Chapter 2: New Companion

When I woke up, I see the sky. The clouds moving slowly and I could hear the birds chirping from the trees. I stood up and thankfully, I felt no pain in my body. In fact, I felt refreshed and energized! I then started to walk. Walking in no direction. I don't even know where to go! 

Today marks my second day here on 

Beaume. Yesterday was a roller coaster of events. I’ve been drinking myself with my friends not until I unexpectedly died and was sent to an unknown world to live the rest of my life. Heck! I’m only twenty-five years old and death already took me! I’m just hoping that everything is well for my friends I left from my world.

After walking on no outlook for some quite time, I began realizing that this is a pretty bad situation.

First of all, there’s no food. No water either. Even if I managed to find a town, what’s 

the use? I have no money. All I have is a sword, a small mirror worth 1 dollar and a ring that I don’t even know the use. I don’t even know if there’s a kind person that will help go through this mess. And the god even mentioned demons and creatures yesterday. What would happen if I were to face one of them? Can I give them a fight? What shall I do now?

While walking absentmindedly, I suddenly heard distant noises of chattering nearby. From the distance, I see… I see... A hut!

Finally! After hours of tireless walking, yes! I can finally interact with a human. I was as excited as a child opening a Christmas gift as I go near the old, small and dirty hut until I heard a voice. A crying voice to be exact. 

“Please! Give me another week! I’ll definitely pay you!” cried a young female voice from what I can hear.

“I have given you a lot of time! You’re time is up! You need to pay you debt or you’re coming to the slave auction with me!” Threatened by the person whom I assumed to be a man based on his very deep voice. 

I didn’t waste any time and interjected on what it seemed to be a fight going on between them.

“Excuse me!” I said as I entered the narrow door of the hut. My eyes didn’t like what I saw inside the hut. A woman around the age of fifteen with wounds and bruises lying on the floor, and a fat, around fifty year old, suspicious guy standing in front her. My eyes lit up and I can’t bear to watch it any longer. I need to do the right thing and save her.

“What’s the problem? Perhaps we can talk in out in a peaceful way, shall we?” I stated calmly

“And who the hell are you?” the man arrogantly replied back. I felt a sense of relief as the both of us can understand each other. We both share the same language! But I shouldn't feel relieved! I must do something about this!

“I’m her guardian” I blurted out as an excuse. I had no other options but to tell a lie. Let’s just hope he’ll buy into it.

“Now, it’s your turn to introduce yourself what’s the problem?” 

“Well, you’re kid hasn’t paid her debt for almost three months! It’s my job to collect her debts and it was due for long! She needs to pay today or she’ll be going to the slave house with me! Hahaha!” He proudly said with the usual evil laugh.

“Can you give me a minute?” I asked. He didn’t respond so I took it as a yes. 

I then started on thinking of a way to get her out of this mess. The girl, who was in tears earlier, was just there, lying on the floor, watching as I talk to the man who was trying to destroy her life. I inspected my pockets only to find a small piece of mirror, and... a candy wrapper. Only damn fool would think that this is a diamond!

Wait… That’s it! EXACTLY! Now that you think about it, I can break the mirror into pieces and use it as a payment! What a brilliant idea! But... is he dumb enough to accept it? Well, let's see.

I cleared my throat before I started to speak

“Do you accept diamonds?” I offered

The man’s eyes lit up and he seem to be very interested. Great! He took the bait!

I then proceeded to crack the small sized mirror into pieces on my pocket as fast as I could. I could feel the a chunk of a mirror nicking my finger. It hurts but I need to do it or the girl will be in trouble. I then handed him a small piece and then I said,

“That should worth more than she was indebted to you” I told him in a more convincing way

He inspected the material for a minute and later made his mind and accepted it a payment.

“I’ll be taking this. Educate your kid to pay debts on time!” he said as he bid farewell. 

After he was finally gone (hopefully for good), I quickly went through her and checked her. I carried her to her bed as slowly and as gently as I could. She didn’t have the strength to resist so she just let me help her. Minutes later, she passed out. I placed her onto the bed made in bamboo and let her rest. Using my left sleeve of my shirt, I cut a cut a portion of it and soaked it into a basin full of water. I began tending her wounds and bruises. There were also scars everywhere. What in the world happened to her? I asked myself.

After I’m done, I went ahead to the kitchen to look for something. Food. I’m pretty sure she’s hungry and tired after the ordeal. But her kitchen is completely empty! And so I went outside and looked for something to cook.

As walk outside the hut looking for a miracle, there in the distance I saw, was couple of pigeon with the size of a rooster resting on the branch of small tree around 7 meters from here. It could make a decent dinner for the two of us. As slowly as I could, I began to crawl near where the pigeons were resting, and in a count of three, there goes the clank! I managed to catch the lovebirds using my blade.

After the hunt, I began to cook the animal I catched. With the help of the herbs and spices lying on her kitchen, the taste have remarkably been better! The aroma was very tempting and the finished product looks delicious!

After the preparations, I’ve set the table and began waking up the stressed and problematic young girl to eat the dinner I’ve prepared. In my mind, I somehow thank God for making me go into this path. I met a new companion. But this companion of mine has been drained both 

body and soul and seemed to have a traumatic and tragic past. I do hope she’s ready to open up to me because I really wanted to help her.

I slightly tapped the shoulders of the young girl whispering slowly on her left ear. 

“Wake up little sunshine“ My voice woke her up on which she responded by quickly getting her head off the bed and stood up. Her embarrased face is quite cute as I tried to continue building my communication and trust to the girl.

The two of us enjoyed our meal silently. She seemed to be enjoying her meal as she as a small smile on her face, on which later turned into tears.

“What’s the matter? Do you have an allergy on Pigeons?“ I asked worriedly. Hell, I might’ve forced her to eat something she doesn’t want to! I'm such an idiot!

“No.“ She just simply said. There, for the very first time I heard her talk in a normal way. Her voice is what you would consider as angelic. It was smooth and was calm as a woman’s voice could be.

“Then what seemed to be your problem?“ I asked confusingly 

“I’m just... thankful. Thankful that you came and saved me from the debt-collector. I would have been sold to the slave house if you didn’t came. I thank you very much“ She said as slowly placed her hands on the floor and bowed her head deeply. It was a form of apology known as “Dogeza.” I was stunned to see her gesture. 

“You don’t need to do this“ I said quickly

“How can I ever thank you? Is there anything that I can do?“ she replied she undone her "dogeza" gesture

I did think of a way on how she could possibly thank me. It didn’t take me long before I could determine how can I claim my reward. 

“You can be my Family, if you want to“ I offered

“Family?“ she asked

“Yes.“ I answered back.

“You’ll be like my sister or something like that. You will be part of my family. We’ll help each other to survive, just like what families do.“ I explained

“Family... Sister...“ she wandered

“Oh, I don’t mean to force you. You can treat me the way you wanted to-“ I was about to say something when I saw her warm smile. A smile that can steal everyone’s heart.

“Very well then, starting from today, I’ll be your sister... Big Brother!“ she said in a very cute and childish way. 

My heart skipped a beat when she said that word. It only made me want to hear it more! I changed the topic of our conversation as I asked her questions that will let me know her well

“My name is Navi.“ 

“What about yours?“ I asked

“My name is Liza“ she simply replied

“Well then Liza, how old are you?“

“I’m fifteen“ she answered

“Fifteen?“ My eyes widened in shock. How could a fifteen year old girl be in debt to a debt collector?

“Well then, can I ask you a question Liza?“ I asked and she cheerfully replied

“Sure Brother! Go ahead“

I gently dropped the wooden spoon and fork I’ve been holding and clasped both my hands on top of the table. I then proceeded to ask her my question 

“Can you tell me the reason why you asked money from that guy?“ 

The smile on her face vanished as she was about to answer the question.

“I’m an Orphan now. I didn't got a chance to meet my Dad. Mom said he was killed during the demon subjugation roughly around 16 years ago. When my mother was still alive, she got very sick and we have completely nothing, so I tried to borrow money from Mr. Gooden, the tax and debt collector you saw earlier to pay for her expenses." She said

"The money and treatment turned out to be useless because I just lost my Mom in the process“ she added as she struggled to stop her overflowing emotions

“All I have left is this small hut where my Mother and I used to live peacefully and the memories we established during our happy days. I’m basically nothing now“ she stated as she lowered her head.

“Not anymore“ I blurted out of nowhere 

“What?“ she asked in confusion

“Aren’t you my sister now? A Family should be helping each other right? From now on, you won’t suffer anymore. I’m your family now. You can depend on me“ I said and smiled at her as an assurance.

She returned the smile, and still with tears on her face, she rushed towards my chair and hugged me.

“Thank you Brother!” she whispered on my right ear. I returned the hug and just remained silent, savouring this blissful moment between us. Funny right? Two strangers hugging each other?

Unexpectedly today, I have made a new family member. And it’s only my second day here. I expect a lot of exciting events starting tomorrow! My adventure and my new born life had just begun! 

-End of the chapter-