When I finally stopped vomiting, Alaric helped me to sit.

"Okay, now take deep breaths," he said while gently wiping my mouth with a napkin. I nodded and did as he instructed.

"I don't understand," I complained, tears brimming in my eyes.

"I know I am not sick! I was fine until a few minutes ago."

"You're carsick. It's quite normal," Alaric explained. I looked at him.

"Car sick?" I sniffed. Alaric nodded.

"Some people experience nausea from the motion of a vehicle. The vibrations can upset the stomach," he clarified. I nodded to him. "And there is no way to fix it?"

"Well, we could use motion sickness medicine, but I don't have any with me right now," Alaric mumbled. Then he stopped talking; he was lost in his thoughts. I didn't speak to him to not disturb him and started to look around. Until that time, I didn't realize other people's gaze. They cast dissatisfied glances our way, making me feel increasingly uncomfortable under their scrutiny.

"Okay, I have bags in the car. We will go to the shopping center first and get a medicine for you in the pharmacy."

"Do I have to get back in the car?" I asked, pointing hesitantly toward the vehicle.

"Don't point; it's considered rude," Alaric whispered, his voice carrying a note of caution. I looked at him, confused. He had never scolded me in such a hushed tone before, so his reaction only deepened my confusion.

"In public, it's impolite to point or scold someone," he explained.

"But you always scold me loudly in the forest." Alaric sighed deeply.

"We're not in the forest anymore, Bumble. There are different social norms here among people. Right now, we need to focus on getting you feeling better." He said, guiding me to my feet.

"Let's focus on getting you feeling better." My gaze swept across the faces of onlookers once more, their stares prickling my skin.

"Why are they looking at us like that?" Alaric looked around us. His gaze became serious.

"We'll discuss it later. For now, let's get back in the car." I grimaced, but I did as Alaric told me to.

"Let me give you a bag from the glove compartment," he said as he leaned over, retrieving a small plastic bag and handing it to me.

"Thanks," I said with a sad voice. He nodded and started the car. As the car shook, I took a deep breath, my hands clutching the bag.

"Do we have to use the car?" I asked. "I enjoyed the car the first few minutes, but now I hate it."

"I could let you walk the ten kilometers, but I can't let you walk on your own right now because you don't know anything yet. I also can't leave the car here because it's impractical. Now, fasten your seatbelt," he instructed.

I sighed and secured my seatbelt. When the car started to move, I felt my body tense again.

"Try to look around and not focus on the nausea," Alaric suggested softly, driving smoothly. Heeding his advice, I turned my attention to the world passing by outside. Everything here looked way more different from the forest. The verdant landscape was giving way to increasing numbers of buildings and fewer trees. There were no signs of flowers, grass, or even leaves. I sighed and turned my attention to the buildings. The houses weren't made of wood like ours but were variously painted in smooth, uniform colors. The humans were different too, and weird. They were talking but not to someone.

Are they talking to themselves? I thought. I talked to myself from time to time, but so many of them were doing that at the same time; some were laughing, and some were serious. Their clothes seemed impractical too, without armor or tools, and their shoes—how could anyone walk in those comfortably?

"How are they even survived?" I mumbled, then gagged again.

"Use that bag," Alaric said calmly. I nodded to him and quickly used the bag. A few minutes later, the car finally stopped.

"Let's wait here until you feel better," Alaric suggested. I nodded to him and took deep breaths.

"Can I ask you a question, Alaric?"

"Sure, you can ask me anything," Alaric replied warmly.

"Why aren't they wearing any protection? Aren't they afraid of the voidspawns?" I asked with genuine curiosity.

"Good question, Bumble; why indeed? Well, their approach to danger is different from ours; they've adapted through the use of technology—something we'll explore in more detail soon. For now, try to relax and observe. There's much to learn."

Technology—I remembered Alaric had mentioned that term before. "Technology is when we use our knowledge to create tools and systems that make our lives easier and safer. Imagine using what you know about the forest to build something that helps you gather food faster or stay warm during the night. It's the same idea, but applied to many different aspects of life," he once elaborated.

"So, they have some kind of technological thing on their outfits?" I asked. Alaric thought for a minute.

"Possibly," Alaric replied. "I'm as foreign to this world as you are. We'll discover it together. But first, are you ready to try shopping?"

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"You know," I said. "You used the word 'shopping' a lot, but what is it?"

"Shopping is when you go to places called stores or markets to pick and buy things you need or want, like food, clothes, or tools. It's how people here acquire items made or provided by others. You exchange money for these goods, allowing you to bring them home and use them as you need." Alaric explained.

"Oh," I responded, intrigued. "And what are stores, markets, money, and all the things you said just now?"

He smiled at me. "Well, let's go find out right now." He said and opened the door. He was still way more cheerful than before, which made me a bit cautious. He was never this happy in the forest. Was he that happy to return to human society? But he mostly talked badly about humans, so I couldn't understand his joy. Maybe there was something more to it.

"Come on, let's go," Alaric called. I decided to stop thinking about it and left the car. The moment my feet touched the ground, I felt my heartbeat getting faster. I took a deep breath to calm myself, and we started to walk between multiple cars, moving toward one of the biggest and widest buildings I had ever seen.

"Someone seems happy," Alaric said, delighted.

"Was it that obvious?"

"Well, you are grin from ear to ear." I felt embarrassed. Alaric smiled, but as we got close to the building, his smile erased slowly. There were people here with the same gaze.

"No matter what, don't leave my side," he told me in a serious tone. I nodded to him, and together, we entered the building.

"Wow," I exclaimed as we entered, mesmerized by the hustle and bustle within the brightly lit space. "What are these?"

"They are shops, Bumble. Each one specializes in different products—some sell food, others clothes, or various accessories. You'll see them all in time, but we have a few tasks to handle first," he explained as he led the way. There were so many strange things around us. There are so many tools I have yet to understand. Another thing that caught my attention was that humans also talk to themselves here.

"Who are they talking to?" I asked, puzzled.

"What do you mean?" Alaric said.

"Look," I pointed. "There is a person-"

"What did I say about pointing?" Alaric interrupted. I immediately lowered my hand.

"Sorry." Alaric nodded to my response. "Now, continue."

"Okay, as I said, why are they talking to themselves?"

"They're not actually talking to themselves; they're using devices to communicate with others," Alaric clarified.

"What kind of devices? I don't see anything unusual about them," I observed, scanning the people around us. Alaric couldn't respond as we entered the 'pharmacy'. This place was filled with countless little boxes, which Alaric told me contained 'medicine'. After Alaric 'bought' the medicine, we went to a 'clothing store'.

There were so many beautiful and colorful outfits there. I wanted to look at all of them, but Alaric went through another section. Alaric selected a few items— a white shirt, a black skirt, and a set of black sportswear.

"Alright, I think these are one your size. Let's go," Alaric announced, starting to walk again. As we walked, I couldn't help but notice how people were looking at us again. I waited till Alaric handed an unhappy woman green paper and left the shop.

"Alaric, why are they looking at us like that in here too?"

Alaric sighed. He seemed sad. "Because we are outsiders, Bumble." He replied solemnly.

"What does that mean?" I inquired, not fully understanding the implications.

"Let's discuss this when we arrive at our new home, okay? There's a lot we need to go over," he promised. I nodded silently, overwhelmed by all the new experiences and information.

🐝🐝🐝

When the car stopped again, I opened the door quickly and pushed myself out.

"Oh, finally, grass!" I exclaimed, almost breathless, as I stepped onto the soft, familiar ground. "It feels so good to be out of that car!" I couldn't drink my medicine because we forgot about water. Alaric suggested he could buy it, but I said it was okay. I thought that Alaric felt as uncomfortable as I did under the people's gaze.

"Get up, Bumble," Alaric said coldly as he entered the house. "We have things to talk."

I sighed and got up. After entering the house, I closed the door behind us. The house's interior was vastly different from our home in the forest, with its smooth, soft textures and modern design that was new to me. On my left was the living room, and on the right was something peculiar—a series of leveled platforms that ascended to the upper floor, not unlike those moving contraptions I saw at the shopping center, but these were still and silent, beckoning me to climb. The kitchen was just behind the living room. The house also held many objects I had never seen before. For instance, the living room had a strange, big, rectangular thing. I could see my reflection in it like a mirror, but it was blurry and dark.

"Let's sit down and talk," Alaric suggested, his voice breaking through the silence suddenly, which startled me slightly. He moved towards the sofa with a thoughtful demeanor, gesturing for me to follow. I hesitated for a moment, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings, then joined him, carefully taking a seat beside him.

"So, Bumble, before you start school in two days, we need to clear up any questions you have," he started, his tone serious but kind. I tried to ask all the questions on my mind. I learned the thing in the living room called the television and the thing on the right called the staircase.

Alaric also explained how communication among humans is facilitated by some advanced technology. For the wealthy, it's a 'chip' implanted in the brain, an unimaginable concept that those with ample money could afford. For those less affluent, simpler devices like 'earrings' and 'glasses' serve similar purposes. The reason behind their serene and relaxed demeanor, as Alaric noted, was due to 'technology' and 'Artificial Intelligence'. These tools not only help monitor the activities of the voidspawns but also aid in developing sophisticated measures for protection. I would learn more about these in 'school', a place where people of my age and younger gather to learn various subjects together.

He also warned me about some kids. He told me that there was something called 'bullying'—a term used to describe when some individuals might try to harm or intimidate others to feel better about themselves. "They may tease you about your name, Bumble," he cautioned. "But remember, I gave you that name not just as a term of endearment but as a symbol of your resilience."

I've always cherished my name, though I didn't fully understand why others might find it amusing. To me, 'Bumble' is more than just a name—it's a reflection of my life's clumsy yet determined strides. As a child, my days were filled with minor accidents and missteps—knocking things over, tripping on unseen roots, or the unforgettable day I nearly caused a fire in our kitchen. There was even that breath-stopping moment when I stumbled beyond our safe borders, only to be rescued by Alaric. He had watched over me with a mix of concern and amusement, eventually nicknaming me 'Bumble' after observing my bumbling yet brave attempts to navigate the world around me.

"What about the people's gaze?" I asked lastly. "Why were they looking at us unhappily, dissatisfied, and angry?"

Alaric sighed uncomfortably. "Because we are new here, and unfamiliarity breeds mistrust. After the First Loss, where many believe the barrier was deliberately disabled, communities grew wary. People began to suspect each other, turning inward and refusing help to outsiders. This town is very small, with tightly knit bonds—almost everyone knows each other or recognizes a face. Our arrival stirs fears that we might bring similar troubles or be involved in another disastrous incident."

He took a deep breath and held me in my arms. "Look, Bumble, no matter what they do or say, don't attack anyone physically unless they attack you first, and make sure others witness it. If you don't, they will blame you and might even banish you. Understand?"

I nodded even though I didn't quite understand his warning. While Alaric's words tempered my excitement with caution, I clung to the hope that perhaps, in time, this new world could still unfold into the life I had imagined.