[Tiss] "So what's your story, Wade?"
[Wade?] "What do you mean?"
[Tiss] "There's gotta be more to you. I just know you're a country bumpkin with almost no knowledge of anything, who got lost in the Bloodsoaked Forest, naked nonetheless... Who are you, Wade?"
[Wade?] "I don't think there's much to say-"
[Tiss] "For fuck's sake, Wade, just tell me. I don't want to walk in silence anymore!"
She's right, though. Walking silently and holding hands has been both awkward and nerve-racking. We've been moving forward in a straight line from space to space without a single turn. Just a straight hallway.
[Wade?] "Fine... Well I wasn't ever a very motivated person. Growing up, I never really had friends. I didn't leave my house unless my grandpa made me. I was this fat little kid who became a lame adult who would rather play games than interact with the world..."
There's silence for just a few steps. I haven't ever talked about myself with another person before. It's harder to open up than I thought.
[Wade?] "I got a chance to have a new life. I tried to change everything about myself and then I leapt at my chance to become someone new. And after... this and that... an accident happened and I wound up naked at the shore of that lake. That's pretty much all there is to it."
[Tiss] "Your story's kinda boring."
[Wade?] "Excuse me?"
[Tiss] "Yeah. I meet so many people that are great and powerful, have some sort of noble affiliation, have this or that title. They're exhausting, actually."
[Wade?] "They're exhausting and I'm boring?"
[Tiss] "Yeah, exactly. But that's like... a good thing!"
Tissela almost gets a bit more pep in her step as she says this. Her face is a bit softer and she's even smiling a bit. She's still holding my hand, but instead of feeling like she wants to let go right away, her grip tightens and our hands grow warmer.
[Tiss] "I should return the favor and tell you a bit about me. I'm the first daughter of a duke. I have four older brothers who are all fighting to become the heir. My father wants to marry me to someone when he finds a noble with suitable territory and influence that has a son of appropriate age. I turned 19 a couple months ago. He's still searching."
The smile that she was just wearing disappears and her expression becomes more somber. Her grip on my hand becomes tighter and she stops walking. I stop alongside her.
[Tiss] "Since I was 15, he's invited nobility and heroes from all over the kingdom. There's a lot of territories with lots of influential people that my father has tried to barter me off to. However, he cannot wed me off without my consent. And after hearing an epic tale once, twice, and a thousand more, it just gets tiring. With all the political drama around me and the marriage offers, I never get to have a sense of normalcy."
Tissela looks up to me. We've not stood so close before and seen each other like this. She's really short, only about 5' 3". Her hair frames her face so well and ends in adorable curls just above her shoulders. Her hands are small. They grip so tightly to hold onto my much larger hand.
When she stares at me like, I can feel a tight thumping in my chest. Similar to that rush whenever I looked at virtual hotties through my VR headset. Especially when I played those games that replicate the feeling of touch. Oh yeah, that's a great feeling... But that's beside the point.
This feeling that Tissela gives me in this moment... It's attraction for sure. But not like I want to fuck her brains out like one of those virtual sluts. I just feel drawn to her. I find her charming. She seemed really bratty at first, but she's actually a sweet girl.
[Tiss] "Tiss..."
[Wade?] "Yes, that's you."
[Tiss] "Shut up... Call me that from now on."
[Wade?] "Call you Tiss? Why the change of heart?"
[Tiss] "After walking for so long, I've realized how bad our situation is. And you're staying calm and going through this with me. You're acting really reliable without really trying. Just by charging forward together with me without fear... it makes me want you to be my friend. So let's get out of this together. Okay?"
[Wade?] "Is boring Mr. Pervert a proper friend for the adventurous and noble Lady von Claus, though?"
[Tiss] "Okay, don't ruin the moment! Just be my friend, you dumbass!"
Tiss lets go of my hand and starts to both slap and punch my shoulder over and over.
[Wade?] "Hah! Hey! Cut it out! Alright, we're friends! I'll call you Tiss."
Tiss had backed me up to one of the walls while hitting me. So now that we're done with that, I lean against the wall and rest my head back against the wall, thinking. After a few seconds, mana pulses behind my back and the wall disappears. I fall backwards, landing on my ass and rolling back. My head crashes against the stone floor again and I'm back to rolling around and gripping my skull.
[Tiss] "Hey, what did you do?"
[Wade?] "Fuck if I know!?"
[Tiss] "Well I think this confirms that we're in a labyrinth. You found a treasure room, I think."
At the mention of treasure room, the pain disappears from my head and I flip my body around, landing on my hands and knees.
Sniff sniff... Sniff sniff...
[Wade?] "Treasure?"
[Tiss] "What the fuck? Are you a dog or something?"
[Wade?] "Just a freak for treasure!"
I jump up and run into the room ahead without fear.
[Tiss] "Stop! It could be trapped!"
About three steps too late, I stop and try to turn around. I do so, only to see a STRING THEORY directly behind me. My face only inches away from the black orb in the middle of its head.