IN ANOTHER WORLD

Sou and Rema stood frozen, their eyes wide, their minds struggling to process the absurdity of the situation. A tree was speaking to them. A tree—smiling at them.

Gill, the strange tree creature, tilted its massive, carved face as if considering them with a kind of amused curiosity.

"You are all hunters or adventurers, aren't you?" Gill rumbled, its deep voice carrying an odd warmth, as if it were used to conversing with wayward travelers. "You should know, the La Volly Central Forest becomes exceedingly dangerous after nightfall. It's in your best interest to heed the warning."

Sou blinked, still processing. "La Volly…?" he muttered, his gaze flicking around the dense, darkening woods. "So this forest is known as La Volly, then?"

Gill's voice was laced with disbelief. "You don't know? And yet, you wandered in here, unaware? Foolish humans." There was a pause, and then, with a sudden sharpness, the tree continued. "Wait… that human on your back—he is poisoned by Keckly, isn't he?"

"Keckly?" Rema repeated, confusion furrowing her brow.

Gill's face contorted slightly, as if in exasperation. "What is it with you humans? Are you all from another world or something?"

Sou's response was immediate, almost without thought. "Well, yes… we are."

Rema's eyes widened in disbelief. "Sou! Is it really okay to be telling all these? Are you out of your mind?"

Sou remained calm, his expression hardening with a quiet resolve. "We don't have any other choice, do we? It's already evening, Ren's condition is worsening by the minute, and we're completely lost in a forest we know nothing about. We have to trust him."

Gill seemed unphased by their argument, his smile never fading. "I see," he said, his voice settling into something more dignified. "I'm a gentleman, you know. It's terribly bad manners to whisper behind someone's back. And as for jokes—this is no time for humor, not with your friend in such a state."

Sou nodded somberly. "Perhaps you won't believe us, but we are telling the truth. We are from a planet called Earth. Something went wrong with our machine, and we ended up here. Our friend, Dr. Ren, has been hurt because of us. I'm begging you, sir… Please, help us."

With that, Sou bowed deeply, his forehead nearly brushing the ground in a gesture of sincere desperation. The weight of their failure bore heavily on his shoulders, but he was willing to do whatever it took to save Ren. Rema, feeling the crushing guilt too, followed suit, her hands trembling as she lowered her head. She couldn't stop blaming herself. If only they had been better prepared, if only they had checked their equipment thoroughly, maybe they wouldn't be in this mess. This was the consequence of their arrogance—manipulating time and space without truly understanding the forces they were meddling with.

Gill sighed, the sound deep and rich like the creaking of old wood. "Are you serious?" he asked, almost as if genuinely puzzled. "Sigh. Well, this is hardly the time for inquiries about your origins. Alright," he said after a moment, his tone softening, "I will assist you as best I can, but don't expect miracles. If what you say is true, you've got yourselves into a rather sticky situation."

Sou's heart raced with hope. "Thank you! You have no idea how much this means to us!"

"Don't thank me yet," Gill responded, his voice deep and measured. "First, you must let your friend drink my flower petals. These petals have healing properties, though they are limited. It will not cure him entirely, but it can prolong his life for another day."

Rema gasped, her eyes welling with unshed tears. "No! That means… we'll lose Ren anyway?" Her voice cracked, and she broke into sobs, her guilt intensifying with each breath. She couldn't fathom the idea of losing him. Not when they had come so far, not when it was all their fault.

Sou placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to steady both her and himself. "Is there no other way, sir?" His voice wavered, desperation creeping into every word.

Gill looked at him with a sharp, knowing gaze. "Of course, there is a way. But you didn't let me finish," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "There's a remedy—boiled Vigira water. That will cure the poison. Vigira comes from a plant known as Riga. And Riga happens to be my lovely wife, Ella."

Sou blinked in confusion. "Wait… your wife is a plant?"

Gill's laughter echoed softly. "Yes. Ella is a Riga-type plant spirit. She's as beautiful as she is powerful. But in order to truly cure your friend, you must come with me to my villa in the La Volly Community. It's the only place where the remedy can be prepared properly."

Rema turned to Sou, her face pale, her voice uncertain. "Is it safe for us to go there? We don't even know who or what these people are."

Gill's large wooden face softened, and he spoke in a calm, reassuring tone. "Don't worry. Everyone in the community is kind to humans. And if we keep your otherworldly origins a secret, no one will ever suspect a thing. My wife, Ella, will be most pleased to help you. You can stay with us until your friend is cured. Afterward, we can discuss what comes next."

Rema let out a shaky breath, wiping her eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Gill… from the bottom of our hearts. We will never forget your kindness."

Gill's voice was warm, almost maternal, as he gave them one last reassuring smile. "Just get your friend to safety. We'll take it from here."