Becoming A God In Another World With My Crush

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The footsteps were getting closer and Xander tightened his grip on the sword, holding it in the kind of defensive stance he'd only ever seen in movies. His arms were tense. His heart was doing backflips as he blade's runes glowed soft blue in the dark.

He crept toward the sound, bare feet silent against the dusty floorboards, the Xander took a breath, then burst through the doorway like a man possessed. "Hyaaah—!"

He swung the Aurex Blade in a wide arc and there was a scream...a very human scream, then a crash as blur of limbs and fabric tumbled backward, landing in a heap on the floor with a loud thud and a clatter of metal.

Xander blinked. "…Alyhana?!"

She groaned from the floor, one hand clutching her chest, the other still gripping a dented metal jug. Water was everywhere.

"What the hell—why are you sneaking around?! Scared the shit out of me!"

"I'm sorry, " Alyhana sat up slowly, her face already turning bright red. She looked at him, then immediately looked away. "Y-you're still shirtless…"

Xander looked down at himself, then back at her. "…Seriously? That's what we're focusing on right now?"

"I—I wasn't expecting—" she stammered, trying to gather the scattered pieces of the tray. "You weren't in your room and I thought maybe you'd like something to drink—oh gods, I spilled everything–"

Xander sighed and offered her a hand. "Come on."

She took it, still avoiding eye contact.

"I was just trying to bring you water," she mumbled still avoiding his gaze as she continued to blush furiously. "Maia said you'd be thirsty when you woke up…"

Xander raised an eyebrow as he thought to himself. 'Haven't she seen a shirtless guy before?'

Xander helped her up, brushing dust off her sleeves as she tried to avoid looking directly at him.

"Sorry. You okay?" he asked, glancing at the dented jug now lying sideways on the floor.

Alyhana nodded quickly, cheeks still flushed. "Y-yes. I'm fine. Just… startled."

"You don't say," he muttered, eyeing the puddle of water spreading across the floorboards. "You scream like a banshee, by the way."

She pouted. "You swung a sword at me!"

"I thought you were a ghost!"

Then Xander sighed and sat down heavily on a dusty wooden chair, the legs creaking under him. He ran a hand through his hair, still damp with sweat.

"So," he said, "how'd you even find me out here?"

Alyhana hesitated, then clasped her hands in front of her. "I… followed the aura."

Xander blinked. "The what now?"

"The aura," she repeated, a little quieter. "Of the Veylith Crystal."

He stared at her. "…what?"

She spoke. "Vimea said there are still traces of the crystal's magic inside you. Not enough to hurt you. Just… enough to track and utilize at will with training."

Xander leaned back in the chair, eyes wide. "...O...okay, so you and everyone can find me easily."

Alyhana smiled shyly. "Only those who know how to read it."

"Comforting," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "So what—you just followed the... vibes?"

She nodded again even when Xander was sure she didn't know what the word 'vibes' meant. "They led me here. Straight to you."

Xander gave her a long look, then shrugged. "Cool. Totally makes sense. I definitely understand everything you just said."

She tilted her head. "You don't, do you?"

"Not even a little." he responded, "How's Iris?"

Alyhana sat across from him, smoothing her skirt with nervous fingers. "Iris is stable," she said softly. "She's still unconscious, but… she's breathing on her own now."

Xander looked up. "Still unconscious?"

Alyhana nodded. "Maia said it's because she accidentally tapped into her aura during the attack. Her body wasn't ready for it."

Xander's jaw clenched. "She could've died?"

"She didn't," Alyhana said gently. "She's strong. Stubborn, too."

He exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little.

"And Eli?" he asked.

"He's healing," she said. "The Shedrack sting was deep, but Vimea treated it. He's already talking about his days in the Academy of Magic, so I think he'll live."

Xander huffed a quiet laugh. "Sounds like him."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His eyes drifted to the sword beside him.

The sword looked like something straight out of a legend. Its blade glowed with a strange blue light, almost like fire, Strange runes were carved along the edge, glowing faintly.

The hilt was dark and strong, with a big blue crystal set right in the middle of the crossguard. The way the metal curved around it made it look like wings, or maybe claws, gripping the gem. Even just looking at it, the sword gave off this feeling—like it was powerful, maybe even dangerous.

He just stared at it, unsure if he should be afraid or honored.

"Cool sword," he muttered.

Alyhana tilted her head. "Cool?"

Xander didn't answer right away.

He reached out, fingers brushing the hilt. The runes flared slightly at his touch—recognizing him. Accepting him. "Yeah, like a video game."

Alyhana's voice was quiet. "You speak with such an unusual tongue."

'Probably because I'm not from this world.' Xander's thoughts replied.

Xander pulled his hand back, his eyes stayed on the blade, but his voice dropped lower. "Do you think… anyone else made it out?"

"I don't know," she said softly. "The city gates were sealed. The Beast King's army didn't want anyone getting out."

Xander's jaw tightened. "They locked them in?"

She nodded. "To make sure no one escaped. No witnesses. No survivors."

He leaned back in the chair, staring up at the cracked ceiling. "That's sick."

Alyhana's voice was barely a whisper. "I was just... lucky."

Xander looked at her, really looked at her, and for the first time, he saw the weight she carried. The quiet sadness behind her eyes. The way her hands trembled just slightly when she spoke about it.

"You were just a kid," he said.

The silence that followed was heavy. Not awkward. Just… full. Full of names they didn't know. Faces they'd never see. Lives that ended too soon.

Xander exhaled slowly.

"Thirteen years," he murmured.

Xander leaned forward, elbows on his knees, fingers laced together as he glanced at her. "So… why didn't you and the weird triplets leave?"

Alyhana blinked, either being surprised by the question or the fact that he called her adoptive sisters weird. "You mean… the city?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I mean, it's been thirteen years, right? The place is basically a graveyard. Why stay?"

She looked down at her hands, twisting the edge of her sleeve between her fingers.

"Maia wouldn't go," she said quietly. "She… she felt responsible."

Xander frowned.

"For the slaughter," Alyhana said. "She lied to the Beast King. Told him the Aurex Blade wasn't here, she thought she could preserve the sword for your arrival like the High Priests did before her."

Xander's brow furrowed. But he didn't say anything.

Alyhana continued, her voice softer now. "Maia said if she stayed, if she kept the temple standing… maybe the gods would send salvation. Maybe they'd forgive her for endangering the lives of thousands."

Xander stared at her like she'd grown a second head. "That's… stupid."

Alyhana laughed, a small breathy sound. "Vimea and Gaea said the same thing. Every year. Every time she refused to leave."

He raised an eyebrow. "And they just… stayed anyway?"

She nodded. "They wouldn't leave her behind. Even when they were angry. Even when they lost faith."

Xander leaned back in the chair, exhaling through his nose.

"Thirteen years," he muttered. "That's a long time to wait for a miracle."

Alyhana smiled faintly. "Sometimes faith is all you have left."

Alyhana shifted beside him, her fingers brushing against his, then gently, she took his hand. Xander looked down, surprise that a girl was touching him but didn't pull away.

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"But you came back," she said. "You're the Kaelhi. You'll free us and I'm your humble servant. I'll do anything for you."

Xander blinked, then he groaned.."Oh gods, not this again."

He pulled his hand back and stood, brushing dust from his pants.

"I'm not a god," he said. "Or a savior. I'm just a guy who got hit by a truck and didn't die."

Alyhana looked up at him, her brown eyes wide and soft. "But the blade chose you, the Veylith crystal as well...you bear the mark of the Kaelhi."

"Yeah, well," he muttered, "maybe they made a mistake."

He turned toward the door, the Aurex Blade slung over his shoulder like a burden he hadn't asked for.

"Don't put that on me," he said. "I'll break it."

And with that, he walked out into the ruins, Alyhana stayed where she was, hands folded in her lap, watching him go.

She didn't call after him she just whispered, to no one in prarticular.

"…You're wrong."