I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride

Everywhere we turn, we’re surrounded. I almost get the feeling something’s lurking underground as well.

Three of the humanoid figures drop from the high branches, as casually as stepping off a stair, landing in a triangular formation. As they shift their fur aside, they reveal what look like massive blades fashioned from claws and large raven skulls. From their stance, I’d say they’re meant to be shields.

A tall, lean man—his height exaggerated by the raven-skull mask he wears—asks, «What are you doing in our territory?»

«We’re just—»

«I wasn’t asking you. I was asking your leader.» He cuts me off.

“Who does he mean? By elimination, I’d say…” «You mean the girl with the horns?»

«Who else?!» “…Damn it.”

«You heard him, underling?» says Laila, her tone dripping with amusement. «Stop speaking for your Chief!»

I let my arms drop. «May I speak on your behalf, Chief?»

«The Supreme Chief consents.»

«We’re only passing through,» I answer, sheathing my weapons.

«What are you doing?!» Laila shouts. «I never told you to let your guard down.» I draw my blades again, taking my stance back. «Good. Now you may lower your guard.»

I let out a long breath and resheathe them. «As I was saying—» I add pointedly, glaring at Laila who sticks her tongue out at me, «—we don’t wish to cause trouble. We’re just trying to leave this kingdom behind.»

«So, you are not sentinels of the Lord of Ashes?» he asks, suspicion in his voice.

«As if! We barely escaped that wretch with our lives, and all thanks to my brave underling!» Laila exclaims, throwing an arm around my neck. «Since then, we haven’t stopped for a siiiingle moment.»

«I see.» The three men sheathe their weapons, and the feline beasts sit back on their haunches. The tall man steps closer, stopping just a few paces away. «Supreme Chief, if you’ve traveled so far, you and the child must be weary. Allow us to offer food and shelter for the night in our humble village.»

“It’s true we’ve told them the truth… but they believed us a little too easily. Could be a trick.” Laila eyes him with feigned superiority. «The Super Supreme Chief accepts,» she declares with a wave of her hand. Nadia’s glowing light flickers out.

The man bows. «Thank you, Super Mega Supreme Chief. Follow us.»

«May I ask who you are?» I say as we start walking.

He doesn’t even look back. “If you have questions, present them to our matron.»

We follow them into a cave—a dark, cold place where our steps echo against the damp stone, accompanied by the dripping of stalactites. A labyrinth of tunnels that narrow and widen without warning. At one point, the darkness is so absolute I can’t tell where I’m looking. Then, in the distance—a glow.

The path opens into a vast cavern. At its center, a colossal crystal bathes every corner of a hidden city in light. Houses carved into the stone rise with balconies and stairways clinging to the walls. Rope-and-wood bridges stretch across the main thoroughfare, linking the levels together. The smell of damp rock mingles with the smoke of cured meat.

Our host leads us to a great platform where the only wooden house stands. Inside, it resembles a hall of audience.

The men push Nadia and Laila forward, then shove me down to my knees beside them, pressing a hand on my head to bow it.

From a side door enters a tall woman, her body strong and scarred, draped in the same brick-colored pelts. She sits on the throne of a giant skeletal hand, her gaze sharp with distrust. «My name is Thyra. I am the Matron of Nebb Village. And you are?»

Laila floats upward, puffing out her chest so she hovers above Thyra’s line of sight. «I am the Super Hyper Mega Supreme Chief Laila! These two attendants are Nadia and Dog.» “…I suddenly feel the urge to use up my remaining wishes.”

«And tell me, why have you come here?» the Matron asks without raising her head.

Laila drifts down just enough to meet her eyes. «We were on our way out of the kingdom when your masked fellows here offered us food and drink. Hardly something we could refuse.»

«…And may I ask, which of them invited you?»

Laila thumbs over her shoulder. «The lanky one.» The man beside me stiffens.

«…Of course. I should have known it was you.»

«My apologies, matron, I—»

«Enough. Since you invited them, you will tend to their needs.»

«Yes.»

She rises and leaves the chamber. «Come with me,» the man mutters, yanking me to my feet.

We head to the fourth level of the city. Along the way, I notice none of the houses have doors or windows, only curtains. “Back in my world, thieves would’ve stolen the houses themselves by now.” When we enter his home, he removes his mask, revealing the face of a man around thirty-five.

«Daddy, you’re home!» a boy cries, running to him.

He lifts the child high above his head. «Aaaahhh! There’s my little man!»

A woman arrives to greet him as well. «Welcome back, dear. And who are these?»

«Oh, right,» he says, turning to us. «They’re pilgrims I found wandering the mountains. They’ll be staying with us tonight.»

«Wow! Pilgrims! Daddy, can I play with the little girl?»

«If she wants to.»

«Yay! Come on, I’ve got toys to show you!» The boy seizes Nadia’s hand and drags her into another room.

The woman chuckles softly behind her hand. «How adorable. Your daughter is lovely.»

At her words, Laila’s face goes as red as an anime character’s. «D-d-d-d-d-d-d…»

“I’ve never seen Laila like this. What’s going on? Is she so angry she’s broken down? Or do I really disgust her that much?” «She’s not our daughter,» I clarify. «Her parents died. We just look after her.»

«I see. Forgive my mistake.»

«Don’t worry, it’s no problem.»

«Darling,» the man says, placing a hand on her hip, «while they settle in, we should prepare their bedding.»

«Of course.» She turns to us. «Please, wait here—»

«No need!» Laila cuts her off. «Just point me to a room, I’ll handle it.»

«But—»

«Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it!» Laila insists, dragging the woman into a random room, leaving me alone with the man. “Since when does Laila offer to do anything?”

He crosses his arms. I cross mine.

I stare at the random room without moving.

My eyes slide back to him. «Mmmmhh…»

He looks at me. «Hm?»

I avert my gaze. «Mh!»

I still feel him staring. I glance back. «Mmmh?»

He grunts and looks away. «ugh.»

I slowly look away too.

Then glance back again. «mmmmh…»

He returns the look. «Mmh?»

I smile awkwardly and hold out my hand. «S-Søren, nice to meet you.»

He turns his head.

I pull my hand back and stare at the room again. “How the hell did I end up in this situation? If there were a clock here, I swear I’d hear the second hand pounding like a drum.”

«Here we are, dear!» “Finally—they’re back.” «Did you know our guest has extraordinary powers? She conjured up three bedrolls in an instant!»

«Really? My thanks, Super Hyper Mega Supreme Chief Laila.»

«No need for formality,» she replies proudly, puffing out her chest. «Just call me Ultra Super Hyper Mega Supreme Chief.»

The woman laughs softly. «Oh! But look at me, I’ve yet to start dinner,» she murmurs. «Dear, could you set a few more places at the table?»

«Of course. But just so you know, I’ll be skipping dinner tonight.»

«What? Why, darling? Don’t worry about the food, there’s plenty for everyone.»

«I already ate something while I was out, and besides, the Matron ordered me to see to our guests.»

«I’ll take a walk,» I announce, stopping at the doorway. «You can have my portion. If I get hungry, I’ll grab something from the stalls I saw on the main street.»

Annoyed, he puts a hand on my shoulder. «You’re my guest. I couldn’t possibly take your food.»

«Didn’t the matron say you were to meet our needs?»

«Exactly!» he snaps, furrowing his brow. «My need, right now, is to take a walk alone. Do you intend to stop me?»

«Ugh.» He releases my shoulder, stepping back. «No. Go ahead.»

«See you later,» I say, shoving my hands in my pockets as I leave through the curtains.

I wander aimlessly through the upper levels, admiring the architecture. Something bumps my foot. Looking down, I see a leather ball. «Excuse me, sir, could you pass it back?» a boy asks, waving. I smile, kick it toward them—completely botch the shot, and it bounces off the wall behind them. «Thanks!» he shouts, resuming his game with his friends. “Now that I think of it, back in Bekov I never saw children playing so freely.”