The sun was setting, casting the crimson sky into a deeper hue, as Chase rolled up his sleeves. The house lay in shambles around him, a mess of broken wooden beams, shattered panels, and debris. Dust lingered in the air, the last remnant of the day's earlier catastrophe. With a sigh, he set to work, carefully removing the rotted wood and stacking it to one side.
The task wasn't easy. Many of the pieces were jagged and splintered, requiring careful handling to avoid injury. Chase moved methodically, his frustration with the situation fueling his determination.
Arthur, as expected, had stormed off earlier, yelling curses at the absent Aegiron. Chase hadn't seen him since and honestly didn't care. "Let him go cool off," Chase muttered to himself. At least with Arthur gone, Chase could work in peace, without the idiot cracking jokes or causing another disaster.
By the time night fell, Chase had made decent progress. He leaned against a tree to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. The air was cooler now, the twin moons hanging overhead providing faint light. He was about to resume when he heard footsteps behind him.
Turning around, he saw Arthur returning. But he wasn't alone.
Standing beside Arthur were two girls Chase hadn't seen before. One had curly brown hair that cascaded down her shoulders and bright green eyes that sparkled in the moonlight. The other had sleek black hair tied into a loose ponytail, her almond-shaped eyes scanning the surroundings with quiet curiosity. Both were undeniably attractive, their appearances striking against the backdrop of the broken house.
Chase raised an eyebrow. Of course, he thought. Arthur's been off chasing girls this whole time.
Arthur grinned like a man who had just struck gold. "Hey, Chase! Meet Mia and Selena!" he said, his voice brimming with pride.
Mia, the girl with the black hair, nodded politely in greeting, while Selena, the one with the curly brown hair, offered a small wave.
Chase shook his head in disbelief, crossing his arms as he gave Arthur a flat look. "I thought you'd gone to complain about the house. Turns out you were busy playing the charmer," he said dryly.
Arthur, unbothered by the jab, shrugged and plopped down under the tree. "What can I say? You've got to make the most of what life throws at you," he said, flashing a toothy grin. He turned to the girls and began chatting with them, clearly in his element.
Chase ignored them and returned to his task. The pile of broken wood was still daunting, and he didn't have time to indulge in Arthur's antics. He bent down to lift another piece when he heard soft footsteps approaching from behind.
"Need a hand?" a gentle voice asked.
Chase straightened and turned, surprised to see Selena walking toward him. In the faint moonlight, he could see her features more clearly. She was stunning, her face framed by loose curls that danced with every step. Her green eyes held a spark of kindness, and her smile was warm and genuine. She was dressed simply, but there was an elegance to her movements, as if she carried herself with a quiet confidence despite their surroundings.
Chase hesitated. "You don't have to," he said. "The wood's sharp—could hurt you."
Selena shrugged, picking up a piece of debris and examining it. "I've handled worse," she said with a smile. "Back on Earth, my family didn't have much. We worked with whatever we could find to get by."
Her casual tone piqued Chase's curiosity. He stepped back, allowing her to help, though he kept a close eye to ensure she didn't get hurt. "What kind of work did you do?" he asked as they began clearing the debris together.
Selena's smile turned wistful. "Anything that paid, really. My parents ran a small farm on the outskirts of a city. It wasn't much, just enough to scrape by. I remember waking up at dawn to help my dad plow the fields, and then we'd spend hours tending to crops. My mom sewed clothes for the locals to make extra money."
Chase nodded, listening intently. "That sounds... tough," he said.
"It was," Selena admitted. "But it taught me a lot—patience, perseverance. And honestly, it made me appreciate the little things. Like this." She gestured to the pile of wood they were working on. "Clearing a mess like this? It's almost nostalgic."
Chase chuckled. "I don't think I'd call it nostalgic. More like a punishment."
Selena laughed softly, her voice light and melodic. "Maybe. But it's better than sitting around doing nothing. Besides, it's a good distraction."
They worked in silence for a few moments, the sound of wood being moved and the occasional bleat of a goat filling the air.
"What about you?" Selena asked suddenly, glancing at Chase. "What was your life like before... all this?"
Chase paused, debating how much to share. "It was... different," he said carefully. "My dad was a scientist—always working on crazy theories about other dimensions and parallel worlds. People thought he was insane."
Selena's eyes widened slightly. "That sounds... intense. Was he right?"
Chase smiled faintly, though there was a sadness in his eyes. "Yeah, he was. But no one believed him. And by the time they did, it was too late."
Selena tilted her head, sensing the weight behind his words. "I'm sorry," she said softly.
Chase shrugged, trying to shake off the memories. "It's fine. I've just learned not to expect too much from people."
Selena didn't press further, sensing that he didn't want to dwell on the subject. Instead, she focused on their task, her hands deftly sorting through the debris.
As they worked, Chase found himself relaxing. Selena's presence was calming, her quiet determination reminding him of his own resolve. It wasn't often that he met someone who seemed so grounded, so genuine.
By the time they finished, the pile of wood had been neatly stacked, and the area around the collapsed house looked much cleaner.
Selena brushed her hands off on her pants, smiling at their progress. "Not bad for a couple of rookies," she said.
Chase chuckled. "Yeah, not bad at all."
They stood in silence for a moment, the cool night air wrapping around them. Chase glanced at Selena, noting the content expression on her face. Despite everything—being stranded in a strange world, the chaos they'd endured—she seemed at peace.
"Thanks," he said suddenly.
Selena looked at him, surprised. "For what?"
"For helping," Chase said simply. "You didn't have to."
Selena smiled. "Like I said, I'm used to it. Besides, you looked like you could use a hand."
Chase smiled back, feeling a rare sense of gratitude. Maybe, just maybe, this world wasn't entirely against him.