For Tsumiya, the sensation of sinking into unconsciousness was not unfamiliar territory. From long ago, he had experienced that fog where vision completely faded and thoughts flowed without direction or defined structure. Up until the present moment, each of those experiences had been marked by an almost absolute peace—even before the curtain of his previous existence had risen to reveal the new world that now welcomed him, he had remained firm in his identity as someone without great feats or notable milestones to highlight. In his past life, tranquility had been his constant companion: he had carried on as an average office worker until his final days, navigating the path of routine with few ups and downs, and he had rarely felt the haze of unconsciousness or the tangible threat of danger that could jeopardize his well-being.
Everything had unfolded under a saffron sky until that fateful day that changed the course of his destiny. He had gone to pick up a collectible figure he had ordered through an intermediary—a piece that meant more to him than a simple object. It was the fruit of his savings and his passion for the things that gave meaning to his everyday life. But fortune decided to turn its back on him on the way back home: three men emerged from the darkness of an alley in an ambush as swift as it was unexpected, leaving him lying on the ground with wounds that stained the pavement dark red.
He had no chance to defend himself effectively; not even the boxing training he had received or the basics of martial arts he had practiced diligently were enough against those attackers, who had struck him from behind, without giving him even a moment to react.
However, that episode no longer held any importance in his mind at that precise instant—in fact, Tsumiya had relegated it to oblivion until the memory brushed against his consciousness once again. Instead, he had settled on the idea that the universe would reserve some kind of “reward” for him for the life he had led in his original world. He did not suffer from serious financial hardships, nor had he been a victim of labor exploitation like many of his coworkers, who struggled day after day against exhausting shifts and undignified wages. His only inconvenience was that his salary wasn’t enough to cover all his tastes: he lived on cheap instant meals and found his entertainment in the video games he installed on his computer or consoles. The only thing he invested in enthusiastically and quickly were the latest titles and equipment on the market, buying every release that caught his interest almost the moment it arrived in stores. That was probably why he was always short on money, though he never reached extreme need.
The outside world had become a blurry and distant point in his perception, pushed away by the combined effect of the aromatic herbs and the spell the old man had woven in the air around him. A considerable amount of time had passed—hours, perhaps—while his mind remained in that secluded corner of consciousness, cradled by that familiar sensation he had already experienced before appearing in this world. The dark void that had enveloped him for a brief lapse was the only element that could keep the calm within him, especially when the memory of having nearly died in a desolate alley tried to unleash distrust and fear in his being.
???: [—It seems you’re already here. It’s simply great to see you, really. Most of those who arrive aren’t as sociable as I am, and I must say I’m quite unique in that regard—at least in what I refer to now. It looks like you already have enough to keep living in this world, so the path is open for you.]
In the void that now completely enveloped him, Tsumiya felt his consciousness reignite, just as it had the day before, when the force of the teleportation had thrown him into this new world—exactly in the Kingdom of Astelford, in the middle of the Hyulkran Forest. The sensation was identical to the first time: he perceived nothing of his body, had no tangible form, and the only thing that could interact with his surroundings was an entity similar to his mind, as if he were immersed in a dream so strange that it would be impossible to retain its details upon waking. The voice he had heard at that moment was both strange and familiar: it seemed to be his own, but processed from an external point of view, as if he were listening to a conversation he himself was having, but from the perspective of a third party observing from a distance. From the moment the voice began to resonate, the sensation enveloping what could be called his “mind” was both comforting and overwhelming, like a warm and powerful wave dragging him toward an unknown but safe place.
???: [—You’re being quite kind... I even thought you were a bad candidate for this, but it seems I was wrong.]
Tsumiya’s voice sounded in a low tone, laden with curiosity, as if the speaker were whispering directly into the depths of the real Tsumiya’s soul—the one who now remained wrapped in the comforting yet overwhelming void. Even that voice seemed to steal his full capacity to reason: he couldn’t structure thoughts or process the information reaching his consciousness; he could only listen attentively to what the strange entity continued to say, as if under the influence of a spell that suppressed his will and his ability to analyze.
???: [—I don’t know if you’ll be able to remember this at some point in the future, but I must tell you that I’m quite ambitious when I set my mind to something. It seems you haven’t changed much... Since the last time we saw each other, a long time ago.]
A subtle and calm movement from the being that seemed to be a “false Tsumiya” was enough to reactivate the consciousness of the real Tsumiya, who at that moment remained unconscious in the physical world surrounding him. The voice of that being seemed to understand the situation perfectly, with a clarity that could easily be mistaken for the logic of a meaningless dream, a product of the strange nature of human imagination, capable of creating scenarios of dazzling beauty or places as confusing and incomprehensible as this one.
(“No... What am I doing here? It’s exactly the same as what I felt since yesterday. I can’t see anything, I have no idea where I am... This is quite unsettling. I remember this place is like the one I experienced the first time I arrived in this world... Everything is so dark when you fall asleep, when consciousness drifts away from the body.”)
For Tsumiya, everything he was now witnessing was something his mind couldn’t process or understand immediately—something completely natural for someone accustomed to following the rules and patterns of the real world. After all, all human beings adjust to rules and routines to build a stable and peaceful life, as befits responsible adults. On the other hand, the darkness that overwhelmed him at every moment was the only constant companion in that desolate void; even the emptiness of his soul itself seemed to whisper softly against his thoughts, though that comforting sensation emanating from the voice was something he couldn’t ignore, even if he wanted to.
???: [—All of this is pretty great, don’t you think? Now it’s just you and me in this place, and I must say the others are quite boring when it comes to talking with their protégé. I won’t do that—that’s your problem. But I’m different from them, so you can ask me for whatever you desire most—everything your heart yearns for is within reach... I’m quite generous, you should know that. You’re the one receiving my charity, so I’m simply being kind to you. Isn’t that right?]
After pausing for a moment, as if reflecting or listening to something imperceptible to others, something seemed to change in the false Tsumiya, who continued speaking without being seen by his supposed “guest.” It was as if he had noticed something intangible, something that escaped the physical vision of any being and that only he could detect in the depths of the void.
???: [—I knew it... You’re greed. You can’t help it, can you?]
When the false Tsumiya was about to continue speaking to regain attention and restore the tranquility of the original Tsumiya, something changed in the empty and overwhelming environment he had chosen as the setting for their exchange. Everything seemed to fade gradually, merging back into the existence of the physical world, as if the awakening of the mind were the key that opened the doors of that closed space. Tsumiya’s consciousness was drawn back toward the tangible environment surrounding him, the sensation of being a single entity, a single being with a defined identity, settling once again in his mind and abruptly breaking the exchange of words with the false Tsumiya.
△▼△▼△▼△
As consciousness took shape again in Tsumiya’s body, everything returned to the normality he had known before falling unconscious. The darkness of the vast void had disappeared completely, and even the overwhelming yet comforting sensation of that voice had become diffuse, difficult to retain in his memory—as if it had only been a strange dream among the many that any average person can experience throughout their life, especially for Tsumiya, who since his arrival in this world had witnessed situations that awakened his imagination and generated fantasies in his mind.
The sounds began to return slowly to his perception, ordering themselves in his mind one by one. The soft crackling of wood and coal burning under the fireplace was the first thing his consciousness could identify at the moment of his awakening; everything around him gradually took shape as his mind resumed in the physical environment that welcomed him. And right after, the other sounds arrived—voices he recognized immediately, since he had heard them since the morning, when those men had found him and taken him with them.
???: [—So, is the boy doing better? It seems the effect of the herbs has worn off.]
A calm and firm voice made itself heard at that instant, as if the speaker were addressing another person in the same space where Tsumiya lay. Although his mind was still drowsy from the effects of the treatment, he recognized it instantly: it belonged to one of the men who had helped him reach the first village, the one whose axe hung from his back and whose gaze commanded respect from the first encounter.
???: [—Exactly... I was able to extract most of the bacteria from his wounds before they could spread and transmit any disease. The body responded well to the treatment, despite the weakness that had affected it.]
The next voice that reached his ears was softer in tone, as if the speaker didn’t have all their energy to give a detailed explanation of what they had done while Tsumiya remained unconscious. Even in his drowsy state, Tsumiya immediately knew who the owner of that characteristic voice was: it was undoubtedly the same old man who had treated his mosquito bites shortly before the power of the aromatic herbs had sunk him into unconsciousness.
The sensation of the soft, neatly arranged mattress beneath his body was still present, which meant he was still inside the comforting cabin of Mr. Lyson. This certainty immediately relieved him, as the atmosphere of the village gave him security and tranquility—even the fact of being accompanied by the people who had saved him turned this experience into a point of calm from which to begin his path in this new world, which, according to the words he had heard, had chosen him to play an important role.
The act of opening his eyes turned out to be a tired and slow experience; he moved his hands to rub his eyelids, trying to clear his vision and dispel the drowsiness that still enveloped him. The residual effect of the aromatic herbs made itself felt along with a subtle headache—it was the first thing he perceived on a physical level. He also experienced a brief memory lapse in the first seconds of waking, unable to clearly remember what had happened in the darkness of the previous scene.
???: [—Hey, you’re awake. I thought you’d stay asleep for hours more.]
A calm voice caught his attention at that instant, while Tsumiya was still confused by the effects of the herbs. The voice sounded familiar, and as he searched his memory about the journey to the village, he could identify it without difficulty: it belonged to that archer with a serene gaze and relaxed posture. When he turned his head toward the sound, he saw Matthew, who was standing near the door with his back leaning against the wall, as if resting after a long watch.
For his part, Varzgax noticed what Matthew had said, and his calm but firm gaze focused completely on the person who had just awakened. He turned his face to find Tsumiya, who still seemed drowsy due to the treatment applied by the village chief—or, more precisely, by Mr. Lyson. A small smile formed on his lips, but he decided to remain silent, observing him with an expression of approval.
The atmosphere inside the cabin was quite comfortable and welcoming. The aroma of the aromatic herbs, which had previously been overwhelmingly intense, had now become a soft and balanced scent that neither bothered nor caused discomfort. Everything inside maintained impeccable order, as if the owner of the place perfectly understood the importance of cleanliness and organization in a space intended for healing and rest. The wood burning in the fireplace continued to spread a gentle heat throughout the environment, enveloping Tsumiya in a comforting sensation that seemed to dispel the stress and tension accumulated in his body.
Everything Tsumiya had seen and felt inside that void had left him deeply confused. In that place that had appeared in what seemed like a dream, he had not been able to experience any physical or mental sensation in the traditional sense of the term, and the effects after waking were identical to the first time: he only perceived a slight headache that prevented him from concentrating and thinking clearly about what he had experienced in that strange space, where he had heard a voice identical to his own. Perhaps it had only been a hallucination caused by the herbs or by stress, but the experience had been so intense that it seemed completely real.
At the moment he was about to open his mouth to respond to the questions that the people who had treated him would surely ask, he decided to completely set aside the situation of the strange void that had enveloped him just moments ago, as if his mind were trying to forget again what had happened, storing it away in a distant corner of his memory.
[Knock, knock]
Someone knocked softly on the cabin door, diverting the attention of the four people inside. Tsumiya perceived the sound immediately and turned his gaze toward Lyson, who slowly stood up and advanced, leaning on his cane to approach and open the door to discover who was on the other side.
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