(POV change)
"Did you hear? Rein came back all beaten up last night. One of the doctors said he refused to tell her what happened. Do you think there's been a monster outbreak?" Asked one of the nobles attending the dinner banquet. As a lowly maid, I didn't join in on any of the conversations.
"I heard he was acting strange, and he wasn't in his room right before that maid found him" said Duke Misty van Ruduoh. "Really? His parents need to keep a better eye on him. Either way, if monsters have broken out of the dungeon, we're all in danger!" Said Baren Yukino.
I was wondering all the same questions as the nobles around me. After all, Rein is my master. 'Rein, what sort of trouble have you gotten yourself into?!' I thought as the conversations all around me discussed one single subject: what happened to master Rein.
(POV change)
A small cat with one black eye and one white eye hopped into the room from the window. "It's about time you got here. I was beginning to think you hadn't reincarnated into this world" I said as the creature took its seat on the floor next to the bed I was laying in.
"I didn't reincarnate until just now. Something must have reminded you of the past, huh?" Asked the small cat, who wrapped its tail around its paws. "I guess you're right" I said, then leaned forward to stroke the cat on its head. The cat began to purr.
"You treat me well. So, I see you've been up to your same old antics" said the cat, looking over my damaged body. "You should've seen me when I was first tied down to this stupid bed. I bet you just would've laughed at me" I said. The cat let out a chuckle.
A memory suddenly washed over me. One of my childhood, which I can barely remember...
(POV change... ish?)
A small kid raced around a tavern. His hair black, and his eyes bright blue. A couple of drunk men around him began throwing around their wooden cups at the boy, as he was making too much noise. "Quiet down, you little rat!" Said one of the men, his eyes filled with rage.
A woman in pink clothes rushed out from behind the counter, quickly pushing the child behind her as she dealt with the drunk man. "It's all my fault... I'll be better" Muttered the child, who clenched his hands so tightly blood began to drip from his wound.
A single red rope could be seen in an entirely black room. A single strand from the rope began to break, then severed completely. The boy put on a large smile, then walked up to the man. "I'm very sorry for the inconvenience" said the boy. "You'd better be..." said the drunken man.
(POV change... ish?)
The cat hopped up onto the bed, then curled up in my lap. "It'll be okay. This is a completely different world. Your memories from here shouldn't be as painful, knowing they aren't real, right?" Asked the cat. I began to pet it, and the cat began to purr once more.
"By that logic, you wouldn't exist. These memories are as real to me as you are. I won't ever forget, nor will I ever leave your side. Don't forget that, my little cat" I said in a whisper. "Okay then... as you wish" said the cat, who began to fall asleep inside of my lap.
A small girl with bubblegum-pink hair burst into the room. "Your mother... summononed... you..." said the girl, who was still out of breath from the long run. 'So, I have family in this world' I thought as I looked down at the girl, who was holding her knees to keep from falling.
"Lead me to her" I said, carefully placing the cat to the side of my bed. The cat began to stirr, the hopped off the bed and followed me. We soon arrived in a room that looked similar to a manager's office. A black chair sat behind a wooden desk, in it was the person I assumed was my mother.
A woman with silver hair greeted me. The maid bowed her head before leaving the room. A large smile spread across my face. "I assume this is important" I said, not caring if she noticed I'm not her real son. The woman then let out a small sigh before turning her gaze directly into my eyes.
"Banquet tomorrow night" she said, her tone suggesting she didn't want to go. Neither did I. "Is that all?" I asked. "Yeah, you can go now" she said. Looking around the room, I noticed we were all alone. This probably meant I didn't have any brothers or sisters.
Either that or they lived with someone else, or we weren't on good terms. Though I can't imagine the former Rein not being on good terms with someone. Since coming to this world, I've received most of the former Rein's memories. I somehow seem to have some gaps in them, though.
Like the fact I can't quite remember my relationship with mother, or even that I had any family. Does this mean I have a father too, or does this mean my mother and I have seen each other so little that she's easily forgettable? Either way, I know I'd find out at this 'banquet'.
As I left the room, the small white cat followed me. "So, what do you plan to do at the family gathering? Announce you lost your memories or some other lie, or act like the former Rein?" Asked the cat as we entered my room. I plopped on top of my bed, and the cat sat on the floor.
"I plan to announce I lost my memories. No use in faking my identity, especially when it'd be so obvious I'm not him. After all, we're almost complete opposites. It'd just be easier to fake memory loss. Though I would have to come up with some excuse if I slip up with the memories I do have..." I said.
"I'm sure you'll think of something" said the cat. "Eh, I bet you're right. It sounds an awful lot like tomorrow me's problem" I said. The cat flicked its tail, then wrapped it around its paws. "Y'know, this is going to come back to bite you, right?" Asked the small cat. "Problem for tomorrow" I said.
(The next day)
A huge castle filled with people in fancy suits and ball gowns filled the room. A boy with a small white cat on his shoulder could be seen standing behind a woman with silver hair, who was talking to a man with blue hair. The boy seemed to be talking to himself, as the cat couldn't be seen by others.
"So, what do you think? Having a father sounds nice, though I can't help but be suspicious of him. What kind of father doesn't know his son's name? I also can't seem to recall a single memory of this supposed father of mine" I muttered to the small cat sitting on my shoulder.
"But you also didn't remember your mother" said the cat. "Yeah, I don't trust her either" I said. "You don't trust a lot of people" said the cat. "Anyway, what's your thoughts on this 'magic academy'? It sounds like something out of a manga, doesn't it?" I asked the cat.
"Sure, but I'd probably be more surprised if a fantasy world didn't have a magic academy" said the cat. "I wonder if I'll meet anyone else who was reincarnated into this world" I said. "Well, it's kinda a toss up. Though I hope so!" Said the cat. "Why's that?" I asked.
"Because it'd mean we wouldn't be alone" said the cat. "We aren't. We have each other, and that's all I need" I said. "That's good for you, but what if I want to make friends in this life? Our previous life wasn't all that fun because we didn't have friends" said the cat.
"You can make friends on your own. I really don't care about that one way or the other" I said. "And look where that's gotten you. No one else can see me, so you'll just have to make friends for me" said the cat. "So that's what you're up too. Not happening" I said.
The woman with silver hair turned around. "Shh" she said, putting a finger on her lips. I nodded my head, plastering a smile on my face once more, then stood beside her. "Talk later" I muttered to the cat. "Right" said the cat, who hopped off my shoulder to stand beside me.
"Looks like our boy has grown up a lot these past couple years" said the man my mother was talking to, who turned out to be my father. He stretched out his hand. "Greetings" I said, rejecting his attempt at a handshake. "I guess I'll have to work a bit harder for your trust, huh?" Said the man.
"What ever could you mean, dearest father?" I asked. The man laughed. "You don't have to keep up appearances with me" he said. "You assume I'm putting on an act just to comfort your fragile ego? Why in the world would I do such a thing?" I asked. The man shook his head.
"You're a tough nut to crack. I seem to recall you being a lot more friendly when you were younger" he said, then left to get some wine. My mother turned to face me. "What was that all about? You were all excited about seeing him just a week or so ago!" She said.
"Did I not seem happy to greet him?" I asked, my smile still as 'bright' as ever. "I guess that fall really did do a number on you..." she said, a disappointed look plastered on her face. She took my hand and we went to greet more nobles I don't know the names of.
'Looks like mom doesn't care about that man as much as one might think. She looked disappointed for the sake of appearances, but I can tell when someone is lying. Well, either way, I don't really care. I'm my own person in this life and the last. I'm not going to pretend to be the former Rein' I thought.
After an hour or two passed, the banquet finally started for real. A small elven girl with bright sapphire eyes and silver hair walked down the stairs, her silk dress with blue flowers embroidered on it perfectly complemented her natural beauty. "Princess Meliana" I muttered to myself.
"Welcome, esteemed nobles of the empire. I would like to welcome you all here today in celebration of those chosen to go to the magic academy. Only those blessed by the Gods may enter this place, and because of this, nobles and commoners both are welcome" said the princess.
People began to clap. "Both commoners and nobles are treated equally in this academy because the Gods treat them with equal favor. Though commoners aren't allowed in the royal palace, I would like to raise a toast to them as well as the nobles brought here today" she said.
Wine glasses were raised. "Here, here!" Called all nobles attending the banquet. "Each and every student who has entered the academy has worked hard for their place in God's eyes. Please, sleep well knowing your hard work has paid off as you enter this prestigious academy" she said.
'Pfft. She spouts off these ideals of hers, but I didn't receive a blessing, and I've entered the academy. I bet most of the nobles there don't have blessings either, yet each and every one of the commoners attending the magic academy had to claw their way there' I thought.
Even as I thought this, I was clapping along with all the others, a large smile plastered across my face. The elven princess finished her speech beautifully, then left the banquet. 'What, she can't manage a few greetings with us peasants?' I thought as she left the room.
The rest of the banquet went on without her, and without me as well. I left almost right after the princess did. My supposed mother didn't even notice me slip away. After all, I had already greeted all the important nobles she wanted me to. 'This life is just a political pawn to be used by others' I thought.
[A/N: More on Rein and the cat's relationship in later chapters. Thanks for reading this far]