The Archivist of Forgotten Realms

Chapter 12

The rhythmic clinking of coffee cups and the hum of chatter filled the Starbucks, but the air at Mikasa’s table was tense. Emi sat with her arms crossed, looking between Mikasa and Kenneth as if she were trying to solve a puzzle. Kenneth, oblivious to how strange he appeared in his medieval mannerisms and slightly disheveled modern clothes, sat with perfect posture, his serious expression making him look even more out of place in the laid-back atmosphere of the café.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Emi said quietly, more to herself than anyone else. She rubbed her forehead as if the headache Mikasa had given her wouldn’t go away. “Mikasa, what is going on?”

Mikasa’s hands tightened around her cup. She had dreaded this moment—when the truth would come spilling out in all its absurdity. "Emi, I know it sounds insane, but I’ve been telling you the truth this whole time."

Emi blinked slowly, her gaze shifting between Mikasa and Kenneth. “Okay, fine. You know what? I believe you. I’ve been your best friend long enough to know you wouldn’t lie about something like this. But you have to explain it again because this is crazy.”

Mikasa breathed a sigh of relief, the knot in her stomach loosening slightly. "Thank you, Emi. It’s all true. I was transported to another world—Azura—and I became the Archivist. Kenneth here is a knight I met, and we fought… well, a lot of things together. Now I’m back here, and he… followed."

Kenneth nodded solemnly. “I came to this world to ensure Mikasa’s safety."

Emi glanced at Kenneth again, then back at Mikasa. "Okay, so you’re telling me you went to a magical world, became an Archivist—which, I don’t even know what that means—and now you’re hanging out with this guy?"

Kenneth nodded, misunderstanding Emi’s skepticism for concern. “Indeed. Mikasa has shown great strength and courage, and I believe it is now my duty to see that she remains safe.”

Emi raised an eyebrow, her expression softening into one of acceptance. "Well, Mikasa, as weird as all of this is… I trust you. If you say it’s real, then I believe you. It’s just… a lot to take in."

Mikasa smiled, feeling a flood of gratitude toward Emi. “I knew you’d understand. I didn’t want to drag you into this, but it’s kind of unavoidable now.”

Emi sighed, leaning back in her chair. “So, what’s next? You have a knight in the middle of Tokyo, and there’s a little girl you haven’t even told me about yet?”

Mikasa nodded slowly. “Yeah, her name’s Yuki."

Kenneth, having been quiet for most of the conversation, leaned in again. “Speaking of, I’ve noticed something strange about this world.”

Emi’s smirk returned. “Oh, here we go. What now?”

Kenneth gestured subtly toward the patrons, tapping away on their phones and ordering drinks from the counter using strange devices. “These glowing boxes—how do they function without magic? In Azura, we use spells or physical force to achieve such feats.”

Mikasa stifled a laugh. “Kenneth, it’s not magic. It’s called technology. People here use machines to do things like order food or talk to each other.”

Kenneth frowned. “Technology? And these machines… they allow people to communicate across great distances and summon food without fire?”

“Pretty much,” Emi replied, clearly amused by Kenneth’s confusion. “People use phones to text each other, watch videos, play games… and those machines over there? They make coffee.”

Kenneth’s brows furrowed deeper. “Strange. In Azura, such feats would require the efforts of powerful mages, not simple devices. Are these devices not dangerous?”

Mikasa smiled, shaking her head. “No, they’re safe. People use them every day. They’re not powered by magic, just… electricity.”

Kenneth’s frown remained. “This world is soft. No weapons, no defenses. People here are unarmed and vulnerable.”

Emi raised an eyebrow. “We don’t really need weapons here. No one’s going to jump out and attack you with a sword.”

Kenneth grunted, his hand instinctively brushing against the cloth-wrapped lance beside him. “A world where people walk freely without armor or weapons… it breeds weakness.”

Mikasa rolled her eyes. “You’ll get used to it. No swords, no magic, no battles. People are safe here.”

As the trio stepped out of Starbucks and into the bustling streets of Akihabara, Kenneth’s eyes widened, his gaze darting in every direction. The sensory overload of neon lights, flashing billboards, and the overwhelming number of people left him looking like a deer caught in headlights.

Mikasa rubbed her forehead, already sensing that this was going to be a long day. Emi, on the other hand, grinned from ear to ear, clearly enjoying every moment of Kenneth’s confusion. The vibrant colors and futuristic elements of Akihabara were enough to overwhelm any first-time visitor, but for Kenneth, it was like being transported to an entirely different universe.

“So… what now?” Emi asked, barely containing her amusement. “What’s the plan, Mikasa? Do we let Sir Kenneth here just wander around and get lost?”

Kenneth, hearing his name, tore his eyes away from a nearby billboard advertising the latest anime series. His brow furrowed as he squinted at the massive screen, watching colorful characters move and speak. “What manner of magic is this? Do those people live inside the… structure?”

Emi snorted, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Mikasa sighed, already mentally exhausted. “Kenneth, it’s not magic. It’s just a screen showing moving pictures—like a movie or a play. People watch it for entertainment.”

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Kenneth’s expression remained suspicious. “Moving pictures? And they… entertain people?” His gaze shifted back to the billboard. “They do not look like jesters or bards.”

Emi chuckled. “Well, they kind of are. But we call them actors.”

Kenneth still didn’t seem convinced. “Your world seems to enjoy creating illusions. In Azura, we do not rely on such… strange devices.”

Mikasa rolled her eyes. “That’s because you don’t have them.”

As they continued their journey through the crowded streets, Kenneth’s attention was caught by a vending machine on the corner of a busy intersection. The brightly colored machine seemed to be drawing people in, offering drinks and snacks with just the press of a button.

Kenneth narrowed his eyes, cautiously approaching the machine. “What sorcery allows this box to provide food and drink without a shopkeeper?”

Mikasa chuckled softly, walking up beside him. “It’s just a vending machine. You put money in, press a button, and it gives you what you want.”

Kenneth examined the machine with suspicion. “You trust this… contraption to prepare your sustenance?”

“It’s not cooking anything,” Emi chimed in, her arms crossed as she leaned against the side of the machine. “It’s just cold drinks and snacks. It’s not going to poison you.”

Kenneth hesitated, then glanced at the small slot where coins were inserted. “And this… device demands tribute in exchange for its offerings?”

Mikasa couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s just money, Kenneth. You put some coins in, and it’ll give you a drink.”

Kenneth, still suspicious, fished out a few yen coins from his pocket, the ones Mikasa had given him earlier in the cafe. Slowly, he inserted them into the machine, his eyes narrowing as the coins disappeared into the slot. “It has accepted my tribute. Now what?”

Mikasa pointed to the row of buttons, each one corresponding to a different drink. “Now you just pick what you want.”

Kenneth scanned the buttons, his finger hovering uncertainly. He finally pressed one at random, and a cold can of soda clattered down into the slot below. Kenneth jumped back, his hand instinctively reaching for his lance as if expecting an attack.

Emi burst into laughter, holding her sides as she watched Kenneth’s reaction. “He looks like he’s preparing for battle!”

Kenneth cautiously bent down and retrieved the can, holding it up to his face. His expression was one of awe, as though he had just been handed a mysterious artifact. “This device… it truly delivered what I requested.”

Mikasa nodded, still smiling. “Yep. It’s just a machine.”

Kenneth studied the can in his hand. “And this is… drinkable?”

“Open it,” Emi urged, clearly enjoying herself. “Give it a try.”

Kenneth eyed the can warily before finding the tab at the top. He pulled it back, and the hiss of carbonation startled him, causing him to drop the can on the sidewalk. The liquid inside fizzed out, and Kenneth jumped back once again, his hand on his lance.

“It’s not an enemy!” Emi gasped between fits of laughter.

Kenneth’s face turned red as he glared down at the spilled soda. “This… ‘machine’ has deceived me.”

Mikasa groaned, picking up the can and tossing it into a nearby trash bin. “Come on, let’s move on before you challenge the vending machine to a duel.”

Meanwhile, back at Mikasa’s family home, Yuki sat happily at the kitchen table, her legs swinging as she devoured another plate of pancakes. The sweetness of the syrup coated her lips, and her wide eyes sparkled with joy.

“Thank you so much!” Yuki said between bites. “These are amazing! Is this magic food?”

Mikasa’s mom chuckled, her heart melting at the sight of the little girl. “No magic here, sweetie. Just regular pancakes. I’m glad you like them.”

Yuki’s face lit up with a grin. “We never had food like this in Azura. Mikasa had to find berries and cook over a fire whenever we traveled.”

Mikasa’s mom’s hand stilled as she listened, her smile softening into one of concern. “Azura? Is that where you’re from?”

Yuki nodded, her enthusiasm never wavering. “Uh-huh! Azura was beautiful, but it was also dangerous. Mikasa saved me from monsters—really scary ones. She’s the best.”

Mikasa’s mom smiled warmly, though her heart ached slightly. Yuki… that name reminded her so much of her daughter, as well as when Mikasa was innocent and full of wonder, much like the girl sitting before her now.

“Well, it sounds like Mikasa has been taking good care of you,” Mikasa’s mom said gently, brushing a stray strand of hair from Yuki’s forehead.

Yuki nodded again, happily shoveling more pancakes into her mouth. “She’s amazing! She’s the Archivist, and she’s super strong! She even saved a whole village!”

Mikasa’s mom chuckled again, her affection for the girl growing with each passing moment. “You’re such a sweet girl. I’m so glad Mikasa brought you here.”

Yuki beamed, wiping her syrup-covered hands on her napkin. “Thank you! You’re really nice too.”

Mikasa’s mom’s heart swelled with warmth. She leaned down and gave Yuki a soft pat on the head. “You remind me of Mikasa when she was little.”

Yuki’s eyes sparkled at that. “Really?”

“Really,” Mikasa’s mom confirmed, her voice soft. “She used to have a lot of dreams about adventures, just like you. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see you so happy.”

As Yuki finished her meal, her eyes grew heavy, and she let out a soft yawn. “I think… I’m sleepy…”

Mikasa’s mom gently helped Yuki onto the couch, laying a blanket over her as the girl drifted off into a peaceful nap. She watched her sleep, a deep sense of affection and protectiveness welling up inside her.

Back in Akihabara, Mikasa’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw her mom’s name on the screen, her heart sinking instantly.

“Hello?”

“Mikasa!” Her mom’s voice was warm, but there was a hint of curiosity in it. “I’ve been spending the whole day with this adorable little girl you brought home! Her name is Yuki, right?”

Mikasa froze, her eyes darting toward Kenneth and Emi, who were busy examining a nearby store window. “Uh, yeah… Yuki…”

“She’s just the sweetest thing! I’ve never met a child so polite and full of stories. Where did you find her? She’s been telling me all sorts of wild things about Azura and magic.”

Mikasa’s pulse quickened. “Oh, um, she… she’s just imaginative! I mean, I met her… uh, at a school event!”

“A school event?” her mom repeated, clearly skeptical. “Mikasa, you know you don’t have to hide anything from me. How could you possibly locate a child this young at your university?

Mikasa’s mind raced, trying to come up with a better excuse. “I, um, I’ll come by for dinner tonight, and I’ll explain everything. We can talk then.”

Her mom’s tone softened. “Alright, sweetheart. But Yuki’s been a delight. I just want to know more about her.”

“I’ll tell you everything when I get there. I promise,” Mikasa said hurriedly, her panic rising.

After hanging up, she turned to Kenneth and Emi, her face pale. “We need to go. My mom’s asking too many questions about Yuki.”

Kenneth tilted his head. “Why is that a problem? The girl is safe, is she not?”

Mikasa rubbed her temples, trying not to scream. “It’s not about her safety. It’s about my mom finding out too much.”

Emi grinned, clearly enjoying Mikasa’s discomfort. “Well, I guess this is the moment of truth. I’m coming with you. I want to meet this Yuki and see what this whole thing is about.”

Mikasa groaned but nodded in defeat. “Fine, but let’s hurry. We’ll take the train to Shibuya.”

The trio made their way to the train station, weaving through the crowded streets of Akihabara. Kenneth’s eyes lit up as he watched the trains zip by, the mechanical whirring and bright lights mesmerizing him.

“These… metal beasts carry people?” he asked, his voice filled with wonder.

Emi laughed. “They’re not beasts. They’re just trains. They transport people across the city.”

Kenneth leaned closer to the tracks, watching as another train approached the platform. “Incredible. In Azura, such a machine would be considered the work of a master craftsman or a mage.”

Emi chuckled. “Yeah, well, here it’s just called public transport.”

As they boarded the train, Kenneth marveled at the spacious interior and the smooth ride. He sat with his hands resting on his knees, looking around as if he were on a grand voyage.

“Your world is full of wonders,” he mused, his voice filled with awe. “I have much to learn.”

Mikasa smiled faintly, her nerves about meeting her mom and Yuki battling with the growing amusement of Kenneth’s reactions to everything.

As the train sped toward Shibuya, the three of them sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.