Roller-Coaster

As they finished their meal, Reiji's silence hung in the air.

Meanwhile, Tatiana and Bobbin laughed together, their joyful banter a familiar comfort.

Tatiana's gaze eventually drifted to Reiji, and her expression turned sly. "Rei-eni, you're not plotting something to sabotage my perfect plan, are you?" she asked, a hint of teasing in her voice.

"As if there's anything I can do to ruin such a perfect plan," Reiji said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Thanks for the food and for planning this, though. I wouldn't have done it any differently," he added, his tone softening into genuine appreciation.

"Well, thank you," Tatiana replied, a chuckle playing on her lips. "The meat from the Bullard you caught has been feeding us for days now."

Reiji chuckled and asked, "But anyway, why did Bobbin attack me the first time we met? He was dead serious about taking me down back then."

"Wait, is Bobbin a he or a she?" Reiji added.

"Bobbin is Bobbin," Tatiana stated matter-of-factly. "As for the attack, you posed a serious threat. My standing order to Bobbin is to secure the perimeter around the village and eliminate any potential dangers."

"So, does that mean Bobbin attacks anyone unfamiliar who wanders into this area?" Reiji inquired, raising an eyebrow

"No, not really," Tatiana replied. "Actually, it was the first time Bobbin had attacked a human. I was surprised too."

"This is a topic I might need to tread carefully." Reiji thought to himself. "I might end up revealing more about myself than I'd like."

"What made him think I'm a threat?" Reiji asked, his tone calm and inquiring. "And if that's the case, what's changed that makes you trust me now?"

"Tamed-beast can sense a unique energy emitted by humans," Tatiana explained. "I think Bobbin detected something different about your energy, which is why you were attacked."

"That's what separates humans from them," Tatiana continued. "We base our judgments on observation, evaluation, and consideration of future outcomes. Tamed-beast, on the other hand, rely solely on instinct."

She paused before adding, "As for why I trust you, I've observed your actions and evaluated your character. My judgment tells me you're dangerous, yes. But not a threat."

Reiji thought to himself, "Her responses are too sophisticated for a 10-year-old's deductive abilities." 

He tried to intimidate Tatiana, but his true concern was that the conversation was getting too close to revealing his secrets. "I need to cut this off before I say something I'll regret," he thought, attempting to steer the conversation in a safer direction.

Reiji's expression twisted into a maniacal grin as he said, "What if Bobbin's instincts were actually correct?"

Tatiana glanced nonchalantly at him, "of course it is," she muttered and added, "As I have said, you're dangerous. Bobbin was just right to attack you to keep you away from the village."

A stifled chuckle threatened to escape Reiji's lips as he struggled to contain his amusement at Tatiana's audacious response.

Tatiana's gaze remained steady, unfazed by Reiji's earlier attempt to intimidate her. "Anyway, have you seen the mark of Nebtawi on you?"

Reiji's expression remained neutral as he replied. "I haven't seen it," his voice was flat and even. As if his earlier antics had never occurred. "Where is it?"

"Check your wrist pulse," Tatiana instructed. "The mark of Nebtawi is a small marking, about the size of a mole."

As Reiji examined his wrist, he was surprised to recognize the marking. "This looks familiar... It's an ancient Egyptian symbol." he said, "a cross with a rounded loop at the top. But what's the U-shaped mark behind it?"

"Reiji's eyes locked onto Tatiana's, he leaned in, "Do you know what this symbol means?" he asked, his voice tinged with wonder.

Tatiana shrugged. "I think it represents unity in life or something, but to be honest, I'm not entirely sure. If you want to know more, you're better off asking the elder chief."

Reiji's brow furrowed in thought. "Life... isn't that the same meaning it holds in our world. But what's the connection between Paragonia and ancient Egypt?" He muttered to himself, his intrigue deepening into a puzzled fascination.

As the connection dawned on him, Reiji's fascination turned to exhilaration.

He burst into laughter, his eyes shining with excitement. "If you think about... this is incredible!" he thought, his mind racing. "A historical connection between this world and Earth? It's too amazing to be true!"

He continued to laugh out loud, his amusement echoing through the surroundings, as the implications of this discovery swirled in his mind.

Tatiana took a step back, observing Reiji's antics with a mixture of confusion and amusement. "Hey, Rei-eni, you okay?" she asked, a hint of teasing in her voice. "You're not like, being blown into madness or something, are you?"

Tatiana's question hung in the air, met with only silence as Reiji remained lost in thought grinning and smirking. 

She turned to Bobbin and whispered, "I think we should give him some space. He's had a lot to take in today. He's a little too overwhelmed."

With a nod, Tatiana gestured for Bobbin to follow her, and they quietly slipped out of the house, leaving Reiji still absorbed in his own world, not aware of their departure.

Reiji's gaze drifted into the distance, his mind suddenly snapping back into focus.

A look of stunned realization crossed his face. "Wait a minute…" he muttered, his thoughts racing. "What if this is still Earth? What if I was just transported to some hidden location? I've only been to this house and the forest... what if this is just some kind of simulated reality?!"

Reiji frantically scanned the empty rooms, but there was no sign of Tatiana or Bobbin.

A growing sense of unease settled in, and his skepticism boiled over. "They vanished into thin air!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with incredulity. "They were just holograms, or projections, or... something! I knew it! Tatiana, that little girl, she was just too smart, too impossible!"

Tatiana and Bobbin, who were walking away from the hut, stopped in their tracks as Reiji's loud outburst carried outside. Tatiana turned to Bobbin with a mischievous grin. "Good heavens, he's lost his mind!" she exclaimed. "I suppose he's just insecure that someone younger and infinitely more brilliant than him is showing him up." She paused, striking a pose. "Namely, me."