What You See

Yuri spitted out a bunch of pine needles.

He was drenched in sweat, his head spinning. He used his stick to support himself.

“Girl, are you okay?” he said with a weary voice, ignoring the knight.

“I’m fine,” replied the girl, with a carefree demeanor. She waved her left hand, that looked like it should be censored, if it was on children’s TV.

“Oh, god…” muttered Yuri.

“What is it?”

“Miss Excuse Me, you might have a slight wound,” Gaudeamus pointed out, “Alas, I’m out of healing potions, and my companion must be too far to hear us. She went to Woodcutters Camp to finish a quest”.

Yuri made a mental note, that it must have been a Woodrat Problem, one of the earliest quests in the game. And the knight with his companion are surely the first two party members for a player character. Yuri did not remember the details, which was strange given the hours he spent on designing them, but the first companions were a knight and a ranger.

“Do you at least have water?” said Yuri, gesturing Gaudeamus to come closer, “We should try to clean the wound. And don’t call her that. It’s not her name.”

“He is supposed to think of a name for me,” declared the girl.

“No, I’m not supposed to do anything. I’m bad with names, I told you!”

The knight approached them. He had in his hand an unrealistically small hand crossbow, which disappeared after some strange gesture. The moment later, a water bag appeared in the same hand. Yuri guessed that it was how using the inventory looked from the outside perspective. Gaudeamus threw the bag to Yuri.

“It would be not a facile matter to remove my gauntlets. More to say, you have tender hands, far more suitable to tend to the lady’s wounds,” he said plainly, with no mockery in his voice.

Still, Yuri had to accept that it did sting a little. But there were things that hurt more than his pride. He hurried to the girl.

“Stand still,” he said, pouring some water into his hand, and then washing the girl's forearm.

It was the first time he touched her in a calm circumstance, and he felt some strange trepidation. It was not something he was used to. Thankfully, the girl didn’t seem to mind. She started to pick some pine needles from his tumbled hair. She smelled of summer.

“I’m telling you, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me”.

He didn’t answer. Mostly because she indeed was fine, the bite did not look nearly as bad, when all the dirt and blood was cleaned off.

“’Tis but a flesh wound,” remarked the knight, looking from behind the Yuri’s shoulder, “But a proper care is the most important. We should put a bandage on.”

By that, he meant that Yuri should put the bandage on. But Yuri did feel the same way. He felt strangely responsible for that mysterious inventory girl.

“Okay, give me a knife or something sharp,” he said to Gaudeamus.

The knight gave him a short dagger. Yuri cut a piece of cloth from the bottom of his shirt, and bound the girl's forearm.

“Even if it was not necessary, now you have some nice asymmetry to your design,” said Yuri, when it was done.

“A splendid work,” commented the knight, “Now we shall embark towards the town and show you to a proper physician. You seem like a curious pair, you should tell me your story on the way.”

“There’s not much of a story to tell, but let’s get going,” said Yuri, giving the dagger back to Gaudeamus.

His leg was hurting, but he didn’t want to focus any attention on himself. And the sooner they’ll go, the sooner they will get there. Plus, it would be impolite to ask Gaudeamus for any more water.

With these thoughts, he turned away, and started walking, but the girl grabbed his hand.

“Your leg,” she said plainly.

“What? Oh, it’s noting. I’m not that important, let’s not waste time.”

“How’s that wasting time? Mr. Knight, tell him.”

“Young lady is right, it’s imperative to treat the wound right away,” compliantly said Gaudeamus.

“But you just were protesting when I tried to do the same to you!” said Yuri, with a hint of desperation in his voice.

“I wasn’t hurting. You are. I can feel it. Stop being stubborn already!”

She was persistent. Yuri had only one choice, if he wanted to get this over with quickly. He surrendered.

He washed his bite, which looked a lot nastier than the girl’s. He tore off the third of his pant leg, which was ruined anyway, and used the cloth to make a bandage. All of that he had to do, while enduring the gazes of both knight and the girl. The time slowed down, and with every passing second the pain of being a burden was getting sharper. It soon outweighed actual physical pain.

When everything was done, Gaudeamus guided them towards the village. He helped them avoid long grass and other enemy spawning points, while occupying the girl with a chat.

“And you’ve lost your memories prior to waking up today? No name, no station, no origin?”

Yuri walked a step behind them. Partly because he didn’t feel like talking, partly because of his injury. Even in another world, he was still a nuisance at parties. Or in them.

He looked at the knight’s back. Gaudeamus was a head higher than him, with broad shoulders, and strength in stature. He had a dark green cloak, but it was barely concealing his audaciously red surcoat. He was walking with ease, despite wearing a full chainmail set, with gauntlets, and greaves, and one of those funny helmets, that looked like a wide-brimmed metal hat. When Yuri was developing his look, he wanted to find some middle ground between typical anime knight (absurd armor, giant shoulderpieces, no head protection) and a full-blown metal suit with no face.

At least he made sure that Gaudeamus does have a face.

“What about me? Well, as I said, my name is Gaudeamus Igitur, and I’m a Royal Knight of the Court of King Karl III of Gordorika. You see this fire dove? It’s Gordorikian coat of arms. Yes, ‘pretty bird’ is among its official titles.”

He showed the girl an image on the front of his surcoat. Yuri did not remember, whether this image was supposed to mean anything, or if he put it there to just look cool.

For someone who was supposed to be the creator of this world, Yuri felt too out of place. Especially when he had to be with someone, who belonged there. But it was not the only thing that bugged him. No matter how stupid it was to feel inferior to someone literally designed to manifest a fantasy of being strong and handsome, it was exactly what Yuri was experiencing.

“Yes, we are in Gordorika. More or less. I hope. ’Tis not a thing to worry about. Anyway, Excuse Me? Girl? Young Master?”

Yuri was so lost in thought, that he did not notice that Gaudeamus was talking to him.

“Eh, yes? Just call me Yura. And I’m literally ten years older than you.”

“Yes, master Yura. I was wondering, what did bring you to the Locked forest?”

Yuri sighed. He wished he was someone who feel at home as a center of attention. Such a person might have had it in them to exploit their game knowledge to live a kingly life.

“I’m… lost. I came on a journey from a faraway land, and got lost in a process, and my quest is to return back home.”

Yuri tried to explain things as clearly as possible. He might have made a mistake.

“A quest, you say?”

“Oh no…” muttered Yuri.

“We must accept this quest with all our hearts, and see it through! There is nothing more cruel, than a world keeping the man from his loved ones!”

Correcting him on that particular conclusion would be a sad idea, so Yuri decided to say nothing.

“Yes!” proclaimed the girl, mirroring knight’s excitement, “We must help you!”

Yuri had to think of some way to handle this quick. He was not ready to answer the questions that would undoubtedly follow.

“Thanks? I mean, thank you both. I am very honored that such a valiant knight, and a… cheerful girl, have decided to help me. The first step would be to get to the village as soon as possible and gather information. Please, take good care of us on the way,” said Yuri and put his hand on the shoulder of the knight.

Every word felt heavy, as if a simple process of speaking drained his mana or stamina. He had to play a role that they would understand, would find natural. And he had to use his knowledge of Gaudeamus’s character, backstory, the gears that make him tick, to conjure the most effective lie. He felt dirty, even if it was the smallest manipulation just to have the knight off his back.

Gaudeamus tried to wipe a tear from his eye with his hand, but has smashed a gauntlet into the edge of his metal hat. To hide the embarrassment, he turned and hastened his step.

“Then follow me! This way! No, not this way. I mean, that way!”

Yuri sighed, and lingered for a moment to give the man in a heavy armor some space to change directions a couple of times, all while flailing his arms around.

The girl stayed with him, giving him a strange inquisitive look.

“What?” asked Yuri.

“Put your hand forward.”

“Why?”

“Do you need to ask so many questions?”

“Do I?”

“Stop!”

He stopped, and put his hand forward. She put her clasped hand a couple of centimeters above his, and opened it. He felt something heavy and smooth drop into his palm. She took away her hand.

Yuri held a piece of amber. It was not too big, just enough to turn it into a beautiful pendant. It was warm, probably because the girl held it in her hand for some time. He lifted it to put it under one of the few sun rays shining through the trees. The stone gleamed, putting golden reflections on their faces.

“I don’t understand you,” said the girl, looking directly into Yuri’s eyes.

“What do you mean, though? It’s a genuine question.”

“Isn’t it beautiful? Isn’t it one of a kind? Have you ever seen something like it?”

“I haven’t. Where did you get it?”

“That time when we fell, running from those rats. I saw it in on the ground.”

Yuri chuckled.

“You had time to look for shinies even at that moment?”

“Why do you say it like that? I wasn’t looking for it. I saw it. I don’t understand, why didn’t you see? It was right in front of you! And you don’t even see it now.”

“I see it. It’s here, in my hand,” said Yuri, “It’s a beautiful stone.”

“Then why are you still sad?!”

The girl said the last words with a drop of desperation on her voice. It was the first time Yuri saw her with an expression this serious. Even though he did not fully understand the source of her worry, he tried to find an honest answer.

“Sometimes… Sometimes we can not appreciate even the most beautiful things, even if we see them. And there are moments, when there are things that make us more sad, than beauty makes us happy.”

The girl thought about his words for a moment.

“But it is supposed to be everything. What can make you more sad than everything?” she said with a contemplative look on her face.

“I fear, now I’m not following you,” said Yuri.

She looked right into his eyes one more time.

“I will,” she said, golden light reflecting in her beautiful eyes.

A big metal hand snatched the amber from Yuri’s grasp. He flinched, and looked behind to see the round face of Gaudeamus, who has unintentionally snuck up to them.

“This is exactly what we need! Why didn’t you say you had a Sunshard on you? I gave mine to #####, when we split up. Now we will make our swift way to the village!”

“Okay?” Yuri had too many questions to ask any of them.

“But it’s Yura’s!” protested the girl.

“I apologize,” replied the knight, “I merely meant to borrow it. May I?”

“Yes?” answered Yuri, and whispered to the girl, “I thought it was yours.”

“It’s a gift.”

That was new. Yuri could not remember when was the last time he received a gift, and what was his reaction. But this time he immediately felt the urge to protect the stone from the grabby hands of Gaudeamus. He suppressed this urge.

They resumed their journey, and soon came upon a shift in topography. The ground was relatively flat until now, but now it started to incline. They were going down, ever so slightly. Some time later, the girl suddenly ran forward, getting onto a small hill, and pointed ahead.

“Look!”

Yuri caught up to her, and followed her gesture with his eyes, but could not see anything notable. The same tall trees, sparse bushes, random stones. Then he noticed some glitter between the trees, as if someone tried to signal them, redirecting sunbeams with a mirror. Yuri squinted, trying to make out the source of the light. He started seeing the light appear in different places, sometimes multiple lights flashed at the same time.

“There’s something twinkling ahead, but I can’t see, what it is,” he said to the girl and Gaudeamus, who was slowly catching up in his armor.

“You’re looking it wrong,” said the girl, “Close your eyes and look again”.

He did that. Still nothing.

“Close them again. Don’t open. Do you hear anything?”

Birds. Loud birds, up in the air and ahead. Almost barking.

“What do you feel?”

Wind. Blowing under the trees, right into Yuri’s face. They must look so cool and cinematic, with their hair and loose medieval clothes fluttering, standing atop this small hill. His blue shirt, her white hair and dress, knight's red surcoat.

“What do you smell?”

Humid air. A little different. More… sapid.

“What do you see?”

Yuri opened his eyes. Trees. The same old forest. Nothing has cha-.

There was a shift in focus. Sudden and very subtle. And he saw it.

Water. A big lake just behind the treeline, with small waves on the wind, reflecting light in an unpredictable pattern. Gulls flew over the water arguing with each other in their loud impatient cries.