"Hey, hey, hey! Hold on a sec- Ouch!" Subaru squinted in pain, the magic didn't fully heal his rubs and he could still feel sharp pain in his chest. "What did i tell you. Don't move around too much, you are not fully healed yet, even though i mastered all 6 types of magic, i am still not good enough at healing" Flugel grumbled the last part quietly. "But you haven't told me your name yet, mind telling me?"
Subaru slowly got up from his bed grunting from the pain while Flugel was facepalming. Subaru cleared his throat and then spun on the spot, striking a pose as he thrust his finger into the sky. "My name is Nat-Ouch!-Suki Subaru, completely lost, barely survived my first day here and broke beyond compare" Flugel just stared at the boy with scary eyes before a small smile formed on his lips. "Alright Nat-Ouch-Suki Subaru, i assume it's your first day in this world, am i right?"
"Wait, wait, wait! So it's not a joke? It's actually a different world? And it's Natsuki Subaru, alright!?" The truth finally hit Subaru, he was summoned to a different world, no video games, no internet, no modern food. Just a world full of magic and monsters. Like isekais which he read from mangas. If it's not that, then how could he explain the things he saw? The summoning, the beasts, that purple thing... Speaking of the purple thing.
"Hey, Flugel, that's your name right?" Subaru spoke" So before i barely got munched by these wolf-dogs, i heard you saying something outloud and then the beasts blow up like balloons. Was that your magic? " Flugel just nodded his head "Indeed Subaru, that was a magic spell called "Minya" an offensive spell for Yin magic users, it's pretty deadly against... everyone i suppose." Flugel scratched the back of his head. "Yin magic? What is that? Can i cast this spell as well? Are there any other powerful spells I can use?" The thought about being powerful magician excited Subaru, he'd even forgotten about the fact, he almost became a munching toy for magic beats.
"Hold on a second, your gate might not handle even simple spells such as "Shamac" Or "Huma"" Flugel abruptly interrupted Subaru "Besides you we don't know your affinity for magic yet" Subaru didn't care about listening and just continued fantasizing about being powerful hero and asking more questions. "Gate? What is that? "Shamac" and "Huma"? Are these another powerful spells? Affinity for magic?" Flugel just tiredly sighed. "Guess we are for long drive, aren't we?"
***"Ooooh! So this "Gate" is a soul of the person, right?" It's been about 20 minutes since Flugel started explaining the basics of the magic. "You can call it like that I guess, usually, a person gets Gate when he's born, the mana goes through it and... Puff! The spell is casted" Flugel tried to give a simple explanation on how the Gate worked.
"But wait, you weren't born here and I saw you casting a spell, how is that possible?" Subaru was confused, Is there a way to get an artificial Gate? "For some reason, I've got a gate as well after I was summoned... Oh, and you got one too." Flugel answered, while searching for a certain book in the bookshelf. "Does this mean I can cast too? Can you teach m-" Subaru was quickly interrupted by the white-haired man "Woah, slow down a bit. Right now, you have a gate similar to a born one. It is incredible fragile and require good amount of patience and training to finally cast the first spell and I haven't checked your affinity for magic yet" Subaru's expression downcasted. "Hold on a second, didn't you say you mastered all of the 6 types of magic, I thought could you master a type of magic which you have an affinity too?" Flugel scratched his cheek and awkwardly replied "Oh, well... I am just built different I guess"
Flugel picked up a red book with a blue dragon on the book cover and handled it over to Subaru. Subaru started turning the book to all sides, examining it. Flugel replied. "Let's just say it's a magic book for beginners. First of all you have to learn theories and then get to practice" Subaru tried reading the book cover, realizing it's other language. "Uh, Flugel? I can't read..." Flugel's eyes widened, before realization hit him. "Oh, my bad. I was in same situation as you right now. When we get to my tower, you'll learn language there." Subaru gave him a questionable look. "What do you mean by your tower?" Flugel simply replied "As a Great Sage, I need a place where I can store my knowledge and do experiments, right?" Subaru just gave him even more questionable look. "What do you exactly mea- Actually, nevermind, my mind is already boiling with a new amount of information"
Flugel started packing books and a particular black book captured Subaru's eye. "Well, Subaru, it's a miracle that I found you in the forest. Usually I visit this inn once in a few weeks, so right now, after I pack my stuff, we have to move towards the tower." Flugel looked at Subaru "Are you sure nothing hurts, I can cast another healing spell" Subaru quickly replied. "I am absolutely fine! It still hurts a bit though... but don't worry, you already did quite a lot for me!" Flugel just sighed before replying. "Is that so? Alright then, tell me when you will be ready to leave"
Subaru picked up a cell phone and put it in his pocket while searching for his plastic bag. "Uh, have you seen my plastic bag anywhere? " Flugel replied. "Plastic bag? I believe you didn't have one?" Subaru just sadly growled. "Goodbye the last fragment of my modern food, a bag of chips and ramen..." Flugel just smirked at his reply. "Fortunately for you, Subaru, I have great news for you" Subaru just looked at him. "Huh? What are you talking about?" Flugel picked up his bag full of books before replying. "There is just one particular person, who you'd love to meet up with. I am sure you both will get along."
Subaru gave him another confused look and just before he could say anything, Flugel interrupted. "Are you ready to leave? This journey will take a day at max." Subaru just nodded his head. "Hell yeah. Just wait for it fate, this where the history of Natsuki Subaru starts in this new world!" Subaru punched palm with the fist while Flugel just sighed. "You are truly hopeless..."
***"So, Flugel. Why exactly did you build your tower in the middle of literally a DESERT?!" Subaru exclaimed. It's been a 5 hours since they began they journey. Subaru has been constantly asking questions about the world, but mostly about the magic. He knows about the four countries in this world, about the Od Laguna, about the 3 powerful beings, Divine Dragon Volcanica, The Great Sage and the Sword Saint Reid. So this guy got a protagonist status while I almost got killed on my first day?! Talk about fair game!
"It's really simple - isolation. People would not dare try to reach the tower in the middle of the desert filled with magic beasts" Flugel gave a simple explanation. They were long gone from the forest, and now they making their way towards town nearby Augria Sand Dunes. "Speaking of magic beasts, what exactly are they?"
"The magic beasts are creation of the Witch Of Gluttony. They were designed and created to solve the world hunger." Witch of Gluttony? Wait, what did he say... "Solve world hunger my ass! I almost became a dinner for them!" Flugel chuckled before a frown formed on his face. "Well, she has good morals... But immoral methods... The primary food source of the Mabeasts was magical energy, which, rather unfortunately, was found in living creatures such as humans. That's why they attacked you."
Subaru cringed at the last part, but Flugel continued. "She has also created the 3 Great MaBeasts. The White Whale, The Great Hare and The Black Serpent. As I know, the whale is so huge that can feed a lot of people and the hare can multiply itself infinitely. But she didn't give an explanation for the serpent, but I think she created it to eradicate as much creatures as possible. Less mouths - less food." Subaru's jaw dropped and he exclaimed "Why no one has stopped her?!" Flugel replied. "Don't worry, she can control them and they are in docile state right now."
After an awkward silence, Subaru continued storming Flugel with questions.
"Do you know who summoned us?"
"Honestly, zero clue. I tried to investigate into it but zero results."
"Do you have any idea why we were summoned?"
Flugel shrugged his shoulders. "To change the world? I don't know. But my life wasn't the greatest in my old world. Maybe a second chance? But I wish at least I could say goodbye to my parents before I got summoned"
This comment made Subaru speechless. He remembered how his mom's last words told him "Take care" and he didn't bother to reply. He was hiding in his shell away from the outside world. This is how Subaru thinks he failed as Natsuki Kenichi's son. He remembers how they were worried over his state and tried to help him. Now he wonders, if he's gone they don't have to worry about him anymore, he is not a budge to them now.
"...Do you think there is a way to go back?" Subaru quietly asked.
Flugel noticed his change in behavior and replied. "I am not sure. There probably isn't. I am sorry." Flugel looked at Subaru with sympathy and pity.
Subaru quickly dismissed these thoughts and reassured himself that his 2nd life will be better. "It's fine, don't worry!"
They didn't notice that they were inside the town now. The streets seemed to be... Not well-crowded, just a few merchants selling their goods. The town seemed to be in quite poor state... At least for Subaru's standards. But Flugel seemed not to mind it all, he handed the bag to the Subaru and reached for his pouch with coins. "Wait here Subaru, let me restock our supplies. This is the last push before the reach the tower" Subaru saluted. "Yes sir!" Flugel just shook his head before heading towards the lonely merchant.
Subaru decided not to waste this opportunity and acknowledge what he is going to do. Right now, he would learn language in the tower and Flugel, he hopes so, will teach him how to use magic. But what's going to happen after all of this? Subaru doesn't think that Flugel would let him freeload in his tower, and Subaru dislikes the idea of freeloading. Or maybe Flugel could hire him so he wouldn't freeload? Maybe he could go on an adventure and rescue a cute girl from the grasps of monsters? But right now, he is really thankful to Flugel for his kindness, for taking care of the stranger. He's sure he will find a way to repay him. Subaru saw Flugel approaching him. Well, that's a question for the future.
"Alright Subaru, we are ready to leave. ... What's that look for?" Subaru realised he was staring at Flugel with wide smile like an idiot. "It's nothing Flu-Flu, I was just spacing out."
"Alright let's- What did you just call me?" Flugel blankly stared at the guy with scary eyes. "Flu-Flu? A nickname to mark our friendship! Friends always tend to give nicknames to each other, right?" Flugel just started at Subaru blinking a few times before Subaru replied. "Alright, alright, I know it's a bad nickname, don't look at me like that." Flugel just sighed. "Alright, Toyota, let's head towards the tower"
Subaru's eyes widened and he gasped before yelling. "THAT'S NOT FUNNY"
***Sand. More sand. Even more sand. Oh look, it's sand. It's everywhere. In my mouth, in my ears, in my boots, even under my T-shirt. Under my feet. Even in the air. Why it's so windy? The wind in town was still and in the desert it's like a hurricane is happening. "Flugel, is the sand... Phew! not bothering you at all?!" Flugel was walking like it was average Monday. "Hm? Oh right, I forgot that you didn't have divine protection. Sorry about that, it's gonna be tough for you." Subaru just annoyingly growled. "Divine protection? Is that one... Phew! thing which you told me about which is granted as you born?" Flugel hummed. "That's right, there are otther ways to get a Divine Protection. For example, Sword Saint can get a Divine Protection by the will of Od Laguna."
Subaru didn't bare to listen what Flugel said. He desperately tried to defend his eyes, mouth and ears from sand. "Didn't you say that... Phew! Desert is filled with Magic beasts?"
Flugel simply replied. "Since it's my tower, I must know the safest way to get to it. I chose the safest path with minimum amount of MaBeasts. We are almost here Subaru, just wait a bit longer"
"I feel like sand is getting under my skin!"
"Sand winds are appearing here quite often. But this time it is very intense. Didn't expect that. Also, we have arrived."
"Oh finally, I almost- WHAT IN THE WORLD-"
He expected everything. A castle-like tower or maybe something like Leaning tower of Pisa. But he didn't expect this. An extremely tall, circular shaped building made of white stone. The tower seemed to be over a couple of hundred meters in height, he couldn't even see the end of it because of the clouds, and it has a balcony that juts out from one of the floors. And a huge ass door which leads to the entrance of the tower. Subaru's jaw dropped down to the floor. While Flugel just had a huge smirk and proudly exclaimed.
"Welcome to my tower, or should I call it: Pleiades Watchtower!"