Are you talking about sacrifice? Is sacrifice the only way to survive?
*
Ignoring the pain in his ear, Zuko quickly attempted to climb the tree trunk, which he found quite slippery. He wasn't as fortunate as Lucien, who appeared in that strange place wearing his last outfit with expensive sneakers. Zuko, wearing cheap and slippery loafers, was not at all friendly with any kind of natural terrain! Loafers were only created to walk comfortably on floors!
WROAAARRRHHH!!!
KRAAAARRRHHH!!!
SYAAAASSSHHH!!!
Drap drap drap. After a struggle, Zuko finally managed to reach where Lucien was. After that, both of them quickly tried to hasten their steps to get away from the battleground.
Not a single word was exchanged between them to interpret the situation. All that was in their minds was how to save their lives, as it seemed that some strange individuals from the battlefield had left the fight to chase after them.
"Oh my God, what have we done wrong? Why are they still chasing us? Where are we actually? MOMMY!!!" Zuko cried and screamed, even though he never had a mommy.
Drap drap drap. Amidst the noise of the two teenagers trying to interpret the situation, footsteps were heard, much heavier, from the opposite direction of the barren field, which was only populated by a few dry plants and large rocks.
Not long after, "Quick, climb up!" commanded a voice of a man, whose identity was unknown.
A knight appeared on a black horse with a sword on his back, offering safety.
Drap drap drap. Lucien looked back. The group of warriors wearing head coverings resembling spangenhelms or helmets from the Germanic or Byzantine period in the 6th to 7th century AD was getting closer to their location.
Wait, why were Zuko and Lucien, who didn't seem to belong to this world, being chased? What kind of place was this actually? What madness were they really experiencing?
With no sight of safety and many options available, coupled with his friend appearing resigned to death in his pitiful grocery store employee appearance, Lucien didn't hesitate. He immediately reached for the outstretched hand of the knight riding the black horse.
HUP. He swiftly jumped to sit on the back of the horse. With agility, he pulled Zuko's wrist, who seemed lost since a while ago. He kept looking back towards the people ready to throw large scythe-like sharp weapons, ready to decapitate them or sever their limbs if hit.
"HEAAAAAKKHH!!!"
Drap drap drap. Ngiiiik. The steps of the horse they were riding were spurred on by the unidentified knight using rowel spurs, which were wheels with sharp teeth worn on the rider's heel.
Why did the mysterious person save them? Was it the right choice to accept his hand?
"Lucien, we don't need to worry about anything," Zuko said again.
"Your ear is in that condition, Zuko. How can you still say that? What if you die, huh?" Lucien asked incredulously. He couldn't imagine what would happen if his best friend died, leaving him alone in such an absurd situation. In such an absurd world!
"I don't know why, but I believe we're just dreaming. A super-duper realistic dream somehow," he closed his eyes. "Seeing the appearance of the people fighting and chasing us from behind. Don't you notice something, Young Master Lucien?" Zuko countered.
Lucien closed his eyes. A fleeting memory of battle attire designs crossed his mind—familiar giant or titan designs. Even the design of the world, so familiar to him, forced him to consider if this place was... "But that's impossible, Zuko. We live in the real world, not in a comic, manga, or anime, and something like this would never happen."
Challenging his friend's conclusion, Zuko said, "This is the world of the game Viatrix Upheaval, Lucien! This is just a dream. We will wake up soon, and everything will be fine. Even my ear will be whole again."
"What, What has actually happened?" Lucien asked with a depressed expression while gripping his pounding head.
"I don't know what nonsense you're talking about, guys! BUT, HOLD ON TIGHT, PASSENGERS!" their brave rescuer, clad in iron armor with a slightly different design from what they had seen before, warned as he steered the sturdy quadruped animal in a different direction.
"Sir," Lucien called from behind, leaning his ear on the man's right back.
"What is it?" the rescuer responded calmly. His voice was very clear despite competing with the wind on this life-threatening journey.
"Continuing to run straight in this vast barren field would only benefit the numerous pursuers moving together, wouldn't it?" he asked.
"We indeed have to part ways!" The knight made the decision.
"Lucien!" Zuko shouted as he saw his friend and their rescuer busy talking to each other, while he couldn't even maintain his position on the horse's back. He felt his buttocks slipping due to being in the wrong place.
"Wait a moment, Zuko. I'm discussing the best way to escape from the pursuing soldiers," Lucien responded, glancing back briefly. Finally seeing the condition of his friend, who was quite badly off from riding a real horse, was truly beyond his imagination. Unlike Lucien, who had privately learned to ride horses.
And...
BRUUUAAKH. Zuko fell from the horse's back, his body, clad only in thin clothing, brutally rolling and hitting the sharp rocks and gravel of the extremely dry barren field, rolling towards the approaching soldiers.
"ZUKO!!!" Lucien shouted. This time, even though uninjured, tears unconsciously welled up in his eyes.
"We can't save him," said the rescuer, who quickly turned into a very cruel figure for letting his friend fall without trying to turn back, even though there should have been time for it before they met the pursuing troops.
"The world of Raace is not an easy world to face. You must always be ready to sacrifice others' lives for the sake of your own safety!" the man shouted.
"The world of Raace, you say? Impossible. This can't be true," said Lucien, who could only stare into the distance with empty eyes and a heartache.
Has everything ended before it even began? Will Lucien be willing to continue the adventure alone, or will he choose the same path as his best friend?