"Hey, you are alright?"
A couple in their room. It was the same room that now belonged to Misaki and Riri. The second night after their marriage.
A man wearing a brown chiton sat on the bed. On the bed, Misaki was sitting, her head lowered, too scared to even look at her husband's face.
He placed his fingers gently under her chin and lifted her head up.
"Hey, you don't have to be scared of me. I know your father and mother forced you to marry me because of their financial condition. Actually, I wasn't ready for this marriage either. But one day your father came. I told him I could help him and there was no need for this marriage. He told me that—"
"That you are the best guy he found," Misaki completed his sentence softly. "I've heard it several times already from his mouth."
"Oh, you finally speak," he said with a gentle smile.
Misaki blushed.
"Riri says she likes you as her big sis. I'm sure you'll enjoy her company too."
"Actually…" Misaki started but couldn't finish her sentence.
But Raku understood without needing words, just by reading her eyes.
"Okay, okay. I'll sleep on the ground with a futon."
"No, I didn't mean that!" Misaki said quickly.
"Then what exactly did you want to say?" he asked.
She looked down again.
"Don't worry, and please don't be that shy. Otherwise, I'll feel bad and sleep outside on the ground of our house."
She shook her head. "No, don't…"
He smiled. Then she smiled too.
Both of them laughed.
"Hahahaha—"
A growl suddenly echoed. "Raaaah!"
Misaki flinched in fear. "What's that?"
"Oh, Yuki, you're getting very naughty."
A dragon-like creature slowly appeared before her. Golden markings glowed faintly across its body.
"A sacred creature?" Misaki whispered in awe.
Raku placed his hand on Yuki's back. "Yeah, he's my pet Yuki. But you can call him Raku too. He's just like me."
Misaki smiled, looking at both Raku and Yuki.
And then—everything turned white.
She opened her eyes.
"…Oh, that was a dream. My sweet memories with my dear."
She realized she had fallen asleep crying on the bed. Traces of tears still lingered on her cheeks. She wiped them away with her hands and unlocked the door she had bolted earlier.
The house was empty. She knew the others had gone to search for Ritvik.
"They must have found him by now. I hope he's alright…"
Raku's image in his favorite chiton flashed in her mind.
"Why am I worrying for him anyway?"
She headed to the kitchen, lifted a large wooden bowl, nearly bucket-sized, and filled it with meat and mushrooms. Carrying the heavy bowl outside, she placed it on the ground.
"Raku!" she shouted, cupping her hands around her mouth to echo her voice. "It's time for lunch!"
No response.
"Why isn't he coming today…? I hope he's fine."
She locked the house from outside and set off to search for him.
---
Scene shifted.
Rizu sat under a tree on academy grounds, still staring at a carved hole in a wooden board.
"Master."
"Yes?" Master Demetrius replied.
"What's the point of this? I've been looking at it for two hours. It's just a waste of time."
"Nothing is a waste of time," the master said calmly. "Do you think breathing is a waste of time?"
"What does breathing have to do with this?"
"Why do you breathe?"
"Because it's required to live."
"Isn't it boring?"
"…I don't know."
"You've been doing it since you were born. That's why you're used to it. Similarly, this training has meaning too. Once you get used to it, you'll understand its importance."
"I don't understand you," Rizu muttered.
"Alright, come here," Demetrius beckoned.
Rizu stood and walked closer.
"Focus and try to get inside me."
"Sorry… what?" Rizu asked.
Demetrius summoned a fireball in his hand. "Do it. Otherwise, this will come at you."
"You're kidding, right?" Rizu's eyes widened.
The master pulled his arm back, ready to launch the fireball.
"No, no!" Rizu panicked, staring at the master's head. He imagined a hole forming there, just like the carved board.
"…It's not working!"
The master's arm swung forward.
"Nooo!" Rizu shouted with fear in his eyes.
Suddenly, everything went black. His eyes started glowing pure white.
When he opened his eyes, he saw himself standing there—eyes closed.
"Wait… how's that possible?"
He looked down. His hands were not his own. A fireball burned in his palm.
"No—my hands are burning! Aaaah!"
He ran toward a fountain, plunged his hand into the water, and saw his reflection.
It was Master Demetrius's face.
"I'm inside his body! Holy moly…"
He stretched his cheeks in disbelief and then smirked.
Then he turned to see his own body standing lifelessly. "Hmm, I really do look handsome from this angle."
"…Wait, how do I go back? Master told me how to, right? What should I do?"
---
Scene shifted.
I stood in the jungle, heart racing. "Who's there?" I called nervously.
A creature stepped out—it was Raku. His size was smaller, like that of a dog, but he growled in pain.
"Rrrraaaauu…"
I frowned. "Don't waste my time. I'm leaving."
But his eyes shone like shooting stars, pleading. I froze. Then I saw it: an arrow pierced his leg.
I crouched beside him. "How… how did that happen?"
He whimpered.
I reached for the arrow. He cried out in pain. Tears glistened in his eyes.
"Is he crying…?"
I squinted, vibrating my hands at a precise frequency. Slowly, I phased them into his leg. The arrow vibrated too—and slid out.
"Got it!"
Raku licked my face.
"Hey, don't—ugh!"
But blood still seeped from the wound.
Then a hunter appeared, clad in a chlamys, bow in hand, quiver at his back.
"Stay away from my prey," he commanded.
I stood protectively in front of Raku. "You stay away from my friend."
"Looks like you need a lesson, kid."
He drew an arrow, chanting as he pulled. The string snapped forward—
I caught the arrow in my hand just before it struck my face.
"I think you understand now. Leave."
The hunter smirked. Lightning sparked around the arrow.
"Aaaghh!"
Electricity surged through me. I collapsed.
The hunter nocked another arrow.
But Raku suddenly grew larger, seized me in his claws, and took off flying.
I regained my consciousness. I looked around and found my self im Raku's claws who is flying in air at a fast speed.
"Wait! I'll fall! Stop, Raku—let me go!" I shouted, but he held on tightly.
The hunter chased us, loosing another arrow. But it glitched in mid-air—then vanished.
"What the—?". His voice distorted before he could finish.
The hunter's body glitched too, and he disintegrated.
I stared in disbelief. "What… was that?"
Raku landed us by a cliff, shrinking back down. His wound was gone.
"You know what happened?" I asked.
Raku shook his head.
---
Scene shifted again.
Inside Demetrius's body, Rizu grimaced. "Looks like I don't have a choice… Sorry, me."
He charged forward to punch his own face.
Everything went dark.
He opened his eyes—back in his own body, just in time to see a punch coming at him.
"Ouch!"
"You succeeded?" Master asked.
"Yeah…" Rizu groaned.
"Wait—how did you know I had such abilities?" Rizu asked.
"Actually, your powers are connected to the magic of consciousness.
It's a rare type of magic used by very few people."
"Magic? Really?" Rizu replied.
---
Scene shifted once more.
Misaki wandered the jungle, searching for Raku for over two hours. The sun dipped low.
"I can't lose you again… Why do I lose everything I love?" Tears filled her eyes.
At the cliff, she froze.
Raku stood there. And beside him—me.
I was patting his back, while he wagged happily.
"Raku…?" Misaki whispered.
I turned around, serious.
"Ritvik…"
Her eyes widened. The wind stilled. Silence fell.
Raku flew to her side, but her gaze stayed locked on me.
Suddenly, Riri, Shon, Jatin, and Rudransh appeared, panting.
"We finally found you!" Riri gasped.
Jatin and Shon rushed over.
"Bro, you're alright!" Jatin asked.
But Misaki's eyes stayed on me.
Riri noticed. She hurried to Misaki's side. "Big sis, it wasn't Ritvik's fault. I forced him to wear that. Please punish me, not him!"
Jatin added, "It's my mistake too. I gave him the idea…"
Misaki's expression softened. "It's alright. Let's go home. You must all be hungry."
"…Except that SRK pose," Jatin muttered.
Misaki glanced at me once more. I lowered my gaze.
"You're not angry?" Riri asked.
"No. All misunderstandings are over. Let's go home."
We started back. Jatin, Shon and Rudransh were walking behind me and Riri was beside me, to make sure I am alright.
Maybe I was wrong… maybe they really did care.
Misaki walked at the back with Raku, still glancing my way.
I turned, met her eyes—then she quickly looked down.
What's going on with her…? Iwondered.