Author Of Another World

Part 1

Eastern Sea, en route to Centara

The wind howled.

Waves as tall as houses crashed against the wooden sides of the ship. Rain whipped through the air like knives.

The sails strained and flapped wildly above, glowing faintly from the enchantments tied into their ropes.

In the middle of it all—stood Vellia.

Her black coat was soaked, her hair clinging to her face. One hand gripped the wheel of the ship, the other raised high, casting a wind-binding spell to stop the vessel from flipping.

Vellia (shouting):

"Hold the lines! If this ship breaks, we drown with it!"

Masashi was pulling a rope on the left mast, his hands blistering from the rough cords. His legs slipped on the wet deck, but he held on.

Masashi (panting):

"This storm's insane!"

Clara had tied herself with a belt to the main beam, using her sword to cut away a loose sail threatening to tangle the mast.

Clara: "Focus on surviving, talk later!"

Lightning lit up the sky — and for a moment, the ocean below looked like a silver wall. Then came the thunder.

BOOOOM!

Elra knelt by the stern, casting barrier magic over the ship's hull to keep it from splintering apart. Her cloak blew wildly in the wind.

Elra: "My barrier won't last forever!"

Crystella, standing atop the elevated rear deck, held both hands in the air. A soft blue glow covered the ship, reducing the freezing wind around them.

Crystella: "Trying to hold back the cold wind. But this storm isn't natural…"

Suddenly---- a massive wave rose ahead, taller than all the rest.

Vellia: "Brace yourselves!"

The ship slammed through it, nearly flipping --- but Vellia held firm, steering into the curve of the wave like a veteran sailor. Her voice boomed over the thunder.

Vellia: "I've seen worse storms in my youth! If you want to get to Centara alive — trust me!"

As the wave passed, the sea didn't calm. Instead, something stirred beneath.

Masashi (shouting): "Something's in the water!"

The rain slowed just enough to see—

Glowing blue fins, long and sharp, circling the ship.

Crystella (eyes narrowing): "It's a sea wraith... a guardian spirit… attracted to the energy of the Fractal."

From the black waters rose a long, sleek creature ---- shaped like a serpent, made of water and light. Its glowing eyes stared straight at them.

Sea Wraith.

The ship rocked violently as it slammed its tail into the stern, nearly knocking Elra overboard. Masashi caught her just in time.

Masashi: "Get inside! We'll handle it!"

Vellia (commanding): "No! Everyone—positions! We fight on this deck or we don't fight at all!"

The sea wraith howled, its voice like a crashing tide.

The crew gathered, weapons and magic ready --- standing tall in the middle of the raging storm.

Vellia (raising her sword): "This ship is our only way to Centara. We don't let it sink. Not here!"

Clara (smirking): "Now that's a captain."

Location: Aboard the ship, Eastern Sea

---- Storm still raging

The Sea Wraith let out another shriek as it swirled around the ship, its glowing body flashing with arcane power. Thunder cracked above — the storm still wild.

Vellia:

"Stand your ground! Don't let it tear through the hull!"

The ship lurched again as the wraith leapt onto the deck, its watery form coiling like a serpent made of glowing ocean mist.

Clara dashed forward, slashing across its body — her blade passed through like slicing a wave, but it hissed in pain.

Clara:

"It's vulnerable to magic!"

Elra's eyes lit up. She raised both hands, a glowing sigil forming above her.

Elra:

"Then let's give it some!"

A lance of golden light shot from her palms, piercing the wraith's chest. The creature roared, flailing its tail.

Masashi and Crystella stood at opposite sides of the ship. Masashi used his dagger to anchor a rope line, while Crystella summoned a freezing wind.

Crystella (calm but cold):

"Let's try locking it down."

She froze the deck under the wraith's coils — SNAP! The creature slipped, exposing its core.

Masashi:

"Now!"

He leapt forward with all his strength, landing atop the beast and driving his glowing dagger into its glowing chest.

BOOOOM!

The creature howled — light erupted from its body in every direction. Rain turned to mist. The sea stilled.

The Sea Wraith collapsed into the water with a low, echoing sigh — its body dissolving into blue sparkles.

Everyone stood, catching their breath.

Vellia (exhaling, lowering her blade):

"Good work, all of you… that thing nearly ended us."

....

[Five Days Later — Timeskip]

....

The skies were calm. Seagulls cried above.

The ship approached the continent of Centara — its coast lined with rocky cliffs and pine-covered hills, rivers winding through tall forests.

They reached the Sea Port of Skypha, a bustling cliffside town built into the mountain's edge. Fishing boats rocked in the calm water. Cranes moved cargo. Market stalls lined the piers.

From there, a railway path stretched into the dense railway forest — a moss-covered trail with enchanted tracks that guided walkers through the wilderness.

Masashi, Elra, Clara, Crystella, and Vellia walked together, surrounded by tall trees. The air smelled of pine and morning dew. Birds chirped.

Clara:

"Hard to believe we were just in a storm."

Masashi:

"It's peaceful here… for now."

Up ahead, the path ended at a lift station — a towering stone pillar with moving carrier chairs that slowly glided up the mountainside. Like open-air gondolas, they were powered by wind crystals.

The group boarded the lift. The world dropped below as they rose — rivers, forests, and valleys shrinking under them.

Elra (softly):

"…Beautiful."

As they reached the top, the gates of Skypha came into view — a vast stone wall carved into the mountain.

Knights in silver-blue armor guarded the entrance, their spears shining. Two dragons circled high above, their scales like polished steel.

The group stepped off the lift as the gate began to open.

Vellia:

"This is it. Skypha --- capital of Centara. And somewhere in this kingdom... the second fragment awaits."

Night had fallen.

Stars shimmered above the towering cliffs of Skypha. The cold mountain wind rustled through the trees.

Masashi stood alone just outside their inn, the first fragment of the Ember Relic resting gently in his gloved hand.

It pulsed with a soft, reddish glow----warm, like a heartbeat.

He stared at it quietly.

Masashi (thinking):

"…This tiny piece caused so much chaos. But it's also hope. Our first step…"

He turned it slowly, watching how the light danced across its jagged surface.

Behind him, Elra and Crystella quietly stepped out of the building, watching from a distance — saying nothing, just… making sure he was okay.

Masashi closed his fist around the fragment, holding it close to his chest.

Masashi (softly):

"…We'll find the rest. No matter how far."

A gentle gust of wind blew through his hair.

For a moment, the world was still.

Part 2

The next day.

Location: High atop the mountains of Centara, carved into stone, stood an ancient structure wrapped in fog — The Library of Truth. Said to hold every truth in the world, past and future, it was not built — it was grown by time itself.

Inside, there were no torches — only a soft, golden glow that hummed from the marble walls. Stacked staircases spiraled toward the heavens. Floating books hovered, unmoving, untouched by time.

Masashi and the others stood in awe.

Yulleus: "This place feels… like it's watching us."

Vellia (quietly): "Because it is. The Library of Truth chooses who can read... and who can't."

A voice echoed across the grand hall.

An ancient, robed librarian approached, his eyes glowing with soft white light.

Librarian:

"You seek the second fractal.

To find it, one must read... The Book of Past, Present, and Future."

He extended his hand, and a pedestal lit up in the center of the room. Upon it sat a thick, silver-bound tome — pulsing softly with shifting colors.

Masashi stepped forward.

Clara: "Masashi… are you sure?"

Masashi nodded.

Masashi: "If it leads to the next piece… I'll do it."

He reached out. The moment his fingers touched the book —

WHOOSH.

His eyes widened.

The room vanished.

Inside the Book

Masashi floated in a space without direction — light and darkness spinning endlessly. Images flashed before him, too fast to fully see, too real to ignore:

----Himself as a child, standing alone on Earth…

--Elra, weeping beneath a broken sky…

---Crystella in a prison of ice…

---Vellia falling in a desert war…

— Clara screaming Masashi's name in the future…

---A world split apart — crumbling into the sky…

He saw pasts that never happened, presents that hadn't begun, and futures where everything — and everyone — was lost.

His body trembled.

Masashi (echoing voice):

"…Stop… I don't… I can't…"

The visions kept going — his failures, his deaths, the deaths of those he loved. Over and over.

He screamed ---

Masashi: "STOP!!"

....

Suddenly, darkness.

He collapsed forward, gasping.

The others surrounded him.

Crystella: "Masashi!!"

He was sweating. Pale. Shaking.

Elra knelt beside him.

She touched his shoulder, but he flinched.

Masashi (trembling):

"I saw… too much…

Too many futures…

Too many endings..."

Vellia helped him sit up. Her voice was calm, but stern.

Vellia: "The Book shows everything. But no one can carry all of time. Not even the chosen."

The librarian slowly approached again.

Librarian:

"You survived. That alone… proves your will."

He handed Vellia a glowing scroll.

Librarian:

"The next fractal lies deep in the caves of Skypha's foundation -- — beneath the city. A place forgotten by maps."

Yulleus (watching Masashi): "We go when he's ready."

Masashi looked down, hand still shaking, heart racing.

But deep in his chest ---- - something had changed.

A quiet voice whispered within him:

"You have seen the worst of time... now walk forward to change it."

Part 3

A narrow stone path spiraled downward beneath Skypha's towering mountain. The deeper they went, the colder it became — not from the wind, but from something older. Echoes whispered from the walls. Stalactites dripped slowly, as if time barely moved down here.

The group was silent.

At the back of the group, Masashi sat in a magical chair of floating silver and glass --- - enchanted by Elra and Crystella. It hovered just above the rocky ground, glowing gently.

He hadn't spoken much since they left the Library.

His hands still trembled.

Elra walked beside him, one hand always close in case the chair's spell faltered.

Elra (quietly):

"Tell me if you feel dizzy."

Masashi didn't answer.

His eyes stared forward — - -- wide, unfocused. Inside, the visions still played. Over and over.

Death. Fire. Failure. Alone.

Crystella walked ahead, glancing back.

Crystella (to Elra):

"He's not talking?"

Elra shook her head.

"He hasn't said a word since yesterday."

Clara walked at the front, fists clenched.

Clara:

"He's strong. He's just… shaken."

Yulleus (arms crossed):

"If he can't walk, he shouldn't be in a fight."

Elra glared.

Elra: "He didn't ask for this. None of us did."

Vellia raised her hand — signaling the group to stop.

They reached a large stone door covered in vines, etched with ancient script.

Vellia (reading):

"This is it. The path to the Fractal Chamber. Beyond here… we move quickly."

As they prepared to open the door, Masashi suddenly twitched.

He gripped the armrests of the chair, breathing fast.

Masashi (quietly):

"…Don't go in…"

Everyone froze.

Masashi (tighter):

"Don't go in there…"

Elra rushed to him.

Elra:

"Masashi. What did you see?"

He finally looked at her — but it was like looking through glass.

Masashi:

"There's… fire. Screaming. You don't come back…"

Crystella knelt in front of him. Her eyes softer now.

Crystella:

"You're seeing something that hasn't happened yet. Or maybe never will."

Masashi blinked hard, sweating.

Masashi:

"I saw Clara die... and then you… Elra…"

Clara stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Clara (gently):

"Then help us stop it."

Masashi (whispers):

"But I'm scared."

A pause.

Then Clara whispered:

Clara: "So are we. But fear is the proof you still care."

Masashi looked at them — -- really looked.

His team. His friends. His light.

He nodded slowly.

Masashi: "Okay… Let's go."

The group opened the stone doors.

A soft red glow came from below — flickering flames ahead.

But this time, Masashi sat upright in the floating chair, hands steadying.

He wasn't ready to fight.

But he was ready to walk through the fire with them.

The path turned narrow. The flickering red glow from deeper within the cave pulsed --- -- like a heartbeat. Masashi's magical chair hovered forward, the hum of its enchantment quiet in the rising tension.

Masashi (quietly):

"…This is the place I saw. Where it happens."

The others slowed. The air grew heavy. Crystella gripped her staff tighter. Elra's eyes scanned the shadows.

Vellia:

"I feel it too. Something's wrong."

Crystella (low):

"Fate is converging."

Suddenly, a cold laugh echoed through the cave.

???:

"You're early, little flames of fate."

A figure stepped out from the shadows —-- a witch in black, veiled in swirling darkness. Her presence distorted the cave air like a void.

Elra (eyes wide):

"…The Witch of Darkness."

Crystella (tense):

"This is bad. She's one of the originals."

Masashi's breathing quickened.

Masashi:

"This is it… This is where Clara dies."

Elra:

"Not if we rewrite the ending."

The Witch of Darkness raised her hand, casting a black wave forward—time magic, fate sealing. But—

BOOM!

Elra and Crystella leapt ahead — wrath form partially awakened. Their power clashed against the darkness.

Clara:

"Stay behind, Masashi!"

But Masashi stood — staggering out of the chair.

Masashi:

"I won't let this be the future…"

The Witch of Darkness tilted her head.

Witch:

"You think you can change what was written?"

Masashi's eyes lit with green — a glow not from this world.

Masashi (firm):

"I've seen it all. And I still choose to fight."

The ground cracked as magic surged — Elra vs. the Witch, light vs. shadow.

This battle would decide whether the future could be rewritten…

…or if fate always wins.

Aftermath.

The dust settled.

Cracks glowed faintly on the ground, where Elra's final burst of light had pushed back the darkness. The Witch of Darkness vanished in a swirl of void energy, her voice echoing in retreat.

Witch of Darkness (fading):

"This world cannot run from fate forever…"

Then she was gone.

Elra dropped to one knee, breathing heavily. Her wrath form shimmered out — replaced by her usual cloak. Clara quickly ran to her side, while Crystella walked over to Masashi, who stood motionless.

The green glow in his eyes dimmed.

Masashi:

"She left…"

Crystella (gently):

"For now. But not forever."

Masashi looked around the chamber. Burned stone. Cracked walls. Silence.

Masashi (quietly):

"She didn't kill Clara…"

Clara blinked, confused.

Clara:

"Huh?"

Masashi forced a small smile — not from joy, but from relief.

"I changed the future."

He slumped forward.

Crystella caught him.

Crystella (softly):

"You did."

Later...

Night had fallen. The team set up a temporary camp outside the cave mouth. Stars sparkled above the tall trees. The smell of roasted root vegetables filled the air.

Masashi sat wrapped in a thick cloak, leaning back against a boulder. The magical wheelchair hummed faintly nearby, powered down. He didn't need it right now — just rest.

Elra sat next to him, polishing her blade. Clara poked the fire with a stick. Crystella sat with her knees drawn up, staring into the flames.

Yulleus (yawning, off to the side):

"I can't believe I'm saying this… but today was scarier than training ten rookies at once."

Vellia stood, watching the stars, arms crossed, silent as ever.

Masashi (softly):

"I saw the future, you know…"

The others looked at him.

Masashi:

"In that book. The Book of Past, Present, and Future."

Elra stopped polishing.

Masashi (continuing):

"I saw so many things. People dying. Worlds burning. I saw all of us… falling."

He clenched his fists.

Masashi:

"I saw Clara… and I couldn't stop it."

Clara's eyes widened. "You mean… earlier?"

Masashi nodded.

"But it didn't happen. Because you all fought. Because I stood up when it mattered."

Crystella finally spoke.

Crystella:

"The future is like a reflection on water. It can ripple. It can change."

Masashi gave a small nod.

Masashi:

"…It still scared me. I don't know if I'm strong enough to keep doing this."

Silence again.

Then Elra leaned her head lightly on his shoulder.

Elra:

"You're allowed to be scared. But you're still standing. That's strength too."

Masashi blinked, surprised.

Clara (smirking):

"And let's be honest… you're stronger than you were back when we first met."

Masashi (laughing a little):

"That's not saying much."

Clara:

"Still counts."

Yulleus threw a log on the fire and sat cross-legged.

Yulleus:

"Hey, you didn't die. That's a win in my book."

Crystella gave a small smile, something rare.

Crystella:

"You know… you changed me too."

Everyone turned to her.

Crystella:

"When I first met you, Masashi… I thought you were just another pawn. Someone the world would break. But… now I think you might be the one who breaks fate instead."

Masashi blinked.

Crystella glanced away, cheeks slightly pink.

Crystella:

"…Don't let it get to your head."

They laughed lightly.

Later That Night.

The fire had died down. Most of the group had gone to sleep.

Masashi sat alone, staring at the stars.

Elra returned from the treeline, holding two mugs of warmed berry tea. She handed him one and sat beside him.

Masashi:

"Thanks."

They sat in silence, sipping slowly.

Elra (quietly):

"You really scared us, you know. When you fell."

Masashi (softly):

"Sorry."

Elra:

"Don't be. Just… don't do it again."

He chuckled.

Masashi:

"No promises."

She smirked and gently nudged his shoulder.

Elra:

"You're stronger than you think. But you don't have to carry this weight alone. Remember that."

He looked at her — really looked — and gave a small, grateful smile.

Masashi:

"I will."

The Next Morning.

The sun rose over the mountains of Centara, painting the clouds in golden light.

The team packed up camp. The journey toward the Library of Truth would continue — and the second fractal awaited somewhere at its peak.

As Masashi climbed into the magical wheelchair, Crystella helped secure his bag. Elra handed him his sword.

Vellia (to the group):

"Next stop — the highest library in the world."

Yulleus:

"Let's hope it has stairs."

Clara:

"Let's hope it has coffee."

They all shared a light laugh as they walked the mountain trail, rising higher toward a sky touched by fate.

Masashi looked down at the first fragment, still stored safely in his satchel. It pulsed faintly — as if alive.

He gripped it.

Masashi (thinking):

"One down… four more to go."

"…And I won't lose anyone."

The wind picked up, carrying them forward toward whatever fate still waited beyond the peaks of Centara.