Looking around that room, I could see that there was nothing but the bed I was in and a table with two chairs.
It had been a few minutes since I woke up. During that time, I just kept asking myself what would happen to me now.
After a while, the door to the room started to open; apparently, someone was coming in, and that person was Julga.
"You!-" I quickly stood up from the bed, paying attention to her movements.
"-Good morning." She said as she approached the table and sat down in one of the chairs.
"Did you sleep well?"
"..." I stared deep into her eyes as she elegantly rested her arm on the table.
"... Well, you don't have to answer." Snapping her fingers, a teapot and two cups instantly appeared on the table.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked me while pouring herself some.
Sighing, I sat down in the other chair, opposite hers.
"Yes." I replied, reluctantly. My response brought a smile to her face as she continued pouring tea for both of us.
"So, Mika, you must be wondering about a lot of things, right?" She asked me while sipping from that cup with blue ornaments.
"... Obviously." I replied, taking a sip of the tea.
"Well then, let's start with something simple. Do you already know what a Rushura is?"
Upon hearing Julga's question, Mika gave her a strange look, as if that was a very obvious question.
"Yes? It's my species, one of the variations of ogres, right?"
"Fufufu, no, unfortunately, it's not that simple, Mika."
Julga answered with a small giggle, as if mocking Mika.
"You see, I am also a Rushura, just like those two who were with me when we 'kidnapped' you, and as you've seen, the four of us have distinct appearances."
Julga continued as she stood up and began to conjure some sort of illusion magic to recreate the images of Yorua and Farn.
"... So, there are others?" Mika responded, feeling indignant about the revelation.
Julga smiled, satisfied with Mika's reaction.
"Yes, there are many other Rushuras, each with unique characteristics. Our appearance, abilities, and even personalities can vary significantly from one Rushura to another. We aren't just a variation of ogres, as you initially thought."
As she spoke, the illusions of Yorua and Farn stood by her side, showing the diversity within the Rushura race.
"Rushuras are special beings, Mika. We serve the Almighty God as messengers of destiny, with various tasks assigned to us."
Julga walked around the table, observing Mika's perplexed expression. She could see the confusion in his eyes.
"And you are his Heir, Mika. The one destined to receive the ultimate power of the Almighty God. Your reincarnation as a Rushura is no coincidence; it's a divine appointment."
Mika remained silent, slowly processing the information Julga was sharing. He looked at the illusions of Yorua and Farn, now understanding that they were like him, all part of the same lineage.
"... Heir?" he muttered, more to himself than to Julga.
"Yes, Mika. Your mission is to preserve the balance in the grand fabric of reality created by him, ensuring that nothing destabilizes. The Almighty God has chosen you for this task, and your journey is only just beginning."
Julga sat down again, watching Mika closely. He was absorbing the gravity of his role as the Heir of the Rushuras.
"So? Did I answer some of your questions?" she asked, taking another sip of tea (Julga: ugh, it's cold already...).
"I... I don't think I'm ready for this..."
"Yes, I know, Mika. None of us are, and that's why I brought you here, to train you and help you get ready."
'So, they never had any bad intentions when they brought me here? Though the way they did it was a bit extreme...' Mika thought to himself, pondering their methods...
"But what about Shiro? What will happen to her? I'm afraid my sudden disappearance will leave her very worried..."
Mika was right, and it wasn't just Shiro who would be worried, but also Veldora, who had many questions about the disappearance of the 'Seer' who had predicted his future. Mika was also concerned about the timeline, as something more could happen that didn't occur with Geld... But maybe it was just him being too anxious, or was it a potential reality?
"I don't think you should worry about that; your subordinates should know how to fend for themselves, don't you agree? And about the 'timeline' you're so concerned with, know that for us, who know nothing about the future, unlike you, it's just normal."
Julga answered both the question Mika had asked aloud and the one he had thought, as if she could read his mind.
"... I see. Well, one more question before I can accept this new reality... Where am I, Julga?"
"Well... I thought you'd ask that sooner. We're in the Outerverse, a reality where the Rushuras were designated to exist. It's here that we're meant to be born, grow, and live out our lives serving the Almighty God."
She replied with incomparable naturalness, as this was where she was born and raised.
"Outerverse..." Mika repeated the word, letting it echo in his mind.
"Yes, it's our home, Mika. And now, it's yours too. Here, you'll learn about your power, your purpose, and how to fulfill your role as the Heir."
Julga observed Mika's expression carefully, watching for any sign of resistance or acceptance. The young man, however, was just beginning to process the magnitude of the situation.
'Damn... I'd love to have the Reader with me to help me understand this situation better... Wait! I can ask Julga about that!'
"Hey-!"
Before Mika could ask, he was interrupted by a realization—the reality around him had frozen completely, as if someone or something had stopped time.
Sensing a presence behind him, Mika quickly turned, seeing a female figure floating in the air, beckoning him to follow her. And so, he did, following her outside that small wooden house, where a vast plain stretched out, surrounded only by the endless horizon.
However, the figure didn't stop; she kept moving toward that horizon.
"Hey! Wait!"
Mika shouted as he chased after the girl.
He ran for a while until he reached a rock with a sword embedded at its peak. The figure stopped in front of the rock and then turned to face the young man.
"Tak3 it, sh3's be3n w4iting f0r y0u all th1s t1m3."
Mika couldn't fully understand what she was saying; it was as if something was preventing her from completing her words. But even so, the essence was clear: Mika was supposed to take the sword, the one that looked exactly like the one forged by the Reader after the battle with Geld.
He couldn't help but wonder at the similarity between this situation and the time he received the sword.
"..."
He then walked toward the rock, the figure watching him from the side.
Upon touching the sword with his dominant hand, Mika felt the familiarity between it and his own sword. It was the same blade, the same aura, the same... Ego?
And then, as he realized all these similarities, a word slipped from his mouth—or rather, a name.
"...Akagi."
The sword began to glow, as if it were filling with a sense of nostalgia. It was reacting to that name, to that familiar feeling.
This was the formation of a Manas.
"-ka."
"Mika!" Julga's voice echoed in Mika's ears, as if trying to wake him up.
Upon hearing his name called, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Ah! You're awake; I was starting to get worried."
"...What happened? Did I fall asleep again?" The boy asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"It seems so. You were about to ask me a question, and then you just passed out. Are you alright?" Julga asked, concerned about Mika.
'... Wait... Something's odd. I was just lifting a sword... And that spirit? I remember them saying something about Manas... No way...'
Mika was pondering over his "dream" as he questioned his own mind. That sword, which bore a striking resemblance to the one he used in the battle with Farn, and that spirit, who, surprisingly, had a voice very similar to the Reader's. Could it really be a coincidence?
When he finished organizing his thoughts, he noticed a disturbing expression on Julga's face, who had been watching him from the beginning.
"So, you had a strange dream, huh?"
Mika widened his eyes in surprise. How did she know that? That's what crossed his mind.
"Well... I'll answer your questions, Mika. Only YOU were invited to this dimension, so it's obvious that your 'ability' wouldn't come along."
'What?!... So that's why I can't even feel the Divider...'
"Second. If there really is a Manas around here... it must have been brought by someone with the same level of strength as me..."
Julga said as she placed her hand on her chin, making a thoughtful pose.
"... But that's if we assume it wasn't just a dream, right? Fufufufu." She broke the serious mood, offering a possible explanation for the situation. "Either way, come with me." Julga continued as she stood up and headed toward the house's door.
"Huh? Just like that?! Wait for me!