Chapter 7: Brace Yourself

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Brace Yourself

Daniel stared at the closed door of the carriage. Then he looked at Lyra. Then back at the door.

"Hey, Mac," he called out. "Do I really have to watch?"

Mac’s voice came through the wood, flat and serious. "Every part of it."

Daniel nodded slowly, even though Mac couldn’t see him. "Got it. No touching."

He heard Mac’s heavy footsteps fade as the man walked away. A moment later, the carriage lurched forward. The wheels creaked, the animals grunted, and the whole wagon began to sway gently as it rolled across the sand.

Daniel settled back into his seat, letting out a long breath. He looked across at Lyra. She was sitting perfectly still, her hands folded in her lap, her head tilted slightly as if she was listening to the world outside.

"So," Daniel said, breaking the silence. "How long is this ride going to take?"

Lyra turned her head toward his voice. "About an hour, I think. Maybe a little more depending on the terrain."

Daniel groaned. "An hour? That long?"

"It’s not that long," Lyra said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Most people sleep on long journeys."

Daniel shook his head. "I’m not most people. I get bored way too easily." He tapped his fingers on his knee, thinking. Then an idea struck him. "Hey, how about I tell you a story?"

Lyra’s face changed. Her eyebrows lifted, and her lips parted slightly. It was a look of genuine surprise, and underneath it, something that looked a lot like excitement.

"A story?" she asked, leaning forward slightly.

"Yeah," Daniel said, grinning. "What type of story do you like?"

She didn’t even hesitate. "Tell me about your adventures."

Daniel blinked. "My adventures?"

"Yes." She nodded eagerly. "You’re an adventurer, right? You must have seen so many things. Fought monsters. Traveled to distant lands. Tell me about it."

Daniel was quiet for a moment. He thought about the giant lizard. The massive bird. The fact that he had almost died twice in one day. He thought about the status screen, the class called Harem Overlord, and the fact that he was sitting in a caravan in a world that wasn’t his own.

"I’m not an adventurer," he said finally.

Lyra’s face fell. "Oh. Then what are you?"

Daniel took a breath. "I’m from another world."

The silence that followed was long and heavy. Lyra’s expression shifted from disappointment to confusion. Then to disbelief.

"What?" she said slowly. "What do you mean, another world?"

"Exactly what I said. I’m from a different world. A different place. Completely separate from this one."

Lyra frowned. "Isn’t there only one world?"

Daniel sighed. "No. I mean, yes. For you, maybe. But I’m not from here. I woke up in this desert today with no idea how I got here. Back where I’m from, there are no giant lizards or massive birds or magic status screens. Just... normal stuff."

Lyra was quiet for a moment. Then she let out a small, disbelieving laugh.

"You expect me to believe that?" she asked. Her voice was thick with sarcasm. "You just happened to fall from another world? Into a desert? And now you’re here, sitting in this carriage, telling me about it?"

"I know it sounds crazy," Daniel said. "But it’s the truth."

Lyra shook her head. "Right. Well, since you’re clearly not going to be honest with me, why don’t you just tell me about this ’other world’ of yours?" Her tone was teasing, mocking. "Go on. I could use a good laugh."

Daniel looked at her. At the small smirk on her lips. At the way she leaned back in her seat, arms crossed, waiting for him to spin some tall tale. She didn’t believe him. Not a single word.

He grinned.

"Alright," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Brace yourself."