Makoto opened his eyes when sunlight slipped through the gaps of the hay warehouse. His sleep wasn't comfortable—the hay poked his back, the chickens were noisy since dawn, and the morning air was too cold for a modern human.
"…Ugh. This is clearly not a foam mattress."
He sat while rubbing his eyes, trying to remember yesterday's events.
The mist.
Monsters.
Lyona.
The unfriendly village.
And the hay bed.
"Oh my god, it really wasn't a dream…"
Makoto stood up, patting his dusty school uniform. Luckily he still had his bag, even though the contents were only schoolbooks, a wallet, and an almost empty water bottle.
The warehouse door suddenly opened.
BLAM.
Lyona stood at the doorway with her hands on her hips.
No good morning greeting. No small talk. Only sharp eyes like a PE teacher who was mad.
"You woke up late."
Makoto froze. "H—huh? What time is it?"
"It's already past training time. Other mist arrivals usually wake up before the sun rises. You're too relaxed."
"I'm… not an experienced arrival…"
"Excuse."
Lyona turned around. "Come. Flux training."
Makoto sighed. First day in an isekai and it felt more like school orientation…
---
First Flux Training
They walked to a small field outside the village. The grass was still wet with dew. In the distance, the sounds of people chopping wood, chickens, and the flowing river could be heard.
Lyona stood firmly in front of him.
"Makoto, you heard yesterday. Flux is the energy inside every living being. But you… your flux is wild."
Makoto nodded. "I also feel like my body is a bit… hot in certain spots."
"That's a sign your flux is unstable. Listen to me."
Lyona gripped her sword and closed her eyes.
"First, feel your body from within. Take a breath… slowly. Feel the small current in your muscles."
Makoto tried to imitate her.
Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
But instead of feeling an 'energy flow,' all he felt was tightness in his chest.
"I don't feel anything," Makoto complained.
Lyona snorted. "Of course. You're not focused."
"I am focused!"
"No. You're thinking too much."
Makoto fell silent.
…Yeah, maybe she was right.
"Try again," Lyona said. "This time don't think about anything. Imagine your body as an empty container."
Makoto closed his eyes again.
He tried to empty his mind.
It wasn't easy, but slowly he felt something…
like a faint vibration in his chest. Then it spread to his arm.
"I… feel warm."
"Good. That's your flux. But don't push it too hard—it'll leak."
"Flux can leak!?" Makoto panicked.
"Yes. Even explode."
Makoto opened his eyes instantly.
"Please don't tell me that has happened—"
"It has," Lyona replied casually. "One mist arrival died because his flux exploded during training."
"…Thanks for the info. Very comforting."
Lyona didn't care. "Concentrate. Pull that flux to your wrist."
Makoto tried.
But his flux felt chaotic, moving irregularly. Suddenly parts of his body felt excessively hot.
"Lyona! I'm hot—really hot!"
"Don't panic! Regulate your breathing!"
"I—I can't!"
Makoto lost control—the energy that was warm earlier now surged toward his palm.
BRRTS!
A small spark like static electricity burst from his fingers. Makoto jerked backward a bit.
He sat on the ground with a pale face.
"…I almost died just now, right?" Makoto asked weakly.
Lyona reached out her hand, helping him up.
"For a beginner, that's already pretty good."
"Good from which part!?"
"You didn't die. That's good."
"That definition of good is… painful."
Lyona stared at him for a long moment. Then—for the first time—she gave a faint smile.
"One thing, Makoto. Your flux may be messy… but you have a lot of it. That's why you're dangerous to the village. Or… maybe very useful."
Makoto swallowed.
"So… I'm some kind of potential threat?"
"You're different. And in this world… the different ones are usually discarded or used."
Makoto shuddered.
That sentence was heavy. Too realistic.
---
Back to the Village
When they returned, some villagers still gave cold stares. Small children even hid behind their parents.
Makoto only looked down.
"So… it's not easy living as a mist arrival," he murmured.
Lyona walked beside him without slowing her quick pace.
"The first mist arrival who came hundreds of years ago caused chaos. They had large flux… but lost control and destroyed many villages."
"That's why people are scared?"
"Yes."
Makoto let out a long breath.
"In that case… there's a chance I'll be seen the same way."
Lyona stopped walking.
She looked straight at him.
"That's why you must learn to control your flux faster than they can judge you."
Makoto swallowed.
"Training will continue every day."
"Every day!? Even Sunday?"
"What is Sunday?" Lyona asked innocently.
"Oh… never mind."
---
An Unofficial Agreement
After returning to the warehouse, Lyona looked at Makoto with an expression that was slightly… softer than usual.
"I will train you until you can control your flux."
"Thank you, Lyona. Seriously, without you… I might've been eaten by goblins."
Lyona simply nodded.
"But don't misunderstand. I'm not doing this just out of kindness."
Makoto blinked in confusion.
"I'm a B-class adventurer. And I'm on a mission."
"Mission?"
"Yes. A mission to find out why mist arrivals are increasing."
Makoto tensed.
Ah… so that was also the reason Lyona helped him.
"You might be the key to something bigger," Lyona continued.
"…Or just a new problem?"
Lyona nodded lightly.
"Both are possible."
Makoto looked at his own hand.
It still felt warm. Still unstable.
"My life in this world won't be easy, huh…"
"Of course not," Lyona replied without hesitation.
"But you're not alone."
Makoto went silent.
For the first time since coming to this strange world… he felt a slight sense of relief.
Faint.
Thin.
But it was there.
He had someone he could rely on—even if that person acted like a scary senior at school.
The night grew darker. And Makoto entered the hay warehouse again.
In his heart he said:
"All right. If I really have to live in this world… I'll try."