Ubuntu walked, his hands stuffed in his pockets, no destination in mind and no real motivation beyond putting one foot in front of the other. The sun had fully dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in shades of deep blue and black, the air cool and still. He hadn't bothered to check where he was going. He figured something would eventually come up—it always did. In this world, trouble was like a persistent itch. You could never walk too far without it showing up.
He thought back to the fight he'd just had. The hooded figure who'd mentioned the girl. Apparently, she was more important than he realized. It was a strange feeling—he'd dismissed her earlier, thinking she was just another damsel in distress. But something was brewing, something deeper than the usual power struggle.
But for now? He needed to figure out where he was going to sleep. Or at least where he could find his next meal.
As he stepped out of the dense part of the forest, a distant noise caught his attention. The sound of hooves clopping against a dirt road. Slowly, a carriage came into view on the trail ahead, its lanterns glowing faintly in the dim light. It looked a little too fancy for this part of the woods, almost out of place among the twisted trees and overgrown brush.
"Huh," Ubuntu muttered. "Not exactly the kind of thing you expect to find in the middle of nowhere."
The carriage slowed as it approached him, and he stepped off to the side, watching as it passed. He wasn't planning on getting involved. In fact, he was considering just heading in the opposite direction, when suddenly, the door to the carriage creaked open. A familiar voice called out from inside.
"You! Wait!"
Ubuntu stopped, turning to face the carriage, squinting to get a better look at who was calling him. The figure stepped out, and as the lantern light illuminated her face, he realized it was her—the girl he had saved back in the forest.
She jumped down from the carriage, her expression sharp and confident, nothing like the panicked girl he'd left behind. She had swapped her torn clothes for a more regal outfit—deep blues and silver, with intricate patterns woven into the fabric. Her long dark hair, previously disheveled, was now pulled back, highlighting the serious expression on her face.
"Well, well," Ubuntu said, raising an eyebrow. "Look who's all cleaned up. I almost didn't recognize you."
She folded her arms, clearly unimpressed by his sarcasm. "I've been looking for you. You left without an explanation."
"I saved you, didn't I?" he replied, leaning against a nearby tree. "Figured that was enough."
"Is that how you operate? Save someone's life and just walk away like it's no big deal?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. There was no trace of gratitude or shyness in her tone now—just sharp, calculating intelligence. "Because it's not over. You're in deeper than you think."
Ubuntu tilted his head, intrigued by the sudden shift in her demeanor. "Oh? Enlighten me, then. What exactly did I stumble into?"
She stepped closer, looking him directly in the eye. "My name is Amara. And if you hadn't run off after our last encounter, you'd know that I'm the heir to the Ishmara Dominion."
Ubuntu blinked. "The what now?"
She sighed, clearly annoyed at his lack of knowledge. "The Ishmara Dominion. One of the largest and most powerful kingdoms in the region. And you, whether you realize it or not, have just tangled with one of our biggest enemies."
"Enemies?" Ubuntu repeated, his interest piqued. "You mean that guy I just turned into scrap metal?"
"Exactly," Amara replied, her voice firm. "The Sovereign has been an enemy of my family for years, slowly gaining influence over the other kingdoms. His forces are dangerous, ruthless, and they've been closing in on the Ishmara Dominion from all sides. That's why I was out there in the forest, in the first place."
"Right," Ubuntu said slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "But that doesn't explain why he's so interested in you."
Amara's eyes flickered, a trace of hesitation crossing her face. "That's… complicated."
"Uh-huh," Ubuntu said, waiting for her to elaborate.
Amara sighed, folding her arms again. "Look, I'm not going to lay out every political nuance for you right now. Let's just say that the Sovereign has been gathering power, and he's looking for something—or someone—that will give him an edge. My family has been one of the few standing in his way."
Ubuntu crossed his arms, leaning against the tree. "And you're the 'someone,' I take it?"
"Possibly," she admitted, her gaze shifting toward the forest. "I don't know exactly why he wants me, but it's tied to the conflict between our kingdoms. The Sovereign's forces are growing stronger every day, and now that I've encountered you, I know we're not dealing with just another skirmish."
Ubuntu raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what do you mean, 'encountered me'? I'm just a guy who's been punching his way through your problems."
Amara met his gaze, her expression serious. "There's more to you than that, isn't there?"
Ubuntu paused, his usual flippant attitude fading slightly. She wasn't wrong—he knew there was more to his situation, more to the power he'd gained in this world. But it wasn't something he liked to think about. It was easier to smash through problems than to question why he was here in the first place.
"Let's focus on the bigger issue," Amara said, cutting through the silence. "The Sovereign's forces are not going to stop coming after me. You've already tangled with them twice, and trust me, more are on the way. This is going to get worse before it gets better."
"Sounds like a you problem," Ubuntu replied, though his tone lacked its usual bite.
Amara frowned. "That's where you're wrong. It's our problem now. You're tied to this, whether you like it or not. The Sovereign doesn't forget, and he'll come after you just as hard as he'll come after me."
Ubuntu sighed. "Great. So, what's the plan, then? Am I supposed to play bodyguard now?"
Amara shook her head. "No. You're more than that. We need to figure out why you're able to hold your own against his forces—what makes you different. That might be the key to stopping him."
"Key to stopping him, huh?" Ubuntu echoed, rubbing his chin. "Alright. So what's next?"
Amara gestured toward the carriage. "I was heading back to Ishmara. If you come with me, we can start figuring things out there. My family has resources, knowledge—things that might help you understand your power. And in exchange…"
"In exchange, I help you fend off the Sovereign's goons," Ubuntu finished for her.
Amara nodded. "Exactly."
He paused, considering the offer. He wasn't big on getting tied up in grand political schemes, but the alternative was wandering aimlessly and dealing with an endless stream of villains without any answers. At least with Amara, there was a chance to learn more about what was happening in this world—and maybe, just maybe, figure out what his role was in all of it.
"Fine," Ubuntu said, pushing off from the tree. "But if you think I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart, you've got the wrong guy."
Amara smiled faintly. "I wouldn't expect anything else from you."
She turned and motioned to the carriage. "Get in. We'll be in Ishmara by sunrise."
As the carriage rumbled down the road, Ubuntu found himself staring out the window, the moonlight casting shadows across the rolling hills in the distance. Amara sat across from him, her expression calm but focused, her mind clearly on the challenges ahead.
"So," Ubuntu said, breaking the silence. "This Ishmara place… what should I expect?"
Amara looked up, her gaze meeting his. "Ishmara is strong, but it's not invincible. The Sovereign has been chipping away at our alliances, trying to isolate us. My father, the king, is holding things together for now, but we're going to need more than strength to win this."
"Sounds like a mess," Ubuntu muttered.
"It is," Amara admitted. "But it's a mess worth fighting for. The Sovereign doesn't just want power—he wants control. If he takes over, he'll erase everything that makes this world worth living in."
"And you think I'm the missing piece of the puzzle?" Ubuntu asked, leaning back in his seat.
Amara gave him a long, thoughtful look. "I think you're more important than you realize."
Ubuntu chuckled, folding his arms behind his head. "Well, let's hope you're right."