The crackling campfire cast long shadows against the towering trees surrounding them. The night air was cool and crisp, a sharp contrast to the grueling heat of the day’s training. The group sat in a loose circle, their muscles sore, their bodies exhausted—but their minds still buzzing with energy.
The sounds of crickets and distant nocturnal creatures filled the air, blending with the occasional pop of burning wood.
For the first time since arriving, Kaida felt a strange sense of calm.
No drills. No yelling. No bruises forming from getting his ass handed to him.
Just… a moment to breathe.
Seraphina stretched, arms above her head, before flopping back onto the ground. “Alright, let’s make this interesting,” she said, staring up at the star-filled sky. “Since we’re gonna be stuck together, we might as well get to know each other.”
Alric smirked. “What, you getting sentimental on us, Sera?”
Seraphina grinned lazily. “Nah, just curious. We all got thrown into this together, right? Might as well know who we’re fighting alongside.”
Lorien adjusted his glasses, nodding. “A fair suggestion. Shared understanding leads to stronger teamwork.”
Lysara hesitated before speaking, her voice softer. “And, honestly… we don’t know when we’ll get another quiet moment like this.”
That last part hung in the air a little longer than necessary.
Kaida shifted uncomfortably.
Seraphina sat up and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Alright, I’ll go first, since I suggested it.” She grinned, poking at the fire with a stick. “I grew up in a noble household—stuffy, uptight, full of rules. Not my thing. So, I ditched all that and decided to make my own way as a warrior. Prove I don’t need a title to be worth something.”
Alric snorted. “Explains a lot.”
Seraphina elbowed him. “Your turn, tough guy.”
Alric smirked. “Nothing complicated. Born into a family of knights, trained to fight since I could walk. It’s in my blood, I guess.” He glanced into the fire. “Always figured I’d end up serving a kingdom in some way. Just didn’t expect it’d be like this.”
Lorien chuckled. “Fate works in strange ways.” He adjusted his coat. “I come from a family of scholars. Studied war tactics and battlefield formations since childhood. I’m not the strongest, but I like to think strategy wins more battles than brute force.”
Lysara smiled slightly. “That’s a wise perspective.”
Lorien gave a small nod. “What about you, Princess?”
Lysara hesitated before answering. “I… always knew I’d have a role to play in my father’s kingdom. But I never imagined it would involve something as grand as this.” She clasped her hands together, staring into the fire. “I suppose my goal is simple: to protect my people, and to live up to the expectations placed upon me.”
Kaida listened to them all, taking in their determination, their drive, their sense of belonging.
It made him feel like an outsider.
Finally, all eyes turned to him.
Kaida tensed slightly.
“…Well?” Seraphina prompted.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Not much to say.” He shrugged. “I was just a normal high school student before all this. No noble background. No warrior training. Just… an average guy trying to figure out what to do with his life.”
Lysara tilted her head. “High school?”
Kaida blinked. “Oh, right. You guys don’t have that here.”
Lorien adjusted his glasses. “Explain.”
Kaida scratched the back of his head. “Uh, well, it’s a place where people my age go to learn. We study different subjects—math, science, history—stuff like that.”
Alric raised an eyebrow. “So, your world has designated training grounds for knowledge?”
Kaida shrugged. “I guess? But it’s not like we’re training to be knights or scholars. Most of us are just… figuring things out. Some people know what they want to do, some don’t. It’s basically a place where we prepare for whatever comes next.”
Seraphina smirked. “And what exactly was next for you?”
Kaida hesitated. “I… don’t know.” He exhaled. “I was still trying to figure that out. Honestly I’m this moment…I just want to find a way home.” He said looking down at the ground, feeling a bit embarrassed by his statement, worrying about it sounding selfish. Which it was in his eyes.
Lysara studied him for a moment before offering a small smile. “That doesn’t make you selfish, you know.”
Kaida blinked. “…It doesn’t?”
She shook her head. “No. It makes you human.”
Kaida wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
Lorien stretched, letting out a yawn. “Well, with that, I think we can officially say we’re not total strangers anymore.”
Seraphina grinned. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t get too sentimental on me.”
They sat in companionable silence, the firelight casting flickering shadows on their faces.
Eventually, one by one, they started retiring to their tents.
Kaida stayed behind, staring into the flames, lost in thought.
Then—
A familiar gruff voice.
“You did good today, runt.”
Kaida turned, blinking in surprise. Temu stood nearby, arms crossed, watching him with her usual unreadable expression.
He raised a brow. “Didn’t think you’d stick around for story time.”
Temu smirked. “Didn’t need to. Already know enough about these idiots.”
Kaida chuckled. “Fair.”
For a moment, she was silent, watching him carefully.
Then, her expression softened—just slightly.
“Listen, kid,” she said, her voice lower, “it’s okay to want to go home. But while you’re here, make sure you live like you mean it.”
Kaida looked up at her, something in his chest tightening.
Temu sighed. “Whether you like it or not, you’re part of this world now. And if you wanna survive, you’d better start acting like it.”
Kaida exhaled slowly. “Yeah… I get that.”
Temu studied him for a moment before stepping forward—
And ruffled his hair.
The touch was rough, yet oddly familiar. For a brief moment, it reminded him of Olivia—the way she used to tease him, the way she’d mess with his hair when he was upset. Even Temu’s tone carried a strange resemblance to hers—gruff but laced with an underlying warmth.
Kaida felt a lump form in his throat, but he swallowed it down.
Temu snorted. “Get some sleep, runt.”
Kaida huffed, but smiled slightly. “Yeah, yeah.”
Temu walked off, disappearing into the night.
For the first time since arriving—
Kaida didn’t feel completely alone.
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