Hopes and Dreams

Let us turn back the clock to before we found ourselves in Azaladan, before a little girl ever met her soon to be guardian. To were the one blessed with power was just a human living on Earth. Although one Leo Salazar would hardly call it living.

“2 years… 2 years and nothing to show for it.” Leo sighed into his arms as he slumped in front of his monitor, “But what did I expect huh? Barely passing classes is not exactly ‘college material’ is it?” Displayed on his screen was a email containing the words “Waitlist” on it. Amount the other emails were filled with rejections to applications for colleges and even jobs , all saying rejected in more… flowery terms.”Welp,” Leo stretched his arms and let out a long yawn, “I tried.”

Getting up from his computer Leo began to head out of his room and caught himself in the mirror. There his 20 year old self looked back at him, messy black hair, dark brown eyes, and… decent looking features if he did say so himself. Granted he would say he was average at best thanks in part to him keeping active to stay in somewhat shape. The bags under his eyes and the stubble on his face did reminding him of something though.

“I need a shower.”

BEEP

A notification rang on his phone near. He picked it up scrolling to see a message from his friend.

“You down for a movie today man?”

Leo sighed, not too long ago he had just texted that he had failed to get in… anywhere. This was obviously an attempt to cheer him up.

“Sure.”

With the message sent he tossed the phone on to his bed to get ready.

xxx

Leo wouldn’t say he was unpopular, but in no way would he say he was popular either. Still he was hoping there would be more people than is buddy at the movies to cheer him up. “But what can you do… everyone got busy.” Here he was alone once again on his way home after parting ways with his buddy. Sure the movie did distract him from the harsh reality that out of all his friends, he still didn’t get into college or even have a job. Even though he barely has been making it by with community college, transferring was proving to be hard.

BEEP

Getting others to see that, well how can you?

BEEP

‘Everyone thinks they know how to do things when the rules keep changing.’ He pulled out his phone and wasn’t surprised to see messages from his mother. All about “Where he was” or “We saw one of the letters” or even “Please pick up.”

Leo guessed he should probably at least message back to make sure they know he was alive. Still as he was walking with his head down now a universal inevitability happened.

“Oof.”

“Ah.”

It wasn’t a hard collision between the two, but as both parties were distracted the jostle was enough to cause them to look up. “Sorry, I wasn’t looking.”

“No, It was my fault I’m sorr-” The girl he apparently walked into looked at him and widen her eyes in surprise, “Leo, is that you?”

‘Shit’ Leo looked up confused for a second before recognizing the person before him, “Oh, hey uh Sarah… how have you been.”

Sarah giggled, “Good you? I haven’t heard from you in a while.”

Leo laughed nervously, It was one thing to run into people he used to know from school, but why did it have to be her? He needed to find a way to leave organically and fast, “Oh… heheh you know, been busy.”

“Yeah, I get that.” Sarah pushed her hair aside, “School has got me swamped.”

“Taking a break I’m guessing.” He replied before his brain registered, ‘What are you doing?’

“Yup, I actually was meeting my boyfriend soon.”

‘See she has a boyfriend, go.’ Leo’s mouth moved once again, “Oh really? You are dating again?”

“I know, we met last semester and-”

“Stop, stop” Leo pleaded in his mind wondering how Sarah wasn’t feeling his awkwardness in the air. Sarah was a long time crush from high school. Someone that Leo knew he could never reach. Smart, talented, and driven all qualities that Leo never hoped to match. Through sheer cruel joke of god or the universe Leo had ended up befriending her after a really bad break up. He had to store those feelings away as she was hurting at the time. Always promising himself that he would tell her “when the time was right.” Yet here they were two years out of high school and they had grew apart. No more long messages at night or weekend meet ups. Now she has moved on while he has….

BEEP

Thanking the heavens for his phone to interrupt he quickly glanced down and saw his out. “Oh sorry, I got to get going. Later.”

“Oh uh see you.” Sara said as Leo picked up speed walking away, “Don’t be a stranger!”

Leo waved not daring to look back as he had made his escape… again. After all, he was too late. Too late to tell her how he felt, to late to be anything more in her eyes.

xxx

“ARGGH!” Leo groaned landing on his bed at home. If it was only his encounter with Sarah that caused this exhaustion maybe he wouldn’t feel so tired, but it was the near endless interrogation from his parents on his arrival that drained whatever energy that he regained. Going on about his failure to get into college or fine a job.

“You had a chance, you just needed to be responsible.” Leo spoke to himself in a mocking tone mimicking his mother’s words of applying to her work. It was a good offer, but could he do it. If he applied it wouldn’t just be his reputation on the line if he messed up somehow. He couldn’t betray his parents expectations… again.

BZZT BZZT BZZT

“What the?” Leo sat up hearing the crackle of electricity. Almost rainbow like lighting began to dance around him. They began to move faster and faster zapping everywhere as a bright light started to shine from underneath him.

Faint echoes began to be heard in a strange language. No… he can understand them. Like a radio jumping between stations he can make out some words.

“…. Is it wor…”

“Come…. not…”

“It’ll work! It has…”

“Please… save…”

Four distinct voices. Leo was stunned at this sudden observed situation. He read story after story, watch anime after anime, a smile began to creep on his face, “No way, am I really going to be isekaied?”

Soon the light in his room began to completely blind him, he raised his arms to shield his eyes as the four voices seemed to merge and speak in unison.

“The fate of our world, we are leaving it to you now. Please, save what we hold dear”

XXX

“Ow.” Leo groaned as he rubbed his butt finding that only himself and the clothes on his back were summoned to this new world. He slowly stood up from the pain and waited until his eyes readjusted. A goofy childlike grin plastered on his face. Who would have thought that him, Leo Salazar would be summoned to a whole new world. What powers would he get? Was the person who summoned him cute? Oh he couldn’t wait. He took a deep breath in and…

“Gah, ughhh *cough*”

Leo was assaulted but the horrendous smell of… copper.

He was one ready to embrace this world. He was once ready to greet those that summoned him. However fear began to wash over him. Fear to open his eyes. Yet he must. He had to see. He had to know. Steeling himself she slowly opened his eyes.

Regret at what he just did would have to wait. He turned quickly as his body, in complete rejection of reality, made him throw up the contents of his stomach. For what now lied before him were four mutilated people dead on the ground. Four people, the same number of voices he heard before he came here. His summoners, the ones that called him for help, were already dead.