Tatsuya groaned, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. Faint rays of the sun spilled through the small window, painting golden streaks across his cluttered desk. The history book, his language-learning book, and the scrawled "escape note" lay scattered in chaotic disarray—a battlefield between his will to study and his desire to run.
A soft, insistent tap on his cheek pulled him from a light slumber.
Tap… tap… tap…
"What…?" he mumbled, cracking one eye open.
A pair of piercing green eyes stared back, mere inches from his face. Loki, Paul's cat, perched on the edge of the desk, paw raised, ready for another precision strike.
"Loki…" His voice was hoarse.
Thwack.
Her paw landed squarely on his forehead.
"Hey!" Tatsuya jolted upright, nearly toppling a book over the desk. "What's your problem?"
The brown-and-gray striped feline simply settled back, curling her tail around herself with an unmistakable air of smug satisfaction.
Tatsuya rubbed his eyes, blinking as reality slowly sank in. The faint sunlight touched his face, and he realized the day had slipped by unnoticed.
Sunset? Paul must be back by now…
Loki mewed sharply, pacing around his legs like a tiny predator.
"Alright, alright, I get it! Dinner's coming." He pushed back his chair and stretched, the stiffness from an entire night hunched over finally giving way.
As he shuffled toward the kitchen, something caught his eye—a small, neatly wrapped bag sitting on the desk. A note hung from it, edges curled. He hadn't noticed it before.
The note was in the language of Deity, its elegant script unfamiliar but not unreadable. His fingers hovered for a moment, hesitant.
Tatsuya couldn't decipher it without his trusty language learning book.
Where did I put that book?
Tatsuya searched around, but couldn't find it.
"Meow."
The sharp cry made him pause. He tilted his head toward the source of the sound—his impatient feline, flicking her tails in protest.
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you!" Tatsuya shot back, a hint of irritation. "Dinner's in the works. Just let me—ugh, hold on!"
He turned back to his frantic search, It felt like he was losing this battle. Loki, however, seemed to have other plans. A small weight nudged against his shin.
Tatsuya looked down. Loki was pushing at his leg with her head, her green eyes looking up at him with unyielding determination.
"Loki, are you serious this hungry?"
But Loki didn't retreat. Instead, she pressed harder, her meow turning into a firm, almost scolding chirp as she began nudging him toward the kitchen.
"Okay, okay! Geez!" Tatsuya relented, standing up and stepping aside. But just as he did, something caught his eye—a small, familiar book lying on the ground right next to his foot.
Wait a minute… There it is! So this is what you were trying to tell me?
Thanks a bunch, Loki!
He bent down and picked it up, brushing off a stray cat hair stuck to the cover. It was his book, the one he'd been frantically searching for this entire time.
Tatsuya's gaze snapped to Loki, who now sat smugly by the door, her tail curled around her paws like a satisfied monarch.
"Meow."
The sound was softer now, almost approving. But as Tatsuya straightened up, Loki's eyes narrowed, and she let out another, much sharper meow.
"Oh, right. Now it's time for dinner, huh?"
The cat's ears twitched, and she sauntered toward the kitchen without waiting for him, her tail flicking behind her in triumph.
Tatsuya chuckled under his breath, flipping open the book as he trailed behind her. "Fine, fine. But maybe after I feed you, you can help me decipher this note too, oh wise one?"
After feeding her Tatsuya let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair, staring out the small window. The golden light of the setting sun painted the sky in brilliant shades of orange, pink, and purple.
His eyes drifted toward the note.
As Tatsuya reached for the bag, Loki's tail flicked against his arm, Tatsuya glanced at the cat, who was now purring softly.
"You are alright done eating?" Tatsuya muttered, reaching out to scratch behind Loki's ears. "You're lucky you're cute, you know that?"
Loki leaned into the affection, her purring growing louder.
Putting Loki on his lap, he started to examine the note.
"—XXX—XXX——" it was written in the language of Deity.
Deity is of course not the only language in the world.
The common language in this world are:
⁃ The Northern continent, The language of Kione.
⁃ The Central continent, The languages of Mizugami.
⁃ The Eastern continent, The language of Deity.
⁃ The Southern continent, The language of Montes.
⁃ The Western continent, The languages of Poseidon and Kyoei.
⁃ The island's, The language of Beronica.
In any case the various continents use names that are related to there kingdoms.
Tatsuya searched through his book deciphering what is written on the note.
He is better in speaking then at reading in this language, even in Japanese he wasn't the best as at came to reading.
*"This is my gift for you. Please open it.
Paul."*
The box sat neatly on the desk, tied with a simple string. Tatsuya couldn't bring himself to touch it.
His gaze dropped to the floor. Paul had given him everything: meals, a warm bed, a home that was always safe, always… enough.
Yet this—this small, carefully wrapped gift—felt different. Personal. He swallowed hard, suspicion coiling in his chest. No one gives without reason, right? A test? A hidden debt?
His fingers hovered over the string. The paper was light, fragile beneath his touch. Slowly, almost unwillingly, he untied it.
Inside lay a kimono. Light blue, like the sky just before dawn, with white geometric patterns. A dark blue obi rested beside it.
Tatsuya's fingers brushed the fabric. Smooth. Cool. New. His hand curled into a fist, heart hammering, chest tight.
It was just a gift. And yet… his pulse raced as if the floor had shifted beneath him.
He glanced back at the note, crumpled in his other hand. "This is my gift for you. Please open it. Paul."
For a long moment, Tatsuya said nothing. The world felt quiet, waiting.
Then, slowly, he folded the kimono back into the box, stepping back as if putting space between himself and the flood of emotions it had unleashed.
No… if I accept this, I'll lose the only wall I have left.
part 2
Tatsuya pushed Loki off his lap and stood. "I need a walk," he muttered.
He walked towards the old wooden door, stretching out his hand but stopping before opening it.
He glanced back at the present on the desk, waiting for a moment as if considering taking it with him. But there was an other thought lingering in his mind, This would've been the perfect time to leave, if I really meant to…
But he turned away and opened the door. As he stepped outside. Loki let out a curious meow, like asking him where he was going.
Only if I could live as freely as you.
Tatsuya didn't look back, he just simply walked forward and closed the door.
He followed the path with no real destination, just walking to escape his thoughts. The uneven stones echoed softly underfoot, like the heartbeat of a road that had seen too many wanderers.
Do I really need to have other people in my life? What's the point if they'll only ending up hurting me?
A cold breeze stung his eyes, forcing him to look up—and that's when he saw it: the mountains stretching endlessly, their peaks kissed with snow, glimmering beneath the fading light.
Looking directly at the sun made him narrowing his eyes a little bit.
Where am I? He questioned to himself.
As his eyes got used to the suns light, he found himself gazing upon a breathtaking mountain range, the mountains stood mighty, their grandeur commanding the horizon, and at their summits lay a delicate blanket of snow, glistening like powdered silver under the gentle touch of the sun.
I love the nature, I always get at peace whenever I look at it and then I ask myself. Why can't I just go out and live freely in the woods?
Tatsuya understood why Paul lived like this, his preference was also nature over the city.
Then why did he feel like he's still stuck in that place?
As he continued to take in his surroundings he saw someone sitting in a prayer position in front of what looked like a shrine.
The back of the man's hair is dark brown, medium-length, and slightly messy.
"Amen." He said quietly before raising his voice. "Have you received the present I got you?" He asked to Tatsuya.
"Yes I did.." Tatsuya said hesitantly. "And thank you for that. I appreciate it."
Paul got up and faced toward Tatsuya, his face having a lingering of sadness in it.
Tatsuya couldn't tell whether the sadness in Paul's eyes came from refusing his gift or from the lingering weight of the prayer he had just finished.
Maybe I should have taken it with me?
Paul sat down on a weathered stone bench, its surface cool beneath him, as he gazed out over the vast mountain range.
He motioned at Tatsuya to sit next to him.
I guess he is going to scold me for not appreciating his gift.
Paul let out a soft sign. "Have you never wondered how this whole world came to be?" He questioned.
This world? What does he mean by that?
"People belief that this world, with all its beauty and Integrate design. Happened to be created by chance."
"Like something created out of nothing. But I can't accept that. Because everything that has a beginning has a cause, this world has a beginning, therefore this world needs to have a cause."
"So my belief is that in the beginning an intelligent mind caused it, instead of believing nothing caused it."
This does sound familiar, no I know what he is talking about.. he is talking about a God.
I do believe in God, in Jesus Christ. I was Christian in my previous live. Do they have something similar here?
Tatsuya was surprised to know that a belief like Christianity also existed in this world, it kinda made him feel at home a little bit.
He wondered if he should open up about it to Paul, it is something they both have in common, something they both believe in. He couldn't be hurt by opening up about that, right?
...
"I hate this world and everybody in it," he started. "I don't want to live in a world where people gossip, where they laugh behind your back, where their words cut deeper than any blade. A world where no one truly cares, where kindness feels like a fleeting illusion, and loneliness is just another part of everyday life. No matter how hard you try, you're always being judged, always compared, always made to feel like you're not enough."
He exhaled sharply, his gaze turning to the vast sky stretching endlessly before him. "I want to live in a world where insecurity and anxiety don't exist, where you don't have to constantly second-guess yourself or fear what others think. A world where you can just live—truly live—without the weight of expectations, without the fear of being hurt, without the exhaustion of pretending everything is fine."
A bitter smile crossed his lips. "Maybe I'm just running away. Maybe I'm just weak. But if wanting peace, if wanting a place where I can finally breathe without my heart feeling so heavy exists, a place how God described heaven would be. I will do everything in my power to achieve that."
Paul's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Tatsuya—this was the first time, since the day he had taken Tatsuya in, that the boy had truly responded to him.
The first time Tatsuya spoke not with empty words, not with detached indifference, but with the raw, unfiltered weight of his heart.
Paul smiled with relief and turned to the mountain range before him.
"I wasn't always a believer of Kami like this." He said, his voice strong but filled with kindness. "It was actually my master that got me to realize the truth."
"Your master must have been amazing."
Tatsuya replied.
"Yes, he certainly was." Paul looked up at the sky, faint dost of light could be seen in the distance, stars were forming and lighting up the night.
"Before I got to know my master." He continued. "I did a lot of bad things, I was selfish, greedy. I indulged in everything, whether it was food, luxury, or pleasure. If it felt good, I wanted more. I lived lazily, avoiding hard work whenever I could, Sloth had me in its grip, and I never even tried to fight it."
"I was obsessed with women—always chasing, always wanting, always unsatisfied. I wanted to be loved, but I never thought about loving someone in return."
"The moment something didn't go my way, I'd snap. I was quick to anger, quick to blame others, and quick to throw a punch if I felt like it."
"But the worst part? The thing that truly consumed me? Pride. I thought I was better than everyone else. I refused to admit my faults, convinced that the world was wrong and I was right. Even when I was drowning in my own sins, I still looked down on others completely blind to my own flaws."
Tatsuya couldn't believe what he was hearing. was it even possible to commit so many sins?
Tatsuya understood what it meant, sinning. He was consumed by it many times before.
Is that also something we have in common?
"But despite all the things I did." He continued. "I always come back to him because in my heart…
I believe that though I am a sinner I have been saved. And I believe there is something beyond this rock and this air and this water around us. Something more that is waiting for us."
Tatsuya's eyes lit up, a strange warmth filled his chest.
These words they are beautiful..
For some reason, those words ignited something deep within Tatsuya—like a small flame that had long been smoldering in the darkness, now burning strong, flickering with newfound warmth and determination, as if awakening a part of him he had long forgotten.
For the first time he looked Paul straight into his eyes and he noticed how calm and father like they were.
As if merely gazing into them, he felt an invisible warmth surround him—like a soft, unwavering blanket of protection, shielding him from the cold loneliness he had always known.
Paul's words lingered longer than he expected, stubborn things that refused to leave no matter how many times he tried to shrug them off. His voice wasn't coated in manipulation or authority. Just… sincerity. Raw, plain, unpolished sincerity.
For months Tatsuya convinced himself Paul was holding back—hiding something, keeping him in the dark. Every look, every silence, every too-literal answer, he twisted into proof. Proof that he was his warden. Proof that he wasn't free.
But the man in front of him wasn't a warden. He wasn't a schemer. He wasn't even clever enough to be one.
Is he someone I can trust? Or is he just another person who will hurt me in the end?
The questions echoed in Tatsuya's mind, overlapping with the scars of the past. No matter how much he wanted to believe, a part of him still trembled.
But despite that he pushed through trying to break free.
"I… I am sorry." He started.
Paul didn't said anything, he just waited patiently for Tatsuya to figure out what he wanted to say.
"I am sorry for not appreciating the gift you bought for me. And I am sorry for pushing you away." He bowed slowly, as he gave his apology.
Paul let out a satisfied smile. "Nah, no need for you to apologize kid. I guess my awesome sword art just scared you to much." He said, teasing him.
Tatsuya smiled awkwardly. "Yeah what was that actually?"
Paul smiled proudly and struck a dramatic pose, raising one of his swords high into the air like a legendary hero from an old tale. The last bit of sunlight glinted off the blade, casting a sharp gleam, as if even the heavens acknowledged his grandeur.
Then he moved his blade and stopped mere inches away from Tatsuya's face.
The black blade gleamed ominously under the faint light, its edge razor-sharp and polished to perfection. It carried an air of quiet menace, as if whispering of battles long past and those yet to come. In its dark steel, reflections wavered like fleeting ghosts, hinting at the power sealed within.
"Look at the sunset behind me, kid."
Paul said.
The sunset? What does that have to do with my question?
"You know that what that symbolizes?"
No I have no idea?
Tatsuya shook his head, eagerly waiting for the grant reveal of Paul's question.
In one swift, fluid motion, Paul pulled the blade away from Tatsuya's face. And rested the blade on his shoulder.
"It means… it's your bedtime…"
"WAIT WHAT! After all that built up he just told me to go to bed!! No I don't wanne."
This wasn't the answer Tatsuya expected to get, it kinda left a lingering mark of disappointment.
But, strangely enough, it also made him laugh.
And against every instinct screaming at him to stay guarded, to never let anyone close again… he felt it. His suspicion slipped, his doubt cracked, and trust—unwanted, unfamiliar trust—slipped in through the opening.
For the first time in this strange world, he wasn't watching his back. For the first time, he wasn't alone.
"Hahahah." He laughed… he laughed like he didn't know he could anymore. Tatsuya couldn't remember the last time he genuinely laughed.
I am laughing? Not forcing myself to laugh, like a did in my previous life, but this is genuine.
"This is the first time I have seen you laugh." Paul said.
Tatsuya looked at Paul. "Yeah, it's been a long time since I've had a good laugh like this." He smiled.
"Thank you, Paul."
Paul just simply smiled back at him. "But now you have to go to bed, kid. The sunset had already set, tomorrow is going to be important."
"What! You can't do that, why would you leave us with a cliffhanger like that!?"