The Moonlight Swordsman

Aizel shut the door to his inn room, his mind immersed in a maze of thought. His thoughts swirled like a storm as he paced the room, threatening to swallow him.

The dull glow of the lamp on the bedside table threw spooky shadows on the walls, heightening the sense of gloom that pervaded the atmosphere.

"Damn it, why am I always getting stuck with problems one after the other?

"Now that lady has her eyes on him, she won't let me get away that easily. I'm not sure what she'll want me to do.

He was sprawled across his bed, lost in thought. He let out a heavy sigh from his lips as he murmured, "I should go back to my world for now."

He stood up and walked into the hallway, where he spotted Daisy and informed her of his plans to go for a casual stroll and return late.

After that, he walked out of the inn and into a quiet alley, keeping a close eye on his surroundings. He walked cautiously, using his mana senses to detect if anyone was following him.

Closing his eyes, Aizel focused on his apartment and concentrated on returning to his world. Within moments, he felt the familiar sensation of his body being transported back.

"I wonder what power loli actually possesses. Is it space power? But then how can she convey her messages and influence other people's thoughts and minds?

"Don't tell me that loli has the same power as me?"

Suddenly Aizel was caught off guard and unable to respond in time as a hard blow landed on his stomach. The force of the impact almost had him cough up blood and sent him flying through the walls of the apartment, demolishing buildings as he slammed through them one by one.

Gasping for air, Aizel realized his arms were broken and one leg was bent at an odd angle. Pain pulsed through his ribs as he struggled to stand up, but his efforts were in vain.

He looked around, terrified to see the lifeless bodies of the people around him morph into ugly, zombie-like monsters. The monsters shambled towards him, gnashing their fangs and clawing at the air, feeling their meal.

Aizel's eyes opened, and he was back in his room as if nothing had occurred. He sat up, his body drenched in sweat, and looked around, attempting to shake the fear from his mind.

He checked the wall next to him to make sure it was solid, then checked his own body, relieved to see it was unharmed.

As he gathered his breath, he found Alora standing before him, enraged. The event had felt so genuine, but it had been nothing more than a vivid dream or possibly a powerful illusion.

"If I hear that word ever again, I will show you something even more terrible, I swear."

"You shouldn't have taken it so far." Aizel reprimand.

"Get out."

"What did you say?" Alora said as she closed the distance between them.

"I said, get out."

"If I went away, then how are you going to travel to that world? How are you going to heal your condition? Who will help you other than me, huh…Aizel." She looked straight into his eyes as she spoke.

"Help? When did you ever help me, huh? His eyes narrowed and his fists clenched, a feral rage building up inside of him like a blazing inferno.

"Where were you when I used to cry at night every day without knowing who I was? Where were you when I had memory loss and headaches?

"Where were you when I used to get bullied in the boy's bathroom, when they shoved me into the commode, used to piss at my face, or even took a dump?"

Aizel's fists clenched tightly as he struggled to contain the overwhelming surge of memories from his past. His voice trembled with anger as he spoke.

"Oh wait, don't tell me that was all you considered a joke while calling you loli is a serious crime."

"No, Aizel, I wanted to help, but I couldn't do it that…

"Shut up..Y..you all are the same, looking for something in return; even you want to use me once my core heals, right?

"The day…I…loose my hope…I will fucking bring wrath to both worlds." After he finished speaking, his world began to spin as sudden darkness enveloped his vision, causing him to collapse to the ground unconscious.

"Aizel, what happened.." Alora struggled to pull his big body onto her frail shoulders as she urgently shook him and carefully placed him down on the bed.

Aizel slowly opened his eyes as he felt a gentle shaking. Alora was leaning over him, trying to wake him up.

He blinks, taking in the scene: a huge, lavish bed in an even more opulent room than he had ever seen. His focus eventually returned to Alora after flitting over extravagant furnishings and wall paintings. She appeared smaller than he recalled and was looking at him bewilderedly.

"Let's go, Aizel; it's already morning." little Alora said.

Aizel's surroundings suddenly shifted, and he found himself on a small hill, accompanied by Alora and an unfamiliar person. The sky was overcast, and a cool breeze blew through the grass.

He felt his breath hitch in his throat as he turned to look at the woman. Her ethereal beauty, unlike anything he had ever seen before, left him speechless.

Her jet-black hair cascaded down her back like a shimmering waterfall, sparkling even brighter than the rays of the sun. Her eyes were like pools of endless darkness, yet they seemed to hold a glimmer of hope and kindness.

Her skin was so white that it looked like freshly fallen snow, and she had a gentle smile on her lips that made Aizel feel drawn to her. He couldn't take his eyes off her, as if she had cast a spell on him with just one look.

Aizel opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, the scene shifted once again. Now he found himself back in his apartment, with Alora staring at him with a worried expression.

His eyes welled up with tears as he turned to face Alora.

"I am sorry, Aizel. I will never do it again. Please don't leave me like that ever again." Alora rushed towards Aizel and embraced him tightly, her tears flowing down her cheeks uncontrollably.

"Who was she?"