Shoba POV

As time unfolded, and days turned into swiftly fading weeks. Shoba gradually became accustomed to his new life on Granny Baba's farm.

By now he had grown so used to the various chores and physical activities he engaged in, that each day he grew to relish the rising dawn and its promise of new wonders for discovery. Despite the relatively straight forward tasks, such as cleaning, counting the animals and maintaining and helping Toto cultivate the land, there would always come a point when his body couldn't keep up with the rigorous workload, and he’d end up calling it quits.

And it dawned upon him in that moment, that it was no wonder Toto was so heavily built in size, considering he was taking care of the bulk of these farming duties each day on his own. The jovial giant didn’t complain either.

Nevertheless, Shoba had found joy in farming alongside the gentle giant, Toto, who despite his inability to hold a coherent string of words together, was very kind and able to impart essential skills to him during these days, like the proper form of wood chopping with a short axe, differentiating between weeds and crops, and preparing the fertile soil for new seeds in anticipation of the changing seasons.

In Suta's eyes, these physical benefits were amazing, gaining an indescribable calmness to his spirit that ultimately helped him steady his thoughts a lot better these days.

Despite his new routine, Shoba remained dedicated to his goal, often seizing opportunities to explore the extensive library in Granny Baba's home whenever time permitted. And over time, he observed a noticeable change in the old woman's demeanor; she no longer discouraged him from studying her esoteric texts and occasionally took the time to elucidate complex ideas he stumbled upon.

By the 40th day, Shoba found himself lying in bed, dreamily gazing at the twilight sky through his short window, his mind as always, a whirlwind of fragmented memories and elusive dreams, but he wasn't worried as much these days. Sleep came in fleeting moments for him, and Shoba had accepted that his thoughts would always be in this constant disquietude state for now. Although time and consistency, had gradually birthed an interesting feeling within him over time.And that was Acceptance.

That night, he faced a reality he had been putting aside until now. The Shoba from his own world, had gradually been fading away, these days he had been so immersed with the things in front of him, that he oftentimes forgot he even came from another world.

‘I won’t forget my purpose here, but if I want to succeed, to grow and to understand what’s happening. Holding onto my former identity will not aid me in the slightest.’

He knew there wasn’t any possibility of stopping what he had already been feeling since the very first day he awoke in this place. Recognizing the human mind's fragility under duress, Shoba understood the need to embrace his new identity as Raito Suta to progress.

His determination to rescue his family remained steadfast, driven by the haunting memories of that tragic night, which was almost impossible to completely shed away. However, Shoba realized that personal evolution necessitated the release of his past's mental burdens.

His former self had become an unbearable load to carry day by day.

'Shoba is gone... I must embrace Suta... understand and embody your aspirations... not just meet them, but exceed them. I will become the finest version of Raito Suta. Now that I control this body, it's the least I can do to honor your memory. I hope you don't resent me for what befell you, but I promise not to let us down. The name Raito Suta will be etched into this world, I promise'

He bound that oath within his heart, his goals and desires finally tempering into a single will and now Shoba was confident that after tonight, his mind would be in a better place.

With this newfound determination, Shoba finally felt the embrace of a peaceful sleep, his eyelids heavy with the promise of rest. Dutifully shut, sooner placing him in a silent embrace of darkness.

On the 96th day following his transmigration, Suta found himself beneath the warm glow of the morning sun, today he was engaged in the task of feeding the overly shy and rather emotional hippogriff. With practiced ease, he tossed another slab of raw hide into the creature's pen, the meat made a distinct * shlick * sound as it hit the ground.

The pen, ingeniously designed to mimic a small mountainous terrain, lay silent in wait for a few short moments, Suta noticed the gentle rustling of leaves stirred by the mild breeze. Positioned at the far end of the sturdy wooden fence, he waited with a patience born of routine, well aware of the sequence of events about to unfold by now.

This dance of cautious interaction had become a familiar and exciting routine throughout his mornings. His gaze lazily traveled towards the tall makeshift stones placed in the far corner of the pen.

A devious grin flashed against his face as he noticed a feathered creature slowly emerging out into the open. Peeking from behind a towering, jagged rock, a head cloaked in grey feathers cautiously revealed itself.

The hippogriff had matured, now mirroring the stature of a mature foal, had visibly evolved since their initial meeting. Its erstwhile grey plumage had transitioned to a pristine white mane flourishing down its graceful neck. It’s wide eyes looked a lot more predatory and less sheepishly docile.

With deliberate steps, marked by an ingrained wariness, Snowy approached the offered meat from a strategic angle, never once breaking eye contact with Suta. After a tentative few sniffs, it used the tip of its beak to drag the meat towards the safety of the tall grey stone, maintaining a cautious distance away from the human observer.

'Heh still so cautious of me aren't you Snowy? No matter, I have all the time in the world to earn your trust.' Suta willed internally, he had become somewhat oddly obsessive in regards to the hippogriff.

Settling down behind its chosen refuge, Snowy began to feast on the meat with an eagerness that belied its earlier meal.

Suta watched the tiny creature, as always he was deeply engrossed in observing what he felt was a kindred spirit in the animal before him.

It conjured memories of his former self, the one who was always the introvert in the family, who tended to mostly choose solitude over companionship with his sister or his schoolmates.

A deep sigh escaped through his slightly opened lips, still unable to prevent himself from travelling back to the past, regretting perhaps not spending more time with his family and friends, especially Ringo.

The onset of a familiar depressive feeling began to encroach upon his heart, prompting him to vigorously shake his head from side to side in a bid to regain his mental poise.

'Oh right, I haven't checked my Adventurer's badge in a while.'

Rehearsing the method he had become quite accustomed to by now, he held out his left palm and focused his intent on conjuring his Adventurer's badge.

{ Name : Raito Suta }

{ Age : 16 }

‎ { Race : Human }

‎ { Rank : E }

‎ { Skillset: ???? }

‎ { Affinity : ???? }

{???: The Strugglers Dying Will}

{???: 26/350}

{???: N/a}

{ Status: Divine Memory Lock, *Dispelling Ward Currently Active*}

Suta's eyes flashed curiously wide upon reading what looked like a host of new entries against his adventurer's card.

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'What the... The Struggler's... Dying Will? How the hell did that get there?' He scrutinized the floating badge with a slight growing uneasiness; observing the other new entry points. Other than the responses after the entries, there was strangely nothing showing before it to suggest what exactly the function was.

Massaging the side of his head he momentarily stood motionless on his heels. Trying to venture down memory lane in a bid to work out how or when he might've earned new entries

‘I should talk to Granny about skills in this world, and what strange connection they have with that so called Goddess.’

On one hand he felt a little relieved strangely, at least he was making some sort of progress? But a slight growing concern lingered on the tip of his thoughts, the more he stared at the rather ominous wording, the more worried he was getting.

‘26/350? Sigh, only God knows what that’s measuring. Ok, there’s nothing we can do right now. So, I should best place this to one side for no...huh, what’s that sound’

Suta heard the growing sounds of hooves trampling across soft ground.

His searching gaze moved towards the stables, where he began to detect the soft echo of hooves stampeding against the earth. This came as a surprise; he had not noticed any horses on the farm before, nor was he aware of anyone leaving the vast fields on horseback since he arrived here.

Driven by curiosity, Suta left the hippogriff's side and headed back towards Granny Baba's house.

Before he even reached the red-tiled cottage, he spotted a black carriage pulled by a beige and white speckled horse. A flicker of excitement illuminated within his bright brown-hazel eyes.

Having never met anyone beyond his farmhouse family, he quickened his pace down the golden path, his heart throbbing with excitement right up until he reached the carriage stationed outside the cottage. Toto was already busying around the steads, tending to the horses with care, removing their bridles, offering water, and grooming their coats meticulously. Once done, he led them to the cool pastures behind the cottage. Suta watched him whistling away until his large back faded down the rolling hill.

Suta focused on the muffled sounds coming from Granny Baba's abode. He approached the door with measured steps, following the growing echoes of those muffled voices, occasionally there was a distinctive loudening childish voice muddled in between, swiftly prompting him to wonder,

"Is Demoria here as well?" He wondered wearing a little smile

With his curiosity now fully piqued, Suta brushed the pieces of grass and the outdoor lint away from his clothes, ‘why am i feeling nervous for?’ He studied himself a little before he took hold of the brass doorknob and twisted, gently pushing the door aside.

The door sneered open, and Suta found Granny Baba calmly seated by the stoned hearth, where caged embers danced. She was enjoying a cup of tea clutched delicately to her withered hands. Suta cocked a brow upwards, he found it somewhat strange to see Granny adopting a relaxing demeanor for once.

'She's not usually this still, hmm something fishy must be going on.'

He took a slight pause to take in the scene, double-checking that his eyes were not playing tricks on him. Despite the air of coolness surrounding Granny, the atmosphere around her was slightly charged with tension he soon realized.

Mainly because of Demoria, whose voice continued to grow with vocal disapproval towards something.

"I don't care about any stupid rules, you can't force me to go!” Suta saw the blue haired girl standing defiantly in the middle of the room, her I swear it, I'll reduce that entire poxy school to ashes if you ignore my wishes, I swear it! Granny! how could you even consider such a thing, I shan't go! I won't!"

She had her two arms folded in defiance with her nose turned away at the seated stranger who only just caught Suta’s eye.

By chance her gaze just so happened to fall towards him, shifting her annoyed demeanour into a brighter smile. Suta creased a sly smirk as he admired how easily it was for her to fall in and out of her emotions. She reminded him of a child in this way.

"Oh, Suta, you've arrived!" Demoria sprang up on her heels with haste and quickly rushed over towards him.

"Hear what these two old fogies are saying. They're trying to send me to some dreadful school all by myself, can you believe that!

‘Ah, so that’s what this is about. School ey? I hadn’t thought about what that might look like within this world.’

Suta could barely remember his old school life, though he was quite certain he enjoyed it.

Demoria continued her rant, Suta half attentive and half daydreaming as usual. Luckily for him he tended to rejoin the conversation just when Demoria was poised to say something important.

“We won't be able to spend the evenings together if I go Suta. And that means no more adventures. “ Suta watched her almond shaped eyes almost glaze with tears on cue. He might’ve been a little receptive to it, if he wasn’t at all familiar with Demoria’s wit by now.

Scratching the side of his head, Suta briefly bounced his eyes from the still docile seated Granny to the shrewd faced fellow seated against the chair. His sharp eyes seemed to behold him with a strange look. But he didn’t rise to it. Rather he was busy still trying to pry his arm free from Demoria’s koala bear grip.

“I need you to help me tell Granny she's gone mad"

“What? Are you hearing yourself, there’s no way that’ll work. Besides...she’s right there” He whispered. Demoria outrightly turned her entire head towards the peacefull seated old woman in the corner of the room.

“What about it Suta? Don’t tell me you’re scared of a feeble old woman. Don’t wuss out on me now, we have to stay strong.”

“Ok first of all, I am very much scared of Granny, and if you were sane you would too. And since when was this my problem? You should be glad you get a chance to enhance that freakishly strong power of yours.”

“Tsk! Who paid you off? Don’t tell me Granny got you already Suta? Tsk-Tsk and here I thought you were a trustworthy ally. To be swayed by old people, I expected better from you.”

Suta saw the other fellow in attendance shuffling awkwardly in his seat.

He was the man with the silky platinum hair, caught off guard by Demoria's harsh words.

"Old? Such an impolite thing to say… I-I am merely 36."

In contrast, Granny Baba was undisturbed by the uproar, her focus remained solely on the tea she was savoring with apparent relish, now and again she gently swirled the porcelain cup. Suta swallowed harshly observing her pretending to be at peace. Was he the only one who could see through her?

After listening to the incensed girl's woes, Suta had grasped somewhat the crux of her problem.

Her primary grievance was the abruptness of the situation; should she consent, Demoria would be swiftly transported to a distant continent where she would attend one of the specialist Arcane schools.

The stranger was also polite enough to shed some light on the overall experience. Much to Suta’s delight and his ever-growing empty library of facts.

The standard tenure for all acolytes was said to be three years, yet given Demoria's early recruitment—one year ahead of the usual age—her duration of study would be extended to 4 and 1/2 years. The continent was called Arcadia, and dwelt further east across the jade sea. Suuposedly Arcadia was considered the eldest continent of the world, and predomiarely where Arcanists lived in countless numbers.

Suta enternally weighed both the advantages and disadvantages. He did have to admit he found himself growing fond of the mischievous young girl's company.

Due to the closeness the previous Suta had with her, he saw her like a sister and somewhat...a best friend.

However, he realized that to advance in this world, he needed all the help he could get. Other than Granny of course, Demoria, was the first person he met in this world who wielded Arcane magic with such promise.

He briefly recalled Granny Baba's description of her Arcane potential, describing it as ' exceptionally brilliant' .

All roads suggest that Demoria will become a formidable Arcanist one day.

The cogs started to whirr within Suta's mind. The fishbowl head Helvetios hinted at trouble on the horizon for him sooner rather than later, and possibly the many worlds for that matter when he considered the Mana storm disaster was orchestrated by someone unknown.

'I'll need all the help I can get for what's to come, and surrounding myself with a group of strong friends would be the best option for the future.'

Suta had made his decision and gently took Demoria by her dainty hands, her voice quickly trailed into a stuttering whimper. Her eyes carried a strange mixture of emotions.

Her face quickly turned beet red out of embarrassment.

"S-sut-suta wh-what are you..."

"Hey, just be quiet for a moment and listen," He said abruptly, his grasp on Demoria's delicate hands was firm and yet gentle. He locked eyes with the stuttering girl, peering deeply into her unique golden amber irises.

"Pay attention for once and listen to me! You've got a chance here to achieve something extraordinary. It might not seem fair at the moment, but consider this: the sooner you harness your abilities, the sooner we'll reunite again.

And once you're powerful enough, no one can tell you what to do! Then we can go on as many adventures as we'd like. You'll have the freedom to live as you please... trust me on this. Go, learn to master your power and then come back " he urged, his voice laced with sincerity and warmth.

Demoria's stood there in a brief daze, her large eyes averting between Suta's hand holding her own and his wide boyish smile.

Clearly feeling overwhelmed by Suta's directness and the weight of his words, she could only stammer out fractured words in response.

"Y-you dummy, Suta... why would you say something so-so-so so suddenly..."

Fidgeting with the hem of her dress, Demoria avoided his gaze.

Suta couldn't help but smile warmly, recognizing the vulnerability behind her feisty demeanor. He was reminded of his sister Ringo all of a sudden, which perhaps explained the ease with which he had bonded with Demoria in such a short time.

Shaking off his nostalgic thoughts, Suta observed Demoria as she regained her composure and took her seat beside Granny Baba. He caught a hint of a surprised look on the elderly woman's face, a rare deviation from her usual stoicism.

Finding a seat some distance away, Suta settled in, his heart lighter, having possibly swayed Demoria's perspective on the intricate steps of her future days.

'This is good, she needs to get stronger. Only then can she be of use to me in the future.'