Deep within my fading consciousness, I could no longer see anything, nor could I hear anything; I could no longer feel the intense pain from the wound I had received earlier. I wondered if this is what it's like when you die?
Surrounded by nothing but endless darkness, here, not even time seems to exist. I couldn't tell left from right. I just stayed there quietly, thinking about various things.
I wondered whether this is really it for my life? Did I really come all the way here just to be killed? Was it okay for me to die a hopeless death like this? If I disappear, where will I go? Would I be able to rest peacefully knowing that I haven't accomplished anything worth remembering? Does this mean my life doesn't have any meaning?
I stayed there as a bunch of unanswered questions filled my mind. Suddenly, A huge feeling of anger filled my heart.
After all, I was brought here against my will, with no one to turn to. Why is the world so unfair, I wondered? If I had known I was going to be stranded like this, I would have come better prepared. Reality is too cruel. Why was I taken away from my family? Why was I sent into a place like this? Why did I have to be...? There was no salvation; all that was ahead was bottomless despair. Knowing that fact, my heart grew weaker. There was nothing I could do.
Why? Why? Why? Do I have to die? Did I deserve it? All I wanted was to live a quiet life. Yet I was sent into this world against my will, I tried to save a girl that has no relation to me and got killed. Why did I....?
I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist. I felt intense anger. I curse the unfairness of the world.
Is this really okay? Why do the victims always die while the assailant gets to live?
The more I thought about it, the more my anger intensified.
Getting angry won't change anything, will it?
However, I'll keep this anger as it's my only justice.
While I was pondering such a thought, I felt a sudden presence. I couldn't see the face of the figure; however, for some reason, the figure felt familiar to me, as if we had met many times. There was also a feeling of loneliness coming from the figure.
"You're not going to die."
Suddenly, I heard the voice of the figure speaking to me in a gentle tone; it sounded like the voice of a girl; it was soft and beautiful. Just hearing it made me feel warm. Suddenly, I forgot about the anger and hatred I felt moments ago. No, I haven't forgotten, my mind is just much calmer now, is it because of this figure, I wondered? My attention was completely drawn to the figure before me.
"Please don't give up, you're not alone because I'm always with you."
Suddenly, I felt two soft, slender hands embracing me.
"I promise I'll always be by your side whenever you need me."
There was happiness coming from that voice, but there was also a strange sense of yearning for someone; it's a feeling I've known quite well. Does this mean she is someone just like me? I wondered?
"I don't understand who you are?"
I asked curiously.
However, the figure did not respond to my question. She holds me tighter in her embrace, her warmth seeping into my skin as she whispers gently into my ear.
"Do you want to live? Or do you want to die? The choice is yours."
The figure said eagerly. While quietly awaiting my response.
I want to live, dying here without ever accomplishing anything; there's no way I'll ever rest peacefully knowing that I've never achieved anything. However, I'll need power to survive in this new world. I'll need the strength to keep moving forward. Yes, I need power so that I never end up in such a weak state ever again.
"If you can give me power, then give it to me. I don't know who you are, but I'll need your power to overcome this predicament!!"
I said as I yelled at the top of my voice, there was power in my voice, even if my body is broken, I'm still determined to overcome this situation.
"Hehe he.... if that's what you want, Haruto, then I shall lend you all the power you need."
With a small laugh, the voice said sweetly.
Why does it feel like she anticipated I was going to say that?
I couldn't help but have such feelings.
(Whose voice is this? I don't remember saying my name)
I thought, as I was a little confused.
Suddenly, my body was wrapped in a faint light as my injuries started to heal themselves. I still didn't understand what was happening to me, but I felt no pain from my wounds. Finally, I now had the strength to get back up on my feet.
The thugs looked at me with a surprised expression. Obviously, my injuries were fatal, and no one should be able to survive that kind of injury. I also lost a lot of blood. While my injuries were beginning to heal, I still lost quite a lot of blood as my vision was still a little blurry from blood loss, but I could see a little of what was happening around me. However, I'm still confused as to how I'm still alive. However--
The thug began to lose his patience, then ran straight at me with his knife in his right hand, in a backhand position; his eyes were filled with clear killing intent.
"Die, you bastard!!"
He yelled.
"No, I don't want to feel that pain ever again."
I muttered as I watched the thug coming straight at me with inhuman speed.
However, I realised that the thug had begun moving slowly. My eyes were now able to keep up with him very easily. I quickly dodged the knife he had thrust at me in his right hand by moving to the left. The thug then lost his balance since he was moving at a fast Pace, his momentum threw him off. He then tried his best to turn to my direction using his momentum. However, I didn't give him enough time as I quickly punched him with my left hand.
The thug had then been blown back 10 meters by the force of my punch. I, along with everyone who witnessed the sight of that became completely shock of what just happened. I didn't even put that much force into my punch, so how did it do that much damage? The next thug started to chant and hold out his palm in front of me.
"Mother of fire incinerates my target fireball!"
A magic circle then appears on the thug's palm.
Suddenly, a huge blast of fire came straight at me. It happened so fast that I did not have the time to dodge the attack.
It was clear that anyone who is hit by this attack would be turned into ashes instantly. The attack released an intense amount of heat.
"Eek!!!"
"Ha-Haha.... see what happened to overconfident Basterds."
The girl had been blown back a bit by the shockwave created by the explosion. The thug had a slight grin on his face; he was confident in his spell. Fireball was an advanced-level spell. The only way to counter an advanced spell was with an even more advanced-level spell. He was sure of his victory. However, his expectation was betrayed when he saw me standing in the middle of the burnt crater. My body was wrapped in a massive torrent of wind. Forming a giant wall of wind, the fire didn't even manage to brush me because of the powerful mass of wind I was extremely confused by this, the wind decided to shield me of its own free will.
The wind was moving with natural, flowing movements. The wind then began to calm down after the attack had subsided. However, the wind in the surrounding area was still intense as the buildings were beginning to crack, and the sound of heavy wind began to resound in the area.
"What!! But how that was my strongest spell, an advanced level!!... there's no way you should be able to counter that."
"I'm just as confused as you."
(I wonder why the wind is protecting me, though I am grateful.... Honestly, there's too much I don't know)
I thought to myself.
They were amazed by what they had just seen. Normally, a fire spell would have the advantage against a wind elemental; however, the advanced-level fire spell didn't even move the massive wind barrier. The wind was like an unmovable fortress and easily swallowed up the fire spell.
"So amazing."
The girl muttered as she stared at me as though in a daze; it seemed she had never seen a person freely manipulate the wind so easily, or so I assume.
"Haruto its time for you to release the power I gave you."
I heard a familiar voice resound inside my head once again. However, it gave me a different feeling this time; just hearing it made me feel strong.
I then held out my hand, and a magic circle appeared in front of my palm. A burst of emerald particles gathered around me.
"Mother of wind blasts my target, windstorm."
A magic circle was then formed.
Suddenly, a powerful windstorm came directly at the thug; the wind was so powerful that everything in the surrounding area was blown away, and all that was left were piles of rubble.
I don't know how I did that; the spell just came into my head for some reason. The thug was left completely unconscious. I sure hope I didn't kill him. With that being done, I quickly rushed over to the frightened girl who was still sitting on the cold ground.
"Are you okay?"
I asked.
"Y-Yes, I'm fine thanks to you."
She answered.
"It's fine, I just did what anyone would do."
She looked like she was about the same age as me, she had really beautiful long waist length red hair, I've never seen anyone with such beautiful, coloured hair before.
Her eyes were also a beautiful red colour, but a bit darker than her hair.
She wore clothes that looked like she was from a wealthy family. I wonder why someone like her would be in a back alley all by herself.
She smiled at me as she got up off the ground.
"May I ask your name, young hero?"
She inquired.
"My name is Haruto Sato,"
I replied.
"My name is Scarlett Watanabe. It's nice to meet you, Sir Sato."
We both shook hands after our handshake, and my head felt a little dizzy until I fell, completely unconscious.
My consciousness was now fading, and the surroundings were turning black.
***
On top of a building, there stood the figure of a person; he was wearing a black hood that completely concealed his body; it was impossible to see his face; he was quietly observing the scene before him.
"Interesting, to think a mere boy can wield such power.... The entire mission was a complete failure; I knew I shouldn't have trusted those two fools with such an important task. It would be a pain if those two decide to give them information. I'm going to have to dispose of them, it seems."
The figure said with a disappointed tone.
He then gently holds out his hand, and a magic circle is formed in front of his palm.
"Die! Both of you."
As the two thugs were lying unconscious on the hard ground, a magic circle then appeared before them, and their hearts, which were beating soundly in their chest was disintegrated.
"Gya!"
"Kya!"
The two thugs then groan in pain with a mournful expression on their faces.
They were both killed instantly.
Seeing that his spell was able to execute the thugs, the figure then smiled in satisfaction.
The figure then suddenly disappears into darkness, leaving nothing behind.
Year 945. Era of Magic.