There was just one problem—she could barely remember where the house was. As a result, Erik had decided to walk with her. This was a small town where everybody knew one another, and as it was nighttime, there were very few people in the street. There were no streetlights, so even if Shizuku knew the way, she wouldn’t have wanted to walk alone. The lantern Erik carried only faintly illuminated the way ahead. For as nervous as Shizuku was in this unknown land, she kept walking down the dirt path. Earlier, she’d run down the street propelled by a singular goal. She would need to be more careful in the future, though. After all, this new world was totally unfamiliar to her. The logic she knew didn’t apply here. On the topic of common sense, the young mage next to her seemed to be especially lacking in conventional wisdom. “I’d understand if you told me you were from another continent…but what do you mean by ‘another world’?” “I wish I knew… Is there a kind of magic that transports you from one place to another?” “You can go anywhere you want on the continent as long as you know the coordinates. I’ve never heard of anybody transporting to another world, however. Are you sure you’re not imagining things?” “I’m not! I mean, look at this device. Everyone has them in my world. You can take photos and everything.” Shizuku took her smartphone out of her pocket. Erik, however, seemed hung up on the word she’d just used. “‘Photos’? What are those?” “This device captures a still image of what’s in front of you and reproduces it on its screen. It’s like a more detailed version of a painting… Well, maybe that’s a misleading way to describe it, but still.” As Shizuku explained, she took a picture of her hand. When she showed Erik the screen, he looked astounded. “Fascinating. How is that possible?” “…Good question.” Shizuku had no idea how a smartphone actually functioned. She had a vague idea of how a pinhole camera operated, but that was probably different. Shizuku switched her phone off and returned it to her pocket. There wouldn’t be any opportunities to charge it, so she needed to save as much battery as possible. “I need to go back…” “To that other world?” “Yes, if I can. I want to return to my old world, and the era I came from…” She needed to be specific. She didn’t want to wind up in the Middle Ages or something. It was doubtful that Erik would be able to help her, but keeping the right mindset was important. Shizuku never knew when or where that black hole might appear again. Erik scowled, distorting his handsome features. “This is all very strange. I’ve never even read anything like it. Hmm… But Shizukuminase is certainly an unusual first name. It’s not surprising to hear that you’re from another world.” “Minase is my last name,” Shizuku clarified. “My name is just Shizuku. It means ‘water droplet.’” Shizukuminase would have been a weird first name in Shizuku’s world, too. Since their last name meant “shallow water,” the three Minase sisters had all been given water-inspired names. Shizuku’s older sister Umi’s name meant “sea.” And her younger sister Mio’s name meant “waterway.” With their coordinated names and matching surnames, it never took long for people to realize they were sisters. Shizuku smiled awkwardly as she recalled how unfamiliar upperclassmen approached her in her early high school days, exclaiming, “You must be Umi’s sister!” “What?” said Erik, frowning. “Your name was Shizuku all along? You should have told me so from the beginning.” “I’m pretty sure I did.” “No, you didn’t.” Erik’s rebuttal almost brought a sullen look to Shizuku’s face, but deep down, she was just grateful he understood her. Shizuku then decided to ask him a question of her own. “Do you have a last name, Erik?” “The only people who have last names are nobles or those from historic families. It’s why the members of the royal family all have such long names. But I, for one, am just Erik. Not having a last name is the norm here.” “Maybe I can just go by Shizuku, then…” She didn’t want to create any more misunderstandings by using her last name. As Shizuku cocked her head in contemplation, Erik gave her a bemused look. A moment later, he pointed at a nearby house. Once Shizuku saw the single-storied stone building, it struck her as familiar. She offered Erik a shallow bow to show her appreciation. “Thank you for showing me the way. Is it all right if I ask you some more questions?” “About you coming from another world? I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’d be much help.” His reply was curt, but his reluctance was to be expected. Anyone would’ve been flummoxed if someone appeared from nowhere claiming to be from another world. Most people wouldn’t have even believed her. Although disappointed, Shizuku forced a smile. “Okay, I understand. I’ll try doing some research of my own when I get the chance.” With that, Shizuku’s first day in another world came to an end. Much to her frustration, she hadn’t gotten closer to finding out what had happened to her. Morning sunlight poured in through the window. The first thing Shizuku saw upon opening her eyes was the stone ceiling. “I’m still here…,” she muttered as she sat up. This was the same room she’d awoken in the previous day. After Erik had guided her back, she’d received a warm welcome from the merchant couple inside. They’d encouraged her to have dinner and take a bath before going to bed. All throughout, Shizuku couldn’t help but notice how many things were different in this new world. As far as she could tell, there were no electronics or mechanized appliances of any sort inside the house. The presence of a bath and washroom, combined with how conscious people seemed about keeping themselves and their clothes clean, suggested they knew how to prevent disease. Metal utensils were present in drawers, and glass panes were set in windows, although the latter weren’t as clear as what Shizuku was used to. If this home was representative of a standard household, then this civilization was situated in a time akin to the early modern period. Shizuku wasn’t especially knowledgeable about cultural history, though. She only understood the basics from the liberal arts classes she’d taken at college. “I should have chosen some proper cultural-history lessons, too… But how much would that help me when they have magic here…?” She could try to compare this world with her old one, but they were fundamentally different. Studying this land with a fresh perspective was likely the best place to start. Shizuku donned a set of clothes she’d borrowed and left the room. The woman who’d helped her the day before was already in the kitchen, making breakfast. “Good morning, Shisea,” Shizuku greeted. “Good morning, Shizuku. How are you feeling?” “Totally fine, thank you. Oh, let me help with that.” Shizuku went and stood next to Shisea in the kitchen. Once they’d finished preparing the food and sat down to eat together, Shizuku used the opportunity to gather some information. Apparently, there were Four Great Nations on the continent. The first was Medial, which ran along the north. Next was Gandona, situated near the center of the continent. Kisk in the south was third. Last of all was Farsas, the kingdom of magic that stretched from the heart of the continent to the west, commanding a substantial expanse of land. Shizuku had appeared in Tarys, a small nation in the east. Apparently, there were many other small countries on the continent. Farsas stood above all others for its superior command of magic, hence why it was dubbed the kingdom of magic. “Farsas… Is it far away?” If it truly was a land of magic, then perhaps Shizuku might find some clue to help her get home there. She tried recalling the map of the continent she’d seen the previous day. Shisea chuckled. “It’d take you almost three months to travel there, and that’s if you managed to ride in a stagecoach for the entirety of the journey. A transit ring would get you there quickly, of course, but it’s nearly impossible for ordinary folks to receive permission to use one in Tarys. If I were you, I’d start by asking Erik what he thinks. You can always find him in the library.” There were three mages in the town, one of whom was a doctor. According to Shisea, Erik—whom she described as an oddball who kept himself cooped up in the library all day—was more of an academic than a mage. “You’d think the girls would love him, considering his good looks, but his cold personality spoils their hopes.” “I see…” He hadn’t seemed that cold to Shizuku. In fact, he’d been very kind to her. It was true that he barely smiled, and he didn’t seem to bother with flattery or consolation. Now that Shisea had mentioned it, Shizuku understood why people might be intimidated by him. In some ways, he almost reminded her of a few graduate students she’d met. The thought brought a bittersweet smile to her face. That had to be set aside, however. For now, Shizuku had no choice but to focus on surviving her predicament. After she’d finished her breakfast, Shizuku addressed Shisea. “I’m sorry. The truth is, I have no idea how I got here or how I’m supposed to get home. But I do want to pay you back for all your help. Do you know of any places where I could work?” Getting to Farsas would undoubtedly be costly. With no other clues to go on, that was Shizuku’s first step. Her serious expression prompted confusion and sympathy in Shisea’s eyes. “You don’t know how to get home? Well, I suppose everybody has their circumstances. Don’t worry, I’ve got a shopkeeper friend I can introduce you to.” “Really?!” “Yes. His business has undergone some staff changes, so he’s seeking extra help. And you’re welcome to stay here.” “Th-thank you so much!” A flustered Shizuku bowed her head. Not only had she been rescued after collapsing by the road, but she’d also been offered a start toward her objective. She would get back to her world, no matter what it took. Shizuku braced herself for the challenge, then got ready to take on her second day in this new, unfamiliar world. Shizuku’s new part-time job was at a small bakery. She looked around as the smell of freshly baked bread drifted through the air. There were only about five different items on display, including bread loaves, round buns, and breadsticks. There were no sweet buns or rolls stuffed with other ingredients in sight, which Shizuku assumed to be due to lack of demand. “…Just do that, and you’ll make a fine shop assistant. Got it?” “Got it. I’ll give it my best.” After briefly explaining what to do, the shopkeeper retreated back into the kitchen. Once he was out of sight, Shizuku examined her notes. “All right. I just have to focus…,” she said to herself. She’d written out a numerical conversion table on the little piece of paper. The writing of this world looked like gibberish to her. Shizuku’s ability to speak with people had gotten her hopes up about reading, but indecipherable letters were hardly surprising. Thus, before coming to the bakery, Shizuku asked Shisea to help create a number-conversion chart. Fortunately, most of the baked goods were the same price, so as long as Shizuku kept calm, she’d be fine. She looked up from her notes just in time to see two middle-aged ladies enter. It nearly felt like they’d timed their visit perfectly. “Oh, you must be new,” one of the ladies remarked. “You don’t look like you’re from around here.” “My name’s Shizuku. It’s nice to meet you!” “You’re full of energy. Having a young girl working here will really brighten this place up.” The two ladies chuckled among themselves, then bought some loaves of bread. Shizuku handled the transaction, frantically trying to recall what she’d been taught, then wrapped the purchases in paper. Every customer who followed looked surprised to see Shizuku, but they welcomed her kindly. Some of them even told her what they usually bought and urged her to commit the orders to memory. It was the first time since Shizuku’s university entrance exams that she’d been forced to remember so many things at once. Work kept Shizuku so busy that the time flew by. Once almost all the bakery’s goods had sold, she glanced around the shop and let out a sigh. It stood to reason that if bakeries played such an essential role in the townsfolk’s lives, they’d predict how much they’d be able to sell each day. “All right, good job,” said the shopkeeper. “Go and eat with Shisea.” “Thank you so much!” “And here are your wages. I’ll see you again tomorrow.” The owner of the bakery dropped five coins into Shizuku’s hand. One bronze coin was roughly enough to buy three bread rolls. Shizuku thanked the man and started to make her way home, mumbling to herself as she gathered her thoughts. “I think I did about five hours of work today… That means for each hour I work, I can buy three bread rolls. I can probably survive as long as I work hard enough…” Naturally, Shizuku was far from having all the things she needed, but this would allow her to carve out a humble, uneventful existence if she kept at it. Resigning herself to such a fate meant she’d never get home, though. After Shizuku returned to her temporary home, she helped Shisea sort out some pieces of fabric her husband had bought. While doing so, Shizuku announced that she would start paying board and assisting with the housework, too. Initially, Shisea insisted that was unnecessary, but Shizuku hated the idea of taking advantage of the woman’s kindness. Ultimately, Shisea gave in. “I don’t want you to feel like you’re under any pressure. Take your time getting used to things while you look for a way to get home.” “Thank you.” Shisea’s warmth and empathy helped Shizuku relax. Shizuku had really gotten lucky. Although barely an adult, she was mature enough to know not everyone was so kind. Still, she was careful not to forget that there were some lovely people out there, too. If not, the world would be sad and dreary. Fortunately, Shizuku had wound up in a bright and colorful place, which she was quite grateful for. For the next two weeks, Shizuku spent her every waking hour working and helping around the home. In time, she gradually felt like she was growing accustomed to her new life—her new world. And that’s when things took yet another unexpected turn. “It’s nice to see our guest from another world so cheery,” the young mage said as soon as he entered the shop. Shizuku went agape and stiffened. When she finally came back to her senses, she favored him with a wry smile. “Yep, that’s me. Welcome to our bakery. What can I get for you today?” “Bread, please. Wait, do you have anything besides bread?” “I guess I could offer you a cheesy grin… It comes free of charge,” Shizuku replied, forcing a smile. Unsurprisingly, Erik didn’t seem to get the joke. Her attempt at humor ignored, Shizuku ended up sulking with a big smile plastered on her face. “What happened to returning to your own world?” “I still want to, but I don’t know how. No matter what happens, though, I’m going to need some funds and basic knowledge to help me on my way.” “I can’t tell whether you’re being realistic or reckless about this.” “Keeping busy is a good way to distract myself,” Shizuku added, her true feelings seeping out. Erik raised an eyebrow, but the thoughts behind his deep-blue eyes were impossible to read. He sighed, then took a coin out of his breast pocket. While paying for his purchase, he spoke to Shizuku in a manner that reminded her of a college professor reading a piece of text. “I checked all the books I could after we spoke, but I couldn’t find any records of anybody visiting this continent from another world. The closest thing I came across was when high-ranking demons appeared from different realms. There are, however, a few historical records concerning events that contravene the conventions of this world. They’re basically just legends, but perhaps those stories hold the key to sending you home.” Shizuku looked up, still clutching the bag with Erik’s order inside. She stared at him, her eyes wide with astonishment. “…You believe me?” “Why would someone I’d never met before have any reason to lie?” Erik responded as though it was obvious. It was a refreshingly definitive statement. Shizuku was a complete stranger to this man, yet he believed the preposterous story she’d shared with him and had spent time looking for answers. Shizuku bit her lip, feeling pressure building around her eyes. She forced a smile to stop herself from crying. “Thank you very much, Erik.” “There’s no need to be so formal.” He took the paper bag from Shizuku. Doubtless, he’d noticed her getting emotional and was too kind to say anything. Just as he was about to walk through the door, he added, “If you want to know more, come to the library. I’m almost always there.” “Oh! Can I come after work today, then? I’ll be there before sunset!” “Do whatever you like,” Erik responded. And with that, he left. Perhaps it was an unfriendly way to conclude their talk, but Shizuku still felt that he was kind. Shizuku continued her work for the next two hours, trying her best to keep control of her excitement. When dusk arrived, she paid another visit to the library on the edge of town. Night had not yet fallen, but the library was still fairly gloomy. Shizuku noticed there were a few other visitors scattered around the surprisingly spacious building. However, their numbers thinned the deeper she ventured. Silence permeated the place, the sort that possessed a weight of its own. Erik was waiting for her in a dingy corner at the back of the library. There was a lantern positioned on his large desk emitting bluish-white light. Shizuku put her bag down on a seat beside her and sat opposite Erik. “You’ll strain your eyes like that,” she said. “You need more lights around you.” “Bright lights damage the books.” “I get that, but I think eyesight’s more important…” Shizuku knew some people wore glasses in this world. Still, she preferred to avoid the possibility of losing her vision and relying on corrective eyewear. Shizuku searched for a knob on the lantern to adjust its brightness, but unfortunately, she couldn’t locate anything of the sort. At that moment, Erik nonchalantly reached out toward the lantern. He chanted something under his breath, and in an instant, the light momentarily vanished before returning even brighter than before. Shizuku’s eyes widened. “…Th-that was amazing. How did you do that?” “Magic, obviously. For a mage, this is as basic as it gets.” “Can I study magic, too?!” “No. You’re born with the power, or you’re not. The extent of one’s strength is fixed at birth, and you weren’t born with any. By the way, you need to be quiet in the library.” “Sorry…” Shizuku’s shoulders slumped. Her brief dream and curiosity were dashed in a few short sentences. She wanted to see a little more magic, but Erik didn’t seem to be in the mood to oblige. He gazed at her intently with his deep-blue eyes. “I should have asked you this before, but do you have any idea what might have caused you to switch worlds? Is there a sort of magic in your world that could have made that happen?” “No. I mean, magic doesn’t even exist in my world.” “What? Really? How does any of this make sense to you, then?” “Some really old stories mention things like magic, but nowadays, most people doubt that was ever real.” Shizuku tried to choose her words carefully to avoid confusing Erik, but it was generally accepted that magic didn’t exist in her world. Shizuku might have been spirited away in some form, but people in modern Japan would’ve found it impossible to explain the event, whether they had an expression for it or not. Shizuku drew a big oval in the air with her hands. “A hole like this just appeared out of nowhere and swallowed me up. It almost looked like a full-length mirror. And then, before I knew it, I was in the middle of a desert.” “Oh, and you collapsed afterward. I’m impressed that you survived, to be honest. Most people would’ve died.” “There’s no need to be so direct about it. It freaks me out.” People congratulating her on a lucky escape from doom didn’t make Shizuku feel any better. Whenever she thought about her journey through the desert, she shuddered with fear. Having obtained all the information he desired, Erik thrust the thick book that had been lying in front of him toward Shizuku. “Look, here’s the story right here. Around two hundred and forty years ago, something strange occurred repeatedly in a country called Yarda. A specific area would abruptly transform and shift into an entirely different time. It wasn’t an illusion, either. Real substances and living things appeared from nowhere. This phenomenon led to deaths, too. One hundred and forty-six of them, in fact.” “I’m sorry to interrupt your explanation, but I can’t actually read.” “Huh? Why not?” “That’s kind of a pointless question, but I assume it’s because I’m from another world…” Shizuku had just about memorized the numbers, but remained clueless on everything else. She’d managed to pick up a few common words, but she was still likely at a prekindergarten level. Erik gave her a look that suggested he was finding this hard to wrap his head around. He could glare at her like she was an underperforming child all he liked; it wouldn’t change the reality of the matter. The most crucial issue was not Shizuku’s literacy, but the strange events that had occurred long ago. “Could you clarify what exactly was so strange about that?” Shizuku asked. “Honestly, as someone from a world without magic, it’s hard to gauge what’s normal and what’s not.” “Oh, I see. Isn’t life hard without magic, though?” “Is that how it seems to you?” Shizuku asked. “We manage. We have other sorts of technologies in my world, after all.” In this world, magic seemed rooted in people’s everyday lives. Even in the town of Wanope, the doctor was a mage. Erik looked intrigued by this answer but prioritized giving Shizuku the explanation she sought. He tapped the book with his finger. “If you want to know about magic, you need to know that it has a number of fixed principles. No mage can violate these principles, regardless of how powerful they might be. This occurrence, however, did just that.” “What if someone just made use of a magic principle that hadn’t been discovered yet?” “It doesn’t work like that. Magic can’t create something out of nothing. You can move things that are in front of you and summon or rework natural substances…but you can’t just make an apple appear out of nowhere, for example.” “Can’t you? Does that mean you can’t pull a rabbit from a top hat?” “What are you talking about?” “That was an unnecessary interjection on my part. Ignore it.” Staying silent made Shizuku uncomfortable, so she’d ended up interrupting, but their worlds were too different for the conversation to go anywhere. Erik gave Shizuku a dismayed sort of look, but he quickly returned to the topic. “Another important thing to note is that magic doesn’t let you travel through time. That also goes against the rules. There are plenty of other things that magic can’t do, but those are the two qualities that made the occurrences in Yarda so abnormal.” “So you can’t go back to the past… Did people manage to do so during this incident?” For some reason, the information wasn’t sinking in at all. Just as Shizuku considered asking for more concrete examples, Erik began reading aloud, tracing his finger along the lines as he went. “‘One day, an unfamiliar horde of troops suddenly appeared near Cadoss Fortress, in Yarda. The huge army of around fifteen thousand soldiers split into two separate forces and began fighting each other, as if that was what they’d been doing all along. The fortress was pulled into the conflict and forced to defend itself. Many individuals, including some mages, testified that the attackers were real people. This unexpected battle in Yarda resulted in one hundred casualties. Curiously, about three hours after the men first appeared, the incident came to an abrupt end. Just as suddenly as the army arrived, it disappeared without a trace. All that remained were the bodies of the Yardan soldiers who’d died in battle, proving that the incident had not, in fact, been a dream. Later on, a veteran who’d been stationed at the fortress gave a witness account. According to him, the mysterious force and the battle were identical to those he’d seen ten years earlier during the fateful war between the nations of Tayiri and Medial.’” “Huh…? Soldiers from a war ten years earlier reappeared and reenacted the same battle? This is like a real-life mystery.” “It’s certainly a conundrum, that’s for sure. At the time, things like this were a frequent occurrence. The mages of the era concluded some force must have been at work, one that brought memories of the past to life.” “Sorry, could you simplify that one for me?” “Basically, people’s memories became reality. If you were the key, for example, then the sight of you working in the bakery could suddenly appear right where we’re sitting. The building, the customers, and you yourself would all be real.” “That’s so bizarre!” Shizuku understood what Erik was saying, but accepting it proved challenging. There was no shortage of odd stories in her own world, but she hadn’t expected this magic realm to have its own unexplained phenomena, too. Shizuku finally understood why the incident was so abnormal, but it only left her more confused. “So what does this have to do with me?” she questioned, cocking her head to one side. “As a result of the phenomenon at Cadoss Fortress, people actually went missing. A total of fifty-six, to be specific. A general and fifty-two soldiers who’d left the fortress and cut their way into the enemy troops, plus three mages. They were found in the field where Tayiri and Medial actually fought—a battlefield far from the fortress—one week later. The mages who’d disappeared later claimed that no transportation spells had been invoked. They’d simply been moved to a distant location with no logical explanation.” “Oh… That’s like what happened to me.” “It’s not entirely the same, since they just transported elsewhere on the continent, but it is indeed another example of people going from one point to another for no discernable reason. If we dig into this particular incident, it might be able to offer us some clues.” Erik stopped there and stared at Shizuku intently. She swallowed nervously, feeling as though she’d been entrusted with a conundrum too weighty for her hands to bear. “You said these things happened frequently back then. What were the other incidents like?” she asked. “About twenty similar incidents were recorded in the three months surrounding the trouble at the fortress. They all occurred within the borders of Yarda. Each shared two common elements. Firstly, one individual acted as the key. Their memories played out in real life. The other was that those caught up in the replays of the past were whisked away to where that event actually happened once the phenomenon ended.” Erik’s wording was complicated and difficult to comprehend, but essentially, the people who were present during the abnormal situation were transported to where the memory had been made. That’s how Shizuku understood it, anyhow. It was lucky that those people didn’t get sent back in time, but being dropped somewhere far away must have been a nuisance. Shizuku thought back on the black hole that had swallowed her up. Was that a conjured memory, too? She couldn’t decide whether that felt plausible or not. However, in the moment, she wanted to cling to any possible clue she found. “Okay, so if we’re going to research this…how would we go about it? I mean, this stuff happened over two centuries ago,” Shizuku said. “I know. At this point, it’s basically just a legend. But you see, this story has a slightly peculiar sequel.” “A sequel?” Erik nodded and tapped the open book with his fingers. “This book contains witness statements about the incidents and the subsequent investigation that Farsas carried out. However, some revisions were made one month after the initial version was published. Most copies in existence are of the revised edition. I’ve heard that there were even people from Farsas who came and swapped out any remaining copies of the original edition for the new one.” “Huh? But why would they do that? What was the difference?” Had there been some misprints? Shizuku’s question had been a casual one, but it prompted a thoughtful frown from Erik. He closed the book for a moment, then opened it back up at the very last page. “This volume here is one of the few remaining originals. It used to belong to a mage, and the library came to possess it a few decades ago. If you compare the two editions side by side, the only difference is in the witness statement right at the end of the book.” “Just that one change?” “Yes. In the original copy, the witness claims they saw a witch.” Erik’s words were solemn. Shizuku gave him a skeptical look. The word witch brought to mind the sort from kids’ cartoons—the ones on broomsticks with pointy hats. She scanned her memories for something more, but The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was still the best point of reference she could find. Even then, she was a child when she read the story, and barely remembered anything. She tilted her head from one side to another in bewilderment. “So that sorceress’s involvement was the problem?” “Not a sorceress, a witch. All witches are mages, but not all mages are witches. Witch is the old name for female mages who were extraordinarily powerful. Nowadays, you only ever hear about them in legends.” “Are you saying that if I were to go and see one of those witches, I’d be able to get home?” Shizuku was sure that was how it went in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She had put as much thought as she could into her question, yet Erik didn’t look impressed. Shizuku fell silent, worried that she’d said something strange. A few moments later, Erik gave her a nod. “Maybe. But it’s been over three hundred years since there were witches on the continent. There may yet be some out there, but it’s just as likely they’re all gone. Even if you found one, she’d still be a mage. Who knows if she’d be able to wield power to overwrite the principles of magic?” “Hmm. Then what are we supposed to do?” “I’m not finished yet. My point is that Farsas went so far as to revise this book to cover up a witch’s involvement. During the period in question, there was a witch living in Farsas—the king’s older sister, Fystoria. We don’t know whether she was the witch who was spotted, but the fact that they went so far as to conceal that detail makes it seem likely. In other words, Farsas probably knows more about this incident than it’d like to admit.” “Farsas…” That was the land that people referred to as the kingdom of magic. For Shizuku, the idea of going to Farsas had become a vague objective of sorts. It was only during this conversation that the existence of this unknown, faraway land that was three months away by stagecoach began to sink in. She let out a sigh. When she came back to her senses again, she took a notebook out of her bag. “Wait a minute. I’m going to jot this down,” she said. “Okay. Take your time,” Erik replied. Shizuku started writing in her notebook, trying to recall everything she’d heard. The first thing she’d learned in college was how to take notes. You couldn’t just copy everything on the board verbatim. Summarizing the most important points in a way that was easy to understand later on was of utmost importance. Erik watched Shizuku intently as she began to jot things down next to her German notes with a mechanical pencil. To be more precise, he was enthralled by her writing, not her. After scribbling down a few key terms about Farsas, she looked up at him. “What is it?” Shizuku asked. “Nothing. I’m just fascinated. Did you make that language up yourself?” “How weird do you think I am? It’s the language we speak in my country.” “It’s completely different from ours.” Erik pointed at one side of the open notebook, then the other. On the left page, Shizuku had written some basic sentences in German—whereas the right-hand page was where she was making notes in Japanese. “Oh.” Shizuku sensed that she needed to explain. “The writing on that page is in a foreign language—one I’m studying at the moment.” “A foreign language? You mean, people speak different languages just because they’re in different countries?” “Well, there’s a whole ocean separating us. Isn’t it the same in your world? I assume there are other continents, right?” “Apparently. Five in total. The one to the east is the only one that people have actually seen. Very few countries trade across the sea.” “Okay…” Shizuku found Erik’s use of the word apparently a little odd. It didn’t sound like it was very common to travel off the continent. Erik went on to clarify, perhaps having detected Shizuku’s uncertainty. “A fair number of people moved from our continent to the one in the east during the Dark Age and settled there, so I think they speak the same language we do and do many things the same way.” “Oh, so it’s like the UK and the US. That makes sense.” Feeling pleased with herself for coming to that conclusion, Shizuku disregarded the confused look on Erik’s face and went back to taking notes. Right when she considered copying the map of the continent, Erik pointed at one of the words she’d written. “What does this say?” he asked. “Farsas… I hope.” For the time being, she had to guess how to spell the proper nouns. When people from this world were speaking, it sounded like Japanese to her. The only bits that registered as foreign were the names of places and people. Although that made it easy to differentiate them from other words, Shizuku wasn’t confident in her ability to transliterate them. “How about this word?” “Witch,” Shizuku replied. “It looks very different from Farsas.” “That’s because one’s in katakana, and one’s in kanji. My language has a lot of different characters. Probably tens of thousands, if you counted them all up.” Erik couldn’t hide his amazement. It was the first time she’d seen him look so surprised. She laughed, finding it kind of amusing. “Is that true?” Erik asked. “You didn’t just make those characters up yourself?” “Seriously, how weird do you think I am? I’m not lying.” Shizuku would’ve had to have been a very strange person to create a language with so many symbols all by herself. Maybe Erik’s reaction was justified, though. “Tens of thousands” undoubtedly sounded bewildering to someone unfamiliar with Chinese characters. “Wow,” Erik breathed, but Shizuku couldn’t tell from his expression whether he actually understood. Shizuku ran things by Erik as she wrote down the parts that she felt were important, then closed her notebook at last. The inscrutable mage tilted his head to one side and watched as she put her mechanical pencil away. Once she’d stuffed all her things back in her bag, Shizuku stood and gave Erik a small bow. “Thank you very much for your help today. I’ve learned a lot. To be honest, I didn’t even know where to begin when it came to this research, so I really appreciate it.” “Think nothing of it,” Erik said with a nod. He looked unfazed, but perhaps that was just his demeanor. Shizuku, who was slowly beginning to understand what he was like, smiled awkwardly, gave him another small bow, then turned to leave. As she began to walk away, Erik called out to her. “What will you do now?” “I’m going to save up some money and go to Farsas.” That was the only conclusion she’d gleaned from their conversation. Getting there would be difficult, but she wouldn’t accomplish anything unless she tried. Her answer made Erik’s head list to one side. “You seem to have a lot of guts, and I get the impression you have a pragmatic side, too, but do you realize how much money and time it will take to reach Farsas? And what will you even do once you get there? Run to the castle and say, ‘Hello everyone, I’m from another world!’?” “I know it’s not going to be cheap, but I’m prepared to hitchhike or work as a day laborer if I have to. As for what I’m going to do when I’m at the castle, well, I’ll come up with an appropriate plan when I get there.” Shizuku couldn’t deny that she was scared, but no one else was going to step in and fix things for her. It was only natural that she should fend for herself, and she’d prepared herself to do just that. Erik, who had an impenetrable look in his eyes, had a different idea, however. “Why don’t I come with you?” he offered. “…What?” “You wouldn’t be alone in a world you know nothing about, at least. It’ll be easier to get around Farsas with me by your side.” “Huh?” Shizuku hadn’t seen this coming. From her perspective, this man had already gone above and beyond by doing this research for her. Why had he suggested accompanying her? Farsas was a distant place, and Erik himself had admitted that things wouldn’t be easy after reaching the kingdom of magic. Shizuku would never be able to repay such a tremendous favor. Dumbfounded, Shizuku reacted with the only question she could think of. “Is there something you need from Farsas?” “No. In fact, there’s no other country I want to avoid more.” “Really?! What makes you say that?!” “It’s nothing you need to worry about. That’s just my personal view,” Erik replied. “Still, no other country can beat Farsas when it comes to magic. That’s undeniable.” “It’s not going to be some kind of dystopia, right…?” Shizuku was worried now, but Erik didn’t seem to grasp what she was saying. “I don’t really understand what you mean, but I assure you that it’s a peaceful and prosperous place,” he said. Even so, why would he volunteer to come with her to a country he didn’t even like? If Shizuku possessed the striking beauty her sisters were known for, she might have been able to understand why he’d do this of pure kindness. However, Shizuku knew she wasn’t that kind of girl. Erik didn’t seem like the kind of person to entertain such shallow motivations, either. Noticing Shizuku’s perplexed expression, the young man gently waved his hand in front of his face in a reassuring manner. “Don’t you realize how special you are? Throughout the continent’s nearly fifteen-hundred-year-long history, there has never been anyone like you. I’m intrigued not only by what Farsas is hiding but also by the mystery surrounding you.” “Oh…” Shizuku wanted some answers, too. What had happened to her, and why? She’d been swallowed up by a black hole and found herself standing in the middle of a desert. Was there some sort of hidden truth to the ordeal that she needed to uncover? Was there a meaning to it all? Shizuku felt like she was peering desperately into a deep crevice. She wished to know what was down there, but it felt like there was no end in sight. The thought made her throat tighten. She’d been trying to ignore the possibility that she’d never make it home, but it was rapidly becoming hard to avoid. Erik noticed that Shizuku had turned pale with dread and furrowed his brow. “Are you all right?” “…Yeah,” she replied reflexively. Shizuku sensed she was on the verge of trembling, so she clenched her fists hard. Recognizing the behavior, Erik seemed to deduce what was bothering her. “Oh, do I make you feel uneasy? Don’t worry. I have no interest in other people.” This dry comment instantly brought Shizuku back to reality. She frantically shook her head. “No, it’s not that. This all feels a little overwhelming,” Shizuku clarified. “Well, there’s nothing we can do about that. You just have to be thankful for your few bits of good fortune.” Shizuku stared at the young man, stunned. Ultimately, he was right. She would probably be lying dead in the desert if not for some tremendous good luck. She’d been given a place to stay, a job, and food to eat. She was more blessed than she ever could’ve hoped for. What use was there wasting time feeling anything but grateful? A smile graced Shizuku’s face. “That’s a good point… Thank you.” “Don’t worry about it. It’s perfectly understandable that you’re anxious. So what’s your next step?” There was only one answer. Shizuku didn’t know Erik very well, but she could sense that he was someone who took things seriously. Not only was he a mage, but he was also knowledgeable about this world. Shizuku couldn’t have asked for a better companion to assist her on this unexpected and bizarre journey. Having made up her mind, Shizuku stood up straight. She placed her hands together in front of her chest and bowed deeply. “Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please come with me.” “Okay,” Erik replied. There was no warmth in his voice, yet he sounded sincere. Shizuku clutched the handle of her bag as tightly as she could. Her journey across this new, mysterious world was about to begin. She couldn’t imagine what might happen or what was waiting for her. However, moving forward was the only option if she was to have any chance of getting home. “I have things I need to prepare, and I expect you do, too. How about we leave in a week’s time?” Erik suggested. “Okay.” Shizuku had finally gotten used to this town, and departing would be a sad and frightful thing. It would mean saying good-bye to Shisea, to the owner of the bakery, and all the other people she’d come to know. Still, Shizuku had always known she’d have to take that crucial step forward at some point, much like that first step she’d taken across the desert. When Erik saw the fervent determination in her eyes, he smiled. “Also, there’s one favor I want to ask of you. Think of it as my reason for coming with you.” “What is it?” “I want you to teach me the characters they use in your language.” “What?” Surprised, Shizuku met Erik’s gaze and saw the quiet passion burning behind it. These two young people, standing in that library, had nothing in common. They’d known very different lives. Long afterward, Shizuku would think back on this particular moment. Her whole life changed when she found herself in that desert, but her story didn’t truly begin until she met Erik. His words marked the beginning of their journey. Ultimately, fate was something individuals had the power to control. Thus, Shizuku began down the path she’d chosen. It was a route that would lead from a gentle little town to a greater, unkind world. At the time, neither she nor Erik knew this marked a pivotal juncture that would transform the foundation of the continent forever.
Chapter 2
38 min read