Scene 134 — "Three Strangers"
The room remained quiet.
The Traveler stood near the doorway.
His posture was steady.
Alert.
The three strangers faced him without moving.
For several moments, no one spoke.
Finally—
the elder sister broke the silence.
"My name isn't important right now."
Her voice was calm.
"What matters is that you're safe."
The Traveler watched her without replying.
His eyes shifted briefly to the younger girl.
Then to the young man standing beside her.
Neither of them looked dangerous.
Neither carried hostility.
Only curiosity.
The brother gave a small nod.
"We found you lying among the silver flowers."
"You were unconscious."
"For two days."
The Traveler lowered his gaze slightly.
"...Two days..."
The words barely left his lips.
Fragments drifted through his mind.
A mountain.
A broken gate.
A scream that shook the world.
Then—
darkness.
Nothing after that.
The younger girl took one careful step forward.
"I thought you were dead."
She looked toward the bandages across his chest.
"That wound..."
"...I still don't understand how you're alive."
The Traveler looked down at the clean bandages.
Someone had changed them.
Several times.
He slowly raised his head.
"...You treated my injuries."
The elder sister nodded once.
"They needed treatment."
"It wasn't something we could ignore."
Silence settled again.
The Traveler studied the three of them.
Their clothes.
Their expressions.
Their home.
Nothing suggested deception.
Nothing suggested they wanted anything from him.
His shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.
"...Thank you."
The three siblings exchanged a brief glance.
The younger girl smiled faintly.
"It wasn't just me."
"My brother carried you most of the way."
The brother laughed quietly.
"And discovered you're much heavier than you look."
The younger girl folded her arms.
"I warned him."
For the first time—
the room felt lighter.
The Traveler remained calm.
Though a faint look of confusion crossed his face.
"...I'm sorry."
The brother waved a hand dismissively.
"You can apologize after you've recovered."
The elder sister stepped toward the wooden table.
She lifted the bowl of warm broth the younger girl had nearly dropped earlier.
Holding it out carefully, she said,
"You haven't eaten in two days."
"You should."
The Traveler accepted the bowl after a brief hesitation.
It was warm.
The scent of herbs was unfamiliar.
He took a slow sip.
Heat spread gently through his body.
The younger girl watched closely.
"...Better?"
The Traveler gave a small nod.
"...Yes."
The elder sister finally asked the question all three had been waiting to ask.
"...Do you remember your name?"
The room became still.
The Traveler's fingers tightened slightly around the bowl.
He answered without hesitation.
"...I don't remember much."
His eyes drifted toward the open window.
Toward the unfamiliar landscape beyond.
"...But..."
"...I remember people calling me..."
He paused.
As though searching through distant memories.
"...Traveler."
Silence returned.
The brother scratched the back of his head.
"Then..."
"I guess we'll call you Traveler until you remember the rest."
The Traveler gave a quiet nod.
Outside—
the crystal forest whispered beneath the pale light.
Far beyond the peaceful house—
something unseen continued its search.
Unaware that the one it sought had already awakened.