In the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees and a lifeless animal on the ground, the little girl scrutinized Reiji's bewildered face. She palmed his forehead, saying, "Khemterra'n ini ka galakhu" ("This one is troublesome").
Reiji smiled awkwardly, using gestures to convey, "I'm. Sorry. Little Girl. I. Don't. Know. Your. Language."
The girl signaled for him to follow. Reiji mimicked her gesture, asking, "Me. You want. Come with you?"
The girl nodded, understanding.
Reiji thought, "Can I trust her?"
His stomach growled loudly. The girl spun around, startled, then nodded understandingly.
She gestured toward the lifeless animal. Reiji guarded, "What?"
The girl pantomimed, confusing Reiji. "Huh?"
Reiji deciphered: "Animal? Hold? Grab? Feet? Shoulders?"
Comprehension dawned; Reiji mimed, "Do. You. Want. Me. To. Hold. The. Animal's. Feet. And. Shoulders?"
Reiji held the animal's feet and shoulders, perplexed. "What's the plan here?"
The girl approached calmly, then slapped Reiji's back, startling him.
He recoiled, "Hey!"
She pointed to her back. Reiji's confusion deepened. "Carry it?"
The girl pantomimed again.
"Is she serious?" Reiji wondered.
He carefully lifted the animal onto his back.
The girl beamed with approval, flashing a thumbs-up before leading Reiji onward.
Reiji trailed the girl, thinking, "At least I know they recognize a thumbs-up in this world."
As he followed, thoughts swirled: "I halted this charging beast. And this 1,000-pound looking -like animal feels eerily light. Where's this strength coming from?"
His inner dialogue paused momentarily. "Wait, she's signaling someone. Is this little girl actually dangerous?"
Reiji assessed the situation: "Worst-case scenario, what can she do? Physically, I've got the upper hand."
After walking for some time.
The girl glanced back, saying, "Sagkot kami sa ta'net" ("We're near the village").
Reiji, startled, reciprocated a thumbs-up despite confusion.
Reiji thought, "Whatever that phrase meant, it didn't sound menacing."
They continued walking until the girl said, "Dulog kami sa ta'netu. Bobin, khemterra'n siya" ("We approach the village. Bobbin, knock him out").
Reiji's eyes widened. "That sounds like an order!"
Before he could flee, a giant rabbit sprang from the underbrush, landing a crushing punch to Reiji's gut.
Weak from hunger, Reiji crumpled, consciousness slipping away.
As darkness closed in, he heard the girl praise the rabbit, "Khemaya'n, Bobin!" ("Good work, Bobbin").
Reiji fell into a conscious dream, where he floated in empty, dark space.
"Where am I?" he asked loudly.
He checked his surroundings but found only darkness. He realized he was adrift in nothingness.
"This must be a dream," he said.
His mind told him to pinch himself awake, but his body wouldn't respond.
"My hands won't move!" he exclaimed.
He breathed deeply, thinking of ways to wake up.
"There's one body part we can move consciously while asleep, besides our eyes. What is it?" he wondered.
"Toes!" he shouted.
Before he could try moving them, a swirling vortex emerged behind him, slowly sucking him in like a vacuum.
Reiji gasped, panic filling his eyes.
"Not again!" he shouted.
He was completely sucked in, then jolted awake, jumping out of bed from his deep slumber.
Suddenly, Reiji found himself standing on solid ground within a rustic house.
He surveyed his surroundings, noting the large, single room with a central hearth for cooking and warmth. Rough-hewn wooden planks covered the floors, while wooden beams supported the roof. Two large windows with glass panes let in natural light.
"Alright, it's a house," Reiji said, pinching himself to test his wakefulness.
"I'm awake," he confirmed.
Glancing backward, he spotted an intricately carved wooden bed with a lavish, fluffy mattress.
"This bed seems out of place," Reiji remarked. "Luxurious, but the rest of the house is pretty basic."
"A keen observation, sir stranger," a child's voice said.
Reiji spun around, startled. "What the...!"
As he faced the speaker, recognition dawned. "This is the girl who knocked me unconscious!" he thought.
His gaze swept the room, resting on the giant bear-rabbit creature in the corner.
Reiji assumed a defensive stance. "I'm still in that unknown world, which means I retain enhanced strength."
"Corpo illumina..." he began chanting.
The little girl interrupted, "Oh no, please don't!"
Reiji halted, surprised. "You speak my language?"
The girl replied calmly, "Sir stranger, please compose yourself."
Reiji's distrust deepened. "You fooled me twice! First, asking me to carry the bison thing, my supposed meal. In sign language, take note. Then, knocking me out with that...thing!" He gestured toward the rabbit creature.
"How can I trust you? You're eight, yet speak like an elder. What are you?"
"How can I say this?" The little girl's face scrunched up in thought. "I did it for your protection?" She concluded with an undeniably cute smile.
Reiji raised an eyebrow. "Hey! Don't use your charm on me, little girl. I'm not fond of children."
"What did you protect me from?" Reiji asked.
The little girl crossed her arms. "Calm down first, will you? I should've just left you to fend for yourself."
Reiji's gaze dropped, as he collected his thoughts. "Well… I'm alive, aren't I? This girl is right. Why the fuss?"
"Sorry, kiddo. I'm good now," Reiji said calmly. "What's this protection about?"
The little girl pouted. "Aren't you supposed to ask my name first?" Her tiny hands went to her hips.
Reiji thought, "Is that a typical kid reaction?"
He forced a smile. "Right. Sorry..." But the little girl cut him off.
"No wait. You have to thank me first!" she demanded.
Reiji rubbed his cheek. "You're right. Thanks for saving my skin, little girl. What's your name?"
Tatiana beamed, pointing beside her. "I'm Tatiana, and this is Bobbin, my best friend."
Reiji's gaze shifted to Bobbin, the bear-rabbit creature, noting his submissive demeanor. "Alright. Nice meeting you, Tatiana and erm… Bobbin. I'm Reiji."
"Great! Now, Bobbin, give big brother Reiji a hug!" Tatiana commanded with her innocent smile.
Reiji's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"
Bobbin approached, arms open.
Reiji hesitated. "O-Okay..." He reluctantly accepted the hug.
He thought, "Wow, his fur is incredibly soft."
Reiji pulled back. "Alright, okay. We're good, Bobbin. Sorry about your wrist... but it looks unharmed, How? Not like you're gonna answer, Anyway."
He turned to Tatiana. "So, what am I being protected from? And how do you speak my language?"