A Dream Reborn

Ataru stood to his feet and brushed bits of dust from his suit. The stone dog was now nothing more than a pile of rocks with a cracked red orb inside its split skull. He lightly kicked the remains. Part of him was unsure if that had just happened; none of this felt real. Did he perhaps really drown? If this was the afterlife it wasn’t like anything he’d heard of.

“It’s a shame I had to break the mana crystal.” Rosalind spoke, causing Ataru to twitch out of his daze.

“R-right, mana crystal. So can you tell me what’s going on? I’m not dead, am I?” He asked, trying his best to remain calm. He was hardly succeeding. If he weren’t still wet he’d be visibly sweating as he paced back and forth.

The horned girl let out a light hum and nodded her head. “Right, of course. I do not know where you were summoned from, but clearly there was a mishap in my summoning spell. I suppose this is what happens when you use an untested formula.” She was speaking, but Ataru was hardly comprehending her words. At this point an absurd idea was brewing in the back of his head. He couldn’t just say it, maybe this was all just some elaborate prank?

“Uh huh, hey, what country are we in?” He asked.

“This is the Untamed Forest. It is contested territory, but most believe that the country of Agronia has the most legitimate claim to it. Ataru, correct? We should get going, it is not safe here.” She responded quickly.

Nope, those names didn’t ring a bell at all. He wasn’t exactly an expert on geography however, maybe he simply hadn’t heard of them before? He was about to ask another question when Rosalind’s long ears twitched as she looked past him. He looked in the same direction, but he didn’t hear anything. “That may be more of them, we need to ru--” She stumbled forward, nearly falling. She was already clearly injured, but it was now obvious that she was far more exhausted than she was letting on.

“Whoa, you alright?” He instinctively reached out in case she fell. Rosalind rubbed her temples with a gloved hand.

“I think I may have pushed myself too much. But I can still…” Her voice trailed off as she attempted to walk forward. Her legs gave out as she lost consciousness.

Soon after, Ataru found himself walking through the forest. Rosalind stirred awake as he carried her. “Ah… Ah!” She let out a startled yelp. “When, what?” She stammered her words, clearly flustered.

“Chill out, you want to fall!?” Ataru grumbled as he stepped over a rotting log.

“No, but why are you carrying me!?”

“You said we had to move, right? Not like I could just leave you there.” There was a moment of silence before Rosalind responded.

“I haven’t met very many of your race, but you’re a weird human, aren’t you?” She said. Ataru raised a brow, her speech was much more casual now.

“Oh yeah? What’s a human supposed to act like?” He asked.

“Well for one, do you really need to carry me like this? Aren’t you supposed to carry a lady in a more, say, delicate manner?” She let out a huff from her position on his shoulders.

“Hey, don’t look down on the fireman’s carry, plenty of lives have been saved using this technique.” He said, as serious as a heart attack. Rosalind let out a sigh.

“Well, besides you treating a stranger like a sack of potatoes, are you not afraid of me? I’m a demon after all.” Her voice was almost a whisper, and her tone lowered. If she was trying to sound sinister her charming voice was not allowing it. Instead an all together different kind of shiver went down his spine. He suddenly understood the appeal of those ASMR videos his classmates talked about.

“Demons don’t exist where I’m from.” He blew some of her violet hair out of his face. He knew he needed to ask more questions, namely the big one. He figured he might as well rip the bandage off now. “I’m from a world called Earth, the last thing I remember before I came here was...” He narrowed his eyes, feeling silly even talking about it. “I heard your voice in a pond. I dove in, and next thing I knew I was here.”

“I see.” She said before going quiet. He wasn’t sure what was going through her mind. If this wasn’t Earth, then maybe what he was saying was normal? Or perhaps he sounded like a lunatic. “I’m sorry.” She mumbled.

“Huh?”

“I’ve never heard of Earth. The spell I used must have gone off course and summoned you here.” Her voice was weak and apologetic.

“So is that why you called me a summon?”

“Yes.” She quickly responded through clenched teeth. He stopped, now was the time.

“Can you send me back?” He asked. Once again she was quiet for a moment before speaking.

“I can walk now.” She said. Ataru let her stand on her own legs. “As far as I know, there is no way to return a summon to their own realm.” Her tone had turned proper again.

“Huh…” Ataru let out a sigh and looked up at the canopy of trees. He had a feeling that was the answer. But somehow, he didn’t feel shock, or anguish. He felt relief? It wasn’t as if he had a loving family waiting for him, and he wouldn’t be playing for any college baseball teams. Was there really nothing left on Earth that he cared about?

“I have put you in enough danger already. If you continue to travel with me nothing good will come of it.” Rosalind continued talking. “If you continue walking the way you have, you will eventually reach a human city, I advise you--”

“Does this world have baseball?” Ataru interrupted her, moving his gaze to her. She blinked back in response.

“No? What is--”

“There’s magic here, right? Is there healing magic?”

“Yes, restorative magic is uncommon but--” She was cut off by laughter this time. Ataru’s genuine laughter. “What’s so funny? Did you hit your head?” Her casual tone was back. Ataru caught his breath and held his head up, flashing a smile for the first time since he’d fallen into this world.

“My dream is still alive!” He yelled in a cry of joy.

“Your dream?” Her ears perked upwards. The word seemed to put her off guard. “What dream?”

“To be the best pitcher in the world. This world may not have baseball, but I can change that. It’s not the most popular sport in Japan for nothing. I’m sure people here will love it!”

Rosalind let out a light cough as her ears slumped back down. “I don’t quite get it, but I hope the best for you. Still, you should hurry and leave--”

“Nah, you’re coming with me.”

“What? Look, I don’t know what you want, but I’m a demon with nothing to my name, So just leave already--”

“Nope.”

“Stop interrupting me and listen!” Rosalind grabbed him by his cuff. “Do you have a death wish? I’m dangerous to be around! That dog is nothing compared to what else is after me! You don’t even know me.”

“What kinda guy would I be if I just left you here? I’m your summon, right? That basically makes us partners. Besides…” He pushed her hands down from his cuff. “I saw that look in your eyes. You have a dream too, don’t you? Why don’t we help each other out?” Her eyes widened as she took a step back.

This time it was Rosalind that laughed. It was a short, pitiable giggle. “Fine. You really are a weird, stubborn human.”