EPISODE FOUR

EPISODE FOUR

After living for a millennium, you begin to see and acknowledge the mysteries which lurk within this barren world. Perhaps death is an inevitable destiny for every mortal and their sole objective is to be used as a pawn, but I believe mortals can be more than that. However, Authors are beyond the imagination of pain itself, beyond the pillars of rationality, and beyond the borders of the unknown. There is always a saying, “fear the one who lived before the gods, for you will never know when you are within its midst. Even the gods fear this unknown, how much more a mortal, an ant like we”.

Huffff…. Twenty-four, one hundred and twenty-five……I’m going to die.

It’s been three months since I fell into this world. So far there seems to be diverse religions as well as different species. Demi-humans, fairies, elves, just name it. The innkeeper seems nice enough to lend me her space partly due to my negligence of money’s worth, leaving eighty years’ worth of food as payment. To note, I have 10 gold coins left of which I prefer to keep as an emergency pay-up. I’m fed daily and treated as family since I trouble her so much. Nanya always tells me stories of her son at the time he was alive, and it keeps me happy always. She mostly feels a sense of belonging to me, and I feel sad about her deceased son as I have fit into her heart as family. Gramp’s magical book keeps me company every time although I haven’t yet started learning any magic yet from it. My body feels lighter now and I’m more agile and a bit strong. Nanya says exercising my body through the breathing techniques and keeping fit blends the mana in the atmosphere with my muscles to make the stronger. For all I know, today might be the first day I can really practice magic since I have fulfilled my body regime. The only thing I have left is a way to escape from this place.

Micheal shakes off his burdening thoughts and rises as he has completed all the training quests placed. He sighs in relief and excitement as the page begins to write up inscriptions. Micheal shouts in excitement as he early waits for the inscriptions to end.

I’m finally ready for this!!!

Micheal! Can you stop screaming every time? You are scaring the customers with all that noise! Get silent before I chug another cup of beer down your throat!

The people at the tables taking drinks begin laughing at her scolding Micheal, and some friends of hers joke about him being so stubborn he reminds them a lot about her son. Nanya brings up a shy smile and sighs as her cheeks turn red.

Yes, mother Nanya. Last time she tried that, I almost fainted since the beer was rushing into be so fast. It tastes like piss too ughhh (mumbling to himself). Anyways what’s the first thing I’m learning? Mmmm manifestation of mana? The inscriptions say I should draw out the mana I have, step by step from my heart. My heart serves as a store for mana so it would as well be beaming with a concentrated amount for how slow it beats. Having zero heartbeat show’s infinite mana? This looks a lot like Mangas and Manhwas back home.

He sits in a lotus position and begins breathing precisely as he did in his training and drawing every fiber of mana into his veins. Some mana seep out from the pores of his skin and cloaks his body.

Woahhhh this is wild!!!

Micheal!!!

I’m dead!!! I really have to make a run for it, but this mana thing is the best.

………. BOOM!!!!!!!

The room explodes with a fire blast throwing Micheal into the wall with the whole place breaking apart. A thick black fog fills the air with an intense temperature around him. He gains consciousness and tries getting up but is unable to rise.

The cries and anguish of people in pain flood the town and all that could be seen in the dark fog was fire and blood.

Micheal!! Help…. Micheal!!!

I need to concentrate my mana, like I just learned. I can’t let her die. Focus, Micheal…. every fiber in your body, capture it in your mind and feel it. Urrrghhhh!!!

The concentrated mana cloaks his body again whilst strengthening his muscles resulting in an outburst of strength. He drags the huge debris on him and pulls his body slowly but sure towards the voice of Nanya. His raging heart calms when he sees her helping others from the fire falls on his knees in relief. The whole roof is blown off making the rays of the sun fall on his face as his eyes tear up.

I…. I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD (crying wholeheartedly) I wouldn’t know what to do!

I’m no dead, I’m here Micheal. I didn’t just own an inn without some decent knight skills you know. Get you crybaby self here and help me with the people.

I’m so glad, Nanya. (wiping the tears with his eyes beaming with a smile) I just wouldn’t know what to…

Nanya smiles at him as he instinctively reaches out for her upon seeing the open jaw of the red fiery dragon just above her head.

Nanya!!!!!!

Crunch…

He looks at the half-bitten body of his motherly figure as her guts hang over the jaw of the dragon. Her lower body from the waist downwards falls with a thud, and Micheal’s horrid face of pain pleading for a sign of hope. He scratches the ground with his fingers, peeling its skin and drags the bloody fingers on his face with the dragon just before him opening his jaw wide again.

This can’t be real, can it? Wake up Micheal, you are on earth with Jerry. None of this is real yeah (smiling like a psychopath as he drags the blood on his face). But Nanya? Nanya got eaten, that can’t be right... huff… Arghhhhhh, arghhh!!!!

His mind breaks down causing him to see a flashback of a time he spent with Nanya

Flashback…...

The warm rays of the sun and the lovely sound of birds chirping fills the atmosphere. Micheal runs ahead to the mansion of a wealthy merchant with flowers in his hand as he chooses to wed the merchant’s second daughter. He stands at the ate and calls for the mistress as she strolls through the garden. She decides to ignore at first and then moves to the gate when she notices the guards being wary of Micheal.

Let him be, I would talk to him from this side of the gate.

But my mistress, we cannot allow this peasant to….

Do not make me repeat myself. Now, Micheal what is it you need me for?

Mmm, I have had a crush on you since last…

Sorry Micheal, you aren’t good-looking enough for me to be attracted, nevertheless fight for our love since you have no backing. Please return and don’t waste my precious time.

Oh…. Yeah.

Micheal sits with his head down in shame as he narrates his afternoon at the mansion to Nanya. Nanya makes a serious face and places both fingers on her lips to think.

So, she literally ignored you, made you stand behind the gate and rejected you on top of that too? My man, how ugly can you be for that to happen (laughing loudly).

Nanya not now. I know we laugh at each other, but this is so bad, I couldn’t even finish my sentence.

Oh, so it gets worser, Hahahaha.

Micheal gets pissed and sulks as he ignores Nanya’s teasing. She then approaches Micheal and hugs him so tight whilst whispering in his ear.

It may be so bad or worse for you Micheal, but I will always be here for you. Do not fret, no matter how bad it is we will always overcome this and many more. Afterall, who’s prettier than your Nanya anyway, hahaha.

Micheal makes a cute face as he puffs his cheeks with air and blushes saying, “as long as you are there…”.

Back to the present….

Micheal looks at his bloody palm as he repeats the exact words, “as long as you are there” in his head. The jaw of the dragon comes nearer as he’s being hit with flashbacks. His flashbacks trigger a fueled adrenaline of rage in him, erupts his mana around his fists, and fills his eyes red with blood.

I will kill you!!!!!!

Just when his fist is a second away from clashing with the dragon, a portal pulls him from behind into it. Micheal falls on his back with a thud and smacks the foggy ground with his fist.

Send me back!!!(looking in the dark mist) take me back or I swear I will rip you apart!

A mysterious figure walks canonically as he laughs like a maniac. He appears Infront of Micheal like a ghost and sighs.

You want to go back? What would you do apart from getting yourself killed against, “a dragon”?

Same thing I would do with you, if you don’t let me back there!

The figure laughs crazier than before and let’s go of the darkness around him. Micheal becomes astonished as he sees the figure having his same features and is exactly identical to him. He grins in anger towards his identical self as it acts like a maniac.

You mean, kill me? Hahaha… You must be joking (glaring with a straight face), “my dear present self”.

Episode 5