Deeply immersed in his thoughts, the ronin stiffened just slightly when the woman called to him unexpectedly, his steps slowing to a stop. He tilted up the brim of the sedge hat that shaded his eyes in part to seem less intimidating, thoughtfully taking in the sight of her and her collapsible cane. "...Hm?"
His appearance made next to no difference to Lilly. All that mattered was that this man was answering, much unlike the people moving to and fro, and scampering off whenever she got close. One even felt like they were made of hay, but she didn't mention the fact.
"I've woken up someplace strange, and I cannot seem to find my way back to the Yamaku Academy. Could you perhaps provide directions?"
His eyebrows lifted slightly at her explanation, and immediately, the understanding dawned that she was a new arrival. "I am afraid there is no such place here." The ronin replied evenly after a moment; the closest thing to it would have been Somarium's public school. "...You are now in the village of Espoir."
"Espoir? I'm afraid I have never heard of such a place." So she was really far off. Just what happened, anyway? "Could you perhaps direct me to the nearest train station, then?"
"...There may be a train station in the area, but none will lead you back home." Pausing, he was aware of how bizarre it all must have seemed to her ears. "It may be difficult to believe, but you have arrived in a dream world by the name of Somarium. Not long ago, I too was as lost as you are now."
"Somarium? And why would this be considered a different world, let alone a 'dream' world?" She couldn't tell if he was being truthful or not, but it certainly felt different.
The ronin sensed skepticism, if not unease, and patiently attempted to lessen her confusion. He could spare the time, having nothing of particular importance to do.
“Everyone whom has found themselves here is asleep in the world from which they belong. It is beyond one's control." His eyes darkened in thought. "When I returned to Japan some weeks ago, no time had passed, and my memories of this world and its people seemed nothing more than a dream. How and why I returned, I do not know.”
Lilly had to wonder. If it was a dream world, and what he said was true, then...
"Could this all just be a strange dream? That seems to be what you're implying." She was enough of a romantic that the thought that so many people could be sharing the strange dream was rather amusing, even if it was slightly unbelievable.
"It seems like it, although I sense it may be more complicated than that." Goemon left it at that; he treated his own stay in Somarium simply as a vivid out-of-body experience, unsure of what more to think with what little information there was available. A wry smile played his lips as he shifted into the subject of home. "I am from Iga." He replied, referring to the province rather than the 'new' city that had been formed from various towns and villages.
"Of course, how could so many people share the same dream? It's... strange." She noted.
"Oh, you mean Mie Prefecture?" Geography wasn't her strong suit, but she knew where the historical Iga region was, at the very least. But just why was he referring to it as it's old name? It was unsettling, to say the very least.
"Many have been here longer than I have, and even they are left with many questions unanswered."
If his clothes were any indication, along with the katana at his left hip, he was shamelessly traditional-minded - or possibly a little strange and on the delusional side, depending on how she interpreted his appearance and behaviour. He nodded once in response to her question. "Mn. Do you, as well?"
In all truth, Lilly was completely unable to interpret his outfit. In fact, she couldn't even see it. She could tell his apparent age and gender by the tone of his voice quite well, but the fact that he was referring to provinces by their old names was her only clue to how traditional he was.
"Of course." Well, now was a good time to ask. "But why were you referring to it by that?"
A perfectly reasonable question, which he then offered a simple explanation for. "When I was growing up, Oyamada, and Shimagahara, where I am from, were villages on their own. I prefer to view them separately, even though they have been recently merged to form what is now Iga city."
“Ah - it is nothing.” Goemon answered dismissively, aware that their conversation had gone off on an unexpected tangent - and it was in the ensuing silence that he took greater notice of the woman’s eyes, his own rounding in realization after a moment. They were milky and clouded to the extent where the pupils were nearly invisible. She was severely blind... and yet she had asked for directions regardless, either in denial of her disability or with a strong unwillingness to allow it to defeat her. Humbled, it took him slightly longer to consider how to approach the situation
( ... )
Lilly had not asked for directions for one simple reason; she could not make it back home, and therefore had no idea where to even begin. Should she ask someone to take her in? Should she try to find another school? She couldn't very well ask for directions if she didn't even know where she wanted to go.
"An empty cottage? But shouldn't it still belong to someone?" After all, some landowner would have a field day if houses could just be occupied for free.
She was actually quite appreciative of having a guide. She had learned to navigate areas while blind, but she was still totally new to the area, and had no idea where to go. "If you could, please."
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"I've woken up someplace strange, and I cannot seem to find my way back to the Yamaku Academy. Could you perhaps provide directions?"
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“Everyone whom has found themselves here is asleep in the world from which they belong. It is beyond one's control." His eyes darkened in thought. "When I returned to Japan some weeks ago, no time had passed, and my memories of this world and its people seemed nothing more than a dream. How and why I returned, I do not know.”
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"Could this all just be a strange dream? That seems to be what you're implying." She was enough of a romantic that the thought that so many people could be sharing the strange dream was rather amusing, even if it was slightly unbelievable.
"So you are from Japan as well? What region?"
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"Oh, you mean Mie Prefecture?" Geography wasn't her strong suit, but she knew where the historical Iga region was, at the very least. But just why was he referring to it as it's old name? It was unsettling, to say the very least.
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If his clothes were any indication, along with the katana at his left hip, he was shamelessly traditional-minded - or possibly a little strange and on the delusional side, depending on how she interpreted his appearance and behaviour. He nodded once in response to her question. "Mn. Do you, as well?"
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"Of course." Well, now was a good time to ask. "But why were you referring to it by that?"
Reply
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"An empty cottage? But shouldn't it still belong to someone?" After all, some landowner would have a field day if houses could just be occupied for free.
She was actually quite appreciative of having a guide. She had learned to navigate areas while blind, but she was still totally new to the area, and had no idea where to go. "If you could, please."
Reply
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