Chapter 9: A Night's Tale

Night had fallen for the three newcomers as they gathered around the only light that had illuminated the dark forest.

The fire danced and flickered in Rio's eyes as his thoughts flew to many things that he had to accept. His parents were gone, so with his friends and many other people. He had no home to return to. And his bestfriend, Knite, was missing and… he wasn't sure what it was but he felt like he was forgetting something important.

What was it?

And to add, he had learned the tale that lead to Zavier and Mist's arrival to this world. They arrived in this world in respond from summons from their friend, Ivan. But as Mist has stated, summoning two people at once creates a burden for the summoner and thus sometimes, the summoned people end up in different places from the origin of the magic.

So right now, their goals matches up: looking for friends that are currently at different Sekai tree locations.

"Are you okay, Rio?"

Pulling him back from his deep thoughts, the lovely smile that Mist had worn welcomed him and it left Rio dumbfounded. It wasn't about silly things about falling for a girl he only met that morning but because she somehow reminded him of her.

Her?

"Oi, what's wrong?"

This time, it was Zavier who had shrugged him.

"There's someone else-"

"What are talking about? Are you going insane?!" Zavier slightly backed away from Rio and looked a bit shaken. "D-Do you mean a g-g-ghost?!"

"No, that's not what I meant." He smiled a bit and turned to face Mist. "I think I'm messed up."

That's all he could conclude. He was sure that he was forgetting someone important but even if he asked his two companions, they wouldn't be able to help him remember. But maybe Knite remembers.

"What are you planning to do now, Rio?" Mist suddenly asked.

"I don't know but—maybe you can let me come along with you." He hoped he didn't sound arrogant.

"What?! Hell no!" "Of course!"

Zavier and Mist answered in a chorus. But saying her answer a second time was Mist. Zavier had only turned away from his blonde friend in annoyance. He knew her. Her persistence is something he can't beat.

"We'd loved to have you Rio! Right now, aren't we going in the same way anyway?"

"Really? Yes!"

"But in return, I expect you fight alongside us like you did this morning."

"That's not a problem!" Rio proudly exclaimed.

"Yes it is." Zavier eyed the amateur swordsman. "You're weak. You might've defeated a few hexes but you wouldn't last more battles with your lack of mastery."

"It's true that I don't have any experience but I'll try my best to learn! I have to do anything I can to find Knite. So please let come with you!" Rio bowed his head to the man whom he had acknowledged to be as great as any hero in fictional movies and games.

Zavier flinched.

"Let's have him be a part of our party, Zavier." Mist smiled again. "There's still the slight chance that his summoner might be Ivan, after all."

After many pauses Zavier finally sighed and said, "Okay. It's not like I had any other choice. But like I said, your deficient skill in swordsmanship will kill you someday so as long as you are part of the group, I expect you to train under my guidance."

Train under him?

"You're going to teach me how to fight with swords?"

"Well yeah. What? You don't want to?"

"I'm looking forward to it!"

As Rio's eyes gleamed with enthusiasm, Mist suddenly gave off a cherry laughter.

"What?"

This time, the two men said in unison.

"Nothing. I just have that feeling that this meeting was somehow fated." She gazed to the sky and reached her right hand to the empty space above her. "If I could see the stars from here, I'm sure it would bless this meeting with its beauty."

Rio followed his gaze with hers and wondered. The stars were filling the sky as it had when dusk came. Can she not see the stars?

As he turned to Zavier, he only took a glance at the sky before returning his gaze to the dancing flames they had encircled. It was like he had seen the same scenery as Mist, only a black sky, and didn't pay any mind to the scattered gems above.

"Wait-," Rio begun. "You can't see the stars?"

They looked at him again, obviously puzzled.

I see. It was exactly the same as before.

Rio had long been accustomed to the eyes that gave him doubts whenever he mentioned the dark hole in the sky. Only Knite and Cecil believed him. Once again, this was something only he could see.

He was about to take back his words when Mist suddenly said, "That would make sense." She looked back to the direction of the tree and continued, "We are still in the vicinity of the sekai tree so I believe we are inside a barrier."

"A barrier?" asked Rio.

"Yes. Sometimes, some magicians who are aware of the importance of the sekai tree cast barriers around the tree so no one can harm it. I'm guessing that you are seeing through the barrier that maybe surrounding the whole forest."

"Seeing through, huh? That's unheard before." Zavier eyed him again. "Are you sure you were born in a world with no magic?"

Rio gave a nod and added, "But Knite and I were somewhat different I guess."

Explaining a bit about their unique circumstances, Zavier and Mist could only listen while trying to point out important things.

"Seeing through magic. I think that's what you have Rio." Mist said. "The hole in the sky you saw was probably sealed off by someone. It was supposed to be hidden to the eyes of the masses but you were able to still see it because of your gift."

"But if that's true then our world was attacked before by those monsters?" Rio's voice shook.

"That would seem so but someone was able to fend off the invaders and sealed their only way back in. But seeing that the seal broke… that person has died."

"What?! No—!"

"I'm sorry Rio but having that powerful seal sustained after death is impossible. Unlike the seal around here where it only spans around the demesne of the tree, a seal that probably covers a whole city can only be active until the caster is alive."

Rio fell into silence once more. Their nameless hero is dead. No one can praise him of the great deed he had done to save their world from being destroyed, no one aside from him and Knite.

That night, after all the tales between the three people had been told and heard, a vow lit in Rio's heart.

He will grow strong. He will be strong enough to fight against those monsters and destroy them. For the ones that were left behind and for the hero that he will never meet.

As daylight came, Zavier had confirmed that they were indeed trapped inside a barrier that probably had the purpose of preventing trespassers from entering or leaving the forest. A continuous loop would occur where you are returned in a particular area in the forest when you enter the false path laid by the caster of the barrier. Rio took the lead, seeing where the correct path was. He could see it as clear as day.

And so before the sun was high in the sky, they had emerged from the forest. The greeting wind was a relief to the weary travelers. Not far, smoke rose from the sky.

"Let's go." Zavier pointed to the east where the grayish smoke ascended.

The other two nodded and followed the veteran warrior to what they hoped would be a village.

As they walked along, Rio's right hand gave a throb. The pain was sudden and vanished so abruptly that Rio only gave it a fleeting look before paying it no mind. If he had looked more closely, he would have noticed the faint mark that vanished with the dwindling pain.