Morning time*
Reina, Mei and Alec were already awake and talking to each other.
But Seji was feeling a presence of something from his body fading. And then he woke up as well.
“Good morning.” Reina greeted him.
“Good morning.” Alec and Mei greeted Seji as he tried to sit.
"Good morning."
“Does your body ache?” Mei asked.
Seji tried moving his arms, and forwarded his arm and enchanted, “Fire.” And fire lit up upon his hand.
"Looks like my magic is back as well, and I’m feeling much better now. In fact, my arms don’t hurt much, just like a little cramp that’s All. At least in arms.”
“That’s good to hear.” Alec said.
“That’s awesome!” Mei said.
“Be on rest, Seji.” Reina said.
“Mhm. Anyway, what did you guys do after we were gone?” Seji asked.
“We went to a troll hunting quest.” Alec said.
“Aw sounds good bro. Just you two?”
“Me, Mei and Kiriyo, actually.”
“Ah, that reminds me. Mei, uh- I’m sorry, I know you might be mad at me for forgiving Kiri-
“No, it's alright. I forgave him, he was a victim as well...”
“I see... That’s good to hear. Happy to see you don't hold grudge.”
As they were talking, at the same time, At Amy’s house, Amy was writing a letter for Endymonium, thanking him in the letter, and asking for a day for her to complete preparations for the arrival.
She finished writing letter and stood up to get it posted.
She was walking, and after around 5 minutes of walk she reached post office and submitted her letter to be delivered.
“It will be delivered by this evening!”
“Thank you.” Amy said and left the post office. And then she remembered “I should visit them now that I’m out anyway.” Amy said to herself and started walking towards the hospital in which Seji and Reina were.
“Mom, I’m going outside, and taking Claudius with me.”
“Okay, dear. Take care.”
Amy held Claudius and started heading towards the post office.
Meanwhile, in Guild, Everyone was awake and sitting on dining table and had finished breakfast.
“Let’s visit Seji and Reina?” Freda asked.
“Sure.” Master replied.
“Okay, then. Sharon and Grim you want to?”
“We will wait for them to come here. Don’t want to annoy them.”
“Oh, okay.”
“I’ll stay and look in guild.” Ella said.
“Then I can come along.” Serina said.
“Oh, Sure Serina.” Freda replied and opened the portal.
“Let’s go then.” Master said and stood up. They went inside the portal and reached hospital.
Master opened the door and went inside, Freda and Serina followed him.
“Good morning, guys.” Serina said.
“Good morning you all.” Freda said.
“Oh, Good morning.” They greeted each other.
“How you both are feeling?” Master asked.
“The pain is almost gone.” Seji said.
“Same, I don't feel much pain either.” Reina said.
“Oh, that’s good.” Master said.
“Can you guys walk now?” serina asked.
“Should be.” Seji replied.
And just then, someone knocked on the door.
The door was open.
“Oh hello everyone.” Amy said as she walked towards them.
Master and other greeted each other.
“Hey, you are the lady who told us directions, right.” Seji said.
“Yes, actually."
“Are you the one who saved us as well?” Reina asked.
“She did.” Freda said.
“Indeed.” Serina said.
“Thank you, mam.” Seji said.
“We can’t thank you enough for the favour.” Reina
“It’s alright. Keeping that aside, How are you both now?” Amy asked Seji and Reina.
“Feeling better..” Seji said.
“I’m good too.” Reina said.
“Just be careful from next time, okay?” Amy replied.
“We will.”
“And Thank you, Master Zenon, You helped me a lot.”
“You helped us actually. I’m eager to see you in annual tournament this year.”
“So am I.” Amy replied.
“Anyway, Can I ask what exactly happened??” Master asked.
“We were sitting that someone knocked on door, she went to open and it just happened, so fast, like a few moments later, we were knocked out that easily. He was a mad man...”Reina said as her breath started to tense up.
“If it wasn’t for Reina who bought just enough time for Lady Amy to come.. I don’t know what would have happened...” He said as his lips trembled.
“I just wanted to save him..” Reina said.
“Well, rest you guys. It's alright. Everything is fine.” Master said.
“Can I have an alone talking with them?” Amy asked.
“Sure..” Master said, and everyone walked out.
Amy went and sat beside Reina's legs.
“So, how old are you both?”
“Around 17 or 18. I don’t know this world works differently than ours.”
“Wow, you both very young.”
“For this world standards. Very much.” Seji said.
“You aren’t from this world?”
“No, from a different one.”
“Different as in realm?”
“I don’t know. it's completely different world probably.” Seji said.
“I see.”
“You didn't laugh, do you believe us?”
“I mean it is possibility if there are different realms there could be another world too. I have heard there are undiscovered realms in this world too.”
“I don’t get this world, what is this realm thing.”
“Realm is actually not the correct word used here. Throughout the history it has been called from many names, but heaven realm, hell realm and this formal human realm are the 3 major realms in the world.”
“Ah I see.”
“Is that your baby?” Reina asked.
“He is..”
“He is cute, mam. What’s his name?” Reina asked.
“Thank you, dear. It’s Claudius Nexa.”
“Ahh I see. It’s a beautiful name.”
“So, I wonder who summoned us in this world.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I can’t help with it, nor I want to take a wild guess at who did. But coming to point all I want to say is that if you are still being afraid of him, don’t be. He’s gone, I know it sounds easier than doing, but trust me, you need to protect each other. Just like this time she protected you, protect her as well. And look forward to finding a way to return to your home instead.” Amy said.
“I see... I understand mam, those words give me alot of strength.” Seji replied.
“Stay close to each other, in this cruel world.” Amy said and stood up.
“Thank you, mam.” Reina said.
“Thank you again, mam.”
“Oh, one last thing. If, just in case if, you aren’t able to find the person who summoned you, look around yourself you will have enough family to have around and to call it a home.”
“Well, I will find the one who summoned us, since I have seen others from my world as well.”
“Good luck on your journey, Get well, okay, I’ll be waiting you in Annual games. Oh, by the way, you both look great together.” Amy said and smiled.
“Thank you.” Seji said while Reina was embarrassed a little.
Amy went outside the room.
“So what you talked?” Master asked.
“Nothing in particular.” She replied.
“Oh.”
“Well, we can take them back to guild now” Alec asked.
“Yep, the doctor said we can.” Master said.
“Oh, well, then I’ll visit them tomorrow I’ll go now. Thanks for everything again.”
“Thank you for everything." Serina said.
“Awe no problem.”
“Here, let me drop you off.”
“Oh, sure, thank you, Freda dear.”
“Welcome.” Freda replied and opened the portal to Amy's house.
“Bye!” Serina said.
At the same time Seji was talking with Reina inside.
“Hey, Rei.” Seji said.
“Hmmm?”
“Thank you for saving us."
“You don’t need to thank me, I wouldn’t let someone just take you from me.” She said with a smile and turned her face towards Seji.
Seji stood and kissed Reina on her lips.
“What the!?...” She got embarrassed.
“Sorry, just wanted to thank you properly.”
“Mhm....” She got flustered.
“Thank you..” He said.
“Stop thanking me, jeez...”
Others walked inside the room.
“Oh, By the way Seji.” Freda said.
“Hmm?”
“I met Jericho.”
“Who’s that?”
“You remember the name kimochi Warui?”
“Hmm, I remember seeing him around, but never talked.”
“Ah I see.”
“So, you met another player?”
“Yea, he's in shadowfield.”
“Asked him how he got here?”
“It's same, the magic circle, but he said, he was playing with his brother but his brother didn’t appear near him.”
“So the spawning is either random or have a some pattern, which we need to figure out.”
“I’m not sure.”
“Well, let’s go to guild house. I talked to doctor, and they said you can go home, but try to be at rest.” Master said.
“Understood.” Seji replied.
“Let’s go then.” Freda said and opened the portal.
They stood up, Reina and Seji walked through the portal with everyone.
“Oh hello, Seji and Reina.” Sharon and grim said.
“Welcome back.” Kiriyo and Kiwari said.
“How are you guys now?” Ella asked.
“Hey everyone. We are good. How about you guys?” Seji said.
“Let them have a seat first everyone.” Master said.
“Yes, Master.” Kiriyo said, and they got side from their way.
They settled on the dining table.
“So, how is everything going?” Seji asked.
“Nothing much.” Ella replied.
“So what happened?” Sharon asked.
“I can explain that later, anyway, the murderer is dead, 90% chance. The body is being reconstructed by my friend, so, we can confirm that actually as well.”
“Mhm..” Seji replied and thought, “I need to be strong to protect her...”
And just then, an adventurer landed.
“Oh, hello everyone. Been awhile.”
It was Noriko, the samurai.
“Oh, hey Noriko. How is it going?” Master asked.
“Oh, hey Gramps.” Noriko said and came near them.
“Hey, everyone how's it going?”
“Going good Nori. You took awhile to come back.” Ella said.
“Hello Miss Noriko.” Kiwari said.
“Hi, Miss Noriko.” Sharon and grim said.
“Hey, oh I went to Kinsho after quest, ahaha, sorry. I brought some things for you guys.” She said.
“Nori, What happened to your communication crystal?” Serina asked.
“I broke it in middle of quest. I’m sorry.”
“We have news for you.”
“Oh, wait, who’s that guy? A new member?”
“That’s my brother, Kiriyo.” Kiwari said.
“Oh, nice to meet you brother. And who is that girl?”
“She's my girlfriend, Reina.”
“Nice to meet you.” Reina said.
“Oh, nice to meet you, girlfriend. But why both are beaten up?”
“That’s long story.” Seji said.
“It is complicated.” Reina said.
“Oh, another new member, nice to meet you.” Noriko Said to Freda.
“Nice to meet you too, miss Noriko.”
“Anyway, look, here, some chewing candies from my country. And father sent these seeds for flowers. Where's Emilia? She likes candies right?”
An awkward silence came. Seji's face got filled with sorrow.
“Jeez, what’s with you."
“She's no more." Master said.
“No More as in dea..?”
“Yes, Noriko.” Master said.
“What happened to her..”
“Come with me, Nori. I’ll explain, it's a long story.” Ella said and stood up.
“Okay.” Noriko replied and went with Ella into another room.
*sigh* Seji sighed.
“Don’t worry, Noriko is much more understanding.” Master said.
“Still...”
“Oh, Master, it’s time for quest for us.” Grim said.
“Oh sure, you guys. Good luck.” Master said.
“Yes, sir.” Sharon said, and he went to quest with Grim.
“Who was Emilia though? I mean you never mentioned her past life.”
“She was abandoned in this house. King Maele told me to look for a house, so I can make it a guild house. And I found this one. Quite away from other houses and main markets, even though other buildings were in next block, it was a good place. I was told that this house had a ghost of a girl. As Maele taught me how to form pacts with spirits I wasn’t afraid, I came inside, and saw the ghost girl crying in a corner.”
“What’s wrong little girl?” Master asked as he sat in front of the girl.
“My parents never returned, they said they will, but they never did.” She said as she cried.
“What’s your name?”
“Emilia, Emilia Astrine.”
“So why are you still here?”
“I wanted a family..”
“And that’s when I thought of making her first member of the guild.” Master said.
“And I took her from all of you.” Seji said in sorrow.
“Not, really, she must be in heaven right now, looking upon what she was able to create and what she have left. I believe she must be happy to see you all.”
“Mhm..”
“By the way, I don’t understand why Lady Amy was looking for the killer?” Mei asked.
"Her husband was killed by the killer.”
“Huh?!” Seji’s expression changed to shock and remembered the day when he asked her for direction.
While Reina's turned to sadness.
“That explains her behavior that day. She was lost...” Seji muttered.
“Huh?”
“Nothing.” Seji replied and felt really bad for Amy.
“Yeah, her husband Rize Nexa, he wasn’t an adventurer but just a carpenter, she told us when we were in her house.” Freda said.
And just then Noriko and Ella came out.
“I understand what happened, My deep condolences. By the way, I’m going to quest tomorrow again.” Noriko said.
“As you wish.” Serina said.
“You guys need chewing candy?” Noriko asked.
“Give me.” Ella said.
“Ah here.” Noriko replied and handed a candy on a stick to Ella.
“This is tasty.”
“Oh, by the way, Master, we saw Shadow field had a stadium for practice, should we get one too?”
“Galahaeim is much more crowded. I have other ways of getting practice instead.”
“Ahh, I see. Understood.”
“That reminds me, Annual game's are coming. I heard a rumor that this year's one will have a big twist, I wasn’t told what twist, but let’s win this time, So, we can take guild to upper numbers.” Master said.
“Yes, Master.” They replied.
“Oh, Noriko, by the way, how is Lord Kisuke?”
“He's good."
“I was thinking of sending some of members to Kinsho for training, especially Reina, since, she is a sword user.”
“Oh, I can teach her, but sending them to Kinsho is a good idea, Father can deploy some trainers to train them if they want to learn samurai art. Or I can teach them. If someone wants to.”
"I'll be grateful." Reina said.
“When is tournament?” Mei asked.
“Next month or by the end of next month, this month is going to be last of this year.” Master said.
“Oh, today is 1st of Panamos, the last month in year.” Serina said.
“Right. Means we need to start training quick.” Ella said.
“Yes.”
“Well, do you guys want to go to Kinsho? The training might be hard though.” Noriko said.
“I’ll tell in some days. Let me get all patched up.” Seji said.
“Okay then, I’m going to finish some works. Serina handle some paperwork please.”
“Sure, Master.”
"Let’s go to room.” Seji said to Reina.
“Sure.” She replied.
“Let us help you guys.” Alec said.
“It's alright.” Seji replied
“Don’t pressure body, mana can heal but let injuries have natural time.” Ella said.
“I understand.” Seji said.
And with Alec and Mei's help they went to the room.
“I’m sleepy, going to room as well for a nap.” Noriko said and went to her room. She went and sat on her bed with a sad expression.
“People keep dying... but why...” She said and laid on bed. Remembering things from her own past.
Seji and Reina were in the room.
Seji was in deep thinking, he was trying to divert his mind from thinking about what had happened.
“If there are others, and the places they spawned were random a tournament should help me to get my name out and gather some players... to find a way to return...”
“What are you thinking?” Reina asked.
“Oh, nothing much, Rei. Just wonderin if my other friends have gotten here as well.”
“You shouldn’t stress.” Mei said.
“It's not stress. Helps me to divert my thinking.”
“Tell us about your friends then.” Alec said.
“Do you guys want to listen?”
“Of course, why not.” Mei said.
“I don’t remember them but It will be good if I get some more memories.”
“I think, about 6-8 were online that last day, including me and Reina. in our Guild."
“Oh.”
“Setsuo, Ryu, were second in command, while Yoshimi, Rei’s best friend was just a member. Her boyfriend Miyazaki was also my good friend. Firone was another member, a good friend of mine, and Riyutsu, another member was with his girlfriend from another guild I think. But yea they were last remaining and my best friends. I just wish if they are here they are alright.” Seji said as he reminisced old memories from the past.
Especially Setsuo and Ryu, he considered them like best friends.
“That sounds nice.” Mei said.
“Yea...” Seji replied.
“Firone...” Reina muttered.
“You remember anything?”
“Nothing much.”
“Don’t worry we will get your memory back. As soon as we can Rei.” Seji said.
“Mhm.”
“Oh, should I bring the lunch?” Alec asked.
“As you like.” Seji replied.
And the time passed, the whole day passed. It was nightime now.
Everybody was asleep, but Seji was awake. He couldn’t fall asleep, something was bugging him. He stood up and walked to the window.
He looked outside of the window and saw a beautiful night scenery with stars shining. Lights were still illuminating from some houses. He looked back and saw Mei, Alec were sleeping on floor, and Reina was also asleep in her bed. Seji saw his bag lying, he went near it and got some money out.
Seji got out of window and flew in air.
“Ouch”
As he flew, he felt pain in some parts of his body, but he was able to maintain his balance.
He looked towards the north-east, started flying to that way. Flying slowly observing the area and the world around him.
Looking at the peaceful night he could only think of one thing, “Beautiful..” He muttered.
And then he reached, the graveyard where he saw Rize's grave previously.
The flowers on his grave were fresh, he tried to read the words, “N-i-s-e H-e-xa. It must be Nexa...” He said to himself. Right in front of the graveyard were some flower shops.
He went to one that was open and still had flowers and got some flowers.
“Can I have these?”
“Ah 150 Rugen.”
“Here.” Seji paid the seller and got them.
“Though, what are you doing at this time young man?”
"Nothing, just wanted to pay someone respects.”
“But at this hour?”
“Yea, don’t worry I’m not a ghost.” Seji said and walked out.
“Ahahaha, I like your humor.” Shopkeeper went outside and noticed Seji went into the graveyard. He went to see and followed Seji.
“Are you just going to leave them here?”
“Is that’s not what you are supposed to do in here?” Seji asked.
“You don’t know?”
“I’m new to this country, so, I don’t.”
“Ah, I see. Come let me help.”
“Okay.” The shopkeeper came and sat beside him. He unfolded the bouquet and separated the flowers into half.
“Keep one half for the ground. One on the grave itself.”
“Oh, is that all?”
“Spread the flowers on ground around the grave.”
“Oh, like this?”
“Yea.”
“Oh, thanks, Mr Shopkeeper.”
“Don't mention it kid. The name's Reed.”
“Ah, thank you, Mr Reed. I’m Seji.”
“Ah, nice name boy. Anyway, I’m going to shut down the shop and go home.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, by the way, is he someone related to you?”
“Not really.”
“Ah, I see. Then go back home quickly, ey? I’m going too. See ya son.” The man said and walked his way.
Seji looked back at the grave and sat in front of it.
“I’m sorry. Please be at rest. Your wife is very strong woman who protected us, I hope I can return this favor to her in the future..” he said and bowed.
“I’ll be taking my leave now.” Seji said and stood up, he turned his back to grave and started walking, and then suddenly a shiver went down his spine, and he felt someone was behind him, he felt like someone was crying behind his back.
He immediately turned back, but no one was there. The feeling was gone as well.
“I’m sorry.” Seji said and flew in air.
“Was that just my imagination or was someone really crying there..?” He said to himself as he kept flying slowly in air.
Meanwhile in Guild, Noriko was also awake, she was reading a book, when she saw someone flying towards the guild.
As Seji came close she saw, and she stood up and checked her window, she saw Seji entering his room. A flower was stuck in Seji's pant which fell as Seji tried to enter through the window.
Noriko opened the window and went down on the street to pickup the flower. "What was he doing at this late night.. The flower is crushed but it looks like it was fresh.” She said and brought the flower in her room. She kept the flower aside and continued reading book in hope that she could ask him tomorrow.