Frieda''s hand closed around the grip of her Mauser. "Layla," she said quietly, "go to the ship. Now. Do not question."


    Without waiting to see if the girl complied, Frieda stood, drawing her weapon in one smooth motion. "Whoever you are," she called out, her voice steady and commanding, "step into the light. Slowly."


    Tension hung in the air as Frieda steadied her aim toward the treeline. Nact''s growl deepened, his body lowering into a defensive stance beside her, the blue silk collar with its embroidered smile contrasting sharply with his aggressive posture.


    "I won''t ask again," Frieda called out, her voice carrying the unmistakable authority of someone accustomed to command. "Show yourself."


    For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, a figure emerged from between the trees. A man, tall and lean, with sun-darkened skin and shoulder-length hair tied back with a leather cord. He wore simple clothes of muted browns and greens, the kind that would blend into forest surroundings. A bow was slung across his back, and a short sword hung at his hip.


    He raised his hands slightly, showing they were empty. His face remained impassive as he assessed Frieda and her weapon, though his eyes widened briefly at the sight of Nact standing protectively at her side.


    "I mean no harm," he said in Aurelian.


    Frieda realized that Layla hadn''t obeyed her order to retreat to the ship. Instead, the girl stood just behind her, watching the newcomer with wary eyes.


    Frieda''s grip on her pistol remained firm. "Layla," she called without taking her eyes off the stranger, "tell him I don''t understand."


    She started speaking to him rapidly, gesturing toward Frieda and then to the massive warship beached behind them.


    The man''s expression shifted from neutrality to surprise. He replied to Layla, his tone questioning.


    "What''s he saying?" Frieda demanded.


    "He scout," Layla explained in broken German. "From city. Aurel Kingdom. He see strange... ship. Come look."


    The man took a cautious step forward, then froze when Nact''s growl intensified. He spoke again, and Layla translated as best she could.


    "He ask if you... from beyond seas. New land."


    Frieda considered her response carefully. She had no idea what political situation existed in this world, or whether revealing her origins would help or harm her position.


    "Tell him I''m a traveler," she said finally. "My ship was damaged in a storm. We''ve been stranded here."


    Layla relayed this information, adding details of her own that Frieda couldn''t follow. The exchange continued for several minutes, with Layla translating the crucial points for Frieda.


    The man was indeed a scout from a coastal city within the Aurel Kingdom, sent by the local lord to investigate reports of a massive metal structure that had appeared on the coast. He had been observing them for 10 days, trying to determine if they posed a threat.


    "Ten days?" Frieda muttered, disturbed that someone had been watching them without her knowledge. Her military instincts had grown duller than she''d realized.


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    The scout explained through Layla that they were currently within Aurel territory, along its coastal regions. He seemed particularly interested in Frieda''s weapon and in the great metal ship.


    "Iron vessel," he kept saying, pointing at the Yamato with clear astonishment. "How float?"


    Throughout their conversation, Frieda noticed that Kalen''s eyes kept darting to Layla, though he tried to be subtle about it. His questions, ostensibly about Frieda and her ship, often seemed designed to elicit information about the girl as well. When Layla moved toward the ship to retrieve something, Kalen''s gaze followed her with an intensity that made Frieda uneasy.


    Her suspicions grew as the evening progressed. Though Kalen spoke of his interest in the "iron vessel," something in his manner suggested he might have another agenda altogether. Was he truly sent just to investigate the ship, or was there something else he was looking for?


    Nact had positioned himself between Layla and the stranger, never relaxing his vigilant stance. The wolf-creature''s instincts aligned with Frieda''s growing unease.


    Frieda decided to allow Kalen into their camp, she wanted to learn more about this world, though she kept her pistol within easy reach. As they sat around the fire, sharing some of the fish Frieda had caught that morning, Kalen provided information that began to fill in Frieda''s understanding of this world.


    They were on the continent of Aria, a land divided into many kingdoms and empires. Aurel Kingdom, where they now sat, was predominantly surrounded by water on its eastern and western borders. To the north lay the Falhjeim Empire and the Golden Council Oligarchy, and the Freecity Republic lay to the north-east, while its southern borders touched the Aether Kingdom and Aaron Kingdom.


    As Kalen continued to speak of Aurel and his city Loche, Frieda noticed Layla growing increasingly tense. The girl''s eyes had widened at the mention of the city''s name, and she tugged urgently at Frieda''s sleeve, speaking quietly in a way only Frieda could hear.


    "What is it?" Frieda whispered, maintaining a neutral expression toward Kalen.


    Layla whispered back in broken German, "Loche. Bad place."


    So we''re in the territory of the lord who slaughtered Layla''s family. And this man works for him.


    Frieda understood immediately. This was connected to the city where Layla had lost her family. They were sitting in potentially hostile territory. She reassessed their situation, casually shifting her position to keep her hand closer to her weapon while maintaining an appearance of calm.


    Kalen noticed the change in atmosphere but seemed to attribute it to general wariness. He continued to explain the political structure of Aurel.


    "So this is how Aurel functions?" Frieda asked as Kalen explained the kingdom''s structure over the campfire.


    Kalen nodded, his face illuminated by the dancing flames. "King rule all land. Very powerful."


    "But he doesn''t manage everything himself," Frieda concluded.


    "No, no! Too big." Kalen gestured widely with his hands. "Lords control cities, regions. Lord Hans control Loche, my lovely city."


    Layla shifted uncomfortably at the mention of Hans, but remained silent.


    "And beneath the lords?" Frieda pressed, noting Layla''s reaction.


    "Noble families," Kalen explained, drawing hierarchical lines in the sand with a stick. "They have own lands, own houses. Follow lords, lords follow king." He looked up at Frieda. "System complex. Many layers."


    "I see," Frieda said, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Not too different from where I come from. I''m used to it."


    Nact growled softly from his position beside Layla, his amber eyes never leaving Kalen as the scout continued his explanation of Aurel''s political landscape.


    As the evening progressed, Frieda carefully extracted more information about the political landscape, the geography of Aria, and the various kingdoms'' military capabilities. She revealed little about herself or Layla, deflecting personal questions with vague answers.


    What she learned both intrigued and concerned her. This world seemed to exist at a pre-industrial technological level, with swords and bows as the primary weapons of war. Yet there were strange elements that didn''t fit this pattern, mentions of crystals with unusual properties, people with innate abilities that sounded suspiciously like magic, and beasts that defied any zoological classification Frieda knew.


    Nact remained vigilant throughout the conversation, his amber eyes never leaving Kalen. Several times, when Kalen shifted too suddenly or leaned toward Layla, Nact''s lips would curl back slightly to reveal gleaming teeth, a silent warning that did not go unnoticed by the scout.


    As the night grew deeper, Frieda observed how Layla unconsciously leaned against Nact, drawing comfort from his solid presence. The bond between them had grown powerful in their months together. Whatever threat this stranger might pose, the wolf-creature had already made his protective stance clear.