"Mom, Enrin ate all the candy!" My words came out with distress and frustration as I pointed my fingers at my sister who stood before me unrepentant.
"But he ate mine, so I'll eat his!" Enrin retorted with a similar complaint, puffing out her small cheeks in an attempt to show manufactured anger.
"Enrin, Louyan, stop eating candy, it's bad for children who haven't passed the age of six." I turned to see my older brother standing a distance away, speaking in a wise tone that didn't suit his age as he continued looking at his book.
"Mom, candy candy candy! I want cand... Don't listen to my older brother!" I said with childish insistence, clinging to my mother's gentle hand.
She laughed quietly, looking at me, then knelt down to my height and said in a very soft voice that flowed like a whisper: "Oh dear, how many times have I told you not to take Enrin's candy? Everyone has their own candy, and no one has the right to take it without telling the other. Didn't you see now? Enrin took your candy because you took hers." She said this while gently patting my head.
"But Mom..." I tried to resist.
"No buts... Hmmm, if you don't cause any trouble today, I'll give you candy as a reward." She said, laughing and nodding her head at me, her eyes twinkling with love.
"I don't get into trouble! She's the one who chases after me! Besides... Besides, I won't leave anyone who needs me in trouble and not help them!" I said with determination, looking at her, finding her laughing again at my childish enthusiasm.
My mother then stood up and said: "The reward applies to everyone, just so you know!" Then she said very gently, with an excited voice and a beautiful, sincere smile, as she turned to everyone who looked excited by the idea.
But as soon as she turned her face back to me, I saw something strange: her face was melting.
"Mom... Mom! Mom!" I screamed in panic, holding onto her, while the entire surroundings around me began to melt and fade away. Suddenly, she knelt down to me, holding my face with her gentle hands, and her words still echoed in my ears:
"Darling, my little child... I know you don't like to see your friends in trouble, but I am very worried about you. So, be careful when you get into trouble. Don't listen to just one person's point of view, for trouble doesn't happen with just one person. So, try to understand the emotions and read them well, and try to understand your surroundings and don't rush your decisions... But if you feel someone is wronged, always stand with them. Mom will always stand by you no matter what mistake you make." Then she hugged me very gently as I trembled in her arms while everything melted around us...
"Haaaa!" I gasped loudly, the cold invading my limbs. A dream? No, it's a very old memory. I sighed heavily, my mother's words still swirling in my head as if they had just been said.
I gave a light laugh, mixed with pain: "Ah... I miss her." Although I'll only be gone for... how long have I been here?
I wondered to myself as I searched my pockets for my watch, hoping it had survived. When I felt something round and solid, I felt a slight joy and pulled it out. It was still the same: golden, solid, unchanged except for being slightly damp. I opened it hopefully to know the time, but I discovered something strange: the watch hands were stopped.
But that's not the truly strange thing. The strange thing is that it was stopped at the time immediately following our experiment. I remember seeing it before we started. Does this mean it recorded the moment of our transfer? Why? And how did it specifically break down while the ring was fine?
I wondered deeply, looking at the hands pointing to twelve past ten.
I wonder, what happened to our world? Did we really disappear?... Wait. If we were transported here, what character did I become, I wonder?
I didn't notice it at first, or maybe I didn't pay any attention, but I touched my face and didn't feel any strangeness. I approached the surface of the lake, and whispered inside me with an urgent desire: "Please, please, let me be an ordinary person, and not one of the main characters." I continued to approach, and when I opened my eyes and saw my reflection, I was surprised.
It wasn't any of the main characters, nor even an ordinary character. It was my own facial features: dark black hair that reached the beginning of my shoulder, slightly wavy and messy because of my current exhaustion. And two light blue eyes that showed features of indescribable tiredness. My facial features are gentle, I think; my mother always said I took after my grandmother's facial features.
"At least I wasn't one of the main characters," I said to myself with inner relief.
I sat down next to my bag and pulled out the novel: "The Saga of Villains and Heroes." A childish name, true, but it's a name chosen ten years ago, so it's fine.
I held the novel tightly, remembering the events of the fourth part. I didn't read it myself; I remember Meliss was the one who read it to all of us at the time, but I remember it was the most tragic part.
Simply put, the novel "The Saga of Villains and Heroes" talks about a world that was divided ten thousand years ago by twelve warriors into four sides. Each three warriors lived on one side, and no one from one side could move to another.
And now, a group of heroes and villains gathered on each side, and their stories, happening at the same time, come to us. Why did we like it? Simply, the novel was rich with characters, mystery, and creativity in describing places.
But it became extremely strange by the end of the fourth part, and it became stranger and without clear solutions in the fifth part. It's not as if the author lost passion; it's as if the novel slipped out of his hand.
I remember it started when he merged the characters' endings in the fifth part. Meaning that if someone read the third part before the second, it's fine, but they will come across a spoiler for the events of the second part – news that spread or people talking about the Western Section, for example.
But the part that connects them is the fifth one, which is the part where the barrier is supposed to break. How? I don't know. The author himself suddenly said the barrier broke. How, when, and why? No one knows. Maybe that's the reason why I said the story slipped out of the author's hand.
I remember that occasionally there was a mistake in the page order, but it was strange. Suddenly the scene shifts from page 245 to 247, as if the missing scene is happening but we aren't seeing it. But the author always said it was just a mistake in the page order.
I sighed as I continued to look at it. The characters in this part... I can say it was the strangest part ever in terms of character composition. It included characters that readers loved madly, whether they were heroes or villains, and this is exactly what drove the novel to fame and widespread popularity. But, unfortunately, all their endings were completely unsatisfactory.
I turned the pages one after another, and my absolute certainty grew that this was the book we bought, not another one. It contained all our small, secret markings: the drawing of Meliss's sharp sword, the funny "mustache" that Evan drew on the face of one of the foolish characters, the leaning hat I drew, and Liam's comfortable pillow.
I gave a light laugh as I contemplated those naive drawings, and of course, I didn't forget our names written at the end of the novel. That old habit of "confirming ownership," how absurd and beautiful at the same time!
I sighed deeply, letting the questions collide like waves inside my head: "Why were we sent here? The author has already finished his story, so what is the point of our presence? And why us specifically? And if we are here in our real bodies, does this mean we became people who were not recorded by the book? Or are we...?" I couldn't find an answer.
My eyes sparkled as I looked at my cat ring; its unique design in the shape of a cat's face, and its contrasting eyes: blue for group communication, and yellow for individual. What a relief! At least something familiar remained.
Then my hand wound caught my attention; it was good that it wasn't bleeding anymore. I removed the old bandage that was saturated with scary crimson blood color and saw the wound. "It wasn't that deep, or so I thought." I sighed, and re-wrapped my hand with a clean bandage.
When I finished, I tried to put the rest back into the bag, which I had neglected for a moment. Our travel bag from two years ago! How did it get here? And the strangest thing is that it contains a quantity of items I definitely didn't put.
I opened it, and was astonished by the abundance of its contents: earphones, a phone charger (what will I do with it when my phone isn't with me?), a huge collection of winter and summer clothes. How the hell did it fit all this? Does it have a spatial vacuum inside or something? Then I saw a collection of food. I heard my stomach calling that it was time to eat, but I ignored the call and continued searching.
Wait! Even the container bag I bought from the grocery store is still here! How? Did it not fall at the portal? I wondered inside, and I knew that it wasn't a coincidence.
I continued pulling things out in amazement: a collection of medicines that Yuna had put, cooking tools that Evan insisted on putting, sharp blades that Meliss was the one who put, Liam's pillow, and money and maps that Alain and Luca had put. My theory about the "spatial vacuum" was becoming more convincing.
Then, it was the turn of what I had put: a lot of candy, and pictures of the characters I truly loved in the novel. The irony of fate, most of them were from the fourth part that I am in now. I placed the character cards on the ground and continued searching.
A huge quantity of water bottles! "Oh my God, it's just a short trip to get the author's signature! Did we have to put all this stuff?" I sighed with a tired smile, then pulled out stickers, and a fancy silver rope. I remembered, laughing, how I objected to using this fancy rope for climbing trees, and how Luca gave me his rope instead.
More colored stones I found in the forest, a notebook and pen, food and a blanket, an insect repellent spray, a voice recorder, earplugs, and more and more water.
"Really, Mom? We're going for a 'signature' and 'exploration' of the forest for a few days, I don't think we need all this water." I sighed, but the smile didn't leave my face. I knew she was worried about me.
Then I found a can of vegetables, and I whispered to myself: "No, I won't eat it." But my eyes fell on the note written in my mother's handwriting on the cover:
"I know you don't like them, but don't forget they are important for building the body and mind. So, try to eat a little of them."
I sighed deeply, a wave of longing sweeping over me. My mother had always paid attention to the smallest details. I opened the can and ate a piece of carrot, and to my surprise, it was very delicious. Maybe because I'm hungry. I continued eating while pulling out the last items.
Books... Oh my God, books!
Books to learn directions! "Ah, my older brother, Elliot! Do you think I'm a broken compass? A book for determining direction during the day, and another one at night?" In addition to a set of survival books, and a book caught my attention titled: "How an Idiot Survives in the Forest." "Ahhhh! Do you think I'm an idiot?" I vowed internally that I wouldn't let this slide.
Then a book titled: "How to Learn to Cook Candy for the Dumb Without Burning the Food." And a set of lamps and a breathing device for choking. "Kito, my dear older sister, not you too! The candy I brought won't run out in two days! I only burned the kitchen twice, and you think I'm hopeless!" I sighed, looking at the book, and put it aside, with a silent promise to use it well.
And the last thing I found: a bag containing a set of small mechanisms and things for spying. "Well, I expected this from Enrin." And a note book with: "My Inventions in case you need them" written on it. This is from my older brother, Louis.
"Well, being the youngest with four siblings wasn't bad at all," I said sincerely, contemplating what they had put for me in the bag. I put everything back in its place.
"Seriously, it's just camping in the forest for two days... This is illogical. I didn't know you were worried about me like this." I whispered to myself with a tender smile. I felt warmth flooding my heart from how much they cared.
Yes, everyone was worried about me. And how much I miss them now. And for this, I must return to them. Yes, I will return to them. This is the only true compass I have.
After a short while, I finished putting everything back in the bag, except for some food, a water bottle, the character cards, and the novel.
I continued contemplating those characters that appeared in the fourth part. The characters in this part were characterized by intelligence, arrogance, and a tragic past... I sighed, wondering deeply: "I wonder, did the villains really become villains?"
I hummed my questions as I caught sight of the ring. "Yes, the ring!" I suddenly exclaimed inside: "I should have called them! How could I forget?" I placed my finger on the blue eye, and it was only seconds until Luca's voice shot out in a tone mixed with relief and astonishment:
"Oh, Louyan! Did you just wake up?"
I answered him with a light laugh as I continued eating: "No, it's been a while since I woke up. I apologize for not calling you earlier, I was busy feeding my stomach."
Luca replied calmly: "It's fine, we are eating too. Oh, did you search the bag? We searched it and wooo..." Liam immediately interrupted him with a mock accusatory tone: "Yuna, why is there a book 'How to Make Every Place Suitable for Sleeping for Lazies'?"
Yuna answered with surprising boldness and absolute confidence: "Well, I won't lie, it's important for you anyway. And just so you know, the copy of the novel you have is the version we bought."
I turned the pages of the novel, quietly confirming: "Yes, I already know this."
I heard Meliss's voice, full of concern, asking: "How are you all?"
Luca answered with tired honesty: "I feel exhausted, but my body is fine."
Evan answered in an active and excited tone: "I'm fine, I feel energized."
Liam answered with a prolonged yawn and usual laziness: "I don't feel tired, maybe sleepy."
Yuna said in a calm and stable tone, as if she had regained her composure compared to last night: "Liam, you always feel sleepy. As for me, I'm good compared to last night."
Alain said in an exaggeratedly dramatic tone, tinged with regret and complaint: "And I'm fine, except for missing my money."
Meliss called me again in a worried, pointed tone: "It's good that you're fine. What about you, Louyan?"
I told them with absolute honesty while continuing to eat: "I'm fine, but I'm hungry, and that's why I'm eating now."
Luca sighed with clear relief: "Then that's reassuring. Everyone is normal."
Suddenly, Alain's voice turned into a tone full of suspicion and threat: "I know the situation doesn't suit this, but I wanted to ask him since yesterday... Evan, where did you get the money to make the rings connect? Didn't you say you were broke right now and couldn't invent anything?"
Oh my God, I wished inside that I could gradually get out of this.
Evan's voice came out tense and confused, as he tried to evade: "Me? Oh, nothing maybe... Hmmm, I mean... Louyan, Yuna, and I..."
Alain's voice rose, cold and sharp, announcing the end of the deadline: "Louyan, Yuna, and Evan. You have ten seconds to justify yourselves."
Evan whispered pleadingly into the ring: "Sis, help!"
Meliss laughed with a sarcastic and mocking tone: "Who are you? I don't know you!"
Yuna said with astonishing boldness, and justified her action with complete confidence: "Yes, we took it from your money. What are you going to do, after all? Your money is everyone's money, and you can't reach us! Besides, we told you, but you were watching a movie, and we got your 'OK'."
I replied with sarcasm and a nervous laugh, resigned to my fate: "Yuna, don't expose us... Yep, we're dead." And when I noticed the strong breathing sound from Alain's side, I felt a strange psychological happiness to listen to the longest lecture in history.
Evan tried to negotiate a bit in a desperate tone: "Wait, but I wasn't alone. Louis helped me too, so how about we postpone it, I mean until after we get home?"
I immediately interrupted him with a sharp defensive tone for my brother, momentarily forgetting that I had involved myself with them: "Hey! Don't involve Louis! He doesn't know where we got the money!" I sighed with distress, oh my God.
Luca said in a worried and reserved tone: "I think I'll step away, I'm afraid he'll explode me with you. Goodbye."
Meliss intervened with complete calmness, and cleverly changed the subject to calm everyone: "Guys, how about we forget about the current matter? And just so you know, we were sent in our real bodies. What do you think of that?"
I thanked Meliss internally with deep gratitude; I wasn't ready for one of Alain's lectures about money.
I heard Evan's faint whisper thanking her: "Meliss, thank you." I laughed and said, confirming: "Yes, I saw myself in the frozen lake. It's me, in my own flesh and blood."
Luca answered, approaching the ring again: "Yes, that's right, even us."
Alain said in a tone where he tried to control himself from anger: "I won't forgive you, but I'll postpone the matter now. As for Meliss's question, I'm also in my same body, and that's a relief."
Liam said in a semi-philosophical tone, interspersed with drowsiness: "Yes, I think this is good, except for the fact that we might have become outside the law of the novel."
Evan wondered with genuine worry at the end of his sentence, moving to the next goal: "This is better than dying as one of the main characters anyway. What are we going to do?"
The ring quieted down a little. I don't know if it was seconds or minutes, but I knew what I would do.
My voice and everyone's voice came out together in one declaration, with a single, decisive collective decision:
"I'm going home!"
I laughed a little, and I heard their laughter too. Yes, no matter how difficult it is, we will go back. Because our place is not here.