Kazuki sat alone in the park, watching the people passing by, their lives unfolding in patterns he recognized but felt detached from. In the world he'd come from, his every step had a purpose, his every action a consequence. But here, back on Earth, the purpose he once felt had faded, replaced by an ache that he couldn't shake.
As he watched the world moving around him, a group of teenagers laughed nearby, drawing his gaze. Their laughter was loud, carefree—something he hadn't heard in a long time. It reminded him of Lira's laugh, that rare moment when her usual seriousness would slip and a genuine smile would emerge. He shook his head, pushing the thought away. But the memories kept coming, flooding his mind with images he'd tried to leave behind.
He barely noticed someone sitting next to him until a quiet voice broke his thoughts. "You look like someone who's lost their way."
Kazuki glanced over, surprised to see the same girl from earlier, her eyes filled with an understanding that felt far too deep for a stranger. She gave him a soft smile, as though reading his thoughts. "Looks like you didn't take my advice after all."
Kazuki blinked, her words catching him off guard. "Your advice?"
She nodded, folding her hands on her lap. "Sometimes, we think we have to leave the past behind completely to move forward. But maybe the past is just a part of who we are, even if it's a part we can't go back to."
Kazuki hesitated, her words resonating with him in a way he hadn't expected. "It's not that simple. The things I've seen, the people I've… I can't just carry all of that with me. It's too much."
She tilted her head, her gaze thoughtful. "What if you didn't have to carry it alone?"
He felt a strange comfort in her presence, like she could somehow see the weight he bore. "Why do you care? We don't even know each other."
She shrugged, leaning back on the bench. "Maybe I don't have to know you to see that you're hurting. Everyone has ghosts, but some ghosts are heavier than others."
Kazuki sighed, rubbing his temples. "They're more than just ghosts. They're people—friends. I had a purpose, something to fight for, and now…" He trailed off, the ache in his chest tightening. "Now, I don't know who I am anymore."
She listened, nodding as though she understood. "Purpose is a funny thing. Sometimes it's a quest, something that drives us forward. But sometimes, purpose is in the people we meet along the way. Maybe those people gave you more than just a reason to fight."
Kazuki's gaze fell to the ground, her words echoing in his mind. He thought of Seraphine, her calm wisdom and steady presence, and Daelan, fierce and unyielding even in their rivalry. And Lira, who had hidden her vulnerability behind strength, but whose courage had inspired him in ways he hadn't realized until now.
The girl shifted, turning to face him fully. "I don't know what you went through, and I'm not here to pry. But maybe, just maybe, the memories aren't there to haunt you. Maybe they're there to remind you of who you are."
Kazuki looked up, meeting her gaze. "And who am I, exactly? Because right now, I don't even recognize myself."
Her expression softened, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "You're someone who cared deeply. Someone who fought, not just for survival but for others. That doesn't disappear, no matter where you are."
For a moment, Kazuki let her words sink in. He'd been so focused on the loss, on the separation from his friends and the world he'd left, that he hadn't considered that they might have left something with him—a part of themselves that had shaped him, that had become part of who he was.
The girl rose to her feet, brushing a few stray leaves from her dress. "It's getting late, but I'll be around if you ever need to talk again." She started to walk away but paused, looking back at him with a gentle smile. "Remember, you're not alone, Kazuki."
His head snapped up, his heart skipping a beat. "How do you…?"
But she was already gone, disappearing into the crowd as if she'd never been there at all. Kazuki stared after her, his mind racing. How had she known his name? And more importantly, who was she?
A strange chill ran down his spine, but he pushed the thought aside. Rising from the bench, he shoved his hands into his pockets and headed in the direction of his apartment, his steps heavy with exhaustion. Yet, beneath the weight, a small glimmer of something else—hope?—began to flicker.
When he finally reached his apartment, he unlocked the door and stepped inside, the familiar smell of his belongings filling the air. Everything was exactly as he'd left it, untouched by time. He walked over to the window, gazing out at the city lights, the distant hum of life a constant reminder of the world he'd returned to.
But as he stood there, a faint shadow shifted in the corner of his vision. Startled, he turned around, his heart pounding. "Who's there?"
Silence.
Kazuki's hand instinctively moved to where his sword would have been, but of course, it wasn't there. He was back on Earth, after all. Still, the sense of unease didn't fade.
Taking a cautious step forward, he scanned the room, his senses on high alert. "If this is some kind of joke, it's not funny."
A low chuckle echoed from the darkness, and Kazuki's blood ran cold. "You still haven't lost that edge, I see."
The voice was unmistakable, and Kazuki's heart raced with a mixture of shock and disbelief. "Daelan?"
A figure stepped out of the shadows, his tall, imposing form unmistakable. Daelan's eyes gleamed with the same intense fire Kazuki remembered, but there was something else there, something darker. "Surprised to see me?"
Kazuki's mind spun, struggling to make sense of what he was seeing. "But… how? You're supposed to be…"
"In the other world?" Daelan smirked, folding his arms. "It seems fate has other plans."
Kazuki's gaze narrowed, his guard rising instinctively. "What are you doing here, Daelan? Did you follow me?"
Daelan's smile faded, his expression turning serious. "Let's just say I found a way back. But don't flatter yourself—I didn't come here for you."
Kazuki clenched his fists, a surge of anger and confusion boiling within him. "Then why are you here?"
Daelan's eyes gleamed with a hint of malice. "The same reason you're here, Kazuki. To find purpose. To reclaim what was lost. But unlike you, I'm not bound by sentimentality."
Kazuki took a step forward, his voice steady. "If you think you can bring the darkness of that world into this one, you're wrong. I won't let you."
Daelan chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "Still playing the hero, I see. But this world isn't the same as the one we left behind. Here, power lies in different places. And I intend to claim it."
Kazuki's heart pounded, the weight of his oath echoing in his mind. He wouldn't let Daelan turn this world into a battlefield. But as he looked into Daelan's eyes, he saw the same ruthless determination that had driven him in the other world.
"Then I'll stop you," Kazuki said, his voice filled with quiet resolve. "Even if it means fighting you all over again."
Daelan's smirk widened, a glint of anticipation flashing in his eyes. "I'd like to see you try."
The tension hung thick in the air as the two of them stood face to face, the echoes of their past battles lingering between them. They had fought as enemies and allies, bound by circumstances neither had chosen. But here, on Earth, there were no such bindings, no oaths or destinies dictating their actions.
Kazuki took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering. "I don't know how you got here, Daelan, or what you plan to do. But whatever it is, I won't let you hurt anyone."
Daelan's smile faded, his expression turning cold. "You still don't understand, do you? This world isn't as innocent as you think. Power exists here, too. Hidden, waiting to be claimed. And I intend to be the one to take it."
Kazuki's fists clenched, his determination solidifying. "Then we're enemies again."
Daelan inclined his head, his gaze challenging. "So it would seem."
For a long moment, they stood in silence, each sizing up the other, memories of their battles flickering between them. The weight of their shared past and uncertain future settled around them like a shroud, binding them in a fate neither could escape.
Finally, Daelan turned, disappearing back into the shadows with a final parting glance. "Be seeing you, Kazuki."
And just like that, he was gone, leaving Kazuki standing alone in the dim light of his apartment, his heart pounding with a renewed sense of purpose.