...
...
...
...Oh...
I'm dead...
...
And I couldn't even protect my Mother either...
...
What kind of a son I am...? Why...why couldn't I do anything that time?!
Why didn't I tried harder?
If only I pushed myself further...
Why...
...
Its because of me that mom died...
...
...I should've been the one who's been dead instead of her...
...
Suddenly, a light fshes in front of me
"?!"
Its light was so blinding that I tried to shield myself with my non-existent arms...
...
"...?"
Soon after, I was greeted with an unfamiliar pce
"...what...?"
Everything around me was blurry at first, it seems like I was inside a big church, but as my vision starts to clear...
...there were a lot of people around me, wearing robes that hides their faces
"! As! We succeeded!"
"HOORAAAAY!"
They chanted in unison, as they had smiles on their faces
I on the other hand, kept silent
"What...is this...?"
Why am I here? Didn't I died in that apartment?
"...Mom..."
Amidst of these wonderful cheers and ughs, I couldn't help but get reminded of my own failures
That thought slowly ate up my mental state until I was no longer cooperative
"That also only took us 50% of our mana reserve!"
"That means we can summon another one!"
"If you're alive for another decade old man!"
They ugh as he pats the guy on the back
"Your Majesty! What's keeping you occupied? We finally summoned someone!"
"..."
The King however, had other things in his mind
"Are you guys blind? Look at the poor man!"
They dropped their smiles as they looked back at me
"Hold on, did we summoned a dead man?"
"Is your brain working? He looks dead but he isn't dead"
"*Sigh*...so even though this was the first thing we summoned with something showing up, it ended up in a failure?"
"..."
Everyone in the room went in silence. After a few seconds, The king raises his tone
"Bring him to the room exclusively for the man, he may be just tired"
"But your Majesty-"
"No excuses! Treat him like how you would treat me"
"As you wish..."
They then slowly went into their own ways, while someone in a maid costume approached me
"Right this way, uhh..."
I can tell that she wanted to know my name for formality, but I didn't gave an answer
"...Right this way"
Without any choice left, I followed the maid...
...
...
...
After a few long walk in a seemingly endless hallway, I was led into a room that can barely be called a room
The maid then turns the doorknob, showing the insides of the said room...
The room which to my surprise, was bigger than our apartment, it had a bedroom that was bigger than ours, a full set of desk, a bookshelf filled with books, has four windows, and a bathroom installed
If I were still in my old world, this would be a luxury for most people I assume...
...Yet not one bit of it raises my enthusiasm...
...Why I am I even in this world? Is this a dream? Is this what happens after you die?
...Mom...
Are you perhaps...having this kind of dream right now...?
"..."
"If you need anything, just call me through here"
She walks up to the desk, tapping it lightly two times
Suddenly, a circle of light lit up on the desk
"Right after you tap it two times, I'll be able to hear your requests"
"..."
"Do you perhaps...have anything you want right now?"
"..."
"...I see..."
She bows down at me as she step out from the room...
...
I looked out the windows, only to see one scene on each of it
The outside had a concrete floor, a lot of citizens can be seen...
...Walking...selling goods, kids pying...
and there's citizens seemingly in uniforms patrolling around the big wall, a border of some sort
"This looks like a Medieval scene..."
I pinched my face so hard that it turned red after
"...It doesn't look like I'm dreaming..."
So is this the afterlife...?
No...this is nothing like in those books...
Moreover...those people in robes mentioning about summoning me...
...Medieval setting...the desk emitting a light and is a way to call a maid...
"Am I somehow...in a different world...?"
But I died, right? How is this possible...?
As I sat down on my bed, I was reminded of my past
"..."
Mom...
"...There's no way I didn't die..."
...But if I'm alive and somehow in another world...
"...Is she also here...?"
...
Why did I even get summoned here in the first pce?
Why can't it be anyone else?
"The eyes of those people..."
Those are the eyes of waiting an expectation out of me...
"I'm useless...I wasn't even able to stop my Mother's death..."
All because of my stupid birthday...
...Birthday...
...
"Today's my birthday..."
...Not like it matters to me anymore...
To me, my birthday is the day that I hate the most...
...because it took someone dearest to me...
...
Without realizing it, I id down on the bed, as I tried to sleep...
...
...
...
A week had passed since I got summoned into this world...or that's what I at least think
Ever since that day, I started counting the days I've been in this room. It's the seventh day in my account, hence why I deducted its already been a week
The maids did their job, even though I was reluctant to go outside and eat with the other people, they still served the food in my room
They also give me a change of clothes for me to wear...I don't know how they were able to know my size, but considering the wild things that's happening in this world, I shouldn't be even questioning about it now
Of course I never neglected myself, I still take a bath and look after my health as needed. At first, the bathroom surprised me of its size, as well as the technology it had
Its technology wasn't too modern like what I have in the old world, but it is oddly 'High Tech' for its Medieval like period
Once I step in, in a designated area, the water starts to pour down on me, seemingly infused with soap as well. It was new to me hence why I quite enjoyed the experience. After you're done, next to it is some sort of a "Drying Area" that dries you off without a need of a towel
That also expined why they never gave me one in the first pce. I contempted on how I would dry myself without a towel before...
...but now, everything seems to be natural for me...
Still, I can't face them...
Those people...
"But as things stand...I can't be like this forever..."
I know that...yet...
...I couldn't even protect my Mother...
...So what can I even give in this world...?
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door
"...?"
"Hello. Are you in there? You are, right?"
I gave no response
"So the maids are right, you're the quiet guy..."
"..."
Without hesitation, they opened the door
...
"Oh! You're quite delightful for someone who's been sheltered for a week"
There stood in front of me, is an elegant woman, seemingly someone of a high status
"Not feeling sharing your name with me?"
"..."
She had the eyes of a worried person, yet she smiled at me as she elegantly introduces herself
"I'm Elena Tremsworth, the Daughter of the King"
Ah...the princess...
Why is someone like her, wants to see me in this state?
She looks closely at me, as if she's examining my whole body
"You're probably wondering why I want to see you, right?"
She can read minds...huh?
"Right after I heard from my Father about the news here, I was enthusiastic to meet you...but what was more intriguing to me was..."
"...?"
"Father said that you look dead inside"
"..."
I bet even other people here are talking about it since day one...
"I may not be able to solve your problem directly, but I can at least lend an ear you know!"
"..."
What does she know? Why would I even tell her my past?
I doubt she can do anything about it anyways...
...the damage has already been done...
"...I see..."
"...?"
"If its something that you can't share directly to me...I guess its something tragic...right?"
"?!"
This woman...
"S...Stop reading my mind..."
"...?"
She chuckles a bit before giving a reply
"You silly! I can't read minds!"
"Huh...?"
"That's not one of my skills. It would be great if I had one though..."
"Had one...?"
"Oh right...you don't know anything about this world. That's why you're probably confused about what's happening in here"
She hit the nail on the head...
"Don't worry. Slowly and steady, I will help you"
"...?"
"Until you're able to walk and stand on your two feet again, I won't gonna leave by your side, got it?"
...Why...
"Why are you like this to me?"
"...?"
"Why is someone as you, going through lengths for me? I bet its just because I'm someone you just summoned, right?"
That's definitely the reason...
She just smiled at me and says...
"Well...part of it is because you are the one we summoned...but mostly because is..."
"...?"
"...I can feel your pain...somehow..."
...This woman...
"...Do you perhaps-"
"Well I got to go now. I have to wrap things up in another pce, but we will meet again tomorrow!"
"..."
Right after she opens the door, she stopped for a moment and said something
"Looks like they were wrong about you"
"Huh...?"
"They all said that you never gave a response and never interacts with anyone, but seems like its the opposite!"
She then closes the door, leaving me alone once again in the room...
"..."
...For some reason...she seems easy to converse with...
...Why did I converse with her...?
...
I then id myself down on the bed, as I close my eyes for another day...
...
...
...
Just like she said, she comes everyday in my room to chat with me and talk about anything that she can think of
...about this world, magic, swordsmanship, and such...
Everything that I didn't knew at first, she told me every single of it, as she enthusiastically tells me all about it in a form of story
How would I know anything about that? There were nothing like that taught in my schools back in my world...
...So I guess everything about what she said were intriguing to me. It wasn't quite noticeable since I kept avoiding my gaze on her, but I think she also knew that I was listening intently to her ramblings
Day by day, before I realized it, I kept looking forward to what she'll tell me today. I even unintentionally converse with her sometimes
It was at this point, that socializing wasn't so hard after all...
...or is it because it was her that it was so easy...
One day, I decided...
"Say...will you keep it a secret?"
She stopped in her ramblings and looked at me with a surprise. She then gave me a smile after
"So you're ready now? Go ahead, I'm all ears"
Although I had no intentions of telling her my past in the first pce, I felt like she was the only one who can understand me...
...
...
...
"...I see..."
She gave a frown as she looked down on the ground, seemingly collecting her thoughts
"No wonder that left you emotionless for so long..."
"..."
"You were summoned at the worst possible time...I'm sorry..."
"Its not your fault"
If anything, you guys gave me a second chance in life...
"No, it is partially my fault. As the princess of this empire, It is also my responsibility"
"You really take your job seriously"
"I suppose you can call it a job, but for me..."
"...?"
"Its not a job. Its my purpose"
"Purpose...?"
She nods
"As the princess of this empire, I swore that I would help my Father in any matters that I can do in his stead. Protect the citizens to the very best I can...and stly"
"...?"
"...To help you get back on track"
"!"
"I know that I'm a bit pushy coming here to talk to you everyday, but I'm determined to help you"
"..."
"I know that you had a tragic past back in your own world, but your Mother wouldn't be happy seeing you stuck up like this, right?"
I gripped my hands tightly the moment she said that
"...What do you know?"
"What...?"
"You were never there when that happened...what do you know?!"
"..."
"Did you even listen?! I am a failure! I failed to protect my own Mother! What do you know?!"
She then stood up, as she walks closer to the window
"I know...because we're the same"
"Huh...?"
"My Mother...my dearest mother...she died fighting on a war"
"?!"
That's why the King never had someone with him all this time...?
"If only I was eligible to stood beside her on that battle, I would've prevented her death"
"..."
"I tried all my might, I did everything I could...but they didn't let me through. I started to think about what's wrong with me that they didn't want me to fight alongside with her"
She let out a tear as she carefully holds her hand on the window
"Mother...I'm sorry, I couldn't even protect you..."
"!"
"I couldn't even protect my Mother..."
"The moment I heard that news, I locked myself in my room, not letting anyone get near me"
The same as mine...
"I was powerless, I even wished that I should've been the one who had died"
"..."
She then wipes her tears as she forced a smile at me
"But that day came"
"...?"
"When my Father, knocked on my door and said they had a letter for me. I didn't respond and they slid it under the door...before Father left, he said that its a letter that they found on the war where my Mother was in"
"!"
"Of course you already know that I quickly went for it to read it. I remember the contents of the letter as clear as day..."
"Elena...my sweet daughter...If you're reading this, that means that I've done my part in the war, gloriously.
I know by the time the news comes for you, you will be devastated and frustrated at the same time
Please don't bme the knights and other personnel as they were merely acting on my orders
It was necessary to leave you out of this mess. I don't want my daughter to get hurt after all...
...Moreover, I hope that you forgive me, your Mother for acting on my own. I don't want you to bme yourself for what happened to me, you had nothing to do with it, Mother just had to sacrifice herself for the betterment of the empire...
If it will save you, your father, and hundreds of citizens. Then I will do so with all my might
Lastly, even without Mother by your side, I hope that the day comes that you'll be someone as more noteworthy than me, someone that can protect your father, someone that can protect all of our citizens...and someone that I can be proud of
Hold your head up high, Elena. I, your Mother, am passing the empire's future to you...only you, the crowned princess can do it
I love you...my dearest daughter...
- Maria Tremsworth"
"At first...I thought there was no meaning for me to live anymore right after Mother died, but after I saw the letter she wrote to me, I knew that she didn't want me to give up on living. She wanted me to stand up again on my own two feet, she gave me another purpose..."
"..."
"I wasn't able to do anything for my Mother at that time, but I promise to her that I will protect what she managed to protect up until her st breath...I will carry on her legacy"
"!"
"I don't know much about apartments, ndowners, and such, but what I do know is that we share the same kind of pain"
"..."
"So...tell me...will she be happy seeing you like this?"
"..."
I know...I know what she meant by it...I know...
...Its just that I was scared...I was scared that I will fail again...
...They dragged me out of that world and summoned me into this world...
They gave me a second life...I was chosen...
...Mother...
"I see...I guess this is it for this day"
As she was about to leave-
"Wait!"
She stopped, looks at me with a surprised face
"...?"
"Is someone like me...really needed in here?"
Her surprised expression shifted into a more rexed one
"Of course you are! We wouldn't summon you otherwise!"
"But why me...? Why was I chosen?"
Out of people, why me...?
She came closer to me as she bow down her head
"?!"
"You were chosen because you were the one who was the most compatible summoning. It was no coincidence, it was no luck. You were the one that we're looking for"
"!"
I was chosen because they were looking for me...?
I? The Failure...?
"You are what this empire needs. We need you"
"But I don't think I can take on the responsibility..."
"I know why you feel that way, but I can feel it! You're a man with a sense of duty!"
Why does she put so much faith in me...?
...but...
...Maybe I can...
No...I will!
"Sweetie"
Mother...
"I'm grateful to have a son such as you who's focused on studying, but loose a little, sweetie"
Sorry Mother...
...but I don't think I will let loose even a little bit
I sat down with one of my knees on the ground, as I bowed my head
"If you're content with me, your Highness, then I, Hikari. will gdly take on the responsibility"
She was of course, surprised with my actions, but then chuckles a bit and eased the tension
"Geez! Too te for formalities, we're practically friends at this point. Call me Elena! *Chuckles*"
I didn't know what to respond so I stayed silent with my head facing the ground
"Hikari...huh...that's the first time I heard your name"
Right...I never told or introduced myself to her despite the times we had chatted...
"Looking forward to be with you starting from now on, Hikari!"
"Right your High-?!"
Before I was able to finish my sentence, she grabbed my arms and we stormed out of the room...
...needless to say...that was also the first time I've stepped out in that room...
...
