Worlds Apart: Back to Drevothia

Episode 5

Exchange Knowledge

Lance's good slumber is interrupted by a woman's sobbing. He wakes up rubbing his eyes, still unconscious of what woke him up. His long locks on his forehead are slipping out of his hood as he puts them on. He puts on his mask too, covering almost everything that can be seen on his face. The sobbing gradually becomes louder that has him hastily running outside his room without his indoor slippers on.

"What is the trouble here? Why are you suddenly crying?" he worriedly asks.

Viktorina is wiping the sad tears that cling on her lashes. She dabs the tissues, which is given by Caiwen out of his warnings, to her nose and throws them without taint but only wet from her gushing tears. Caiwen warned her about something before he left for his group project making.

"You are going to watch this movie?" Caiwen asked as he moved the selection to the movie she had chosen.

Viktorina nodded. "Yes, Lord."

She does not have the knowledge to choose a good movie but surprisingly, her eyes landed on the good one. Her attention was caught by its cover. It is also a popular movie these days, a lot of people have been watching the movie on Netflix and any other websites since it had been already shown in cinemas few months ago. Lance and Caiwen even went on the day it was released on the cinema house and watched it again in Netflix so he knew what was coming for her.

"Is that so? Then, carry this thing with you, Viktorina." He handed her a box of tissue. Viktorina's forehead puckered, she fumbled on the box of tissue, examining what was it. "That is called tissue. That is used to wipe anything on your face or hands. You can use that to wipe dirt or tears from your face." Caiwen said with a hint yet not intending to spoil her with the movie's ending. Not that she would understand if he told her about what was going to happen. It will be just a series of introduction of words and its definition until learning the larger scale, he could create a book out of the things he needed to uncover for her.

"Is this clean, Lord? Did you not use it?" Viktorina asked ignorantly out of not knowing how tissue is used and disposed.

"No." Caiwen shook his head. "That thing is disposed after using. You throw it away in the trash if you had used it." He pulled the empty trash box beside her seat for easier access. She glanced towards it. Thank God he cleaned it beforehand or it will be another series of questions! He was in a hurry.

"Did something happen?" Lance's expression harden, he does not know how to handle a crying lady! He tries so hard not to cough in front of her during her break down. He has to be sensitive of other people's feelings.

"H-He... He died! Why would they kill him? They are immoral human beings!" Her body trembles as she pointed the television. There is none he could see and only the credits of the movie. Lance's coughed, his wall finally comes struggling. He walks towards the remote control to check for the title. He remembers, it is the movie he and Caiwen watched few weeks ago. Of course, he would remember it and all that happens inside the movie, that is so far his favourite one among those they watched.

"Oh..." He sighs when he realizes something. "Is that so? He did not die, do not worry." He says calmly, prompting back the remote control on its original place.

"B-But I saw it with my own eyes! They killed him with that filthy-looking thing! How dare they show people that immorality!"

"That thing is called a gun. He did die but only in the movie. He is still alive in real life." Lance seriously added, lending her his knowledge of the world she is not familiar with. It seems like she has not understood something that has her forehead creasing in wonder.

"Movie? What is that?"

"Those you were watching since last night and today through that thing." He pointed the television that goes silent as their conversation goes by, as if it has life itself and is being considerate of their on-going lessons.

"Oh, that is a movie..." Viktorina says in an almost whispering voice, like she is talking to herself in realization.

"Yes. What you saw is a movie and not real. Those are real people but what you saw did not happen for real."

"I see..." She nods and crosses her arms around her chest. "But that is still unforgivable! If that truly happens, they deserve to be sent into the dungeon!"

"Dungeon?" Lance asks.

"Yes, dungeon! That is where dirty and sinful people are being thrown and locked up according to their sin!"

She remembers herself and ends up regretting what she says. It's like stabbing herself up-front. Good thing Lance has his own world away from hers that he will not have a knowledge of what immoral deeds she has done. The way she judges those people in the movie, is how she is supposed to be judged, too. Indeed people hate people with the same demeanor without realizing it.

"You sure have a fantastic vocabulary there, Viktorina. However, the movie is not real. I doubt they will be thrown in a dungeon forever."

Lance goes inside the kitchen area for a glass of water after his conversation with Viktorina. Viktorina stands up and follows him on his way the kitchen to continue their conversation. She must have been bored to death to plead him for another conversation, or maybe not.

"Lord Lance..." she trails off trying to catch his attention. "You have been disrespectful to me since last night! You are covering half of your face with that thing. You are also wearing the same type of garb, like a cloak, but with different color now! I wanted to speak with you without your covers," she says, disappointed that she cannot have a full vision of how he looks like. In their place it is a disrespect when talking to someone of higher status: facing behind, staring at them intently right through their eyes or covering all of your face not unless you are hiding your identity for missions or confidentiality.

Lance pours water on the fragile glass. He tilts his body a bit to steal a glance towards Viktorina. Viktorina raises one of her brows when she catches his stares, he did not avert his eyes though and finally looks back at her like he is unbothered of her stares with the cold glass of water in his grip.

"My apologies, then. I caught a contagious disease from my work and I am quite the..." he trailed off, as if ashamed of what he have to say next. "Uh, clean-freak. I do not want anyone in this house to catch mine."

"Oh?" Her lips parted. She sigh in relief. She thought she is being neglected. "Then, apology accepted. That is indeed acceptable. However, I still wish to see your face."

"You want to see me that much?" Lance's face tightened. Viktorina's face heated as if she has been suffering from a worse type of contagious disease he has been talking about. She averts her eyes from him, just giving him her forged eyerolls. He does not seems to mind that though and only finds it amusing.

"It's not that... It's just because you are Caiwen's friend. You said you are both i-i***t," she stutters, bothered by the fact that she could not perfectly remember the terms in their world.

"Ah, yes. Of course, we are." Lance nods. "Then, will this be enough for now, Viktorina?"