Welcome to Alameria - Part 1

I hit the ground flat on my back and gasp as the air in my lungs is forced out by the impact, turning to the side I cough and gasp for more air. Without waiting or caring I hear a tiny voice actively chewing me out, and I open my eyes to see Kiru standing there surrounded by 'Forest's, NO!'

"What kind of entrance was that! Just what the hell are you doing in that other world? Plus what did you bring with you?" I hear her and my worst fear is confirmed, if Kiru noticed something come with me then that means that Miyazawa has to of been pulled into the other world with me. What's worse is that she isn't with me now which means I have to find her, Immediately.

"Where is she, where can I find her?" Kiru actually seems surprised by my concern and question but she does a survey of the area before pointing in a random direction.

"SHE, is in that direction, somewhat. There is a distortion that way which feels very similar to yours coming from that way." Kiru clearly doesn't like my attitude or the fact that I'm going on about another girl but I don't care and cant worry about that when Miyazawa has not only been pulled into this world, but into one of its more dangerous areas.

Righting myself I swing my right arm at and grab hold of Kiru then dropping her onto my left shoulder before breaking out into a desperate sprint in the direction Kiru pointed to earlier, even though I've only just started running my heart pumps hard and fast enough for it to echo within my ears and I know its not the running causing it, its my own fear.

Then I hear what I've been dreading to hear, a girl's scream echoes throughout the forest ahead of me and I go into full panic mode pushing myself to run faster and harder than ever to reach Miyazawa.

"KIRU!" As I yell I reach over my left shoulder and grab hold of the hilt of my sword and with a swing I hold it with my arm stretched out ready to cut whatever made Miyazawa scream just now. Then it comes into view, a beast thrice the size of a tiger with gleaming scales adorning its limbs and spine, an Elder Saberclaw about to leap onto Miyazawa. With no hesitation I leap at full speed at an angle to intercept the massive beast and before it can react to me I land a full force dropkick against it's head throwing it completely of balance and crashing behind the trees.

I look down at Miyazawa and look for any injuries but to my relief I see none, but it's clear she's panicked and stressed from running away from the saberclaw. Surprisingly she looks at me and seems to recognise me immediately, 'Weird, even if I haven't changed much I should still look 10 years older to her.

"Stay there. I'll be right back."

As she nods I charge to where the elder saberclaw landed to see it had moved away, I move back to cover Miyazawa who hasn't moved and looks like she's about to ask me if its safe. I quickly shut down her intent by shaking my head at her and using a shush gesture before directing all of my attention to scanning my surroundings. I scan the area slowly looking for any kind of movement, it's still close by and I can feel it.

"On your right. 5 o'clock, just about to pounce." I hear Kiru's voice in the back of my mind and I thing: 'Gotta admit, I love having Kiru watching my back.' With the threat located and my position to it established consider how I'm going to deter this beast from thinking of us as prey, "Do me a favour and watch out for the scales, I can repair the damage to my blade but that doesn't make it easy or any less of a pain." I close my eyes ready to attack I relax my guard and wait for the beast to make its move.

To its credit as an elder it doesn't pounce at me after lowering my guard, I go another step by relaxing my blade by my side and look down at Miyazawa and slowly lift my left arm in a fake attempt to help her up. Bingo, it takes the bait and with a leap the saberclaw launches at us, it takes me a second to ready my stance and with a leap of my own I launch at the beast.

The saberclaw react by trying to swipe at me but I get too high for it's claw to reach and with a twist of my body I swing my blade cutting into the beast's shoulder blade, the blood flies along with me as I land and it splatters onto the ground around me with few drops hitting my coat. The beast itself crashes onto the ground in front of Miyazawa who squeals in shock.

The elder struggles to right itself after my cut across it's shoulder, I calmly approach it ready to strike again if it tries to go for Miyazawa but it doesn't move. It looks at her and then to me with a look i can only guess as one of frustration and with a loud groan it limps away defeated. I smile gladly at the fact I don't have to kill such an amazing creature I turn to look at Miyazawa and offer her my hand to help her up.

"Are you okay?" Through panicked or relieved breaths she reaches out and takes my hand and as if on cue she hits me with the usual flurry of questions someone in her position would be expected to ask.

"What was that? Where am I? What is this place?" After resting my sword into a catch on my back I use my now free open hand to urge her to calm down.

"It's okay, you're safe now. That just now was and Elder Saberclaw, an alpha predator and native to the local forests around here." Miyazawa gives me a look that cries disbelief. "Okay then, what's the last thing you remember?"

"We were at school talking about going to lunch and you rushed down the stairs. Someone called out and I slipped, as I was falling you..." Miyazawa's expression shifts at her realisation, "You caught me and the next thing I knew I was alone in this forest. How did you get us here?" Ignorant to the fact that I'm currently holding the hand of a cute girl right now, I lead Miyazawa down a slight incline in the direction of the local town I know while trying to answer all of her questions.

"For one, I didn't bring us here by choice. Halfway through my second year I was pulled into this world against my will, I spent nearly 8 months here before I came across the sword on my back. As it turned out, she was a legendary weapon forged by some ancient weapon smith looking to bring his creations to life." As if she had been waiting for a cue the sword on my back shines and reshapes into the chibi humanoid form that is Kiru.

"Little did he know, he'd actually succeed in doing so. But the process of our awakening took a fair amount longer than his lifespan could manage." Miyazawa could only stare blankly at the tiny being talking on my shoulder in response as I guided her through the forest. "Over time we came to realise what we were and so we learned to alter ourselves, we even implemented our own rules as to who can wield us and how we are wielded."

"So, how did you end up with Osada-kun?" I hate the fact I'm only guiding Miyazawa out of the forest right now but I'm honestly enjoying the surprise conversation going on between her and Kiru.

"Osada-kun? I only know him as Takashi." I look back at a surprised Miyazawa who shifts her gaze between both Kiru and I. "Anyway, after my last wielder sealed me away before he died I spent a couple of centuries in darkness. Then one day I sensed the presence of a potential wielder and I called out to him, low and behold, he met my conditions and became my newest wielder, we've been partners ever since."

The last of the trees open out and we stop at the edge of the forest to see a beautiful landscape dyed red by the crimson sky overhead, in the distance we see the town and a road that stems from it that can barely see split into several further away and several more small forests and outcroppings.

"Where are we?" Miyazawa stares at the landscape almost mesmerized by the sight of it.

"If I were to describe it accurately I'd call this place an alternate Earth, most of the time I call it the Other World." Flattening my palm I hold it for Kiru to jump on which she does and hold her out to get a clear view of the area, she scans the horizon and after a minute she looks back to me and shakes her head while shrugging.

"As to where we're going and what we're going to do, for now. That is the town of Alameria, While we're there we can get some rest and I can fill you in on just what this world is, and has."