Clementine tore her eyes away from the stream and looked straight ahead at the other side of the stream. The person in front of her stood frozen on the spot, his mouth clamped onto the bandage he was tightening around his fingers.

Clementine awkwardly wiped away her tears and turned back to the person. Sharp eyes, a high nose bridge, long hair perfectly fitting his chiseled and tall body, the person in front of her looked so beautiful she was almost doubting her eyes. And he had come in right when she was so down.

"U-uh... uh... Hi," she muttered.

"Yeah, nope. Not happening." The Otherworlder shook his head and got up from the edge of the stream. He hurriedly turned around and tried to walk away when a wet rock came under his foot.

-Crash!

The Otherworlder fell headfirst to the ground.

"Dude! A-are you alright?" Clementine stood up. She unhesitatingly took a step ahead, her feet hit the surface of the water and floated above it as if she were standing on hard rock. Clementine ran across the stream to the other side.

"Agh..." the Otherworlder raised his head and looked to his side. Somehow, the black-haired lady who looked to be in her late teens had already come over to this side. She placed her hand on the Otherworlder's back and tried to support him up.

'I am trapped,' the Otherworlder thought.

There was no other way to see it. It was the worst. She was definitely in her late teens. Though she acted kind, the Otherwordler was sure it was all a hoax.

They were all evil.

Anyone in their late teens terrified the Otherworlder.

"W-what do you want..." the Otherworlder asked as he sat back on his knees.

"Want?" Clementine, on the other hand, was the stark opposite of the Otherworlder.

She was crying, heartbroken even, and just then a handsome young man had appeared in front of her. She wasn't one to completely let her guard down, in fact, she was keeping her psychic abilities at bay at all times since she saw the Otherworlder should she need to neutralize him.

But a maiden's heart was not to be underestimated.

She couldn't help but think this was her chance meeting. Being a militant from a small kingdom, Clementine was quite the romantic person. She wondered if this person was a mentor who would show her to the right path, a friend who she might grow close to lose at the worst moment, leading her astray from the right path! Excitement bubbled in her chest away from the grief she carried along.

"You!" the Otherworlder said. "You're definitely thinking something strange, right?"

"Strange?!" Clementine spat back. "I'm just helping you, ok? You should be thankful towards this stranger!"

"Right! Thank you very much." A tone of sincerity was carried along with the Otherworlder's words as he bowed and thanked Clementine. "Now, if you'd excuse me."

She gave him an out, he took it. The Otherworlder stood up and tried to walk away again.

Clementine was about to reach out and grab the Otherworlder's hand, but she stopped herself just before she could.

This person had tried to walk away from her twice. It was obvious he did not appreciate her presence, so why was she being so foolhardy? Clementine's gaze went lower as she pulled her hand back and grasped it with the other.

The Otherworlder did not spare Clementine a glance. He picked up his bandages and started walking away from her. New experiences or not, the Otherworlder still did not really like to come to know other people. He would gladly take a detour if it meant he could avoid other people.

He steadily went ahead, ignoring Clementine completely, when his feet came to a sudden stop.

Clementine noticed the tremble in the air herself as her eyes sharpened and she raised her guard.

".... OOOLLLL"

A distant scream.

The sleeping birds woke up with a start as the ground below shook and the trees around swayed. The wind released from that distant scream made the Otherworlder's hair flutter as he involuntarily took a step back.

"What in the world..."

"T-that must be the siege weapon..." Clementine's voice reached the Otherworlder as the both of them stared towards their south.

"... ROOLLLLLL!!!!"

Though still distant, the shouting grew louder with each passing second, and the wave of air released from it increasing in intensity.

It was coming closer.

If it was a siege weapon like the one the Otherworlder had seen around four months ago... then fighting it was not even an option. He had to run away...

The Otherworlder and Clementine looked at each other for a split second.

They both knew their chances would be much better if they had even one more person around. If push came to shove, they could at least use the other as bait.

'Should I?'

Split between taking her along or not, the Otherworlder reached into his pocket and touched a coin when he remembered that he had used up all his luck. He was doomed with bad luck. In such a time, should he do the opposite of what Lady Luck said? The Otherworlder wondered about it, but he would never disgrace his flips and lady luck like this.

'What to do...' He was still torn between tagging with her or not when suddenly a soft hand wrapped around his own and pulled him behind.

"What are you looking at?! We have to run!"

Clementine had already pulled him with her as she dived deeper into the forest.