Fragment Side - Ollie

Ollie
-*-

A fragment of a fallen god who lost his name and authority. A god without power and forgotten by the world…

That’s the god that I came from.

The first thing that I saw when I gained consciousness was a theater.

I don’t know how I recognized that place as a theater, nor how I became fully aware that I am a fragment from a god. It just came naturally to me without any explanation or reason.

If I were to describe it, it was because that’s just how things are.

To some extent, I have knowledge of this world. But as a fragment, it is completely lacking.

One of the things that I have no knowledge of is how my original god became reduced to this miserable state.

A figure stood on top of the rundown stage. He has pale pink hair and red eyes, his face was gentle and fair, except for the visible cracks that I could see on his body as if he was made of porcelain that is about to break.

Our eyes met, then he motioned me to come closer and take a seat.

Having no reason to defy him, I did as he wanted.

“Fragment,” he called.

“Yes, my dear god?”

He smiled weakly, it was as if he would fall apart any moment.

“I have a mission for you.”

I lowered my head in insubordination. If the god wills it, then I will do as he commands.

“Become the guide of the Creator Goddess.”

“The Creator Goddess…?”

From the knowledge that I have, I’ve known the Creator Goddess as the one who created this world. A person called Lapis Lazuli. However, I also know that the Goddess has long since abandoned this world.

“Yes, she will eventually wake up in this world one day. I would like to personally go there, but I can’t show up in this state so you will suffice for now.”

“Understood. I’ll become the Goddess’ Guide… to what or where should I guide her?” I asked.

“Oh, that’s right… how about this?”

The god leaned closer to me and whispered, “Guide her to the end of the world.”

___________

From the moment that Lapis-sama woke up in this world, I’ve stayed by her side as her guide. I answered her questions and explained the things that she seems to have no idea despite being the Creator Goddess.

At some point, I actually doubted if she really was the Goddess… but that was a useless thought. Lapis-sama is the creator of this world, and she loves this world more than anything.

However, with the time that I spent with her, I noticed that she has a certain habit that is quite concerning.

She’s forgetful, indecisive, and aimless. She doesn’t have anything like a goal, or maybe she was too scared to have a purpose and not be able to live up to it.

I don’t know how her past life was, but based on her occasional melancholic expression and the little things she shared to me passively, I’m guessing that it wasn’t that good.

On top of that, I could tell that she’s trying hard to appear strong and stable. She didn’t want to worry me or Dolce-chan. Dolce-chan might not have noticed it but I did…

How her smile feels forced, how her words feel empty…

Is that how adults are supposed to be?

Lapis-sama is kind, but she’s not the most honest person. Well, she’s a goddess… it wasn’t a good idea to question a god’s whims.

All I need to do is to be her guide…

Yet, I found myself wanting to have something that I call my own.

I gave myself the name Ollie, something that seemingly came from a distant memory. As well as a personality tailored from a dream of a nameless existence, and emotions that came from accumulations of countless unfulfilled desires.

There are a lot of things that I still don’t understand, and I may never come to understand.

Even so, staying by Lapis-sama’s side until the end of the world has been enjoyable as well.

I have knowledge of the world by default, but to be able to experience things personally like eating sweets, going to bazaar, and watching a parade was really fun. I also made a friend like Dolce-chan.

Dolce-chan is a sweet child and she gained Lapis-sama’s favor, she also treats me in a casual manner without pretenses.

“Now, did you fight with the Goddess?” she asked while we’re taking shelter in a nearby shop from the sudden rainfall.

“It’s not like that, it’s just I am lacking as a guide,” I answered.

“Yeah, no way that’s the reason. Lapis-sama doesn’t seem to be the kind of person who will see you as lacking even if you make many mistakes,” Dolce-chan huffed.

I know that too, but this is the first time that I wasn’t around Lapis-sama. To be honest, this is making me anxious for some reason.

“Ollie-kun, you’re not human, right?” Dolce-chan asked.

“You can pretty much guess it already,” I simply responded.

“Well, that explains why you seem like you know a lot of things… but actually, there are times where you seem like a young child.”

“Eh?”

“Ah, don’t take it the wrong way, okay? It’s just that whenever you’re with Lapis-sama, you feel like you’re her younger brother, and when you were eating sweets in our pastry shop, you were so cute.”

I was caught off guard with what Dolce-chan said and I could feel my cheeks burning from embarrassment.

“D-don’t make fun of me!”

“See? That’s what I’m talking about,” she chuckled lightly.

“Arf!”

“Even Sol thinks so too!”

I narrowed my eyes at Sol, warning him not to agree with Dolce-chan or I’ll rat him out to Lapis-sama, but he just barked one last time, obviously not threatened.

I just sighed to myself in defeat. This is a waste of time, I need to go back to Lapis-sama’s side.

“Now, now, you look like you want to run to Lapis-sama quickly,” she shook her head in disappointment. “Give her some time, there are things that adults don't want children like us to know.”

Is that so…? I don’t get it, but I feel like Dolce-chan just said something reasonable.

“Dolce-chan is right, maybe my presence is actually making it harder for Lapis-sama…”

“Are you stupid?!” She flicked my forehead so hard that I had to double-down.

“That hurts?! What was that for?!”

“How could you twist my words like that? I didn’t mean it that way!” She huffed and pouted while stomping her foot as if she’s throwing a tantrum.

“Then what?”

“I mean that Lapis-sama has her worries that she can’t just talk openly to kids. It’s the same as my parents trying to hide that we’re having financial difficulties from me. Adults have those kinds of worries, okay?” She blurted out.

“Your parents are lying to you?”

“NO! Haah…. I can’t believe you, Ollie-kun,” Dolce-chan sighed and put a hand on her forehead. “You know what, Lapis-sama is the Goddess but she is actually more human than you. Ollie-kun talks, acts, and looks like a human but there’s something about you that just doesn’t seem normal.”

Dolce-chan sighed once more. I just stared at her while she continuously rants about me.

Well, she’s right that Lapis-sama is more human than me. Before she woke up in this world, she’s also a human. It wasn’t surprising that she seems more human than god.

But I’m neither a god nor a human. I’m just a fragment who somehow manifested in this form.

“Dolce-chan as well, you’re just a kid but you know a lot of things about adults.”

“Eh?” Dolce-chan flinched and looked away awkwardly. “T-that’s… Hey! Why did it become about me? I’m simply concerned about my parents, that’s why I know those things!”

“Whatever you say.”

“You little… Hmph! Ollie-kun should look at it from Lapis-sama’s side too. Although children are not obligated to understand adults, adults will do their best to hide their worries from children like us. That’s just how adults are.”

“Adults… huh.”

If I manifest with an adult form, will Lapis-sama be able to confide her worries to me?

I had that thought for a while now. Maybe the reason why she can’t openly tell me what’s bothering her is because I look like a young child and just like Dolce-chan said, she doesn’t want to worry me because she’s an adult who wants to protect children’s innocence.

“We’re lucky to have kind adults around us, you know. I heard that not all kids in this kingdom have happy families,” Dolce mused. “That’s why, what we could do right now is to live as kids should be… I’m sure that’s also what adults really want to see.”

“I see… I didn’t know that.”

“Hehe, then let this older sister teach you more!” Dolce-chan proudly said.

I narrowed my eyes on her and asked, “Who decided that you’re the older one between us?”

“Of course, I’m older! I know a lot of things about humans, so leave it to me! I’m the older sister, okay?”

Well, I may have knowledge that no children have but those are technical things given that I am a fragment of a god, but as I am now, I hate to admit it but Dolce-chan is right.

As a conscious being, I only have existed for several days.

I still have a lot to learn about life.

“Okay,” I said with a smile.

Then, the rain shower stopped and the sun showed up once more. The two of us stared at the sky as a rainbow appeared.

“Waaah! So pretty!!!” Dolce-chan exclaimed while pointing at the sky. “Look, Ollie-kun, it’s a rainbow!”

Watching Dolce-chan get excited at the appearance of the vibrant rainbow on the sky that was dark just a few moments ago made me smile.

“Un. It’s really beautiful.”

Dolce-chan grabbed my hand and dragged me to the puddles of rain. Sol also happily splashed with the water left on the pavement.

The people of Espoir Town started going out to see the rainbow, and a festival soon started. The rainbow was seen as a good omen after all.

____________

“Did you have fun today, Ollie-kun?”

I nodded and smiled. “Yep. Thank you, Dolce-chan.”

“You’re welcome! Let’s play again next time, bring Sol again, okay?”

“Okay!”

After having fun in the puddles of rain and the festival, Dolce-chan and I decided to go back to our respective home.

I don’t know why Lapis-sama never returned to look for me, but I know that the rainbow was her doing. In this world, even if it rains, the rainbow never shows up. It was even considered a legend and only exists in picture books.

But for it to appear now… Lapis-sama definitely found an answer.

“I guess, I have to do my best too. Right, Sol?”

“Arf!”

I smiled to myself, then quickly glared at the dog.

“Don’t think I forgot that you disregarded my threat earlier, Sol,” I menacingly smiled.

Sol whimpered as he tried to run away, but since I’m holding his leash, his attempts were futile.

“Hey, I won’t do anything to you. I had fun today so I’ll let it slide,” I sighed.

“Arf?”

“Yes, so don’t drag the leash now. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“Arf!” Sol cheerfully barked and walked happily beside me.

Sol… when he appeared in front of us, I could sense something familiar within him. Although he could not talk to us, he can understand what we’re saying to him.

I confirmed my suspicions last night. Sol is a fragment of a god different from mine. When he could not enter the Sanctuary, it’s not simply because Lapis-sama did not give him permission to enter.

Lapis-sama already gave him a name, that alone will grant him a passage to her Sanctuary… if he was a normal dog.

But he was still unable to enter even with a name from the Goddess herself, that means there is a greater influence within him that Lapis-sama cannot overwrite easily.

“I and Sol are alike, aren’t we?”

“Arf?”

“We’re fragments of gods that are sent here to be Lapis-sama’s guide until the end of the world.”

“Arf…”

Until the end of the world…

That was our purpose as fragments of the gods who lost themselves over and over again for the survival of this world. All for the sake of the Creator Goddess’ arrival… and for her to end this world.

Even so… was it wrong to wish for this world to stay like this?

_____________

“Lapis-sama, we’ve returned,” I said as we arrived at our home.

The door is opened so Lapis-sama is already inside without a doubt. There is no response. She’s probably not on the first floor.

“She’s not here…”

I picked up Sol and took him with me upstairs. I need to give him a bath later because he had a lot of fun playing with the puddles earlier and he got water and mud on his golden fur.

I don’t think Lapis-sama will like that.

I also got a little dirty but it’s just mostly on my feet and legs. I can wash my clothes later too.

I noticed that Lapis-sama’s room was open so I decided to peek inside.

“Lapis-sama, we’re ho—”

I stopped on my words when I saw who was inside the room with Lapis-sama. My eyes widened in disbelief as the familiar figure indifferently stared at me.

Lapis-sama was looking down, biting her lip in frustration and clenching her fist on her side.

There is also another figure inside, someone lying on the bed with labored breathing. I could see the small hands of the person in question and I can’t believe how pale it was, the person is obviously sick.

“Answer me! Are you the writer who created this world, Lapis Lazuli-sensei?!”

At that point, I decided to put Sol down and stood between Lapis-sama and the boy slightly shorter than me.

That familiar black hair and black eyes… I’ve seen that before.

“Watch your words, Prince Noir. Even if you’re a prince, you can’t speak like that to the Goddess,” I coldly glared at the young prince.

“Goddess?! Hah! What an amazing Goddess indeed!” Prince Noir sarcastically spat.

“You…” I glared and was about to launch myself at him when a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

“Ollie-kun, it’s alright,” Lapis-sama forced a smile.

“What do you mean ‘alright’? This is not alright at all!”

“Ollie-kun, let’s stop here,” Lapis-sama said and walked to take the book with her.

She then turned to the boy and bowed with a 90 degree posture.

“Prince Noir, for what it’s worth, I apologize for all my wrongdoings. Please stay here for the meantime. I’ll look for a way to help Princess Bianca. Please excuse me.”

After Lapis-sama said that, she went out of the room without as much sparing a glance.

“Lapis-sama, wait!”

I was about to run after Lapis-sama when I noticed an equally frustrated expression on the face of Prince Noir. If he’s here… that means the one on the bed is…

“Onii-chan…” the girl weakly called out to her brother. “Why did you say those words to Lapis Lazuli-sensei…?”

As expected, it’s Princess Bianca.

“Don’t talk too much, Shiro.”

“Onii-chan…”

“Shiro…?” I muttered, then my eyes widened in realization. “Are you two reincarnators?”

“And you are…?”

I know that there is a possibility for other reincarnators to show up but I did not expect it to be the twin royals, not to mention… How did they even end up here?

“Ah, I’m Ollie, the Goddess’ guide.”

“How did you know that we’re reincarnators? Are you also a reincarnator?” Prince Noir glared at me.

“I’m not, I’m simply a guide who knows about reincarnators. Not to mention, the name Shiro seems to come from the same language as Lapis-sama’s original name that she introduced herself to me before,” I explained.

My attention went to Princess Bianca soon, something about her is really bothering me.

“Excuse me, can I take a look at Princess Bianca?” I asked.

“Sure…” Princess Bianca agreed.

“NO! DON’T TOUCH MY SISTER!” Prince Noir barked.

I ignored him and only listened to the princess. She looks like she’s in pain, judging by her unusual pale sickly skin, it seems to be poison.

“Poison, huh…” I muttered to myself.

“You can tell?” Prince Noir asked.

I may look like a kid but I have a wide variety of knowledge necessary for survival that I got from the original god. One of those is to recognize poison and its medication.

“Can you do something?”

I heaved a deep breath. “This poison is extremely fatal, but since it doesn’t seem like she got a lethal dose, it’s manageable.”

“Uhm, thank you…” Prince Noir quietly said.

“I’m not doing this for free. If I found the cure for your sister, you have to apologize to the Goddess.”

“W-what for?! She’s the reason why our lives are in danger!” Prince Noir argued.

“Then forget about it,” I shook my head in disappointment and turned my back at the two.

“Onii-chan…”

“Uuu… alright! I’ll apologize to Lapis Lazuli-sensei if you manage to cure Shiro!” Prince Noir yelled.

I faced him once again and smiled.

“You better, because even if you are a prince, I have no intention of excusing your rudeness.”