“Fuck you, you sick bitch!”

“Looks like I’ll have to teach you some more,” she said, standing up to tower above him while pulling her leg back, “I said, know your fucking place, trash!”

She was about to kick him in the face, but he moved his head to the side just in time to avoid it.

“Don’t you dare avoid me like that!” She yelled, grabbing him by the throat and bending over to get in his face, “I own your ass now! You should be grateful I’ve spared your life, you pathetic lowlife!”

“Look, can’t we just get along? Why do you have to be so violent? Wait …” he thought for a moment, his eyes widening as he realized something, “Whoa! Wait a minute …”

“Is that useless head finally working?”

“It would certainly work much better if you didn’t clobber it a few times. But … how in the world are you speaking English now?”

She slapped him over the face hard.

“Ouch! It’s a genuine question, for fuck’s sake!”

“Sorry, I just don’t tolerate foolishness from my pets. I’m not speaking whatever gibberish you’ve just mentioned. It’s the other way around. You have Cubus tongue now.”

“Cubus tongue?”

She flicked the lump on his head that formed after it got her club treatment, causing him some more pain: “And if I don’t train you properly, you’ll start getting all kinds of stupid ideas.”

Eric couldn’t help but wince at the sharp pain, “Look, I’ll be much more cooperative if you start treating me like an actual person.”

“That would make sense if you were to be my equal. But everything you’ve done so far clearly shows I’m far superior.”

“Like what? You’ve clubbed me in the head and tied me up without even allowing me to show you anything!”

“That’s the point, isn’t it? You could’ve been on your guard when dealing with someone you know nothing about, but you chose to stare at my tits instead. That shows a clear lack of intellect on your part.”

“I wasn’t staring at your tits! I was just trying to reason with you! I’ve been dealing with ferocious animals and beasts for several days now, so of course I’d try to befriend the first person I’ve met in this god-damn place! Who in their right mind goes and assaults a potential ally like that?”

“A female defending herself from a creepy stalker, perhaps?”

Eric gave her a serious glare, “… look, I’ve made my presence known long before I saw you …”

“That also shows your lack of intelligence. What made you think I’ll be friendly with you? Do tell.”

“… we’re people, trapped in a cave …”

“So? Bandits are people, yet they’ll gladly attack everyone in sight. Including the people they’re good with.”

“Yet they’ll side with other people when in a pinch! Do you honestly think they’d refuse help from other people when attacked by wild beasts? Why wouldn’t you try to join forces with someone when your life is in danger?”

“Is your life in danger?” She asked in a mocking voice. “Oh well, of course it is. You wouldn’t be tied up otherwise.”

“Is your life not in danger?” He narrowed her eyes at her, “Why did you attack me then? Why did you attack me if you were certain I was not a threat to you? And why did you tie me up then, huh?”

“To show you who has the upper hand, you dumbass. And also, I wasn’t sure if you’re worth saving in the first place. Originally, I thought I’d just kill you, but then I decided against it.”

“And why would you kill me? What have I done to you?”

“You didn’t do anything for me, but you could do much if you’re dead.”

“How does that make any sense?” His face turned frozen in an instant as a thought popped up in his mind, “What, are you a cannibal?”

“No, I’m not. But your blood would be very useful. Even though you’re not intelligent, you’re still sapient. What? What are you so puzzled about? That’s just common sense.”

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“Are you … some kind of vampire?”

“No. I’m a Cubus, but I’m not a vampire. Isn’t it obvious?” She said while pointing at the horns on top of her head.”

“Uhh … what is cubus?”

“You don’t know what cubus is?”

“No.”

Her eyes rolled in frustration: “My god, you’re even dumber than I thought! Or was I way too harsh on your head, perhaps?”

“That’s for sure. Still, I never heard about cubus before.”

“How do you people call yourselves?”

“My people?”

“Your race. How is your race called?”

“Oh. We’re humans.”

“… hmm … never heard of it.”

“That’s because we come from a different world. We’re not native to this one. We came through the portal.”

“Yeah, I know. My people came through a portal, too. When did your people come? How many millennia ago was it?”

“Uhh, no … we came only recently. I think … three years ago.”

Her eyes widened, and her brows rose up: “Three years ago? Are you fucking with me?”

“As far as I know, it was three years ago. Unless I lost some time while being teleported to this cave.”

“But that … actually …” Suddenly, her mouth opened wide in amazement as she looked away from him, “That actually makes sense! The old hag did it!”

“Did what?”

“She was constantly boring me about that damn portal before I came here. I guess it finally worked!”

“What worked?”

Looking back at Eric, her amazement disappeared: “But … I guess things didn’t go as she had hoped.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“My mom.”

“Did she have something to do with the portal to our world?”

“Yes, she did. But it’s not just her, and it’s far too complicated for you to understand.”

“… can’t you at least try to explain?”

“Hmm … no, I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“Why would I? Why would I talk about my mom with the guy I’ve just met?”

“Oh, come on!”

“You’re way too cocky for someone in your position!” She said while flicking the lump on his head again.

“Hey, stop it!”

“Or what you are going to do? Bravado me to death? You males are all so simple.”

“Ok, first of all, what do you want from me?”

“I don’t know, and that’s the thing. I’m not sure if you’re useful to me or not. I’m still wondering if I should just kill you.”

“Don’t you think there’s strength in numbers?”

“I don’t see any strength in you though.”

“Look, I may not be the strongest, most muscular guy around, I get that. Yet, I managed to survive in this cave with nothing but my bare hands.”

“The fact that you consider that to be a worthy achievement only reinforces your lack of strength.”

“What? Do you have everything figured out? You like it in here?”

“Actually, it’s not that bad. It’s too boring for my taste, but that’s only because I’m playing it safe.”

“Why are you playing it safe if you’re not in danger? Ouch!”

“I’ve already told you, you’re way too cocky for your good. I don’t mind cocky people when they can back it up, but you’re just being irritating.”

“But don’t you think having me around would make you even safer? Not because I’m strong but because I could make a decent bait.”

“Bait for what?”

“For example, when exploring caves. I could go first and clear the way for you.”

“You’d just die, and your blood would spill all over the floor. I can tell you have no idea how to fight.”

“Do you know how to fight?”

“Are you asking for a demonstration?” She fixed him with a menacing glare.

“No, of course not! It’s just a simple question.”

“I’m not really a fighter, but I know a thing or two. Besides, regular monsters and beasts won’t dare come close to me.”

“Why?”

“Ah yes, you don’t know about cubus.”

“Please, do enlighten me. I’m a good listener.”

“Hmm,” she started scratching her head idly, “I’m not sure it’s worth it. Why would I waste my time explaining you stuff only to have you killed sometime later?”

“Maybe because you miss company?”

“Company?”

“How long have you been here?”

“Hmm … I can’t be sure since there’s no way to track time down here, but … a century or two probably.”

Eric’s jaw fell, “A cent … wha …”

“Now you look even dumber than before.”

“Wait, wait … I remember … people in this world live much longer than humans do. How old are you?”

“If I’ve been here for a century, I’d have some five hundred years.”

“That’s a … how long do your people usually live?”

“That depends on what kind of cubus you are. Most of us live somewhere around five centuries, but those who are of noble blood and are good with magic can live up to two thousand years.”

“Two thousand?”

“I think my mom has turned that much right now. It’s a shame I wasn’t there to celebrate it with her.”

“So … your mother is a noble?”

Her brows furrowed at that: “Now that’s a dumb question.”

“You’ve just said that nobles can live two thousand years.”

“I said: noble blood! Huge difference there!”

“Please explain.”

“I don’t have to explain anything to you,” she said, standing up straight in protest, “I’ve wasted enough time with you already explaining the most basic stuff.”

“I’m really sorry, but I can’t help it when I come from another world. And it goes both ways. Just as the most basic stuff in your world is alien to me, the most basic stuff in my world would be alien to you.”

“Like what?”

“Like … hmm … like how there’s no magic in our world.”

“That’s not strange at all. You people are just way too stupid to understand and use it, so you think there is none.”

“Buut … we know how to control lightning.”

“That’s the worst attempt at lying I’ve ever heard of. And let me guess, something is stopping you from controlling it right now.”

“I can’t control lightning on my own, we use complicated machines for that, but …”

“You know what a machine is?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I? Actually, I find it strange that you know what a machine is. TImkiks have no knowledge of them at all. To them, everything is a construct.”

“Do you have machines back home?”

“As many as you want. We are making them by millions every single day.”

“But you can’t prove it, can you?”

He smirked confidently, “That’s where you’re wrong. I have a machine on me right now.”

She shook her head in disapproval: “Now I’m absolutely certain you have no idea what you’re talking about. You can’t have a machine on you. It’s not an article of clothing.”

“You’re wrong once again. You don’t believe me? How about you take a look at my left wrist then?”