Prologue:
Lost
"This is dumb," Subaru grumbled, slouching in his chair.
"Hush," his mother, Naoko, scolded as she wrapped a red scarf snugly around his neck. "You've been glued to that TV for days now. Going out to the park will do you some good."
"I can do it myself! Jeez, I'm nine! It's not like I need to be babied anymore, Mom," Subaru huffed, tugging at the scarf to adjust it. He was still irritated about missing a few precious hours of winter break. He'd just started playing The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on his Super Famicom—a game he'd saved months of allowance to buy—and he was determined to beat it before school started again.
"Listen to your mother, Subaru," his father, Kenichi, chimed in as he pulled on his jacket. "Or else I might have to take… drastic measures!" He attempted to make a threatening face, scrunching his eyebrows and puffing out his cheeks.
Subaru and Naoko both turned to him with flat, unimpressed expressions.
"Dad… how do I put this…" Subaru began, his tone dripping with exasperation.
"You can't pull off 'threatening,' sweetie, so just don't try," Naoko finished for him, shaking her head with a small sigh.
"R-really?" Kenichi deflated, his hand coming up to scratch the back of his head. "Darn, I thought I was getting better at my serious face!"
He burst into a laugh, and despite himself, Subaru's lips twitched upward. Even when he was being ridiculous, his dad's energy was hard to resist.
There was a light snowfall as Subaru ran ahead of his parents as they arrived at the park. There were several kids playing already, he didn't recognize any of them, but that wasn't abnormal. Maybe one of his classmates would show up, not that he had any close friends from school.
"Go on, go play, your mother and I are going to take a quick walk, we won't be far," his father ruffled his hair, "If you have problems, just scream, but not like a girl, that would be shameful!"
"Stop teasing him," his mother rolled her eyes.
"I'm just saying if Subaru wants to be as popular as me one day—"
"Yeah, thanks, Dad," Subaru muttered, rolling his eyes as he turned to head off. But before he could take a step, his mom grabbed him by the collar, stopping him in his tracks.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Naoko asked, her hands firmly on her hips.
"What?" Subaru blinked, then realized. "Oh, right! Love you guys!" he said hastily.
Naoko nodded approvingly. "We love you too. Now go play—and don't leave the playground!"
Subaru watched his parents walk away, hand in hand, chatting softly as they headed off to have some one-on-one time. He sighed. Personally, he'd have been perfectly happy if they'd just left him at home with his Super Famicom instead.
Turning to the playground, Subaru headed for the playset. He paused, hesitating as he saw the other kids already playing. His nerves buzzed with doubt, but he gave himself a mental pep talk. Be like Dad, be like Dad.
Walking over, Subaru approached a trio of boys in the middle of an animated conversation. They stopped talking when they noticed him, their eyes scanning him curiously.
"What do you want?" the stout one asked, his tone direct.
"H-hi," Subaru stammered, scratching the back of his neck. "I wanted to see if you guys wanted to… do something?"
The boys exchanged glances, huddling together and whispering. After a few moments, they broke apart, seeming to come to an agreement.
"Okay," said the lean boy, grinning. "We need a fourth. We're playing Storm the Castle."
"How do you play?" Subaru asked, intrigued.
"It's simple," the lean boy explained. "Two people are up on the playset—they're defending the castle. The other two are down here, storming it with snowballs. If the attackers take the castle, we switch sides."
"Got it," Subaru nodded. "So, who's first?"
"Kenji, why don't you and the new kid team up?" the lean boy said, pointing to the stout one.
"Fine," Kenji huffed. "But if he's bad at the game, I'm playing with you next round, Fuji."
"I'm Subaru, by the way," Subaru said, introducing himself.
"Nice to meet you," the lean boy replied. "I'm Fuji. That's Akio—he doesn't talk much," he added, nodding toward a boy with glasses who stood quietly to the side.
"N-nice to meet you," Akio said softly, giving a shy nod.
Kenji leaned in close to Subaru, lowering his voice. "Don't let him fool you," he whispered with a conspiratorial grin. "He can throw a snowball faster than a speeding bullet!"
Breaking from their planning session, Subaru and Kenji sprinted off to prepare their spirited defense of the "castle." Scooping up handfuls of snow, they crafted a small mound of ammunition near the playset slides. With their defenses ready, they crouched behind the playset, scanning the area like seasoned warriors preparing for battle. Around them, other kids played blissfully, unaware that the greatest battle of their time was about to commence.
Moments later, the call of "Ready!" echoed through the playground. Fuji and Akio came charging in, snowballs clutched in their hands, already hurling projectiles toward the castle. Subaru and Kenji countered with a volley of their own, ducking and tossing snowballs as fast as they could.
"Take that!" Subaru shouted, narrowly missing Fuji as a snowball sailed past him.
"Watch out—Akio's arm is insane!" Kenji warned, just as a perfectly aimed snowball smacked him square in the face.
"They're breaking through!" Kenji shouted, frantically wiping snow off his face.
"No! Akio is coming up the steps!" Subaru called out, pelting a snowball at the advancing boy, only to miss by inches.
"Got you!" Akio declared triumphantly as he reached the top, raising his arms in victory.
It was over. They had lost. Though what the actual rules were, Subaru wasn't entirely sure. No one had explained how to stop the attackers—other than pelting them with snowballs—but none of that mattered. It was exhilarating fun.
"Okay, switch sides," Fuji declared, grinning smugly.
"This way, Subaru!" Kenji said, sliding down the twisty slide in retreat.
Subaru watched Kenji pop out the other side and disappear into the snow. With a shrug, he followed suit, climbing into the slide and pushing himself forward. But as soon as he entered, something felt off.
Everything went pitch black.
The darkness enveloped him completely, the bright winter sun and sounds of the playground vanishing as though they had never existed. Panic gripped Subaru as he slid downward, unable to see or orient himself. Then, with a sudden, jarring thud, he hit solid ground.
Groaning, Subaru blinked against the harsh brightness that assaulted his eyes. He squinted, waiting for his vision to adjust. Slowly, the world around him came into focus.
Cobblestone streets stretched out in every direction, bustling with people dressed in strange, old-fashioned clothes. The air buzzed with the sounds of merchants hawking goods, carts rolling over stone, and voices chattering in unfamiliar accents.
Subaru froze. This wasn't the playground.
Looking around, Subaru felt panic clawing at his chest. This wasn't his hometown. This wasn't Japan. This wasn't anywhere he recognized.
Shakily, Subaru pushed himself to his feet, his wide eyes darting around the bustling street. The sights were both mesmerizing and terrifying. People with vibrant, oddly colored hair passed by in groups. Among them were creatures that defied logic—half-human, half-beast individuals, and fully anthropomorphic animals. Lizard-like beings walked on two legs, wolves chatted with feline-like figures, and other forms Subaru couldn't even identify milled about, blending seamlessly into the crowd.
Subaru's breathing quickened. His chest tightened as panic took hold. "M-Mom!" he cried out, his voice cracking.
He spun in place, scanning the crowd frantically. He searched every face, every corner, his heart hammering in his chest. "Dad! Mom!" he called again, desperation lacing his voice.
Some people in the market turned to glance at him, their expressions ranging from curiosity to mild annoyance. Whispers and murmurs spread among the onlookers, but no one stepped forward to help. Instead, the bustling crowd seemed to close in around him.
"Out of the way, brat!" a gruff voice barked.
Subaru barely had time to react before a pair of wolfmen shoved past him roughly, nearly knocking him over. They didn't even glance back, their growling voices fading into the din of the market.
Stumbling backward, Subaru scrambled to steady himself, his mind reeling. Nothing made sense, but he couldn't afford to stop. Driven by sheer desperation, he broke into a run, his frantic cries echoing through the unfamiliar streets.
"Mom! Dad!" he shouted, his voice growing hoarse. The cobblestones beneath his feet blurred as he raced forward, his heart pounding painfully in his chest. No matter where he looked, his parents were nowhere to be found.
Subaru's legs felt like they were moving on autopilot, carrying him through the bustling chaos of the city. His mind was a haze of fear and confusion, the weight of his situation pressing down on him with crushing intensity. All he wanted—all he needed—was to see his parents' faces. But no matter how far or how fast he ran, they weren't there.
Hours passed as Subaru wandered aimlessly through the unfamiliar streets. His eyes stung from crying, and his legs ached from walking. Eventually, he slumped down on the curb of a road, his back against the cold stone of a building.
Carts rolled by, pulled by lizard-like creatures that hissed and snorted. Under different circumstances, Subaru might have found them fascinating, but here and now, their alien nature only added to the surreal weight of his situation.
I can't find them, he thought miserably. Part of him already knew that searching for his parents in this strange city was futile, but it was all he could think to do. The nagging question of how he'd even gotten here—how sliding down a playground slide had transported him to this place—gnawed at the back of his mind. It doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense.
His stomach growled loudly, pulling him back to the present. Subaru groaned, clutching his midsection. He hadn't eaten since lunch, and his mom had been planning to make pork stew for dinner. The thought of a warm, home-cooked meal made the emptiness in his stomach feel even worse.
Subaru fished through his coat pockets, but all he found was lint. Even if he had a crisp 1,000-yen note tucked away, it wasn't like any of these strange vendors would take his money.
Reluctantly, Subaru pushed himself to his feet. I need help. Strangers in the crowd had proven indifferent, but maybe he'd been looking in the wrong place. If I can't find someone who cares about a lost kid, maybe I can find someone who's paid to.
Scanning the bustling street, his eyes landed on a pair of men in chainmail armor standing at the edge of the market. They carried spears and watched the flow of pedestrians with practiced focus. They looked like guards—maybe the equivalent of police officers in this world.
Swallowing his fear, Subaru steeled himself and made his way through the mass of people toward the armored men. Timing his steps carefully, he slipped through the crowd until he was close enough to speak.
"Excuse me," Subaru said hesitantly, craning his neck to look up at one of the guards. "Can you help me?"
The armored man looked down at Subaru with a flat, disinterested expression. "What do you want, kid?"
"I'm… sort of lost…" Subaru managed to say, his voice trembling slightly.
"Dragon above," the man muttered, rolling his eyes. "Can't you kids just hold onto your mom's skirts or something? Where do you live?"
"Uhh… I live in Sapporo—" Subaru began, fumbling for the right words to explain.
"Sap-or?" The man scoffed, his brow furrowing. "Where in the world is that?"
"It's in Japan—" Subaru tried again, his tone more urgent.
"Jay-pan?" The man cut him off, his voice laced with skepticism. "Are you pulling some kind of prank, kid? I've never heard of Jay-pan."
"It's an island in Asia," Subaru said quickly, desperation creeping into his voice. "Please, I was just—"
"I've heard enough," the man interrupted, his tone now sharp and dismissive. "Quit wasting our time. You're probably some gutter trash. I don't know what scam you're running, but I'm not interested. Now beat it."
Before Subaru could respond, the guard jabbed the butt of his spear into his chest, shoving him backward. Subaru stumbled, barely managing to catch himself, his chest tightening with a mix of fear and humiliation.
Slipping away from the guards, Subaru felt his gut twist with despair. Helplessness gripped him as he wandered aimlessly through the unfamiliar streets. He couldn't read the signs, didn't recognize a single face, and had no idea how to navigate this strange, mythical city. He was utterly stranded, with nothing to his name.
Hours passed as Subaru wandered further into the city. He saw strange comings and goings, glimpsing markets, alleyways, and even bustling courtyards. Yet, no one paid a lost child any mind. Occasionally, he noticed other ragged-looking kids weaving through the crowds. Like him, they were ignored—or worse, shoved aside without a second glance.
Before he knew it, the streets began to empty. Night descended, and with it came a biting chill. The climate wasn't as harsh as back home in Sapporo, but the night air still cut through Subaru's coat, seeping into his skin. Desperate, he tried slipping into an inn. He hoped, foolishly, that someone might take pity on him.
But after the innkeeper discovered he was alone and penniless, Subaru was unceremoniously tossed out into the street. He hit the ground hard, his hands scraping against the cold cobblestones. The door slammed shut behind him, and he was left staring at the dark, empty street.
Disheartened and shivering, Subaru wandered until he found the shadowy underpass of a bridge by a quiet river. It wasn't much, but it offered some shelter from the cold wind. Curling up on the hard ground, Subaru hugged his knees to his chest, trying to conserve what little warmth he had. The ache of hunger gnawed at his stomach as he shivered uncontrollably. Somehow, despite the discomfort, exhaustion finally overtook him, and he drifted into a restless sleep.
His rest was short-lived.
A sudden, sharp pain in his side jolted Subaru awake. Groaning, he clutched at his ribs and looked up, his vision blurry from sleep. Looming over him were two men dressed in chainmail and carrying spears, much like the guards he'd encountered earlier—but they weren't the same pair.
"Clear off, kid," one of the men barked, his voice rough and disdainful. "You should know vagrancy ain't tolerated in this district."
Before Subaru could respond, the butt of the man's spear jabbed into his side again, sending a fresh wave of pain through his body. "I said clear off!" the guard growled, punctuating his command with a harsh kick.
Scrambling to his feet, Subaru gasped, clutching his side as the pain radiated through his body. Without a word, he turned and ran, stumbling as he fled into the dark streets. He didn't dare look back, too terrified to risk facing the guards' wrath again.
This went on for days. Whatever god, magic, or cruel twist of fate had brought Subaru here showed no mercy. He had nothing, and by the third day of wandering, hunger gnawed at him so deeply that he resorted to trying to steal from produce peddlers.
He quickly discovered he was a terrible thief.
Several bruises later—and after narrowly avoiding a cleaver-wielding vendor who threatened to chop off his hand—Subaru abandoned the idea of stealing outright. Instead, he turned to scavenging discarded garbage outside of inns, hoping to find scraps of food. Even this proved harder than expected.
The fancier inns were far too dangerous to approach; their private security was even more brutal than the city guards. When he'd once dared to rifle through a high-end inn's garbage, an arrow whizzed past his ear, embedding itself into the wall behind him with a loud thunk. Subaru didn't wait to see if the next shot would miss.
The less guarded areas weren't much better. Freshly discarded food was in high demand, especially among the street children of the city. Every inn's refuse pile was a battlefield where kids like him scrambled for the slightest morsel. Subaru had wondered if orphanages existed here, but given the sheer number of homeless children roaming the streets, he doubted it.
Life quickly became a vicious cycle of desperation and defeat. Subaru was helpless, battered, and humiliated. His coat was now torn and caked with mud, barely offering any warmth at night. Every evening, he found himself fighting with other kids for scraps of stale bread or bits of moldy fruit. Subaru was at a disadvantage—unlike the other children, he wasn't accustomed to this kind of brutal existence. More often than not, he was left empty-handed.
Eventually, he drifted into the slums, having been driven away from every other corner of the city. The slums, he realized, were where most of the orphans ended up when night fell. The guards didn't patrol there, so there was no risk of being run off. But the lack of authority came with its own dangers. In the shadows, unscrupulous figures lurked, preying on the weak and desperate.
Subaru was learning the hard way just how merciless this world could be.
It had been three weeks since Subaru's arrival in this strange, unforgiving world. He sat huddled under a tree, watching the other kids playing in the distance. Over time, he'd learned that the homeless children in the slums operated in loose gangs. Each gang claimed its territory, but how one joined or even approached these groups was a mystery to him.
As he sat there, Subaru's attention was drawn to a commotion nearby. One of the gangs was harassing a girl—why, he couldn't say.
"You're that giant lover, aren't you?" one of the boys sneered, jabbing a finger in her face.
"Yeah, I bet you could get us into his stash," another added, grinning cruelly. "I hear he's got some good stuff hidden away!"
Subaru's hands clenched into fists as he watched the scene unfold. He knew he should mind his own business—getting involved wouldn't do him any favors, and making enemies here was a surefire way to invite trouble. But despite himself, the scene tugged at him. Be like Dad, he thought, taking a deep breath to steel his nerves.
"Hey," Subaru called out, getting to his feet. "Leave her alone, will you?"
The group turned to face him. The boy in the center, who had greyish-blue hair and a cocky smirk, stepped forward. His eyes narrowed as he looked Subaru up and down. "Oh, I know you. You're that new guy. The one in those weird clothes."
Subaru said nothing, his heart hammering in his chest.
"Shut your fucking mouth, will you?" the boy sneered, striding toward him.
Without thinking, Subaru swung his fist. His punch connected with the older boy's jaw, the impact sending the bully stumbling backward. He fell hard onto the ground, staring up at Subaru in shock.
The other two boys froze, stunned by Subaru's unexpected retaliation. Before they could react, Subaru turned and kicked the largest of the group—a beefy kid—in the groin. The boy doubled over with a groan, clutching himself as he crumpled to the ground.
Not wasting a second, Subaru shoved past the remaining boy and grabbed the arm of the golden-haired girl they'd been harassing. "Let's go!" he said, his voice urgent.
"Hey!" she protested as Subaru dragged her along, but she didn't resist as he sprinted away from the scene, weaving through the maze of the slums.
Stopping once they were well out of sight, Subaru bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath. The golden-haired girl crossed her arms, looking more annoyed than grateful.
"That was stupid," she huffed. "You didn't need to step in. I was perfectly fine!"
"They were surrounding you!" Subaru shot back, standing upright and glaring at her. "What was I supposed to do, just stand there and watch them pick on a girl?!"
"They wouldn't dare touch me," she countered, flipping her hair back. "Old Man Rom would kick their asses if they tried!"
"Ungrateful," Subaru muttered under his breath, scowling.
The girl huffed, her expression softening ever so slightly. "I suppose I should be a little grateful," she admitted begrudgingly, "but now you're probably going to get yourself killed."
"K-killed?!" Subaru stammered, his eyes widening.
"You just kicked Gaston in the nuts and punched Rachins in the nose," she said matter-of-factly. "They'll probably put you on a hit list or something. Might even cut your throat while you're sleeping."
"N-no way!" Subaru exclaimed, his stomach twisting at the thought. This is my reward for helping this brat?!
"Mhm," she said with a small shrug. "Well… I've seen you around. You're pretty helpless." She gave him a once-over, her sharp eyes sizing him up. "I feel a tiny bit bad about it, so… how about I pay you back? Old Man Rom is making stew for dinner tonight. I'll let you tag along. As long as you're not scared of a giant."
"A giant?" Subaru repeated, his mind immediately conjuring images of hulking, monstrous creatures straight out of the manga he'd read. "I mean… can't be worse than getting my throat cut while I sleep…"
"Great!" she said, her face breaking into a mischievous grin. "So, what's your name, friend?"
"Subaru," he replied, still catching his breath. "And you?"
"I'm Felt!" she said proudly, as though the name itself carried weight.
Following Felt through the narrow, winding alleys, Subaru soon found himself standing in front of a two-story building with barred windows. It looked weathered and unwelcoming, but Felt approached it casually, as though it were a second home. Without hesitation, she knocked firmly on the door.
"Plug your ears," she ordered, glancing over her shoulder.
Subaru blinked in confusion but complied, covering his ears. Through the muffled sound, he thought he heard her say something about a "fish-hook," which only added to his bewilderment. A moment later, the door creaked open.
Subaru uncovered his ears just in time to see the hulking figure of a man filling the doorway. He was massive, with bronze skin, bushy white eyebrows, and a vivid red tattoo etched across his bald head. His sheer size was enough to leave Subaru staring.
"Who's this?" the giant asked, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.
"Oh, this is Subaru," Felt said with a dismissive wave. "He helped me out of a fight, so I told him he could have some of that stew you were cooking up! You don't mind, do you, Old Man Rom?"
"H-hi," Subaru managed, lifting a hand in an awkward wave while still gawking at the man's imposing figure.
Rom sighed, the sound heavy with exasperation. "Felt, you can't just go around offering food to every stray you meet." He glanced at Subaru, then shook his head. "Alright. Seeing as you helped Felt, I suppose there's no harm."
Stepping aside, the giant gestured for them to enter. Subaru hesitated for a moment before following Felt inside.
The interior was dimly lit and cluttered, a strange mix of a bar and a storage shop—or what passed for one. Random goods were scattered across tables and shelves, with crates piled haphazardly in corners. The whole place reminded Subaru of a disorganized pawn shop.
"Welcome to the Loot House!" Felt declared with a proud grin.
Rom eyed Subaru critically, his sharp gaze lingering on his dirt-covered face and torn coat. "You look like a mess," he said bluntly, tossing a damp rag at Subaru with surprising precision.
Subaru barely caught it, startled. "Uh… thanks," he muttered before scrubbing at his face. The cool, damp cloth felt refreshing against his skin, washing away layers of grime that had built up over weeks of hardship.
"Sit," Rom instructed, nodding toward one of the mismatched tables. Subaru complied, sinking into a chair as the giant moved to a large hearth. From a bubbling pot, Rom ladled steaming stew into two bowls, the rich aroma filling the room.
Subaru's stomach growled loudly as Rom set a bowl in front of him. The sight of the hearty meal made his mouth water—it was the first hot food he'd seen since arriving in this world. Without hesitation, he grabbed the bowl and began devouring its contents.
"Slow down, kid. There's a whole pot," Rom said lazily, watching him with a raised brow.
"S-sorry," Subaru mumbled, gulping down a mouthful of broth. "I haven't had anything hot since I arrived in this world."
Rom froze briefly, his expression unreadable. Felt, seated across from Subaru, tilted her head curiously. "Arrived?" she asked, her voice sharper now. "What do you mean, 'arrived'?"
"I was in a park not far from my home one moment," Subaru said between spoonfuls of broth, "and the next thing I knew, I was in the middle of this city. Lugunica, right?"
Felt arched an eyebrow skeptically. "What?! You just appeared? Out of nowhere?"
Subaru nodded. "Pretty much."
Rom scratched his head thoughtfully. "I think I've heard about this sort of thing before. Don't know what it's called, exactly, but on rare occasions, people have shown up in Lugunica from faraway lands. Could be you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's rare… but not impossible."
"That's insane!" Felt exclaimed, leaning forward. "Where exactly are you from?"
"I'm from the Hokkaido region in Japan," Subaru replied.
"Never heard of it," Felt said flatly, sitting back in her chair.
"Me either," Rom added, frowning. "But if that's the case, I'm sorry to say it looks like you're stuck here."
Subaru felt his heart sink. He'd suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed hit harder than he expected. "Yeah… I figured," he said with a sigh, his voice heavy with resignation.
Rom studied him for a moment, his expression softening slightly. "Tell you what, kid. I don't care much for most humans. Felt here is one of the few exceptions. But… something about you tells me you wouldn't last long out there on your own. Since you helped Felt out, I suppose I could let you stay in one of the extra rooms upstairs."
Subaru's eyes widened in surprise. A place to stay—warm, dry, and safe. The stew, even if a little bland, was hot. It was more than he could have hoped for. "I-if I wouldn't be a burden, I mean… I'd be willing to help out if you need me to!" he said quickly.
Rom chuckled. "Of course you'll be put to work. You'll carry your weight here, kid."
"Oh, great. I have a roommate now," Felt huffed, crossing her arms and glaring at Subaru. "Fine… but you better be grateful to me!"
Subaru grinned and pulled off his red scarf. Tossing it to her, he said, "There. Consider that my thanks!"
Felt caught the scarf, examining it for a moment before giving it a sniff. "Hmm… it's okay. Needs a wash," she muttered. "Thanks… I guess."
Rom chuckled at the exchange and took Subaru's empty bowl. "Another bowl?" he asked.
"Yes, please!" Subaru said eagerly, his stomach already growling for more.
A/N: After reviewing my first chapter, I realized this story desperately needed a prologue. I've made a few minor edits to Chapter 1 to improve the flow and avoid rehashing content from this new addition. A big thanks to AngeryWY for their insightful review—it really got my gears turning and inspired this new chapter.
This is a faster-than-normal turnaround for me, so don't expect updates at this pace regularly. Chapter 2 is planned for release on 12/23/24. For those following my other story, The Fallen, chapters will continue to be posted on Sundays. Meanwhile, Blood and Steel will follow a bi-weekly schedule for now.
I'm really enjoying the early stages of this story and look forward to seeing how it evolves. Thanks for reading, and I appreciate your continued support!