmly. Yup. She's just a girl after all. No matter what her lifestyle has been this whole time, she's only just a girl. I'll definitely take her to that place if she's this happy about it.

I want to keep it.

Her smile that brightens my day. Her laugh that takes my breath away. Her eyes that can deflect all of my worries.

I want to protect it.

I will keep my promise no matter what.

"I'll make a promise too then. Until the day you can take me to your world, I will protect you no matter what"

She smiled brightly at me and held my hands.

"In my world, we have a way to keep promises"

"Really? How?"

She looked at me with an intrigued expression.

"Hold out your pinky"

"Like this?"

I wrap my pinky around hers.

"I promise that no matter how hard it is, I will definitely take you to my world"

She smiled at me warmly.

"I also promise that no matter how long it takes, I will wait for the day when you take me away"

We stared at each other's eyes for what feels like an eternity.

(*)

"Haruto, I'll be back ok"

It's been about half a year since I've accidentally entered this mysterious world.

It sounds like a long time yet it feels like not even a day has passed.

This goes to show how much I appreciate her company and how comfortable I am with her presence.

Every now and then, she would leave the hideout to get more food. This was one of those times.

Sometimes she would bring wolves, sometimes it's rabbits and at other times, it were beasts that I've never seen or heard of before.

I've grown accustomed to this lifestyle.

Enjoying each other's company while eating food and talking all day.

Usually, she would take about half an hour but it's been two hours already.

Well no use getting worried. She's super strong after all.

I smile warmly and patiently wait for her.

Whoosh

The vegetation that covered the cave opened much faster than usual.

Before it could open fully, Leiya can be seen sprinting inside in a swift manner.

Ever since I've been to this place, my eyes got accustomed to the unusual speed of Leiya so I can see part of her figure moving. Back then, I couldn't even see a single shadow moving.

"Leiya what's wrong?"

"Haruto, there's no time to explain right now"

After she said those words, I was already in her embrace while swiftly leaving the cave in an even faster speed than before.

"Leiya.."

"There's about a hundred soldiers headed this way. Sooner or later, they'll find out about the cave so we need to leave quickly"

She didn't say anything else and quickened her step.

I didn't say anything else.

"My sweet princess, please don't make this any more difficult than it already is"

"Xanrou!"

Ten armed men appeared behind our shadows leisurely.

"Her majesty is very worried about you. We should head back quickly to make sure she doesn't lose sleep any longer"

"Don't you dare speak of her so casually!"

The man named Xanrou started laughing in a condescending way.

"Why do you have to put it that way. We're all worried about you. I couldn't even eat ever since you've left us"

This guy.. If i wasn't so damn weak I would have broken his neck long ago!

"Were all worried for you. Don't worry, It's that scums fault that you've been confused this whole time so you wouldn't be punished for treason"

"What do you know! Haruto is innocent and he's far more trustworthy than anything your filthy mouth spouts!"

After being told by Leiya, he had an ugly expression.

"Even if you don't cooperate, don't blame us for being too rough. Don't worry, I'll make sure to treat you right though"

Xanrou licked his lips while having lecherous eyes.

"I may be weaker than my brother but you're far from my match!"

Speaking of which, I wonder what happened to her brother.

"Of course, I'm not conceited enough to think that I'm you're match"

He started laughing like a maniac and pulled out a violet crystal about the size of my palm.

"You bastard!"

"Please don't look at me like that. This was the order of the elders so of course they prepared the proper measures to capture you"

Huh?

"Leiya, is there something special about that thing in his hand?"

"It's terrible.. the item is meant to subjugate people from our tribe. Not only will our powers be drained, we wouldn't even be able to move and stay unconscious for a long period of time"

She grabbed me once more and started sprinting in an unbelievable speed.

"My sweet princess, you underestimate me too much"

Clank

Chains suddenly appeared from the ground and binded the both of us.

After being binded, Xanrou crushed the crystal and a silky violet light suddenly flew to Leiya.

"Ahhh!"

"Leiya!!!"

After being enveloped by the light, Leiya started crying in pain.

Xanrou started laughing and walked towards her with a lecherous smile.

"You bastard don't you dare touch her!"

"Oh? Is the insect still spouting filth?"

Bam!

Before I knew it, I felt an incredibly heavy strike on my body.

Pffft

I sprayed blood everywhere.

"Haruto!!!"

My consciousness is feeling hazy. This feels even heavier than the time I got sent flying by the wolf from before.

"My sweet princess don't you worry. I'll make sure to destroy this insect that's been corrupting your mind this whole time"

"When I get out of this, you'll pay for this!!!"

"Oya? And how do you expect to do that?"

He started laughing once more.

Damn it!

I bit my lip so hard to the point where it started bleeding.

Why am I so useless!!!

Because of me.. I dragged Leiya into this mess..

If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn't have agreed for Leiya to take care of me.

I was so conceited to think that nothing would happen.. That we could spend our days with carefree expressions..

"Haruto.."

"Leiya I'm so sorry.. because of me I dragged you into this mess"

"Haruto.. please don't say that.. The time that I've spent with you is far more precious than anything in the world.. so please don't look at me like that.."

Damn it....

Damn it.