Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Waking up, Kaede found herself slumped against the wall, her mind spinning with everything she'd overheard the day before. The word "weapon" lingered in her thoughts, a bitter taste she couldn't shake. She wasn't a weapon. She wasn't here to hurt anyone—but what could she do? Her body still felt heavy, and every attempt to summon her skills had been met with silence.

Hours passed—or at least, it felt like hours. The faint glow of the enchanted crystal on the ceiling never changed, leaving her with no sense of time. Her stomach growled faintly, a reminder that even if she didn't feel like it, her body was still human.

The sound of heavy footsteps interrupted her musings. Kaede froze, her breath catching as the door creaked open. Two figures stepped inside, their robes similar to the ones she'd seen earlier, but less elaborate. Each carried a tray with a simple meal—a chunk of bread, a thin soup, and a small cup of water.

"Eat," one of them said curtly, setting the tray on the table without meeting her eyes. The other stayed near the door, watching her warily as though expecting her to leap at them.

Kaede hesitated. She wasn't hungry—her nerves had tied her stomach in knots—but she couldn't afford to weaken herself further. Slowly, she moved to the table, her legs still unsteady beneath her. She took a cautious sip of the soup. It was bland but warm, and the heat settled in her stomach, easing some of the tension.

The first mage didn't wait for her to finish. "You'll be inspected tomorrow morning, when the chief sorcerer arrives." he said. His tone carried the same indifference as before, as if she were little more than livestock. The other figure snorted. "Behave, and this will go smoothly. Misbehave, and..." He trailed off, his gaze flicking to the faint remnants of golden light still clinging to her wrists, a silent warning.

Kaede nodded wordlessly. Fighting back now would be useless—she could barely stand, let alone defend herself. For now, she had no choice but to play along.

The mages left as quickly as they'd arrived, locking the door behind them with a sharp click. Kaede sank back into the chair, staring at the remnants of her meal. Her hands tightened into fists. She hated this. She hated feeling weak, helpless. Back in New World Online, she'd been strong. No one could push her around.

But here... here, she was just Kaede.

She closed her eyes, focusing again on the skills she'd relied on so much. 'Devour... Absolute Defense... Cover Move... anything, please...'

Nothing.

Frustration bubbled up inside her, but she forced herself to stay calm. Panicking wouldn't help.

She spent the rest of the day, listening to the guards outside. Apparently, she wasn't the only otherworlder ever summoned. The reason she was kept in a large empty space was because of some of the previous otherworlders and their destructive tendencies whenever they were summoned

The rest of the day blurred into a monotonous cycle of waiting and thinking. Kaede paced the small room, her footsteps echoing faintly against the cold stone walls. Her body ached from the spell, her muscles heavy and uncooperative, but she couldn't sit idle any longer. The silence pressed on her like a weight, broken only by the occasional murmurs of the guards outside the door.

The guards spoke in hushed tones, likely assuming she couldn't hear them. But the room's emptiness made their voices carry, and Kaede caught fragments of their conversation.

"She's quiet," one of them muttered. "Unlike the last one."

The other chuckled dryly. "The last one nearly brought a whole building down. That's why they're so cautious now. Don't let her fool you—these otherworlders are dangerous."

"Still," the first guard continued, "this one seems... different. I haven't seen her lash out once since she got here."

"That's because she knows better," the second replied. "Razen will be here tomorrow to bind her properly. Once the locking curse is fully in place, she won't even think about resisting."

The name struck Kaede again. Razen. They'd mentioned him before, and it sounded like he was someone important—important enough to seal her fate. She bit her lip, her mind racing with questions. What kind of "binding" were they planning? And how much worse would things get once this Razen arrived?

The hours dragged on. She barely touched the rest of her meal, her appetite entirely gone. Her body felt like it was running on fumes, but her mind refused to shut down. Every noise outside the door made her flinch, every footstep setting her nerves on edge.

The sound of footsteps approached again, heavier this time. Not the shuffling of guards, but a measured, deliberate stride. A shadow passed under the door before it swung open with a groan.

The faint hum of magical energy drew Maple's attention. The glow of the runes on the walls pulsed faintly, the rhythm steady and deliberate. It was different now—like a clock counting down. She tensed, her body still heavy and uncooperative, as the sound of measured footsteps approached.

When the door opened, it wasn't the guards or another robed figure. The man who stepped inside exuded authority, his presence filling the room in an unsettling way. His robes were meticulously crafted, decorated with crimson and gold sigils that shimmered faintly under the light of the runes. He carried a long, elegant staff crowned with a glowing crystal, the soft radiance casting his angular features into sharp relief. His silver hair was neatly combed, his piercing gaze calm but intense.

He didn't speak immediately, taking a moment to observe her as if she were an artifact in a museum. The silence was unnerving, but Kaede refused to look away.

After a long pause, he broke the silence. "So, you're the latest summoning. A little on the old side." His voice was steady, smooth, and precise, with no hint of anger or malice—just the detached professionalism of someone evaluating a tool.

Kaede straightened as much as her sluggish body allowed, gripping the edge of the table for support. "And you are?" she asked, her voice low and controlled.

The faintest flicker of amusement crossed his face, gone so quickly she almost doubted she'd seen it. "I am Chief Sorcerer Razen," he said. "I oversee the binding and integration of summoned otherworlders such as yourself."

Kaede's grip on the table tightened at the word otherworlders, but she forced herself to keep her expression neutral.

Razen stepped closer, his sharp eyes studying her every movement. "You're calmer than most," he remarked, tilting his head slightly. "Many of your kind lash out in confusion or anger at this stage. Yet here you are, attempting composure."

"Would it make a difference if I wasn't?" she asked, her tone sharper than she intended.

Razen's lips curved into the barest hint of a smile. "No. It wouldn't."

He circled her slowly, his staff clicking softly against the stone floor with every step. "The curse has settled well," he said, more to himself than to her. "Your physical state is stable, and your mind... pliant. Good. That will make the final binding far more efficient."

"What's this 'binding' everyone keeps talking about?" Kaede asked, her voice steady despite the knot tightening in her stomach.

Razen stopped, his gaze locking onto hers. "A necessary measure. Otherworlders, by their nature, are unpredictable. Dangerous. The binding ensures your cooperation and prevents... incidents."

Kaede frowned. "You mean it forces people to obey."

Razen raised an eyebrow, as if her objection were trivial. "If that is how you choose to frame it."

He leaned on his staff, his expression unreadable. "You should understand something. This process is not personal. You are not here because of who you are, but because of what you are. An Otherworlder is a resource—a rare, powerful tool. And like any tool, you will be shaped and wielded as necessary."

The words struck her like a physical blow, but she refused to let it show. Instead, she met his gaze evenly. "What happens if I refuse?"

Razen's smile didn't reach his eyes. "You won't."

The finality in his tone sent a chill down her spine. Without another word, he tapped his staff on the ground. The runes on the walls flared briefly, their golden light casting long, flickering shadows across the room.

"I will return tomorrow," Razen said, his voice calm and assured. "Rest while you can. The binding ritual is... exhaustive."

With that, he turned and strode out, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

Kaede sank back into the chair, her heart racing despite her outward calm. The room felt colder, the hum of the runes more oppressive than before.

"Not personal," she muttered bitterly to herself, staring at her trembling hands. "It's just a game to them... Dammit."