Chapter Four

Beside him stood a woman, a personification of beauty herself.

In her radiance, she outshone the stars, and though she might have been deemed breathtakingly beautiful, her appearance was a mere echo of the splendour within her divine essence.

Her white luminous hair was let loose and her dress which shined with a kaleidoscope of colours made the surroundings pale in comparison to herself.

The boy, now named Muichiro, contemplated the world around him with an inscrutable gaze, his existence entwined with the goddess who had been guiding him throughout his time here.

.....

The hilltop area was bathed in the soft luminescence of the moon, an emblem of their now shared connection.

Moon's smile held a mix of pride and sorrow, a reflection of the accomplishments Muichiro had achieved in the span of six months.

Though her heart was heavy with the knowledge that he was leaving, she found solace in the lessons she had imparted to him during their time together.

Approaching Muichiro, the goddess enfolded him in a tender embrace, an affectionate gesture that he reciprocated without hesitation.

His response was automatic, devoid of the emotions that would typically accompany such an intimate exchange.

Stepping back, Moon gazed into Muichiro's eyes, her words gentle yet resolute. "You're ready now. I've shared all that I can, and it's time for you to embark on your journey—experiencing emotions you've never felt before."

"I know you're ready for this, just remember everything I taught you and you'll be fine." Moon said with a serene smile.

Her words held a weight that transcended their literal meaning.

It was an acknowledgement of the void that resided within him and the prospect of its potential transformation.

She assured him of her presence, her gaze unwavering as she spoke. And then, he completed her thought, finishing her sentence with quiet certainty. "All I need to do is look to the moon."

A poignant silence followed, the surrounding flowers shimmering in response to the emotions lingering in the air.

As the petals descended, encircling Muichiro, Moon's expression softened, her voice infused with both fondness and sadness. "It's time... Live well, my little moon."

Her kiss upon his forehead ignited a crescent moon symbol, a testament to their connection as goddess and blessed.

Muichiro's gaze remained locked on the goddess, his eyes capturing every detail of her form, as if etching her into his memory.

The gust of wind rose, a vortex of petals surrounding him, a portal between realms.

Muichiro's whispered words carried a gentle farewell, his tone reflecting the bond they had forged in such a short span of time.

"Thank you...Thevma."

And then, he was gone, absorbed by the tempest of petals, leaving a shocked expression on Moon's face, her solitary tear reflecting her mix of emotions.

"To think," she murmured to the empty expanse, "that he could utter my true name after receiving my blessing. In only six months..."

The rarity of such a feat was not lost on her, an acknowledgement of their profound connection, they had grown in the last six months.

She looked up at the radiant moon above, her very essence and symbol that outshone the stars.

With a heartfelt sigh, she whispered to the luminous night sky, her voice carrying a blend of love and longing. "Live well, little moon. I'll always be watching over you."

And as Moon's gaze remained fixed upon the moon that bore her name, her divine presence silently resonated within the heart of the boy who had embraced the role of Tokita Muichiro—a soul reborn, forever touched by the essence of emotions.

...

In a tranquil field, the sun bathed the landscape in golden light, casting a warm glow upon the grassy expanse.

Birds soared overhead, and butterflies danced through the air, imbuing the scene with an air of serene beauty. Amidst this tranquillity lay a figure, motionless upon the verdant earth.

Muichiro had finally transitioned to a new world, one that held its own mysteries and wonders.

As his eyelids lifted, his gaze met the azure expanse of sky above him. With a serene expression, he rose to a seated position, taking in the surroundings that marked his arrival in the realm Moon had named "Danmachi."

"So this is the world of Danmachi," he mused softly, his voice carrying an air of detached curiosity.

His attire, while unusual in most contexts, would blend seamlessly in the island nation of the Far East.

A touch of his hand found something concealed within the folds of his elegantly crafted haori, a gift from Moon herself.

This was only one of the many things Moon had given him before his journey.

Retrieving the parchment paper, he unfolded it to reveal a meticulously detailed map. A continent sprawled across the page, dotted with names of places and regions Moon had mentioned to him.

His focus, however, was on a singular place—a city known as Orario, depicted at the heart of the map.

A blue dot marked his position, and an arrow pointed him in the direction he needed to travel. He took in the visual cues, setting his intentions on the path before him.

With determined steps, Muichiro embarked on his journey to Orario.

The parchment map was his guide, an amalgamation of Moon's wisdom and the direction he now sought.

Alongside the map, a clock displayed a peculiar countdown—a timeworn relic from the realm he now inhabited. Two years, seven months, and thirty-two days remained until the story's beginning, as Moon put it.

Though the notion held little significance to him, it was a reminder of the unfolding narrative that surrounded him, but he didn't care for it.

His objective was clear—to uncover emotions that had eluded him, to discover the depths of anger, sadness, happiness, and, above all, love.

With each step, he ventured into a realm where experiences awaited him, emotions he had never known. It was a pursuit of the intangible, a journey that held no guarantees, but one he was determined to undertake.

*GURGLE*

But before that, he needed something to eat, because he was really hungry at the moment.'

And not too far away from his position, he spotted a bunch of mushrooms growing on some trees

And he knew they were safe to eat as they looked exactly like the mushrooms from the book Moon had forced him to read...