Chapter 32: Seline Frostmere
"Let us see if this wakes you up."
Unaware of everything, the boy continued to snore when something cold but pleasant struck him, jolting him awake.
"Damn it! What—?!" he muttered, sputtering and flailing his arms. He looked around, confused, until his blue eyes met Seline’s, their sharp green gaze locking onto him.
"Who the hell are you?!" he exclaimed, leaping to his feet. Fatigue still weighed heavily on his shoulders, but adrenaline kept him alert, his senses sharpened by the sudden awakening.
"Do not get worked up, or I will vomit!" Seline pleaded, her fingers still pinching her nose. "I am Seline, from Silverlake Kingdom. Who are you? How did you end up in this place?" Her voice carried a mix of curiosity and disgust at his state.
"Silverlake Kingdom?" he replied, his tone questioning. He had never heard of that kingdom... he only knew of Ironridge Kingdom, his world limited by his small-town origins.
"Huh?" Seline asked, her expression one of surprise. "You do not know it? Where do you live, under a rock?"
Lian’s face flushed as he considered her words. "Actually... I come from a small town called Dustwall... I did not have time to study geography before I got stuck in an unstable Gate..." His voice trailed off, tinged with embarrassment.
Seline did not respond immediately, simply staring at the boy with a look of pity. "Well, the gate took me too. How long have you been here? I have been killing worms for days..." Her tone softened, a rare glimpse of empathy.
Lian gazed at the girl, dazed. She is so beautiful, he thought. "My name is Lian," he said after a moment, shaking his head. "If I am not mistaken, it has not even been a day since I arrived—"
A loud stomach growl interrupted his words. Lian’s face turned crimson instantly. He quickly lowered his head, only to inspect himself more closely. His body was mostly exposed, his clothes torn and blackened in several places. Blood stained his tanned skin, while sand clung to every inch of him.