The sea of flames devours everything within his sight. Hans is in disbelief as he watches in helpless silence as the many buildings in the mirror realm turn to ebony chars. If not for the barrier of translucent blue protecting him, Hans will be dead already.
"Who are you?"
Hans gazes at the middle-aged man who is hefting him up by the collar of his suit in curious wonder. Though Hans already has a name in mind, the way things are proceeding is too fast.
"My name is Peran Aurelius, you brat. Take my daughter, me and my wife still have a fight to win…"
The middle-aged man, Peran, tosses his daughter to Hans. Hans clumsily receives the woman in his arms. By the moment Peran is done speaking, the ashy and charred buildings of the mirror realm return to their prior state as the natural law of the mirror realm takes effect.
"Don't leave the barrier, don't leave my daughter alone, and most of all, don't disrespect her. Or I will kill you…" Peran menacingly warns Hans as he summons a broadsword out of thin air.
Peran's dark hair is in a mess, the dark eye bags from his eyes are thick, and the little stubble on his chin seems to portray a jobless dad who recently just wakes up after a hangover. Despite all of this negative impression, Peran's eye pupils of pure blue is brimming with heroic might.
In the flash of lightning, Peran kicks the earth causing cracks to appear. Peran propels himself to the air with a monstrous jump.
Hans watches all of this with dull eyes. From afar, he can see the glittering lights and the magical fight scenes in the air. "I don't know what to do with my life anymore…"
Of course, Hans knows what is happening. This is the 'background story' as to how the main heroine losses her memory and ends up losing her rightful inheritance as an heiress of one of the most powerful Witches in the world.
Hans gazes at the woman in his arms. She seems to be sleeping, and has a feverish temperature. The main heroine of the story is in his arms. This kind of story progression is sending chills down his spine. Hans drops the beauty from his arms with an uncaring attitude.
*plop~
She didn't wake up. She remains sleeping as if the pain of the drop is not even there.
"So it is real…" Hans is doubting whether she is really asleep. While he should know more than the 'character' itself especially the heroine, Hans cannot help but suspect the creature people refer to as 'women'.
"Miranda 'Mira' Aurelius… Wake up…" Hans strictly calls to the sleeping beauty, and realizing that she is really asleep, Hans sits beside her. Using his lap as a pillow, she helps Mira to a more comfortable sleeping position.
Dark flowing hair, rosy cheeks, fair skin, supple lips, and a… pretty face… Just like a doll, and maybe even more, Hans finds himself under the enchantment of her beauty. At this moment, Hans realizes something is wrong with himself. It is as if he is losing control of his psyche.
*slap!
Hans slaps himself to wake up from the stupor. It is as if his body is not listening to him at that time. Thankfully, his will is strong. Hans knows that it is not Mira's fault as Mira should not have powers of bewitchment.
"For the main heroine of the novel, she really is beautiful…" and pitiful.
Of course, Hans knows. After all, he is the author that has set her on the path of thorns. Not that Hans feels guilty, but he should treat her better. Like for example, a lap pillow. "Hmm… If she learns I am so good to her, would she look at me preferentially? Maybe I can squeeze some benefits from her?"
Hans feels the temptation of kissing her while defenseless so that he can satisfy his own Geass's restrictions. "She doesn't need to know."
It is just a light peck. It is nothing too scandalous.
But in the end, Hans didn't go for it.
"I almost forgot… One of her Geass restrictions is that if she is kissed, she will fall into heart attack… a very painful heart attack…"
Hans admonishes himself for his folly.
"I just want to live."
Hans wants to cry, but cannot even summon a tear, because of the all-too-complicated emotions in his heart. The world is definitely screwing with him.
This time, a trench dozen of meters wide suddenly cleaves through beside him. The barrier is able to withstand it, but not the mirror realm. Hans suddenly finds himself in the real world with Mira still on his lap.
"Just brilliant… But I am still gonna die…"
In an abandoned complex lacking any human presence, Hans checks up his surroundings. Hans can tell that the chances are there must really be no people around. The cobwebs, dusty corners of the concrete walls, the acrid smell of rust in the air— all of this are telltale signs of being desolate.
Hans carries Mira by dragging her. He unceremoniously put his arms under her armpits and drags her to the outside of the compound. There is no need to be classy like bridal carry, or even piggyback. Hans just drags the heroine as much as he likes until finally, they reach the garden dense with green vegetation.
Comfortably lying on a tall strong tree, Hans takes a breather.
If he recalls correctly, they should be in a park back then in the mirror realm, but because of the unnatural breaking of space, they are suddenly dropped here in totally different coordinates all thanks to the elemental shift of the real world and the mirror realm.
Hans looks at Mira. "Should I just ditch her?"
The temptation is real. Still in the end, he decides not to leave her. "If I remember correctly another of her Geass restrictions is that there must always be a man within 13 meters of her or suddenly, she will fall into an indefinite sleep."
Hans realizes how useless the heroine is to him. He cannot kiss her. He cannot leave her. He will definitely be the slave of this woman if he lets the 'plot' takes its course of its own.
As a writer, Hans believes in the power of coincidences, which, a story progression can bring to people. The last thing Hans wants is to involve himself with the heroine.
"Do I really have a choice?"
Hans gazes at the stars above. It is midnight, and the penalty of not satisfying his Geass is nearing.
"I am sorry…"
Hans turns his head and looks at the sleeping Mira just beside him. Hans closes the distance between them. Hans sees Mira's closed eyes trembling, and slowly, she opens her eyes. Under the fluttering of her eyelashes are two beautiful orbs of gradient blue.
"Eh~?" Mira cutely makes a sound of wonder as she sees Hans's face so close to her.
"Shhh… Just a light peck…" An inch closer, and…
"Meow~"
Hans look over at the dissenter. A black stray cat looks at them with curiosity. It has beautiful purple eyes, and it purrs with feline majesty. Hans' eyes widen in shock as he exclaims. "There are no balls under!"
Mira is blushing, her cheeks are a strong shade of pink, and maybe because of embarrassment, she is creating "Awa~ awa~" sounds.
The cat as if joining in the chorus purrs as she licks her paws. "Meow~"
Hans suppresses his excitement as he proclaims. "She is the one!"