A history tale: Amoralia

Genji's Pov:

I sat in the water thinking about the call I just had. Nanami is alive and has been waiting for nine years...

 Does it mean she was summoned the moment she passed away? Does that mean my body in the other world is lifeless now and wasn't summoned here?

 I looked at my reflection in the water and there was a great difference except for my face. My eyes were light turquoise unlike the usual hazel I had before, and my hair was ashen black, not the dark brown I used to have. Was I summoned in someone else's body? Or is it just a side effect of summons? I have to ask Edd about that next time he calls.

I had a lot in mind but I had to brush it off and focus on doing the tasks so I get to meet Nana as soon as possible. After finishing I left the bath and wore the robe that Brenda gave me. Honestly, it just reminded me of the time when I had worn the hospital robe so Nana might feel more comfortable and laugh.

Just as I left I found Brenda waiting for me outside "I hope the temperature was perfect. Dinner is ready, I'm sure you are hungry after all this run."

She seemed cheerful like normal but somehow I detected a hint of sadness in her eyes that I couldn't quite identify. I thought it might be just imagination though.

We entered a dining room and both of us sat on the round table where the plates were settled. The aroma was pretty familiar and it made me feel nostalgic. Mrs. Valentine noticed something about me and asked "Is there anything wrong? Maybe you are allergic to some ingredients but you can't remember-" "It's the opposite... The aroma makes me pretty nostalgic. I think it's my mother's favorite."

 Her face suddenly lit up "So you remembered something, right?" "I guess yeah... this aroma-" I didn't finish my words before the special dish my mother used to cook was presented in front of me. "This is Tyrranosia's traditional dish. I'm sure your mother was one of our residents."

 My mother from Tyrranosia? What kind of joke is that? I had to lie about my memory because I couldn't trust anyone around but now that the person who summoned me here showed himself and goals, I might no longer have a reason to hide everything.

 "Gin? Are you okay?" The lady asked "It's just that I started remembering some stuff about my family... I was the sole child of my parents, and they both died in an incident not long ago..."

 Both mother and daughter showed a sad expression while the mother hugged me tightly "Poor kid... I'm sorry that I made you remember such a terrific memory. If you have no relatives then you are very welcome to live with us!" I thanked her for offering me. I knew how cruel this world could be and I think some support is better than being alone.

After dinner, Brenda suggested sleeping so she could show me the town and get me used to the people around tomorrow. I felt bad about the lies I made but I had no other choice. I don't think someone would believe that I was transported from a different world by a link and that a parallel world with developed science and giant buildings exists.

 Once we finished the food, we helped with the cleaning then Brenda led me to her room. "You will be sleeping with me temporarily. Since you are just a kid then there should be no problem with that." "Thanks a lot for everything, Brenda" She looked at me and smiled brightly "You are welcome!" There was something about this smile that made my heart skip a beat for a moment. 

As I lay on the mattress, I was reminiscing about everything that happened to me since I was summoned here. Brenda also didn't sleep, I was able to sense movement in the room and a dim light. I was curious so I looked toward her. She sat at a small desk similar to the one in her best friend's stomach with a flame in hand and a book in another. "Can't sleep?" I felt embarrassed being caught spying "Kind of... what are you reading?" "Historical book called "History of Amoralia". Kids like you won't understand a lot about history."I stood up from my place "Can you tell me more about it? History might sound boring for kids, but if you tell it as a bedtime story it won't be forgotten nor boring for a child." "You don't seem bad hmm. I will tell you about it so you can sleep, after all, we have a long day tomorrow." "Okay!"

 Brenda jumped from the chair to her bed and gestured for me to come next to her. It felt just like how mom read me bedtime stories when I was a child, but Brenda looked like a sister more than a mother. 

"Once upon a time, in a poor kingdom, there was a princess who wanted to make the poor kingdom bloom. There wasn't enough food and not much resources to exchange with other kingdoms. She traveled to a far land hoping that the legend about it has anything that one wishes for is real. The princess traveled and met with a man who was looking for that land too and offered to be her companion on the trip since they had the same destination. Together, they overcame many obstacles and reached their destination. In a magical cave, a dragon offers them three magical seeds after defeating him, saying that the seeds they choose will become the state of their kingdom. The first seed offered was Wealth, the second was happiness, and the third was love. The princess thought of choosing happiness, but the man told her that she should think more carefully about it and the wealth. In the very last moment, the princess chose the Love seed, saying that because of their feelings towards each other, they were able to overcome those obstacles and reach that place. If her people loved each other then they would work together to overcome the current state. The dragon laughed and offered her the three seeds, saying that wherever there is love, there should be wealth and happiness to follow. The princess went back to her kingdom with the man and set new rules where love could blossom. She married him and ruled the land towards its great glory and everyone lived happily ever after. end of the story."

 I was half asleep by the time Brenda finished the story, but that story was always told to me by my dad, hearing it made me feel nostalgic. 

"Gin you slept?" I just nodded my head since I was already mid-way. "You suffered a lot in one day so I guess it can't be helped." Even tho I was closing my eyes, I am sure Brenda was smiling as she hugged me tightly "Have sweet dreams, Gin!" 

 I had a dream that night of the day my parents died. It was a sunny day and we were having a trip to the graveyard to visit Nana's grave when a truck crashed into us. I was saved by a passerby who happened to pass at the time of the incident. He was a stranger yet he desperately tried to save my parents from the car before it exploded. He made great efforts yet all went in vain when the car exploded taking the lives of the three together.

 I also had some flashbacks from the time my parents would read me a bedtime story... The same story Brenda told me about today was told to me multiple times by my parents... They supported me and Nanami a lot, and her medical bills were often paid by them whenever her father neglected her. My parents always had the excuse they couldn't let their future daughter-in-law suffer. They were the most perfect couple I ever saw.

"Gin? Gin wake up!" I woke up at Brenda's worried voice "Gin! Your eyes are filled with tears, are you okay?" I wiped my eyes only to find tears... I guess the dream from yesterday was the reason "I had a dream about the day my parents died..." Sadness washed over Brenda's face "Sorry that you remembered such a horrible thing." "It's okay. I'm fine. More importantly, you promised to show me the town today, didn't you?" She jumped "Oh I almost forgot! Let's freshen up and have breakfast before we go!" "Okay!"

I guess having a friend wasn't a bad idea... I was always afraid of forgetting Nanami or trusting the wrong people... I can never forget about her even if I had hundreds of friends. And since I had this chance now, I won't miss it.