The owner of the voice was clad in attractive black clothes Yura had never seen before. His silver hair seemed long enough to reach his waist, though it was tied into a ponytail at his neck. Though he was down on one knee to look Yura in the eye, it was clear he was far taller than she.
His clear, aqua blue eyes gazed into hers. There was a coldness in those eyes, but beyond that, pride burned within.
“……”
Yura was transfixed.
On instinct, she looked him directly in the eyes. At that moment, his eyes seemed to widen. He gasped and set his jaw.
The soldiers encircling Yura all exhaled at once.
His face suddenly went slack.
“Your Majesty,” said one of the soldiers nearby.
The voice that came from the circle of iron was unmistakably human.
The young man responded to the reserved but insistent voice by waving his hand. He suddenly got to his feet.
“Stand up.”
He extended a hand to Yura.
As she staggered to her feet, he wrapped something clothlike around her. He wiped the dirt from her forehead with his finger. With his arm around her shoulders, he began to walk.
He led her toward the line of horses at the side of the road. For the first time, Yura noticed the ornate carriage waiting beyond that line.
Huh…?
She was completely shocked.
There was golden craftwork scattered amid the reddish-brown ground.
As Yura stopped, the carriage moved forward to meet her.
Yura looked at the man before her, flustered, and began to speak. “Uh…uhm…”
She stepped into the carriage as prompted, freezing when she saw the cloth-covered seats within.
The man seated himself diagonally across from her without a word.
What in the world is going on…?
The carriage trembled.
Wh-Wh-What is this all about?
But the words she wanted to say wouldn’t come out.
The carriage took off, its newest passenger still in the dark.
Unable to hide her confusion, Yura looked all around her. The young man gave no complaints. The inside of the carriage was far more comfortable than its external appearance let on. It wasn’t very big, but it was cozy. From the walls to the seats, everything was ornate. It was like being inside a jewelry box.
Sometime after they took off, the young man lowered the old-fashioned window that Yura doubted her hands could manage to open, and rested his chin on his hand as he gazed out the window. He kept his eyes on the world beyond the carriage.
The silent Yura stole a timid glance at the young man.
He’s kinda like a doll, isn’t he? His clothes are old-fashioned, and kind of…surreal.
It turned out they were riding somewhere high up; Yura could tell they were crossing over dangerously steep precipices a few times.
Below them was a forest. A vast forest with a thick fog hanging over it. An entirely different sight from the wasteland she’d arrived in.
Yura suddenly gasped.
Why am I having a dream like this? What fed into these wild ideas? And I still can’t wake up. No, I haven’t been able to from the start.
Every time Yura let her guard down, her mind would fill with doubts. She fought to push her fears down. She kept trying to keep the persistent thoughts quiet and remain calm, only for them to reemerge.
Isn’t this strange? This feels far too real to be a dream.
She could find no explanation beyond that. But still, something was off. She’d been uneasy the whole time. And there was no one for her to turn to for help.
But no matter how realistic it seems, this still has to be a dream…
Suddenly feeling eyes upon her, Yura looked up and found the young man who’d been gazing out the window was now looking at her. His elbow was still against the window, but he’d tilted his head just enough to gaze over at Yura.
The way he looked at Yura, as if she were somehow fascinating, made her shrink beneath his gaze.
His gaze drifted over her skirt and red clay-stained uniform.
His eyes met Yura’s and he seemed to force a smile.
“What art thou called?” he suddenly asked.
It caught Yura off guard and she lifted her head in surprise. Without even meaning to, she met his gaze.
“Th-Thou…?” she timidly asked her relaxed companion.
He didn’t seem that much older than Yura. Maybe twenty-two or twenty-three years old. Blinking furiously, she pointed to the tip of her nose, and he gave a pronounced nod.
“……”
It felt strange to be asked her name by this complete stranger in a dream. She remained silent, unable to respond to him, and in this moment of silence she became aware of the fabric in her lap.
She gasped and pulled her hands away.
“I-I’m so sorry…”
His eyes widened.
She removed the luxurious fabric covering her in a panic. The dirt and grime that clung to Yura had rubbed off on it too.
Yura felt the blood draining from her face.
“I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed. Yura pointed at the cloth. “Your cape got dirty.”
She pulled her fingers back in a panic.
I’ll wash it and give it back, Yura tried to say, but the youth burst out laughing, amused.
“Wh-What?”
“Thou won’t tell me thy name then?”
Oh, was that it then? He was asking my name! I’m glad he didn’t get mad, but isn’t this weird? But getting to know someone in my dreams… Oh, I really don’t get this at all!
“—Yura.”
“What?”
It was like the words just fell from Yura’s lips. And once they started, they didn’t stop easily.
“I’m Yura! Yura Sugano! Who are you? Where am I?”
Her companion looked completely startled. Knitting his brows together, he frowned.
This time, Yura really did tremble in fear.
Ohh no! Now what? Let me wake up, please—!
The young man stared intensely at Yura as she shrank back in her seat.
It was like he was staring at her—no, examining her. After some time passed, he seemed to pull himself back together and began to talk in a strangely concerned tone.