1 Back To Square One

Chapter One: Back to Square One

I am Arturo Kei, and I am 20 years old. I live with my family, who has stood by my side and nurtured me, and strengthened me through my thick and thin. I couldn't have asked for a better one. There's my dad, who Levine Kei, my adorable mom, who is Elena Kei and my my sister, Eleanor Kei

"Oye stupid brother, she is waiting for you," I heard my annoying little sister shout from the lower floor as I was getting ready for my date. Well, not quite exactly a date. But uh, yeah. It's too complicated to get into!

"Coming!" I shouted and replied.

I almost ran down the stairs as I was late for the millionth time. I knew I was so dead.

"Careful Art! You might hurt yourself!" Mom said with concern as I almost slipped on my step.

"Mom, dad, my stupid sister, I am going."

"Take care, dear." Mom replied.

"I will, mom, don't worry!" Saying that I opened the main door, and there she is, who is as precious as my family. She is my friend and my master or maybe something more. It's just a weird relationship that even I don't know about. She is the one who gave me a second chance to live the life I am currently living. Her name is Naomi.

She was looking so gorgeous, as always. The scent off of her always makes me get lost in my own world.

"May I say, you look so ravish-aah!" Before I could complete it, she just grabbed my ear, twisted it, and pulled me close to her.

"Save it! I am not letting you get away this time so easily." She sounded pissed. She was pissed bad. She had her fist clenched, ready to punch me.

Oh crap! She is gonna kill me for making her wait for 15 minutes! Save yourself, Art! Say something clever!

"Uh… Eh… Come on, Naomi, you really wanna ruin my handsome face?" I asked nervously.

This wasn't clever! Crap.

She didn't say any other words. Her eyebrows narrowed, and her fist clenched even harder. Boy, I've never seen her this mad in a while.

"No, no, no! Wait, wait! Not your mana. It hurts a lot!" I said in fear.

"Oh no, you need this really bad. You deserve one." She replied.

{mana, an energy force that is essential to use magic and also the mana is present in each and everything, both living and non-living, in this world}

Yes, you heard it right. In this world of ours, we use magic and many things. In short, they are part of our daily life.

[ Here in the Miscentia continent, there are three kingdoms and three different races. Sapein Kingdom (Kingdom of Human race), Elvian Kingdom (Kingdom of Elves), and Darvian Kingdom (Kingdom of Dwarfs). Towards the east of Sapein Kingdom lies the Elvian kingdom separated by the Great Mountains. Towards the south of Sapein Kingdom lies the Darvian kingdom separated by the Great Desert. And Darvian kingdom and Elvian kingdom are separated by the Great River. On the other side of the Great River lies an Island of monsters]

Our destination for today's date is Septent city. This city is known for its famous hot spring, a unique garden of flowers, and a grand bazaar. It is a two-day date, so yeah, I am going to enjoy it to my fullest.

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We were enjoying our date, moving from one point to another point unless they started chasing us. It was evening when our fun enjoyment turned into running from some weirds trying to chase or kidnap us?

I don't know why but we can easily defeat them, they are not that strong, and Naomi is also there with me, then why are we running? This question has been on my mind right from when we started running. Naomi is not the type of girl who will run away unless there's a genuine reason. So, I didn't ask her any questions for now.

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It's been ten minutes since we started running, and currently, we are hiding in an alley. So, I thought, why not ask her now.

"Hey Naomi, why are they chasing us for? "I asked her while taking heavy breaths.

She looked at him, smiled, and said, "Don't worry about it, and sorry for dragging you in here. "

I chuckled and said, "Draggin' me? This has become my daily routine since the day I met you. "

As I was about to ask her 'what our next plan,' I heard a spell chanted from above us.

"Fire whip"

Straight away, I countered it with an 'Ice-wall' and blocked the attack. Naomi then uses 'Paralysis,' and we got away from it.

We continued our run until….

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"Naomi, I am really sorry for making you unconscious, I know you will be outraged when you know this, but I had no other choice. "I am badly hurt, scars all over my body, and there's a hole in my stomach and the blood not stopping. Ahh! I see I will soon die now.

I am holding Naomi in my hands while she is totally unconscious and trying to carry her to a safe place, but I cannot go any further than this now. I looked at her and again started speaking to her unconscious mind.

"Naomi, I knew that you were not an ordinary girl. After all, I have been watching you from the back while you were in front, shining brightly and always protecting me now and then every time. Well, not every time, though." I slightly chuckled.

"I also know that something terrible is going to soon happen to our kingdom, and you are trying to avoid it. Just don't ask me how I got to know about it, but I know it. So at least I wanted you to live so that you can save us. Hey Naomi, I am sorry, but please protect others."

After saying that, I cough blood and fall on my knees. I also make sure that Naomi doesn't fall and hurt her. Always me who is getting carried but this time, I am doing it.

I chuckled again, and now I am losing my consciousness too. I haven't cried yet. I guess it's because I was able to protect her. I see now.

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~ Two Years Later ~

It's been two years since then, and I am still alive, but Naomi isn't. Currently, the whole Miscentia continent is destructed. No kingdom remains, everything is destroyed, and the entire land is crying.

Everyone died, including my family and comrades battling with me against those monsters, dragons, and damned monarchs. I shed blood, walked over many lives, and yet this is the result we all got.

I was dead, and I am sure of that, but Naomi, why did you save me? Why did you give me another chance? If it, were you, you could have minimized the damage and save a few; no, you could have saved many?

Tell me, Naomi, the choice you made two years back, was it….

I suddenly felt an ominous presence, and guess what. It is a Monarch. I cannot fight this monster. I will never win even if I am in my top condition. But for some reason, I am happy that he found me.

Finally, I can also die now. I will also be joining you guys soon.

"For a mere human, you were impressive, and you even killed some of us too. I shall praise you for that. But this is your end." That Monarch spoke to me

I slightly chuckled at it and

*Kaboom*

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Am I awake? Everything is black, and I cannot see a thing. Heaven? No, it's way too dark. Maybe it's a hell.

I then heard someone's voice, and as seconds passed, I could hear it clearly. I then hear the sound of someone slamming the door. The slamming is not that impactful but as if a child is slamming it.

"I have been knocking on the door, but you are not answering me," I hear someone saying this, but it's too familiar.

I finally opened my eyes and found myself in a familiar room, and then I turned around. My vision was still blurred, but it was manageable.

Turning around, I saw a kid standing in front of me.

"Brother? "

Brother? But… My visions were getting clear and clear, and finally, I was able to see.

"Dinner is ready. Come down."

But what I saw was my nine-year-old sister standing in front of me, and I was in my old house. Did I just return? I don't know, I am still confused, but I decided to follow my sister now. We walked down the stairs, and my mom was waiting for us down there.

This all feels real, so it's not a dream, right?

"Mummy, brother is acting weird." My sister said to my mom.

We have been a family of four, including me. My sister's name is Eleanor, Mom's name is Elena, and Dad's is Levine.

"What happened, Art? "She asked me anxiously.

Yes, Art is my nickname given by my family.

"Nothing, Mom, I am fine. "I replied to her with a smile on my face.

I took my seat at the dining table, and our food was served by my mother.

I still had many questions in my mind. Was it all dream? But I still remember each and everything way too clearly for just a dream. Then I did go back in time? While these thoughts were on my mind, I looked at my family. And the first thing I wanted to say was, 'It doesn't matter if I can see them again with that same smile on their face.'

Later having our dinner, I went back into my room, and I slept a bit early cause I was feeling dizzy.

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Where am I now? Its vast infinite space shining like yellow-golden, and then I suddenly hear a voice. I turned around and saw my old self. That long black hair, that tall body, and that coat what I wore on the battlefield. It is definitely me, but I cannot see his face clearly.

He then said,

""We or I should say I couldn't do anything, right? It was all empty and lonely in the end. I walked by many deaths, stepped on many people's lives, I left everyone. If only I could redo things. I know it's a lot to ask from you, but, Hey, please save everyone this time, or else you will have to follow this path of emptiness once again."

After hearing that, he vanished, and I suddenly woke from my sleep. I heard all those lines very clearly, and I also knew what they actually meant.

Tears started falling off my eyes, but I wiped them off. I put my palm on my face and said, "I already knew this was all real. I knew that I had come back to a time. I knew that this was not a dream. But I didn't want to accept it. I had yet again betrayed them. Why is it just me again? "Saying all these lines, tearing started falling again rapidly.

I clenched my fist hardly and wowed that this time I would save each and every one every one of them. This time I will kill each and every one of them.

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Later in the morning, after my breakfast and all, I decided to go out.

"Mom, I am going out. Will be back by evening. "I said that to my mom, who is doing house chores.

She replied, "Take care, "and I left the house.

I am heading towards the forest which is near to our house. I don't want me to know about what I am about to do. I would like to keep it a secret from my family, at least for now. So, for few days, I will go to the forest which is near our house and train. For now, I will train, and I guess I will try to join the academy too.

After reaching the forest, the first thing I did was check my mana core.

[ Mana core is actually a core of the mana inside a body. A core is essential because it connects and passes the mana through the mana circuit inside our body. And mana circuit acts just like blood vessels, but it's made for mana. Without a mana core, the flow of mana inside the body gets interrupted. It becomes harder for one to use magic.

I see my mana core isn't entirely a core now, more like it is shattered as it was in my previous life. I sat down, legs folded. Closed my eyes and concentrated on my mana core.

I will start by connecting those white ball-like shapes. Those shapes are nothing but parts of the shattered core. When a human is born, their core will be in shattered form by default, it will either become a mana core by itself, or you might have to do it manually. It's rare for someone to have their mana core not formed entirely.

~ One Hour Later ~

Finally, I am done forming my mana core. Just by doing so, I am sweating a lot. My body is numb too. I guess it's temporary numbness. I will lay down for now and take a break.

While I was resting, a thought struck me, 'Can I really stand against those monsters if they actually come? Right now, I am weaker than I was in my previous life. '

I stretched my hand to the sky.

I guess I will have to reach that level. No, I got to surpass it. No matter what, I will not let that happen here in this world.