You might not know me, but I know you. You are an important pawn in LunarStellar.
Suddenly, Lilya's eyes closed on their own. She heard the whispering voice, not knowing what to do. Her right hand was released, trying to reach for her parents.
You want an adventure more exciting than around your home, right? You want that to happen, right?
The person's words spurred Lilya on. Apparently, there was a more exciting adventure that might make Lilya more excited. "Yes," she answered.
Well, then I can give it to you. A real adventure that you will never forget in your life!
Lilya cheered. "Then I want my parents to come with me. Dad can protect me. And Mom can-"
Oh, unfortunately, your parents cannot come with you. You have to go through this adventure alone. Don't worry, your parents will be fine, hopefully.
Lilya was faced with a choice. She could refuse and everything would pass as usual, and the next day she and her parents would go adventuring near their home. But this time she had the chance to experience a real adventure, an adventure that felt exciting to Lilya. She was sad to leave her parents behind like that while she was gone.
"Wait, let me think." There was no reply from the voice. Only the sound of the breath of the voice.
Okay, you have 10 seconds to make up your mind. If you still haven't given it, I'll do it myself without your consent.
"Wait, isn't that-"
Nine, eight, seven.
Lilya felt very pressured by the time limit given by the person. She really wanted to go, but she couldn't leave her parents just like that. Lilya loved her parents, so she wanted to make them happy by not being a child who could take care of herself. Lilya lifted her head, making up her mind.
"I want to go!" Lilya answered firmly.
Good, I like your answer. Honestly, I have no right to say this, but enjoy my efforts to save you. My request is only one. Please be a good child and see this world from a different perspective, the reality of it!
Lilya's body suddenly weakened to the point where she could feel something pressing on her head. Everything she saw turned black. She heard some strange sounds echoing around her. Gradually, a voice could be heard through both of her ears, and she also felt a strange texture on her feet. Lilya could feel her bare feet being touched by the breeze that could be felt clearly. However, she also felt the heat sensation from under her bare feet.
To gather her courage, Lilya begins to open both her eyes. What she sees is a very unfamiliar sight to her. She no longer sees the floor of her house, but a dirty street filled with particles that nearly make her eyes blink. There is even a castle at the edge of her vision.
She hears the sound of many horse steps and carts passing by, and the blowing of dust that keeps reaching her and touching her face. Not stopping there, she also sees a group of people gathering and crowding around someone who is carrying something and handing them over in exchange for a cloth bag from the crowd.
Lilya realizes that she is now in a very different place from where she has always lived. There are no lush trees around her, and the sounds are not silent but fill her head, which gradually becomes unable to bear the many noises entering her ears.
Lilya hears some footsteps approaching her. "Hey, look, she has Demi-human ears," says one of several people.
"Isn't it very rare for a Demi-human to be here?" answers someone next to her.
"Maybe this child doesn't know anything?"
"What are you waiting for? Capture her! Opportunities like this are rare," answers another person next to him.
One of the three people begins to approach Lilya. "Hey, kid, are you lost?"
Lilya turns to face the person who called her. A big and taller man puts on a face that wants her to come closer.
Feeling called, Lilya walks towards the man without feeling anything wrong with the gentle call to her. The man's hand is extended to be received by Lilya, and the gentle gaze gradually produces a broad smile.
However, as she walks closer, she hears her mother's voice whispering to her. "Remember Lily, if you see someone unfamiliar, never approach them! Even if their behavior seems good or does not show any signs of wrongdoing, there must be a hidden motive behind their actions."
After recalling those words, Lilya realizes her mistake from earlier at home. Lilya agrees to the adventure, so the request is truly granted. However, it seems that the person is intentionally following Lilya's game. She has been played.
Lilya's steps stop just before she reaches the man's grasp. Lilya's gaze, which previously ignored her surroundings, now becomes aware of the purpose of the extended hand. She will be caught. Her feet move automatically, making her run away from the man.
"Wait...?" Lilya looks into the man's eyes, gradually realizing that what she thought was true.
Without thinking long, Lilya turns back from the man and uses both legs to extend the distance between herself and the man. The breath that comes out of her nose is uncontrollable, causing a feeling of suffocation to enter her.
"Hei, don't run!" One of them yells at her. Both of his legs are launched to chase Lilya.
"I told you to just catch her!" The rest of them follow the man to chase Lilya.
"Don't come near me!" Lilya screams as she faces behind her.
The longer she runs, the more noisy sounds she hears from both of her ears. She starts to see the number of people around her. Somehow, she feels a little dizzy seeing or hearing the sounds of those people. She has never seen as many people as this in her life, but that is not what she should be thinking about right now.
Dust was flying, touching Lilya's eyes. A momentary pain entered her eyes deep enough that she had to wipe them. At that moment, Lilya was unaware that she was standing in front of something.
A wheeled cart, pulled by a group of horses, was blocking the only way out that Lilya had. Seeing it, Lilya couldn't stop her feet from running; she ran towards the cart.
Unknowingly, she bent down and slid through a narrow gap under the cart. Luckily, her body size was not too big for the cart's size, and she managed to escape from underneath it.
"She's fast!" Lilya recovered her body and continued running from the three chasing men.
"I escaped, didn't I?" Lilya's running slowed down; her body was tired, and she took a deep breath.
However, before Lilya could even pull herself together, a large hand patted her right shoulder. Her whole body froze at that moment. She was too scared to look back, and she didn't have the courage to do so.
"You are far from home, dear. Kritia is a hell for you." Her shoulder was pulled by that hand, forcing her to face the person who patted her shoulder.
As Lilya looked at the person, all the sounds she heard suddenly faded as if she had lost her ability to hear. There was nothing else but a man wearing the same clothes as the three men who chased her.
"You're not going anywhere!" Another hand grabbed Lilya's neck.
The grip was so strong that Lilya was lifted by it. Both of her hands tried to free herself, but it was in vain because she couldn't control her body that was gradually losing access to her consciousness. Slowly, her sight faded until it closed completely