Chapter Text
It started as a normal day. The sun shined bright and warm, a gentle breeze caressing leaves in the trees and blades of grass.
Shigure stared at his shopping list as he walked home, just to be certain he had gotten everything he needed. A sudden bark from a nearby yard caught his attention, and he turned his head to see the dog, only to trip over something, landing with a yelp, various items falling out of his bag.
Shigure slowly sat up with a wince. “Ah, okay, that hurt…Damn. What did I…” His words trailed off as he noticed the colorful notebook sitting in the middle of the sidewalk, the cover seeming to shimmer in the sun. He crawled over to it. The colors looked like they were swirling into each other. “Huh.” Picking it up, it appeared to be just a normal notebook after all. “Did a student drop this? It’s pretty.”
Casually opening to the first page, Shigure gasped as he found the start of an actual story.
The sun had set on an uneventful day, allowing the moon space to claim the sky, its own light spilling over the palace. It was a quiet evening, lantern light shining out from the palace library windows.
Shigure blinked and lifted his head. No one else was around. No one to miss it.
He quickly placed it in his bag, retrieving his earlier purchases as well.
A grin spread across his face as he hurried home, entering the house in a bright mood. Looks like I won’t be writing today after all. So sorry, Mit, but I was suddenly sucked into another author’s brilliant storytelling. I am absolutely powerless against this and cannot work on my own manuscript.
“Why the hell are you so happy?” Kyo spoke, breaking Shigure out of his thoughts as he removed his sandals.
But Shigure simply flashed his grin at Kyo. “Oh, the world decided to bless me with a beautiful gift. I feel so honored.”
“I think the world would rather curse you further,” Yuki commented from the table.
Shigure gave a dramatic sigh. “You boys are always so grumpy. This is why you receive nothing special from the universe.” He looked around. “Aha. I see the problem. Tohru is working tonight, isn’t she? That is why you two are so grumpy.”
The boys glared at Shigure as he giddily retreated to his office, closing the door.
“Now then.” Shigure pulled out the notebook. “Let’s see what mysteries you hide within your pages.” The bag was set down on the floor.
He went to his desk and opened the notebook, skipping ahead a few pages. “It really just keeps going. Someone is really missing their novel right now.”
As he flipped through the pages and pages of story, he noticed something interesting. “Why are the names of places written in… what is that, glitter ink?” He ran a finger over the colorful, shimmering name.
His office suddenly warped and vanished from sight, leaving him in a dark, empty, silent void.
He gasped and squeezed his eyes shut.
Okay. This is not happening. This is not happening. This is…
The sudden eruption of noise startled him into opening his eyes.
He was at the entrance to a town. A fantasy town.
Civilians were chatting and laughing and going about their day. Someone argued with a vendor over the cost of a single apple. He could smell bread, horses, and probably several other animals. He could hear the call of wildlife behind him. A soft gust blew through his hair, carrying other scents, some pleasant and others not so much.
He finally noticed the sign beside him. “Ryvra?”
Shigure placed a hand over his racing heart, looking over the town again. Okay, calm down. Surely there is a good explanation for what just happened. Maybe I passed out. That doesn’t make sense. Maybe something hit me on the head? Were the boys fighting again? No, I don’t think so. I would have heard them long before any damage.
He started walking forward, the dirt cold beneath his feet. He was completely unnoticed. Everyone was too busy just… existing. Living their lives. Someone was asking about seeds. A couple hugged outside a home. A man was fixing a crooked stall post. There was an elderly woman knitting a blanket.
Everything was so normal.
Not a nightmare. Doesn’t feel like a dream at all. But if it’s not… then what is going on?
He turned toward an alley and stopped. Watching him from behind a crate was a young girl with bright pink hair and vibrantly blue eyes.
Shigure blinked. “Oh. Hello there.”