Trying to keep from knocking everything over, I pulled out all the supplies I needed from the storage room, moving them to the center of the temple. My savior remained unconscious, even after all this time. It worried me. 

What if he doesn't wake up?

I abandoned the thought as soon as it came to me. Being alone in a place like this frightened me more than it should have. Soon, I'd be looking for suitors to marry, and I still relied on others far too much. With a sigh, I moved to set up the firewood in the way my older brother taught me so many years ago. If he had been still alive, he would have prevented the kidnapping — I was sure of it. I missed him more than I could explain. All my life, he was my only friend, the one who would protect me from the other nobles who thought I was an easy target to pick on. 

Has it really been three years since he died?

I lost myself in thought until the fire flared to life, and I frowned as I filled the cauldron with water. Not sure what else to do, I pulled the pieces of dried meat apart and dropped them into the water before placing the pot over the fire for a basic stew. Because I spent all of my life in the castle, I never prepared meals for myself.

That should do for now. Maybe he'll wake up to the smell of food?

My gaze traveled to the man who saved me, and even though I was shy by nature, I hoped with all my heart we'd get along. By now, the sun was setting, and nightfall came shortly thereafter. Everything around me was much scarier in the dark, and to distract myself, I peered out of an opening in the roof where the stones had fallen. A sense of calm washed over me as I watched the stars above shining like magnificent jewels in the desert. They were nothing short of magical on a clear, moonlit night like this.

It's almost romantic.

With a coy smile, I turned to the wanderer and moved onto my knees beside him, feeling lucky.

Once again, I shook his shoulders and called to him, wishing on every star in the sky that he would wake up. To my relief, he did, but not all at once. He drifted in and out of consciousness for a while before his gorgeous lavender eyes opened and fixed on the cosmos above.

"T-thank the gods; you're awake. I wasn't sure what to do when you passed out after you… Well… After killing those men." I chose my words with caution, my voice small. Even with all the time I had to think about it, I still didn't know what I had seen back then. My bad habit of fidgeting with the hem of my dress manifested itself while I stumbled on my words.

Why do I have to be so awkward?

"Um… Pl-please say something… Are you feeling okay? I'm… I'm worried about you…." I stammered, and it was clear I wasn't used to talking to strangers. He must have found it odd. By now, I'm sure he inferred I was of noble standing, and noble maidens like me generally possessed exceptional speaking skills.

The wanderer sat up and gave me a brisk nod, "I'm fine. I wanted to avoid this troublesome mess, but you were determined to pull me into it."

A bright blush appeared on my face as his words shocked me, but he had a point — this was all my fault.

He must hate me. I should have never dragged him into this.

“B-b-but they were… They were going to kill me… I thought I had no other choice… I-I'm sorry…" my voice trembled, and I broke eye contact with him, my sentences breaking down into short, nervous phrases, "I-I was scared and… And you were there, so I… I cried out without thinking... I'm sorry…" 

How could I have been that stupid? Even now, I'm acting like a child.

"What's your name?" he asked me in a firm voice, which I could see was an attempt to distract me from my guilt, but it didn't help.

"V-Vanessa…" I answered, adding my last name because I knew it would mean something to him, "Vanessa Van Doren."

The young man raised a single silvery eyebrow. He somehow ignored the fact that my family was renowned for banking all over Esoterra. His response was harsh, "Okay, Vanessa Van Doren. I need you to go home and go home now. I've got things to do, and that none of them include taking care of you."

"I understand… But I… I won't survive out here…." I told him in a weak voice, tears gathering in the corners of my eyes when I thought of him leaving me alone. The idea scared me more than I thought it would. I had never been entirely on my own before.

If only my older brother were here...

The wanderer sighed but appeared to be reconsidering his plan as he said, "Okay. If you're headed in the same direction as I am, we can travel together, but only if we are going in the same direction, got it? Where's your home?" 

"I-I'm from the Umbra region. The city I live in is called Selas, which is east of here. My father will reward you if you bring me home, so please… I won't make it by myself." My answer left my lips as a whisper while I tried to wipe away the forming tears with my sleeve.

To my disappointment, he let out an exasperated groan and glared at me, grumbling, "Fine. I'll bring you with me. But this is only because you'd die out here on your own, understand?"

I get that I'm a burden to him, but isn't the knight in shining armor supposed to be happy to help the damsel in distress?

"Okay… We'll travel together, then." I breathed, my ego wounded. This situation wasn't going how I thought it would at all.

"Sure. Now let's eat. I don't know what's cooking, but I'm fucking famished, so I'll have whatever you made. It smells awful, but it's all we've got."

Thanks.