Since I'm Here ...

"You ... what?" the woman asked as if not believing her own ears.

Natalia smiled shyly. She made the decision almost suddenly and unexpectedly for herself, but she was pleased with it. She knew what she was doing was escaping the real world and its problems, but she also knew that she couldn't face these problems now. Maybe she was acting cowardly, but she wanted to survive, and in her present state, she couldn't. She needed distance, she needed emotional peace, and most of all, she needed to rebuild a little self-confidence, so damaged by the undeserved hatred she was receiving.

Here in this world, even if it was just a figment of her imagination (Natalia wondered if she would ever really believe this world was real), Natalia Smuga was not a punching bag. She was a being that had its own unique value. Here Natalia was needed so much that first she was kidnapped, then some woman tried to stop her from leaving, threatening her with death.

Although Natalia Smuga found herself in a strange world that she did not know and did not understand, she did not feel fear in it. Nobody hurt her here so far, because even the kidnapping was more like a student joke. It is true that Natalia heard some serious-sounding threats, but she did not feel intimidated by them. She succumbed to them not out of fear but for the sake of peace. In a way, this parallel dimension was friendlier to her than her own world, which was literally two paces away from her.

I guess everyone needs an escape from their own reality at times. Isn't that why people watch movies and read books? Isn't that why people dream away?

But she couldn't tell them that she was afraid to go back to her world. Nor could she tell them that she was worried about Hugoarno's health, and the thought that she might ease his suffering is an equally important reason why she chose to stay. So she came up with a third, the least important to her, but certainly convincing.

"Zack said the people between our dimensions are not in contact with each other. I am the first person in thousands of years to visit your world. I can't leave when I have hardly seen anything. I think I'm owed something for the kidnapping you did on me. Some kind of compensation. "

"But ..." the woman looked completely surprised.

In fact, Natalia was surprised herself, and when she spoke her decision out loud, she felt butterflies in her stomach.

"Besides," she added quietly, as if suddenly intimidated, "I think I can still be of use here."

"It's decided," said Zack, signaling the men in white to close the portal.

Natalia watched the transition to her world disappear. She wasn't sure what she felt. Is he doing well? Is he wrong? She might regret her decision, but at that point she was determined.

"You just have to look after me," she demanded. "After all, you brought me into it all."

She waited uncertainly for their reaction. She knew that they both wanted her to stay because her presence was good for Hugoarno, but they still did not show the enthusiasm expected in this situation. Natalia was looking at him, then at her, waiting for their decision. Zach looked determined and pleased that he had already ordered the portal closed, but he seemed to be sniffing for some trouble. The woman seemed to have doubts. It was a bit strange because she herself had threatened Natalia just now, demanding that she stay.

"When Hugoarno finds out," the woman finally said, "we'll be in trouble."

So that's what they meant? They were really afraid of Archer? Indeed, when he ordered her to be sent home, he did not accept the objection. He was absolutely dominant and maybe a little… despotic? No, not really, he looked strict and serious, but if he was really His Majesty, he must have had a lot on his mind, so I guess the requirement of obedience was obvious. In addition, the whole situation with his poor health must have been very troubling him. Did he have to be very strong and commanding not to appear weak?

"No, you won't be in trouble," Natalia assured. "He himself ordered you to bring me here. I'm the one who doesn't want to leave here yet. When Zack persuaded me to come over to you, he said that I could come back whenever I wanted. Well now I don't want to. What will he do? Is he having me dragged into my house by force? "

Zack and the woman looked at each other.

"Actually, she's right," smiled Zack. "That's what I promised her."

"Actually, it's his own fault," continued Natalia. "He ordered me to be kidnapped, showed me a new world and aroused my curiosity. Yes, I wanted to go home, but if I come back now, I will regret it for the rest of my life. "

Tears sprang to the girl's eyes involuntarily. This hate made Natalia a bit too emotional for her taste, but she couldn't control herself. She quickly rubbed her eyes, pretending that something had fallen into them. Maybe she's making a show of herself, but she REALLY didn't want to go back to her world right now!

"Thank you," said the woman as she sheathed her sword. She looked confused and avoided meeting the girl's eyes. "I am Ulariye. Yes, I kidnapped you and ... I guess ... I'll take you to my place, but you'll have to follow certain rules, okay? "

"No problem," she replied with a friendly smile. "I hope your food will suit me well, because I'm so hungry! How can you kidnap people, test them, and send them home without even feeding? Barbarians! "

Her tone wasn't hostile, though, so Zack happily threw his arm over Ulariye's and with a bright smile announced:

"We brought a curious little creature to our world. Don't you think, big sister? "

"We certainly did."

***

Iza glanced at the door every time she heard steps in the corridor. But the steps always stopped at the other door.

She got up nervously and once again started going through Natalia's things for any clue, what could have happened to her? Natalia, however, disappeared as if she had dissolved into thin air. It was as if she had left the room in the middle of the night wearing only her pajamas and not wearing any shoes. But could she really have disappeared without a trace without taking her phone, money or ID?

She could, and it was most disturbing. Because if that's what happened, it meant that the hate had caused her some form of nervous breakdown and maybe even led to madness. If this happened, if Natalia, wandering the streets, half-naked, fell under a car, sooner or later the police will start investigating.

What to do? What to do?

Natalia was guilty to herself that she had brought hate on herself. People aren't perfect, none of them are, but she acted like she was. Always polite, always nice, always away from gossip and alcohol, at every party she seemed to be a saint pulled from her pedestal. She always looked as if judging. You couldn't even have a good time with her. In addition, she insisted on doing the impossible and getting the highest grade in the test, where it was impossible to get this grade.

A bit of gossip on the Internet has not hurt anyone yet, Iza decided. It was just an opportunity to teach a girl that was too arrogant. Who would have thought that Natalia would break down so easily and ...

Bruno's notes were in Natalia's bag. She recognized them easily, because she knew all the things of the roommate. If anyone else asked about Natalia, Iza could lie as much as she wanted, but with Bruno she had to be careful. If Iza decides to build their future relationship on a lie, it must be a very subtly woven lie. Usually men weren't very observant, but this one was the exception. Iza will have to think carefully about what to say to him when returning his notes tomorrow.