Forever in Shadows

"Can I borrow your knife for a moment?" Kimi asked Atherion.

Atherion just stared at Kimi.

"I have to cut this dress, it's too long. I can't walk because of it," Kimi explained.

Atherion took a knife from behind his belt and handed it to Kimi.

Kimi took the knife and cut her dress down to her knees. She also cut off some of the lace that would hinder her movement. She also cut off some of the fabric and tied her silver hair into a knot.

Atherion stared at what Kimi did in amazement. 

Kimi returned the knife to him. "Thank you," she said with a smile.

"Why did you cut the dress?"

"Because I can't move freely. In my world, I can wear pants like you wear all the time." Kimi said.

Atherion frowned. "Are you a woman in your world?"

"Of course. There are also many women who wear pants, whenever they want. In my world, there is already women's emancipation," Kimi answered lightly.

She then shaped the remaining cloth into mats and pillows.

Atherion said. "Interesting."

"Why did you kidnap Camelia?" Kimi asked suddenly.

Atherion pondered for a moment, then answered, "She was prophesied by some oracle, that she would become the Light."

Kimi tilted her head to one side. "Light? What is that?"

"Light is someone who can control Darkness." Atherion answered. He paused for a moment again, then continued. "But I don't believe that Camelia is the Light."

Kimi lay down and asked again. "If you don't believe in the prophecy, then why did you kidnap her?"

"Because I had to kill her."

Kimi suddenly sat up straight again. "You... had to kill her? Her? Me?" Kimi pointed at herself and asked a little hysterically.

"Before. Now you are not Camelia." Atherion replied.

"Do you really believe that I am not Camelia?" Kimi asked with full hope that Atherion would not kill her.

"Yes. No noble girl would act like you." Atherion replied in a flat tone.

Kimi fell silent. Huh… What did he mean by that?

"Go to sleep." Atherion said as he leaned against the cave wall, cradling his sword.

Sighing, Kimi lay back down. Her mind was spinning with all the things that had happened to her that day. And soon she fell asleep.

***

In the morning, Kimi woke up with a slight headache. 

She sat up and looked around in a bit of confusion. Atherion and his horse were gone. The bear carcass was also gone. Only a few pieces of meat that Atherion had kept on the campfire were left.

Kimi stood up in panic. She searched the entire cave, but she couldn't find them.

He tried to get out of the cave, and searched around the cave for them.

There was no sign of them.

Suddenly Atherion came down from the top of the cave and landed behind Kimi.

Kimi screamed softly while covering her mouth in surprise. But she was relieved that the only person she knew in this world didn't leave her.

"Let's go wash up." He gestured for Kimi to follow him.

"Uh… okay." Kimi followed him without asking much.

It was only then that she realized that they were in a forest. Not too dense, but it was still a forest. Trees covered most of the area and many fallen leaves were scattered on the ground. Bushes grew here and there. The sounds of birds and other small animals chirping could be heard.

Atherion led Kimi to a small stream, not too far from the cave. He pointed Kimi towards the stream and he himself sat down near a tree.

Kimi thanked him in her heart for his consideration and without hesitation, she cleaned herself up. She didn't take too long because of course, no toothbrush and no soap to clean herself completely.

After she finished, she approached Atherion.

"What's your name?" Atherion suddenly asked.

"Kimi."

"Hmm. Strange name." Atherion said while rubbing his chin.

"Listen, Kimi. You can't use that name anymore. No one uses a name like that in this world." Atherion said seriously.

Kimi frowned. "So what name should I use?" she asked.

"You can use the name Camelia." Atherion replied as he stood up and walked towards the cave.

Kimi, whose name was now Camelia, was still frowning but said nothing. Atherion was right, if she wanted to survive in this other world, she had to adapt.

***

They spent two days in the cave. Nothing strange happened during that time.

Atherion taught Camelia about this world. Luckily for Camelia, the language in both worlds was the same.

From Atherion, Camelia also learned that the real Camelia was a spoiled girl, and it seemed that Atherion really didn't like the real Camelia's nature. However, from the many information he gave to Camelia, none of it was about Atherion himself. He seemed not much of a talker.

He always avoided or did not answer Camelia's questions if those were related to him.

On the third day, Atherion called his horse. Camelia learned the horse's name was Storm and it was a male horse.

Then Atherion said to Camelia, "We must buy clothes for you. The clothes you are wearing now are torn and dirty."

Camelia looked at her own clothes and confirmed Atherion's words. She took off all the jewelry she was wearing and handed it to Atherion.

"You can sell these. Consider it as my clothes and meals payments." she said.

Atherion stared at the jewelry for a few moments then took it with a nod.

They set off on Storm. With Atherion and Storm's keen senses, they were able to avoid many wild beasts along the way.

Their journey took three days on horseback. They only stopped to eat and sleep.

On the third day, they arrived at a small town. They went directly to the market to buy some clothes for Camelia.

Camelia was amazed by the scenery around her. The houses really looked like the ones she had seen in pictures on the internet of medieval times. Also people in medieval clothes. Only the smell of the market was indescribable. The pungent smell of animal wastes for sale, vegetables, and stale fruits assaulted her nose.