Chapter 2 Home?

Ashe awoke to the soothing crackle of a fire nearby. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, and she blinked away the haze of sleep. As her vision cleared, she found herself surrounded by the stark white walls of a tent. A strange, slippery blanket—bright orange and blue—was draped over her. She eyed the vivid colors with a weary sigh.

“So it wasn’t a dream…” Ashe murmured, shaking her head as she pushed herself up and prepared to exit the tent.

Outside, Sydney was tending to the fire. The young woman’s head snapped up as she noticed Ashe emerging. She offered a nervous smile, her voice hesitant. “G-good morning, Ashe. Do you need anything? Coffee or water or…?”

“Water, please, if you don’t mind,” Ashe replied, attempting a smile of her own, though it came out a bit weak. Sydney nodded quickly, standing up and retrieving a strangely shaped bottle from a blue box.

Ashe watched with a mix of curiosity and apprehension as Sydney handed her the bottle. It took her a moment to figure out how to twist off the cap, but once she managed, she took a grateful sip. Water was still water, thankfully, despite the odd container.

Sydney’s eyes lingered on Ashe with a peculiar expression, as though she were trying to reconcile something in her mind. Ashe, meanwhile, took a moment to drink deeply, the cold water offering a brief respite from the confusion and uncertainty of her situation.

“So you’re Sydney, right?” Ashe asked, squinting up at the morning sun as she took in her surroundings. “Is Thomas around?”

Sydney nodded, a small smile on her lips. “Yes, that’s right. Dad’s over there, fueling up the quads. See them down the shoreline?” She pointed towards the lake, where two blue machines sat idling in the distance.

Ashe followed her gaze, her eyebrows furrowing in curiosity. The sight of the strange machines—sleek and foreign—added to the growing list of unfamiliarities she had encountered. She sighed internally, trying to absorb the new reality around her.

“So, where are you from? If you don’t mind me asking,” Sydney inquired, her curiosity evident as she glanced over at Ashe.

“I don’t mind,” Ashe said, watching Sydney’s reaction closely. “I’m from the Kingdom of Himalsia.”

“Himalsia… Never heard of it,” Sydney replied with a shrug, her tone casual. “Is it somewhere in Europe?”

Ashe’s shoulders slumped slightly at the response. She had half-expected the confusion, but hearing it aloud made her feel more isolated than ever.

“It’s... somewhere very far away,” Ashe replied quietly, the weight of her words laced with a hint of melancholy.

“Oh,” Sydney said, her expression shifting to one of regret. “Sorry if I brought up a sore subject.”

“It’s fine,” Ashe replied, offering a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Morning, Ashe. You feeling alright?” Thomas called out as he returned from fueling the quads, his voice light but still carrying a note of concern.

“I’m fine, thank you for asking,” Ashe replied, her tone steady.

“Good to hear. Well, Sydney and I are going to start packing everything up, and then we’ll take you to town,” Thomas said, brushing his hands off and glancing at the campsite.

“Thank you. I can help if you want,” Ashe offered, feeling a bit out of place but wanting to contribute.

“That’s alright,” Thomas waved her off with a friendly grin. “It’ll only take a few minutes anyway, right, Sydney?”

“Oh, um, that’s right!” Sydney chimed in, though her smile looked a bit strained. “You just relax, Ashe.”

Ashe nodded, noticing the quick glance Sydney and Thomas exchanged before they busied themselves with taking down the tents and packing up their gear. It was clear they were trying to be kind, but Ashe couldn’t shake the sense of being an outsider—of being someone they didn’t quite understand, which was understandable.

A few minutes later, all the gear was packed and secured onto trailers hitched to the quads. Thomas and Sydney were ready to go, but Ashe hesitated, eyeing the rumbling machines with reluctance. The sound, the vibrations—it was all foreign to her.

“You can ride with me, Ashe,” Sydney offered, patting the seat of her quad. Ashe swallowed her nerves and climbed on behind her, gripping the seat uncertainty. But there was something that had been gnawing at her since that morning, and she couldn’t hold back the question any longer.

“Hey, Sydney,” Ashe began hesitantly, her voice barely audible over the low hum of the quad. “What world are we on?”

Sydney turned her head, her expression incredulous. “Earth. What else would it be?” she asked, as if the answer were the most obvious thing in the world. Without waiting for a reply, she faced forward again and hit the throttle.

“Oh,” was all Ashe could manage, her mind spinning as the quad lurched forward. The bushes blurred past them as they sped away from the lake, and Ashe’s grip tightened, her thoughts a whirlwind of disbelief. Earth? Another World.

Ashe stared out at the passing landscape, her mind adrift in thought. Thomas and Sydney carefully navigated the quads through streams and dense bushes, the rumble of the machines blending with the sounds of the wilderness. Yesterday’s snowfall had begun to melt, and the sun’s rays broke through the clouds, casting a warm glow over the trail. Autumn colors gleamed on the damp ground, making the overgrown path shimmer.

In the distance, something caught Ashe’s eye—a herd of strange-looking animals, their white and black coats standing out against the landscape. Their antlers were curved in a way Ashe had never seen before.

“What are those?” Ashe shouted over the noise of the quad, her voice barely carrying.

“Caribou,” Sydney called back, swerving the quad to avoid a large rock jutting from the ground. “Dad and I were hunting for one before you showed up. They’re pretty cool to look at, aren’t they?”

Ashe marveled at the creatures, their graceful movements foreign to her. “I’ve never seen anything like them... Sorry I ruined your hunt,” she added, a twinge of guilt settling in her chest.

Sydney glanced back with a smile, shaking her head. “It’s no problem. Dad actually got a moose a few weeks ago, so the caribou was just going to be extra meat on top of what we already had.”

Ashe felt a wave of relief wash over her. “That’s good to hear.” She let out a breath, her eyes still lingering on the distant herd as they continued their journey.

It was nearing midday by the time the trio finally emerged from the bushy tundra, the quads rumbling onto a dirt road. They slowed to a stop in front of yet another strange machine. Ashe eyed it curiously before turning to Thomas with a question.

“That’s a truck,” he explained briefly when she asked, his words accompanied by a casual gesture towards the large, boxy vehicle. “You can wait inside while Sydney and I load the quads onto the trailer.”

Ashe didn’t want to be a burden, so she nodded and followed his suggestion, making her way to the truck. Stepping inside, she was immediately surprised by how comfortable it was. The plush leather seats were unlike anything she’d expected, soft and inviting, with room for several people. It reminded her of a luxury carriage, though it lacked the ornate decorations she was accustomed to. Still, the warmth and quiet of the space felt strangely comforting.

It didn’t take long for Thomas and Sydney to load and secure the quads onto the trailer, but they didn’t immediately return to the truck. Instead, Ashe noticed them lingering outside, deep in what looked like a serious conversation. From the corner of her eye, Ashe watched through one of the truck’s many mirrors. The tension between them was clear—Sydney’s expression was frustrated, and for a moment, it seemed like an argument might break out. But before it could escalate, Thomas cut the exchange short and started walking toward the truck, Sydney following close behind.

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Ashe quickly lowered her gaze, pretending to inspect her armor as the front doors opened. Thomas climbed into the driver’s seat, Sydney sliding in beside him into the passenger seat. The air felt different—more strained.

“Thank you again for all of your help,” Ashe said, hoping to break the tension.

Thomas winced ever so slightly before offering a curt response. “It’s no problem, Ashe.” But the way he said it made her wonder just how much of a problem it might actually be.

“It’ll take a couple of hours to get to Dawson City,” Thomas said after a brief pause, the tension from earlier still lingering. “When we get there, we’ll take you to the police station. They might be able to help with your situation.”

“The police?” Ashe echoed, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Are they similar to the city watch?”

Thomas hesitated, but it was Sydney who answered. “Uh, I guess they could be similar, if we’re thinking of the same kind of city watch.”

“I see,” Ashe mumbled, though the uncertainty still gnawed at her. She had little time to ponder it before the truck roared to life beneath her, the vibrations sending a shiver through her armor. The truck started moving down the dirt road, and it wasn’t long before another vehicle passed them, heading in the opposite direction. Ashe’s gaze followed the truck as it slowly faded from view.

“It’s like magicraft…” Ashe muttered to herself, her voice barely audible.

From the front seat, Sydney turned around, a curious look on her face. “So, have you seriously never seen a vehicle before?”

Ashe shook her head. “I’ve ridden in a carriage before, but I’ve never seen anything like this truck or the quads.”

Sydney’s expression shifted to one of blunt curiosity. “Hmm, okay, I’m just going to come out and say it. Are you from the past or another world, or are you just some cracked-out cosplayer who has been living in a cave her whole life? ...No offense,” she added, her tone as straightforward as her question.

Ashe blinked, taken aback by Sydney’s blunt question. She opened her mouth to respond but found herself momentarily at a loss, her thoughts a whirl of confusion. She glanced at Thomas, who was focused intently on the road, his attention elsewhere. With a sigh, Ashe gathered her thoughts and spoke.

“I honestly don’t know,” she said slowly. “But given that I’ve never heard of a world called Earth and have never seen caribou, trucks, or quads before, it seems plausible that this might be a different world from my own.”

Sydney’s eyes widened in surprise. “Seriously?”

“Seriously,” Ashe affirmed, her frustration apparent. “Even the way you two are dressed is strange to me, not to mention the purple streaks in your hair.”

Sydney blinked, momentarily stunned. The conversation had taken a turn into realms of the extraordinary, and Ashe’s bewilderment was evident in every word.

“Even the fact that this world has no mana—or at least very little—is extremely strange,” Ashe continued, her frustration clear. “I didn’t notice it right away since I’m not a mage myself, but it’s deeply unsettling to me.”

Sydney’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Hold on, are you talking about magic? Dad, are you hearing this?”

Thomas glanced at her with a grimace, his attention divided between the road and their conversation. “Yes, I’m listening,” he replied, his voice tinged with concern.

“You two know about magic?” Ashe asked, a glimmer of hope flickering in her chest.

“Yes, we know about magic,” Sydney replied, her tone thoughtful. “But for us, it’s just part of stories and myths. Nobody can actually perform magical spells.”

Ashe’s hope dimmed slightly at that revelation. “I see,” she said, her shoulders slumping a bit. “And not really. I can only perform basic spells, like Flicker or Wind Thrust.”

“Wow, that’s—”

Sydney began, but her words were cut off as Thomas interjected, his voice sharp. “Hey you two, quiet down. It looks like there’s a roadblock ahead.”

Both Ashe and Sydney turned their attention to the road. A few hundred meters ahead, four large black vehicles were blocking their path, their imposing forms a stark contrast against the autumn landscape.

“What’s going on up there?” Sydney asked, her voice tinged with concern.

“I’m not sure,” Thomas replied, sounding equally perplexed. “I guess we’ll find out.”

Thomas brought the truck to a halt as a man in the black and gray uniform stepped forward, raising a hand in a silent command. The engine grumbled before falling quiet as Thomas rolled down the window, a cautious but polite smile on his face.

“Hello, sir. Do you mind telling me what’s going on?” Thomas asked, keeping his tone light.

The man barely glanced at him, his expression flat and disinterested. “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that, sir.”

Thomas frowned, but pressed on. “Alright… Can we pass through the barricade? We’re just heading back to Dawson City.”

The man’s gaze didn’t change as he replied, “I’ll have to talk to my superiors. Give me a few minutes.”With that, he turned and walked back toward the blockade, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

“That man has a dark aura about him” Ashe murmured

“What” Thomas asked sounding perplexed

“That man is dangerous, he is similar to the Vaux” Ashe exclaimed. When the man walked away she could have sworn she saw the faintest traces of dark aura surrounding him.

“What are you talking about Ashe” Sydney asked while sharing a nervous look with her dad. Ashe didn't reply; she only focused ahead waiting for the uniformed man to return.

“Ashe…”

“Wait he's coming back” Ashe cut the two off. The uniformed man was walking back to the truck. Ashe narrowed her eyes at the man scanning him for the dark aura, he looked normal enough, however something about him made Ashe’s skin crawl

Ashe’s gaze stayed locked on the man as he approached, her instincts screaming that something was wrong. The faint outline of a dark aura flickered around him like a shadow barely visible in the daylight. Thomas exchanged a confused look with Sydney but kept silent, sensing the tension from Ashe.

The man arrived at the truck, his expression as flat as before. “You’re clear to pass. Just head down the road and follow the signs.”

Thomas nodded slowly. “Alright, thank you.” He rolled up the window and started the truck forward again, but his eyes flicked to Ashe in the rearview mirror. “What’s going on, Ashe? Who or what are these Vaux?”

Ashe didn’t answer immediately, her gaze fixed on the retreating figure of the man in the uniform. “They’re... not human. Or rather, they are, but something twists them, corrupts them. They work in the shadows, manipulating, controlling. If he’s anything like them, we might be walking into a trap.”

Sydney’s face paled. “A trap? But how can you know that just by looking at him?”

“I can sense it,” Ashe said quietly. “In my world, that dark aura… it’s the mark of someone who’s been touched by evil magic. I don’t know what it means here, but it’s not good.”

Ashe continued to keep an eye on the man until he became just a shadow in the distance. She noticed him speaking into a handheld device, then glancing back in their direction. A chill ran down her spine, and she quickly turned back in her seat, unsettled.

"How far is Dawson City?" Ashe asked, trying to distract herself.

"About an hour away," Thomas replied, his tone casual but wary.

"Okay," Ashe murmured.

"When we get to town, can you explain more about this world you came from?" Sydney asked, her curiosity piqued. "I don't want to believe it, but your reactions are a little too real."

"Sure..." Ashe answered, her thoughts still elsewhere, unease gnawing at her from what she might have witnessed. The rest of the ride was uneventful, with the trio sitting in relative silence as Thomas navigated the truck toward town. But instead of entering Dawson City, Thomas steered the vehicle around it and pulled up in front of a log cabin nestled by a large riverbank.

"I thought we were taking her to the police, Dad?" Sydney asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

"We were, but I want to hear more about her world," Thomas admitted, scratching his head with a slight air of embarrassment. "We’ll unload the quads later. Let’s just get inside."

Thomas and Sydney exited the truck, with Ashe following suit. She eyed the cabin curiously.

"Is this your home?" Ashe asked, her gaze roaming the rustic building. "It looks somewhat similar to my family’s home."

"Really? That’s surprising," Thomas replied, looking back at her. "But yeah, this is home. It’s not much, but my grandfather built it, so it’s important."

As they approached the front door, Thomas reached for the handle—only to find it swinging open on its own.

"What the..."

"Welcome home," came a low, ominous voice from within the house.

A loud bang erupted from inside. Ashe and Sydney both flinched, instinctively covering their ears. The sound was deafening, reverberating through the quiet air.

"What the hell was that?" Ashe demanded, alarmed. She turned to Thomas for an explanation—only to see him swaying on his feet, his eyes rolling upward. In an instant, he collapsed to the ground, blood pooling around his head.

"Dad!" Sydney screamed, rushing to his side, her voice thick with panic.

Ashe stood frozen, staring at Thomas’s lifeless form, her mind struggling to process what had just happened. The weight of disbelief settled heavily over her.