New World; New Faces - I
...…
...…
Where?
I got hit
And I…?
"El es bina? ("Is he fine?")
"Nesse. Opserv-posta." (Don't know. Let's keep watch first.)
What is this I'm hearing?
Italian?
No.
The sound feels off.
Some of the words feel off.
"Ne-mortas! Mia stulpa-popo! ("Don't die! My idiot son!")
Ah, wait. I'm starting to understand them…"
"Cara! (Dear!)...We need to remain calm!"
So Japanese?
No, I don't think so.
But it might well be.
I think I'm starting to understand what's happening.
I dared to open my eyes…
And there they are.
"Ah, he's awake!"
The young girl with light brown hair by my bedside smiled and beamed with big teary eyes.
"Oh, my boy! Why did you go charging into the storm like that!?"
A beautiful woman with wavy golden locks and fierce brown eyes stood by the door beset with worry.
"It seems our son here is loved by the gods."
The older gentleman with a satchel of tools stood up with a face full of paternal benevolence.
I see…
"Arunia…Mother…Father…I'm all right."
This is me…
"Tacheus! Stay still!"
"No need to worry about that….I can't move yet."
I had to laugh at myself.
I literally can't move yet.
"What happened?" Father asked.
"I was trying to get Aru's doll from that other kid…And then I…"
Ah, wait. I can't remember what happened.
I remember so much now.
But what exactly…
"You were struck by lightning, Tach!" Mother yelled. "What were you thinking!"
Hahah…
Yeah…
I wasn't.
"Tach" and "Takeshi" have that much in common at least.
"The bolt missed him by inches," said father. "That's why I was sure he was gonna pull-through. But still, that is one harrowing close-call, boy."
For Tacheus.
...…
Takeshi wasn't so lucky.
And now I'm aware he exists.
I'm aware "I" as Takeshi existed.
Aware…of the reality of another world.
"Tach? What's wrong?" Aru asked. Her hands holding the doll I nearly lost my life for.
"Just…thinking,"
So much to think about.
None of this feels real.
Even when I know it is.
"Well, you should stop," mother put a hand to her hip and spoke with a sour tone. "You were never the type to put much thought into what he did nor his studies, but this time? Your impulsive recklessness nearly cost us a son. So I'd rather if you–"
"Apologies, mother" I wore my brightest smile as I bowed my head. "I swear: It'll never happen again."
"!"
"Well…It's not really something you need to bow your head for, Tach. Just…be more mindful. Okay?" she said, more kindly this time.
"Thank you."
Yes…
I will.
...…
When everyone left me alone in my room…
I paced around trying to figure out what was true and what was not.
That I am alive? That is true.
I've already pinched myself multiple times and the jolt of pain should be enough verification.
But it is also true that the world around me…
The world outside my window…
The blue tiled roofs of a sprawling town, the walls, and the castle near the horizon of a brightly setting sun.
"This looks like one of those fantasy-world from those games I used to play as a kid…"
Everyone was dressed in capes, and tunics, and sometimes had swords by their side.
The western kind. With the fancy cruciform hilts and gilded sheathes.
And me…
I looked into the mirror made of polished silver in my room.
I'm…blonde?
Dirty blonde. Like dirty gold. But blonde.
And young.
I think I'm about 15 now?
Ten years younger…
And, if I must say so myself? Very pretty.
I look like a teenage Brad Pitt!
"Hahahahah!"
I hurt my sides a little laughing.
Of course, that's all under "Takashi's" perspective.
As Tach this is how it's always been.
This is life.
But reconciling these two new selves of mine is probably gonna take a while.
Especially since "Takeshi" comes with a lot of things to unpack.
Like knowledge of modern plumbing.
Which reminds me.
I need to piss.
And I still need to get used to doing that in a chamber pot.
Still, plumbing's a start.
But there's another thing "Takashi" brings that Tacheus definitely needs to take apart and capitalize on.
"He. He….Heheheheheheheheh!"
I couldn't help but laugh.
A new world.
A new frontier.
A new history to learn about.
A new history to be part of.
"Maybe my otakudom will finally come in handy, eh?"
Ah, that reminds me.
I wish I could've told Ikeda before I got myself run over.
I am, indeed, an otaku.
A pretty hardcore one.
However, I'm the type that even the ones he thought I was would think is too "out there".
I don't have an anime club or manga club to share hobbies with.
The most I had was an online group mostly populated by nerdy western people who share the same passion.
And that passion?
Is history.
"Well…This beats making dioramas…"
Yeah. The last thing I was working on was a diorama about the Battle of Cannae.
A little basic. But it's a favorite subject for a reason.
It was pure awesome.
Hannibal's eternal masterpiece.
After that? I was planning on doing Red Cliff.
'Takeshi" even just bought the materials I was gonna use for the Wu army three days before he got killed.
But now "Takeshi" is dead.
And Laius Orimius Tacheus stands in his stead.
And between the two of us?
We're feeling a little…adventurous.
"I think…? I want to be a soldier."