Chapter 4 - Intervention

It took about an hour to arrive at the forest. Alina winced in pain as Renji eased her down carefully, propping her back against the trunk of a large tree.

“Sorry. Bear with it for a minute,” Renji apologised in a soft voice.

He dropped to a crouch, raised his carbine, and scanned for threats behind them. He controlled his breathing, sharpening his hearing.

A full minute later, satisfied there were no immediate threats, Renji turned his attention to Alina.

“Do you have healing magic?” he asked, surprising himself.

“No. That’s really rare,” Alina shook her head. “We could buy healing potions in town, but they’re pricey.”

Renji noticed that Alina’s robe had shifted, revealing the pale skin of her upper thighs. He removed his cloak and placed it over her legs, leaving only the wounded calf uncovered.

“Thank you,” Alina said in a shy voice.

Renji nodded and pulled out a multitool and a bandage from his tactical vest.

“All right then. This might hurt a bit. Bear with me.” He held a short branch in front of her mouth. “Bite down on this—it might help.”

Alina bit down as he gently propped her leg on a nearby root. She groaned softly, biting harder on the branch.

The blood isn’t pulsing or bright in colour. Doesn’t look arterial. Some good news at least.

With the multitool, Renji cut both ends of the arrow, leaving a short stub on each side. He then bandaged the wound carefully.

“All done, for now. Where are we heading next?” Renji removed the branch from her mouth.

“Thank you again. We’ll head to my teacher’s home—a village not too far from here.”

“How much further?”

“About half a day’s journey, at least.”

No water. One wounded. Any more than half a day would be really pushing it.

“I’m going to carry you on my back. Is that all right? I can move faster that way.”

“Y-yes, of course. I’m sorry that you have to do that for me,” she said, wincing.

“Don’t be. We’re in this together, at least for now.”

Alina gingerly climbed onto his back, and they trekked for a couple more hours before taking another break.

***

Exhaustion crept in. He must have slept half an hour before Alina shook him awake.

“How long was I asleep?” Renji asked, blinking.

“About half an hour.”

“Thanks for waking me. I didn’t intend to doze off.” He crouched with his back to her. “We should keep moving.”

“Thank you.” Alina climbed onto his back again, resting her arms around his shoulders.

As they set off, Renji asked, “Do you know if there’s a water source nearby?”

“Ah! Wait... stop moving for a bit.”

“Huh? Sure.”

Still on his back, Alina cupped her hands and muttered a few words. A glowing pale blue orb formed, fading into a pool of clear water.

Renji stared. “Water. From nothing. Real magic.”

“Here, drink.” She brought her hands gently to his mouth. “I drank some while you were asleep.”

Renji drank greedily. That felt so good…

“Thank you, Alina. Could you do that again?”

“Sure thing.”

She repeated the spell three more times before they continued.

As they trekked through the forest, Renji’s mind wandered. That kindness had once pulled me out of the dark. Right now, I had no idea if I’d ever see her again.

***

Eleven years ago, a certain high school, Tokyo.

The school bell chimed, signalling the start of lunch break. A warm summer breeze drifted through Classroom 2-A.

In the back row, Renji sat at his desk, his attention on a handheld video game. It was his third day back at school since his bereavement absence. He could sense his classmates being cautious around him.

Seated in front, Yamaguchi Kenta turned around.
“Hey Renji, you want something from the shop?”

Kenta had been the only classmate at the funeral. They’d been close since middle school, sharing interests in video games and soccer.

“Sure, Ken. What are you getting?”

“The usual—yakisoba bun.”

Nearby, three girls whispered by the windows. The long-haired one in the middle stole glances at Renji, holding a homemade bento wrapped in light blue cloth and a bottled water.

“Kyoko, are you sure about this? He’s the soccer ace, yeah... but also kind of the class otaku,” Hana said, tying her hair back nervously.

“He’s cute. And he’s always by himself,” Aoi added, fanning herself with a book.

“Don’t you feel sorry for him? Losing both parents in an accident at our age...” Kyoko said softly. “And he hasn’t been bringing his usual bento lately.”

“You actually noticed that, Kyoko?” Hana asked, surprised.

“Well…” Kyoko looked down, ears pink.

“If that’s what you’ve decided, Kyoko, we’ll support you. Go.” Aoi gave her a push.

Kyoko stumbled forward, glancing back at her friends who gave her thumbs-up.

“On second thought, I don’t think you’ll need lunch today,” Kenta said with a grin.

“Huh? Why?” Renji looked up from his game.

“Erm, Takeda-kun.”

Both boys turned.

Kyoko stood at his desk with the bento and bottled water in hand.

“Erm, Sakuragi-san?” Renji blinked.

Kenta winked at him and walked off toward the shop.

“I made a little too much today,” Kyoko said softly. “If you don’t mind.”

“I hit the wrong button at the vending machine earlier,” she added, handing him the bento and water. “I think cold water is nice for a day like this, though.”

“Thank you…” Renji accepted them awkwardly. The condensation on the bottle felt cold in his hand.

What would be polite? Offer her a drink? Invite her to sit?

“Erm… Y-you can take a seat if you’d like. I don’t think Kenta would mind.”

“Sure thing!” Kyoko smiled.

***

Still on Renji’s back as they trekked, Alina’s thoughts wandered.

Vaerina believed the summoning was for a spirit being given a body. She’s the Duke’s head mage — but she’s full of it. Always has been. Or did the spell go wrong?

He has to be from another world. Did he have family waiting? A wife? Children? He seemed old enough… Her chest tightened. He might never see them again.

“Sorry, Renji,” Alina whispered.

“Huh? Why are you apologising? You can’t be expected to walk for hours on a wounded leg.”

She hadn’t meant to say it aloud.
“N-nothing. Don’t mind me.” She shook her head.

He uses strange weapons, but it’s obvious he’s no stranger to battle—able to kill without hesitation. He will have questions. He won’t like the answers.

Alina sighed and rested her chin on his shoulder.

It was getting dark, but from their elevated position, she recognised a familiar sight in the distance.

“Renji, do you see that village in the distance? Head there.” She pointed toward the village of Thul.

They stopped outside a modest two-storey house built from wood and stone.

Alina knocked urgently.

After a few seconds, the door swung open. In the doorway stood a bespectacled man in his fifties, short brown hair greying at the temples.

“Hello, Master Rovan,” Alina said with a sheepish grin.