Lyra? Is it really you…? Lyra! I've missed you… I've missed you so much!
Kaero had managed to open his eyes slightly, and saw the silhouette of a person.
His heart leapt into his throat in excitement as his anticipation of a reunion with his beloved soared to the heavens.
This… This must be heaven!!
But just as he thought of that…
Owww… My head hurts!
A dull, throbbing ache pulsed behind his temples. His skull felt as though it was being hammered from the inside.
Curse the fates! How could there be pain in heaven? They say heaven is a place where there are no tears, no pain, no suffering!
Curse it all! Am I in hell then?
But how could I be in hell? I sacrificed my life for the human race!
And… Lyra?! Why are you in hell as well? You… You were such a kind soul…
Ahh… Lyra. It's alright. Heaven is anywhere we can be together, even if it is hell.
Everything is fine as long as we are together!
"Uhhhh." Kaero managed to croak. The pain in his head was killing him.
Wait, I'm already dead. How could the pain be killing me?
"Ly… ra." Kaero croaked again as he blinked rapidly, trying to focus his blurry eyes.
The sunlight beyond the silhouette of the person was blinding, and that too was a source of confusion for him.
Sunlight? In hell? I thought hell is a burning purgatory? Strange…
"Kaero? Are you alright?" A deep voice filled with concern rang out from the silhouette.
Kaero froze.
He was stunned.
Shocked!
And most importantly… Heartbroken!!
Oh my god!
Oh my god!!
You're so evil…!!!
You actually turned Lyra… Into a man?!
Oh my god!!
No!!!!
Nooo!!!!!
"Uhuk! Uhuk!" Kaero got extremely emotional and started coughing and sobbing at the same time.
How could this happen to you… Lyra!? Kaero moaned and groaned mightily in his heart.
He despaired.
He was in anguish!
Lyra… Do I really have to be… A homosexual… Just to be with you?!
"No…" Kaero moaned out loud.
"Uh. Teacher. I think Kaero is… broken. He's crying." The deep voice boomed as the silhouette left his vision and sunlight flooded his vision.
"Lyra… You've not only become a man, you've also become so heartless. How can you call me broken…. Boo hoo hoo!" Kaero moaned morosely in his heart.
"This must be hell… This is really painful. She called me broken. And she even told the teacher that. Boo ho… Wait a minute. Teacher?"
Ka-cha!
His anguish and despair broke apart in an instant.
Clarity flooded his mind and immediately connected the dots that he found strange earlier.
And at that moment, his vision cleared as well.
He saw the beautiful blue sky that was studded with fluffy clouds.
He saw the blinding sun on the top left hand corner.
He saw the birds flying in the sky.
He heard the creaks of the insects.
He heard the cries and laughter of the students.
He smelled the fresh green grass and the musk of oak trees.
"Ho. Ly. Mo. Ly.."
Kaero was stunned. Stunned!
"I am not dead! This is definitely Blacksteel Magic Academy… Earth!"
His heart pounded wildly. This wasn't possible. He was killed by the Pale Moon Captain. His forehead was pierced. His brain had been turned to mush. He was definitely supposed to be dead.
But here he was… Alive. And somehow back in Blacksteel Academy!
Wait a minute. Don't tell me… I went back in time?
"Kaero? Are you alright?" The familiar voice of Ms Ayaka Serizawa sounded before her beautiful face appeared before him.
And not just her face.
She was bending down slightly, her long hair falling like silk, the faint scent of jasmine shampoo drifting toward him. Her uniform had loosened just enough to reveal the soft curve of her chest and the delicate lace of her bra.
The sunlight glimmered against her skin, and Kaero's mind short-circuited.
This is… Wonderful!
Wonderful!
This is exactly how her beautiful mountains should look like!
How many times had Kaero fantasized about having a clearer look at Ms Serizawa's grand mountains with his buddies?
"To think I get to enjoy such a sight now… Ah…"
His eyes widened, and before he could stop himself…
"Pffft!"
Blood spurted from his nose like a fountain.
"Oh no, Kaero is extremely injured. Emily, you tackled him too hard." Ms. Ayaka Serizawa's voice carried a sharp edge of concern as she turned toward a beautiful red-haired teenager standing nearby.
"Too hard? I doubt that, Ms. Serizawa. Kaero's just too weak," Emily replied with irritation. The sunlight caught in her crimson hair, giving it a fiery shimmer that matched the impatience in her eyes.
"His nose is bleeding. He's even crying. I want you to bring him to the infirmary right now," Ms. Serizawa said sternly.
"Ugh. Fine. Let's go, you little weakling." She rolled her eyes and made her way to Kaero.
"Alright, the rest of you, let's continue! To your positions!" Ms. Serizawa shouted, her commanding tone cutting through the chatter of students and the hum of cicadas around the training field.
The students quickly straightened up, the sound of shuffling feet and drawn weapons filling the air as Emily dragged a dazed, bleeding Kaero toward the infirmary.
As soon as they were out of sight, Emily dumped Kaero onto the ground.
"Ow!" Kaero howled in pain.
"Dude, what the hell? Why did your nose bleed? I didn't even touch your face." Emily grumbled in annoyance as she patted her shirt where Kaero was leaning against as though she was cleaning off dirt.
Emily was beautiful. She had full lips, sharp green eyes, and a natural, effortless allure that made her beauty feel dangerously alive.
But that wasn't what left Kaero frozen in place.
The moment he looked at her, the gruesome image of her death several years down the road was superimposed upon her beautiful face.
He could remember it vividly, the way her last breath steamed in the cold air, the sound of his own screams drowned by the roar of a thousand demons.
He had seen her die before his very eyes.
His heart pounded wildly at that moment.
"Huh? Kaero Ren. Why are you acting so strangely? Don't tell me that after so many rounds of fighting, you've finally fallen for me?"
Her teasing tone might have sounded harmless to anyone else, but to Kaero, it was surreal. In his mind, he still saw the flash of her last stand, the stubborn fire in those same eyes as she fought to her final breath.
Kaero took a deep shuddering breath and stood up slowly, feeling the strength of youth flooding his limbs. For the first time in years, his body felt light and pain-free.
It was a wonderful feeling.
He could see the familiar sports uniform with the crest of Blacksteel Magic Academy emblazoned on the generous curve of Emily's chest.
"So… I am back." Kaero murmured as he gazed at Emily who was looking at him with a curious look on her face.
Relief exploded in his heart. And excitement. And hope. And burning, flaming, fiery determination.
Relief because well, Lyra didn't turn… Nevermind. Let's not talk about that. It's too embarrassing.
Excitement because he didn't die. Because he had a second chance. Because he knew so many things which he could do differently.
And burning determination…
This time…
This time…!!
Lyra! I will protect you! I will spend the rest of my life with you!! I will make you happy!!
In front of him, Emily took a step back instinctively.
"For some reason, this little pervert's passionate look is much scarier than a killer's! It's like… It's like… Ew!! I'm too young for this!!" Emily cried out in her heart.