That TIme I was Sent to Another World with Nothing but a Backpack

I let out a deep breath, the crackling of the warm campfire a comfort in this otherwise unfamiliar world. We had set up camp a short walk away from the shrine. Mochi was snoring soundly on a blanket roll, Akari was sitting on a log, staring intently into the flames, and I was laying on my back, trying to get myself to sleep.

"Oh man, how do adventurers sleep like this..." I groaned, readjusting my position to get more comfortable.

"You'll get used to it..." reassured Akari. "By the way Cody, Ive been wanting to ask you... whats your world like..?"

I turned to her, slightly surprised by the question. "Well, It sure is a lot safer then this world... and if you can believe it, the entire world is owned by humans. Unlike this world though, the humans aren't united, and we all formed nations of our own through the years. For example, my family lives on a big island called Honshu in a city called Okayama, its part of a archipelago of islands called Nihon. We used to actually have a monarchy kind of like this world does, but there was a big war that happened, and now, we get to vote for a leader in the same way a school club elects a president."

"Honshu... Honshu... I like the name." She murmured, completely lost in the name.

"Were you even listening? or did you stop thinking when I mentioned Honshu." I asked, slightly agitated.

"Uhm, both?"

I slapped my forehead, "Ill just simplify it for you... I live in a big country called Nihon, NI-HO-N, got it, big archipelago where I call home. We elect a leader called a prime minister. Alright now tell me what you heard."

"Uhm," her eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Nyihon, is where you live? and you vote for an emperor?"

"Its a bit off, but close enough." I approved, "Now, its only fair if you tell me a bit about where you come from Akari."

The sunny haired girl began staring into the crackling flames once again, obviously contemplating what to share.

"Here, how about you just tell me about the whole Kitsunomia race Mochi was talking about back in Wyverndale, what did he mean by vassal?"

Akari's ears drooped, "The Kitsunomia are a dirty race, they do nothing but farm and spread illness... My- I mean, The emperor, is being gracious giving them a semi autonomous region to live in, every other kingdom uses them as slaves and no one has a problem with that, but when the Nekomian empire created the military controlled zone of Kitsunomia Domain, we got the dirty eye because we taxed their food produce!"

I watched her as she puffed angrily, obviously this was a touchy subject...

"Well, I think its nice of you guys to give them some land." I reassured, settling back down onto my blanket, "We should probably get to bed... we've got a lot of ground to search tomorrow."

"Huh? What do you mean, we haven't even figured out where were going from here on..."

I winced, remembering I was the only one who had read that strange prophecy of sentinels.

"Ehh, don't worry about it, just get some shut eye... alright?" 

I settled down, and closed my eyes, slowly drifting to sleep for my first night in this new world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*SNAP!*

I quickly sprung up, and looked around our vicinity for the cause of that strange sound.

"Looking for me..?" Asked a deep, mature voice from the shadows.

I sprung around, and stared in fear at one dark red eye the color of blood, and one light blue eye that looked almost as bright as Akari's, staring back at me from the shadows.

"W-Who are you!" I asked, trying to hide my fear of this mysterious figure.

"Oh don't worry about who I am, worry about the message I bring..." responded the figure, their eyes still visible through the darkness. "Your here for the sentinels, aren't you?"

My eyes widened in surprise. How did this person know about the poem?

"Y-Yeah, and what do you know about them?" I asked, trying to get as much info as I could out of the figure.

"The first sentinel will emerge from lake Aimai, the largest waterway in the Nekomian Empire." His voice suddenly dropped to a terrifying and intense tone, "And you better be there to slay it. Otherworlder!"

"H-how did you know?!?" I stuttered, completely shocked at how much this stranger knew about my situation.

"Ah! that is the question isn't it. I know your probably thinking 'How does this stranger know so much about my situation?' young one, and I wish I could answer that question. Sadly, theres so little time, and so much to explain."

The figure turned away, and began walking away from our campsite.

I opened my mouth, but he spoke up before me.

"Perhaps, next time our paths align, I will explain everything to you Cody, but for now I must leave you to your own devices."

How did this man know so much?

Who was he?

Why did his eyes look like that?

All these questions rang through my head, and I knew I should call after him, make him answer all my questions... but I continued staring silently after him, too shocked to move.

The figure suddenly turned his head slightly, his red eye shining through the darkness.

"One more thing..."

I looked into the abyss, terrified of what words would exit his lips next.

"Take care of my little sister..."

With that, he vanished into the darkness. Leaving me alone with so many questions and so little answers...