Author Of Another World

Part 1

The mist thickened as the group moved deeper into Argata's ancient forest.

Stone pillars covered in moss stood tall around them. Strange glowing flowers lit the path, and vines pulsed with a faint, magical light.

They had arrived.

Rael pointed ahead.

Rael: "This is it… the Heartgrove Ruins. The relic fragment should be at the center."

An ancient stone arch stood before them. As they stepped through, glowing symbols lit up along the walls — as if watching.

Commander Vellia gripped her sword tightly.

Vellia: "Stay alert. Something's here."

The ground rumbled.

Then—

BOOM!

A wave of dark magic burst from the main chamber.

They ran in — and floating above a glowing altar was the Masked Mage.

.....

Masked Mage: "You're persistent."

Masashi: "Step away from the relic."

The mage didn't answer. Instead, he raised his hand.

Cracks formed in the ground.

Commander Vellia charged, her sword shining. She clashed with him in a fierce battle of light and dark magic.

Sparks flew. The ruins shook.

But the mage was stronger.

CRASH!

Vellia was thrown against the wall. Her sword broke beside her.

Vellia: "He's… too fast..."

Elra and Clara stepped in. Elra summoned light chains. Clara moved in with her blade.

But----

SLASH!

The mage blurred through their defense.

Straight to Masashi.

SHIIIING!

Three magical slashes cut deep into him.

Masashi gasped.

Masashi: "...Sorry… we failed…"

He collapsed.

Still.

....

Everything went quiet.

Elra stared at his body.

Her hands shook.

Crystella stepped beside her, frozen in place.

.....

Then— a pulse.

A deep, burning aura burst from both of them.

The air exploded.

Their hair lifted. Their clothes shifted — replaced by magical, witch-like forms. Flowing dresses. Black roses. Crystal frost. Glowing eyes.

The Wrath Forms had awakened.

Crystella (voice distorted): "You shouldn't have touched him..."

Elra: "I'll destroy everything you are."

The ground cracked beneath them.

The ruins screamed with magic.

.....

Masked Mage (shocked): "...What are you?"

The real battle had just begun.

....

The magic surged like a storm unleashed.

Crystella raised her hand — a spiral of frozen wind shot toward the Masked Mage, tearing through stone like paper.

Elra followed, light chains whipping forward with deadly precision, glowing red instead of gold now — fueled by fury.

The Masked Mage dodged — barely. His cloak was torn, a deep cut across his mask.

Masked Mage (growling):

"Tch… I see now… Witch Wrath Forms."

He vanished in a blur — only to reappear above.

He slammed the ground with dark magic.

BOOM!

The floor cracked. Dust and rubble flew. But—

WHOOSH!

Crystella caught the blast with a frozen barrier, her eyes glowing like white fire.

Elra charged in through the mist, faster than she'd ever moved. Her blade — once silver — now burned gold-red.

Elra (shouting):

"For Masashi!!"

She slashed upward — it grazed the Masked Mage's mask again, cracking it further.

Masked Mage (thinking):

They're pushing me back…?

These two— They're not like before.

He tried to escape into shadow — but Crystella was waiting.

Crystella: "Freeze."

She clapped her hands — a magic seal spread under him. The air turned white.

BOOOOM!

Ice exploded upward in a massive spire, locking him in place.

Elra dashed up the ice. Her blade glowed with pure Wrath Light.

Elra:

"Let this be your end!"

She pierced the shield — right into his chest.

The Masked Mage screamed — not in pain, but in rage.

Masked Mage:

"You… You don't understand! You're ruining EVERYTHING!"

The seal cracked.

With one last explosion, he vanished — blown away in smoke and shadow.

The chamber fell quiet.

Ash fell like snow.

Crystella dropped to one knee, breathing hard. Her Wrath Form faded slowly ---- her frost-covered dress returning to normal. Elra stood still ---her hands shaking, the glow in her eyes fading.

Masashi still hadn't moved.

Clara knelt beside him.

Clara: "He's… breathing. Barely!"

Elra snapped out of it.

"Elra (urgent): "I'll heal him--!"

But her magic sparked weakly. She was drained.

Crystella: "We need to get him out of here. Now."

Rael helped lift Masashi onto her back.

Vellia limped forward, bruised but alive.

Vellia: "We have the fragment… but at what cost?"

She reached for the glowing shard on the altar ---- the first piece of the Ember Relic.

It pulsed with soft red light.

A warning.

....

(The Eternal Void)

....

Darkness...

Endless, quiet, and cold — like floating in outer space.

Masashi stood alone in a vast black world filled with stars. His body glowed faint green, like a spirit made of fading light.

He looked at his hands. He was weightless.

Masashi (softly): "It's too early to be dead… but here I am."

"…I thought I finally had a happy life in this new world…"

His voice echoed in the silent void.

He closed his eyes — and memories returned.

His old self in Japan.

Alone. Ignored. A quiet boy nobody noticed.

No friends. No purpose.

Just a shadow in the crowd.

But here… in this world…

He found people who believed in him.

Clara.

Elra.

Commander Vellia.

Even Crystella…

He became someone.

Tears almost welled in his glowing eyes — until a soft light floated toward him.

A white orb of energy, glowing like the moon, hovered in front of him.

It sparkled as it spoke, its voice soft and warm — like a gentle bell in the stars.

???: "Greetings… and welcome to the Eternal Void. The home of all souls."

Masashi's eyes narrowed.

"…Who are you?"

The orb floated in a small circle.

Selterra: "Just call me Selterra. I watch over the flow of life and magic."

Masashi stayed quiet.

The orb pulsed gently again.

Selterra:

"You are not dead, Masashi. Not yet. But you are close."

Masashi looked down. The stars below flickered like waves of time.

Selterra continued.

Selterra: "When you wake up, you'll see Elra and Crystella true forms. They'll explain it to you. Don't fear them — their Wrath Forms were born from love and pain."

Masashi nodded slowly. "…They fought to protect me…"

Selterra: "And now it's your turn to protect them. You have something special inside you, Masashi. A power even I cannot see clearly yet…"

Masashi blinked. "What do you mean?"

The orb drifted closer.

Selterra: "You'll find your true power soon — when your heart understands what it must protect."

"…Oh, and before I forget… the second Fractal lies in the mountains of Centara."

Masashi's eyes widened.

Selterra gave a little spark of laughter.

Selterra: "When you return, help Vellia and the others buy a ship. You'll need to cross the sea. The journey to Centara will take five days."

Masashi lowered his head, thinking.

Selterra floated away, its light starting to fade.

Selterra (fading): "This world is changing, Masashi… and so are you."

"…Wake up, and shine."

A warm wind surrounded him.

The stars turned into light.

Then—

FLASH!

Masashi's Eyes Opened

The world returned — blurred, warm, and filled with muffled voices.

He was in a small healer's hut in Argata. A cloth covered his chest. His body ached, but he was alive.

By his bedside sat Elra and Clara — both asleep, still wearing torn cloaks, their hands clutched tightly together.

Masashi smiled faintly.

Masashi (whispering): "…I'm back…"

...

Masashi slowly opened his eyes. A dim, warm light glowed from lanterns above. Soft rain tapped against the window.

His chest ached, but he was alive.

Next to him, Elra sat, her head resting on the side of the bed. Clara was nearby, arms crossed, eyes closed, quietly humming to herself. They looked exhausted.

Masashi blinked. "Elra…?"

Her eyes snapped open. She stared at him for a second, then quickly sat up.

Elra (tearing up): "You're… alive…"

Masashi: "Barely…"

She grabbed his hand, holding it tight.

Elra (voice shaking):

"I couldn't stop him… We were too slow. You… you didn't even move. You froze…"

Masashi looked away, ashamed.

"I was scared."

Clara opened her eyes, walking over. She knelt beside the bed.

Clara:

"Anyone would've been, Masashi. That mage was terrifying. We weren't strong enough to protect you. Not fast enough…"

She looked down, guilt in her voice.

Clara: "We failed you."

Masashi blinked, surprised.

For a second, he thought they'd blame him — but instead, they blamed themselves for not saving him in time.

Elra leaned her forehead against his arm.

Elra: "I promised to guide you. To protect you. And I almost lost you…"

Masashi smiled weakly.

Masashi: "I didn't ask you to do everything alone… We're a team, remember?"

A quiet silence fell — not heavy, just… emotional.

Crystella walked in, arms folded, watching them.

Crystella: "I sensed your heartbeat from outside. Glad to see it wasn't just a dream."

Masashi exhaled, finally feeling at ease.

Masashi: "…I'll get stronger. So next time, I won't freeze."

Clara: "And we'll make sure next time… no one has to fall."

Crystella walked over, kneeling beside the bed.

Her long hair fell gently over her shoulders as she met Masashi's eyes.

Crystella: "You saw it, didn't you… our Wrath Forms."

Masashi nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.

Masashi: "Yeah… I saw it. Both of you… changed."

Elra lowered her gaze.

Clara stayed close, her arms crossed but her face soft with worry.

Elra (quietly):

"It only happens when our emotions go out of control. Wrath Form comes from a witch's pain… and the need to protect."

Crystella (gently):

"It's not something we use lightly. We didn't want you to see us like that."

Masashi leaned back against the pillows, his eyes distant.

Masashi:

"Someone… told me not to fear it. That your power came from love… and that I'd understand mine too."

Elra (curious):

"Someone?"

Masashi's brows furrowed. He opened his mouth—then stopped.

His lips moved, but no sound came out.

Masashi (frowning): "I… can't remember the name. I was just there… in some place filled with stars. They spoke to me. Told me to wake up. But the name's… missing."

The room grew quiet.

Clara: "Missing?"

Masashi shook his head.

Masashi:

"It's like the moment I try to say it… it slips away."

Crystella (softly):

"Maybe that means it's not time yet."

Just then, Rael entered, holding a sealed scroll.

Rael:

"Sorry to interrupt. But this just came in from the elders."

She unrolled it gently.

Rael:

"The second Fractal has been traced… to the Centara mountains. But you'll need to sail across the eastern sea. Five days of travel, maybe more depending on the weather."

Masashi swung his legs off the bed, wincing but determined.

Masashi: "Then we start preparing now. We can't let him get ahead of us."

Clara (smirking): "You're still sore and you want to race across the world?"

Elra: "Typical Masashi."

Crystella (smiling faintly): "At least his heart's still in the right place."

They all shared a small, relieved laugh.

[Far Away ----- In Gotnovaric]

A golden wind blew through the halls of King Virroga's throne room.

He sat upon his dark throne, staring into a flickering projection of Argata — of Elra and Crystella's Wrath Forms.

Virroga (low, amused):

"They've awakened their fury…"

He raised his hand, letting the vision vanish like dust.

Virroga: "Then I'll awaken mine."

....End of volume 1 (arc 1)