A Tamia's Tale

Chapter 3: Mysteries

"So, you're from another world." Kanami started while pouring some tea into a cup.

The place was smaller than what Luka thought but it was a good thing to him. The small candle placed on the table gave a faint light just enough to see the other's face, giving a warm and soothing atmosphere to the small Japanese-styled house. The fragrance of wood mixed with the aroma of the tea leaves helped him relax after everything that happened today.

"Y-Yeah... I do."

He wasn't sure how to go about it. Sure, he wanted to give her his thanks, but seeing how she almost killed him on the spot just for saying hi. He could still feel the cold steel of the dagger against his neck, a sensation he already had a long time ago, giving him chills just thinking about it.

"I'm sorry about earlier," Kanami smiled reassuringly. "I'm not used to having visitors here."

She took a sip from her cup. Luka watched her from the corner of his eyes while pondering if he should do the same. He wasn't used to drinking tea and most of all he hated it, but he couldn't bring himself to let it go to waste in fear of what could happen. Still looking at her, he raised his cup to his lips and took a sip, if one could even call that a sip since he barely tasted it. His eyes widen in shock.

"This is..."

It was delicious. Instead of the usual herbal tea his mother used to make, this tea was sweet and fruity, which contrasted with what he was used to. Without realizing it, a smile flashed across his face.

"It's my grandmother's secret recipe," Kanami smirked, enjoying his reaction. "It's made with orange tree leaves coated in sugar and then dried."

"No wonder it's so sweet..." Luka pondered, looking at his cup.

He would need to ask the secret to the recipe as well, if she was willing to share of course.

"So, what's your world like?" Kanami asked.

"My world? Oh, it's not interesting, really." Luka sneered to himself. "Just a lot of buildings everywhere and a lot of people too."

"Is that so?" she raised an eyebrow, not convinced by his answer.

The room went silent. Each casually enjoying their tea while examining each other. The sheer awkwardness of the situation made Luka uneasy quickly and made him fidget in place.

"You're not a chatty person," Kanami pointed out, smirking again.

"Ahah, that's true, I'm sorry about that," Luka chuckled nervously. "It's just that I'm a bit shaken by what happened today and I'm worried about a lot of things. Like how I'm going to come back home and why was I kidnapped."

While he could not remember much, the remnants of his kidnapping were still flashing through his mind from time to time, making him feel chills down his spine.

"I don't know why they tried to get you," Kanami admitted while putting her cup down. "But I think they didn't care whether you lived or not since the man looking for you gave them the instructions, dead or alive."

"W-What? But why?" Luka shouted.

"Well... I don't know. That's why I'm worried too. Why did they know you? Do you have any idea who could possibly want you dead?"

She gave him a cold look, steeling herself to unsheathe her dagger again. But Luka looked completely lost at what she was saying.

"Of course not!" His voice cracked with emotion, tears welling in his eyes. "I don't know anyone here! Hell, I didn't even know traveling to other worlds was possible. This feels like something out of a fantasy book!"