"Now tell me, are you all involved in the Necromancy Ministry?"

Questions popped out of my mind. I could not understand what the old guy said about this topic. However, I felt that it was very bad. I know about necromancy in fiction books, literally, but not how they work traditionally.

When he said those words, his tone doesn't sound pleasant, he spouted immediately like he was on alert or something. His eyes straighten at us like we're suspicious.

Saying 'I don't know about that' might not help. I would make a lie right now but I can't think of anything, because of the brutality earlier that I saw made me gulp, I'm hoping it wouldn't happen to us.

"What's the Necromancy Ministry?" Carlos questioned, scratching his head. "That's strange," the old man scoffed and fixated on his glasses' position again. "Like we said, we're from a far distant land. M-maybe we're far from the news now." I stuttered some words, as I couldn't handle being anxious, my heart racing.

I feel my hand shaking.

I'm nervous.

"I see, so where is your land?" The old man asked. Carlos looked at me like he don't know what to answer. "Up north," I answered.

"Up North?" The old man put his index finger on his lips, thinking. I hope I answered believably, but I know that I lied. I looked at Carlos looking up after I said the answer.

I felt that I answered falsely. Fuck, I'm scared to death. While rummaging in my panic session, I heard Emil waking up. "Mmm. Tuk?" She woke up and then looks at Carlos who she thought was me.

Now's not the right time.

"Emil," I called her, then she looked at me. "Man, you scared me to death." She sound relieved. "I think, I was dreaming about something," she said in a clear voice but with my head shaking. I knew what she meant.

Emil got shocked and her eyes went wide.

I'm sorry.

She looked away, covering her face behind Carlos.

"I'm sorry," I said to her but in silence. "What happened to her?" The old man got curious. "Yeah, me-" Before Carlos could finish his sentence, I paused him by covering his mouth. I whisper to him "Pretend that you know, please. I'll tell you what happened." Carlos nodded unsurely, raising his eyebrow and his eye gazing at me, confuse.

"Look, you all looked suspicious and I can't guarantee your approval," the old man politely said with seriousness on his face. "We've been disowned," I answered with a lie again. Two of them got shocked by the bad news, a twisted lie perhaps. "I-I'm so sorry, about that." The old man covered his mouth with shock in his eyes. Carlos looked at me with a worried face.

I lied again but that's the only effective way to be believable. I wouldn't want us to be more suspicious for saying we were at the unknown Poseria's Swamp Valley, I want to know about the swamp, no, the whole world about how it runs compared to ours. And for a reason, since I don't know yet about the swamp, I have to decline from saying it. Otherwise, we will be probably judged as suspicious for going into a dangerous place, considering the fact of what I saw earlier.

First, I must learn and understand that their cultures will be very different from ours, including our home world, so, by stating the fact anything that is unknown to them and us. We will not get along very well.

I learned now from the guy sharing about the Lib and he may got electrocuted alive, that's why I have to be careful with the words I'm using and I don't think people will believe me when I said that I ran away because I was mentally abused by my narcissistic parents. I don't think so.

Their responses are different words but with the same meaning.

===°===

"You just have to give time to your parents, they aren't perfect, you know that, Tuk? They will understand."

I believed that. That phrase was right.

===°===

I gave them some time for them to think about it but when I heard them gossiping about me.

"Why does he behave like that?" Mom sarcastically said. "Tuk should just follow what was said and not dilly-dallying there and that." She added.

"Maybe we should give him some time, he's just a child," Dad said as his finale.

You know it's the opposite way, they think I'm the wrong one. They never accept the fact they did something bad to me.

===°===

"Why Tuk is ignoring us?" Mom gossiped to Dad again. I ignored them for 2 to 3 days, just to give some signs that I wish they'd spotted. I wish they understand why I'm doing this.

Answers are always not what I expected them to be.

"He's being impolite, that's all."

===°===

CHAPTER 4

"Son," The old man stood up from his seat and then placed his hands on my shoulders. "I'm sorry for what happened to you," he said with seriousness and sincerity, his eyes looking down at me like a sad innocent man.

"It's alright mister," I said then looked at Emil. She's not listening to my deception which is a good thing, because she just remembered what happened. Good thing huh?

"I've been meaning to ask you about something, son," he said then kneels down at the side of me while sitting. "Yes, mister?" I said in nervousness, my heart continually beating louder than before.

"That."

Calm down.

"Why do you call me mister?"

"Eh?" I got confused and blinked twice being so unsure. "W-what was it again?" I ask to confirm if I'm hearing it right. "Why do you call me 'mister'?" He said with confusion like he don't know what mister is.

"Does it have anything to do with your land?" The old man said with confusion in his eyes. Now, it gave me a culture shock, knowing that mister, miss, sir, or ma'am may not apply to this world, but it can be arranged. Probably?

"Yes, it's for showing respect," I answered with confidence but since I answered North, he will think that it came from North on this planet, not mine. My mistake.

My fucking mistake.

"Oh, that makes sense but since you're in Livihha, there are different ways of addressing respect to a person, especially elders like me." He discussed this with me and I have to take note of this. He raised a finger, "If, for elders, you use 'sak' after their name," then he raised another, "If older siblings you use 'aki' before their name," then he raised his third, "There are some other ways to show respect that I will tell you later or soon, but I have to tell you this. You have to use 'kan' for royalties before their name, but I suggest that you don't mention their names, especially to Opanari and Rhonorred."

If I'm guessing this right, "Are they the king and queen?" I ask unsurely, I don't know if the people here know about kings and queens, maybe I should have said "leaders." instead. "Yes, you're a smart boy," he said sounding so proud.

A few hours passed, and the old man accepted us, we introduced our names to him and he introduced his name was Dubin. Mr. Dubin- Dubin- sak got us a room upstairs, in front of his room. "Tuk," Emil called while sitting on a bed. "Yes?" I ask while unpacking. "Do you have any doubts? Like you know.." She didn't continue, then she glances away. "I don't know," I answered with my eyes changing gazes downside, almost blinking.

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No matter how much I hate them, I can't get rid of my mind that I'm worried about them. It makes me even guiltier, my head looking down and eyes going sideways.

Push aside. Push aside.

Carlos is watching from the window, watching people still looking for their missing families. "I feel bad for these families," Carlos said in a sincere tone. "Seeing the two of you were thrown out. Your parents aren't nice, that's out of control." Carlos put his hand on his face, he could not tolerate the fact of what has been said. I could almost see and feel that he is stressed, including the situation we are in.

I like the part where he said that my parents aren't nice at all, but he only said that because of the part I said that we've been disowned, not the fact that I ran away because they're that kind of people.

===°===

"Because they are parents, Tuk! They taught you since you were a child."

"Narcissistic? Tuk, I don't see any of your parents showing those signs. Quit judging your parents and start respecting them!"

"Tuk, they are just teaching you to live in life. That's how parents teach. You'll understand when you become a parent."

"Tuk, it's said in the Lib that those sons and daughters who respect their parents will be blessed in eternal life."

People at the church always say this to me. They don't believe me, they'll point out to me that I'm the biggest sinner in this world like I am now. Pathetic. Peace of shit.

===°===

I'm still pathetic.

Emil isn't clearly in the mood to listen, she still remembers how traumatizing it was at the swamp, me too, I'm scared as well. I feel my heart beating loudly. My body began to breathe deeply and out. I feel so uncontrollably anxious by now.

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.

I noticed Emil watching me like I'm having a heart attack. It's those eyes again like at school.

===°===

A report has been implemented recently, and I suddenly got anxious not because there's a report but because it happened suddenly it made me feel like I've been shot by an adrenaline. With or without reason I got anxious so suddenly.

I keep breathing and exhaling slowly because that's how people around me said it helps.

"Is he having a heart attack?"

"Dunno he's always like that."

I can hear them and breathing will not really help me with those people making fun of me.

===°===

"You know Tuk our classmate was like a breathing vacuum," they said and imitated my panic session like it was a joke, while I just laugh out of it pretending like it was no big deal.

I'm just overreacting. Maybe I'm overreacting after all.

I'm stupid. Fucking stupid.

===°===

When I took a glance at Emil, I suddenly look away, trying not to get her to notice it.

"Is Tuk asthmatic?" I heard Carlos look at me breathing heavily. "I don't know, he's always like that," Emil said but it attacked me more than ever.

I tried to stop breathing and pretended like I'm asthmatic, "I just can't breathe properly," that's all I said, I just want people to stop looking at me with those eyes like I'm a serious patient. I never got the opportunity to tell Emil about this, but I guess my trust in her starting to grow less.

"Then, you should drink more water," Carlos suggested while it's true that water helps ease my nervousness but it took me a while for me to relax. "Yeah," I said then stood up after I finished unpacking, exited the room then look around for a bathroom. A door at the end of the hallway was wide open.

I walk straight to the hallway, then a mirror at my side showed a reflection of me with a worried face, I could even see my hands clenching from nervousness rather than anger. "Calm down," I said to myself like it does help.

"Calm down."

"Calm down."

"Calm down."

It did not help,

How will I survive this world feeling like this?

How will I manage to work if I am feeling like this?

How can I manage to get through life feeling like this?

How will I accomplish my plans for life feeling like this?

Calm down. Calm down. Tuk calm down.

I stood at the wide-opened door, inspecting the room. I discovered a concrete bathroom with a square-shaped concrete toilet, a little unclean, and a yellowish stain on the side of the tile walls. I expected too much for a fantasy-like.

I entered the bathroom like nothing ever happened, ignoring the stain. Then look at another mirror attached to a wall. A basin but made of wood in a squared shape. I washed my face using the water from the basin.

I guess, I'm going back to historic but with fantasy alike.

Since I zone out for a moment, I'm having a hard time thinking of what I should be doing now. And a spark in my mind felt "I was supposed to calm down," I said with my heart still racing.

It's hard for me to keep focus, including what's happening now and in the future will make me overthink things without any conclusions. Maybe I need some sleep, rest is very essential. A lot of unexpected things happened, so, "Maybe sleep will help," I said hopefully having second thoughts.

I got back to the room where Carlos and Emil are still in their position. "Are you okay now?" Carlos asked when I entered the room. "Yeah," I said a lie, I'm not. "I'll be sleeping now," I said without looking and flopping my body onto the bed, wanting to forget everything.

"Are you really okay?" I heard Emil with a worried tone in her voice. "Yeah," I said a lie but I think she obviously knows that I'm not, considering the fact that we are childhood friends, but I know her more than she knows me.

I closed my eyes, trying to regain my energy after what happened before all of this.

I hope my world on the other side is doing alright.

After what happened, I don't think so...

===°===

===°===

Screaming.

Screaming.

Screaming.

Stop it!

Noises are so annoying!

"I can't sleep!" I said with annoyance and stood up from my bed, intended stepping my princess doll and my other toys, exiting my room, and leaving the door open.

"MOM!!!" I scream and called Mom downstairs. "I can't sleep!" I squinted my eyes almost crying. I wanted to sleep. I'm so tired.

She's not responding. "Mom?"

What's happening downstairs?

I step down a little, peaking and I'm hoping my brother isn't fighting again with mom. Tuk is really such a pain.

"They are not here," I wondered when I stoop downstairs, seeing my mom and dad are not here. "Mom! Dad!" I scream and called them again, waiting for a response. I'm scared.

"Mom! Dad!"

I circled through their room, searching for them or any response hoping they would respond, but nothing. "Mom! Dad! Where are you?!" I cried.

Suddenly, I heard a broken plate got smashed on the floor in the kitchen. "M-mom?" I called when sneaking into the kitchen, seeing a tall figure wearing a long brown poor-looking cloak.

I got scared and I can't do anything but cry.

The tall figure got goosebumps hearing me cry. The hood of that mysterious person fell, revealing an unnatural whiteness of the person's skin. A beautiful woman who will seem like a princess-like. Blonde hair, beautiful, and a pretty unnatural white skin. "Aka?" She said to me that I don't understand what it was.

"Akare noma esta?" She seemingly asks when she got closer to me, and I don't understand what she is saying, but her voice sounds so soothing to hear it feels like she's singing rather than pronouncing or saying it to me.

She smiles at me. A beautiful smile. I can't help myself but mesmerize her beauty.

"You're so pretty," I said to her but I got distracted when I heard a bang from the door slamming against the wall. "Lia!" Mom charged at me quickly like she was in a hurry and she suddenly grab me close to her, then Dad followed from behind. "Stay away from my daughter, demons!" Mom glared at the pretty lady.

"Aka?" The lady seem confused like me confused at her. Who is she?

"Lia! We have to move now, call Tuk!" Mom ordered me by Dad using his force by pushing me away from the kitchen and onto the stairs to call my brother.

I'm so confused now. So, I decided to call my brother at the door to his room. As much as I hate him because Mom said that I should not become like him.

"Tuk! You better get up!"

I knocked on his door almost banging intendedly, but he is not responding too. "Tuk!" I said shouting. I got tired suddenly, so, I twisted his doorknob and found no signs of him.

"Tuk?"

Where is he?

===°===

===°===

"Tuk!"

"Tuk!"

"Tuk!"

I gasped waking up, and Emil holding my shoulders, her grip is really hard and tight. "I'm sorry for waking you," Emil apologized and releases me. I gently raised my body from napping. "Well, I had enough rest, so, it's alright," I consent to her but still I felt a little sleepy.

"It's just..." Emil bit her lip as if she was trying to say but I think something was stopping her from saying it. "What is it?" I ask worriedly, looking at her, covering her mouth.

"Is it still... At you know..." I'm trying not to make it worse, I'm so worried that if I'm trying to make it worse for her. "Y-yeah..." She shut her eyes then tears pour down her cheeks.

I suddenly hug her from the side, comforting her. "I'm here," I said to her, promising that I'll be her best friend.

"Please.." She continues to say while crying, "Please promise me," Emil looks at me with her eyes watering, crying from desperation. "Please..."

She continues to stutter her words and could not complete them because she can't handle what happened back there, but as her childhood friend I know that I will have to stay with her that's what she meant.

The fact that I know that she has feelings for me. To connect the dots, we have been friends for a long time early on that I know she has feelings for me, Emil, I'm not prepared.

Soon she finally said, "Promise that you'll be here with me. You'll stay with me," she said while looking at me, eyes watering, "Please?"

I don't know how to respond but I immediately said "Yes, I will," with no hesitation and pretending to smile, closing my eyes, because if I took too long to answer, she will overthink me. I'm sorry if I'm like this and it's the only effective way. I'm only agreeing to some terms.

I'm trying not to get into a confrontation in the future.

"I promise, Emil," I promised to her while hugging and I felt that she is comfortable just being here with me, and her whimpering started to slow down. "Thank you," Emil hugged back I felt a little discomfort from her because I felt this hug is romanticized rather than friendship.

I looked where Carlos was and realized he was behind sleeping on the floor.

"Thank you, Tuk," Emil said with a calm tone. "It's just my parents..." Emil continued to what she is about to tell me. "Is it about your parents at home, right?" I ask.

"No," she said, closing her eyes and voice stuttering.

"They were at the swamp, Tuk."

My eyes went wide.

"I-I saw them..."

I could not believe it.

"It's my fault, isn't it? Right?"

===°===

===°===

===°===

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