Flames of the Past

"What are those four up to?" I asked, my voice calm yet curious, as I approached Rigur, who stood vigil in front of a modest hut—temporary shelter for the new arrivals.

"Great Arceus, please, go on in," Rigur replied respectfully, pulling aside the curtain of the hut's entrance with a bow.

As I stepped inside, the warmth of a crackling fire greeted me. A simple flat stone served as a makeshift grill, positioned above a well-managed flame. Meat sizzled atop it, the scent both savory and humble. Seated around it were four figures, eating and chatting quietly among themselves.

"Ah, now I recall… these are the same trio I encountered near the cave," I thought to myself, eyeing Kaval, Eren, and Gido.

Elder Rigurd, who had followed me in, cleared his throat and addressed the guests with a firm tone, hands respectfully clasped behind his back. "Guests, I fear we have little to offer, but I do hope you are comfortable."

He then turned slightly, gesturing toward me. "Allow me to make the proper introductions. This is our master—the Great Arceus."

"Master?" The three adventurers—Kaval, Eren, and Gido—echoed the word in unison, astonishment clear on their faces.

"Is there a problem?" I asked gently, smiling in a manner meant to ease their concern.

"Ah, no... not at all," Kaval replied quickly, straightening himself.

"We suspected you weren't an ordinary man, but... to think you held such a title," Eren said, shaking his head slightly in disbelief.

"We offer our apologies," Kaval added, bowing deeply. "We never expected to be saved by someone of such noble standing. But we are sincerely grateful."

"Oh, and thanks for the meat!" Eren said, raising his hand awkwardly.

"Th-thank you for your help," Gido added, bowing as well. "I didn't expect to find Goblins peacefully building a village in these woods."

I smiled at their sincerity and sat down beside the grill. "May I ask what brings you all to this humble forest?"

Kaval nodded. "I'm Kaval, and for what it's worth, I serve as our party leader. This is Eren,"—he gestured to the woman behind him—"and Gido, beside me."

He then turned slightly toward a fourth figure seated near the fire, masked. "And this here is a temporary companion we met along the road."

"Shizu," Shizu introduced herself quietly.

"And?" I prompted gently, intrigued by her calm presence.

"We've come at the request of the Guildmaster in the Kingdom of Blumund," Kaval explained.

He spoke with ease and openness, as if suspicion had never been taught to him. According to him, the Guildmaster had tasked them with investigating the recent changes around the Great Forest of Jura, sparked no doubt by Veldora's sudden disappearance.

"I see," I said, nodding. "It seems Veldora's absence is drawing attention from more than just the curious. The balance of the region is shifting faster than I anticipated."

"As you can see, we're in the process of establishing a village here. Does the Guild take issue with that?" I asked, studying their reactions closely.

"I don't think so… right?" Kaval replied, glancing at Gido.

Gido merely shrugged. "I have no idea, honestly."

"I understand," I said. "Regardless, you should stay here for the night and get some rest."

"Thank you!" the four said in unison.

Turning toward Rigur and Rigurd, I gave my final instruction. "Treat them well."

"Understood, sir!" they replied in perfect sync.

As the sun began to set, casting gold and crimson across the horizon, I noticed Shizu standing alone atop a nearby hill, gazing into the distance. I walked to her side, the quiet wind brushing against our cloaks.

"Do you have a moment?" I asked softly.

"There's something I'd like to ask you."

But Shizu spoke first, her voice quiet yet direct. "Are you from another world too?"

She removed her mask, revealing delicate features tinged with something deeper—sorrow, perhaps. I nodded gently.

"I see," she said, smiling faintly. "I'm glad I met you."

"How did you come to this world?" she asked as we both looked toward the horizon.

"I was stabbed," I replied, the memory flickering briefly in my mind.

"Stabbed?" she repeated, confusion in her tone.

"Next thing I knew, I had awakened here," I continued.

"Then… you were reincarnated," she concluded, her voice carrying the soft melancholy of someone who knew all too well the weight of such transitions.

"Was it different for you?" I asked.

Her smile faded as her eyes drifted downward. "I'm… a summon," she replied at last.

A summon… A weapon crafted from a person of another world, I thought grimly, recalling what Veldora had told me of this world's darker magic.

"When were you summoned?" I asked.

"A long time ago," she said. "My town… it was burning, engulfed in flames. Bombs rained from the sky. My mother and I tried to flee…"

Her voice trembled, and she stopped.

"I see," I said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"It's all right," she replied. "Would you like to see something fun?"

Before she could answer, I gently touched my finger to her forehead and opened my thoughts to hers. Through the connection, I shared my memories.

Her eyes widened as the stars unfolded before her—an entire universe painted in brilliant light. She saw Elarion, my former kingdom, then Earth: the trains, skyscrapers, airplanes, and bustling cities.

"Wow…" she whispered, wonder softening her features as Tokyo appeared before her—glimmering in neon beneath a tranquil night sky.

"In your world," I said, "after the war ended, peace came. Japan rose from ashes to become a place of prosperity."

"I'm so glad," she said, her eyes shining. "I wish I could have shown my mother this."

"I want to create a world here, too. A place where people from all walks can unite and live in peace."

"That's a beautiful dream. I hope you succeed."

The vision faded. But as it did, she gasped, clutching her chest.

"Shizu?" I asked, concern sharpening my tone.

"I'm okay," she replied softly, replacing her mask with a weak smile.

Just then, a rough but familiar voice called out.

"Hey, Arceus! Got a minute?"

It was Kaijin, the dwarf blacksmith.

"We'd like your opinion on where to build the next house," he said.

"Of course," I replied. Turning to Shizu, I said, "I'll see you later," and followed Kaijin down the hill.

As her figure grew smaller in the distance, a haunting vision surfaced in my mind—fragments of her memories that I had glimpsed during our connection.

A town in flames. A mother consumed by fire. A terrified girl floating as flames enveloped her. Then, a red magic circle. A cloaked man with golden hair and cold eyes.

"Another failure," the man had said before offering her to a demon of flames—Ifrit.

A green feather fell. Wind howled. A humanoid bird with a trident—Koenig—appeared, declaring his challenge to the summoner, Leon.

Leon's cold eyes turned to the child.

"Ifrit," he said. "Use her."

And then chaos. Green feathers turned to ash beneath hellfire. Koenig burned. The child's name was spoken—Shizu.

And so it was.

Her name became a curse. Her body, a vessel. Her life… a war.

And I could only wonder: How many more suffer silently beneath masks?