A Painful Return Home

After the battle against Darkahia, I ended up unconscious for a couple of days due to the strain on both my body and soul from having unleashed all my power, and even when I woke up I had to spend at least a week in bed, recovering just enough to be able to stand. It was quite boring, but at least Liz stayed with me, even if she scolded me once again for overdoing it.

Sadly, my rest didn’t last long, because as soon as I had the chance to get up, we returned to investigating the great tree Mildfir and my summoning with the help of the elves. All the information Darkahia had given me was true; I was supposed to have been summoned a hundred years ago, but things went wrong and I ended up the way I am now.

However, what truly surprised us was what the chief of the elves told us during our investigation.

“Did you find a way to revive the great tree!?” Liz and I shouted at the same time.

“Revitalize is the proper word, but yes,” he corrected. “The process consists of transferring all the mana from your soul into the tree, and since your soul is special, it will be enough for the great tree Mildfir to return to its days of glory.”

That was truly incredible news. The destruction of the great tree was an event that forever changed the history and course of this world, leaving everything in a deplorable state. The ability to revitalize it was an important event that would undoubtedly bring new life to this world.

“However, by doing so you will lose all your mana and, therefore, your status as a hero,” added the elf chief.

I see. If I agreed to help with the great tree Mildfir, I would lose everything I had gained when I was summoned. I wouldn’t just lose my mana, but I could even lose my strength and superhuman abilities. It was truly a pity, but the answer was more than obvious.

“It doesn’t matter,” I replied. “If that’s the only thing I’ll lose in exchange for saving the world, then I have no problem with it.”

Satisfied with my answer, the elf chief nodded with a great smile of relief. He must have seriously considered the possibility that I might refuse to help, so he must have felt happy that it wasn’t the case.

“Good. On another note, the consciousness of the great tree also told me that there’s a way to send you back to your world.”

“What!?” Liz and I shouted again at once.

According to what the elf leader told us, once the great tree Mildfir was functioning again, its very consciousness would help with the process to open a portal that would take me home. Therefore, the current priority was to return to the ruined city of the great tree Mildfir to begin the revitalization.

We would have to travel from the capital back to the ruined city; no doubt, a long road, but it was the only way. Besides, this would be the last journey I would have with Liz in this world… I had to enjoy it as much as I could.

“Very well. I’ll go make the preparations. You two wait in this city, I’ll return and we’ll depart toward what remains of the great tree Mildfir,” said the elf chief.

“Yes!”

***

“Is something wrong?” Lui asked.

After the elf chief finished with the preparations, we all departed back toward the city where the great tree Mildfir was located, the one that used to be the old capital. However, we decided to stop in my village because I wanted to see how my sister Lui was doing. Luckily, nothing had happened while we were away; Captain Edran had taken very good care of her.

“No, why do you ask?”

“I’m your sister, you can’t lie to me that easily,” she said firmly.

As expected, she saw right through my lie instantly, as if it were nothing. I would like to say that I was fine, but there was something that was truly hurting me.

“Naoya is going back to his world,” I replied. “That’s good. He’ll be able to see his family again and return to his life, but… why can’t I feel good about that?”

The idea of never seeing Naoya again was eating me alive. We had gone through so much together, escaped extremely complicated situations, and even encouraged each other to follow our dreams. He had already become an irreplaceable person to me, and just imagining him leaving and me being left alone again made everything feel incredibly overwhelming and heavy once more.

I wanted to be happy for him, but I couldn’t.

Lui stayed quiet as she thought of a response, but her expression, more than worried, seemed like that of someone enjoying the situation.

“…What?” I asked irritably.

“No, nothing. It’s just that I think it’s about time you accept what you feel for him,” she replied.

“What I feel for him? What are you talk—?”

“Liz, stop denying it and answer honestly. What is it that you feel for Naoya?”

The question caught me completely off guard. It was true that Naoya had become someone very important to me, it was also true that I wanted him to stay with me, and I did feel irritated when the elves got too close to him, but… liking Naoya? That was… true.

I suppose it was about time I realized it… no, it wasn’t that I hadn’t realized it, but that I didn’t want to accept it. I avoided it because I knew Naoya would eventually return to his world and I didn’t want to suffer because of it, but in the end, it was useless.

Tears began streaming down my cheeks at the image of Naoya going back to his world while I could do nothing but watch him leave.

“…I love him,” I answered with a broken voice. “I don’t want him to go… but what kind of person would I be if I stopped him?”

I wanted him to stay, but keeping him in this world would only make him hate me. He wanted to go back to his world, back to his life, and no matter how much I had feelings for him, stopping him wouldn’t fix anything.

Lui hugged me upon hearing my answer, and feeling the warmth of her arms, I began crying harder. Naoya was my first love, the only one I had ever had, and it hurt not being able to do anything about these feelings that made my chest burn so much.

“There, there,” said Lui, trying to comfort me. “Don’t worry. Leave everything to your sister, alright?”

“Eh? What do you mea—?”

“Girls, dinner’s ready!” Naoya shouted from the kitchen, interrupting me.

“We should get going. You must be hungry from the long trip, right?”

Lui slowly got up from the bed and walked at a slow pace toward the kitchen while holding my hand. When we arrived, a smiling Naoya welcomed us as he prepared the plates for everyone. Seeing him with such an expression was both comforting and painful. Either way, I would enjoy the last moments I could spend with him.

“Liz, were you crying?” Naoya asked when he saw my red eyes.

“Yes, she said she missed her big sister a lot, isn’t that adorable?” Lui answered, hiding the truth.

“Hey!”

Maybe it was because we hadn’t eaten together for a long time, or because it would be the last time I’d eat Naoya’s cooking, but tonight’s dinner was particularly delicious.

***

A few days later, we finally arrived at the ruined city where it had all begun. The city where what remained of the great tree Mildfir still stood.

Since it was a historic event, a great number of elves, knights, and adventurers had gathered, and Liz had also brought Lui at her own request. Liz herself didn’t know why her sister had suddenly taken such an interest in the great tree, but she decided to grant her wish and bring her along.

At that moment, we were all in the ruins of the old capital’s castle, more specifically in a huge courtyard located in the center of the area where the great tree stood, the same one I had seen for the first time when I was about to set out on my first journey in this world. Seeing it up close made it look even more imposing.

“What do I have to do?” I asked the elf chief.

“Approach the great tree and touch it. The rest will be up to you.”

I nodded and walked toward the great tree Mildfir. It took me a while, given the vastness of the courtyard, but once I finally reached it, I did as instructed and touched it. At that moment, the mana in my body began channeling into my hand, from which a blinding light shone. Without realizing when it had happened, I found myself in a completely different space.

It was similar to the dark, empty spaces where I had occasionally ended up, but this one was white and filled with light, the complete opposite of before. Then, before me appeared the consciousness of the great tree Mildfir, who smiled as soon as she saw me.

“You did it, hero,” said the consciousness. “Thanks to you, this world will be saved and return to its days of glory. But, are you certain about this?”

“Of course! After all, I’ll be going back to my world, right? I won’t need such exaggerated strength or speed, and if with just that I can help all the people I met and who supported me throughout my journey, then it’s a small price to pay in comparison.”

The consciousness of the great tree Mildfir looked at me satisfied, with a gentle smile.

“I truly made the right choice in selecting you as the hero of this world.”

“Thank you for your trust!” I replied cheerfully.

After that, the consciousness of the great tree began to emanate another blinding light that eventually returned me to the courtyard, beside the great tree Mildfir, which also began to shine. From its once dead and barren branches sprouted leaves of a beautiful green color; its once dry and fragile trunk now overflowed with strength and sturdiness; and the atmosphere, once heavy and empty, now brimmed with a purity I had never before experienced. Everyone was left in awe at the sight of the great tree, which had been thought dead for a hundred years, coming back to life.

The happiest ones were, without a doubt, the elves, for thanks to this they would no longer have to hide away, struggling to survive as best they could with limited mana. Even though the great tree had only just been revitalized, they already began to look in better shape. Without a doubt, they were the ones who had suffered the most through it all.

“This is a historic moment! The great tree Mildfir has returned!” the elf chief shouted, to which everyone, humans included, cried out in joy.

To both Liz’s and my surprise, even Lui was able to easily get up from her wheelchair.

“Lui!?” Liz shouted in shock.

“I feel so much better!” she exclaimed as she hugged Liz. “Liz, finally! I can finally live a normal life again!”

Both sisters cried tears of joy at the news. An elder sister trapped by illness and her younger sister who sacrificed her dreams to care for her. It had surely been hard for both of them, but I was glad that, despite everything, they had never given up.

Thank you, Clay. Thank you for helping us save Lui and for allowing Liz to smile that way. I’ll never forget you, my friend.

“It’s been so long since I last came out,” said a feminine voice behind me.

I jumped in fright, but quickly recovered upon recognizing whose voice it was. It was the consciousness of the great tree Mildfir.

“Wait! How are you here!?” I asked in disbelief, for the consciousness of the great tree had taken on a physical form.

“I was able to do this a hundred years ago, but with my near-death I lost that ability…” she replied with her usual indifference and slowness. “By the way, hero, are you ready to return to your world?”

***

With the consciousness of the great tree Mildfir now present, we began the preparations for my return home. We had to return to the chamber where I had first awakened, and after some arrangements by the consciousness, the place didn’t only light up, but a magic circle beneath the floor, right where I had awakened, began to glow. I hadn’t seen it when I first woke, surely due to the darkness, but that explained many things.

“It’s ready. Once you step into the circle, you’ll return to your world, and I adjusted it so that you’ll arrive just a few hours after you were summoned.”

In short, no matter how many days had passed here, once I returned to my world, only a few hours would have gone by. I was glad to hear that. I wouldn’t have missed anything, and once I returned, I could resume my normal life.

Although, I won’t deny that I also felt a bit bad about going back. Not only had I met wonderful people, but leaving Liz behind was something I would never forget. That girl already had a special place in my heart.

“I’m ready,” I murmured as I approached the circle.

“Naoya!”

At the sound of her voice, I turned curiously, finding Liz running toward me, tackling me with a strong hug that I immediately returned. It was the last time I would see her, so I wanted to treasure it as much as I could.

“I’ll miss you…” Liz said.

“Me too. Take care, Li—”

However, just as I tried to say goodbye, Liz interrupted me with a kiss. The surprise was so great that I stood frozen, processing what had just happened for quite a while. Her lips were soft and warm, and shortly after, I kissed her back.

Yes, I loved this girl without a doubt. That was why it hurt so much that everything ended here, with the two of us parting ways.

“Never forget me… Naoya.”

“No. I never will.”

With those last words, Liz let go of me, and I continued my path toward the magic circle. As I positioned myself at its center, the circle began to emit a beautiful and dazzling light that slowly blinded me. Suddenly, I felt something strike my back, but before I could turn to see what had happened, I found myself completely enveloped by the light, feeling as though I were floating in the void.

After a while, everything began to fade away, returning to the familiar darkness I had grown so used to, and when I was finally able to move again, I opened my eyes. I was back in my room. I had returned to my world.