Scene 128 — "You Found What?"
The girl did not waste time.
The feeling from the crystal forest lingered in the back of her mind.
Watching.
Waiting.
Interested.
She quickened her pace.
The silver fields stretched behind her.
Crystal trees drifted past on both sides.
The hidden world slowly changed as she moved farther from the rivers.
The wilderness gave way to signs of life.
Narrow stone paths.
Wooden fences.
Small gardens glowing beneath pale lantern-fruit.
Eventually—
a house appeared.
Built upon a rise overlooking the crystal forest.
Simple.
Weathered.
Familiar.
Home.
The girl climbed the final slope and pushed open the gate.
Immediately—
a voice reached her.
"You're late."
The girl sighed.
Of course.
Her older sister stood outside near the garden.
Arms folded.
Watching her approach.
The elder sister looked calm as always.
Until she noticed the basket.
Then her eyes narrowed.
"...That's all you gathered?"
The girl walked past her.
"Something happened."
The elder sister immediately followed.
That sentence rarely led to anything good.
Inside the house—
another figure occupied a chair near the window.
A young man.
Her brother.
One leg hanging over the armrest.
Half asleep.
At least until he heard the words.
"Something happened."
His eyes opened immediately.
"...What happened?"
The girl placed the basket on the table.
Then pointed toward the distant crystal forest.
"I found someone."
Silence.
The brother blinked.
The elder sister blinked.
The girl continued.
"Unconscious."
Another pause.
"Badly injured."
The brother slowly sat upright.
The elder sister frowned.
The girl took a breath.
Then added the important part.
"A human."
The room became completely still.
The brother stared.
The elder sister stared.
The girl stared back.
Several seconds passed.
Then—
"...A what?"
"A human."
The brother looked toward the window.
Toward the endless hidden world outside.
Then back toward his sister.
"A human."
"Yes."
"In the silver fields."
"Yes."
The brother rubbed his face.
Slowly.
As though trying to wake up properly.
The elder sister spoke next.
"You're sure?"
The girl nodded immediately.
"White hair. Strange clothes. Injured."
The elder sister exchanged a glance with their brother.
Neither looked convinced.
Because the claim itself sounded ridiculous.
Humans did not simply appear here.
Not in the hidden world.
Not in the silver fields.
Not unconscious.
Not alone.
The girl anticipated the disbelief.
So she added another detail.
"The wound should have killed him."
That got their attention.
Immediately.
The brother straightened.
The elder sister's expression sharpened.
The girl continued.
"He was still breathing."
Silence returned.
A different silence.
One filled with thought.
The elder sister studied her carefully.
Searching for exaggeration.
Finding none.
Finally—
she asked the obvious question.
"Where is he now?"
The girl pointed back toward the forest.
The answer arrived instantly.
"Still there."
The brother nearly jumped from his chair.
"What do you mean still there?"
"He weighs too much."
The brother froze.
The elder sister closed her eyes.
Very slowly.
The girl folded her arms.
"I tried moving him."
Nothing.
"I tried dragging him."
Barely moved.
The brother stared.
Then laughed once.
A short laugh.
Mostly because he couldn't think of anything else to do.
"You left him there?"
"What was I supposed to do?"
The brother opened his mouth.
Paused.
Then closed it again.
Fair point.
The elder sister sighed.
A long-suffering sigh.
The kind reserved for unexpected disasters.
Which this absolutely was.
After a moment—
she stood.
"We're going."
The brother immediately rose as well.
The girl felt relief.
Finally.
People with common sense.
And stronger arms.
The elder sister grabbed a cloak from the wall.
The brother picked up a lantern.
The girl headed toward the door.
Then—
all three stopped.
A strange sensation passed through the room.
Brief.
Subtle.
Gone almost instantly.
The lantern flame flickered.
Once.
Nothing more.
The brother looked down at it.
Confused.
The elder sister frowned.
The girl glanced toward the distant crystal forest visible through the window.
For a moment—
she thought she saw movement among the distant trees.
A shadow.
Standing perfectly still.
Watching the house.
Then it was gone.
The hidden world returned to normal.
Silence settled once more.
The elder sister opened the door.
"Let's go find your impossible human."
None of them noticed—
far away among the silver flowers—
the unconscious Traveler's fingers move ever so slightly.