Kai had already braced himself for this moment. If ever he was awakened in the middle of the night, it could mean one of two things: it was either his turn for watch duty or danger was imminent.
He sprang awake, reaching for his sword, his body tense and mind on high alert. But as he scanned the area in a fluster, there was no sign of danger. The night was peaceful, the woods quiet, and no unfamiliar presence lurked nearby. Only Cia was sitting near him, motioning for him to be silent with a finger to her lips. Her expression was calm.
Kai took a deep breath and relaxed, realizing Ariella was sound asleep in Cia's lap. Ariella had taken the first watch so Cia could finally rest, and now it was either his turn or Cia's.
He yawned, shaking off the remnants of sleep. "Oh, ahh, do you want me to take over now, or you?" he asked, assuming it was just a matter of switching shifts.
Cia looked away slightly before speaking. "No... if it's alright with you, can we talk?" she asked softly, careful not to wake Ariella.
Kai was a little confused, but shrugged. "Sure."
Cia offered a subtle smile. "Please be honest with me… am I really in another world? Or is this all some elaborate prank? Because if it is, it's not funny at all."
Kai hesitated, realizing just how difficult this must be for her. Unlike him, she couldn't see the world around her to confirm its reality. She'd been thrown into a new world without sight, unaware of the visible changes before
being taken captive by bandits while unable to distinguish what was real and what wasn't.
With a solemn tone, Kai responded, "I'm sorry... Even I thought I was dreaming at first, but this isn't a dream. It's real. We've been transported to another world, along with many others."
Cia's composure faltered as she struggled to hold back her emotions. "Are you sure? Please, if this is all some grand prank, tell them to stop... I can't take it anymore." Said Cia in a trembling tone, at the brink of crying.
Seeing hear pained was like a stab in his heart, making him wish it's all a horrible joke. But it wasn't.
He ground his teeth, his voice was firm. "I'm serious. I know you know it yourself, a prank wouldn't last this long. And the bandits... They all need to be professional actors to fool someone like you. I know you're intelligent enough to realize it, Cia. The bandits, the danger—none of it is fake. I know it's hard to accept, but this is our reality now"
A drop of tear can't help but slip from her eyes as the truth sank in, though she remained quiet, her sorrow weighing heavily in the silence between them.
Kai curled up, hugging his knees as he stared at the distance. Not feeling nice on saying painful truths that harm others. He couldn't bear to look directly at her and instead gazed off into the distance, lost in thought.
He knew that not everyone could face this world as easily as he did. While he had little attachment to his old world - Earth. Others had so much, such as materialistic possessions like items, money, cars, houses or towering company. All of which they work so hard to achieve or spent time with. More importantly, she had family, friends and a future she arduously built. But all of it disappeared as they were plunge into a new world that operated differently.
He closed his eyes. Kai expected to hear some soft weeping, restraint crying or even a hateful scream. However, she's stronger than he thought.
After a long pause, Cia finally spoke, her voice hollow. "I see... You said 'we,' meaning there are others like us. Do you know where they are?"
Kai glanced at her before answering. "Everyone who attended the graduation ceremony was transported, just like us. They're probably scattered across this world. Besides you, I've only met one other person. You might know him, his Gabriel, from Class B."
"I've heard of him. What happened to him?"
"Not sure. He probably escaped with the other prisoners when we broke out."
She smiled dimly, feeling the breeze of night or was hiding her silent sorrow within for a moment before responding.
"I hope he's alright... I wonder... Where the others are now. The graduates, the professors, our families... I hope they're safe."
Kai, trying to offer some comfort, replied, "Don't worry too much. Your family's rich, right? Meaning your parents are wealthy. Then they're probably doing fine. Trust me, successful individuals isn't rich for no reason.
People like that always find a way."
Unexpectedly, Cia gave a soft chuckle, though it was laced with bitterness. "My parents? Yes, you're right. High-ranking people think differently compared to mundane civilians." Her head lowered. "That's why they never acknowledged a defective daughter. Despite my efforts, they didn't even attend my graduation, so they're probably still back on Earth."
Kai muttered, "Oh, Sorry about that."
"Don't be," she responded quickly. . "I miss Miss Ammy, my attendant. She was the one who always looked after me. I also miss my friends… and you?"
He knew it was to shift the conversation to avoid the somber topic.
Kai shrugged, speaking with indifference. "Honestly, I've got no worries. My parents are long gone, and the only friends I had were a couple of delinquents. Those bastards are tough, I'm sure they'll survive... And hopefully, we will meet them again."
Cia smiled softly before turning her head up, closing her eyes as the cold night breeze brushed against her face. Silence returned between them, and Kai felt the familiar awkwardness creep in. He was never good at keeping conversations going, and this one was no different. It was Cia who started it fluently, then threw simple questions he can answer. After that, he didn't know what to do.
Kaiser eyes wandered to her face, letting him watch her somber figure. Her blind hair and fair skin was beautifully peaceful outside under the glow of moonlight, but hid overflowing sadness within.
It's evident she's in pain right now, so should he give her silence or words of comfort? That said, isn't a moment of silence comforting itself. Still, she might need some words of encouragement. Or a hug, perhaps?
'Forget about it!'
While he was overthinking, Cia broke the silence.
"Hey, Kai... tell me about this world."
He flinched, hesitated for a bit and scratched his head, thinking. "I've only been here for three or four days, was it? In any case... it's kind of like Earth. The forests, at least. But the laws here aren't as strict because they let slavery and thugs like that exist." He gazed wandered on the moon above, and twinkling stars. "One grey moon, countless shimmering start and a single sun. Its really similar to Earth, but the creatures are... well, a lot more dangerous." He sighed. "The day before yesterday, or before that? Argh, anyway. Ariella and I came across a snake with limbs that day, it's more of a dragon or an anaconda, though."
Cia nodded, though she didn't respond. The silence stretched again until she finally asked.
"Kai... can you promise me something?"
He hesitated, feeling this isn't heading somewhere good.
"It depends."
Her lips curved.
"I'll take that as a yes..." Emotions drained from her face, replaced by somber indifference. "If anything terrible happens, promise me you'll protect Ariella at all costs." Her words heavy.
Kai furrowed his brow, confused. "What are you getting at?"
As if she didn't hear him, Cia added impatiently.
"And please refrain from talking to me anymore. Or even hope of forming a relationship with me, you smell. I don't like it. Goodnight."
She then lay to sleep, covering herself with a blanket. However, Kaiser's sharp words stopped her.
"I'm not dumb, you know? If you think that's enough to convince me to abandon you without feeling guilty, then think again." He struggled to keep his voice down.
Cia froze for a moment, then sighed as she covered herself with the blanket.
"I'm aware... But please, prioritized Ariella over me, protect her even if it meant forsaking me."
"And why?" Kai asked.
There was silence, eventually, she spoke.
"She's the very first person that showed me the warmth of action, not words. Ariella is a wonderful person, the most I have met. So please, take good care of her."
Emotions are too confusing. He can't understand Cia, and was starting to not understand himself anymore. And so, he searched for answers that will quench his emotions.
Kai frowned. "That's not what I'm asking. Are you seriously just going to give up? The Cia that I know back then, the blind girl everyone admired... She acts like this. Never."
His not a hellbent fan of her - just a listener to her feats on the sidelines. However, he would lying if he claims to not hold respect for her. He envied the high ranking students because of their talents, which they used to arduously climb a slanted path to greatness. She, however was inferior from birth, perhaps lower than him in terms of capabilities. Yet Cia fared against elites despite her innate disability. Kai... Can't do that in all honesty, most can't. That's what earned her many peoples admiration, even his.
Seeing the student he regarded high crumble before him, felt... Strange, as if his watching a hero he believed in fall. He didn't want that hero to despite being a mere observer from afar. He wanted to give her reason to go on.
Silence followed his words, heavy and suffocating.
"What's the point?" Cia finally whispered. "You don't understand. I'm a 'defective' person, Kai. My parents told me that with many others that my reach is limited. But I refuse, I fought for so long to prove them wrong. But now… I have nothing. All my progress is gone, so did my purpose... I'm sick of this life... And now, I'm back to zero, I have to struggle again in a more crueler world. You know I'm just a burden here, I have no future here. This isn't a place for someone like me. I just… I want an honorable end. Please... at least, let me have that."
Kai clenched his fists, unable to understand her suffering fully. His face darkened, but he couldn't find the words to respond. He opened his mouth only to close it again.
Indeed, he can't understand so what's the point of arguing with messed up rationality driven by emotions alone?
He thought for a while... And remembered the knowledge Gabriel shared with him. They're Players, therefore, possess hidden unique abilities.
"You probably given up, but know that there's hope. Transmigrators like us have these so so-called abilities... I don't know how to discover them though. But it's there."
Kaiser waited for a response.
But in the end... she said nothing. Perhaps having fully given up, or thinking Kai is making things up to motivate her.
Nevertheless, he promised.
"Cia, I won't promise what you want. But I'll promise you one thing - I'll keep you alive until you discover your ability. So... Believe in yourself more."
Her light... He refuses to let it fade into nothing.