"Impossible." The stranger declared with a frown. "How does anyone not know anything about the world they live in? You'd have to be the biggest idiot on the planet to be that stupid."
Freya sighed to herself. So much for trying to be truthful. Guess she couldn't go with the "I'm not from this world" angle for now. No one would believe her.
"You caught me there." Freya coughed, hoping he would catch her lying. "I know what a guide is. They're someone who helps another on a journey or with something."
The stranger side-eyed her. "I guess that's one definition… But let's not play dumb here. We both know I mean guide as in someone with the ability to stop someone else's power from consuming them."
So, that's what he meant by me being a guide. Freya mused silently to herself. Superpowers exist in this world and guides are a type of superpower. Makes me wonder what exactly that power of his was?
But before she headed down that road, there was one thing she had to make clear. Freya turned to look at the stranger and stated, "Right that type of guide… Well, I'm not that kind of guide. I don't have any superpower."
"How do you not know that you're a guide?" The stranger asked, looking at her confused. "I just felt your power when you touched me."
"Wait what?!" Freya turned to look at her hand. I have a superpower?! How is that even possible?
Did it have something to do with her being in this weird world? Perhaps she had gained it when she traveled over to this world because there was no way she was born with this ability.
Superpowers on Earth only existed in comic books and movies. They weren't real, so there was no way she could've had this ability since she was young. Something must've happened when she landed up here.
Urgh! Freya muttered to herself. Why did I have to land up here? Couldn't the universe just let me keep my boring, ordinary life?
"Growl!"
The sudden ear-shattering growl brought Freya back to her senses. She hoped whatever made that noise was far away and just had a loud scream. She was not ready for round two. In this lifetime and the next.
"Shit!" The stranger hissed, shifting the lower half of his body. His legs turned into a massive black snake tail. "We'll finish this discussion later. Hold on tight."
Before Freya had the chance to even process his words, the snake beastman was off. Freya felt her stomach drop, almost as if she was on a rollercoaster. Just this one was moving too fast and going to make her sick.
***
"Bleeeuuuugh!"
Freya leaned against a giant tree, drying heaving against it. That damn snake beastman kept moving at full speed, refusing to slow down a little so she could adjust to the rough motions.
He only landed up stopping about two hours later when Freya finally threatened to puke all over him. That immediately had him stopping nearby some lake.
"Tsk… Females are so weak." The snake beastman muttered behind her. "Are you done yet?"
Freya wiped the corner of her mouth and turned to glare at him. "Women are not weak. Some people are just too powerful for their own good… Now let me catch my breath. It's been a rough day okay."
"I guess we can take a break…" The stranger sighed, eyes scanning the area around them.
Freya nodded her head in agreement, done with this whole day. She wanted to go back to sleep and hopefully find herself waking up in her bed. It would be a dream come true after this nightmare. Speaking of which…
"What was that thing screaming?" Freya asked, straightening up.
She turned to find the stranger searching though that backpack he had brought with them. Honestly, it was a miracle that that bag was in one piece after they went bullet train speeds. Well, what felt like bullet train speeds.
"Probably Bloodsuckers." The stranger mused, pulling out a blanket and some strange device. "Nasty creatures with a lot of power. I don't think I could've dealt with one…"
"Really?" Freya shivered at the thought. "But you have such a crazy power?"
"Heh…" The stranger shook his head, eyes narrowing. "Are you playing dumb again? Even my power has limits. If I use it anymore then I risk becoming like the Wanderers that killed you. So let's try to avoid trouble."
"Fine by me…" Freya nodded in agreement.
She was still a bit confused by how he would become like those wolf beastmen, but she decided not to bother asking. She wasn't exactly keen on being called stupid again.
Freya got to where the stranger was and moved to sit down. She hissed in pain as she moved, her whole body aching from tonight's events. She really wanted a nice, long bath. That would soothe everything.
She glanced over at the small lake nearby, wondering if it was safe to use. The water was a little murky looking, but that could be because she was only able to see thanks to the moonlight.
"Don't even think about it." The snake beastman suddenly said, holding up a small container. "One dip in that water will have your skin melting."
Freya stiffened at his words. "Does everything in this world have to be dangerous?! How do people live in peace?!"
"You act like you've never lived in a city your whole life." The stranger let out a sarcastic chuckle. He then handed her the container. "Put this on your injuries before they get infected. Oh and use this to clean yourself."
Freya didn't need to be told twice. She took the ointment from him and then the box of wipes he handed her. After using the wipes to get as much of the dried mud and blood off her body as possible, Freya began applying the ointment.
It had a strong bitter smell that had Freya gaging, but she endured the awful smell upon realizing how much relief it gave her. When she was done, she wiped her hands with another wipe before turning her attention to what the stranger was doing.