Rewinding back to a chain of events that set the course of their lives.
The hut door slammed open.
Reiji groaned and rubbed his face.
"That's a horrible way to greet someone in the morning, little girl."
She stared at him with the same cold, blank expression as yesterday.
"Same personality as yesterday." Reiji thought.
Then he muttered, "You're gonna have to stop giving me that attitude."
He inhaled deeply.
"Maybe I should show her what I'm made of."
He began chanting.
"Forma allineata, precisione assoluta, proporzione divina. Proprioception."
He felt the pulse of energy through his body.
His world expanded.
The trees, plants, and everything that his power reached, hums like it was whispering in his ears.
Revealing.
Tatiana gasped and immediately shouted, "Bobbin!"
"I probably look insane right now… but she'll calm down once I do this."
She whipped into a defensive stance and started casting, "Sekhemu Netjeri, shamru Ani'i–"
In an instant, Reiji knew just what he should do.
"She's gonna love this."
*GULP.
"Behold! Reiji's Special Grilled Meat No. 1—bon appétit!" he announced proudly.
"Food always brought peace back home. It should work here too."
Everything froze for a moment.
"That should do it, right? Why am I so excited?"
Bobbin prepared. Her ears lay flat against her head.
"Hey, rabbit. Relax. I'm not trying to hurt anyone"
Then he turned to Tatiana.
"I just want to ask her some questions."
Bobbin raised her paws.
"Did I mess this up? I perceived this differently."
He lunged himself towards Bobbin.
"Its physical movement is crystal clear."
Using Bobbin's forward momentum, he inserted himself under her and perfectly timed a leg sweep.
"But its emotion? I couldn't read that at all."
Bobbin fell off the ground crashing onto her back.
"Please calm down," Reiji pleaded. "I'm not trying to fight you."
"It stunned her. I have to take this opportunity."
He pressed one foot on Bobbin.
Turning back to Tatiana, who was still motionless.
"Little girl, I just need to understand. That's all I want from you."
Tatiana dropped on her knees.
"She's not listening."
She looked delighted by the food he stuffed in her mouth.
He chuckled.
Looking at Bobbin, he said. "I think she likes it."
"Does this bunny talk?"
"Let me ask you instead, where did this power come from?" he asked.
He looked Bobbin in the eye, hoping for an answer.
"Where did I get this strange surge inside me?"
Bobbin struggled.
She was trying to get out of his control.
"Stop, please." Reiji said.
"I know what you're trying to do."
"I know your intention."
He took a deep breath.
"I know. This food will calm her down too."
He shoved meat into her mouth.
"Bon appétit," he said smiling.
Bobbin started to calm down.
"She seems to be enjoying it."
"That's just something I whipped up from whatever looked edible," He explained. "Plus the leftover meat from yesterday."
Reiji smiled. "Glad you're enjoying it."
Tatiana recovered.
She looked straight at him aggressively.
"What… was that? How did you make that thing?" she demanded.
He relaxed himself.
"The bunny isn't a threat right now."
He leaned forward slightly, "You can talk to me nicely."
Tatiana did not say anything.
So he began to explain.
"It's made from those small disk-shaped harvests, and that violet bulb over in that corner."
Tatiana squinted.
"Those are Rocallini and Cipombole. We use them for everything except cooking. Don't lie to me."
Reiji's expression remained earnest as he replied, "I'm telling the truth, I assure you. They have a flavor profile similar to something from where I came from, but amplified."
"It's basically uncultivated onion & garlic." He reasoned with himself.
He saw Tatiana wasn't buying it.
"But the secret was the exceptional quality of the meat you left me. It balanced out the intensity of those things." He continued.
Tatiana scowled.
"It's toxic to humans. What did you really do?"
"I tested this power I unlocked–"
He turned Tatiana, her arms were crossed.
Still unconvinced.
"You don't believe I just learned this power, do you?"
"Yes," Tatiana replied bluntly. "I don't."
"You don't see I'm being honest, huh?" he whispered.
He wanted to continue to explain, but Tatiana was already on the edge.
"What if I reveal what I know about them?" he thought.
He exhaled slowly.
"Aside from this power, I also learned one more thing."
He pointed upward.
"You're covering this whole place with an illusion."
Tatiana's eyes sharpened.
Bobbin stepped back in shock.
Without warning, Tatiana began chanting.
"Sekhemu Netjeri, shemsu Ani sagkot kawsara. Halekin!" (Hasten)
Tatiana glowed with energy swirling around her.
He was amazed.
"Woah..."
But it was just a moment.
When he blinked.
Tatiana vanished.
He smiled in awe.
"So that's illusion magic? Incredible…"
Bobbin suddenly let out a piercing shriek, hurting his ears and causing them to bleed.
"This bunny..."
He wiped the blood away, his lips formed an awkward smile.
"What did I ever do to them? I've been trying to connect."
"I tried to be friendly. But if this is how you want this to go."
He closed his eyes, and felt the power inside him.
"I'll give it to you."
He looked Bobbin in her eyes.
Bobbin shrieked even harder.
The whole hut shook, and the glass window shattered.
He fell on his knee.
He knew he was aiming to run.
He let her.
Tatiana, who was about to blow the whole shack, stopped.
Then she cited another spell.
"Sacred Light, uncover the illusion hidden within." Tatiana chanted
Bobbin gave him one more glance.
"Reveal." Tatiana cast.
His world flickered.
They were gone.
It was just him.
The hut.
And some parts of the ruins.
"They kicked me out, huh?" he muttered. "I tried hard to make them feel I was a friend."
He sighed.
"I guess when I perceive things, I should not be blinded by my presumption about my cooking."
Then.
A little far off in the trees.
"What just happened?"
"This must be the entrance to the lost cursed village of Caledon.
"It popped out of nowhere!"