Between Two Worlds

Copyright ©️

Author - Uruha Rushia

Update Date - Sat, 14 Dec (2024)

[Kuro no Major]

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Ryuuma had been living in Japan for four years now. While his studies at medical school were going smoothly, the stress of work and life weighed heavily on him. Every day felt like a never-ending rush, leaving him exhausted. Today was no different. He was preoccupied with work-related thoughts as he walked, phone in hand, scrolling through emails.

"Another report deadline? Why does life have to be this suffocating?" he muttered under his breath, frustration seeping into his voice.

Ryuuma cycled through the dimly lit streets, the cool air brushing against his face. The city lights flickered faintly, and the silence of the night enveloped him. The street was empty—no pedestrians, no cars—just a void-like stillness. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though the world belonged solely to him, a quiet sanctuary away from the chaos of his reality.

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A Whisper in the Dark

Suddenly, a voice broke the stillness.

"Ryuuma…"

The sound was faint, almost a whisper. Startled, Ryuuma stopped pedaling, his bicycle skidding slightly as he came to a halt. He turned his head, scanning his surroundings. The street was deserted.

"Who's there?" he called out, his voice echoing into the empty night.

No answer came.

Shrugging it off as his imagination, he placed his foot back on the pedal. But just as he was about to move, the voice came again—this time clearer, closer, and unmistakably real.

"Ryuuma…"

He froze. A chill ran down his spine. Heart pounding, he gripped the handlebars tightly and turned around once more. All he saw was an empty lot behind him, overgrown with weeds.

"Is someone playing a prank on me?" he muttered nervously, his breath quickening.

Before he could react further, a searing pain shot through his chest. His vision blurred, the world around him began to spin, and he collapsed to the ground.

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The Dreamworld

When he opened his eyes, Ryuuma found himself in a completely different place. He was lying on a cold, cobblestone street under a crimson sky that glowed ominously. The air was heavy, and a faint metallic scent lingered.

"Where am I?" he murmured, slowly rising to his feet.

Around him were ancient buildings, their gothic spires clawing at the sky. The place exuded an eerie yet captivating beauty. It felt unreal, as if he had been pulled into a dream.

A deep, resonant bell tolled in the distance, sending shivers through him. The sound carried an unspoken foreboding, as if warning of something sinister.

"Welcome to Zagei," a voice said suddenly.

Ryuuma spun around to see a girl standing behind him. She had long, flowing silver hair and piercing red eyes that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. Her expression was calm but carried a weight of melancholy that made her seem older than she appeared.

"Who are you?" he asked cautiously.

"I am Yuki," she said with a soft smile. "But here, I am known as the 'Kuro no Majo.'"

"'Kuro no Majo'…?" Ryuuma repeated, his brow furrowed in confusion. "How do you know my name?"

Yuki's smile faded slightly, replaced by an expression of quiet sorrow. "Ryuuma, your being here is no coincidence. It is fate. But you don't belong in this world. It is not your place."

"What are you talking about? What is this place?" he demanded, frustration and fear creeping into his voice.

Yuki stepped closer, her red eyes locking onto his. "This world is dangerous for you. You must wake up… before it's too late."

Before he could respond, Yuki raised her hand, and everything around him dissolved into darkness.

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Back to Reality

Ryuuma jolted awake, gasping for air. He was back on the street, lying on the cold pavement. His bicycle lay a few feet away, the front wheel still spinning lazily. The streetlights cast a dim glow over the scene, and the distant hum of a car engine reached his ears.

"A dream…?" he whispered, his hand clutching his chest where the pain had been.

But the vividness of the experience lingered, refusing to fade. The crimson skies, the gothic city, and Yuki's sorrowful gaze were etched into his mind.

"If it was just a dream, why does my chest still ache?" he thought, staring up at the starless night sky.

That night, unease and doubt kept him awake. Was it really just a dream? Or had something far more extraordinary begun to unfold in his life?

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Chapter 1 End, Thanks for Reading.

Copyright ©️

Author - Uruha Rushia