Haruo and I had been a pair. While Takumi and Ryota's dynamic formed a lot of followers within our school, especially when we became sophomores, Haruo and I were more down-to-earth. I didn't bother myself with trying to be nice to others—people were as they were. If they didn't like how I was, I moved on. But Haruo? He tried his very best to get me to be more positive and outgoing.
Of course, it didn't work as he intended.
However, I enjoyed my time spent with him. He was fun.
. . .
" Sora...? No way...Y-You couldn't be— "
" What a surprise, I was just thinking the same thing about you as Haruo. "
The man in front of me, called "Juri Zo," was actually a friend of mine. An old friend I never thought I'd meet again. How—How did I know it was him? My mind could barely understand what was happening in front of me. But that all didn't matter. I walked forward toward Juri, my steps heavy. And he did the same, clearly not sure what to do.
" You know... "
* RUN—HUG *
Juri ran at me and jumped onto me, latching on like a child who found his dad. Yeah, this solidified it. Juri was Haruo through and through. It didn't matter how I knew—I just did. Whatever that golden glow had told me to my very core was that the man in front of me was my best friend, Haruo Akahoshi. For the third time, I'd been hugged as Draesil. But unlike the other times, I wanted to hug him as well. He just beat me to it.
" Oh man, it's good to see you! "
" Haha, you're so tall now! "
I pulled Haruo from my body and held him up. He wasn't the tallest guy in the world, but he was still pretty big. And yet, I could lift him. I must've been very strong now, but I was barely taking note of that. Every part of my being was too focused on the bizarre fact that both of us had ended up in this world—this new world.
" Lord Draesil...? "
" Juri, you know my Brother? "
And like a ton of bricks, we were dragged out of our little world. Haruo and I looked back at the two of our companions. While Santa was my sister, it seemed she held a fondness for Haruo. And Flora, who previously didn't seem to like him very much, calmed down and instead expressed clear confusion. I guess in the eyes of others, we were two people who had only briefly met before now exchanging heartfelt greetings.
" A-Ah...yes, Santa. I've known Ha-Juri for quite some time. "
Haruo nodded rapidly as I set him down, both of us facing them now.
" He had just gotten so big that I didn't even realize who he had been until just now! "
" And So-Draesil had gotten so tall and imposing I couldn't even tell who he was! "
Flora and Santa looked at each other, confused. At what juncture could we have met? Flora came to live with us and was not born a servant. And Santa was, of course, younger than me, so it was entirely possible. It must've been confusing to accept; however, they did.
" Of course! Understandably, you'd have friends across races, Lord Draesil. "
" You should've realized sooner, Juri! I would've set up a meeting as soon as possible! "
Haruo awkwardly laughed it off before turning toward me, flicking his head back as if to signal we should get away.
" Well, I need to catch up with Juri since it's been so long. Give us a moment? "
Flora nodded, clearly having no problem. However, Santa's face flushed red, and she gripped her blue dress, clear and refined. It was a beautiful attire, and you could tell she put a lot of effort into it. She looked up from the ground where her pristine heels dug in and at me, then flicked her eyes back and forth from Haruo and me.
I get it.
" I won't hold him for too long, Santa, I promise. "
" If you say so, Brother... "
Haruo and I had gotten the go-ahead, and so we walked away, approaching the fountain in the courtyard and facing it, away from the girls. We were quiet for a moment, now not knowing what to say again. However, I noticed something of a tier fall from Haruo's face.
" Hey, what's wrong? "
" I-it's nothing...I just...I really wanted to see you guys... "
Was he talking about not just me? That's right, if we're here...
" D-Do you think Ryota and Takumi are here too? If we're here, then they could be as well! "
I thought for a moment. It wasn't impossible.
" Tell me, Haruo, how'd you even get here? "
" That's what I wanna ask you! You have a sister now?! "
" Well, I had a dream. And the guy who owned this body, Santa's true older brother, Draesil...He said my soul answered his call. And so we combined into one, giving me his body while my mind and soul pilot it. "
Haruo seemed stunned and gasped.
" That's similar to how I came here! After falling asleep in class, I met this guy— "
Haruo suddenly stopped. He flickered his eyes back and forth between me and the fountain again.
" Something the matter? "
He shook his head and continued.
" We can trust Sora. He's one of my best friends! "
" R-Right... "
Hearing him call me his best friend made me flustered. I knew he was mine—he was one of the only people I'd cared about at all on Earth. One of the only people to bring happiness into my life.
" I met something called a 'Celestial'. It's like a...God...or an Angel...One of the two—I dunno! But we met in an empty white space and— "
" Ah, I met Draesil—the true owner of this body in one as well. He called it the 'Void Space'. "
Haruo went quiet.
" Hey, boy. "
His tone totally changed, becoming much more dead and lifeless. Looking at his face, I could see the eye that had been shining a bit before was now engulfed in light, a shining star appearing in it.
" Are you telling me you were in a completely white void that held nothing but you and this Draesil? "
" Who are you? "
I knew this wasn't Haruo. Was this Juri speaking through him?
" Juri has given me the name Haruo. So I now go by Haruo. But that's unimportant—answer my question. "
What a confusing thing to be happening. It made me want to shake Haruo and hopefully shake out whatever's taking over his body. However, I didn't know what sort of consequences that would have for him. Maybe he came to this world with his own conditions and circumstances...
" Yeah, that's exactly how it was. "
" To think...a Surface creature could call upon Celestial Arcane Magic... "
" 'Celestial Arcane Magic'? "
As I said those words, a massive headache washed over me and filled my head with intense amounts of pain. I stumbled from the sudden pain and fell to my knees. Flashes of memories flooded and overtook all the thoughts I had prior to that.
" My Lord!! "
Flora screamed out as she began to run toward me. However, I held my hand up as if to signify to her to halt in her tracks. And she listened.
The image flashing in my head was a sick and bedridden Draesil, having just sent away Flora, forming scripture under his body with the last remnants of his Mana. He had been making a last-ditch effort that would kill him regardless of the outcome. But did he even have much to lose? He was already dying.
" S-Sora! "
Haruo was back. I could hear it faintly as he came down to my side, putting his hand on my back, trying to comfort my body.
" I remember...I remember now... "
" Huh...? "
" The Magic Draesil used to summon me...It's a spell not from this world... "
" Exactly. I can already surmise what happened just based on your words. This Elf, Draesil, used a spell far beyond him. And to make up for the extreme cost of using it, he sent out what could only be similar to a distress signal. And your soul responded to it. "
Slowly, the pain began to subside. It was very painful remembering that moment. And I understand why, too. Draesil died the very moment he finished his spell, casting his soul beyond a veil and into Void Space, waiting for any answer.
" So...if I hadn't answered his call... "
" The Elf surely would have faded into nothingness. "
It seems like I saved Draesil from what could only be certain doom.
Slowly, the pain began to fade away, leaving me with nothing more than a sense of fulfillment. I saved Draesil, and now I am living in this world as him. He had given me a new and exciting world to explore—
" Thank you, Draesil. "
" Sora...You're okay now? "
Haruo was back, again.
" Haruo...are you sharing your body with someone? "
He nodded.
" That's right! The person I met summoned my soul and put it into a newly dead body—this one. "
He was much quieter when telling me this. I now knew this was not common knowledge based on how he was clearly whispering to me. I slowly got up from my knees and dusted myself off, shaking off some of the remnants of the pain as I looked down at Haruo and listened to him.
" This guy's name was Juri Zo. He was an aspiring Adventurer, but...he died to a danger-beast. "
" He...died? "
" That's right...I'm a bit envious of you, Sora...You were able to save someone...But I— "
I held onto his shoulder and looked down at him resolutely.
" Don't go down that road. We're both living a new life in this world. Not saving the original Juri isn't your fault. After all, he isn't the one who used the spell to summon you. "
Just how strong were these Celestials to be able to summon another soul forcefully and then put it within a dead and decaying body? Did that make Haruo a zombie?
" But now I live as Juri—I promised to become the strongest so that I could find my friends and keep them safe for a change. "
" Really now? You'll keep me safe? "
" Yeah, I promised Haruo—ah. Haruo is the Celestial. I gave him my name since he didn't have his own! "
I get it now. I'd only just begun accepting that I was now Draesil after getting my physical operative skills back. But Haruo had already truly taken up his body's name.
" Then I'll call you Juri from now on. To respect your resolve. Please, call me Draesil. "
Something about Haruo was so infectious. He always knew how to get you to want to change. And even now, he made me want to embrace being Draesil even more. I smirked, this time not in contempt or fury but instead genuine delight, talking to Haruo.
" I wonder...could Takumi and Ryota be here as well? "
" I've been thinking about that too! If we're here, maybe they could be too! So I'm going to look for them...I want to find our friends! "
Enthusiastically, Haruo raised his fist into the air and shouted out. He must've been pretty lonely. I wouldn't be able to understand his excitement so easily; however, I certainly enjoyed watching him be so gungho. It reminded me of the old days.
" Yeah, Juri. We'll find them together. "
I held my hand up toward him.
* SLAP *
A resounding high-five came from us.
* CRASH—BOOM *
Suddenly, a massive explosion of sound came from the direction opposite to where we had been. It kicked up dust into the air and wafted around before being carried off by the wind. Had the palace been attacked? What could that have possibly been? Santa turned in the direction of it and ran toward it.
Quickly, Flora looked from Santa running to my face.
" Go, we're right behind you! "
I ordered her before looking at Haruo.
" I hope you're as interested as I am. "
" Yeah, let's go! "
Haruo, now known as Juri Zo, and I, accepting the name Draesil Archwood, rushed off in the direction of the crash.
CHAPTER 35 END