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Chapter Nine: The Beginning of Acquaintance
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Scene 1: Sunset and the Start of Revival
The sun had begun to set behind the trees, painting the sky with orange shades melting into the coming darkness.
The sounds of insects rose from between the grass, and the cold breeze slipped lightly through the branches.
The surrounding trees began to glow with faint green threads of light, as if they were the forest's breathing in the dark.
On the ground, Kyora lay motionless, his breathing slow, his face calm as if he had been asleep for a century.
Rinyon sat beside him, looking at him with silent worry. She gently placed him on the ground and put her hands on his chest.
Suddenly, a soft green light shone from her palms, filling the place with a warm aura.
Kyora's wounds began to disappear gradually, as if dissolving into the air.
His eyes opened slowly, and his voice came out weak but steady:
Kyora: (What… happened? I don't remember anything after I passed out… And why is the cave destroyed like this?)
Rinyon: (What? You don't remember anything?)
Kyora: (No… I don't remember.)
Rinyon thinks silently, her eyes lowering to the ground:
(Is this because of the transformation? Maybe his memories got scrambled…)
Then she smiles softly to hide her worry:
Rinyon: (We won…)
Kyora smiles faintly: (Great…)
A short moment of silence follows, with only the distant croaking of frogs.
Rinyon: (Where will you go now?)
Kyora: (I live in a cave near here… but… can you help me get there? I can't stand yet. My body feels strangely tired…)
Rinyon: (Alright, I'll help you.)
She offers him her hand and helps him stand.
He leans on her shoulder with slow steps, walking together through the forest, the moon lighting their path between the long shadows.
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Scene 2: Inside the Cave
They enter another cave, slightly smaller and quieter than the one that collapsed.
Rinyon sets Kyora on the ground, then sits beside him.
Darkness fills the place except for a faint beam coming through an opening above, illuminating floating dust like tiny stars.
Outside, the moon is bright and the sky is full of stars.
Rinyon, clearly embarrassed, lifts her eyes to him and says:
(Well… you… don't have anyone to take care of you… so… I'll stay here…)
Kyora looks at her calmly:
Kyora: (Thank you. But… who exactly are you? And why did you come to this forest?)
Rinyon starts sweating and looks away with clear nervousness:
Rinyon: (W-well, I'm Misaki Rinyon… I came to the forest to gather some magical herbs to heal my mother… We're a poor family, we don't have the money to buy medicine… so I ended up lost…)
Kyora lowers his eyes, his voice quieter:
Kyora: (That… is sad.)
Then after a moment:
(As for me… my name is Haruki Kyora. I don't remember well… but I remember I came through a gate, and found myself in this forest…)
He thinks silently:
(If I get a reward from that voice… I'll give it all to her.)
Rinyon: (You mean… there are other worlds?)
Kyora: (Maybe… but I'm not sure.)
Rinyon: (Can you tell me about them?)
Kyora: (I don't know anything about them…)
Rinyon: (I wanted to know about them…)
Kyora's eyes start closing slowly.
Kyora: (Sorry… I don't even remember… where I came from…)
He falls asleep deeply.
Rinyon looks at him with pride and relief.
(He fought so hard, so… I won't blame him.)
She places a hand on her chest, feeling a strong heartbeat.
Rinyon whispers shyly: (Why is my heart beating like this? C-could it be that I… fell…)
The image fades slowly on her blushing face.
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Scene 3: Morning
A small beam of light breaks through the cave's ceiling, landing on Kyora's face.
He breathes deeply, then opens his eyes.
Dew drips from the rocks, and soft sounds fill the place.
He turns and sees Rinyon sleeping on the other side, her hair falling gently over her shoulder.
Kyora: (Seems she took care of me all night… Alright, my turn now.)
He stands up quietly, takes a large leaf to cover her head from the sun, and leaves the cave softly.
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Scene 4: In the Forest
Quick shots appear —
Kyora walking between trees, searching through the grass, watching birds, then sighing.
Kyora: (All the rabbits and birds disappeared…)
He spots a white apple tree, picks some apples and places them in the leaf.
Then heads toward a large banana tree, but as he reaches out, a group of little monkeys appears above the branches.
They throw pinecones at him.
Kyora: (Ouch! Stop that, you annoying monkeys!)
He grabs a pinecone and throws it back, making the monkeys scream and flee laughing.
He smiles lightly, grabs some bananas, and returns to the cave.
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Scene 5: Inside the Cave
Kyora enters the cave, places the apples and bananas on a large leaf before Rinyon, then sits beside her.
He gently shakes her shoulder.
She opens her eyes slowly, looks around, then sees the colorful fruit.
Suddenly… she imagines a fantasy scene —
Kyora's face shining, a pink glowing aura behind him, fruits floating magically around him.
He stretches his hand to her with an overly gentle smile:
Fantasy Kyora: (Take this, my dear Rinyon…)
She springs up, her face burning red, backing away in panic:
Rinyon (flustered): (Y-you pervert! Stay away! I'm not your wife yet for you to call me "my dear"!)
Kyora stares at her, confused:
Kyora: (But… I didn't say anything!)
Her face grows even redder, a tiny white puff of smoke rising from her head, then she collapses onto the ground.
Kyora rushes toward her:
Kyora: (Rinyon! Are you okay?!)
The scene pauses for a moment, then resumes —
Rinyon is now sitting, her face still red, thinking to herself in embarrassment:
(I embarrassed myself… it was all just imagination!)
Kyora: (Why are you spacing out? Come on, eat.)
Rinyon: (I don't want your food! Who told you I want these fruits? I want meat!)
Kyora: (I searched and found none…)
Rinyon: (Fine… give me some of them.)
He hands her some apples.
Kyora thinks while smiling faintly:
(She dropped her pride quickly… At first she said "I don't want," and now she wants. She really is weird…)
They eat together in comfortable silence, with nothing heard except chewing and dew dripping.
After they finish, some fruit remains.
Rinyon: (Can you use the elements?)
Kyora: (It requires someone outside to do that…)
She lifts her hand gently, a small dancing flame appearing above her palm.
Rinyon: (Look… I can use it easily.)
Kyora: (Amazing… how do you do that?)
Rinyon: (Let's go outside, I'll show you how… and we can train there.)
Kyora: (Alright… let's go.)
To be continued…
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