Linn and Tomodachi ran through the field. As they ran, Linn's mind was filled with a barrage of questions: Where am I? What is this place? Who took Erica into this world? Where did Kaila go? Why is Tomodachi human?
"Master..." Tomodachi called from behind, panting slightly. "Where are we going?"
"I don't know, Tomo," Linn said, not looking back. "But we're sure to run into something or someone. We have to find Kaila and Erica and bring them back home." Tomodachi's ears perked up noticeably at the mention of Erica's name.
"Are you saying Erica's here, too?" Tomodachi asked, surprised. Linn glanced back at Tomodachi, his expression puzzled.
"Well, yeah," Linn said. "Didn't you already know that?"
"All I saw was you and Kaila jumping into that portal thingy. I didn't see Erica there," Tomodachi explained. Linn's expression softened as he remembered. Right, he thought. Tomodachi wasn't there when Erica was taken.
"Well, it's a long story," Linn began, explaining how they'd run into the gang, the strange gust of wind, the portal, and Erica being dragged through it.
"Wow," Tomodachi said, his eyes wide with amazement.
"And that's why we have to find the girls," Linn finished, his voice firm.
"Okay," said Tomodachi with renewed vigor. "Let's find Erica so we can return home!" Linn sweatdropped.
"We have to find Kaila, too," Linn reminded him, a note of exasperation in his voice.
"Do we have to?" Tomodachi questioned, his ears drooping slightly.
"Tomodachi..." Linn frowned, giving him a pointed look.
"Fine, fine..." Tomodachi relented with a pout.
The two of them continued running across the seemingly endless field. After a few more minutes, they collapsed, gasping for breath.
"This field goes on forever!" Linn complained, flopping onto the grass.
"I'm so tired..." Tomodachi said, falling onto his back with a dramatic sigh.
"Let's take a break," Linn suggested, his chest heaving.
"Yes, Master," Tomodachi agreed. Linn raised his eyebrows.
"You know, Tomo, you don't have to call me 'Master' every time," he said, a bit awkwardly.
"But you are my master, Master," Tomodachi said, sitting up and looking at Linn with genuine sincerity.
"It sounds weird to hear someone calling me that," Linn admitted. "Besides, I've always considered you my friend or family, so you can just call me Linn, okay?" Tomodachi's eyes widened, sparkling with an almost childlike joy.
"Okay, Master Linn!" Tomodachi said happily, beaming at him.
Linn sweatdropped and sighed. I don't think he understood, Linn thought, a wry smile playing on his lips.
"Kyahh!" A sudden, sharp cry pierced the air, making both boys jump to their feet.
"What was that?!" Linn exclaimed, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
"Over there, Master!" Tomodachi pointed towards the south. Linn looked in the direction Tomodachi indicated and saw a disturbing sight: a girl running desperately away from a group of menacing-looking men.
"She looks like she's in trouble," Linn observed, his hand instinctively moving towards a fighting stance.
"What should we do, Master?" Tomodachi asked, his tone serious.
"What else?" Linn said, already moving towards the scene. Tomodachi followed close behind. Meanwhile, the girl's breath came in ragged gasps, tripped, and fell heavily to the ground. "Ow!" she cried out, her face contorted in pain and fear.
"We've got you now," one of the men said, his voice thick with menace. The rough-looking men formed a circle around her, cutting off any escape. There's nowhere left to run, sweetheart," the apparent leader sneered, a sinister grin twisting his features.
"Please, I'll do anything! Just let me go!" the girl begged, her voice trembling.
"Hmm, tempting," the leader said, stroking his chin in mock consideration before gesturing to his men. "What should I do? I'm in two minds." He paused for dramatic effect, then his face hardened. "Nah, I'm just messing with you. Get her!" The men moved in to grab the girl, their intentions clear. The girl squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming down her face. But before they could reach her, a figure intervened.
"What?" the leader snarled, trying to pull his arm free. The men turned, startled, to see a young boy in his underwear, his expression a mask of righteous fury.
"Shame on you, picking on a girl like that," the boy said, his voice surprisingly strong.
"What? Who the hell are you?" the leader demanded, his eyes narrowing.
"Linn Tsukiyomi, the hero!" Linn declared dramatically, grabbing the leader's arm with a surprising display of strength. He lifted the man and threw him effortlessly across the field. The other men stared in shock, momentarily frozen. One of them, however, recovered quickly and threw a wild punch at Linn. Linn blocked it with his arm and retaliated with a swift punch to the man's stomach, followed by a sharp high kick to the chin. Two more men charged at Linn from the side. Linn performed a spinning jump kick, knocking one man into the other, sending them both sprawling. A rather large, burly man swung at Linn from behind, aiming a clumsy but powerful blow at his head. Linn dodged it at the last second and struck the burly man's jaw with a powerful right hook. The man's eyes rolled back in his head, and he collapsed like a felled tree.
"That's all of them," Linn said, dusting off his hands with a satisfied smirk.
"Look out!" the girl screamed, her eyes wide with terror.
Suddenly, Linn whipped his head around to see the leader, the one he'd thrown, charging at him with a knife in his hand. "I've got you now, you little brat!" the leader roared, the blade glinting menacingly in the sunlight, just inches from Linn. Linn took a deep breath, his expression calm and focused. He reached out and caught the man's wrist, stopping the knife's advance.
"What?" the leader said, his eyes filled with disbelief. Linn's smirk widened.
"No, I've got you." Linn used his free hand to snap his fingers three times.
"Huh?" the leader said, confused. He then yelped in pain as Tomodachi, who had moved with incredible speed, bit him sharply on the ankle. "Ow!" The leader stumbled, dropping the knife. Linn took advantage of the distraction. He moved his arm back and then snapped it forward in a sharp clothesline motion, hitting the leader hard across the neck. The leader was sent flying, landing in a crumpled heap.
Linn took another deep breath and sighed, a hint of exhaustion in his voice. "Okay, now that's all of them."
"You did it, Master Linn!" Tomodachi exclaimed, jumping on Linn and licking his face enthusiastically.
"Haha, okay, boy, down," Linn chuckled, trying to keep his balance. "That's all in a day's work for the hero, Linn!" Linn struck a pose, one hand on his hip and the other pointing dramatically into the distance, while Tomodachi ran around him in excited circles.
The girl stared at the two of them, her initial fear replaced with awe. Linn approached the girl, offering a reassuring smile. "Are you alright, miss?" he asked gently. The girl continued to stare blankly at him for a moment, her eyes wide and shining. "Um, miss?" Linn said, slightly confused. The girl blinked, as if snapping out of a trance.
"That...was...AWESOME!!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with unbridled excitement.
Linn and Tomodachi were taken aback by her sudden outburst. "You were all like, 'Haa!' and they were all like, 'Grr!' and..." the girl continued, re-enacting the fight with exaggerated gestures and sound effects.
Linn and Tomodachi exchanged an awkward glance. "I'm glad you liked it," Linn chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Master, I think she's missing a few screws," Tomodachi deadpanned, his ears twitching slightly.
"Don't be mean, Tomo," Linn scolded gently.
"Anyway, thanks for saving me," the girl said, bowing deeply to Linn.
"Oh! You're welcome!" Linn bowed back, slightly flustered by her gratitude. He straightened up and took a proper look at the girl. She had short, vibrant orange hair and bright, expressive orange eyes. She wore a simple but practical-looking brown cloak that seemed a bit too large for her. "I hate to ask this, but..." Linn trailed off, unsure how to phrase his question delicately.
"Yes?" the girl replied, her head tilted inquisitively.
"Why were those men chasing you? And why are you wearing that...?" Linn gestured vaguely at the cloak. The girl gasped dramatically.
"What, you don't like my cloak?" she asked, feigning offense.
"What? No, I just..." Linn stammered, his face turning slightly red.
"I think it makes me look majestic and heroic!" The girl struck a pose, one hand on her hip and the other thrown dramatically outwards, mirroring Linn's earlier one. Linn and Tomodachi exchanged another, even more awkward glance.
"Hey, Tomo..." Linn whispered, a sheepish expression on his face. "Did I always look that stupid when I do that?"
"I always thought you looked cool, Master," Tomodachi whispered back, though his tone lacked conviction.
"Maybe I should stop doing that..." Linn muttered, a hint of sadness in his voice.
The girl stopped posing and addressed Linn directly. "Besides, you have no right to comment on how I dress, 'boxers boy'," the girl teased, pointing at Linn's state of undress with a mischievous grin. Linn looked down and realized, with a jolt, that he was still only in his underwear. He yelped in embarrassment, quickly covering himself with his hands.
"Wait, this is...!?" Linn blushed furiously, his face burning with mortification.
"I didn't know you were such an exhibitionist hero," the girl teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Tomodachi sighed, the drama of the situation seemingly lost on him. He stepped forward, cutting through the banter with a pointed glare at the girl. "You didn't answer his question," he said, his voice surprisingly stern.
Linn and the girl stopped their playful exchange and looked at Tomodachi, slightly taken aback by his serious tone.
"What?" the girl said, confused.
"I said you didn't answer his question," Tomodachi repeated, his gaze unwavering.
"I told you, silly, because it makes me look majestic and heroic," the girl said, giggling as if it was all a big joke.
"Not about the cloak. About why those men were chasing you," Tomodachi clarified, his patience clearly wearing thin.
The girl's expression shifted subtly, the amusement fading from her eyes. A shadow seemed to pass over her face, and she hesitated for a moment. "W-well..." she began, her voice losing its earlier lightheartedness. Linn, who had been watching the exchange with growing curiosity, leaned forward slightly. After a few seconds of awkward silence, the girl spoke. "I don't know why. I was just walking, and they stopped me and gave me these creepy smiles. I got scared and ran, and they started chasing me. I-I was so scared..." Her voice trembled slightly, and she seemed to shrink in on herself, the bravado of her earlier performance vanishing. Tomodachi, however, remained unconvinced.
"Oh, please," he said, rolling his eyes. "Who would fall for that?"
"Oh, you poor thing!" Linn said, his eyes widening with sympathy, his earlier embarrassment forgotten. He took a step towards the girl, his face filled with concern. Tomodachi facepalmed, groaning inwardly.
"M-Master! Don't tell me you believe her!?" Tomodachi exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation. Linn looked at Tomodachi, his expression guileless. "Of course, I do. Why wouldn't I?" he questioned, his voice filled with simple sincerity.
"Don't you find it a little weird that a random girl would just be strolling along this huge field and then suddenly be chased by grown men?" Tomodachi questioned, his tone sharp with suspicion. "And that you just happened to be standing by to play the hero?" he added, his gaze fixed on Linn, as if trying to gauge his reaction.
"I don't see a problem with it," Linn said, shrugging. "It happens all the time in manga and anime."
This isn't a manga or anime, Master, Tomodachi thought, massaging his temples wearily.
Linn went to the cloaked girl and patted her head awkwardly. "There, there, it's okay. The big bad men are gone. You're safe now," Linn reassured the girl, his voice gentle.
The girl looked up at him, her eyes glistening. A small smile touched her lips. "Thank you," she said softly. Linn smiled back, feeling a warm glow of satisfaction at having helped someone.
"You're welcome, miss...uh..." Linn then realized that he didn't know her name. "I'm sorry, but do you mind if I ask your name?" he asked, a hint of sheepishness in his voice. The girl giggled in response, a light, musical sound.
"Isn't it a bit rude to ask someone their name before introducing yourself?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Linn blushed and said, "You're right." He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.
"My name is Linn Tsukiyomi, and this is Tomodachi," Linn introduced, gesturing to himself and his canine companion. Tomodachi merely waved a hand, his expression still guarded.
"Now it's your turn," Tomodachi said, his voice flat. The girl giggled again, seemingly unfazed by his suspicion.
"You can call me Madoka!" the girl introduced herself cheerfully, her smile bright and seemingly genuine.
"Okay, Madoka, I have a few questions," Linn said, his tone shifting to a more serious note.
"Okay, shoot," Madoka replied, her smile not faltering.
"Where are we? And have you seen two girls around here?" Linn asked, his eyes scanning Madoka's face for any hint of recognition.
"Well, one, you're in Desiro Plains, a huge plain on the outskirts of Kido Village," Madoka explained, gesturing vaguely to the surrounding area. "And two, you're going to have to be more specific about the girls," she added, her brow furrowing slightly in thought.
"Well, there is one girl, about yay tall, blond hair with pigtails, wearing a school uniform..." Linn began, gesturing with his hand to indicate Kaila's height.
"She is also rude and very annoying," Tomodachi added helpfully, earning himself a sharp elbow to the ribs from Linn.
"And then there is one with short raven hair, also wearing a school uniform..." Linn continued, shooting Tomodachi a warning glare.
"And she is friendly, sweet, caring, cute, lovely, and smells good and nice," Tomodachi added, his earlier suspicion seemingly forgotten as he described Erica, his voice taking on a dreamy, lovesick quality. Linn sweatdropped, shaking his head at his companion's obvious infatuation. Madoka put a finger to her chin, feigning deep thought.
"Nope," she finally said, shaking her head with a regretful smile. "Haven't seen any girls matching those descriptions."
Linn's shoulders slumped slightly, his face falling. "Oh...well, thank you anyway," Linn said, trying to hide his disappointment.
"Sorry, I couldn't be more helpful," Madoka said apologetically. "But if it would help, you could try going to Kido Village, just north of here. Someone there might be able to help you." Linn's expression brightened a little at this suggestion.
"Okay, we'll head there. What are you going to do?" Linn asked, his concern for her safety evident in his voice.
"Hmm, I'm just going to explore Desiro Plains a little longer since I was so rudely interrupted earlier," Madoka replied, her tone light and casual, though a flicker of something unreadable passed across her eyes.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay by yourself?" Linn asked, his brow furrowed with worry.
"I'll be fine!" Madoka replied cheerfully, dismissively waving off his concerns. Besides, you have more important matters to tend to," she added, her gaze lingering on Linn for a moment longer than necessary, a hint of a secret smile playing on her lips.
"If you say so..." Linn said, still feeling slightly uneasy but not wanting to press the issue. "It was nice meeting you," he said politely.
"You too," Madoka said, her smile widening. She turned and began to walk away, then broke into a run, disappearing quickly into the vast expanse of the plains, leaving Linn and Tomodachi alone.
"She was nice, don't you think?" Linn asked Tomodachi, turning to his companion for his opinion.
"I don't know, Master. There's something about her that I don't like," Tomodachi said, his ears twitching as he watched Madoka's retreating figure with a suspicious scowl.
"Well, in any case, we can't stand here all day. We have to find Kaila and Erica," Linn said, his voice filled with renewed determination. "She said there was a village to the north of here. Let's go there."
"As you wish, Master," Tomodachi replied, though his expression remained troubled. The two of them turned north and began walking, leaving the scene of their encounter behind.
Meanwhile, Madoka continued walking through the plains, her earlier cheerful demeanor replaced by a more thoughtful, calculating expression. She stopped and looked up at the sun, her orange eyes gleaming with an unsettling light.
"Linn Tsukiyomi, huh?" she murmured to herself, her voice low and smooth. "What an interesting person. To think that he would help me so readily, without knowing the full story." She reached into a pouch hidden beneath her cloak and pulled out a small, intricately decorated brown bag. She shook it gently, the distinct sound of coins clinking within. A satisfied smile spread across her face, a far cry from the innocent one she had shown Linn. "Well, Linn, I do hope our paths will cross again," she mused, her voice laced with a hint of malice. "You might prove to be quite useful to my cause." She giggled softly, the sound sending a shiver down the spine of any who might have overheard it, and then seemed to melt into the very landscape of the plains, disappearing without a trace.