Chapter 7: A New World

Asada sat upon the river creekside, staring at the clear pristine water with dull color fishes. She held onto her hair, slowly brushing through it to get rid of all the tangles and dirt.

Ben looked over from the river bank and glanced back at his pocket knife admirably. It glinted as it shined within the sunlight. He looked over around his surroundings, nature was abundant, the rivers flowed soundly, the birds chirping, and the small creatures running about without care or fear of these two foreign humans in their homeland.

Ben: “These creatures… are rather similar to earth. Rabbits… squirrels, birds…”

Asada: “If you say they are similar to earth, aren’t we too? Humans we are… but with magic.”

Ben: “I suppose so… do you know anything about this world or are you the same as me?”

Asada: “The same… although different timeline.”

Ben: “Well… I’m 30 years old and you seem like a young teenage girl… but you’re taller than me…”

Asada: “All I see is a small child… who’s around 16 years old. Who also has a stupid look everytime I look at you.”

“What?” Ben stood up and rushed over towards the riverside. He looked at the reflection slowly taking in his youthful self. He pinched, pulled, smiled, frowned, opened and closed his eyes. The reflection in the water followed his face as it was constantly being distorted by the smooth waves.

Ben: “This… this can’t be… I’m shorter again… and I’m a younger version of myself…. did I gain 15 more years? … if this wasn’t a deadly world… would this have been a blessing of youth?... but my levels as a wizard have fallen then….”

Asada: “Or it might be that you’re going to die younger.. that’s all.. simply a physical change but the mental mind is going to die sooner or later….” Asada added aside as she picked out a loosen clump of dirt from her hair.

Ben: “That’s right… my mind is still the same. I remember when I was older. My friends, books, neighbors…. in terms of idea won’t my brain be degenerated faster than my youthful self!”

Asada: “Hoo… that’s a big worry.” She didn't really care.

Asada slowly stood back up and dried her hair by wringing out excess water. Her complexion has cleared, the dirt and soil has washed out of her hair and face. The rags that they wore were replaced with normal clothes they found alongside the streets within the night. Ben stood back up and filled a canteen that he grabbed from the trash awhile back in town.

Ben snapped a couple of sticks and roped them together, placing them on his hips. He stood up feeling the weight of them on his side. He grasped his hands in front of him and looked beyond the forest lines that led towards a village in front of a small hill.

Ben: “We’re… away from the Kingdom of Lanners huh..” Ben breathed deeply.

Asada:“Indeed…. do you have a goal now Ben?”

Ben: “....I’m not sure… maybe I’ll spend some time in the library reading.. of course after finding something to sustain my food situation.”

Asada frowned at Ben's careless response. She knew that Ben did not share the same passion for home.

Asada:“... Ben, I’ll be leaving you. I need to find a way back home.”

Ben: “... I suppose…” Seeing Ben's dejected response, Asada looked once more at Ben.

Asada: “Aren’t you worried about your friends… family?”

“....” Ben looked at his hand and looked around him. Magical orbs follows him, he knows they’re watching him…. the weight and cost… and this world.

Ben: “I suppose not. When you need help, you can find or reach me… stay safe Asada.”

Asada looked at Ben once more, she felt something was hidden but these were simple guess. Humans are different, they are never sane in one's own mind. For the definition of sane is different in every person's definition.

Asada:“A little brat telling me to stay safe isn’t too convincing.”

“You….” Ben smiled. Asada left as her back was turned to Ben and she waved back without looking at Ben. Her hair flowed through the wind as she walked down the foliage of the forest. Until her being is slowly enveloped under the forest's blessings.

Ben looked back at the town below him. He grasped his hands out and the pocket knife came into view.

The wind blew gently across the small hill, the grasses waved back and forth. The clouds pander about within the blue background, having no forms of care as the sun glares brightly behind them.

Ben stood there for a while, staring at the sky for a moment. He closed his eyes and let the sun’s warmth fill him. His mind flicked for a second towards the number of children they had left behind. They were already dead when they ate… he knew that. However, even if he does have the resolution to fight against an organization. He wasn’t even sure about his own abilities.

Ben: “... magic orbs… mind showing me a path that I can follow?”

Ben muttered to the wind, slowly green orbs started to make a stream leading downwards towards a village off in the distance. Ben set his foot onto the grassy hill, seeing the sun that was slowly rising from the mountains as the clouds parted ways from it, as if giving space for the light to burn through the forest path.