The Libram of Martyrdom…
Back in my world, I knew a girl from senior year – Yui Kuroda. She was tall and rough around the edges, with black hair and red eyes intense as the sun.
I met her during my first year at St Elicia’s Academy, fresh from my village and still rough around the edges. I wasn’t Student Council President back then – far from it! I was a delinquent, always late to class, getting into fights … y’know, the usual. As I was new to the big city at the time, I was homesick and didn’t get along well with my classmates. I was lonely and miserable, and I lost myself in rage, anger, and violence. Went about my day like I had a chip on my shoulder.
Eventually, being an asshole caught up with me. A group of classmates – three girls and one of their boyfriends in the senior year – decided they had enough of me. They cornered me after school, threatening to ‘teach me a lesson’ for not taking their hints to leave the Academy with my tail between my legs. Earlier that day, they had placed a little vase of white chrysanthemums on my desk… and I smashed that ugly thing right in front of them. They didn’t like that.
That’s when Yui entered my life like a badass Hero, arriving at the eleventh hour. She was at the right place at the right time while I was getting my ass kicked, and we fought them off together! She had a bloodied lip at the end of it, as did I… and she laughed boisterously when I insisted, half-conscious and without a shred of irony (I was different back then), that I already had those bastards on the ropes before she intervened. After she helped me to my feet, we started talking… and we hit it off from there.
Yui became my first real friend at St Elicia’s. She took me under her wing and introduced me to her circle of friends – old Shinji from her year, along with Ryu, Koji, and Shunichi, who were also new like me. They often hung out on the school rooftop, and I joined them there. She hyped me up to them, bragging about how I fought four-on-one all by myself (her words, not mine!). I just blushed and nodded along.
For the first time since moving to the big city and arriving at the Academy, I felt like I belonged. I wasn’t alone anymore. With Yui and the boys, I learned to love myself again and smile. I lost my edge and softened up, letting go of my anger. I began taking things easy again, like I did back in my hometown. Gradually, thanks to them being with me… I began to love city life, and my classmates also warmed up to me. Turns out I had been scaring them off by being an asshole. Life got better, and uh… y’know, the rest is history!
In my second year, just as I was preparing to take on the role of Student Council President, Yui dropped one hell of a bombshell on me and the boys – she was gonna leave St Elicia’s. Her father had inherited a small farm in the countryside. She wanted to help him turn his life around. He was an alcoholic, struggling after Yui’s mother had left them years ago for another man. Since then, Yui had been keeping things together, juggling school and part-time jobs to make ends meet. And now, she wanted to be with him on his road to recovery… because that’s what a good daughter does.
I didn’t want her to go, nor did the boys. We were still mourning Shinji’s death; losing Yui felt like another blow. She felt the same way… and maybe that’s why she didn’t mind leaving the city behind to start anew and help her father realise his dream of becoming a farmer. She was the closest to the old man, being more than friends. Either way, we understood her reasons, and we all chipped in and threw her a heartfelt farewell party. It was one hell of a night, with drinks and everything! And I made her promise me that we’d stay in touch.
For a while, we kept our promises. Every Friday evening, we’d chat over video calls. She told me about life on the farm, how the fresh air and farm work were doing wonders to help her dad stay sober, and how a neighbour named Miyako Sugimoto had been a godsend in helping them get started. She sent me photos of herself and her father at the farm, all bright skies and warm smiles. And from her words and those pictures… I thought of Mom and Dad back home and my friends back home. Y’know how it is – homesickness hits hard when you least expect it.
It really seemed like things were finally looking up. Yui invited me and the boys to visit during harvest season, giving me her address and making me promise to gather everyone for a weekend trip to see her. I wrote it down and said I would.
However, as the months went by, Yui began to grow distant. Our calls became less frequent, her tone colder. Eventually, we stopped talking altogether. I was busy with my Student Council duties, and I assumed she was preoccupied with farm life. At least, that’s what I told myself.
Looking back, I realise they were just excuses. I should’ve known something was wrong and should’ve reached out. But I didn’t. And as time passed… I began to forget her, as did the boys. School life in the city’s like that, y’know? The wheel just keeps on turning.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Then, one day, months later, as autumn came… I thought of Yui outta the blue during a Student Council meeting. I remembered her cold, distant demeanour, a far cry from the fiery senior I knew… and began worrying. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was seriously wrong, that I had fucked up. I got up in the middle of that meeting and rushed out the door, remembering the address she had given me.
I ran into Koji, Ryuji, and Shunichi on my way out. They didn't hesitate to join me when I told them where I was going and why I was doing it. They’re real ones like that. The journey to her village was long and quiet, filled with unease as we silently rode the bus. I was worried… hoping and praying that I was just being paranoid. So were they.
When we arrived at the farm, it was late at night… and the sight of desolation all around us ascertained the worst of our fears for Yui. The fields were filled with dead, rotting crops, half-cleared in a way that felt abandoned. The house still bore remnants of funeral decorations, their shadows eerie under the waning moon.
We were spooked to all hell, but despite our unease, we pressed on. I knocked on the door, calling for Yui at the top of my lungs. Instead, we were met by Miyako Sugimoto. She reeked of alcohol and cigarettes, and her dishevelled appearance was a stark contrast to the helpful neighbour Yui had gushed about. If anything, it looked like she had really let herself go.
Miyako wasn’t too happy to see us. She yelled and threatened to call the police, and we were about to leave and find a place for the night to figure things out. But just as we were about to go… we heard a faint voice from upstairs. It was Yui’s, and we heard it clear as day. And so, I tried to push past that hag. My friend was in danger… and I wanted to save her. It was my turn to be a Hero to help in her time of need, just like she had been for me in mine.
I didn’t see the kitchen knife Miyako had been hiding behind her back until it was too late. It was a big, ugly, dull thing just like her, the type of cheap blade you’d use to chop vegetables… and I barely had time to raise my arms to defend myself as she slashed me. And she would’ve killed me if the boys hadn’t subdue her.
My arms were bleeding profusely while I rushed upstairs. What I found broke my heart. Yui was chained to a bed, her once fiery spirit all but extinguished. She looked at me with hollow eyes… and when I beheld what Miyako had done to her... oh, Rinnah…
The police arrived soon after and took that crazy hag away. Over the next few days, Yui told us everything. Turns out the hag had come to her and her dad as a bitch in sheep’s clothing – she hated how Yui’s grandparents had willed the house and the land to their deadbeat son instead of her, putting her second in line. She believed she deserved the land more than him, for she had cared for them in their old age as any good neighbour would. Selling the place for a tidy profit would be her compensation for services rendered.
But the old folks didn’t. Consumed by jealousy, knowing that Yui’s father had borrowed money to start work on the farm, Miyako sabotaged their efforts by giving them fake pesticides that ruined the soil and their crops. Yui’s father, devastated by the failed harvest and mounting debts… relapsed into drinking and eventually drank himself to death.
When Yui discovered the truth, she confronted Miyako. But the hag had hired thugs to ambush her, silencing her before she could go to the authorities. She had been held captive ever since, beaten into submission by a woman driven mad by greed and spite. And from how that crazy hag had let herself go since that confrontation… possibly guilt as well.
Hmph. Those details don’t matter anymore. It’s over now. Yui’s safe.
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Back in Eris’ suite…
The glow of golden light fades as the final line is inscribed in shimmering silver ink. My hands leave the radiant, tome-shaped simulacrum, and it dissolves into wisps of light that vanish into the air around me.
I sink quietly into the sofa, carefully removing my gloves and placing them on the coffee table. My gaze falls to the old scars on my arms – long red and black lines, etched deep and rough beneath my fingers. As I trace their coarseness, my thoughts drift to Yui and my world.
Yui’s been doing much better since all that… ugliness. After returning to the city with us, she threw herself into her studies, graduating from St Elicia’s with flying colours. She’s now studying law at one of the country’s top universities. After hearing about what happened, Riko Kuhouin stepped in with a scholarship, which helped a lot.
We still keep in touch, chatting every Friday evening without fail. Until, well… y’know, me getting summoned to Nisha.
Good grief. I miss ya, Yui. I hope you’re not worried about me. If only there were some way to call across worlds to tell you I’m safe and sound. If only, eh?
In the meantime, Yui... I’ll keep fighting. I’ll defeat the Demon Lord, protect Anna, and find a way home. Rinnah willing, I’d love for you to meet Anna – I bet you and her would get along famously! Until then… I pray you’ll keep pushing forward till that day.
“Arisa!”
The call snaps me from my thoughts. Anna’s back, with Eris close behind. My eyes widen. Holy fuck – is that three iced coffees and a big box of chocolate chip cookies?
“We’ve brought the best cookies in the Holy City!” Anna announces, grinning from ear to ear. “Eris said they were amazing, and I agree. We hope you’re ready!”
“They had extra at the Café,” Eris adds softly, nodding and smiling demurely. “We thought we’d share a second round with you. Ah. Shall we?”
“Well…” I reply coyly, glancing briefly at the gloves on the table before returning to them with a warm smile. “You’ve caught me at just the right time. Let’s dig in!”