Chapter Three: The world I came to

I felt a little uneasy sitting up front with him. The dragons were directly ahead, their thick tails swishing through the air with heavy snaps that made my chest tighten.
“Oh right! I didn’t even tell you my name,” he said suddenly, as though the thought had just struck him. “Sorry about that. I guess I was still wondering how you two ended up way out here.”
It hadn’t even crossed my mind that he hadn’t introduced himself. The dragons had stolen all my attention.
“Yeah, you’re right,” I replied, forcing a smile that felt a little fake.
“Well, it couldn’t be helped. My name is Zarukin de Meleanta. You can just call me Zar.”
The names in this world… they sounded like something out of a fantasy game. Just how similar was this place to the games I used to play?
I thanked him for giving us a ride, then turned my focus back to the dragons.
What do they eat? Hopefully not humans—otherwise no one would be using them as draft animals. Their tails were thicker than I expected, each with a unique coloring.
The dragon on the driver’s side had bluish scales along its back and a pale, milky underside. The one nearest me was black-backed with a golden stomach that shimmered faintly in the fading light.
While I was still caught up in studying their movements, Zar struck up a more personal conversation.
“So, where do you come from, Sora?”
The question made my heart skip. I almost wished Hope were sitting beside me instead. But then again, she couldn’t even say her own name…
If I hesitated too long, he’d think I was hiding something. If I made up an answer, he’d probably know I was lying. So I told the truth.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t really know anything about this world,” I said carefully, watching his reaction.
“World?” His brows knit, his expression puzzled.
“You two are a strange pair,” he muttered. “Haven’t met folks like you in a long while. It’s like you’re from another country or something…”
Country. Close enough, I supposed.
We drifted into small talk after that—my clothes, my accent—until curiosity got the better of me. He’d mentioned something called the Mighty Week several times earlier, and I finally asked.
“Can you tell me about this Mighty Week you keep talking about?”
His eyes widened, his jaw dropping in disbelief.
“You—You mean to tell me you don’t even know about the Mighty Week?!” he shouted so loudly that his wife poked her head out from the cart.
Had I asked something forbidden?
It took a while before he calmed down, letting out a long sigh.
“I already knew you were strange. But this much… Anyway, do you know the legend of the girl who became the Queen of Demons?”
The Queen of Demons? Could it be the same story Hope had told me?
“Yes,” I said eagerly, nodding to show I at least knew that much.“Well, you know she turns human twice a year, right? Every six months, she becomes a young girl and lives among humans. And during that week, for reasons no one understands, all monsters vanish. Demons stop attacking. That’s why we call it the Mighty Week. It’s the only time people can live without fear.”
“I see… so we’re in the Mighty Week now? That explains why I haven’t seen any monsters.”
“You bet! The week only started about an hour ago. There’s a sound—loud, echoing—when it begins, though no one knows where it comes from. We’d been preparing, and the moment we heard it, we left town for the capital. I imagine lots of folks are using the chance to visit family.”
“I see… so it’s all thanks to the girl turning human, right?”
The words slipped out before I realized, and in an instant the cart lurched to a halt. Zar’s hand clamped onto my collar, yanking me toward him.
“What did you just say?!” His voice was low and furious, his eyes sharp as blades. “Thanks to her? Don’t make me laugh! Do you even know how much destruction she’s caused? Do you have any idea how many demon outbreaks are her fault?!”
His grip was like iron. I froze, terrified. His arms were massive, and his anger felt suffocating. From the corner of my vision, I saw Hope watching, her face drawn with sorrow and fear.
Finally, Zar released me. I nearly tumbled from the cart.
“You may be a strange kid, but don’t go around saying things like that. Even children here are taught to kill her if they ever get the chance—because that’s the only time she’s vulnerable.”
My chest thudded painfully.
“I-I’m… sorry,” I stammered, not daring to meet his eyes.
He sighed, rubbing his face. “What am I doing, scaring you like that? You didn’t know. I should be the one apologizing. I’ll make it up to you with a meal once we reach the capital… Wait, are you even going to the capital?”
That was a problem—I didn’t even know our destination. If I admitted that, he’d surely suspect something. Luckily, Hope slipped into the seat between us.
“We’re not going to the capital right now,” she said evenly. “There’s a small town called Gagi up ahead. My family lives there.”
She saved me again.
“I see. Then we’ll part ways tomorrow afternoon,” Zar said, though he still peeked into the cart to check on his family.
The night wore on. We talked more—about dungeons, about heroes, about the Queen of Demons’ immortality. His words painted a world both fascinating and terrifying, one where hope rested on a single prophesied hero.
By the time darkness fell, we stopped to camp. Zar fed the dragons large red fruits that crunched between their teeth, while Hope helped his wife prepare dinner.
The meal was unlike anything I knew—rabbit-like creatures stewed with thinly sliced leaves. The leaves tasted like noodles, the meat savory and rich.
The family had only one spare blanket, which they gave to us. Zar’s wife suggested Hope sleep inside the cart with her and the children, but Hope chose to stay outside with me. Zar, confident in the safety of the Mighty Week, didn’t even bother keeping watch.
And so, under strange stars in a strange world, I lay awake, wondering what tomorrow would bring.