To You, from the Mist of 600 Months

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Harvestmoon 10th, Marcellia, Marcellia outskirts, 8:30 AM.

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"Finally, we can continue our journey to the next city," Mika said, relieved.

Airi responded with a contented hum, closing her eyes and smiling a little.

As they walked, they stumbled upon a small fortune-telling shop in a quiet corner of the city.

"Hoo, come one, come all, Grandpa Orochi has arrived in this town," the old man said, beckoning them inside.

"Mika! Look, he looks like a legendary wizard," Airi exclaimed.

"Eh? That's just a scam," Mika responded skeptically.

"Just come already!" Airi insisted.

They decided to go inside and meet Grandpa Orochi, a wise-looking old man.

Grandpa Orochi invited Mika to sit down and began to tell him about his past, present, and future.

"Hmm, I see," he said, as he touched Mika's right palm.

"You're not from this world, and I expect you to be no less special since you're traveling with Alaric's daughter."

"Eh? You're the daughter of that old geezer!?" Mika exclaimed.

"Hmm? Didn't I tell you before?" she asked, looking confused.

"NO, YOU DIDN'T!" Mika responded.

"Ah, my bad," she said, placing a hand beside her head, forming a fist, biting her tongue, and winking with one eye.

"Good grief..." Mika responded, clearly annoyed.

"Ahem," Grandpa Orochi coughed, interrupting them. "Shall we continue?" After a while, he finally began to reveal details about Mika's life journey.

"When I peer into the labyrinthine corridors of your past, it becomes apparent that you harbored a desire for nothing more than a life of quiet normalcy. Yet, when I venture into the turbulent seas of your future, I witness a fiery determination to alter the very fabric of this world. Such a metamorphosis may even provoke rejection, for your methods will not conform to the status quo. And now, in the present, your heart is set upon the grand quest of exploring the world and acquiring knowledge, with but a faint ember of nostalgia smoldering for the land you call home," spoke the venerable Grandpa Orochi.

"The vicissitudes of your explorations may lead to the demise of those closest to your heart," he intoned.

Grandpa Orochi pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and held it out to Mika.

"This is a special paper that allows you to send a message to your future self," he said.

Mika was intrigued. "How does it work?"

"You simply write your message on the paper and then fold it up. I will take care of the rest," Grandpa Orochi explained.

"When will my message be sent to my future self?" Mika asked, curious.

"In exactly 600 months from now. You can also specify the exact date on which you want to receive the message by writing it on the bottom left of the paper," Grandpa Orochi replied sagely.

"Wow, that's quite a long time," Mika exclaimed, impressed.

"Indeed it is. However, the opportunity to communicate with your future self is priceless," Grandpa Orochi stated thoughtfully.

Mika eagerly took the piece of paper from Grandpa Orochi and began to ponder the message he wanted to send to his future self.

...

...

...

"Alright, I'm done with the message," Mika said as he folded the paper and handed it to Grandpa Orochi.

The wise old man then took the paper and burned it inside a bottle.

"Pardon me, but can you spare me a drop of your blood to put inside the bottle?" Grandpa Orochi asked.

"Hmm? Alright," Mika agreed without questioning.

He bit his thumb and dropped his blood into the bottle.

As soon as the blood hit the ash, smoke billowed out and Grandpa Orochi covered the bottle with paper and bound it with a rubber band.

"What's that elastic thing?" Airi asked.

"You have rubber bands in this world?" Mika asked in surprise.

"Not exactly. Someone from another world invented them, and I learned how to make them," Grandpa Orochi replied as he tied the paper.

"Eh? Is there someone from another world other than me?" Mika asked, intrigued.

"Yes, she was a great doctor who cured many people before she passed away. She invented numerous medicines and cures," Grandpa Orochi responded.

"I see," Mika said, nodding.

"Alright, it's done now," Grandpa Orochi said, holding the bottle full of smoke. "The bottle will be broken after 600 months, and it will send the paper you just wrote to you wherever you are"

"Alright, see you later then," Mika said as he waved and began to walk away.

"Ahem," Grandpa Orochi coughed, catching Mika's attention.

Mika turned his head to look at Grandpa Orochi, and they smiled at each other before Mika continued on his way.

"Ahem, ahem," the cough grew louder.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Mika asked with concern.

"Oh, no, no. It's just my throat," Grandpa Orochi responded.

"Ahem, ahem, ahem!" Grandpa Orochi coughed even louder, then pointed to his palm.

"Right..." Mika tossed a pouch into Grandpa Orochi's hand and let out a sigh.

"Thank you, and come back soon, adventurers," Grandpa Orochi said as Mika and Airi walked away.

"How much did you give him?" Airi asked.

"Just 40 gold coins," Mika replied.

"That much? He was just looking into your future," Airi said.

"Huh? How much would be the normal price for it?" Mika asked.

"Just around 10 silver coins. It's not really mandatory," Airi responded.

"What!?" Mika exclaimed in anger and walked back to the shop, only to find that it was already gone.

"Good grief," Mika said in annoyance

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Harvestmoon 10th, Marcellia, Marcellia Forest, 9:40 AM.

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While Mika and Airi were on their way to the next city, they heard an amusing moaning sound.

"Nggh, p-pwease~"

"Stahp~"

An elf with her legs tightly bound sobbed uncontrollably as the bandit mercilessly tortured her.

"Her ass feels so tight, I think I can't hold it any longer."

"Pwease, hust... Nghh~"

"Shut your fucking mouth and use it properly." One of the bandits shouted as he shoved his genitalia into the elf's mouth.

Her lips moved, but no sound came out as she tried to speak.

Tears flowed down her face as she struggled against his grip, but his grasp was too strong, rendering her attempts futile.

The bandit let out a piercing scream as the elf sank her teeth into his genitalia, drawing blood.

"Aaaghh!" he cried out in agony, recoiling from her.

"Nghh." She moaned as the other bandit's genitalia shove deep into her ass.

"Help ple-" The elf's desperate plea was cut short by the sharp sound of a slap across her face.

The elf's tear-streaked face was contorted in agony as she looked up at Mika, desperate for some sign of help or compassion.

But all she saw was him standing there, staring at her with an expression of cold detachment.

Her heart sank, and a feeling of hopelessness washed over her.

She was alone, at the mercy of these brutal bandits, and even the one person she had hoped would save her seemed indifferent to her suffering.

"Mika, please!" Airi begged, her voice strained with emotion. "Can't you see how much she's suffering?"

Mika's expression remained cold and unmoving. "No, just wait," he replied firmly.

"Fuck... This elf just bit my dick, let's just wrap it and keep her in the cage and continue to the city." One of the bandits said.

"Uegh... Mhmm... Alright, I'm done with her, we should continue to the city." As one of the bandits emptied his load.

The elf lay on the ground, her body limp and exhausted from the relentless torture.

Her face was pale and drawn, with sweat and tears mingling on her cheeks.

Every breath came in ragged gasps, and she could feel every inch of her body throbbing in pain.

The bandits roughly shoved her back into the cramped cage, the stench of blood and sweat still heavy in the air.

With a clang, the cage door shut, leaving the elf in darkness once again.

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Harvestmoon 10th, Marcellia, Marcellia Forest outskirts, 7:48 PM.

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"Huh? Am I being saved?" the elf asked as she heard the sound of the cage door being opened.

"Y-you?" Her voice was barely audible.

"Y-you were watching. W-why didn't you help me?" she asked.

"Why would I bother? You're nothing but a mere plaything for my entertainment," Mika responded.

"W-what do you want from me? My body?" she asked.

"Now that you mention it, I do," Mika responded.

"Spread your legs."

The elf averted her gaze from Mika's piercing stare as she carried out his command.

Mika observed, disappointment lacing his voice. "You're not even resisting."

The elf's voice trembled as she replied, "What can I do? I'm just helpless prey."

Mika's tone became enigmatic as he spoke, "There are paths best left untaken, battles best left unfought, cities best left unbesieged, positions best left uncontested, and orders best left unheeded."

Confusion clouded the elf's face as she said, "I don't know what you mean."

Mika's voice remained calm and steady. "You may be helpless, but that doesn't mean you're not useful to me."

The elf hesitated before saying, "What do you want me to do?"

"I'm only trying to help you. If you cooperate with me, I'll make sure nothing bad happens to you."

He then tossed the heads of the two bandits into her cage and said, "You don't have to worry anymore. I'll protect you, and you'll be safe under my watch." With those words, Mika left the elf and continued walking toward the city with Airi.

The elf's voice trembled as she called out, "Wait!" and hurried after Mika.

"Can you give me a name?" she asked desperation in her eyes.

Mika abruptly halted but didn't turn around.

He hesitated for a moment, then softly said, "Eiko. Suzuki Eiko." His voice carried a hint of emotion, as he felt a pang of sympathy for the tormented elf.

Eiko's heart swelled with gratitude, tears streaming down her face.

She had been stripped of her identity for so long, but now she had a name to hold onto.

She whispered it to herself, savoring the sound of it.