The cool breeze brushing against my skin, the sound of birds chirping like a melody, and the warm sunlight shining on my body…
I lay on the grass, basking in the peaceful atmosphere. What a beautiful life.
"Break time is over! Get back to training!"
The sudden voice of an old woman shattered the serenity in an instant.
"Well… beautiful moments never last forever."
"Don't mumble get over here, now!"
"Okay…" I muttered with a nod, even though I was sure she couldn't see it.
I got up and walked toward the voice. In front of me sat the owner of that voice.
Sky-blue eyes, white hair, and a face full of wrinkles. Despite her age, her posture was graceful, and her gaze sharp. I simply called her Sensei. I never learned her real name she only ever told me to call her that. At first, I thought Sensei was her actual name. Only recently did she tell me it just meant "teacher." I laughed when I found out. All those years of calling her by what I thought was a name… and I was wrong.
Still, I didn't ask for her real name or dig further.
If someone like Sensei kept her identity hidden from her own student, then she must have a good reason. And frankly, I didn't want to get involved. Yep. That would definitely be a hassle.
I had a few theories, though.
One, Sensei might be an elder from a powerful noble family on the run.
Two, she might be a notorious criminal or villain hiding from the world.
Three, she could be some living legend with a taboo name.
There were more possibilities, but I didn't care enough to find out.
"Time for your final training," she said suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Final? You mean after this, I'm done? I can finally relax?" I asked excitedly.
"…"
"No, it means my life is not long anymore. Maybe tomorrow is the end"
"...."
"Huh!? What are you saying? Sensei's clearly still healthy! How would she even know she'd die tomorrow?"
I was shocked. Sure, I was a bit of a lazy student and got scolded a lot. But Sensei raised me since I was a kid. Without her, I wouldn't be here. She was basically my parent. And when your parent suddenly says they're going to die tomorrow, anyone would be shaken.
"What do you think of this world?" she asked.
"!?"
"Why is Sensei suddenly asking that…?"
"Just answer. Don't argue," she said calmly too calmly.
I knew that tone. It meant she was dead serious.
"Matera. That's the name of this world. It has two continents North and South. There are monsters outside the cities, but life inside is pretty normal. The monsters are handled by the knights, so it's safe in populated areas. Humans here live about 80 to 100 years. Life's been pretty good lately, especially with all the new magic technology."
Yeah, Matera is a world filled with magic. Only about 20% of the population can use it, most of them nobles. But instead of discrimination, they used their abilities to improve technology and raise the standard of living for everyone.
Of course, where there's light, there's also darkness. That's just how it is. But as long as the world doesn't fall into chaos, I still think it's a beautiful place.
I used to hate the world. But living with Sensei… slowly, I learned to appreciate its beauty.
Sensei smiled at my answer and said,
"Thank goodness."
I was confused by her response but stayed quiet. She looked… satisfied. Like someone at peace. Like someone who really was about to die. I didn't want to believe it but I could tell she wasn't joking.
"Matera… is a dead planet."
"…"
I didn't understand what she meant. But I kept listening.
Sensei explained that Matera, the planet I lived on, had long since died. Life as I knew it wasn't real. A thousand years ago, she crash-landed here and used world magic to create a small isolated realm filled with imaginary life. That world… was everything I knew.
I never noticed because I'd never left the forest. For twenty years, I lived a peaceful life in a small house with Sensei. Everything I knew about the world people, cities, society came from books and the merchants who passed through the area.
Those merchants? Illusions. Created by Sensei's magic.
"Sensei… so your real age is…"
Slap!
"It's rude to ask a lady her age," she said sharply.
This old woman just called herself a lady. I wanted to say something, but... given the mood, I stayed quiet.
"And after all that I told you, that's what you're focusing on?"
"Then what do you want me to say?"
I could already guess when Sensei dies, her magic will disappear. And when that happens...
"Then who am I? If this planet is dead and you're the only real living being here… does that mean…"
"No," she cut me off, shaking her head.
"I've been alone on this planet for 980 years. Then, 20 years ago, the planet Matera used all its remaining energy to create one final life. That life is you Gai Matera."
"So that's why you gave me the same last name as the planet…"
"Yes. Technically, you are the child of this planet. You are its last hope… the proof that Matera existed."
I stayed quiet. I smiled faintly. It was too much to process. But I knew Sensei wasn't joking. She never joked. And I wasn't stupid just lazy.
"How much longer?" I asked.
"What?"
"I know your death will cause the magic to vanish. But… if the planet spent all its remaining power to create me, it's not going to last long either, right? How much time does Matera have left?"
"You catch on fast," she said with a gentle smile.
"At the earliest a month. At the latest a year."
"Hahaha. So I'll catch up with you soon after, huh? Please save me a place to nap."
Smack!
"OW! Why hit me again?!"
"You think I'd let you follow me so easily, you lazy brat?!"
"Huh? But "
"A week from now, someone will come for you. Go with them. Find your purpose in life."
"But my purpose is "
" aside from being lazy."
"…"
"But didn't you say there's no one left in this world?"
"On this planet, yes. But I never said anything about other planets."
"Other… planets?"
Then Sensei explained it all. Outer space. Planets, stars, other species, other civilizations. Each race with different lifespans, different ways of life.
I was speechless.
It was like everything I'd ever known was shattered and rebuilt in an instant.
"Does that mean… Sensei, are you from another planet too?"
She nodded.
"A faraway planet. With the right warp system, it can be reached easily. It's called Yinzhou."
"Yinzhou…" I repeated.
"But why were you on this planet? How did you end up here?"
I'd never cared to ask before. But now I had to know.
"My story…" she mused. "Where should I begin?"
"From the beginning. Please, tell me who you really are, Sensei."
She smiled at me and then began.
*
In the vastness of space… do you think god exists?
The answer is yes. At least, in our solar system, there is one entity recognized as a god: Chrone.
Chrone has many paths ten major ones, in fact.
A thousand years ago, Sensei was a general in the war forces of Yinzhou. They battled one of the Chrones Kauket. Although Yinzhou emerged victorious, the war claimed many lives. One casualty was Sensei, who became stranded on this dead world.
She explained that when she died, a signal would automatically be sent back to Yinzhou. Thanks to her rank and status, someone would arrive within a week using modern warp tech.
That night, I stayed up listening to Sensei's stories. Her life, her past, her home planet, her battles, and her growth.
For trained people like us, skipping a night's sleep was nothing.
As dawn approached, Sensei grew quiet.
"…It's time. Is there anything else you want to know, Gai?"
I hesitated. There were a thousand questions, but I knew time was short.
"…Just one. Please… tell me your name, Sensei."
She closed her eyes and, with a peaceful voice, said:
"Jiang Bailou."
And then she was gone.
The sky turned red. The birds and insects fell silent. The lush green forest withered into a barren wasteland.
If there was any sound left, it was the wind and the quiet drip of water falling from my face.
I stood silently.
I didn't care about the world falling apart. I just stood there.
…Or at least, that's what I believed.
But the truth is I cried.
For twenty years, Sensei was my only family. She raised me, cared for me, scolded me. I still wanted to hear her stories. I still wanted to act like a spoiled kid. I still wanted her to scold me again for being lazy.
That day, I cried louder than I ever had in my life.
But in the end… on this planet… I was the only one left.