The visitor

For three full days, Ren didn't leave his room. He only opened the door to retrieve the trays of food that appeared morning, noon, and night. The food had a completely different taste from what he remembered from his world—with interesting colors and smells—but overall, it was fine.

After three days and about a hundred books, he grew tired of the hermit lifestyle and decided he needed some fresh air to continue his research. He was surprised the oni hadn't visited him even once during this time, especially after feeling several times that she wanted to kill him. He missed her a little, but his memories and his new sister—whose existence was the only thing he knew for certain—even more so. The most logical conclusion was that he had seen a fragment of his past, a memory brought about by some unimaginable medical science—something his sibling was not afforded. The memory was too emotionally poignant to be a random vision. As much as he wished it weren't real, it was easier to swallow that unknown orcs were killing unknown elves than to accept that his younger sister had to survive without him.

He stepped out into the blazing sun. He tied his sweater around his waist and ran his hand through his long, blue hair. He planned to walk in the beautiful garden, but it seemed that too many people had the same idea. He tried to ignore them, but the strange glances and whispers only heightened his anxiety, which was already aggravated by the heat.

In the distance, he spotted a small wooden structure, outside the garden but not yet in the adjacent forest. Surrounded by reddish-pinkish flowers and the tall trees behind it, it wasn't that easy to notice. This discovery filled him with a childlike joy, and he ran along the path toward it.

He happily collapsed in the newly discovered small gazebo, which felt like his own home. He took a few laps around it to pick some flowers he could later use to decorate his room. He lay down in the huge patch of grass and—as if making a snow angel—moved his arms and legs. He enjoyed the sunshine caressing his face and the soft, fragrant grass beneath him. It tickled him, and he realized that since arriving, he had never seen bad weather. It was always sunny and hot outside. For a few moments, he completely forgot his problems.

Until the bushes next to him moved.

He sat up and held his hand out in front of him, as if he knew how to use his new, unknown power.

A redhead emerged from the bush, and when the girl saw she had company, she stopped. For a moment, they just looked at each other, then Haku resignedly walked over to the gazebo and sat down. She leaned her massive weapon against the wooden structure; it was about the same size as her. It was an enormous sword, but "sword" didn't feel like the right word for it. Its blade was an unnaturally long and weirdly curved mass of dark metal with a matte red exterior—matching her aesthetic—which was now covered by a black substance. It looked as if it were forged with raw, brutal strength, yet it somehow still appeared perfectly crafted. In stark contrast to the massive blade, the hilt was a masterpiece of intricate, futuristic design, with complex symbols and glowing blue accents that pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat. Next to the hilt, a braided fabric with green colors hung, which probably had a sentimental meaning. A faint, almost imperceptible warmth radiated from the metal, a subtle energy that Ren's newly awakened senses could barely pick up on. It wasn't the heat of the sword, but something deeper, more permanent. He had no idea what it was, but the sensation of it sent a shiver down his spine. The weapon wasn't just a tool; it felt like a living thing, an extension of a power he couldn't comprehend.

When they first met, he only saw the girl from the back. Her weapon was big enough to be noticed even then, but he was too shocked to pay attention to such details.

Haku broke the silence, "This was Master's and my secret hideout. I thought it was a secret until now, but you found it too, so I'm sure everyone else knew about it as well." She pulled her leg up next to her and hugged it. "As a child, I felt like it was just the two of us. Then, as I grew up, we spent less time together. After I became the captain and the attacks from the phantoms and elves proliferated, we had too much work. Every single day, he would leave me a message on my pillow. Things like 'Have a nice day' or 'Acceptance starts with accepting yourself.' The old man was pretty old. I've never met a more wonderful, accepting person than him, and the worst part is I have no idea what could have happened to him."

Ren didn't know what to do with the sudden honesty.

"You also found out something about your family, didn't you?" the girl asked.

"I have a sister," he grabbed a tuft of grass. "In my world. She's very sick and... I don't know much more about her. I don't even remember her name."

He clutched his chest at the sudden pain in his heart. He grabbed his shirt as if he could ease the stabbing pain. After a few minutes, it passed, and he fell back onto the grass with relief.

"The other time, when I pushed you against the wall. That was only for your safety. The 'bumas' are very stubborn and stupid. They're only interested in the weakest." The girl noticeably avoided apologizing.

"Bumas?"

"Big body, small wings, googly eyes." She meant the flying pigs.

"And what have you been doing for the last three days?"

"I went on an expedition with some people from the city. We have to thin out the number of phantoms."

Ren thought about the black substance on her sword, but he was too lazy to get up from the ground again. "And that black stuff? You were wiping it into yourself in the city center, too."

"Phantom blood. If an animal comes in contact with it, it gets infected. If people get sick, they can infect others, like a virus, and they will die.”

"Hakuka, Captain, I apologize for the intrusion." A kind-faced human girl bowed to the oni. Her beautiful white face was distorted by worry. "You have a visitor."

"Who?" Haku asked.

"Zel." Seeing Haku's look of disbelief, she added. "From the Ivory Concord."

A strong, sudden laugh from the Oni broke the silence. Even people in the garden turned to look. She hugged her trembling body as she shook with laughter. Ren had never seen her so cheerful.

"And why would I want to talk to him?"

The human woman answered quietly, "He said he might know what happened to the Mage."

A man named Zel was already sitting in the waiting room when Ren and Haku—and Haku's weapon, which she dragged with annoyance behind her the whole time—entered the room. He sat with his back to them, his black hair tied back in a ponytail. When he heard the door open, he gestured to his fully armored soldiers, who walked past them and out of the room. The man stood up and turned around with a genial smile.

"Haku, it's been so long—" He stared at Ren. "How did this one survive? And is he with you? I've never seen him before, and I'd notice a face this dirty."

Ren remembered the man. He was the one who had stabbed him. He didn't know how to feel about him, but he was annoyed that everyone had a problem with a few freckles.

Zel’s sun-tanned skin was highlighted by his pearly white teeth, which he showed every time he spoke. He seemed a little egotistical. He had no weapon, and only a single plate of armor protected his chest. He didn't seem to feel in any real danger, which was strange considering he was in enemy territory.

"It's none of your business," Haku huffed and took a seat on the armrest of the couch. "What do you want? You said you know where Master is. How do I know you're not lying?"

"We in the Ivory Concord never lie. You have my word." He placed his hand on his heart as a promise.

The girl just rolled her eyes. "And what do you want for it?"

Zel leaned back and smiled.

"Answers."

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