Boonie Bears: Another World Fantasy

From the gently swaying flower buds, the melodious sound of conch shells emanated in waves.

She puffed out her cheeks, her face was rosy, and her long eyelashes accentuated her unique charm.

How did she do that? While enjoying the music, Sharp was curious about how Naya could so skillfully change each syllable and weave it into a complete piece. Seeing how engrossed she was in playing, he didn't want to disturb her, but... Sharp's gaze kept being drawn to Naya's exquisite profile. He would usually look away shyly when they made eye contact, but now he could admire her to his heart's content.

As the sound faded, the beautiful melody played by the conch shell slowly came to an end with her sigh.

Sharp clapped quietly, though he didn't understand why Naya was sighing.

After gazing at the conch shell with a touch of melancholy, she began to speak:

"It's been so long since I've played it... I've almost forgotten how."

There was a hint of disappointment in her voice. She put the conch shell aside and looked at Sharp with expectant eyes.

"Sharp, have you ever seen the ocean?"

The sea? In his memory, his parents took him and his sister to the sea a few times when he was a child, but because he hated seafood, the travel experience was terrible. He vomited and had diarrhea, and lost more than ten pounds when he returned home.

"Well, I've been there a few times."

His answer was reluctant; he didn't quite understand why she asked that question.

"I'm so envious—"

To the average person, the ocean is just an expensive plane ticket, a beautiful backdrop for a meal, or simply the dividing line between day and night. But for Naya, who has never left this place, it is something truly magical, like eating chocolate for the first time today.

“The books left behind by our people contain many things that only exist outside.” As she spoke, she stood up excitedly.

"A vast, boundless sea, hills completely covered in sand, and a tree on the hills covered in thorns..." Naya said with great longing. "That must be spectacular."

Actually, it's not as amazing as you say. He thought to himself silently.

But Sharp didn't spoil her fun. He didn't tell her that when the ocean goes out of control, it can unleash waves that swallow everything, and that the desert is hot and dry, full of deadly traps. Sharp, who sees these things on science and education channels every day, probably couldn't understand why the girl was so drawn to them.

Yet he still felt a pang of regret. Such a beautiful girl, who should have been radiating the full glory of her youth, was left alone here, isolated from the world by the vast, imposing glacier. At the same time, he was also afraid, afraid that this place, like the Peach Blossom Spring, would be fragile and unable to withstand outsiders. Once discovered, it would vanish completely.

"Naya, um..." After struggling in his mind for a long time, Sharp finally managed to ask the question.

"If you had the chance, would you consider leaving this place?"

"..."

Her eyes widened, her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a clear look of surprise appeared on her face.

Should I leave...?

Sharp knew that asking this question might displease her, but he decided to take the risk anyway. He bet Naya must have thought about it before, and he bet her stance might not be as firm as it used to be.

The girl nervously fiddled with the strands of hair behind her ears, her eyes darting around, seemingly afraid to meet his gaze again. The previously relaxed and cheerful atmosphere instantly turned heavy, as if a gust of cold wind had blown into an ice cellar, causing the temperature to plummet.

“This problem…” Naya’s voice became somewhat low.

"I haven't thought about it."

While this answer was expected, Sharp still hoped deep down that she could give a different answer—such as saying that she had thought about leaving.

"Why?" he asked, unwilling to give up.

Perhaps her attitude was too radical, but Naya had been avoiding the issue from the beginning. During their lakeside conversation the night before last, she told her story. Naya carried the final mission left behind by an ancient, dying civilization. This mission weighed heavily on the girl's frail shoulders, causing her immense pain and suffering. Sharp was determined to help her break free from this endless cycle of self-torture.

“There’s no reason. This is my home, and I must do everything in my power to protect it…” She abruptly turned her head away, no longer meeting his gaze, and said firmly, “Sharp, you simply cannot understand how I feel.”

However, what Sharp hated most was when someone told him "you don't understand." An impulse surged within him, and he tried to struggle to his feet, but the throbbing pain in his lower back instantly dissuaded him from the idea.

“But you once told me that the Golden Antlers have been missing for seven years. Isn’t it a waste of your time and life to stay here? —” Sharp stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, realizing that his words might have been a bit too harsh.

From the moment the golden antlers were mentioned, Naya's gaze was fixed on him like a nail, her eyes filled with an inescapable deep despair and endless sorrow.

The scene before her was like an extremely sharp blade, mercilessly piercing the deepest, long-sealed nightmare within her heart once again.

"You have let us down... The Golden Antlers were the last glimmer of hope for our Deer Clan to rise again!" A deep and indignant voice echoed in her ears.

Naya's eyes widened, her face filled with astonishment and bewilderment. She couldn't understand why her good deed would be met with such harsh criticism and punishment.

"Naya, you traitor! The Deer Clan has always been brave and fearless warriors, yet you showed mercy to your enemies?" Another angry voice rang out, booming like thunder.

"Why? Why did you let him go? Why won't you listen to my advice?!" Then came another angry roar, which made Naya's eardrums ache.

Suddenly, a sharp "smack!" silenced the entire world. Young Naya was thrown heavily to the ground by a powerful force; her cheeks burned with pain, and tears welled up in her eyes.

The man with the flowing long hair left without looking back, leaving her with only a cold and resolute back view.

"It's alright." The old man hurriedly stepped forward, hugged the pitiful Naya tightly in his arms, and used his frail body to shield her from any danger that might harm her.

At this moment, the entire forest was engulfed in flames, the raging fire mercilessly devouring all life.

"We'll see..." the old man said through gritted teeth, his eyes gleaming.

……

"thump!"

Without warning, Naya knelt down in front of Sharp, tears already streaming down her face.

"no no……"

She trembled all over, as terrified as a wounded bird. Realizing something was wrong, Sharp quickly bent down to help her.

"Naya? Naya?!"

Her lips were pale, and her whole body was terribly limp.

Sharp was also startled by the situation. He tried to untie her shawl, but his hands were so clumsy at that moment that he wished he could chop them off.

He could only hug her tightly, patting Naya's back rhythmically, hoping to give her a sense of security.

She refused.

The girl shoved him away violently, her eyes fierce. Then, she drew a dagger from her waist and swiftly severed the petals of the flower bud behind her, appearing as if she were a completely different person.

Naya disappeared into the night and was never seen again.

Sharp, still reeling from the shock, stood frozen in place. After a few minutes, he mechanically picked up the seashell that had fallen to the ground and clutched it in his hand.

He knew he had inadvertently crossed her line. That silence just now was Naya's last act of tolerance.

Why can't I even handle this basic interpersonal relationship?

She already said that. Talking about these things with Naya now would only reopen old wounds, and no one wants to go through that pain again.

Sharp could only curse himself for being so useless, hating himself for being so incompetent even after time-traveling.

You've never changed, Sharp.

An inner monologue.

Now, go find her and repent for your ignorant actions.

No, this isn't an inner monologue at all; it's just that false god whispering in his own mind again...