“Huuuuh, my head.”

My eyes are slowly opening. I feel a strong weight on my head like it is being crushed under a car. If cars were actually a thing in this world. My vision was blurry until I feel arms around me.

“Yurem!”

The soft sound echoed through my ears and for whatever reason I felt calm. Like everything was okay. I finally could see everything around me. As soon as Soleil let go of me and recompose herself, her embarrassed face was the first thing that I saw.

It felt like forever since I last saw her. The nightmare I was having felt endless. Roaming through my mind I saw several scenes from everyone. My father kicking me, my mother yelling. My classmates insulting me, pushing me, robbing me. I saw those scenes several times. Over and over and over and over and over and over. Until in the end, a light shone at the end of the tunnel. A blonde elf stretched her hand towards me. When I thought I could no longer reach it, another hand came. The fingerless glove that covered it grabbed me with such strength I could feel like I could be torn off any second. But then I realize who it was. The blonde elf was Soleil. And the violent hand was from Harlow.

Despite everything, they saved me from myself and my despair. They gave me enough reason to even think of doing something, not for me but for someone else. Them.

Vines were keeping me restrained tight. Every time I tried to shake them off, the grip would get tighter and tighter. A woman with green skin was right next to Soleil. Behind them was a young woman also with green skin and a mix of colors on her hair. They resembled vines. I assume they are dryads.

I have read about them while I was conducting research at the library. They solely live on the Brifail Woodlands so how are they here? Or in the end, did we drift so much from the correct path that we ended up here? What happened.

“You seem confused, boy.”

The woman spoke to me. Despite being the first time I have ever seen or hear her, she feels familiar. I can’t quite put my finger on it.

“Where am I?”

“Welcome to Brifail Woodlands. Seems it is indeed your first time here.”

“If I really am in the place that you say I am, it’s only natural since I’m human, or have the laws changed so much around here since 2 years ago?”

“Oh, are you perhaps that interested in rules and laws to claim that?”

“It is natural, is it not? I mean… I am not really from around here and it is only natural to not wanting to be killed by breaking some sort of rule or law no matter how idiotic it would be.”

“Careful type, are we?”

Untying the vines that surrounded my wrists and ankles, I can finally move freely. My body feels stiff.

“How long have I been out?”

I asked looking at Soleil. She simply turned her head in response.

“About a week.”

“WHAT?”

My own shout made my head hurt and I start to feel dizzy.

“Keep it down, you idiot. No one has to hear your idiotic interjection.”

No matter how pissed that answer left me, she was indeed right and that is what is more annoying. Why is she so familiar? Why do I feel like I know her? This is starting to annoy me.

“And stop your frowning, you will get wrinkles and for a young boy as you to look old it is not a good premise.”

“And why does that concern you?”

“Oh, it does not, I simply wish to warn you. Don’t want you to complain further down the line that you look older than what you actually are.”

“Hm, for someone who isn’t concerned at all, your advice tells me the opposite. Are you one of those who act the way they feel? That is a bit tsundere of you.”

“Tsun-? What?”

“Ah, I was right indeed. Tsundere."

“Young boy, I warn you.” The atmosphere of the room changed and vines started sprouting from all over the place. The walls, the floor, the ceiling, and from her body. “Must I go further?”

I don’t know why but this setup just makes me laugh. She is just like Harlow but with vines instead of thread. And since I don’t want to get hurt, again, I must stop.

“I insist you accept my apologies, oh dear savior of mine. It was rude indeed and I shall act accordingly from now on.”

“Even I know you are simply bullshitting your way out of this one.”

I really didn’t need that remark, Soleil.

“Do not worry, little elf. I do know he is simply talking his way out of insulting me. That is why he is going to pay anyway.”

“Hey, only half of that was bullshit. The rest was true, let’s be reasonable.”

“So you admit it?”

“You wanted me to lie when you have vines crawling from every place in this house?”

“Well, you could, could you not?”

Vines got hold of my ankles and wrists and got me suspended in mid-air. Despite everything I thought I knew, it didn’t hurt a bit.

“Do I look that stupid to you?”

“You sure look so.”

“Fair point.”

And with that remark, she slowly let me down on top of the best where I was resting.

“Now, little elf, fill the boy in. It seems like he is confused enough.”

While the dryad mixed a couple of liquids on a pot, Soleil told me everything that had happened since I got unconscious. From the fact that she was now completely healthy to the fact that I was a wreck and I was barely salvaged. Looks like I’m still good enough to fight another day.

“Drink this.” Rita, the dryad that was dealing with me was a doctor or a healer or something of a kind. And she really looks like it. She seems strong. She handed me a cup with a black liquid that smelled familiar. It was a bitter smell but strong. I tasted and I immediately got reminded of a taste.

“Coffee? In this world?”

“So you know this?”

“Of course I know. This used to be my favorite thing back home. With cream and sugar and this is a divine drink. Ah, I miss it.”

“Finally, someone who appreciates the taste.”

I handed Soleil my cup and as soon as the coffee reached her lips, she almost dropped it. The look on her face was the same when a cat doesn’t like something. It was adorable, if I may say it.

“How can you drink this? It is so bitter it hurts.”

““Kid””

We both looked at each other and for once, we were on the same level.

“Excuse me?”

“You are perhaps too young to understand the complexity of this amazing beverage.”

“I second the old lady.”

I messed up.

“Did I misheard you?”

“Indeed you did.”

“That is what I thought.”

She is scary.

In the midst of all of this, a drud was glaring at me with one of his hands ready to unsheath his sword. The intent to kill is pretty obvious. But since Rita is fine with me being here, I don’t think he is going to act against a leader of his own village. That also could be considered treason.

Now I have another matter on my hands. Thalia knew very well that bringing me would be considered treason against her people and yet she did. I also need to resupply. I have nothing on me besides the bag Harlow gave us. Our weapons, gear, and potions are completely wrecked.

From the way I see it, Thalia has two options. Get killed in order to save her honor, which would be an idiot thing, or leave the village in order to atone for her so-called sin.

“Lady Rita, may we talk?”

I won’t have debts unpaid. She didn’t have to, yet she risked it for me. If she dragged Soleil, she would be fine but agreeing to bring me along was the worst thing she could have done. Besides, would she even be fine with tagging along forcefully with the reason who made her be cast away from her family?

“Let’s head to the balcony, then.”

“Soleil, do you mind staying here, just in case?”

I made sure she understood why I asked that by simply looking at the drud at the door glaring. She understood immediately and agreed to it. If anything, I am glad she is better.

Heading out of the room and catching fresh air made my lungs burst. The air was so pure that breathing hurt a little at first. This is really another world. Dryads working on fields, building several settlements with vines and wood, growing food. This was an amazingly beautiful sight.

“So, what do you want to talk about, hero of the world, Yurem Truesdale, the wanted criminal?”