Re: Freedom: Regaining Freedom In Another World

FYI

Scene/ POV

: Speech

- Thoughts

[Flashback]

"Quoting"

(Author Note)

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???

I found myself in the temple again as I walked out to find Ram talking with a boy who had yellow hair and sharp teeth.

Koji: You must be Garfiel.

Garfiel: So what if I am?

Koji: You must be Frederia's little brother.

Garfiel: You know my sis?

Koji: I do. She sent us here.

Garfiel: You know this guy Ram?

Ram: Indeed he is Lady Emilia's Knight. Show some respect.

Garfiel scoffed.

Garfield: The only one who gets respect from me is strong. So you wanna fight?

I materialized swords in my hands. The long one is in my right hand, and the short one is in my left hand.

Koji: Do you want to?

Garfiel: Oh that's cool. Nice.

Ram: Garfiel don't!

Garfiel: Awh come on Ram. He looks strong but he's too cocky. I gotta teach him a thing or two.

Ram grabbed him by the ear.

Ram: I said stop. I apologise Ayanotaka.

Koji: Please don't introduce me using that nickname.

Ram smirked. I dematerialized my swords letting them dissipate into the surrounding mana.

Koji- Sadist.

I walked over to Garfiel and offered my hand.

Koji: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. It's good to meet you.

Garfiel reluctantly shook my hand.

Garfiel: Garfiel Tinsel. Good to meet you as well I guess.

Ram took Patrache's reins while Koji and Garfiel got in the carriage. Koji walked over to check Emilia's condition.

Koji- It seems she's fine. Just... unconscious.

Garfiel: Judging from her white hair that's the famous Emilia right? The half-devil Roswal is...

Ram: Garfiel you idiot. Don't...!

A blade formed in Koji's hand that was pointed at Garfiel's mouth.

Koji: I have nothing against you and I wouldn't do this normally. Forgive me but it's just standard practice. A Knight simply cannot allow their lady to be insulted by someone with no stature such as yourself so hold your tongue. After all Lady Emilia is not awake to protest so I would have no choice but to hold you responsible for tarnishing a Royal Candidate's honour.

Garfiel gulped and Ram sweated.

Garfiel: Hey I'm sorry okay? Could you put down the sword?

Koji: I suggest you choose your words more carefully next time unless you wish to lose your tongue.

I dematerialized the sword.

Garfiel: Haha...

Garfiel sweated.

Garfiel: I get it okay?

Emilia then woke up slowly getting up.

Emilia: Kiyotaka-Kun?

Koji: Good Morning Lady Emilia.

Emilia: I didn't sleep for the whole day did I?

Koji: No not really.

Emilia pouted.

Emilia: That's not funny Kiyotaka!

Koji: I apologise My lady.

Emilia then noticed Garfiel standing up.

Emilia: Who are you?

Koji: This is Garfiel. He's Frederica's brother.

Emilia: Garfiel... I see. What has been going on while I was gone?

Koji: I suspect that we're already in the Sanctuary.

Emilia: Already?

Garfiel: He's right.

Emilia: But how do you know?

Koji: It has to do with Lady Emilia falling unconscious right? Because she has mixed blood.

Garfiel: That's right. The same would happen to me or any of the other people in the sanctuary.

Koji: I place where people with mixed blood live. The Sanctuary.

Garfeil: Roswal likes to call it that but it ain't anything nice like that.

I looked out the window with Emilia. The place was decrepit.

Garfiel: This place is just a testing ground.

We all got off.

Ram: Garf. Go take the carriage and take it somewhere suitable.

Garfiel: Hey is that any way to treat me? That's the way I like it though.

Koji- So he likes her because she stands up to him? Hm... Interesting.

We stepped inside the building to the sight of Roswal covered in bandages as Ram rushed over to him.

Ram: What happened to you?

Roswal: Kiyotaka you've been making some interesting moves so farrr.

Koji: So you've heard about it.

Roswal: Of courseeee. Defeating The White Whale is quite a featttt.

Emilia: Roswal... what is this place exactly? Ever since coming here, I've felt anxious. There's a strange feeling in my chest.

Koji: The witch's graveyard. That's what this place really is isn't it?

Everyone looked at me surprised.

Roswal: How perceptive. Kiyotaka-Kunnnn.

Koji: I had a hunch.

Emilia: But what does that even mean?

Roswal: It's exactly as I said. This is the place where the Witch Of Greed Echidna met her end. In my mind, it's worthy of being called a Sanctuary.

Koji: Let me guess. Your family and that of the Witch of Greed have been well acquainted?

Roswal: Echidna. Please use her name. Calling her the Witch Of Greed makes her sound so evil. It's not very nice, is it?

Koji: So how exactly did you end up this way?

Roswal smirked.

Koji: Did you get hurt while attempting to leave?

Emilia: What?

Koji: I suspect this place traps everyone inside.

Emilia: What!? But why?

Garfiel stepped inside.

Emilia: Are you responsible for...

Garfiel: Nope. He got injured cause he was rejected by the Trials.

Koji- The trials. So this is your plan Roswal. Have me focus on this place and take the trials while attacking the Mansion using mercenaries. Making me choose to sacrifice someone in order to return me to the state I was in when I entered this world so that I can make Emilia Queen more quickly. What you want is not for her to be the king but what you want requires her to become the king. 

Garfiel: The barrier doesn't give a shit about normal people like you, Roswal and Ram but people with mixed blood are trapped here.

Emilia was shocked by this.

Emilia: Stuck here?

Koji: Calm down. The trials. If someone passes them the barrier will allow people to leave right? Either that or it will break.

Garfiel: Right but you have to be mixed blood to take the trials.

Koji- Which is why Roswal is in that state or so people would think but I can tell those injuries are fake. He never even attempted to take the trial.

Emilia- Roswal... What are you thinking really though? Is Kiyotaka right about you?

Emilia: Let's go to the trial and break the barriers.

Koji- Hm that's fine. The sooner we dot hat the less the risk of losing the people in the village becomes.

We walked over as Emilia seemed nervous. I put my hand on her shoulder.

Koji: It'll be alright. Just take your time.

Emilia: I kind of feel like I need some encouragement.

Koji: If it's you I know you'll be able to do it.

Emilia smiled.

Emilia: Thank you. 

She headed into the trials. The lights suddenly went off.

Garfiel: That's not supposed to...

I rushed off into the temple.

Garfiel: ... happen. Damn he's fast.

I stepped inside to see Emilia lying on the ground unconscious. I walked over to her only to fall unconscious myself.

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???

Someone kicked me in the shin as I woke up.

???: Wake up!

I opened my eyes to see Horikita.

Horikita: Honestly. This isn't like you at all.

Koji: Was it all just a dream?

Horikita: Dream? Were you dreaming?

Koji: I suppose I was.

Horikita: What was in that dream?

Koji: I was transported to another world.

Horiktia: You should stop watching so much anime with Sotamura.

Koji: Perhaps you're right.

I got up from my seat. following her. I noticed that Maezono was still here which meant this was our second year.

Horikita: I want to discuss the next exam.

Koji: I refuse.

Horikita: Why?

Koji: I want nothing to do with these special exams anymore.

Horikita: You...

Koji: I think I'd rather just be your friend.

I smiled.

Horikita was shocked.

Horitika: Ayanokoji...

Suddenly time froze and I saw a familiar face walk past us. I followed her down the hall to a space near a window.

???: You adapt quickly to the environment Ayanokoji.

Koji: So that all wasn't a dream. That's obvious since you're here Echidna.

Echidna: Did you really think it was?

Koji: I've never really dreamt before. Deep sleep isn't really something I'm capable of.

Echidna: Of course. Because of your training.

Koji: So is this a trial?

Echidna: Yes indeed it is.

Koji: Something to do with my past?

Echidna: Yes but this isn't really your past is it? It's too recent.

The surroundings changed as the walls were white.

Koji: Is this supposed to be some kind of sick joke?

Echidna: In a way but truth be told you're already at peace with this part of your past aren't you?

Koji: This part of my past?

Echidna: Yes of course. This past.

Koji: You're saying there's a part of my past I'm not aware of?

Echidna: Of course. After all, a mother's past is a child's as well.

Koji: What?

Echidna smirked.

Echidna: Let the fun begin.

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To Be Continued

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