"Yes, I'm alright…"
Zarianna narrowed her eyes, watching me a moment longer than necessary before replying. "Hm. Well, that's good."
Then, something shifted in the air. Three men stepped between the two small wooden stakes planted in the earth. Without a word, they raised their arms, eyes closed, chanting something ancient and low. The air itself seemed to hum.
Hans glanced back. "Ever seen a bridge being called?"
I shook my head. "No. I haven't."
A sudden rush. The river overflowed. Light—brilliant, unnatural—flashed across our faces. From the churning depths, an old wooden bridge emerged like a beast surfacing from the abyss.
So that's why I hadn't seen it earlier.
Hans nodded toward me. "Well, that's that. I hope you find your cat, young one."
He turned away, his captain beside him.
"Uh—yeah. Thanks."
I glanced down at my phone. Still frozen. Still stuck on "MISSION: ACTIVE | TIME: 1".
"Actually... excuse me," I called out. "Would it be possible for me to cross the bridge too?"
The response was silence. Not cold, but strange—like the silence before a storm. Hans and the others stopped walking, but didn't turn.
Their men ahead turned instead. All eyes on me.
"Is everything alright?" I asked, my voice weaker than I liked.
Zarianna's eyes locked onto me, sharp and questioning. "Since Hans ignored you, I almost did too. But I've changed my mind. Who are you? Civilians of rank five and below aren't even allowed here."
"I..."
I looked down at my phone, half hoping it would whisper an answer back.
Zarianna followed my gaze. "And that. That's a regalla. Reserved for high officials or nobles. Who are you?"
Phones. Regallas. Magic. Horses. This world made less sense by the second.
They have phones yet use horses and swords?
Is this even an isekai, or earth at a different continent? No im able to understand the langu- How? How am i able to understand the irlanguage?
"HEY! Are you listening?!"
Her hand went to her sword.
"Now, now, Anna." Hans stepped in. "Let's be civilized."
He turned to me. "Young one. Your name, and rank."
I hesitated. I couldn't give them my real name. But...
"Granbell Vermillion," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
A subtle shift—eyes widened, breaths caught.
Zarianna took a cautious step back and turned toward the smallest of their group: a girl dressed in black priest robes. Her blue hair fell over her eyes-
"Is he telling the truth?" Zarianna asked—not to me, but to her.
The girl nodded.
Hans dropped to one knee. "My apologies. I didn't recognize your noble status."
Zarianna's voice was ice. "I've never heard of House Vermillion. If you're lying, and somehow bypassed truth magic—"
"I'm not," I interrupted quickly.
Hans raised a hand between us. "Enough. Lilly says he isn't lying. Right, Lilly?"
"Yes," came the soft reply.
Hans stood. "Then allow me to ask again—what brings you to the Forest of Memories?"
I swallowed. I couldn't tell them the mission. I couldn't even explain the world I came from.
"I... can't say."
He nodded... then slowly unsheathed his sword.
"Then I'll strike you down in five seconds unless you do."
He's not bluffing.
"Five."
What do I say?!
"Four."
I'm dead. This is it.
"Three."
A shadow moved in the corner of my eye. Something small. Something fast.
Ruby.
"Two—"
The cat launched from the shadows. Hans turned, caught him midair by the back of the head.
"A cat?"
"Myaha! The one and only RUBY! ...Still think that name's too girly though..."
Zarianna blinked. "It... can talk?"
Ruby puffed out his little chest and swished his tail like royalty. "But of course I can talk! I'm not just a cat—I'm the great I."
Hans chuckled and, with a casual flick of his wrist, tossed Ruby through the air toward me. I barely managed to catch him, stumbling back a step as he landed in my arms.
"I see," Hans said. "I was mistaken. I apologize, Granbell."
Just like that? That's all it took?
I looked down at Ruby in disbelief, whispering, "Did you use manipulation magic or something?"
"Huh? What? No, Ruby can't do that," he whispered back with a little scowl. "You think I'd need tricks to be awesome?"
Hans laughed again. "Don't worry. My mind is perfectly clear, young one."
Didn't he call me by name like a minute ago? Now it's back to 'young one' again...
Zarianna muttered, "I wouldn't say 'clear in the head,'" but she sighed, stepping back and sheathing her blade. "Whatever. Do what you want."
For a moment, the tension evaporated, leaving the forest strangely quiet except for the gentle ripple of the river beneath the summoned bridge.
Hans stepped closer, speaking low enough that only I could hear.
"Again, my apologies. We were wrong to threaten you. Everyone carries secrets—especially in places like this."
"Right... yeah. No harm done, I guess," I muttered. "At least I'm still breathing."
He smiled. "As a small gesture of goodwill, how about a ride to Moonfall?"
"Moonfall?"
Zarianna was already turning away, but she threw a glance over her shoulder—cautious, eyes narrowed, suspicion far from gone.
"It's the central village inside the Forest of Memories. That's where we're headed. But if you've got a different destination in mind, we can drop you as close as possible."
I looked down at Ruby, who was licking his paw smugly like he hadn't just saved my life from a sword-swinging noble knight.
I turned back to Hans. "Sure. I'll take that ride."
"Good," Hans said, turning to his captain. "We leave in five. Prepare the horses."
Zarianna gave a tiny snort. "Oh, now he's all formal again…"
As the party began moving back to their path, Lilly—the quiet priest girl—paused beside me. She didn't say anything, just gave me a lingering glance that felt... heavier than it should have. Like she saw more than I'd said. More than I even knew about myself.
Then she turned and walked away.
Ruby climbed up to my shoulder
"Well," he whispered in my ear, "that went better than expected. But next time, maybe don't start by asking to cross magical restricted bridges without a plan?"
"Your right... Where were you though?"
"Dont ask questions which shouldnt be asked hyumam."
"You mean hyuman?"
His black cheeks redened a bit "SHADAP"