Kazuki stood alone, the silence pressing in on him like a weight. The aftermath of his battle with Daelan was etched into the landscape around him—scorched earth, shattered rock, and lingering traces of their brutal clash. As his breathing slowed, he felt the fatigue settling into his bones, a reminder of the toll this fight had taken. He closed his eyes, letting the feeling wash over him. Finally, it was over.
But as he allowed himself a brief moment of relief, a faint shiver ran down his spine. The air grew colder, unnaturally so, and an unsettling feeling crept in. Opening his eyes, Kazuki saw a shadowy figure standing a short distance away, almost blending into the darkness.
"Who are you?" Kazuki called out, his voice echoing in the stillness.
The figure remained silent, cloaked in an aura that seemed to swallow light. Kazuki could make out no distinct features—only the outline of a tall, lean figure draped in robes that seemed to shift like smoke. Finally, the figure spoke, its voice low and carrying an otherworldly echo.
"Who I am is of no consequence to you, Kazuki Takahiro."
Kazuki's grip on his sword tightened, his guard rising instinctively. "If you're here for a fight, you might want to wait until I catch my breath."
The figure chuckled softly, a sound that seemed to reverberate from all around. "I am not here to battle you. Quite the contrary. I am here to take you… somewhere else."
Kazuki's eyes narrowed. "Somewhere else? What does that mean?"
The figure stepped forward, and as it moved, Kazuki felt an unexplainable pull, as though his very essence was being drawn toward it. The figure raised a hand, and a swirl of dark energy began to coalesce in its palm.
"You were never meant to stay in this realm," it continued, its tone calm yet laced with a strange authority. "You do not belong to this world, Kazuki. You belong to the Earth."
Kazuki's heart skipped a beat. "Earth… Are you saying… you're here to take me back?"
The figure inclined its head slightly, and for the first time, Kazuki could see a glimmer of what might have been eyes beneath the hood. "Yes. Your presence here has altered the fabric of this realm. It's time for you to return to where you came from."
Kazuki took a shaky breath, his mind racing. All this time, he had come to accept this world, to fight for it, to protect it. The thought of leaving everything behind—the friends he'd made, the battles he'd fought—left a hollow ache in his chest.
"I can't just leave," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "There are people here… people I need to protect."
The figure's gaze did not waver. "That is the burden of a traveler. Bonds are made and severed, but you are bound by a greater force. You are bound by destiny. And destiny calls you back to Earth."
Kazuki clenched his fists, his mind reeling with the enormity of it all. "But what happens to this world if I leave? What about the people still in danger?"
The figure's voice softened, almost compassionate. "The world will carry on, as it always does. And those you leave behind will find their own paths, just as you must find yours. Your purpose here is fulfilled, Kazuki. The time has come."
Kazuki's gaze fell to the ground, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. He thought of Lira, of Seraphine, of the countless lives he'd fought to protect. Could he truly just walk away from it all?
But deep down, he knew that this was inevitable. The memory of his old life, of Earth, tugged at him like a distant echo, a part of him that he had nearly forgotten. He looked up, meeting the figure's gaze.
"If I go… will I remember any of this?" he asked quietly.
The figure's expression was inscrutable, hidden in shadow. "Memories are like shadows. Some linger, some fade. The choice is yours, Kazuki."
Kazuki closed his eyes, a myriad of emotions swirling within him. He could feel the pull of Earth calling to him, a tether that refused to let go. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he knew had to be done.
"Alright," he said, his voice steady. "Take me back."
The figure nodded, and with a wave of its hand, the dark energy in its palm expanded, enveloping Kazuki in a cocoon of shadows. He felt a strange sensation, as though he were being pulled through a tunnel, reality itself twisting around him. The sounds of the world faded, replaced by an intense silence, and for a brief moment, he felt weightless.
Just as quickly as it began, the sensation stopped. Kazuki's feet hit solid ground, and he opened his eyes, blinking against the sudden brightness. The air felt different, familiar yet strange all at once. He looked around, and his heart clenched as he recognized his surroundings.
Tall buildings loomed overhead, their glass facades reflecting the city lights. The distant hum of cars and the chatter of people reached his ears, and the unmistakable scent of Earth filled his lungs. He was home.
Kazuki stumbled forward, his mind struggling to reconcile the reality before him. It was as though he'd stepped out of a dream, and the memories of his time in the other world felt like wisps slipping through his fingers.
He caught his reflection in a nearby window and froze. His face was the same, yet there was something different in his eyes—a depth, a weariness that hadn't been there before. He touched the glass, half-expecting it to be an illusion, but the cool surface was real.
Suddenly, a voice called out from behind him.
"Hey! Are you alright?"
Kazuki turned, meeting the concerned gaze of a young woman. She wore a backpack, her expression one of genuine worry.
"Yeah… I'm fine," he managed, his voice sounding foreign to his own ears.
The woman gave him a hesitant smile. "You looked like you'd seen a ghost. Do you need help?"
Kazuki shook his head, forcing a smile. "No, thank you. I just… got a little lost."
She nodded, glancing at him one last time before walking away. Kazuki watched her go, the reality of his situation settling in. He was back on Earth, yet he felt like a stranger in his own world.
He turned away, walking aimlessly through the city streets, his mind haunted by fragments of the life he'd left behind. The faces of his friends lingered in his thoughts—Seraphine's gentle guidance, Lira's fierce determination, even Daelan's intense rivalry. They were all memories now, pieces of a past he wasn't sure he would ever truly leave behind.
As he walked, he felt something in his pocket. Reaching in, he pulled out a small, shimmering stone—the last remnant of the world he had fought so hard to protect. He stared at it, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips.
"Guess I'll keep this as a reminder," he murmured, tucking the stone away.
With one last look at the city lights, Kazuki continued down the street, his heart heavy yet filled with a quiet resolve. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he knew one thing for certain.
His journey was far from over.