Chapter Four

As a yellow light enveloped one of the stranger's hands, I gazed down at the spell with astonished eyes. I was curious about the nature of the spell he had cast, as I observed fireball-like orbs encircling his hand rather than any electrical manifestation. Upon hearing a peculiar sound once more, the stranger assumed a battle stance, raising his arm high and glaring at an unseen entity.

The stranger growled and shouted, “Who goes there?! Reveal yourself!”

Then, I heard an unfamiliar voice, and the stranger began conversing in a language I could not comprehend. I was perplexed, not only by the content of their exchange but also by the possibility that the stranger might understand my language. Had he cast a similar spell on me, albeit in a different manner, prior to addressing me? Had he encountered someone from my world? These questions swirled in my mind.

When the stranger ceased his dialogue with the invisible adversary, I seized the moment to pose a serious inquiry. “What is he saying?” I asked.

The stranger turned his gaze toward me and replied, “This individual claims that I am trespassing in his territory and demands compensation for our presence, as we have refused to vacate this location.”

I glanced back at the door behind me, only to find it had vanished, despite the fact that the stranger and I were only halfway down the stairs. A frown crossed my face as I surveyed my surroundings. “Oh, wonderful…” I lamented, realizing I should have escaped alone rather than with him.

Suddenly, the room darkened, enveloped by swirling purple clouds. The stranger and I scanned our environment in search of our foe, yet we still could not locate it. The stranger once again addressed the mysterious voice in a foreign tongue, which responded with a chuckle, revealing itself as a being of purple and black, with only its purple eyes and sharp teeth visible.

The creature addressed us within a few minutes and began to circle around, reciting an incantation directed at us. The stranger intended to unleash his magical attack on the adversary, but instead, he directed it towards the incoming projectiles. As the purple entity lunged at me, I fixed my gaze upon my foe, and my bracelet illuminated on my arm. The expressions of confusion on both my adversary and the stranger were evident as the bracelet compelled my arm to rise, targeting my spell at my opponent. I found myself as bewildered as they were, lacking full control over my actions. It was imperative that I rid myself of the bracelet entirely and return home; I could not endure its presence for much longer.

I placed my hand on my arm, closing my eyes as I experienced a sharp pain, clenching my teeth slightly. As the monster approached, the bracelet discharged its red crystals towards it, prompting the creature to evade my attacks. The stranger and I engaged in combat with the monster, which adeptly dodged our strikes while successfully countering with its own. We were left pondering how we could possibly overcome this formidable foe. After a brief period of struggle, I devised a plan: the stranger would divert the monster's attention while I launched an attack from behind.

The stranger agreed to this strategy and provoked the monster sufficiently to draw its focus. Once it was distracted, I swiftly maneuvered around and positioned myself directly behind it. This was my prime opportunity to vanquish it once and for all; failure was not an option. I raised my hand high, and my bracelet glowed red, targeting the back of my enemy. Here we go; I could not afford to make a mistake.

After casting my spell against my adversary, the creature let out a piercing scream, enveloped in a swirling mass of black and red smoke. When the smoke dissipated, the ominous purple-black clouds vanished from view. With a smile, I turned my focus back to the stranger and exclaimed, “Indeed, we did it! We have finally vanquished the monster! Shall we make our exit now?”

The stranger nodded in agreement. “Absolutely!” He pivoted and proceeded down the staircase. “This way.”

“Right behind you,” I replied, following him as we made our escape from the castle.

As I trailed after him, the same questions that had plagued my mind earlier resurfaced. This was the moment to pose those inquiries. With a quiet sigh, I swallowed hard to steady my nerves, preparing to ask him.

However, the stranger glanced back and inquired, “So, you hail from another world, correct? How did you arrive here?”

“Indeed, that is correct. How did you know? Have you encountered someone like me before? Is that how you learned my language? Did that individual teach you?”

The stranger chuckled. “Yes, I certainly did. Although I cannot recall his name, I believe he was the one who taught me your language.”

“Interesting...”

“Now, you’ve failed to reply to my other inquiry. How did you come to be here?”

“Oh, right…” I related my story to him. “And that is how it all began.”

“I understand. I may need to examine it once we escape this place.”

“Examine it?” I asked, narrowing my eyes as I gripped my arm, feeling something metallic. His demeanor raised my suspicions. Why would he want to see it? Was he planning to take my bracelet and weaken me? There was something unsettling about him that made me uneasy. “Why do you want to see it?”

“Oh, I am merely curious, nothing more. There is no need to be on guard. I assisted you in battling that monster, did I not? And I am aiding your escape now, am I not?”

I squinted my eyes further. “While I am thankful for your help, I must eagerly ask about your genuine motives. You're not plotting something against me, are you?”

“Ah, so you harbor doubts about my sincerity, do you?”

I affirmed with a nod. “Indeed, I do.”

The stranger let out a sigh. “I understand. Very well, then. You may leave. But could you at least share your name with me?”

“My name is Yurana. And what is yours? I did not catch it.”

“Yurana, is it? That is a lovely name. I am called Gorgan.”

“Gorgan… it is a pleasure to meet you as well.”

“Ow!” I mumbled as I fixed my grasp on my arm, looking down at it. “What the hell?!” When I rolled up my sleeve, I gasped softly, my eyes widening in disbelief at the sight before me.

The bracelet was black, adorned with a red jewel resembling a dragon's eye. It seemed to spread across my arm, with my veins appearing unnaturally large. It felt as though the bracelet was attempting to transform me into something sinister, something I vehemently wished to avoid. If I hoped to return home, I needed to find a way to remove it swiftly and conceal it effectively. Otherwise, I would never return, especially not in a monstrous form.

I glanced at Gorgan, moving my arm back and forth, perplexed by the situation. If I were to rid myself of this object, I would need to seek assistance discreetly, without his awareness. Trusting him was simply not an option for me, not now or ever.