Rou slowly awakens, feeling the gentle sway of the carriage and the softness of the blanket wrapped around him. As his vision clears, he realizes he's no longer on the grassy hill but inside a carriage. The sound of wooden wheels turning on a dirt path fills the air.
Blinking, he looks across from him and finds himself seated with two strangers. The first is a young girl, dressed in a stunning white gown that looks far too luxurious for travel. Her silver hair catches the light, framing her delicate face and sharp, bright blue eyes. Despite her age, there's a maturity in her expression, as though she's already used to giving orders and having them followed. Beside her sits a man who looks to be in his forties, dressed in formal black attire, with a dignified posture-a butler, by the looks of it.
Rou's instincts kick in, and he straightens up, watching them cautiously.
Rou:
[Where are you taking me?]
The young lady raises a slender eyebrow, giving him a cool, slightly amused look as she leans back against her seat.
Lady:
[Is that how you speak to the people who rescued you?]
Rou hesitates, glancing between her and the butler. His guard doesn't drop, but he manages to soften his tone slightly.
Rou:
[Fine... you have my gratitude, thank you... But I still don't know who you are... Mind telling me your names?... I'm Rou...]
The girl studies him for a moment, clearly weighing how much she wants to reveal, before answering with a slight smile.
Elise:
[My name is Elise. Elise Vandorea, of the Vandorea family. And this is Bernard, my butler.]
Bernard nods politely, his face remaining as calm and unreadable as before.
Rou:
(Those names... seems familiar...They might be... A coincidence?)
[Elise... Bernard... alright... where exactly are we headed?]
Elise:
[You're in our family's carriage now, so we're on our way back to my family estate.]
She glances out the window, her expression distant.
Elise:
[It's not far from here. But considering the state we found you in, it seemed best to take you somewhere safe until you recover.]
Rou looks down, processing her words. He figures it's best to play along, at least for now, and focus on getting more information.
Rou:
[I... appreciate it, I suppose. But I have no idea where I even am. Could you tell me more about this area? Towns, countries... anything to help me get my bearings?]
Elise seems intrigued, tilting her head as she studies him.
Elise:
[You don't know where you are?]
Her voice has a hint of suspicion, but she shrugs it off and continues, with an air of someone explaining something very basic.
Elise:
[We're in the kingdom of Endrynn, specifically within the borders of the Vandorea province. The nearest town is Glimmereath, but if you're from here, surely you'd know these places.]
Rou nods slowly, pretending to take it in, although everything sounds foreign to him...but so weirdly familiar
Rou:
[It's... still coming back to me.]
He glances at her, curious.
Rou:
[And what about you? Why pick me up in the first place?]
Elise smirks slightly, though there's a calculating glint in her eyes.
Elise:
[Let's just say you seemed... special. After all, there aren't many demi-dragons left in these lands.]
She leans forward, her eyes narrowing.
Elise:
[Tell me... what are you, exactly?]
Rou freezes, feeling a prickle of unease at the question. He quickly decides on a response.
Rou:
[I... I don't know.]
He looks away, frowning slightly as if trying to remember.
Rou:
[I lost my memories, so I don't even know what I am myself.]
Elise raises an eyebrow, clearly doubtful but too intrigued to push further.
Elise:
[Interesting... well, if you stay with us, perhaps we can help you uncover that.]
She leans back again, clearly deep in thought, while Rou watches her cautiously, wondering what she's planning. The carriage continued its steady pace, the sounds of the wheels rolling over gravel filling the silence as Elise studied Rou carefully, piecing together what she'd learned from their conversation.
Elise:
[So... from what you've told me, you're alone, with no memory of how you ended up in that hill, and you have no knowledge of Endrynn or even of the surrounding regions.]
She taps her chin thoughtfully, her gaze sharp.
Elise:
[Tell me, Rou, are you a... Wanderer?]
Rou blinks, feeling a surge of unease at the unfamiliar term.
Rou:
[A... Wanderer?]
She nods, her eyes gleaming with interest.
Elise:
[Yes. Wanderers are people who arrive here from... another realm, another dimension entirely. Some say they're pulled through a mysterious force or perhaps by ancient magic, appearing suddenly in our world. They tend to stand out, to say the least.]
Rou's mind races, but he manages to keep his expression neutral, swallowing down his surprise. Elise doesn't miss the slight tension in his posture, though, and a hint of amusement sparkles in her eyes.
Elise:
[You're rather composed for someone who just learned about otherworldly travelers.]
Her lips curve into a small smile.
Elise:
[If you truly are a Wanderer, it's possible you're not from this world at all.]
Rou shifts uncomfortably, but he meets her gaze, choosing his words carefully.
Rou:
[Maybe... but I still can't remember anything clearly.]
Elise's smile deepens as she studies him, clearly intrigued.
Elise:
[I see... Well, if that's the case, I may have a proposition for you.]
She tilts her head, her blue eyes sharp and appraising.
Elise:
[Would you be interested in working under me?]
Rou feels a strange tension settle in the air as he considers her words, unsure of what might come next.