"I am Ash Vulkan."

He kept his hands raised as he said it, still keeping the palms open and exposed. No sudden movements. The sword was within reach, and Lissa’s arm seemed ready to make a decision faster than he could react.

"And I am lost."

Lissa’s eyes narrowed. She scanned him with that critical gaze people reserve for items they’re unsure about, trying to find that one detail which would tell her whether to believe what she saw.

"What do you mean by lost?" she asked.

"Exactly what I said." Ash kept his tone calm and unhurried. "I have no idea where I am or how I got here. To be completely honest, the only thing I know about myself right now is my name. Everything else is gone."

Silence fell between them.

It was the kind of silence people used when they tried to decide whether to believe something.

Lissa’s face revealed nothing - that suspicious look was still there, the sword had not moved, her posture suggested that sympathy, if she was willing to offer any, was going to have to fight for it.

"Lissa." Rinna’s voice was calm and measured. "You got your answer. Put the sword away. You can’t go around threatening everyone you find strange."

Ash heard the word strange and a slight shift of expression escaped him despite himself.

’Why strange? What’s strange about me?’

He had been thrown into a new world in a new body and fought acid-spitting gel creatures and crazy rabbits for hours. He felt he was coping well considering the circumstances. Strange was a rather strong word.

Lissa stared at Rinna for a few moments, then lowered the sword. She wasn’t quick or hasty about it.

Her movements had the deliberation of a person who decided on her own terms to put an end to the show of force. The blade returned to its sheath with a soft metallic sound.

"But we have to be careful," she said, addressing Rinna but speaking loudly enough for Ash to hear each word. "Doesn’t it strike you as strange? Some random guy shows up in a place like this."

"I know." Rinna answered in a single word. She turned to Ash and smiled. "But I think I can trust him."

It was a simple smile, the kind that came without any ulterior motives or planning.

A quiet warmth spread through Ash. The smile reminded him of someone. There was something specific about the way it lit up her face - the same unforced smile he knew.

His sister used to smile like that.

He tore his gaze away. He couldn’t afford emotions just yet.

"You’ve only just met him," Lissa said, fixing Rinna with a look that was somewhere between exasperation and disbelief. "And you already trust him?"

Rinna didn’t answer. She kept staring at Ash.

"Hey." The voice of the old man from the carriage sounded dry and patient. "You girls. Can we go now?"

"Ah, yes, just a second." Lissa turned halfway, then looked back at Rinna. "Rinna."

No response.

"Rinna."

"Y-Yes?" Rinna blinked and snapped out of whatever she was thinking.

"Help me collect the loot," Lissa said, using the tone reserved for things more trouble than they were worth.

She glanced at Ash as she walked past him. It was a quick glance but enough to convey a lot of information.

Stay away from her.

Ash watched them collect the loot, bending down to gather magic stones and wolf fangs and stuffing them into a bag.

He watched the bag carefully. It didn’t seem to get any larger despite how much they put inside.

’Magic bag,’ he thought.

He had one advantage they probably didn’t notice.

He opened his storage. Clicked the ✕ button next to the slime magic stone. Then clicked the button next to one portion of slime gel. Two free slots opened.

The wolf magic stone and the pair of fangs he collected from the wolf he killed using Flame Lance appeared in his inventory a second later.

He watched them work. They would be leaving soon and he still needed a way onto that carriage.