Everything

Uyumi observed her surroundings, her mind still trying to process the fact that she had actually teleported.

As she looked around, she found a small wooden cottage with dark roof tiles to her left, and a picturesque view in front of her. Beautiful mountains covered by colorful forests were all around her, with a narrow valley stretching out before her.

Standing up slowly, Uyumi walked over to the edge of the small gravel outcrop she had teleported to, gazing into the distance, her emotions overflowing—just like her tears were.

Most people would simply shrug at such an ordinary sight, but Uyumi couldn’t tear her eye away from it. It was mesmerizing. To Uyumi, it was everything.

After a few seconds that could have just as well been a lifetime, Uyumi heard a low thud, immediately followed by a loud grunt.

Instantly snapping out of her waking dream, Uyumi spun around, spotting Tamashi’s pale body that was missing his entire right arm.

A second later, a small white bird plopped to the ground, unmoving.

Noticing this, Tamashi grabbed him with his only arm, mumbling something under his breath—he was chanting a healing spell.

After he finished, he held up his hand toward Uyumi.

“Keep him... safe.”

Uyumi quickly hurried over and took Awayuki into her palms carefully, then looked over at Tamashi, who now had his hand over the gash on his right side, once again performing an incantation.

“Oh, Heavens above, forgive your humble servant. The one who heals is in need of aid. I, Tamashi of the Ume, a Sacred Surgeon and a miracle of the Heavens, shamelessly request your almighty power, so I can walk the path of light once more. I kneel, I beg, allow this lowly retainer of yours to spread your will across the lands.”

Just like before, a radiant white light illuminated his chest, then gradually moved to his left hand, shining upon his dreadful injury.

“With this gift of the Gods, I thus end this divine operation and offer my eternal gratitude...”

Tamashi paused, forcing himself to utter the last words.

“...To the eternal Heavens.”

With that, the lustrous white energy leapt from his hand to his wound, spreading over its surface. Then, it began expanding. As it grew, it formed new bones, nerves, blood, muscles, tissue—everything.

Unfortunately, as the light was about to create a new shoulder for him, it dimmed before gradually disappearing altogether.

Because Tamashi hadn’t offered a sacrifice for the operation, the spell used Tamashi’s mana in order to heal him. And since it was a heroic spell, it drained his reserves almost immediately, despite the large mana potion Tamashi had consumed before this whole operation, preparing for the worst.

As a result, it only regrew his chest and side, along with a tiny stump in place of his shoulder.

Uyumi, still holding Awayuki’s unconscious body, watched the whole process with her eye wide open.

He... he lost his arm. Forever? Uyumi thought, mortified.

Because of me, he had to sacrifice his eye to me, and now he lost his arm... because of me... her thoughts ran through her mind in endless circles. Her breath grew ragged and her vision blurry; Uyumi felt dizzy.

Tamashi then helplessly slumped onto the hard gravel surface, his now dim and tired azure eye slowly closing.

As Tamashi drifted into a forced slumber, the impression he gave was completely different from when he had accused Uyumi of being nothing but a useless burden.

Tamashi’s eyelids helplessly shut, and he fell unconscious.

“Tamashi? Tamashi!” Uyumi pleaded, terrified he had succumbed to his injury.

Hurriedly checking his breathing, she sighed in relief—he was still alive.

Awayuki, who was actually a bird—something Uyumi hadn’t known when he had overpowered her at the start—laid in her palms, unconscious, just like his master. Unlike Tamashi, who appeared half dead, Awayuki seemed to be in perfect condition, thanks to Tamashi healing him first.

“Why would he...”

She didn’t finish that sentence, realizing something.

Tamashi wasn’t heartless. Despite how he acted, he was a human. He cared for his family greatly, enough to risk his own life just to avoid making them sad.

When Uyumi looked at him, she couldn’t help but see him as... lonely, with nobody who truly understood him. Tamashi was ready to sacrifice everything to make the ones he loved happy, but were they ready to do the same?

All these thoughts raced through Uyumi’s mind, causing her already wet eye to start producing tears once again.

What am I even thinking? I barely even know him... Even so...

Trying to regain her composure, she once again observed her surroundings, this time not admiring the most gorgeous view she had ever seen, but instead checking for any threats.

After making sure they were alone, Uyumi headed to the front door of Tamashi’s hut with Awayuki lying in her arms.

The door was unlocked, so she simply opened it and walked in.

The interior of the dark brown cabin's first floor looked as cozy as one might expect: a simple table with a few chairs, a sofa, and a kitchen area.

The electricity wasn’t working, which was something one might expect during their apocalypse-like situation.

Uyumi folded the tablecloth on the vintage table and gently lay Awayuki atop it, then walked outside again with quick steps, worried something might have happened to Tamashi in the brief moment she had left him alone.

Fortunately, he was fine, sprawled on the gravel in the same position as before.

Now, the question on Uyumi’s mind was, How do I get him inside?

After contemplating for a few minutes, she came up with an ingenious plan.

Being too weak to lift his body off the ground, she decided to drag him. Not wanting to injure him even more than he already was, she laid out a path, starting with Tamashi’s lying spot and ending with the comfy couch inside the lodge, lining it with blankets and pillows she had found inside.

Then, Uyumi grabbed Tamashi’s ankles, pulling him over the cushions, careful not to bump his head on the steps leading to the entrance.

Inside, she arranged makeshift bedding from a single blanket and a pillow on the floor. Finally, she covered him with another, lighter blanket, not wanting him to catch a cold, since his clothes were heavily torn.

Now, watching Tamashi sleep with a mildly uncomfortable expression, Uyumi’s heart felt heavier than a mountain, shattering from the unbearable guilt.

Looking around the interior of the small wooden house, she glanced outside through a window, at the unbelievable sight before her.

The sun that hung high in the sky painted the world a bright yellow, illuminating it with its brilliance. A flock of birds was gliding among the clouds, their destination unknown.

With a determined expression, Uyumi whispered, her voice hoarse: “You gave me... everything, while I didn’t deserve anything. You offered me your eye, so I will one day offer you both in return.”