Vðlµmê 3, þår† 2: Èßßïñg - The Walls have Ears.

|JULIAN GREYRAT|

And as my life force waned, I sensed something stirring within my chest, a strange irony in the prospect of my impending demise --- rather than prospective, it seemed more definite.

My vision blurred, and the world around me melted into an abstract canvas of muted colours.

I was unsure if it was the lack of light or the diminishing strength of my senses that caused this surreal sensation.

I had died.

For all intents and purposes, it felt like my soul had abandoned my broken body.

My chest throbbed with every remaining beat of my heart, but I could not feel anything beyond the heavy weight that anchored me to an infinite void.

The pain, for the third time in my both lives, surpassed any and all bounds and morphed into a ghostly presence, numbing me to the very core.

It was as if I existed in an eternal moment of nothingness.

Time lost its meaning as I drifted in the realm of unconsciousness.

I felt weightless, as if I had far exceeded the physical boundaries that had once confined me, despite knowing that I had neared my end.

Yet, an indescribable heaviness lingered within my being, a profound sense of emptiness that defied logic.

My senses dulled, leaving me in a state of sensory deprivation. There were no sounds, no colours, no sensations—just an endless void of objective nothingness.

Maybe there were some regrets I had left behind. If I did, I am not sure what they are, but still, in the recesses of my mind, I wanted to go back.

I had enough of what I wanted to experience. Yet, unbeknownst to me, this body wanted to go back.

Or maybe it's just me trying to put all the blame on something.

Was it the odd infatuation that I had somehow developed that made me feel it? Feel that I had a way back?

Because, in that abyss --- illusionary or real, I do not know, a spark of consciousness flickered like a distant star.

The journey back to awareness was slow and arduous, as if I had to navigate through a labyrinth of forgotten memories.

Fragments of my existence resurfaced, and I realized that I was still tethered to life, no matter how fragile that connection seemed.

The pain, which once felt all-consuming, now manifested as a distant echo.

It seemed to be both within and beyond my physical form, like a reminder of the violence that had taken place.

The wound on my chest throbbed in a haunting rhythm, a painful reminder of how weak I was.

Yet, even that sensation felt muffled, as if my body had grown numb to the suffering it endured.

Slowly, one punctured organ at a time, the feeling of objective nothingness started to subside, as I felt again.

My body, my breath..... although it felt broken and unable to support me, I still felt it again.

An indication I was alive. But how was I, the fact remained elusive.

As the veil of unconsciousness gradually lifted, I became aware of my surroundings.

It was as if I was suspended in a void of shadows, with no solid ground to anchor myself.

My body felt as insubstantial as a wisp of smoke --- ethereal yet intangible.

And as I felt more and more conscious, I yearned for the reassurance of physicality, to feel the reassuring texture of solid ground beneath my feet, but that connection remained a bit far --- just like how I could feel the tips of Zenith --- my mother's fingers press against mine before she was pulled back into the beam of light.

Slowly, like a morning mist dissipating under the first light of dawn, I began to regain control over my limbs.

But with each attempt to move, I encountered an inexplicable resistance—a sensation akin to being pinned down by a thousand needles, each one piercing into my flesh with a relentless, aware.... almost mortal determination.

The pain intensified, no longer a distant echo but a cruel reality that demanded acknowledgment.

It was a visceral sensation, as if my body were being subjected to an unimaginable torment.

Each movement I attempted was met with agony, and yet, I persisted. I had to escape this nightmarish limbo.

My body felt hollow.

I wouldn't be surprised if I woke up for a few seconds and see my inner organs crushed before permanently dying.

The mana inside my body was slowly replenishing.... I could feel it, almost.

Mustering every iota of strength inside my body, I managed to raise a hand, my arm feeling as heavy as lead.

The effort required was Herculean, and I wondered if I was battling not only the physical pain but also the intangible force that continued to keep me in this state of torment.

The air around me seemed to thicken, laden with an ominous presence that weighed down on me like a suffocating shroud.

A pair of eyes...same as before.

Did the man stayed behind knowing I survived?

I was able to stop my heart in order to stop the majority of the sudden gush of blood, not letting myself bleed-out in a few seconds.

The holes inside my body were huge. Blood could deplete in a matter of few seconds.

However, my lungs were ruptured.

Even though I wasn't breathing, or rather not conscious of the sensation of breathing, I knew that I couldn't take in fresh air.

I tried to pry my eyes open. It seemed as if they had been stitched in place.

A clumsy stitch.... but still.

A took in a sharp breath and a sharp, stabbing sensation spread across my chest, feeling as if someone had plunged in a burning blade inside my ribcage.

My body instinctively tried to curl in on itself to protect against the sudden jolt of pain in my chest but failed to so, obviously from the lack of motor control over my body.

The surrounding layer around my heart felt like it was placed inside an oven.... not that I had experience in being baked inside one, but you get the idea.

"Mmmmph....."

I heard a voice.

No.

Not any voice.

As my mind tried to make sense of this surreal situation, the sound suddenly emerged, near my ear – a low, involuntary moan.

It was a voice – my own voice. The realization startled me, my consciousness slowly returning like a distant memory resurfacing.

I felt the flicker of control returning to my limbs.

I willed my arms to move, though it was a struggle. They felt heavy and weak, as if they hadn't been used in ages.

Gradually, I managed to lift my hand, and my fingers twitched with effort.

I lifted a finger, then my hand. Soon, I was able to flail my arms.

With one sudden movement, I opened my eyes. It felt as if I had torn the skin around my eye apart by doing so.

"Ah, that hurts." I spoke to myself. I couldn't believe my own voice first.

It was oddly coarse, like sandpaper rubbing against gravel. My throat was parched and talking made it hurt even more.

"I would've preferred Horikita's compass though....." I spoke again, trying to jest to myself, in an attempt to get rid of the prickling sensation all over my body. 

I looked up at the sky.

Sky?

No, it was a ceiling.

It was a simple brown ceiling with curled edges that had ridges, extending towards all four corners of the room I was in before joining in the epicenter of the roof. I looked around.

I could feel. Feel the tenderness of the bed, the texture of the sheets and the heat from the fireplace.

I could hear. Hear the subtle crackle of twigs burning in the fire.

I could smell. The bland aroma of monster meat. It made me feel a little nostalgic about the times when I used to be an adventurer and not a punching bag for two little girls I had somehow came to care about.

I could see. See the simplistic room I was in. And the slumped shouldered silhouette near the fireplace.

Curiosity mingled with apprehension as I tried to make sense of the situation, but one thing was certain—I was not dead.

Although not yet.

However, the worries seemed to fade away as my hand instinctively reached out for my torso and chest. They were completely healed. Looking down, I saw that I wasn't wearing my shirt. There wasn't even a scar left on my skin.

This seemed like something above [Saint Ranked Healing Magic].

Since I could use [Healing Magic] up to the "Saint Ranked" but I still cannot patch up such huge holes in body. It was at least King or Emperor Ranked Healing Magic

"Hmpff....." Another unintentional moan escaped my lips. Although I could feel my internal organs working correctly, it seemed that whoever healed me, didn't remove the pain on purpose.

Stingy.

The discomfort gnawed at me like a persistent itch, demanding my attention, every time I moved my body. Despite this, I was now awake and aware of my surroundings.

It was then that a voice, tinged with surprise and relief, reached my ears, breaking the veil of silence that had enveloped the room. "Uh-huh? You're awake!" The silhouette that was previously sitting with its shoulders slumped looked back.

Though her features remained somewhat obscured in my still-recovering vision, her distinctive voice left no doubt about her identity.

It was the girl from before.

She stood up from the couch she was sitting and bolted towards me. However, she stopped midway, her stride taking an abrupt halt. She looked at me from a distance, her eyes curiously scrutinising me.

"I don't bite, usually." I spoke out loud, sensing the subtle fear on her face.

"Usually? Wow. That's reassuring." She snorted, crossing her arms. The hints of fear that she had on her face vanished the next instant and she started walking in my direction again.

"A little bite here and there never hurts." I replied as I winced slightly before fixing my posture.

"Wow. Never knew a vegetable would have a sense of humour." She scoffed, her tone distant and cold. When she reached the side of the bed I was in, she turned her face away and thrusted forward a shirt, "Here. Wear this."

Ah, yes, I wasn't wearing a shirt.

"You saw me anyways," I replied and took the shirt from her hands. Slipping my arms into the full sleeved shirt, I felt a bit of resistance, feeling like my bones were creaking.

The girl looked back at me with an arched eyebrow, "I was just being modest. You're a little kid anyways."

Hm?

Once I was dressed, I told her about it. She looked back at me for a brief moment, not saying anything. She was just.... staring at me. I knew there was something wrong with my body but was it really something so deplorable that she was looking at me like that?

"Are you ogling at me?" I broke the tension. Her features that were scrunched into contemplation, then relaxed before widening in shock.

"Haah!? No way."

"Lying to my face?"

"Quite lively for someone who got killed 2 times over before he couldn't even react." She mocked with a sneer and jerked her head to the other side, her long black hair bucking in tandem.

"Quite arrogant for someone who was clinging to a stranger and crying her eyes out." I countered with a shrug.

Her cheeks flushed, inflating, as if she was trying to hold her breath from throwing a profanity at me. It has been 10 years since I last saw someone behave like this. "I-In my defense, I just came here and didn't knew what happened all of a sudden. One moment someone pushed me and the next, kaboom, I was here."

Letting out a deep breath, she sat beside me. She plopped softly and extended her hand sideways, letting her head go backwards. Her hair was untied, and it cascaded down her back and on to the bed, sprawling all over the place.

"Your Japanese is fluent. But you don't look like one. Are you parents foreigners?" She asked suddenly, facing the other way.

It took a few seconds, but I understood what she meant. She came to this world the way she was. That should explain the lack of mana inside her.

"My parents were natives." I replied, looking ahead. Towards the door specifically. There was no one else in the house as of now. And I can't really sense anyone else within miles of this small place. It was alarming, but not alarming enough.

Now that I know that I am alive, I can replenish my mana fast enough.

"However...." I continued my dialogue. There was some general confusion between us that needed to be cleared up first. "...I was not teleported here. Unlike you. Most likely I died and was later reincarnated as a baby in this world."

She looked back with a stupid look on her face, her features twitching. "What? Really?" She asked, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

Wait, no.....

That isn't sadness. It's actually pity.

"I am so sor-"

"No need for that. I am content with my life here." I replied, cutting her off.

In reality, I couldn't care less about where I was going. But since I am not dead and currently in this world, I had a few promises made with my own self. As long as I am in this world, alive and healthy, I will adhere to them. Even if it goes against my normal mechanism of operation.

"I see......." The girl replied, hanging her head low.

"So? How am I still alive?" I asked. I felt her hands ball into fists as she clutched on to a portion of the white sheet that was sprawled all over me.

"I asked Orsted to let you live. I do not know why though.... maybe because you were the first person to approach me as soon as I arrived in this bizarre world." She replied, still looking down.

"Hm? Orsted?"

"Yeah. He calls himself the Dragon God or something like that. He also keeps blabbering stuff like 'We have not met, yet' like he is some kind of time travelling geek. But yeah, that is the general course of events. I asked him to heal you. He refused so I threatened him that I will bite my tongue if he doesn't."

"Too much affection for someone you just met."

"It was a bluff. No way I'd sacrifice my life for a shady guy like you?"

"That hurts. I am not shady at all. I am rather pious and obedient." I defended my self.

"Your hair colour. Was it the same back on earth as well?"

"Like I said, I was reincarnated as a baby here. Of course, that meant I was born in a new medium."

"Yeah, I can't imagine a person with your personality having a handsome face like this back on earth. Pretty sure you never got anything going for yourself."

Wow, she's rude.

"I had a girlfriend, if that's what you meant."

"Haaah, desperate liar!"

"Are you perhaps jealous?"

"Jealous? Me!?"

"I mean, you are continuously complimenting me."

"I mean that you got lucky!"

She really was not leaving any chance to land a jab at me. I mean, I didn't do anything to provoke her. I don't want another black-haired Japanese girl stabbing me to death. However, unlike that certain black-haired devil, she suddenly burst out in laughter. She placed her hand in front of her mouth gently.

Back to the main topic.

"So, why did he actually agree to healing me?"

"Hm? Well, he dragged me even after my threat and left you bleeding then and there. I continued to not cooperate with him. He came back a week after with your barely alive body and laid you down. After that, for one whole year, he kept casting Healing Magic on you."

"One year?"

"Oh yea. You were in coma for a year. Although it was intentional." Her voice trailed off in the end, and she scratched the back of her head. "He was making sure what type of person you are. After much observation and research on you, he decided to heal you completely yesterday."

One year..... one whole year of life wasted because I was on someone else's mercy. I was now 11 years old.

"Where is Orsted now?" I asked. I didn't want to fight him again. I knew this much that I'd die without a fight. However, there were a few things I wanted to talk to him about.

"Hm? He will come back tomorrow. I have learnt the Human Tongue already so I can go around and do some research on how I can return back. Although Orsted said I can't return until I complete my job. He didn't tell me the job tho so I guess I just have to bear with this vile place and moral lacking place until then."

"Hmm. I see." I replied and tried to get up. However, one of ribs collapsed, piercing the lower region as a spot of blood appeared across the shirt.

The girl, Nanahoshi almost yelped but settled down as I hovered my hand over the region and the wound healed back, the stabbed flesh knit itself while the bone reattached back into place.

"You really can do chantless magic. How are you able to use magic so easily?"

"Hm? I told you before. I was born in a new medium. Mana is a building block in this world. Hence everything contains it. Although I was born with a rather mediocre pool of mana, at least compared to my twin brother." I replied, thinking what Rudeus was up to.

"Oh? Twin brother? Looks like you are content with your family here. Do you not miss your parents back on earth."

"No." I replied, sharply.

Her lips pursed and shut tight, nodding subtly, "I see."

As the weight of my response settled between us, a subdued tension hung in the air, stretching the silence to an almost palpable thickness.

The girl, Nanahoshi's lips pursed together, forming a small line. Her nod was subtle but meaningful, as if acknowledging a deeper truth behind my words.

In an effort to dispel the discomfort, she shifted gears and changed the topic, her voice now tinged with a hint of levity. "So, how old were you when you died?" she asked.

"I was fifteen," I replied, leaning back against the bed, my gaze drifting upward as if trying to retrieve the distant memories of my previous existence. "Although mentally I am 25 years old now, since I've been in this world for 10 years now."

"Really? The coincidence! I was fifteen too when I was oh-so-inconveniently teleported here. So you're older than me, huh."

"Hm, you can put it that way."

"What 'put it that way' ? Isn't that how it works?"

"Not strictly speaking but then again, you won't understand if I explained it to you."

"You're talking as if you've been an ANHS student in the past. So full of yourself!"

"I was actually. Although I was in lowest stratum, someone with no specific skillset to brag about."

"I can tell you don't have any." She snickered, making my heart ache. I am a human as well. Those words hurt me even though they are real. "But hmm. ANHS? I heard about someone mysteriously dying in ANHS just a day before I was teleported here. They took a major blow. What was his name again....?? Hm.... Ah, yes, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Talk about a mouthful."

Her words sounded muffled, like i was drowing underwater, the garbled voices flooding my brain.

There was something wrong here.

It seems like my reincarnation and her teleportation wasn't incidental. It was pre-planned.

"Did you know him?" Nanahoshi asked, seeing the change of look over my face.

"No. I do not."I replied.

After that she talked about her life in Japan while I filled her in with some vague details about my own life in previous world and then in this one.

But this Orsted. He is not a time traveller as Nanahoshi told me. From what I can tell that he is trapped in some sort of temporal loop. But that can be just an assumption. Guess I will know once I meet him tomorrow.

|RUDEUS GREYRAT|

When I finally woke up, the evening had already cast its dusky cloak over the land.

Above me, a vast expanse of stars twinkled like diamonds scattered across a velvet canvas.

I found myself lying next to a crackling bonfire, its wooden branches ablaze, casting dancing shadows that played across the ground.

But hold up, I don't remember building a bonfire, let alone setting up camp! The last thing I remember is a sudden shift in the sky's colors and then, boom, a dream attack! Ugh, it was such an annoying dream!

As I checked myself out, I realized I was back in my young, fit body—yay, teenage Rudeus is back! I quickly reached out for my natural wand, and it was still there as well.

Forget dad bods, it was time for the Rudeus bod takeover! I felt like a whole new person, and that dream was so yesterday.

Adios, weird dream – I have a world to conquer!

Baby Excalibur? Check~

The weird dream was fading away, thank goodness. Take that, Man God or whatever that creep was!

Despite the annoyance, I couldn't help but feel relieved that I was still alive in this world.

But wait, where the heck am I? This place was like a barren wasteland with no plants or critters in sight.

Did the teleportation change the landscape, or did I just get thrown into some uncharted territory?

Oh, well, who knows!

That's what Julian would say. I wonder why that pathetic excuse for a God didn't knew who Julian was. Is he only famous among the ladies?

Ok, ok, no time to be jealous. Time to assess my surrounding. I am in a desert. I am fine. I am alive.

Then there's Eris, snoozing away beside me, clutching onto my cuffs. Hey, why is she all wrapped up in some mantle? I definitely didn't put that on her, so what's the story there?

At least she looks okay, so maybe Ghislaine helped her out.

Good job, Ghislaine!

Speaking of which, where is that "more-guy less-woman"? As I looked around, I noticed someone sitting by the bonfire that I hadn't seen before.

And let me tell you, this guy is all sorts of intriguing.

Emerald-green hair, porcelain skin, and a gem-like eye on his forehead—Superd race for the win!

Yayyyy. Time to scream and shit my pants.

Roxy did warn me about the Superd race, but this guy seems kinda chill. He's not acting all hostile or anything; in fact, he's giving me this shy-cat-vibe, like he's worried we might be scared of him. Maybe the Superd race isn't all bad after all?

Then, the moment of truth came—I had to decide whether to trust him or not.

Do I listen to the advice of some weird Human God I know nothing about, or do I go with my gut feeling and trust this guy?

Well, anyways, I'm going with my gut, baby!

I mean, he seems nice, and Roxy never actually met any Superd folks, so there's a chance they've been misunderstood.

Alright, so there I was, face to face with Mr. Scarface, the Superd dude.

He looked like he had a date with danger and a not-so-friendly attitude to go with it. Roxy's warning about not getting close to the Superd race echoed in my mind like a broken record.

But then, the Human God's words about relying on this guy and helping him out popped up like a mischievous little imp. 'Oh, come on, self-proclaimed God! Can I really trust this Scarface dude just because you said so? You're about as reliable as a unicorn in a rainstorm. You didn't even know who my brother is, you phony cunt!'

I was ready to grab Eris and run like the Flash on steroids, but then I had a moment of clarity – what if we end up stranded in this funky Magic Continent? I mean, I've had weird dreams before, but teleporting to a whole new world? That's next-level crazy!

So, with a mix of skepticism and curiosity, I decided to give Scarface a chance. Plus, he did save us from being intergalactic human pancakes, so that deserves some credit, right?

I tried to strike up a conversation with him, making sure to maintain my cool and not give away my lingering doubts. "Hey there! Are you like, some messenger from God-sama?"

Scarface gave me the "huh?" look and was all like, "Nah, I just saw you falling from the sky, and you humans are fragile as glass, so I built a bonfire to warm you up, yada yada." Mostly what a convenient NPC would say.

Oh, great, so we're like delicate snowflakes to him. But hey, at least he didn't chomp on us like the tender appetisers we were. At least Eris was, MUAHAHA, uh, cough cough. Anyways.

As we talked, I found out that Scarface wasn't all stoic and scary.

He had this mix of uneasiness and resignation written all over his face. I mean, who knew the Superd race could have such complicated emotions? They're like the cosmic tsundere of this world, LoL.

I decided to trust my instincts – after all, I'm the master of bedhead intuition.

But then, the awkward moment came when Scarface noticed I wasn't afraid of him. I mean, who wouldn't be? According to history class, the Superd race got a bad rap and was like the black sheep of the magic races.

Prejudice much?

But I played it cool – 'Dude, it would be totally rude to be afraid of someone who just saved our plump asses.'

Scarface gave me this puzzled look, like he couldn't figure me out. Well, no one can, Scarface, not even me. But hey, I'm just here to prove that not all humans are assholes, you know?

After exchanging names – "Rudeus Greyrat, at your service!" and "Ruijerd Superdia, nice to meet you" – we started chatting more.

Turns out, he's like an American Indian, all tribal cool with embroidered clothes. I'm kinda digging the fashion statement, man.

After a while, I decided to find out where the heck we were. "Excuse me, Mister Ruikerd, this place looks like a cracked-up jigsaw puzzle. Are we really in the Magic Continent?"

And he confirmed it – the Northeastern area of the Magic Continent, Bigoya, near Kishirisu city. Oh great, it's like we teleported from the backyard to Mars.

But then, I had to ask about the Human God – you know, the one who gave us that weird dream rollercoaster. Ruijerd had no clue, which honestly made me feel better about not trusting the self-proclaimed God. Ha!

Anyways, he offered to send us all the way to Asura Kingdom, which might as well be an equivalent of road trip from Melbourne to Texas. I was like, "Dude, are you serious? That's, like, on the other end of the world!"

But he was all proud and determined – Superd warriors don't change their decisions. Alrighty then, I guess we're in for the long haul.

I tried to act all suspicious and cool – "Well, I can speak Man God's language and make money with magic. I can find my way once we reach a village, you know?"

And here's the surprise – Ruijerd said he'd be our guard! Like, he's got our back and stuff. A baby eating babysitter with a cool tribal vibe. Who would've thought? Who wouldn't want to be patted by him?

I tried to probe him more about the Human God, but he was all like, "Nah, never heard of it."

Well, until we reach our destination, I will trust this guy.

(********)

As I woke up, I was met with a sight that instantly sent shivers down my spine. Eris's eyes were wide open, and she looked around frantically, clearly distressed.

But the moment she saw my eyes, relief washed over her face. However, her relief was short-lived as her gaze locked with Ruijerd's intense eyes.

And then it happened, a scream so loud and piercing that it felt like it came from the depths of her soul. She recoiled in terror, attempting to stand up and flee, but she lost her balance and fell flat on the ground.

She was frozen, completely paralyzed by fear.

"NOOOOoooooooOOOOOOo!" Eris's panicked cries echoed through the air, and my heart sank as I witnessed her in such distress.

But Ruijerd remained surprisingly calm, and he calmly remarked, "[That's the normal reaction.]"

I couldn't help but wonder if I had made a huge mistake bringing her here. Was the Superd Race truly something to be feared, something that couldn't be approached?

I looked at Ruijerd, who still seemed unperturbed by Eris's reaction. "[How's that possible?]"

"[You're abnormal. But...]" Ruijerd's voice trailed off, and I could sense a hint of loneliness in his expression.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up and made my way towards Eris.

Her frightened eyes followed my every move, and I could see tears welling up in them. Memories of my grandmother soothing me when I was scared flooded my mind, and I decided to try and comfort her in the same way.

I reached out and slowly began to stroke her back, hoping to ease her fear. Her trembling began to subside slightly, but she was still incredibly frightened.

"Al---right, don't be afraid, don't be afraid," I whispered softly, trying my best to reassure her.

But Eris was inconsolable. She sobbed, "Th-that's a Superd!" and clung to her fear.

"He won't eat you," I said, looking over at Ruijerd, who nodded in agreement.

Eris looked at him skeptically, and he added, "I don't eat children."

I hoped this assurance would calm her down, but she was still terrified. She rambled on about Superd race folklore, how they would come and eat children if they didn't go to sleep quickly.

It was clear that someone had used superstition to frighten her.

I realized that she needed a push to overcome her fear, so I urged her to become friends with Ruijerd. At first, she hesitated, not fully understanding what being friends with a Superd meant.

But with some encouragement, she finally mustered the courage to introduce herself, stammering through her name in a mix of fear and determination. It was kind of amusing to see her act haughty even in her frightened state. "I-I am E-Eris Bo-Bo-Boreas Greyrat. Nice to meet you!"

"Eris Boboboreas Greyrat? Humans sure have an odd taste in names."

"I was just stuttering!"

Then, Ruijerd introduced himself, and Eris seemed to take pride in the fact that she wasn't scared anymore. But her fear wasn't entirely gone, and I knew it would take time for her to truly overcome it.

In the end, Eris agreed to be friends with Ruijerd, and her face lit up with happiness. It was heartwarming to see her find the strength to make a new friend despite her fears.

Eris the demon of annihilation and the ambassador of "punching first, greeting later" was making friends with a Superd.

Brings a tear to my eye.

We decided to rest for a while, and Eris, ever the protective guardian, covered me with a mantle, probably belonging to Ruijerd. As I closed my eyes, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this strange and adorable little girl, whose emotions were as straightforward as they come.

With a smile on my face, I fell asleep.

|3rd PERSON PERSPECTIVE|

The sun lazily dipped toward the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over everything it touched.

Julian Greyrat, the boy with pure white hair and blue eyes, stood in the center of a sprawling lawn that seemed to stretch endlessly, a carpet of vibrant green beneath his feet.

The air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers, and the gentle breeze rustled through the leaves of the cherry tree, showering him with delicate petals that danced in the air like confetti.

The sprawling lawn beneath his feet was a carpet of velvety green, soft and inviting.

The grass blades swayed gently with the rhythm of the breeze, like a vast sea of emerald waves.

Amidst the verdant expanse, delicate wildflowers added splashes of colour, their vibrant petals stretching toward the waning light as if yearning for one last touch of the sun's affection.

The cherry tree that stood beside Julian was in full bloom, adorned with countless clusters of pale pink blossoms, each one like a tiny, delicate brushstroke on a painter's canvas.

Amidst the serene surroundings, his presence was a striking contrast. His hair was let loose around his face, covering his eyes that masked any and all intent. He stood with his mouth shut tight and his hands balled into fists.

There was a chilly, murderous edge to his presence that highly was in a contradistinction to his surroundings.

"Don't try anything stupid." Nanahoshi commented from behind him, slipping her face from above his shoulder. He was taller than her, so she had to tip-toe.

Julian nodded in affirmation, not saying a single word. He looked down at his body. He had grown just a little over the past 1 year due him being in a "forced" coma. All of the muscle his little body had developed was gone, leaving him with an extremely little body fat percentage and next to no mass.

He looked deathly pale and scrawny, losing his wide and imposing stature despite being an eleven-year-old.

He was now 170 cm, around 5'5. His body weigh had almost halved, and his ribs were now visible like a starved prisoner. Huge bags lined the bottom of his pale blue eyes. Due to the lack of any food or necessary nutrients, Julian now looked like a much taller lanky boy when compared to other kids of his age.

One might also call him a "Lanky Sex Offender" if it wasn't for the innocence on his face.

Julian raised his hand and looked at his arm. "I'm scrawny."

Nanahoshi rested her back against the pillar adjacent to Julian's. "Scrawny? You look like you're about to die. Talk about carrying your tombstone with you."

He gently used wind mana and made her hair cover her face. Nanahoshi yelped, removing her hair from her face as Julian raised the floor beneath her feet and made her trip to the other side.

"Ow, ow, ow...." she grimaced, sitting down on the grassy field and with her hand on her butt.

"You're light as a feather."

"That'd count as a compliment, so thank you." She replied with an eye roll.

"Hm? Is it?"

"Did you really have a girlfriend?"

"I did, yes."

"Poor girl."

"It's not th---"

Amidst the harmless back and forth of friendly jabs between Julian and Nanahoshi, suddenly Julian fell silent. He looked into a single direction, fixing his gaze.

"What happened?" Nanahoshi asked, the cheerfulness dissipating in thin air. Her brows furrowed and knitted into a scowl.

"Hm. Nothing. Just go inside." Julian replied in a gentle tone and reached out for the sword on his hip.

"Are you trying to act cool or something? Letting your hair flow on your face, suddenly putting on airs, hands on sword, telling a beautiful girl like me to go inside and then blocking an attack from an enemy. This isn't an anim---"

Her words got caught in her throat as she saw sparks fly in the air, Orsted's face next to Julian with his razor-sharp nails rapidly colliding and producing sparks against his sword.

Julian's face was impassive, although his heart was palpitating. Not out of fear, but his body wasn't ready to undergo violent reactions like he had done just now.

"Impressive. Even though you're severely malnourished, you can still move like that. Hmm. Sword Emperor, at least." Orsted calmly analysed. He gripped his sword's tip suddenly.

[Water God Style - Flow]

Orsted unleashed a technique that was the base of all other Water God Techniques. However, Julian knew about this trick.

He had used it before himself. With a swift movement, he abandoned his sword and jumped to the left side. Taking out twin daggers from his socks, he lunged at Orsted. His eyes widened at his perception.

Regaining his calm face, he attacked Julian, but he quickly twisted his ankle and side-stepped in a violent maneuver, snapping his joint in the process.

He arrived in Orsted's blind spot and brought down his twin daggers. However, Orsted replied with a kick backwards, making Julian's body reel in as he was sent crashing into a nearby wall.

"Hey! You promised you won't fight!" Nanahoshi screamed at Orsted, huffing in an angry tone.

He stayed silent and kept his gaze on Julian. "Just now. Attacking wasn't your priority, was it?"

The dust settled and Julian emerged from the debris, wiping the streak of blood from his lips. "I just wanted my sword back. Other weapons serve as a reasonable distraction. Especially when they have a similar hilt."

Orsted looked down at his hand. He was now holding the twin dagger instead of the Teal Coloured Sword from before. "Impressive." He complimented, genuinely conscientious and fervent about his style.

Julian cracked his neck and sheathed his sword, letting out a long breath. Orsted looked at a baffled Nanahoshi, "I want to talk to him in private. Is that ok with you?"

"As long as you don't fight." She replied with a subtle undertone of authority.

"We won't. I just want to talk to him."

"Fine by me." She replied.

"Are you worried about me?" Julian asked with tilt of his head.

"You wish! Your and my intentions do not align" She trotted in the opposite direction, angrily swaying her hair sideways.

'What did I do this time?' Julian thought to himself, a shiver running down his spine.

After that Orsted and Julian engaged in an important conversation.

What did they talk about behind the closed door?

Who knows.....!

(*******************)

"Roxy's.....huh? I understand."

"You. Just you. And its changing everything..... for better or worse, I do not know."

"So, what do you want from me?"

"I was so close... all because of a slight mistake on my part."

"What if I fail?"

"Julian Greyrat is dead..... for now. Make a name between the Seven Great Powers. You have 1 year to train and 1 to help Nanahoshi."

"You expect too much of a malnourished orphan."

"Roxy Greyrat." He replied flatly.

"Who do I have to kill?"

"Defeating either North or Sword God would do for now."

"I'll do it."

"Do it, and I will tell you the location. Only one."

"I see." He looks down, his eyes blank.

"I will train you for this year, until you're 12."

"Who else other than Eris Greyrat and Sylph?"

"You die."

"I see."

"The ultimate responsibility lies with me. I just need you to level the grounds a bit more for the future generation. Lara and such."

"What changed this time.....?"

"You can achieve the rest as you see fit."

"Hm, I see." He says with a sullen look, for the first time.

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