The sky was a beautiful 'white'.
I don't really like the color white.
White, easily stained in many colors, easily tainted, and, in itself, nothing.
It was all the more white, as if to emphasize that there was nothing in that white.
"Hey, long time no see"
When I'm seen in the sky, someone talks to me.
Dark-haired, skinny, unhealthy young man.
There was a grin on his face like he was going to make a little fool of himself somewhere.
I glance at his face and get up with my left hand on the white ground.
I could tell by the higher my gaze, but there was nothing in this world.
Except for the color white.
"That's right. This world is you."
This world, me?
I wonder what this guy is talking about.
Or are you just waking up and not understanding me?
"... oh, no. I didn't say this to you, Lazareth."
"Sage. I mean, I told you and me"
... Sage.
That's what they used to call me.
But who the hell is he?
How come you're right in front of me? Besides, why are you calling me by that name?
"You're not Lazareth. Seriously, he's a sage like me."
He throws up like a change from his earlier attitude.
What are you talking about? Lazareth and the wise, they should be me.
"... the perception is not wrong. But your consciousness itself belongs to you, wise man."
I don't understand.
When that happens, it means that besides me, I have Lazareth's consciousness.
I'm Lazareth, isn't Lazareth me?
"Not about that. You and Lazareth are a completely different substitute."
"I mean, you're just taking in the idea of Lazareth and playing Lazareth."
That's all he says, he sits near me.
Am I playing Lazareth?
I don't know what words mean. In my consciousness, is Lazareth in?
"The ideal town of Lazareth gave you a dream."
"Love as a human being. Make friends as human beings. I struggle as a human being and rejoice as a human being. All of them are things we couldn't do if we were witches."
... Oh, I know him well.
We had no freedom of emotion.
While in the orphanage, while living as a wise man.
I can clearly remember why when I'm here.
"But don't forget. You are a wise man. You're not human."
Then what are you?
Why do you know me? Why, you name me.
"You're the one who brought back your memories that Aruba was taking from you, aren't you? But because of your spell, my memory and yours were separated into two parts, each with its own self."
... So you're saying that in me, there was you?
"That's right. So take my hand."
That's what I'm saying, he's sticking his left hand out.
If you look closely, he wasn't ahead of his right arm elbow either. But I'm not bleeding.
"Again, I'll give you strength as a wise man"
I get caught up in words that unleash his dangerous charm, and I try to stretch my left arm, too.
At that moment, just above me, a white light poured in.
"... chip, time"
Time? What are you talking about?
This world should be my spiritual world. Then why is there a time limit?
"That's right, Sage. This world is the world I created."
Seeing the direction of a new voice that suddenly came in, one day there was a boy I saw in a nightmare.
He smiles a little lonely and waves.
"Goodbye, wise man. I'll see you around."
With that word, my consciousness was interrupted.
"..."
When I say something to them, I wake up with that voice.
When I move my body to get up, I follow it with my right arm by mistake.
But still, the body was able to get up, so when I turned the futon, something like a wooden prosthetic arm was worn on my arm.
Looking around, on a wooden bed, white walls. And the nearby chair had Marialette on her cheek cane at her desk.
"That's your right-hand man. I made it out of a steep pitch, so it's no big deal, but it still sticks to the way it looks, right?
"... marialette"
"But it's strange. By the time you were brought here, the wound was already blocked. It's as if it wasn't originally attached."
"What happened, Lazares-Mercius"
She was right, my right arm didn't have any pain.
But I don't know why I don't have this pain, but I knew instantly why I didn't.
Magic. It's also a relatively difficult healing magic.
"... to the predecessor king Forse, disconnected"
"That's good. I've already heard it from you, Zahr. All I'm asking is why the wounds are blocked."
"... I'm sorry, I don't know"
"... Hmm, I was passing out. I just asked you, can't you see"
She behaves as if she had expected in words, but is discouraged to see.
When I was worried if I should speak up to her like that, the door to the room suddenly opened.
"Mr. Lasalles! Sorry!
Running in with a loud voice was Ren, whose eyes were bright red with tears.
He lays his forehead on the ground and bows his head at the same time according to my sleeping bed.
"Shoren, if you command, I am also prepared to lose my life!
"No, that's okay. I'm glad you're alive."
"Please! Please punish me!
He bows his head deeply with that word and stops going up as he is.
From that, he could also easily imagine that if I did not punish him, he would not move for the rest of his life.
"Well, I only have one favor to ask you,"
"What is it?
"... I want Sophia to keep this arm to herself"
To my words. I wondered if he'd opened his eyes, kept them closed and just opened his mouth.
"... ok. If that's Mr. Lazareth's favor."
"... please. I don't want to worry about her any more."
"I can't solve it."
Suddenly interrupting our conversation was Marialette, who had been listening to our conversation since earlier.
When she grabbed the collar on my neck, she kept Gui and her own face close together.
Her eyes were full of curiosity at that time, and she no longer even emitted a ray of madness beyond curiosity.
"Why are you trying to hide it from her? Normally, it's supposed to be the general psychology that wants women who like them to worry and feel comfortable."
"... I guess so. But I'm not. I don't want to be her burden."
"I see, I don't want to worry because I like you, or..."
She touches the tip of her neat jaw with her fingertips and shakes to think about something.
And the idea came together, this time with a flippant, mean grin.
"You are still funny. I didn't expect to prioritize the feelings of others over my own injuries."
"... well, thank you"
"But it is also a dangerous omen"
"One day you will choose to abandon someone. But that's not the problem, that's where I'm worried about how you'll accept that fact."
... The tone seems to be off, but the voice and expression are even more serious.
Besides, I can't even understand what she's saying.
But...
"Then I won't abandon you. I will always protect anything I wish to protect."
"... I see, that's an interesting way of thinking. You don't care about your own strength, and then you say that word," I will. "
"Really?"
"You might still have been right to subordinate you. I look forward to seeing your heart shake in the future."
That's all she says, she takes her face off and leaves the room.
I stared at my own prosthetic arm for a while after I dropped her off like that.