First Encounter In Another World
Am I flouting? I can feel that I am moving but I don't know how or where to.
That light... It's so bright, and I seem to be heading towards it.
Why is it so bright though? I can't see anything.
Is it the hospital light?
I've seen in movies and tv shows that they are blinding. But I doubt it's the hospital light.
It is too bright and too dark at the same time - They don't operate in a dark room.
Besides, I remember being struck down with a machete.
That strike left a giant wound in me. I could feel my body losing a lot of blood. There was also a sudden surge of hotness followed by cold. I doubt I could have survived that.
I reach for the light trying to see what's behind it.
Though the light was blinding... I couldn't do anything or rather there was nothing I could do.
I couldn't blink or squint my eyes. Even the so called hand I used to reach for the light was not there.
In a sense it was like only my consciousness or soul was the one floating in the space and my mind was the one convincing me that I was using my hand to reach for the light.
I bear the blinding light and continue to the other side of it.
The promised hymns of angels welcoming me to the white palace of clouds and golden gates of heaven were no where to be seen.
But instead I was taken someplace else.
☆☆☆
On an island covered by a bright blue sky and colourful flora and fauna.
There was a woman who seems to be shooting water balls and icicles at a flying lizard breathing fire at her from the air.
While she's busy exchanging attacks with the red lizard.
A maid who seems to have come with her was walking around gathering fruits when suddenly she came across the body of a boy.
This body resembled that of a teenage boy. Fit and lean, and with white hair.
It was just lying there in the dense forest ground.
"Mhmm! Is that..."
She was surprised and curious to see the body. She got close to it, leaned down and tapped him on the cheeks gently.
"Hey..." Tap-tap "Are you still alive?"
She asked but was met with silence.
The boys body moved by what seemed like the process of breathing and heartbeat.
Though it was apparent to see, she still went in to confirm it for herself.
She positioned the back of her palm on his mouth and nose. After a moment she felt a warm breeze blowing on it in equal intervals.
It was almost hard to pick up. But with her great sense of touch she picked it up no problem.
She stood up with a gentle face of calm relief.
(Master Reina, you need to see this.) She called out to someone but there was no voice.
It didn't matter because she got a response anyway.
(What is it Mary!? I'm kinda busy here!) A woman's voice rang in her head.
It is the woman whom she's with on the island.
She was stiil fighting, and the red lizard is actually some kind of wild dragon. It must have been a flame dragon, but it was small - Must be a baby about the size of a school bus in length.
What seemed to be a thought now turned into a conversation.
There was no sound of people exchanging words, so how were they communicating?
It was telepathic conversation.
(Okay I get that but this is important!)
(Still busy!!)
She just stood there looking at the boy. Her focus divided.
After a brief moment of thinking she pushed up her glasses and then picked up the boy and carried him in her arms along with the basket of fruits.
She walked a few steps in the opposite direction and stopped on top of a platform close to the border of mist stretching in the distance.
The monsters on the island don't go near the border of mist for some reason.
So it acts as a safe place for camping and rest.
But you also can't pass through the mist. It is impossible.
"Open space and time to create a path and let me through. Guide this soul on it's journey home. Teleportation Magic!"
She began to recite words that seemed to be a chant.
The platform started to glow and lines began to carve on it.
A magic circle appeared on her feet immediately after the chant and a wall of light started to surround them.
Whoosh!
They disappeared and then the magic circle began to fade away.
Reina, still engaged in combat with the flame dragon, didn't notice a thing.
☆☆☆
Whoosh!
She appeared in a yard outside a mansion some place else.
There was a beautiful garden full of hedges and flowers, and she appeared on the pavement in that very garden.
She then proceeded to walk on the pavement heading to the front door of the house, into the living room where she placed the boy on the sofa next to the fire place.
She carried the basket of fruit and went into the kitchen room.
The sound of a knife beating the chopping board roared across to the living room.
They were pretty close to each other.
Right when she was about to finish chopping the fruits. Her ears twitched like they had picked up on a sound.
There was movement on the sofa.
She put down the knife, and went back to the living room where she found the once unconscious boy now sitting on the sofa.
He was groaning in pain with his hand on his forehead. Maybe he has a headache?
"Aah, I see your finally awake."
The boy then lifted his head to see who was talking.
His eyes met the eyes of a catwoman with blackish purple hair and glasses in a maid uniform standing in front of him.
She has an air of dignity and good etiquette about her.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"My name is Mariada. Nice to meet you."
"Yeah..."
Even her speech is calm and collected.
He was confused because he had never seen this woman before.
That was not it.
He was surprised to see a beastman in front of him. An incredibly beautiful one at that.
Though the person was new to him, he was not cautious at all.
With beauty that radiates with maternal charm along with her soothing voice, he had no choice but to stay calm and relaxed.
But still, something was amiss.
"Come... I've prepared something to eat for you."
Mary showed the boy to the kitchen where she sat him close to the plate of fruit on the table.
They talked while he was eating.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Yep."
"So can you tell me your name?"
"Sorry. I can't."
There was no security in those words. He was smiling when he said them.
Probably from the sweetness of the fruits?
It is said that good food destroys all walls between people.
"Why not?" Mary continued to question the boy.
"I don't know what my name is..."
Mary was surprised.
The boy said that with no deceit.
"What?.. How come!?"
"For some reason I don't remember anything before waking up and meeting you."
"..."
Mary stared at the boy and after a moment came to the conclusion he was not lying.
She could discern that it is true he can't remember anything.
It must be her beast senses telling her.
It is hard to deceive animals and since she is a beastman it is also hard to deceive her too.
It was not just his name that was missing from his mind.
Everything about him was gone. He couldn't remember anything.
His memories consisted only of the moment he woke up and found himself sleeping on a foreign sofa in a foreign room.
Though he had forgotten all his memories. He was not frustrated or anxious.
He was just a little worried he had forgotten his name.
"Mary!!"
As they continued to talk Mary's name was called out.
"Excuse me..."
Mary stood up. Her elegance never wavering.
She went out to the kitchen and was intercepted by someone in the hall.
It was her master, Reina.
A woman with light blue hair and extreme feminine features – She's a babe.
The ponytail on her head kept beating her back as she vents at Mary.
She had ocean blue eyes and they look so gentle like a calm tide before a storm.
"Mary!.. What the hell? Why did you leave me behind?" Reina asked.
They stood there in the middle of the living room.
"Whaaat! I thought maybe you wanted to stay," She said. Her eyes looking away.
"Why would I want to stay on that death island? You did this on purpose, didn't you?"
Reina said that staring intently at Mary.
"Nevermind that..."
"Heyyy!"
"...You need to see this."
Mary pointed at the kitchen door.
Reina turned and walked a little before reaching the door. She peaked through and saw something that frightened her.
"Hmmm!.. White hair!"
She quickly forgot about everything upon seeing the boy. Most importantly his white hair.
Her eyes widened.
She had the same expression as Mary when she first saw him lying on the ground.
"Mary who is this boy and where did he come from!."
The mood suddenly changed and Reina's face suddenly became intense.
It was like there was a ghost in front of her.
"I found him on the island."
They were loud when they were having their cheerful banter before, but now they mumbled.
"On the island?"
"Yes... The time I called for you was to show him to you, but you did not respond so I came back with him.
"But why bring him here!!"
Reina's voice was stern towards Mary.
"I–I'm sorry master... But I couldn't leave him there unconscious, it is too dangerous."
"Then take him to the safe area near the mist!"
"I'm... Please forgive me for acting without your permission."
Mary apologized and bowed her head.
Her cat ears and tail drooping. It was like they reacted to her emotions and feelings – Like an animal.
And right at that moment she was feeling remorse.
Reina was taken aback by Mary's reaction.
"Argh fine!.But this is not good."
Reina scratched her head.
Ruffling her hair.
"It seems like he forgot all of his memories."
"What?"
"Well what do we do now?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that since you're the one who brought him here?"
"I..."
Mary didn't know what to say.
She is the one who brought the boy with her so she must take responsibility for him.
But she can't do that while still in her master's employment. Whatever action she takes will inevitably reflect on her master.
So she's hesitant to answer.
"Okay look Mary... I'm not opposed to him staying here..."
She took Mary's lack of answer as her way of wanting the boy to stay.
"Really!"
And she confirmed it.
"...But, It's his white hair. If word gets out, you know what will happen right?"
"Yes."
Quick and precise. Almost frighteningly quick.
"And you are prepared for the consequences?"
"Yes."
Quick and precise again.
Not a hint of hesitation in those words.
This level of sincerity and certainty in her words surprised Reina.
"What happened to you?"
Mary gathered her words.
"We beastmen are ostracised by other demi-humans for our extraordinary magical prowess and physical abilities, human even enslave us in fear of that power.
Even so, we atleast get to see the light of day and hope for a virtuous master. And I was fortunate to find one."
"Mary..."
The anger and frustrations all left their faces. Now it was just sadness, empathy and gratitude.
"But this boy... He will suffer a lot just for his white hair... Death is not out of the question either.
And history does not tell us why he must die."
"..."
"I am suffering oppression, but that is nothing compared to what he will suffer through."
Ahh! I see why you saved this boy. You feel some kinship towards him, maybe even more, Reina thought.
Reina was shocked.
History does tell us why he must die. Only, the information is privy to the royal family.
I myself was told by my master who has lived for centuries.
"Does he remember his name?."
"Unfortunately, no."
"It'll be inconvenient without a name... So give him one."
"Yes master."
The presence of this boy may cause trouble for us. but... This is the first time Mary requested something of me.
She went back to the kitchen to her original seat.
"Do you mind if I give you a name?"
"A name?.. Sure I don't mind."
"Great... Now let's see..."
She pondered for a moment and then it came to her.
"Krai Letos... How does that sound?"
"Letos huh? It's cool."
Mary and Reina were stunned.
"Wow you sure are accepting everything without a second thought."
"I can feel that everything about me is gone. So I figured that it wouldn't matter either way if I have a new name...
And I feel like I can trust miss Mary so I'm accepting it because it is her."
Mary was surprised to hear that Krai trusted her that much after just meeting.
She even remembered the time he woke up and was not closed off to her.
Krai Letos, the former High schooler Ryuu who was cut down and died in Japan is reincarnated in this world as a 14 year old boy and since he forgot everything about himself he was given a name by Mariada.
Now he must live in this new world with nothing but his new name.
