No! No! No! Nothing works! Tens of stupid books talk about this Garden of Eden, but none describe how to reach that place.
If they know it exists, then it must mean someone saw it, right?! It's not just a belief, is it?
At this rate, I won't find a way back. Fuck!
I'm worried, what might they be thinking after I disappeared for almost a week? My parents... My girlfriend...
I researched for days and gained nothing. Worst of all, these days I have completely lived off a girl, and now I feel in debt too. I hate this!
Knock knock...
Is it Lyet?
I take a deep breath, trying to calm down. Sigh...
"Lyet? Come in."
She opens the door and peeks inside.
"I thought you might be hungry. Do you wanna go downstairs and eat?"
I think of it for a moment. I'm not in the mood, but at the same time, staying mad and complaining won't solve anything.
"Yes. I'll come in a moment. I also have something I wanted to discuss with you."
"No problem."
After getting ready, we lead downstairs in the main hall of the inn, we order some food, and sit somewhere distant from anyone. As always, Lyet keeps her hood up, covering her face.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"Both because I was still learning the language and because I was immersed in my research, we never properly talked so... First thing, I'm extremely grateful to you, you paid the living expenses of a stranger for days. Thanks."
"No, I'm the one grateful here. You stood up for me when no one else did... I don't want to talk too much about it since I don't want to involve you, but... It's something that has been going on for weeks, and I was alone, scared. So... Thank you."
She states the last words, trembling, even so slightly. I can tell she is genuine about it, and I respect that she doesn't want to explain everything. I can sense the sadness in her voice.
We stay in silence for a few moments, after, I decide to speak up again.
"You likely already noticed I'm not of this world—"
"Really?! I mean, I thought about it, but I wasn't sure. So... You are trying to find a way to go back, aren't you?"
"Exactly."
"I promise I will help you! You just have to trust me... I'll eventually manage to do it!"
"Manage to do what?"
She shakes her head
"Just trust me. It's a promise, no wait... Let's make a contract."
"A contract? I'm not following... Slow down..."
"It's a magical contract. Anyone can create one, well, technically you can't, since you lack magic, but you should still be able to sign one. Anyway, a magical contract has the same worth as universal laws. It's linked with fate, as long as what is decided is possible, it can't be reversed. If my part consists in making you go back to your world... Then... When I'm able to do it, I won't be able to do otherwise; it doesn't matter what happens. You'll also have the confirmation that, somehow, I'll manage to do it in the future."
I don't perceive hesitation; it must be true. Then...
"Lyet... It won't be necessary, I trust you. But I can't just wait, meaning I'll continue my own path as well. But if you succeed in it before me, I'll gladly accept your help."
We smile at each other while shaking hands. At the same time, though, I'm worried about her.
Slam!
The inn's entrance door suddenly opens as someone kicks it.
Two fully armored knights enter, looking around. They have long swords and shields, their coat of arms has a black dragon with a crown; it's the Neverland one, they are the royal guards of this kingdom.
"All of you, listen. Queen Victoria ordered that a certain Lyet, a young woman with white hair and violet eyes, must be brought to the castle as a prisoner. Based on our sources, she was seen around this area a few days ago. If you, Lyet, are among these people, please step forward, and we won't have a reason to harm you."
I don't even have to look at her to know she lowered her head, to further hide her face. She must be scared. I just hope they won't notice us, even if I do as little as glance at her, I might give them hints.
"If anyone has useful information about this girl, you should refer to us now, you'll get rewarded."
The knights are still searching for hints, and our silence isn't enough to convince them.
"You!"
Lyet tenses up and tightens her hands, but the knight isn't pointing at her...
"I remember you. You are one of those criminals, aren't you? If you cooperate, I won't arrest you. If I remember correctly, your kind sells information, right?"
The criminal is sitting on the counter of the tavern, and didn't even glance at the knight.
"You are correct, my job is to gather and sell information. And maybe I do or do not know about this Lyet you are talking about. But what makes you think I'm willing to help you? I'm a criminal, right?"
The knight moves closer, grabs his collar, and lifts the criminal.
"I might arrest you this exact moment if you don't tell me what you know."
The criminal spits on the knight's helmet.
"I would love to see you try, big guy."
The knight, without a second thought, throws the criminal on the other side of the hall, splitting a table in two.
The criminal, almost unfazed, rises back to his feet.
While males can't use magic if not to harm, meaning they can't use spells to increase their physical capabilities, people naturally adapted to this environment with sturdier bodies and animalistic strength; the average person of this world might even equal a gorilla.
The criminal dashes towards the knight with enough acrobatic skills to ignore all the tables and objects in between, as if they were never there. He then readies a knife, throwing it, aiming for the holes in the knight's helmet. With the addition of the momentum generated by the dash, the knife flies at almost unperceivable speed.
The knife splits into several more, one for each hole, but the knight manages to parry them with his shield at the last moment; if he had the timing wrong, he would be dead.
The other knight exploits the forward motion of the criminal, who can't stop due to the high speed, and dashes at him, severing his head with a single slash.
"What an idiot..."
"I know. Anyway, before this, I noticed something."
"Uh? What are you talking about?"
The knight points at Lyet...
"There, someone is hiding the face."
Shit...