Katsuri's eye brows flutters.
Her eyes were still heavy from the effort she exerted just a night earlier. Normally, she would've went back to sleep immediately but then she remembered where she was.
Solaris 3.
Her eyes became wide open as she realized that she was being carried, her thighs being supported by an arm and her arms were wrapped around the individual's neck.
It should've been a very exhausting position, but from the fact that she's still being carried so smoothly even on such unstable terrains...
But then she realized.
'Who...?'
"Oh. You're awake?"
Suddenly, a memory flashed through her head. She had been shot in the head by a bandit due to the fact that the girl that was protecting her had her sword snapped in half while fighting them.
Her head aches.
"Are you alright? Do you need me to slow down my pace?"
The soft voice continued on speaking as she slowed down her walking speed.
'This voice...'
It was a familiar voice.
As the girl carrying her stopped moving, she placed her down under the shade of a tree.
She laid on the tree trunk, her back pressed onto the hard wood.
As she was finally free from the person's hands, Katsuri was finally able to make up the appearance of the girl that had carried her.
Fiery red hair, two small buns as a hair style, a soft smile and an innocent face. Her attire was not of that a Rinascita native's would be wearing.
Instead, it looked to be originally from Huanglong, which was supposed to be seas away from Rinascita.
A jade pendant hung around her neck, shaping a crescent.
"You are..."
She knew who this person was.
After all, she's an extremely popular choice for the players of Wuthering Waves, even those that had just started playing the game knew of her infamy in the community.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Danjin, part of the Midnight Ranger. As this is my first time arriving in Rinascita, please excuse my lack of cultural knowledge."
Indeed, she was the playable character with the most unhinged player base ever.
Danjin.
That name alone would've struck fear into the casual players' heart.
And she's here, in the flesh, right in front of her casually holding her hand out for a handshake.
"Eh, uh... Ah! Yes! M-my name is Katsuri! It's nice meeting you too!"
She hurriedly bowed her head. Although she felt a bit weird, seeing as to how Danjin's eyes were not red, from what she could remember.
Instead, they were more on the blue side, a pale blue.
But she still looked pretty.
"Haha... No need to be scared. I don't bite, see?"
As Danjin's hand moved from a shaking motion to her mouth, she pulled on the sides of her lips.
Showing her teeth, the ranger smile, probably misunderstanding Katsuri's stuttering as the speech of a scared person.
She was used to children feeling afraid of her, after all.
Suddenly, the ranger's eyes sharpened as she turned around.
Bandits were all around them.
They are now surrounded.
And since Katsuri was practically a recovering patient, she can't really contribute anything.
But just because of that, she didn't panic.
Instead, her gaze met the back of the red haired ranger.
The two small buns of red hair were looking very fluffy. If possible, she really wanted to try touching them.
But the situation weren't allowing her.
To be honest, she doesn't know the combat capability of Danjin.
Since Rover had never actually met her in the main story, her story strength was undetermined.
She could be as weak as herself, for all she knows.
But looking at that broad back, she felt quite assured.
"Um, I'm sorry to suddenly say this but, could you close your eyes for a while? I need to deal with them. I would prefer a young child such as yourself to not see this."
"...Understood."
Katsuri ignored the way Danjin had called her a child. What's important was that she knew how to fight.
And so, she closed them.
As a couple of minutes passed by with winds occasionally pushing against her face, and a thick liquid landing on her skin.
She wiped them uncomfortably, feeling like she knew what they actually were.
But she pushed the thoughts away.
"Alright, I'm done. But don't open your eyes yet! The place isn't very... suitable for the eyes."
As Danjin said this, she picked up Katsuri in her arms again.
Making sure her arms were tightly wrapped around her neck, Danjin dashed away.
Despite the sudden increase in speed, it felt very smooth.
Like she was flying.
"Your sword, where did you find it?"
"Huh?"
Danjin started another conversation while moving. Perhaps it was just to fill the air with a topic to talk about.
"Your sword, it was quite an amazing piece of weapon, even when comparing it to my very own. It felt like I was slashing through clouds!"
At the sudden metaphor, Katsuri imagined cutting flesh as easily as clouds...
Yeah no. She doesn't want to imagine that.
"Well, I found it while hiding inside a rubble of rocks..."
"Really? You mean to say that it wasn't even stored properly when you got it? Pretty unbelievable with it being in such high quality."
"Yes. It was stuck under the rubbles, so I pulled it out. I don't know how to wield it but it was the only self defense weapon I had at the time so..."
"Ah, I understand. You can open your eyes now. We should be pretty far away already."
As she felt the wind stop, Katsuri opened her eyes. The bright a lush green forest greeted her.
It was a sight of mother nature she hadn't seen for a long time in her old world.
She suddenly felt quite nostalgic.
But as she turned a looked at the ranger, her heart skipped a beat.
That was because...
Danjin, she was covered in blood.
Katsuri fainted.