Chapter 3 - Understanding

“Okay, what about magic? Couldn’t you use your magic to make a way back?”

Eleanor loudly slammed her mug on the counter, knocking over her old one. “Don’t call it that. It’s not some party trick like the magic you have from Earth. It’s called Ars, and it has limitations with what it’s capable of.” She angrily took another swig from her mug, her face becoming more flushed with every passing moment.

Tetsuo started tapping his forehead as he closed his eyes and thought. “Right, but if not Ars or whatever, then how did I get here?”

“Like I said, we have no idea.” Alon handed Eleanor's first mug to the bartender as he responded. “It’s not flashy or anything, and the location and timing varies with each newcomer. We’re barely able to find Earthens in the first place, let alone witness the moment they arrive to know what's going on.” Alon set down his mug as he stared at the counter. “We were lucky enough to find you before nightfall, but it’s not that rare for someone to end up spending a day or so alone out there. Sometimes we can’t find them in time… all we can do then is lay them to rest.”

Tetsuo watched as they avoided his gaze. He rested his face in his palm, lost in concentration, before asking the only question he had left. “So what am I supposed to do…?”

Eleanor looked at him for a moment before turning back to her drink. “All you can do is live. Same as the rest of us. Adapt and learn to live again.”

An uncomfortable silence hung in the air. The ambience of the tavern's wooden creaks and idle chatter seemed distant until Alon began to speak.

“My great-grandfather was like you. He arrived when he was just a kid, at least that’s what he used to tell us. The kingdom's program was nothing compared to what it is now, and they knew even less about the summoning back then.” Alon smiled as he continued. “He was scared at first, but he did what he could and was able to make himself a real home here.” He turned his body to properly face Tetsuo, looking him in the eyes as he spoke. “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but what you have is a chance to start over. Leave behind everything you hated about yourself and create the kind of life you’d want to experience.”

Tetsuo hesitated as he processed it. “I…” his voice briefly trembled, grabbing their attention. Both of them watched as he stumbled over what he wanted to say. “...I don’t think I can do that. I’ve got someone… important… at home.” Tetsuo paused as he hid his face and looked away. “She’s going to be worried, so I don’t want to make her wait too long…”

Eleanor got up and staggered around Alon towards Tetsuo. Her ale spilled onto the ground with every step, as she collapsed next to Tetsuo. “Everyone loses something coming here. You’ll get over it. That’s just how it works… You’ll find someone new, they’ll make your heart race, you’ll feel bad about it, and then you’ll get over it. Or live in shame for the rest of your life, I’ve seen it both ways.”

Eleanor gently placed her hand on top of Tetsuo’s and spoke tenderly to him with a brief lucidity in her eyes. “It might seem hard right now… but… I think it’d be tragic if you lost yourself chasing the impossible.“ Eleanor began leaning towards him, bringing her face closer to his, as she closed her eyes.

Tetsuo paused before swiftly pulling back his hand. “Do you guys have strawberries here?”

“Straw… Berries..?” Eleanor slurred, sounding out the word as she tilted her head pensively.

“I don’t think I’ll be moving on anytime soon then.” Tetsuo grabbed his bag and walked out of the bar. Behind him, he could hear Alon paying for the drinks while scolding Eleanor for her behavior. Although he felt a tinge of guilt, he justified it with Eleanors attempted advance.

As Tetsuo began walking back to the registration building to find his lodging, a large, burly man stopped in front of him. He looked down at Tetsuo before speaking. “You came from Pietro’s, right?” Each word came out as a low, resonating grunt. His beard shook with every movement of his mouth, and his breath reeked of alcohol. Tetsuo inquisitively pointed at the tavern as the large man responded. “Yeah, that’s the one...”

Tetsuo took a step back before cautiously answering. “Yeah… two knights named Alon and Eleanor took me there.”

“That’s perfect… thanks.” The man began to smile as he walked towards the bar. “Some advice for ya, stay away from Alon. Kid’s nuthin’ but trouble and a pain in my–” The man coughed heartily before continuing. “Anyways, you’d best be off, you look too fresh to be out here alone.” Tetsuo watched as the man slowly entered the tavern, before he continued on his way.

A loud crack rang out, piercing Tetsuo’s ears. He searched for the source of the noise and found a cloud of dust kicked up in the middle of the street. Inside were the remains of the tavern's wooden doors and a staggered Alon coughing up saliva. “THAT’S FER MY DAUGHTER!” The words echoed out as the man from before ran into the street, winding up another kick that sent Alon down the road and over Tetsuo’s head. Tetsuo shielded his eyes from the dust being kicked up while trying to assess Alon’s condition.

Alon groaned as he rolled onto his back. Despite the power of the hit, the damage he sustained seemed to be limited to minor cuts and scrapes on his arms and face, though he did seem winded.

Tetsuo felt footsteps and looked away from Alon as the man re-approached him. Tetsuo’s body seemed to move without thinking as he lurched to the side of the street to avoid the man’s path.

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“Why didn't you help?”

“Huh?”

Bianca traced the surface of his hand as he held her on their couch. “You could have stayed and helped them with moving. It seems like they wanted to get to know you more.”

“Oh, well, I don’t know, maybe they just wanted me there cause it would be more convenient.”

“Yeah?” Bianca stood up and faced him as her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Don't give me that. What's the actual reason?” Tetsuo paused and sheepishly gave his reason.

“...I didn't want to cancel our date.”

Bianca sighed. She sat down across from him on the couch again and took his hand. “You know if you told me about this before, I would have been okay with you canceling.”

“But-”

“I'd be relieved to see you finally start to settle in and get to make some friends of your own.”

Tetsuo took in a deep breath before meekly smiling. “I don’t think I could like a friend as much as I love you.”

To his surprise, Tetsuo’s flirt was met with an expression filled with anxiety and worry.

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Tetsuo rubbed his face and took in a long breath of air. He ran back onto the road, past the man, and knelt down beside Alon. He grabbed his hand and tried to pull him up onto his feet, but Alon groaned in pain, refusing to move.

“Get outta the way son, I ain’t finished with him yet.”

Tetsuo ran in front of the man, attempting to keep some distance between him and Alon. “You got him pretty good, uh, sir. Why don’t we just leave thin–”

The man lunged forward, his fist flying towards Tetsuo’s chest. Tetsuo barely found the time to pull his arms in to protect his ribs before the punch landed, pushing him back several steps. Tetsuo gasped for air, reeling from the hit. His arms trembled, but they didn’t feel bruised. The impact had resonated through his body, but surprisingly, he felt fine. An unfamiliar excitement built up within as he began to breathe more heavily. He could feel himself shifting his weight forward and anticipating each step the man took towards him.

“I ain’t saying it again.”

The man brought his fist up for another swing, but this time the movement felt slow. Tetsuo watched as the man took a step forward, reeling his right arm back to prepare his next strike. Tetsuo twisted his body backwards to dodge below the fist and wind up a strike of his own. He lifted his right arm into the man's stomach, feeling the fat on his belly undulate with the impact as the man’s eyes widened in shock. He threw his left arm back to maintain his balance and followed through with the blow, lifting the man off the ground and tumbling backwards.

Tetsuo stood astonished at the distance he had sent the man who was now kneeling. The man lifted his hand and slammed his fist into the ground, cracking the dirt at his feet. He started chuckling softly as he stood and leaned forward with his left foot. He slid his right foot behind him and raised his arms in front of him.

“Not bad, son.”