Saki slowly lifted her head, searching around to see if there were any Japanese people nearby. She hoped to find someone she could communicate with and learn more about the current state of the war.
But she found none.
The gentleman who had saved her stepped forward and introduced himself.
"My name is Yugantar," he said calmly. "I am from India, and currently I serve in the British Indian military."
Saki looked at him carefully. His uniform seemed old-fashioned, unlike anything she had seen before. Dust and smoke covered parts of it, yet he stood confidently despite the chaos surrounding them.
Yugantar glanced toward the battlefield outside the shelter. The distant sounds of explosions echoed through the air.
"There is a war about to begin," he continued. "Our general has not told us much, but I overheard something important."
He paused for a moment before speaking again.
"They say that soon, countries under foreign rule may finally become free."
Then he turned toward Saki and asked gently, "What is your name, girl?"
"My name is Saki," she replied quietly.
"Saki…" Yugantar repeated thoughtfully. "I do not know how you arrived here, but this place is dangerous. It is not safe for you."
Saki's eyes moved once again toward his uniform. The design, the fabric, even the weapons around him — everything looked as though it belonged to another era.
A strange feeling crept into her chest.
She looked at him nervously and asked, "Can you tell me… how I can get out of here?"
For a moment, Yugantar stayed silent. The sounds of war grew louder outside as cold wind entered the shelter.
Then, with a serious expression, he answered softly,
"I do not think leaving this place will be as easy as you imagine."