"What are you saying so suddenly?"
"Neither of us hardly know anything about each other, but I can't understand why with everything that has happened you don't seem even a little upset."
Raidha stopped looking out the window and turned to me without changing that downcast expression.
"If I were in your shoes I would be throwing a tantrum right now. You were ripped from your world, beaten for no reason, and it isn't clear if you will ever be able to return home, yet I cannot see any trace of anger or despair in you. Don't you care about anything that could happen to you?"
"What? Of course I care."
"I can't believe it. You could have died several times, in your world, in mine, here, but you hardly seem to give it the slightest importance."
Raidha leaned a little closer to my face and locked her red gaze with mine.
"I can't see any trace of emotion in your eyes. Specifically, I have not seen them change even once in all this time. You have an indifferent glance all the time, impossible to understand… It bothers me… because I can't get the slightest idea of what you feel…"
I turned to the rearview of the car and took a look at my reflected face. Raidha had a point in her words. Not that there was no emotion on my face, just my eyes were constantly listless. Even my sister used to call me living dead because of that.
'It's not my fault… They've been like this for as long as I can remember… Since…'
A strange dissonant feeling assailed me as I stared at my reflection. I was sure that they were like this since I was born, but I did not remember at all how I was when I was a little child. Well, it's not like I cared that much either, nobody remembers a lot about when they were under five years or so. I just let it go and turned back to Raidha.
"And what about you? I don't understand you in the least either. Taking away your two-minute mindless tantrums, you always seem confident and determined, as if nothing could bring you down. What happens to you now? Don't tell me those fruits were poisonous and are affecting you…"
"No, stupid!"
Raidha yelled so close to my ear that almost made me deaf. After letting out a heavy sigh, she leaned back in her seat and stared at the sword in her hands. Her mouth drew a sad smile as she caressed it tenderly.
"I… I was sick of my life. Princess, princess, princess! I practically spend the day listening to that word all the time from faces nervous about my presence. People tend to avoid me simply for being my father's daughter. The only ones close to me are the servants who take care of me, and solely for their work. I could not endure it more…"
"I see… Well, your father is a little scary… quite..."
"My father is a good person, but when it comes to me he becomes too strict. It was not like this in the past…"
Raidha stopped stroking the sword and stared at the reflection of her on the blade.
"When I was five my mother died. Since then my father has been very overprotective of me."
"Very sorry…"
Raidha simply nodded to my comment and sulked as she looked up at the roof of the car.
"He won't let me do anything! Everything seems too dangerous to him! He barely lets me touch a sword under supervision, even though I was harshly instructed in its use in case I should ever defend myself. They also made me learn magic even more strictly for the same. Still, If I couldn't leave the house, what for?"
'Yes, there is no doubt… the typical princess…' I thought as she continued talking about her life.
"When I turned ten I got tired of always being controlled, of not being able to do anything I wanted. I began to rebel against my father and the servants themselves. I think I ended up getting really annoying," she said as she giggled.
'Do you think?! Do you just think it?!'
"That day…" she returned her gaze to Vurtalis, "I stole my mother's sword and escaped with it. I intended to see something beyond my world and return a few hours later, without attracting attention…" Her face grew saddened once more, "I never imagined that all of this would happen. We are here for my selfish decisions."
I slightly opened my mouth but was speechless at her words. I couldn't think of what to say. I just stared at her in silence.
"Despite that, I'm happy to be able to see different places… and terrified at the same time. I could have died multiple times and I'm not sure if I will be able to go home or not. It hurts me for my father, he will be suffering a lot from my disappearance. I'm also concerned about how I will be seen by him and others if I return. And you… you do not care about your situation."
I sighed looking up at the roof of the car, just like her, and forced the word out of my throat.
"Of course I care a lot… Of course I would like to go home right now… I would… I really would… Still, if I worry all the time or complain at all moments, will something change? We are trapped here after all, or at least we will be unless this sword starts working again, isn't it?"
"This sword…"
Raidha clenched Vurtalis' hilt. Her face turned completely serious, more serious than I had ever seen before, and she turned her head to me. She raised the sword and brought it decisively to me.
"This is a promise. I will return you to your world no matter what. Until then… take Vurtalis and don't return it to me until I have fulfilled it. It will be proof of my determination… Remember, it is very important for me."
That took me by surprise. I grabbed the sword without thinking of anything at all.
"Take good care of it."
"Su… sure…"
"Just trust me, okay?" She said with a pure warm smile on her face.
I stared at her with my mouth open. Her red eyes gave off a glow of their own, that matched that of her silver hair, which subtly reflected the dim light of the stars. However, that smile was much more bright and completely overshadowed them. My heart raced… she was beautiful...
'Wait, wait, wait, react! Don't just stand there gawking. She's not human!'
"Well… I will trust you," I replied, after getting my emotions under control again.
"Although we can't use Vurtalis to travel, we are not necessarily trapped. I just remembered that all the worlds are connected to each other through a kind of conduits similar to the branches of a tree as if they were its fruits. There are places where the thin barrier that separated them from their branch is thinner or slightly cracked. You could say that they are the front doors. If we are able to find them, we should be able to travel directly up the tree."
"Great… How are we going to find that?"
"I remind you that I am a Silphen. Don't underestimate our capabilities!" She proudly lifted her chest, "I may be weak but I am still able to notice these cracks. I am also sure that I can open a portal in those places directly with my magic, even in my current state. The only problem is… I don't know where we can end up after entering one."
"Well, it's better than nothing."
"Right? Luckily for us, I can notice a relatively close one."
"Ok, let's go with it," I answered decisively.
Raidha nodded with the same determination as me.
"And remember, I have entrusted you with my mother's sword! If you lose it, you will suffer something worse than death!"
"Understood, princess! I will take care of it as if it was a part of me!"
We shook hands, sealing the promise. No matter how you put it, it didn't seem like the best plan in the world. It was full of dangers and setbacks, but somehow my morale had just skyrocketed.
"But for today let's sleep. The best will be to regain strength for tomorrow. Goodnight, Raidha."
"Goodnight."
And so, the talk too sentimental for my liking ended. The princess was again the same one I met the first day. I preferred her that way, dealing with someone depressed was never my strong suit.
'Who knows… maybe it wouldn't be so bad… just to be Drayd.'
I leaned back and closed my eyes. However, my mind kept thinking about a lot of things. Above all, I couldn't forget that voice in my head. I didn't understand why, but somehow, it looked familiar...
***
The sun came out and woke me up with its light. After getting the sleep off a bit, I felt a weight on my belly. Looking down I could see a silver handkerchief on my lap.
"What is this? A blanket?"
I touched it. Fine silky threads slipped between my fingers. I instantly realized what it was, Raidha's hair.
'Wait, if the hair is here… on the other side is… Shit, bad time to sleep on my lap, I just woke up!'
"Is it morning already?"
Raidha opened her eyes and began to slowly get up…
"Eh? What is this? Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"