First meeting with someone
After dinner, it started to get dark and I had to camp out. Luckily, I had good survival skills, which I had learned in my previous life. The experience was invaluable as we learned the basics of surviving in the wild with little supplies, in anticipation of a disaster should one occur.
Night was falling over the forest, and the temperature was slowly dropping. By the dim light of the campfire, I started gathering twigs to make a makeshift tent. It took a full hour to arrange the twigs into a sturdy tent frame. Every twig knot, every rope knot, everything had to be perfect for this tent to provide enough protection. I tried hard, remembering all the survival lessons I had learned.
As the tent began to rise, a sense of relief swept through my heart. I knew I had successfully created a temporary shelter in the middle of this strange forest. The campfire I'd made earlier was still burning gently, providing some warmth and light. To sustain the fire, I went back to look for a few more twigs, ensuring that it wouldn't go out in the middle of the dark night.
Toward evening, with the campfire emitting a warm orange glow, I sat near it and began to contemplate what lay ahead. The firelight danced in my eyes, creating shadows that moved around my campsite. The silence of the forest at night was only broken by the rustling of leaves and the occasional cry of a night bird.
Talking to myself, I tried to shake off the stress and confusion. "What will happen next? How can I survive in this world?" I muttered, my words flying with the campfire smoke into the star-studded night sky. There was no one to talk to, no human voice but my own. This loneliness was overwhelming, like a black hole that pulled in all hope and strength.
However, drowsiness slowly overtook me. My eyes began to feel heavy, and the warmth of the campfire made me even sleepier. I lay down inside the tent I had made, letting my eyes close slowly. "I have to stay strong," I thought before finally falling into a deep sleep.
In the midst of my deep sleep, without realizing it, a pair of glittering eyes stared at me from behind the bushes. Those eyes, filled with curiosity and menace, watched my every move, as if I were prey ready to be pounced upon at any moment. The night continued, with the sounds of the forest continuing to fill the silence, while I drifted off to sleep unaware of the dangers that might lurk in the darkness of the night.
.
..
...
Midnight.
*Sound of rustling*
I woke up suddenly to a disturbing rustling sound. In the darkness, I didn't get up immediately, remaining alert yet calm. The sound could have come from a wild animal or someone snooping around. With my body tense and breath held, I tried to ascertain the source of the sound without arousing suspicion. Right now, I was in a forest that was unfamiliar and full of danger.
Slowly, without making any sudden movements, I reached for the spear I had placed beside my makeshift bed. My fingers felt the coldness of the wood of the spear, providing a slight sense of calm amidst the uncertainty. Carefully, I waited for the right time to make my move, watching every movement of the black shadow that was getting closer to the tent.
'It looks like this guy is alone,' I thought with perhaps too much confidence, considering that my current form was just a weak little kid. 'Fortunately, then I won't have to worry about running out of energy to handle just one person.' My mind was full of courage mixed with foolishness, yet I had no choice but to face this situation.
When the shadow began to peek out from the tent entrance, that's when I moved quickly. With surprising speed, I thrust my spear at the shadow without mercy, hoping to stop the threat before it became more serious.
"Hiik!" A feminine voice rang out from the shadowy figure, instantly making me deflect the direction of my spear. Even so, my spear still managed to scratch the figure's face, leaving a thin wound that flowed blood.
"Kyaaa!" The figure screamed, the sound of pain and fear mixed in her scream. I could see her clutching her injured cheek, tears flowing freely from her fearful eyes.
"Who are you?" I had no sympathy for her, my spear still pointed at him. My eyes narrowed, trying to assess the situation in the dimly lit darkness. The tears streaming from her eyes showed that she was crying, but I couldn't let my tenderness get the better of me. My personal safety came first.
''It looks like she's crying,' I thought, but I kept my guard up. Although my heart was a little touched, I knew I had to stay strong.
"Tell me who you are!!!" I shouted once more, my voice full of forced bravado, trying to show that I wasn't afraid. The figure sobbed, bowing its head as if it didn't know what to answer.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to intrude," the voice trembled, reflecting deep fear. She looked like a young girl, perhaps my age in this form, or even younger
Since I was convinced that she was no threat, I ventured forward and looked at her face illuminated by the moonlight. Her golden hair shimmered beautifully like silk reflecting the light, her face cute with large eyes that were still watery. Her body was petite, dressed like a fairy with a striking green color and clothes that were rather revealing for her age.
"Tell me, what's your name!" I said, my voice firm even as I tried to calm myself down.
"I-it's... Bella, my name is Bella!" she replied in a nervous voice, almost choked by the sobs that hadn't completely dissipated.
'Hmm...' I thought as I considered the situation. After a while, I lowered my spear and corrected my posture to make it straighter and less intimidating. "Alright, Bella, where are you from?"
She rubbed her eyes that were still watery from crying, the scratch marks on her cheeks still clearly visible under the moonlight. "Sniif~... I'm from Alferusia," she replied with her body still trembling. I could feel how scared she was, even though I tried to show that I had no intention of hurting her again.
"Alferusia? I've never heard of it. Is it the name of a city, place, or country?" I asked again, trying to understand more about this world.
Bella shook her head in a slightly funny way, like an animated character who mesmerizes the audience with her innocent and adorable behavior. Her innocent movements momentarily made me think of the cute scenes in animations that I had watched in my previous life.
"No! It's the name of the capital!" she replied firmly, though her voice was still shaky.
I observed Bella more closely, trying to process the information she provided. Capital? This means she comes from a pretty important place. However, how did a little kid like her end up in the middle of this dark and dangerous forest? My curiosity deepened, but I didn't want to frighten her further.
"What happened in Alfuresia, Bella? Why are you here?" I asked in a softer tone, trying to show that I cared and wanted to help her.
She seemed to flinch when I asked her that. As I expected, it seems like she and I are the same age. "I-I, it's...." She looked nervous and suddenly fell silent, her lips trembling as if words were hard to come out of her mouth.
*Sound of stomach rumbling*
The voice echoed amongst the silence of the night, making the atmosphere a little awkward. It was the first awkward moment I had felt since reincarnating. I saw Bella blush, her face flushed pink, bowing her head deeper.
"Haah..." I let out a tired sigh, trying to lighten the mood. My eyes glanced at the roasted yams I had previously gotten for my breakfast. I managed to find three wild yams and had already eaten two of them. The rest I saved for breakfast later in the morning. However, looking at Bella who was starving and embarrassed, I knew what I had to do. I could look for more yams tomorrow.
My eyes went back to Bella who was still bowed in shame, both hands clutching her rumbling stomach. The hunger was clearly making her more nervous and uncomfortable. "Well, this conversation is going to be long, so why not eat first?" I offered in a softer tone.
I picked up the last yam from near the campfire, slowly holding it out to Bella. The firelight dancing on her face revealed an expression of surprise and doubt. She looked at the yam for a moment before finally reaching out carefully, accepting the food I offered.
"T-thank you," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper. She began to bite into the sweet potato slowly, tears still visible in the corners of her eyes but now mixed with gratitude.
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Author note:
Bella Character Description
Name: Bella
Age: 8 years old
Appearance: Bella is a petite elven girl, standing about 120cm tall. She has flowing golden hair that cascades down her back in soft waves, often catching the light and shimmering with a natural glow. Her eyes are a striking emerald green, large and expressive, often reflecting her emotions vividly. Her elvish ears are elegantly pointed and stand out from her hair. Bella's skin is pale and smooth, with a delicate rosy tint to her cheeks, enhancing her youthful innocence. She typically wears clothes of fine green fabrics that blend with the forest, decorated with intricate designs that signify her royal lineage. Her clothing is both practical for life in the forest and indicative of her royal status, combining beauty with functionality.