6. He Would Make It

When Phil died and cast the spell hoping for a second chance in life, he wasn’t sure that it would work. This was because he had fought for a very long time and his mana was already almost depleted and he was exhausted. He had thus used his last remaining powers and hoped that one day, no matter what realm and what time, he would be reunited with his beloved. Even if he was to be born as a mere human with no powers at all, Phil did not care as long as the man who brought light into his life and made his heart beat again was going to be there with his again. That was all he wished for.

And here he was: with his Joe, sorry Hari, again. He couldn’t believe that the gods had favoured him this much. From what he had gathered from his host’s memories, he and Hari were just acquaintances, they weren’t close. He was thus surprised that he woke to Hari crying over Ravi’s lifeless body. He wondered why and also wondered whether he should ask but he decided against it. He didn’t want to scare Hari away.

Also, even if these two weren’t close, Phil was not worried. Now that he was here, he was going to make sure that they grow close and even go back to the kind of a relationship they had in their previous lives. He was eager for that but he was not in a hurry. He would give Hari enough time to warm up to him. Before Hari knew what was happening, he would already be in Phil's trap.

“How are you feeling and why did you take the poison? Did it not occur to you that someone would be hurt by your actions?” Hari asked bringing Ravi back from his thoughts and breaking the hug.

Ravi had already exhausted himself with sitting as his insides were still in disarray and he laid back down gently with Hari’s help. He didn’t know what to tell the boy. He couldn’t possibly tell him that the Ravi he knew was gone and this was another person in his body. No. He couldn’t because he knew that he would scare the other boy and he didn’t want to. How do you explain a reincarnation to a person who you are not even sure knows about it? Would they believe you? Many would take you for a fool or even a lunatic if you tried. His mind gears thus started working overtime as he thought of something to tell Hari who was patiently waiting looking at him. Maybe someday, in the future, he would tell Hari the truth but not today.

“What? Oh…. hehe... I…. I didn’t. I wanted to take it and after a small gulp I realized that I couldn’t and I poured the rest in the toilet. I guess that is why it didn’t affect me as much,” he lied through his teeth and hoped that Hari would buy his bullshit. How then would he explain that he was not breathing and he is here now? How would he explain all the blood on the bed?

“But you… you were not breathing!” Hari asked doubtfully and Phil thought, ‘there we go!’

“I… eerrr… that….,” he tried looking for words and when Hari saw that Ravi was uncomfortable with the topic, he decided to save the other boy from embarrassment or wracking his brain as he was still in pain.

“It is okay, you don’t have to explain yourself. Just make sure that you don’t do it again. I know that what you are going through is hard but all you have to do is hold on for a little longer. Once I am strong enough, I will take you out of here. I promise. I have been thinking about it and I have made up my mind. I will take you out if here. So, hold for a little longer,” Hari said and Phil was impressed. He felt a warm feeling embrace his heart. His cute bunny wanted to take care of him. Aaawww!

“Thank you so much Hari. But that will not be necessary. From tonight, a lot of things are going to change but I will need your help. It will be me taking care of you,” Phil said and he saw Hari raise an eyebrow in amusement.

“What do you mean take of me?” He asked but Phil just laughed and pretended that he had not said anything strange. When Phil didn’t say anything, Hari did not keep asking.

He looked at the clock on the table and saw that it was almost one in the morning. He wanted Hari to go so that he could heal himself and get ready for what he was to do. He wanted to ask Hari what year they were in but he thought that it would sound strange and he decided to find out for himself some other time.

From his host’s memories, he saw that he was supposed to wake up early and prepare breakfast. He pitied the boy but he smiled sinisterly because he knew that it won’t be for long. He also applauded the boy, Ravi, because Phil thought that if it were him that had gone through all that, he would have poisoned them already.

“Hari, thank you for being here. But… I… can you go so that I can rest. It’s not that I am chasing you away. It is just that… just… I have to be up…” he started but Hari smiled because he also understood.

“It’s okay and I understand. How will you be able to work tomorrow in your condition? And if you don’t I am sure the Luna would find trouble for you. Let us do this, I will skip my practice and come and help you, okay?” He said expecting Ravi to agree but the boy on the bed shook his head.

“No, you can’t do that. I want you to practice every chance you get because I want you to get stronger. I…” he wanted to continue but remembered that he was talking to Hari and not to Joe. He thus kept quiet before he sold himself out. Also, he couldn't just let his cute bunny do a lot of hard work. No. That was him and not his Hari. Phil smiled at the thought of this boy being his again.

“I… what I mean is that I want you to get strong and teach me. I want to start training,” he said and at that, Hari was surprised.

Since they came to live in the main house and that was about four years ago when his father was promoted to an elder, he has never seen Ravi train. He didn’t even show any signs that he was a wolf. So, hearing that he wanted to start training was a pleasant surprise for Hari. Many even, doubted that Ravi had even changed because no one could smell his wolf. He smelt and behaved just like a mere human.

What they didn't know was that, after that night when he changed and his father snapped at him because of it, Ravi was so bitter that he promised himself never to train as a wolf. He thought that training as a wolf would make him a despeakable person just like His old man. He thus suppressed his wolf and he didn't even know the name of his wolf. Thus, he didn't show any sign that he was one.

“Deal. So, are we friends now?” Hari asked hopefully because all the times he had tried getting closer to Ravi, the other would either scamper away scared or just ignore him.

He always said that he does not want trouble and since Hari didn't want Ravi to get in trouble because of him, so, he never insisted. But tonight was different. This. experience seemed to have brought them closer.

“Friends,” Phil said with a smile as he stretched his hand expecting Hari to grasp his arm from the elbow and then hold Ravi’s arm the way they used to shake hands during his time but instead, Hari just took the palm and squeezed it. When he saw how surprised Ravi was, he looked at him questioningly with a raised eyebrow.

“Is... is… is that how you seal a deal?” Ravi asked and at that, Hari burst out with laughter and when he realized where he was, he covered his mouth but was still snickering giving Ravi the look that said that he wouldn't fall for that prank.

“Don’t tell me that you don’t know how to shake someone’s hand,” he said and held Ravi’s hand again and shook it telling him that that was how you shook someone’s hand. All the time, he was laughing and if he had noticed how funny Ravi was. He was playfully talking and holding Ravi’s hand and the other boy was just staring at him mesmerized. Phil was in a trance as he looked at that smile that he had grown to love and thought that he would never see again.

"So, I will see you tomorrow?” Hari asked and Ravi smiled at him as an answer.

He didn’t trust his voice. He knew that if he spoke, his voice would be croaky and it was too early to start betraying his emotions.

“Good night, friend,” Hari said with a smile and he stressed the word 'friend' and then helped cover Ravi well and switched off the light.

“Good night,” Ravi said in a small voice and he smiled. Yes, it was going to be a good night.

Phil continued cultivating as he took in as much mana as he could so as to heal himself fully and expunge the poison from his system. It was proving hard because Ravi’s body was new to all this but Phil was a mage of the highest order in his previous life.

He thus would make it. He had to make it.