"..."
Mom... Dad... Lilia... Roxy... Sylphy... Eris... Rudeus...
Did I fail you all? Have I died?
No... I didn't die. I just... wanted it to last a little longer. Was that too much to ask?
By the time I reacted, I was already plummeting from an absurd height. I could swear I passed a cloud, but right now, none of that mattered.
Maybe it was time to accept that I wasn't strong enough to protect the ones I love.
What else could I do? Just a moment ago I was laughing with them... and now I am alone again.
[ DAIKI... FOCUS. YOU CAN SURVIVE. ]
"It's time to... end this. Analysis."
[ You can call me Ayam™... That is the name I chose. ]
...What? Did it just say its name? I thought, completely taken aback.
[ Brother... Please, I don't want to see you die again. ]
The moment I tried to process that, memories of Rudeus and Eris exploded in my mind.
I had been too selfish with them... Did I really think letting myself die was better for everyone? Was I still dragging those thoughts along from my past life?
I spun quickly in mid-air, clutching my sword in its sheath. Below me, an immense forest stretched out—nothing but a sea of green was visible.
Alright... I was falling from an absurd altitude. My body, reinforced with mana, was withstanding the wind pressure, but my clothes were starting to tear apart everywhere...
I decided to use Shockwave to break the fall a little, although I knew it wouldn't be enough. My velocity was too high, and the only thing I could—
...Huh?
Just when I stopped seeing only green, I made out a griffon attacking a species—humans? I couldn't see well from this height.
I took advantage of the griffon rising to intimidate them. I twisted in the air, unsheathed, and launched myself toward it like a spear, using Shockwave to redirect my trajectory. The instant the griffon sensed the sword approaching, it tried to turn to dodge... but it was already too late.
The impact was so strong I swear the griffon's shriek echoed through the whole forest. Then it descended at such speed I thought I was going to explode against the ground... but I didn't. Thank goodness; that would have been very unpleasant.
Wait... did I just survive a fall of that magnitude riding a griffon?
I looked toward the group, just in case my brother was among them... but nothing. They weren't humans. They were elves.
I ripped Temphestalisfrom the limp body, forcing myself to step back immediately to avoid the spray of blood. I was still stunned, my mind spinning.
And besides... what was a griffon doing here? According to what I'd read, they were desert creatures, not forest dwellers.
I shook the blood off the sword and returned it to its regenerated sheath.
The elves—three women, four men, and four children—were staring at me. Fascination? Fear? Amazement? Surely a bit of everything. But I couldn't blame them; I had literally fallen from the sky.
"I... well, is everyone okay?"
I said it as if it were routine, as if these things happened every Tuesday. Maybe I sounded too stoic... but that was better than panicking or, worse yet, scaring them more than they already were.
Receiving no answer, I decided to speak for them. Perhaps I saw a fear in their eyes even greater than what they felt for the griffon. After all, I must have looked like a demon fallen from the heavens.
[ Stop thinking that, idiot... they are just in shock. ]
"Mmmm..." I murmured, scratching the back of my neck. But when I looked up, I noticed their eyes were shining. They approached with caution, yes, but with a smile that grew little by little, from a timid curve to a full expression of relief.
"Young man..." said the tallest one, bowing in a sign of respect.
"You don't have to..." I tried to say.
"You saved my family. We are in your debt."
"It was just a coincidence..." I tried to say, raising a hand.
I wanted to cut through that atmosphere, but there was no way. Nothing I said would work.
"You may ask for anything... If it is something within our power, we will do it."
That was all he said.
I expected fear, rejection... or at least for them to think I was a demon. With my black hair and red eyes, I wasn't exactly the most reassuring image in the world. But they seemed to see beyond my appearance, as if they recognized something in me... the real me.
"Yes, I have a question... Did you happen to see a boy my age, light brown hair? He was surely accompanied by a girl with red hair..." I said, with a bit of hope.
That silhouette had assured me that my brother had fallen on the Demon Continent... but I didn't want to believe it. Not until I checked every corner of this place, until I covered all the ground I could.
"No, I am sorry... at least we didn't encounter him on the path we came from."
All the elves lowered their heads.
Nothing... I know nothing about him. Even so, I held onto the hope that he would be okay...
"Well, it doesn't matter," I took a deep breath. "Do you know where there is human civilization?"
They looked at each other, and nodded.
"We can take you to our home, give you new clothes..." one began to say, but he didn't even need to finish. I noticed how my boots and shirt were on the verge of falling apart.
How pathetic... falling from the sky like a hero only to present myself looking like a disaster. Paul would laugh at me, Eris would say I look weak... and Rudeus would surely say I was a pervert for walking around showing off my body.
POV: Rudeus Greyrat
When I woke up, it was already night. I could hear the crackling of burning wood. It seemed I was sleeping next to a campfire, even though I didn't remember making one, or even going camping.
The last thing I did remember... was the sky abruptly changing colors, a wave of white light enveloping us, and—
Daiki.
My brother was in front of us when it happened. That light swallowed him first before reaching Eris and me...
When I sat up, my back started to ache; I had been lying directly on the ground. My immediate surroundings were a patch of dry, cracked earth. From what I could see, there was barely any vegetation. Were there not even insects? I heard nothing but the sound of the fire.
It was truly silent here. I felt like any noise I made would be swallowed by the total silence of the night. I couldn't recall having been in a place like this before; after all, the Kingdom of Asura was covered in fields and forests. Had that wave of white light caused this?
No, no. According to that Human God, I had been teleported. I suppose this was the Demon Continent. A completely new and unknown land. Somehow, that light had sent me... Wait.
What about Daiki!?
And Eris!?
Panic took hold of me. My brother. Where was he? He had been swallowed by that light first. Had he been teleported to the same place? Or could it be...?
My first instinct was to jump to my feet and start looking for them. But just as I began to move... I saw a girl sleeping on the ground beside me, one hand clutching my clothes.
Her vivid red hair was unmistakable. It was Eris. Eris Boreas Greyrat. My back relaxed a little. At least she was here, but...
Where was Daiki?
I looked around the campfire with growing desperation, searching for him. Nothing. Only darkness and the dancing shadows of the fire. My heart raced.
"Daiki!?"
Immediately, I saw someone sitting near the fire whom I hadn't noticed before. I ran over there with renewed hope, thinking that maybe it was my brother.
But it wasn't him.
It was a man.
"Where is my brother? There was a boy with black hair and red eyes. He was with us when the light hit us. Did you see him? Did you see him here?"
"Your brother? I only found you two here after you fell from the sky. A human girl and you. There was no one else."
My world reeled. Only the two of us? Then where was Daiki?
I tried to calm myself, though anxiety gnawed at my insides. Maybe he had been transported somewhere else. Maybe he was at some other point on the Demon Continent, waiting for us just as I was waiting for him.
But while the man explained where we were and what he had done, a part of me couldn't stop worrying. Daiki was strong, but even that might not be enough in an unknown world. And Eris... she would be devastated when she discovered Daiki wasn't here.
My intuition told me I should trust this Superd. That I should ask about my brother, investigate, and perhaps this man could help me find him.
My worry was so great that I didn't care that I had a Superd in front of me.
"I need to ask you a favor. My twin brother was with us. He had black hair, red colored eyes, about my size, he's just a little bit taller... Is there any way we can locate him? Anyone else in the region who might have seen a boy like that?"
The Superd observed me for a long moment. Something in his gaze suggested he understood the desperation in my voice.
"Rest tonight," he said slowly. "Tomorrow, when the sun rises, we will search the surrounding area. If your brother was with you, he must have been close. And if he is alive..." The man paused. "A Superd warrior never abandons those who seek help. We will search for your brother."
Those words anchored me a little, although the worry for my brother wouldn't leave me all night... and perhaps not for the entire journey.
Shortly after, Eris's eyes snapped open.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!" Eris began to tremble like a tormented soul, fell backward, and then tried to stand up and run. But her legs gave out and she collapsed on the ground. "Nooooooooooo!"
"No! No, no, no! Please, please, no! Ghislaine! Ghislaine, help me! Ghislaine! Why aren't you coming!? Noooo! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry for pushing you away! Aaah... ah... Waaaaaah!"
Could it be... maybe I had the wrong idea? Was running into a Superd literally a matter of life or death?
I looked toward Ruijerd in bewilderment.
"That is the most common reaction," he said.
"So I'm the one behaving strangely?"
"Yes, you are acting quite strangely. However..."
"However?"
"I can't say I mind."
The man's face was the image of loneliness.
I stood up and walked toward my terrified pupil. Eris writhed more and more in fear as I approached.
"Come on, everything is fine. There is nothing to fear."
"Hic... Of course there is! Th-that man is a Superd!"
"But what is so terrifying about him?"
"I-Idiot! He is a Superd! They... They eat children! They eat them alive!"
"Hm. I don't think that's true."
I turned around to Ruijerd to confirm it, and he nodded without thinking.
"No, we do not eat children."
"Eris, did you hear that?"
"B-but... They are demons! Demons!"
"Yes, you're right about that. But fortunately, he speaks the Human tongue very well."
At that moment, she began to tremble again.
"P-pleased... to meet you, s-sir. My name is... E-Eris Bo-Bo-Boreas... Greyrat!"
Despite everything, the girl still managed to introduce herself politely. It was a little comical, especially after having glared daggers at him.
"Eris Boboboreas Greyrat, right? It seems you humans have been giving yourselves some rather peculiar names lately."
"No, no! It's Eris Boreas Greyrat! I just stuttered a little, that's all! How about you introduce yourself now!?"
An instant after she finished yelling at him, Eris's face went a little pale. It seems that for a second she had forgotten who she was talking to.
"Of course. My apologies. My name is Ruijerd Superdia."
When Ruijerd responded calmly, an expression of relief crossed Eris's face, quickly followed by a confident and smug smile. She seemed to have retroactively decided that she wasn't scared of him one bit.
"See? He's not that bad. You can make friends with everyone, as long as you can communicate with them."
"Yup! You're right, Rudeus! Seriously, Mother is such a liar!"
Eris then seemed to remember something important and her eyes went wide.
"Wait! And Daiki? Where is Daiki?" Her voice suddenly changed tone, from playful to anxious. "He was right in front of us when the light hit us..."
"Ruijerd only found us," I said slowly, watching her process the information. "I don't know where my brother is..."
Eris's face paled, and this time it wasn't from fear of the Superd, but from genuine worry.
"W-what? He's not here? Where... where is he? Is he somewhere else? Is he okay? Is he..."
She didn't finish the sentence, but I knew what she was thinking.
"Tomorrow we will look for him," I assured her, though doubts tormented me. "Daiki is strong. He has to be somewhere around here."
Eris nodded, though I could clearly see her hands shaking. For the first time since she had awakened, her fear wasn't of the Superd in front of us, but of the unknown... and for my brother.
Ruijerd watched us in silence, his expression impossible to decipher. Then he spoke, with that serene voice that didn't match his fearsome appearance at all:
"We will search for your twin brother tomorrow at dawn. A Superd warrior does not abandon those he protects. If the boy was with you, we will find him."
His words should have relieved me, but the night became even longer after that. My mind spun tirelessly around a single question:
Where are you, brother?
--
POV: Eris Boreas Greyrat
This couldn't be true... Daiki, you promised me you wouldn't go away. That you would always be with me. But, apparently, life has other plans. Although...
No. I'm not going to give up over this. I know it's a test, and I can overcome it. My love is stronger than this miserable place...
Ugh... I'm saying those romantic things again. But I can't get it out of my head. What if right now he's fighting some horrible monster? What if... he's thinking about me?
Before I realized it, I was already tangling my hands in my hair, spinning around like a lovesick fool.
But no... I couldn't sit still. Not when he was still out there, alone, who knows where.
What would he be doing? Would he be unharmed? Would he be... smiling?
I felt a strange heat rise up my face.
"Tsk... how annoying..." I muttered, gritting my teeth.
"Did something happen, Eris?" said Rudeus.
"Nothing happened..."
I lied. Because it was happening. Everything was happening.