I stood alone on the rooftop, exactly where my boyfriend had texted me to meet him.
I waited patiently, expecting him to appear at any moment.
Then, out of nowhere...
Someone shoved me.
My eyes widened as my body tipped over the edge.
"No—!"
The ground rushed toward me.
Everything went black.
...
I gasped sharply and bolted upright.
Instead of lying in a pool of blood, I found myself on the cold forest floor. Towering trees surrounded me, and the only sounds I could hear were birds chirping and leaves swaying in the wind.
"W-What...?"
I looked around in confusion before realizing something that made my face burn with embarrassment.
I was completely naked.
My arms immediately wrapped around my body as I tried to cover myself.
How did I get here?
Wasn't I supposed to be...
Dead?
Nothing made sense.
No matter how hard I tried to remember, I couldn't figure out what had happened after I fell.
I shook my head.
Panicking wouldn't help.
The first thing I needed to do was find something to wear.
Keeping myself covered as best as I could, I carefully walked through the forest, hoping to find anything I could use.
Lost in thought, I failed to notice the loose stone beneath my foot.
"Ah!"
I slipped.
Before I knew it, I was rolling down a steep cliff.
I reached out desperately, trying to grab onto anything.
Just as I was about to fall over the edge...
Someone grabbed my wrist.
"Hold on tight."
A deep voice echoed from behind a steel helmet.
With incredible strength, he pulled me back up.
Unable to stop myself, I crashed straight into his cold iron armor.
"Ow..."
I rubbed my forehead before looking up at him.
He was covered from head to toe in silver armor, hiding his entire face.
Is he... cosplaying as a knight?
No...
That armor looked way too realistic to be a costume.
"Now get off me."
His cold voice snapped me back to reality.
"O-Oh! Sorry!"
I quickly stepped away before suddenly remembering I wasn't wearing anything.
My face instantly turned bright red.
I hurriedly covered myself again before awkwardly looking back at him.
"Um... are you cosplaying?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Did you happen to hit your head as well?"
Before I could respond, he turned around and continued walking.
I quickly hurried after him.
Even the sword hanging from his waist looked real.
Isn't it illegal to carry a real sword around...?
After a few minutes of silence, he finally spoke.
"Who are you?"
"And why were you standing naked in the middle of the forest?"
"I... I don't know."
It wasn't a lie.
I really didn't know how I ended up here.
After a moment, I looked at him.
"Why did you save me?"
"Impulse."
That was his only answer.
A little later, he spoke again.
"Go back to wherever you came from."
"I have a long journey ahead of me."
I stopped walking.
I slowly looked around at the endless forest.
I had no idea where I was.
I didn't even know how I got here.
The thought of being left alone made my chest tighten with fear.
Before I realized it, I had fallen to my knees.
"Please..."
I looked up at the mysterious knight.
"Please take me with you."
He paused.
"I'm a knight."
"I can't take in every stray I come across."
A stray...?
I pouted for a second, but this wasn't the time to argue.
"I really don't know where I am."
"I... I think I lost my memories."
The lie slipped out before I could stop myself.
"That's why I don't even know why I'm... like this."
He stood there silently for what felt like forever.
Then he let out a quiet sigh.
"You cannot accompany me to my destination."
My shoulders immediately dropped.
"...But you may travel with me until we reach the nearest village."
"You can stay there while I continue my journey."
Relief washed over me.
"Really?! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
I bowed over and over, unable to stop thanking him.
Once I finally calmed down, I smiled awkwardly.
"I should at least tell you my name..."
The words caught in my throat.
"...Huh?"
I froze.
No matter how hard I tried...
I couldn't remember my own name.
Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek before looking back at him.
"Then... what's your name?"
The knight suddenly paused mid-step.
