Chapter 05 Bound by Fate

Lumi's petite figure adorably dashed through the corridor, her beautiful hair bouncing with each step. Gasping for air, she called out in a shy yet worried tone, her eyes squeezed shut as she ran. "Wait! Rabi-kun, wait! Don't run that way! Please! Stop!"

Helen spun around, her eyes instantly fixated on Lumi, and with a nimble step, she positioned her leg to block Rabi-kun's path, successfully blocking him. A swift and elegant motion followed as she gracefully leaned down, her delicate hands capturing the small creature.

My gaze couldn't help but follow her as she leaned, her dress delicately lifting, revealing glimpses of her attractive legs and a hint of her lovely bottom. The sight made my cheeks warm and my heart flutter.

Expressing her annoyance, Helen clicked her tongue in frustration and muttered, "Tck! I can't stand razor rabbits. What does she find so cute about it? It's just a rodent."

Olivia turn around and gently took the small pet from her grasp. With a soothing tone, she said, "Now, now. Don't get upset. It's just a cute little pet. Let's not spoil the fun."

Meanwhile, Lumi, exhausted from chasing her pet, finally managed to stumble towards us. Gasping for air, she mustered the courage to speak up, shyly, "P-please, give Rabi-kun back, O-Olivia."

But Olivia, always mischievous, had other plans. Wearing a playful demeanor, she responded, "If you start calling me big sister Olivia, I will give him back. Until then, I'll keep this little fluff ball all to myself."

 Lumi, with teary eyes, asked, "Wa-wa-what? Y-you're kidnapping my Rabi-kun?"

In a display of affection, Olivia crouched down to Lumi's height, gently touching her face, and speaking in a flirtatious tone, "Oh, my cute Lumi, I would love to take you instead and bring you back home with me. We could have so much fun together."

Lumi was shocked, her cheeks blushing at the unexpected words. "Kya! S-stop teasing me. I'm not a child. Now, g-give me back Rabi-kun," she demanded, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and vulnerability.

Helen reached out to pull Olivia up, her voice soft as she scolded, "Would you please stop fooling around?"

 She then took the pet from Olivia and handed it back to Lumi. "Here is your rodent. No one is trying to take it away from you. Olivia is just being her usual playful self. You should know that by now, Lumi."

Lumi took Rabi-kun with a bashful expression and put it on her head, her voice is barely audible as she replied, "I-I know, but sometimes it feels like she means it. I-I'm afraid that one day, when you're not around, she might... she might subject me to her... her lustful actions..."

Olivia's eyes widened in surprise, her expression shifting from flirtatiousness to concern. She reached out and gently grasped Lumi's trembling hand, reassuringly squeezing it. "Oh, Lumi, you mustn't worry about that. I would never do anything to hurt you. I find you very cute and adorable, I just can't help myself teasing you a bit."

As I observed the unfolding scene, confusion washed over me, my thoughts racing. "What in the world is happening here? I feel completely out of the loop. I can't make sense of anything that's going on. Are Lumi, Helen, and Olivia friends? How significant is Lumi? Assassins coming after her, and now she's being flirted with by the most influential persons in town? There's so much I don't understand. God damn it Alitia, you could have filled me in on more details."

Helen's voice cut through the tension. "Olivia, our business here is concluded. We shall take our leave. Good day to you, Lumi." 

She then turned her attention to me, her gaze piercing as she spoke, "And good day to you as well, wonder boy, whose name I regrettably did not catch."

 With those words, she grabbed Olivia's arm and dragged her away, their figures fading into the distance.

Left standing beside Lumi, I let out a sigh of relief, silently thanking the gods that my head remained firmly attached to my shoulders. The awkwardness of our previous encounter, with my face pressed against her bust, seemed to have been swept away by the chaotic turn of events.

Lumi stood beside me, shyly looking down with her hands behind her and Rabi-kun dancing on her head. She broke the silence, her voice filled with hesitancy as she addressed me, "Um, Kazuki? Can we talk a little? I'm really interested in you, and I would like to know more about you and your world."

For a moment, I was stunned, my mind racing with the possibility of an unexpected love confession, the one that only happens in manga and anime. However, it quickly became evident that Lumi simply wanted to learn more about the world I came from. I responded, "Sure, Lumi. I'd be happy to share. What would you like to know?"

A flicker of excitement danced in her eyes as she began to stare at me, stars of admiration flickering in her wide eyes as she stared at me with curiosity with her hands pressed against her chin. 

Her voice brimming with interest, "Kazuki, Kazuki! Tell me, tell me. Where do you come from? Is your world similar to ours, or is it vastly different? What are the people like? And what about your powers and abilities? Do you have any? Do mana and magic exist in your world? And, and..."

I chuckled softly, appreciating Lumi's passion. "Hold on, let's take it one question at a time. But first, we should find a more suitable place to have this conversation. It would be rude to continue standing in the corridor and keep on talking."

"Ooh! You're absolutely right," Lumi chimed in playfully, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Follow me, we'll head to my awesome lab."

With a playful bow, I replied, "Lead the way. My Lady."

Lumi swiftly turned, her petite figure joyfully guiding us through the corridors of the palace with her pet Rabi-kun on her head. We passed by lavish tapestries, ornate chandeliers, and guards clad in royal armor, their eyes briefly acknowledging our presence. The atmosphere carried a mix of tension and suspense, mirroring the secrets and hidden intrigues that lurked within these halls.

Finally, we arrived at a door decorated with magical symbols I couldn't understand, marking the entrance to Lumi's laboratory. With a wave of her hand, the door swung open, revealing a room filled with arcane devices, alchemical vials, and shelves lined with ancient tomes.

In the farthest corner of Lumi's laboratory, my eyes were drawn to a grand display. A full wall of glass stands, a breathtaking array of crystals, each one shimmering and casting prismatic reflections throughout the room. It was a mesmerizing collection as if a slice of the cosmos had been captured and showcased for all to behold.

The crystals varied in shape, size, and color, ranging from delicate shards to majestic formations. There were crystals that glowed with an ethereal radiance, pulsating with otherworldly energy. Others boasted vibrant shades, a full spectrum of color. Each crystal seemed to possess its own unique essence, sending an air of charm. Some of the crystals I haven't even seen in science books.

Lumi took center stage in the room, her demeanor transformed into one of confidence and pride. Her head was held high, a smug expression showed on her face. Standing with her legs apart and hands on her hips, she radiated an air of self-confidence, her chest pushed forward with undeniable pride. The once shy and reserved girl had vanished, not even a trace of her former self left. With a tone laced with arrogance and smugness, she said, "He he! Welcome to my incredible laboratory, young man. Hu hu, isn't it simply amazing?"

With a slight smile, I replied, "Your lab is truly something else, Lumi. I must admit. I've never seen anything quite like it. You have a talent for the extraordinary, that's for sure!"

Lumis elevated excitement dropped, and she said with slight disappointment. "What? That's it? Compliment me more, compliment, compliment." 

 I glanced around, taking in the sight of the enchanting lab before responding, unable to hide my own fascination. "Wow, Lumi. This is truly incredible. I never imagined such a place could exist. Your prowess in magic and experimentation must truly be awe-inspiring."

Lumi's eyes sparkled with delight, her pride swelling at the acknowledgment of her achievements. She stood proud once more with her smug face on full display. "He he, that's right, I am amazing. I welcome you to my humble abode, feel free to make yourself comfortable. We can talk freely here without prying eyes or wandering ears." Lumi said, her voice tinged with excitement.

After a brief tour of Lumi's laboratory, we sat at the table and began chatting. Lumi looked at me with concern in her eyes and asked, "So, Kazuki, what were you doing right before I summoned you? I hope I didn't interrupt something important."

With a wistful sigh, I leaned back in my chair, the weight of my previous mundane existence lingering in my thoughts. "No, you didn't interrupt anything important. I had just returned from school, utterly bored with the monotonous routine. As soon as I reached home, I collapsed onto my bed and immersed myself in the world of manga. You see, the world I come from is incredibly dull. Nothing exciting ever happens there. People are content with mediocrity, lacking ambitious goals or impossible dreams. They live by the motto 'As long as I pass, it's good enough.'"

A sense of melancholy crept into my voice as I continued, "I excelled in every aspect of my life: academics, sports, and various martial arts. I effortlessly claimed the top spot in all these fields. At first, it was exciting and filled me with a sense of accomplishment. But as the years went by, everyone around me began to criticize my efforts. They would say, 'Why are you trying so hard? It's just this and that. There's no point in being number one in everything. None of it will matter in the real world or help you secure a job.'" As I spoke, I touched the necklace hanging around my neck, a reminder of my past.

After a brief pause, I continued, "I come from a world similar to yours in some ways, yet vastly different in others. The people in my world may look similar, but there are no elves, dwarves, or other majestic races like here. We don't have heroes or villains, only ordinary individuals. Magic and mana are mere fantasies, non-existent in my world."

"As for my abilities, they are simply the result of years of training in various martial arts and my unwavering dedication to honing my skills. It's nothing extraordinary, really. Martial arts were the most enjoyable activity for me, but with each passing year, my smile faded a little more with every victory."

Lumi's eyes sparkled as she absorbed my words, hanging onto every detail. "That does sound quite boring, Kazuki! In this world, people rely heavily on magic, so..."

Her eyes narrowed, fixated on me, and in a sudden burst of excitement, she shouted while pointing at my necklace, "Aaaah! That crystal on your necklace, it's phantom quartz from our world! If what you say is true, and your world has no mana, how did this crystal dissolve? The only known way to melt phantom quartz is through extreme exposure to mana. How did someone from a different world come to possess a crystal from our world?"

I simply shrugged my shoulders and honestly shared the truth, "Well, I actually found it on the beach one day when I was a kid during a school field trip. It looked really pretty, so I picked it up, made a necklace out of it, and kept it ever since."

As Lumi gazed at the crystal, a playful glimmer danced in her eyes. "Kazuki, it appears that you and I are bound by more than just chance. Now I understand why I was able to summon you unintentionally. I used the same fragment of phantom quartz in my experiment, it must have reacted with yours, I didn't summon you by random selection, I summoned you because you had that crystal. I would call an event like that truly 'Bound by Fate'."