A Helping Hand

My name is Roselt Scarlet. After graduating from High School, I have been an upstanding member of society for the last 15 years. Yea, I left Studies after high school. But, Don't worry, I established a non-profit organization called [ Blessing ], and as the name suggests, my co-workers and I worked hard to help homeless people. It was not a magical system though, to do good deeds; we required money. 

As we were helping homeless people, Rich people helped us with their donations to support what we were doing. It was a win-win situation. Nothing more than that. We opened jobs for ourselves and did what was best for, wore a mask of Good People amidst being a little selfish. 

I still remember that fateful day which changed my life; I was walking back home late at night after all the work. The sky was clear and wind, it was fine, but a little cold. I shut both of my hands together in front of my mouth, warming them with my hot breath 

" It's freaking--cold! "

A little cold? As I was warming myself, I saw a person resting beside the road. One could quickly tell by his worn-out clothes and the way he sat beside the path; he was a homeless person. He had folded himself in a corner, protecting himself from this thin, cold, and windy night. I doubt the style of folding in a corner was much of protection, not to say, He didn't have anything like a blanket on him. As a worker from [ Blessing ] who helps people like them, I approached this homeless person with a smile as I knew I was going to make his night much warmer. I felt happy when I helped someone. Maybe, It was this feeling of "Happiness" or "Contentment" I chased after while assisting this person although I am sure it was not the kindness. 

I leaned towards him and called out to him, " Hey...? " With calmest and sincere voice I could muster but there was no visible response from the guy. 

I looked at his face; His eyes were half-closed, slowly blinking, and his skin had already aged contrast to how old he seems to be. His breath is slow but profound, and He looks like a young boy's mummy. So slim and skinny.

"Hey, can you hear me? I can help you with shelter. " I said to the person, but again, not a word came out of his mouth. 

" I am sure; He isn't dead since he is blinking. " 

But I had to check it... To make sure...

I grabbed his hand, checked his pulse, and it was secure. So, I thought, maybe he is high or something? Alcohol among homeless people is not rare, and they would often drink it to escape their harsh reality.

" What should I do...? " I stood up, looked around, and yea, there was no one around at that time of night. 

" I can't even ask anyone for help to carry him to the office. " It was late in the night, I didn't want to bother anyone. But I had yet to give up on him so, I had to suck it up and carry him, Alone. I grabbed the guy's left hand and put it on my left shoulder while crouching and then did the same for his right hand while lifted him on my back.

"I know, I know, It is not comfortable to ride on my back like this but bear with it, Bud. Giving you piggy is not--sigh, why am I even talking to myself..." as I was carrying this person to the office, it came to me as a surprise he didn't smell foul at all. Even if he did, it is not like I would've dropped him, but I was expecting him to smell like a rotten egg. Homeless people don't have luxuries of baths outside of [ Blessing ]. They wear the same piece of shirt and pants, for who knows how long. And their's clothes, they get filthy.

 The homeless guy on back suddenly mutters a few words 

" Ti...Time "

" uh? What was that? "

"...."

is he mumbling while he's asleep on my ba-------------------------------

[Time reset] 

                                                                ********

An Unknown Land 

" Your name? "

My memories... They are a little fuzzy. But my name resonates, "Roselt Scarlet."

" Your age? " 

I graduated from Aaron High school and worked for 15 years; Logically, it should be... " 20...no, 36 or 28? I am not sure."

" Your father's name?"

I was found on the road by a person who sent me to an orphanage when I was little, " I don't know." 

" Your Mother's name? " 

My Mother's name, he asks, she left me on the road to die, but I don't harbor hate towards her; There should-be a reason... I believe. "I don't know."

"Where are you?"

I could hardly see my surroundings in the current state of mine. Everything blurrily mixed with a deep red color but It's not where I belong, That's what I am sure of about. " In a strange place."

"Why are you here?"

As far as I can remember, I was carrying a skin-to-bone person to my office to provide him some help. My good intention backfired, Did it not? " I don't know."

" This is the Kingdom of Mazelin. Have you heard of this Kingdom before?"

"....."

" *sigh* He lost consciousness again..."

I haven't. I am just tired. Very tired. I cannot speak any further; to do so requires strength which I cannot muster. My body feels so heavy... Am I a stone? I might as well be. I couldn't care any less about it, let me sleep.

" Seeing how much weight he has lost, He could be too weak to even speak. Ask someone to feed him rice juice. "

" As you wish, Princess. "

But...Rice juice... yea that would be great...

" And Lord Berek... "

" Yes. "

" You might be not aware of it since there are only a few selected people who know, including your father. This person who's lying on the royal bed is significant to our Kingdom. So much that You might even call him a Hero. Take extra caution! "

"!... I will put my life on the line! "

"Yes, do exactly that. Your father made this Kingdom proud, and now, it is your turn to that by nursing this person to health."

"Yes! I shall do my utmost to meet your expectations."

" I believe in you, Berek. "

                                                                 *****

In the Kingdom of Mazelin, Today was the same as every other day, Peaceful. Although, deep within the castle's wall, there was a sense of haste among the servants. No one exactly knew what causes it, but Rumors of an important guest's arrival was spreading among servants of the castle. Those rumors were true. 

On the upper floor of the castle, there is one single room of the Queen and on the bed of The Queen was lying a person; He looks weak, too skinny that one could argue, it is a corpse.

" Why someone like you is in such a state..." She says, with a saddened.

On this person's right side, was the Princess herself. She was a little child when she first met this person; She stood beside her mother in front of this person, In her eyes, His presence seemed divine; a blessing of gods to the Kingdom of Mazelin. All she knew about this person was from what she had heard from her mother, the Queen. Her mother would often tell her stories of how this person helped the first king to build this Kingdom; If this person helped the first king to build the foundation of kingdom, He must be very old... I wonder- The little princess's thought. 

" how..old he is? " So the little Princess let out these words in the front of the person she admired.

"!She finally spoke? " The Queen said while seeing her introvert Princess speak in front of someone she wasn't very familiar with. " But still, Amaya, You shouldn't be asking for his age. That's something even I don't know" The Queen believed, Age of This person must be a secret; There are many secrets about him so, One more? it's not a surprise.

" My age, you ask? " 

The person replied to the little Princess, and then he processed to think about his age for some reason; meanwhile, the little Princess began to act a bit timid and hides behind her Mother, only showing little of her face. "To be honest, I don't remember how old I am since I was an orphan, but" he bows down a little to match the height the little Princess, for she was little.

" not answering to the Princess would be rude. As a reward for the courage, you showed to speak. I guess I am around 21-years-old" The person answered, and the Princess nodded her head with a smile on her face. 

However, Unlike the daughter, the Queen found his answer significant; A person like him, how could he be only 21 years old? He met my great-grandfather! The answer came as a surprise for the Queen.

After answering the Princess, He talked a bit more to the Queen about Kingdom and left the castle. After this meeting, This mysterious person never came back again until now.

 " At that time, for I was a child; I didn't know the importance of this person's existence, and the only reason I admired him was because of the respect he received from the royal family; my mother and father.

But the current state of him is inadequate" After speaking these words, Princess walks away from the bed.

Maids, Other servants, and with the help of Lord Berek, Roselt's condition improved, but it took a few days for him to open his eyes again. When he finally opened his eyes, all he could do was mutter a few obscure words out of his mouth.

                                 ******

"Where---" I know, It has been a few days since when I am found myself in this state, in this unknown place. I could hear people muttering all the time around me even though I felt like I was in a deep sleep until now, but I don't think hearing that muttering going to help me since I couldn't make any sense out of them.

But now, I can understand their conversation.

I opened my eyes and saw two people standing in the front of my bed, one of them is a young female dressed in a maid uniform, holding a tray in her hands and the other one is male, He looks young, but he is wearing a uniform, likes of a military person. 

"Let me take a sip before you feed it to the guest." 

"Yes..." 

They are talking about food, I suppose. And the guest, is it me?

While the military person took the glass off the tray from the maid she glanced at me over the military person's shoulder; She noticed I was awake. She looks at me for only a moment and quickly notifies the person in military uniform. When she told him I was awake, He turned around.

"You are finally awake! How are you feeling?! "

" .... " slightly off-- were the words I wanted to speak, but not a single word came out of my mouth. What is wrong with me? Did a car hit me while I was carrying that person to the office? But then again, this place doesn't seem like a hospital.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Seeing my struggle to speak, The man said, "It seems you still have yet to recover completely. Well, to begin with, you were in bad shape. So this much is expected. In any case, My name is Berek Algarfort. You can call me Berek--- When you CAN speak."

I couldn't answer him, so I blinked a few times, and he got the idea. After seeing me blinking my eyes, He turned towards the maid 

" Mira, Can you inform Princess about this on behalf of me? " 

Mira, The maid, She nodded her head and left the room.

"Here..." He extended his right hand while holding a cup he just drank from "Drink it. You still need to recover your strength. "

I stayed still. Berek retracted his hand after a second while saying, "You can't even move? "

That is true. I cannot move. But even if I were able to move, I wouldn't have drunk from that cup.

He put the cup away, and then I suppose, He was about to ask me something, but suddenly someone came rushing through the door!

"Berek! is he, really awake!!? " Said a lady.

She was wearing some fancy clothes, and on the top of her head was a crown?

"Yes, He is awake. But, it seems he incapable of moving or talking," Berek said while he bowed down before the lady.

" I see. " Princess looks at me " So, you can't speak? " I looked back at her; After seeing the face she made with a beaten expression.

I attempted to move my lips. It hasn't been more than a few minutes, but I felt I had enough strength to let a few words out of my mouth.

" I... can. Where..... am...I" it was a struggle. To even speak a single word, I had to gather all of my strength to move my jaw; My teeth felt as if they glued together.

".....This is The Kingdom of Mazelin, and you don't need to force yourself to speak. You can rest, for the time being. we can talk later." 

A Kingdom? Like old-times? Yes, This room is fancy but yet lack anything related to modern technology, and the franchiser is shining in bright golden light as if it was gold-plated. The cup from the earlier was also...

After saying those words, The lady walked to the person who called himself Berek and started talking to him; though they seemed to be whispering, I can hear their conversation.

"When did he gain consciousness? And why he doesn't seem to remember anything, did he perhaps lost his memories?"

"He gained consciousness not so long ago, Your Highness. And about his memories, I do not know much, but there was certainly no sign of injury on his body."

" I see. " 

Berek spoke to this person with respect, so I can assume, This lady is the boss here. The other girl called Mira. She was undoubtedly wearing a maid uniform; she must have been a servant. Looking around myself---

"Say..." 

I spoke with a clear voice, unlike last time, I can move my jaw freely, and that was the time when I realized, uh... I am recovering with every second.

"uh? Oh, is there something yo...." As she turns around, she saw me as I was leaving the bed. 

"...!?..."  

Not long ago, She saw me laying on the bed helpless, struggling to mutter even a few words... 

" You are... You can move now!" She was surprised.

I could answer her questions, but if I started answering, there wouldn't be any chance for me to ask any questions that I have. I ignored her question.

"Say, Where is this Kingdom of Mazelin on the earth? On which continent? I never heard of it before. " As I stood in front of this young lady, I felt as if I was a little shorter (in height) than I should-be. In any case, The name of this place is more like a name of a fantasy kingdom, and everything feels more like a part of the drama, but since I was laying on the bed helplessly, and seeing how they treated me, I can tell they are, without a doubt, they are for real and not acting. So, this has to be another country on earth that I never heard of before.

"Earth? "

She gave off a confused expression on her face. 

"Well, it's okay if you are not familiar with the word. But can you tell me where did you find me?" 

"We found you on that same bed."

"...."

What does she mean by that? Why would I be on this bed? This place seems excessively luxurious for someone like me, and the way these people act, they feel more of royals than any ordinary people. There is no way I can find my way here.

"You never heard of this kingdom, have you?"

"There is no reason for me to hide if I had heard of it before."

As I said beforehand, These people for real. Their attitude is way too realistic to be part of any drama, and the vibe they give off is entirely different. It has to be a different country!

"I understand. Berek, come over here and give him support to walk " Said the young Lady

"Aha, there is no need. I can walk on my own." 

She gave me a strange gaze and then asked me to follow her. There was a long corridor just outside of the room I was staying in; On the left, a guy was standing, wearing some armor with a spear on his hands and it was the same on the right side of the corridor.

"Who are those guys? why are they wearing that kind of armor?" I asked the young lady, but she didn't respond, but instead, it was Berek who replied, " These are the guards assigned to your room. You are an important guest of ours, so; We had to do at least this much."

He meant bodyguards, I suppose. " But why aren't they holding guns instead of spears? " I asked Berek

He put forward an expression as if he was saying, What are you even talking about?

I had no choice but to explain what a gun is with my hand gesture

"I mean, Those guns... They shoot bullets... You know, like, phew, phew?"

"......."

"No?" 

They don't watch movies, do they? Are these people this much isolated from the outside world that they are not even aware of guns? Even kids know about those things, and how dangerous yet essential they are.

The young lady remained silent.

As we walked within the corridor, we passed by a window; I finally saw what was outside of this place, A vast city on the shore of a sea. But that's not what surprised, although it was beautiful, the thing that surprised me was the reflection of me on the glass of the window. I took a moment to gaze upon my self for the first time in this place, and I looked far younger than I was supposed to be. I even felt my height was different from before; I was a lot shorter.

"What are you doing? " Berek asked, " Oh, you are looking at the city, it is beautiful, isn't it?" 

"...yea" With that, I resumed my walk with these people.

It was a long walk, and we passed by many rooms and places that were stood out in weird ways to me but strangest yet the most magnificent was, what I can only call, a throne hall. I am seriously in a different country, how did I get here?

After that throne hall, Our long walk came to a halt, before a room; as we walked inside the room, Berek stood outside. The room was as fancy as to the one I found myself in

"This is my bedroom." The young lady said. 

And what are we doing in your bedroom, young lady? Is what I wanted to ask but I kept quiet since I felt she wanted to say more

"Can you see the painting on the left wall." 

"Yes. Is that your father? or perhaps, Grandfather?" 

It was a portrait of an older person; his beard seemed older than his age, though. But one more person was standing beside him. He was a young boy, wearing completely different clothes compared to the older man; His clothes were more similar to the modern age.

"He is the founder of This Kingdom. Roznaiel Mazelien, This Kingdom's name comes from our family name. He is my great-great-grandfather" So, the young lady said--Well, I had some-what already figured she was a princess or the Queen. But I didn't want to admit it. Someone like me meeting a princess wasn't realistic. Well, since she is the real deal, maybe, I should apologize for my rude behavior; This is a different country, and I don't think they would hold my life in much of regard if they found me to be unpleasant, or somehow I offended them. They can behead me, and the outside world wouldn't know a thing, and even if they did know, I doubt, I am of any importance for my country to take any action.

"I'm so....." As I was about to apologize, Princess interrupted me 

"And the person who stands alongside the founder is the benefactor of this Kingdom. " 

Wow, a benefactor of a kingdom? That guy, who looks young, must have done something huge to be called a benefactor.

"I see."

History of this Kingdom doesn't interest me

"You are not interested?"

How did she know! Did I let out my thoughts?

"Aha, It not like that."

"Well, The Benefactor of This Kingdom, His name is Roselt Scarlet. Does this name sound familiar to you? "

.........that's my name.

"Yea... I happen to have the same name as your benefactor. What a coincidence..."

I don't remember telling her my name---No, maybe I did tell her.

"A coincidence? So, you still refuse to tell us everything--"

Wait--what?

"Whatever do you mean, Princess? " 

She stares at me for a moment and then, she picks up a mirror from the table and shows me my reflection.

"Wh..." I was surprised. Even though I did see my reflection on the window's glass, but since it wasn't clear, I couldn't tell much, but now, I can see myself. I took the mirror from her hands and furiously; I looked into it. But, it didn't change anything.

I had suddenly become young. Right now, I look like an 18-year-old boy.

She points her finger towards the painting and then asks, " What do you say now? "

The person, whose name is the same as mine, stands beside the first king, looks precisely like current me.

Is that what she wanted to say? That the person who is given the title of benefactor of the kingdom...is me? 

"No way, did someone put me in this body?"

"Is there even someone who can do something like that? Anyways, It seems you have lost your memories and forgot everything. I thought, if you saw the founder, the first king, it might help you to remember something--But I don't think it helped"

"I am sure I didn't forget anything, though..."

She stares at me... She sure loves to stare at people.

"You know, it is rude to stare at people." 

I was a little cautious until now since she is a princess and all, but this matter if it is about me then I don't need to hold back. "You are assuming I have amnesia or something, but to be frank, I remember every single moment of my life, and in none of those moments, this Kingdom is present. So, you are wrong, and that person whom you call benefactor is not me."

"How can you tell if you have amnesia or not?" Princess asked

"Because I remember all of my days. I remember those days when I ran away from the police after stealing from a shop. I remember the first time I was in love and how I was rejected with mortification in front of a huge crowd; Aha, I remember how she made fun out of me."

Princess made a disgusted face after hearing it.

"Well, I was an orphan, so what do you expect? It was hard to live in those conditions."

The disgusted expression she showed suddenly disappeared when I announced I was an orphan.

"Orphan? "

Is she pitying me? 

" Yea? I lived in an orphanage until high school. So, As I was saying, There is no way I am suffering from amnesia or anything like that. I am not your benefactor, and in any case, how can that person be still alive? You said it was your great-great-grandfather whom he was the friend of; He should-be dead by now."

"Oh, I forgot to mention; Our Benefactor, He is immortal. "

"........"

Now I understand what is going on. It just these guys are crazy. There is nothing more to it. I didn't want to argue with the Princess so, I nodded my head and said, "Okay." I am not here to live my life in this so-called Kingdom, and I wanted to go back to the place I belong, my home. "So, can I go now?" I asked the Princess, and she started walking while saying, "Of course, Let's go," and I thought, hurray, finally, I am going back home!

In the corridor, Berek was still waiting. Princess didn't say anything to him and kept on walking as she passed by Berek, Berek started following after the Princess just like me. There is no need for words, I guess.

Although I was going home and this matter ends right here, but I was still a little curious about this place so, I asked Berek some questions while we were following Princess 

"So, Berek? What do you know about Roselt Scarlet? " 

Berek kept his face forward and straight;

"Umm... This is a strange question. What I can say? Do you like to be praised?"

"Aha no! not me! About this Kingdom's benefactor! "

"Aah. Right. I come to know of his existence not so long ago. So, I don't know much...anything about him"

I see the existence of this benefactor was kept a secret. This makes it more suspicious. I wonder what they could be planing by calling me the benefactor?

As I was thinking about it I saw someone standing on my left. He was standing against a balcony, walking slowly towards the edge. 

"Hey, What is that guy doing over there?" 

I asked Berek, and he casually replied with some serious words

"oh, He's jumping to fly."

Jumping to fly? What does that suppose to mean! 

At first, I took those words as a joke but the more I looked at the person, whose walking towards the edge of the balcony, the more I realized, It wasn't a joke.

"Oi! Aren't you gonna stop him!? "

I shouted and the princess heard my loud voice. She looks over her shoulders and says while she turns around: "Why are you shouting?"

Why I am shouting? Doesn't she understand that humans cannot fly!

I pointed at the person who's about to jump off a balcony with my finger "Can't you see!? He's about jumps off the balcony!"

"....So, what? "

Is she serious? This must be a joke, right? It must be!

I look again at that person, He had almost reached the edge of the balcony. There was a 90% chance of this being nothing more than a joke or maybe they are playing some sort of a prank on me.

But what if this isn't a joke? What if it isn't just a prank?

I opened my mouth, wanting to speak a few more words, to convince Princess to stop that guy from jumping. 

"....." But the expression on their face was so casual and normal that instead, it convinced me that any words I speak, they are not gonna do anything but stand here and watch that person end his life. 

I had helped others as I was part of [Blessing]. It was my job to help those who are in need; People started to praise me when I was only doing my job and because of that, at some point, I had become someone arrogant. Whenever I saw my co-worker bringing someone who needed help to the office, I saw that helpless person as subject to market ourselves to the world instead of a human being. I couldn't see anything but ways to increase our sponsors.

The day I became aware of my wrongdoing, I met that skin-to-bone person at the side of the road, and the next thing I knew, I was here, In this country.

"Hey, why are you making this kind of face?" [Princess]

"You know what, Princess. Your kingdom sucks."

I know, my words can lead me to the door of the afterlife but I can't help myself.

"HI!! YOU, OVER THERE! STOP! " I started to run towards the balcony while telling that person to stop. 

"Where are you going! " [Princess]

Even if this is some sort of prank, I was not ready to take any risk. He was already on the edge of the balcony, ready to jump. 

He was about 20 meters away from me so, He should have heard my words but it appeared as if he ignored every word I let out of my mouth.

He can't hear me! and I don't think I will make it in time to stop him!

When I reached the balcony, that person had already leaped off the balcony; He jumped...!

I didn't make it in time...

As I saw him falling; The time seemed as if it had slowed down drastically. My mind started to process everything much more quickly, and my eyes widen to the point It felt as if they would burst out of my eye sockets! As I took one more step forward in amidst that sensation, my field of view started to widen while I felt as if everything within my vision sharpened to the point I could see every little detail. With my second step, I could see the princess behind my back; Running towards me with Berek behind her. I was even able to see back of my head!

But when I took the third step, Suddenly, everything disappeared; I was in nothingness. Everything went dark as if someone had stripped everything off their luminosity. I couldn't do anything in that darkness let alone save someone from falling but still, I kept on pushing. With a few more steps, even that darkness became strange; similar to a thick miasma, so dense that I couldn't take even a single step forward, and had no choice but to stop.

When I did stop, suddenly, everything started coming back; flowing forwards in front of me from behind my back but it didn't come back peacefully, as everything came back, it destroyed itself.

"......Wh--what..."

And suddenly, I was standing in a completely different place, a strange one place at that. There was nothing around me but smoking-hot dark soil.

"...How could this be"

My shoes couldn't stand the temperature and started smoking

"No! No! No! NO!! It can't be!!"

While I started walking forward, searching hint of anyone; tears started pouring out of my eyes; Knowing what I had done.

"Pl...Please... someone..."

Not wanting someone's death haunting me my whole life, I tried to save that one single person but somehow ended up erasing the existence of a whole city. 

"....."

No matter how many hours I spent searching for any survivor, I found none. I didn't even found a single bone. Everything was obliterated.

It took me a while to calm myself and think about what happened.

"...." When I was in that darkness, I stopped pushing forward. Everything started to come back, my vision started to return but as it was returning; I felt it returned way too quickly and caused an explosion, which obliterated everything.

I cannot truly comprehend it but I know, I am the one who caused it.

                                                                  ****