Gateways to Casselonia Vol1( Light Novel )

Chapter 8

A significant amount of time had gone by now.

Approximately an entire month since Sorata and Mizuki had drowned and emerged in the middle of a river, only to find themselves in a place that wasn't there own. This new place, or better yet: this medieval world that went by the name of "Casselonia", was more than just a mystery to them. What made it that way was the fact that it had completely replaced the surrounding forest, where Sorata and Mizuki had drowned in a lake, with a thriving medieval city of old school stone and half timbered structures in all directions. Not only that, but the lake had somehow transformed into a flowing river that came pouring from a giant waterfall next to an equally gigantic castle off in the distance. From then on, all the people they came into contact with hadn't the slightest idea that they'd come from another world. They just assumed they belonged to a race known as "Aldgrundian", because of their distinct black hair color. Though Sorata had mentioned he and Mizuki were from Japan to only three people, no suspicious eyebrows were ever raised as a reaction.

Sorata found out the hard way of what it meant to be an Aldgrundian living in Casselonia. The day he went along with Sir. Bowen to pick up supplies in the capitol was the day he learned that harsh reality. Purposefully ignored and publically humiliated by a shopkeeper, Sorata was forced to retreat back to Sir. Bowen's side with his tail between his legs and left him on the edge of insanity.

After the incident, Sorata learned the sad truth behind the Aldgrundian race thanks to Sir. Bowen informing him on the topic as they decided to not continue doing business with the bigot shopkeeper. Only Mizuki had yet to know about any of this and Sorata knew he needed to tell her sooner or later before she learned it the hard way herself. But that was already a month in the past, and he still hadn't told her anything. Many chances presented themselves throughout the course of those thirty days, but they never lasted long enough for Sorata to muster up the courage to disclose the information to her. Not only that but he himself was guilty of putting it off when they were left alone in their servant's quarters at night.

Adding to the mystery of Casselonia was that it's inhabitants weren't Japanese, despite Sorata and Mizuki having drowned in a simple landlocked lake that wouldn't allow them to drift off into another continent. Everyone resembled people of Caucasian and African descent, clad in renaissance style clothing and chatting away in what seemed to be the most flawless Japanese they had ever heard a non-Japanese native speak.

During this first month, Sorata and Mizuki also learned about the ongoing conflict between Casselonia and it's neighboring kingdom of Koringia. The two countries were on the brink of war once again as the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its initiation was only two short days away now. And such events only fueled existing tensions. Sorata had concerns of his own regarding the war. Not anything concerning the reasons behind it or because he yearned for peace between the two nations. He knew that if he and Mizuki were still around by the time the next war broke out, somehow he would be dragged into the fighting without any say whatsoever. Sorata knew he would undoubtedly be drafted with "help" from Sir. Bowen or something like that. He lacked the guts to say no to people's selfish requests all the time, which he always ended up regretting at some point or another because everyone knew how easy he was to manipulate.

Right now the only thing that mattered to him was finding a way back to Japan before finding himself getting slashed to pieces in a war he had no business in.

Sorata and Mizuki's cell phones had both made it safely to the other side with them. The differences between them were that Sorata's phone's battery was at near full but couldn't get a signal. While on the other hand, Mizuki's mobile phone's battery was nearing it's end because it wasn't the first time she'd taken it out to fool around on while she was alone, and the other major difference appeared in the reception bar.