Point Of View: Kaori Tanaka

Mentally exhausted, I couldn’t sleep. It was just too much information to absorb. I had died and ended up in another world; anyone would be in absolute shock. On top of that, people I didn’t know were asking me to save them from a threat I didn’t yet understand. "The Lords," from what little I understood, were beings who had transcended mana, controlling the fundamental aspects of nature and reality.

The last thing I remember from my previous life was the sound of sirens and the ground shaking as if it were alive. I was in an underground bunker, holding my little sister in my arms, trying to protect her while she cried silently. Every solution mixed with the chaos around us, making the scene even more desperate.

The air inside the bunker was thick, heavy with the metallic scent of destruction. With each tremor, I wondered if Hiroshima still existed or if everything had ended. Holding my sister was my only way of coping with the fear, a silent promise that we would be together until the end.

Then, the shelter couldn’t hold up? What happened to my family?

The gardens around me reflected the touch of the full moon on the flower petals. The atmosphere was quiet. The only sounds were the cool breeze ruffling my now blonde hair and my own breath. I was sitting on a bench, lost in my own thoughts.

In addition to the sense of not being myself, there was another thing that made me uneasy. Some kind of fabric covered me, an invisible fabric. There were no physical or mental sensations about it. It was more like a sensation beyond the body.

After the meeting with the king, I had a lengthy conversation with Abimael, the Supreme Mage of the kingdom that was now my home. I learned a few important things: I had abilities beyond the ordinary, there were two other heroes who had been summoned but were still recovering, and the Lord representing the greatest threat was Demon Lord Drakir, though there were others. These were the three most important pieces of information from everything that was discussed.

“How do these idiots expect a child to fight one of the Lords?” I heard a voice from the direction of one of the garden trees. I stood up in a defensive stance.

“Who’s there?” I asked, a bit distressed.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Don’t fear, girl, I didn’t come here to harm you.” The voice resonated.

I looked at the tree, trying to locate the source of the sound, but couldn’t find it. A black cat jumped out of the leaves. Its eyes were like black pearls filled with stars. A talking cat? Was I really in a fantasy world after all?

“What do you want?” I asked more calmly.

“I felt a great magic signature appearing in this world and came to investigate.” The cat sat down, its tail swaying back and forth as it stared at me.

So cute.

“Magic signature?” I asked, more curious than scared. The feline in front of me didn’t seem too frightening. And though I was eager to learn about my abilities, I was still interested in hearing what it had to say.

“A magic signature is a particularity. Every individual has one, and it varies in intensity, density, and thickness. Even though your signature isn’t intense, it is dense and thick.” The cat replied. I noticed that it didn’t move its lips when speaking. The sound simply spread through the air. So that was the sensation I had been feeling around me— a signature.

How is it speaking? Is it using magic?

“I see, but you didn’t answer who you are. A spy?” It seemed plausible that someone might take the form of a cat to spy on other realms. That was the first thing that came to mind.

“Can’t you see? I’m just a black cat. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must leave.” The cat climbed the tree and disappeared into the foliage.

What just happened here?

I had many strange encounters today. Besides the mysterious cat, I encountered another peculiar figure: a red-haired man standing in the hallway outside my room. When our gazes met, I saw the purest fear in his eyes, as if he feared me deeply. I couldn’t blame him; ever since I arrived here, I felt different, more powerful. It was an uncomfortable power, like a burden I hadn’t asked for, but at the same time, it gave me a strange sense of security.

What am I capable of?

After failing to understand the situation, I returned to my room. I sank into the bed; I was terrible with puzzles. My body and mind felt heavy. From what I understood, the coming years would be filled with intense magical, physical, and intellectual training. I felt lonely. I just wanted to go home… Tears ran down my face. I was crying, my chest aching. I didn’t want to be here…

I closed my eyes, trying to bring the faces of my family to mind. A sweet memory took form: a normal breakfast before going to school. I saw my little sister’s mischievous smile as she made a mess with her food. My dad, always in a rush, barely had time to eat, and my mom, patient as always, cleaned up the mess they both made. It was a chaotic scene, but full of love, and just reliving it made my heart tighten.

I knew I couldn’t keep crying forever. The world ahead of me was vast, filled with mysteries and promises of something new. I had lost so much, but I also had the chance to start over. I wasn’t going to let fear and pain define me. I would explore, discover what this new world had to offer, and make the most of the opportunities that arose. I couldn’t afford to remain stuck in the past. The future was right there, waiting to be conquered, and I was determined to see what the best of it had in store for me.