[A Fractured Song] - Chapter 15 - Fantasy, Isekai (Portal Fantasy), Adventure

Summary: 13-year old Frances was summoned with her entire class to the fantastical world of Durannon to fight the monsters invading the human kingdoms. Struggling from the trauma and self-loathing inflicted on her by her abusive parents, how will Frances survive as she is thrust into this war?

[The Beginning] [<=Chapter 14] [Chapter Index and Blurb] [Chapter 16=>]

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Frances looked in the mirror, eyes wide at the lack of any bruising or marks. It’d been a day, but it was… weird to not have any bruises on her body. And was it even weird that she thought it was weird?

Yet, somehow, by telling Edana… Frances knew she was now moving with a lightness she had never had before. Everything seemed a lot clearer now. Or was it just the forest air?

Whatever the case, Frances for once, cheerfully pulled on a short-sleeved dress she’d set aside and ran down the stairs for breakfast.

It was a new day, and she was looking forward to it.

---

“Good job, Frances,” said Edana.

Releasing the spell, Frances wiped the sweat from her brow and nodded. “Thank you, Master Edana.”

The hunchback smiled and pursed her lips. “Before we head back to make lunch… may we talk about yesterday?”

Frances winced.

“We don’t have to, Frances, but we will have to at some point.” Edana slowly placed a gentle hand on Frances’s shoulder. “I don’t think it’s healthy or helpful for you to have such a low opinion of yourself.”

It was… odd to hear that, when she’d always been told that she needed to think less of herself. Part of Frances—no, Frances knew her mentor was right. It was just… hard to accept.

“I… I’m not a freak, right? But… I’m not normal, either, am I?” Frances asked, her voice soft.

Edana felt her jaw clench as she regarded her student. “No. But that’s not a bad thing, and that isn’t your fault.”

Frances took a deep breath. “But why do I feel… like… like I am a freak? That I don’t deserve—deserve good things?”

Edana winced. “Do you think this all the time?”

“Yes? No? I don’t know, Master.” She averted her gaze. “I don’t like thinking this way, but that doesn’t change what I feel.” Frances clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. And I feel… like something broke inside of me.”

Edana reached out with her hand, but as Frances stared at it with wide, quivering eyes, she quickly put it down.

Sighing in relief, Frances managed a quiet thanks.

“You can heal, Frances,” said Edana, quietly. “My dear student, maybe you are broken, maybe you do think about yourself this way, but it doesn’t have to be forever. You can change how you feel about yourself. I cannot say it will be a fast process, but it is possible, and I—someone who has taken that road—will do my best to help you.”

“You did? Oh… you mean after you fought the war?” Frances asked.

Edana’s nod was short, halting, and her eyes closed. “Yes. The war left me hating myself for some time. It took a while, but I stopped doing so. And if I could stop doing that, you can too.”

The hope Frances felt from what her mentor told her, was mirrored by an equal rise in fear. Because there was another possibility that she didn’t want to think about it, but was far too possible.

“... what if I die here and end up returning to my world? There’s no magic there. You won’t be there. It’ll just be me and… and them,” Frances whispered.

“I will teach you how to defend yourself in this world, and your world,” said Edana, in a commanding voice that rang with determination. “Then you can defeat the Demon King, and stay here, for good, and even if you get sent back, you can get help for yourself.”

The idea that she could stay here, and never be hurt again rang like a bell in her head. Frances clung to it desperately.

“Frances?” Edana asked.

“Master, I—thank you. Thank you so much.” Her arms shook, but she managed to raise them and reach for her teacher. Edana, a joyful smile on her face, reciprocated the gesture and held her.

And Frances only slightly cringed at the touch of Edana’s hands wrapping around her. She hoped one day that she would stop doing that, but right now, she could not have felt more relaxed, and most importantly, safe. It was downright odd that she felt safer in this fantasy world where she had to kill a demon king. But she trusted her mentor, Edana would help her succeed.

And if Edana was on her side, then maybe, just maybe, she could get better, be normal. Maybe she could heal.

Arc 1 End

Author’s Note: This is the end of the 1st arc of A Fractured Song and this bonus update serves a kind of... epilogue to the arc. When we return next week, Frances is going to be on a new adventure, with new developments… and new dangers.

I am very interested to know how well you like this first arc of A Fractured Song and I’m wondering if you’re interested in me posting “supplemental” chapters. These would be things like Edana’s diary entries, Frances’s notes on the world. I have a few ideas bouncing around on what people might like to know but perhaps you, my readers, have an idea?