Lost in his musings, a thought surfaced. The 'narrator' - the mysterious force that had offered him glimpses into others' inner thoughts - had been strangely silent recently.
Usually, it would present insights at pivotal moments or display the thoughts of key characters. But now, it was as if it had vanished entirely.
"Where is the narrator now?" Arlon frowned, a mix of relief and irritation curling inside him. It had been invaluable before, revealing thoughts at just the right moments. But now? Silence. Like a broken tool abandoned at the worst possible time.
But now, it was like a broken tool-silent at the worst time.
He turned his focus to Alice, Anthony, and Eric, as if willing the narrator to respond. A flicker—then, finally, golden text shimmered at the edge of his vision.
Flutter-
["Alice suggested to Eric to eat and rest more to fully recover."]
["Eric was overjoyed at the thought of reuniting with his family, recalling Alice's comforting words."I can't wait to see my family again-especially after everything that's happened. I'm sure they'll be happy to see I'm doing better"]
["Anthony pondered ways they might repay Arlon for his kindness."Master Arlon has been so kind to us. I've been thinking... how can we repay him for everything he's done? We owe him so much for his generosity."]
Good, at least it still works on some of them, Arlon thought, slightly relieved. Then, he looked toward Lawrence, hoping to catch a glimpse of his inner thoughts as well. But no screen appeared. He focused harder, silently willing the narrator to reveal something about Lawrence.
"..."
Noticing Arlon's intense stare, Lawrence tilted his head with a curious smile. "Do you need something,master Arlon? You've been looking at me for quite a while."
"...!"
Startled, Arlon looked away quickly, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Ah, no. Just... thinking about where the villagers might stay while their homes are rebuilt."
Lawrence's eyes lit up in understanding. "If you're suggesting they stay here at the villa, that would be incredibly helpful. Thank you for the offer," he replied, his gratitude evident.
Arlon forced a small smile, nodding as if he had planned it all along.
Nothing. Arlon focused harder, waiting for something—anything—but there was no response. His irritation sharpened. Why only him?
As they continued talking, Arlon's mind was already spinning, preparing for the journey and for the coming challenges at the Grand Duchy. The thought of the nobles waiting for him didn't make him nervous - it made him eager.
This time, he was ready. This time, he would show them who he truly was.
---
Arlon sat alone in his room, fresh from his meeting with Lawrence and the trio, trying to piece together the strange puzzle of his situation. As he unbuttoned his shirt and prepared for a bath, his mind returned to a recurring mystery: the narrator.
Despite all its appearances and helpful, almost automated commentary, it seemed to avoid offering any insights into Lawrence's thoughts.
It was a strange limitation, and Arlon couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the narrator than mere tracking. If it could track his every move and note every thought, why was it suddenly so selective?
Lost in thought, Arlon slipped into the bath, relaxing in the warm water as his mind continued to probe the edges of this mystery.
"It's like it's watching me... not just narrating... like it's hiding something, panicking whenever I come across something unknown," he mused.
"Could it be possible to manipulate it? What if I kept digging, uncovering untold knowledge in this world?"
He had read stories before—tales of those who found themselves in new worlds, some who searched for a way back, most who never did. The odds were never in their favor. Either they failed, or they found something here worth staying for.
If anything, Arlon decided, he was going to use every piece of knowledge from his world and this one to find out whether going home was even possible.
"One percent chance... it might be slim, but it's enough."
After his bath, Arlon slipped into his nightwear and sat down to write a few notes.This record wasn't for anyone else; it was his way of keeping track of anything that might point toward his way home.His quiet routine was interrupted as Ace, sprawled lazily across his bed, lifted his head with a curious look.
"Writing a plan or something?" Ace asked, scratching his head.
Arlon gave him a sly smile. "Maybe. Let's see where it goes."
Ace raised a brow, looking mildly baffled by Arlon's response.
But before he could question further, Arlon pulled out a book of ancient language he'd found in the study room. He turned to Ace, holding it open. "Can you tell me what you see in this book again?"
Ace glanced at the book and blinked. "It's got some of those ancient scribbles... the kind only an ancient being could read. Ancient mages, elves, or maybe a Dragon could handle this sort of thing. They've been around long enough to know it all."
Arlon chuckled. "You're a dragon, aren't you?"
For once, Ace's usual energy faded. His tail stilled. "I was the first Sky Soul Guardian. They didn't know what to do with me—kept me apart from the others. The first of my kind to bear this power."
Arlon's eyes softened as he considered this revelation. Ace had been set apart, isolated because of his unique power, growing up without his kin guidance. Curious, Arlon activated the narrator to see Ace's thoughts.
[—He'd been alone for as long as he could remember. Whether his family had survived, he didn't know. Some nights, he wondered. Most nights, he regretted wondering at all.]
[—They were the reason he had spent so long in isolation. He should hate them. He told himself he didn't care. He had freedom now—wasn't that enough?]
Arlon studied Ace thoughtfully before turning back to the book. "It says here that some ancient dragons still live, hiding in remote places," he said aloud. "Maybe there's still a chance-"
Ace's eyes lit up. "Are you sure? That might just be a legend."
"Perhaps," Arlon shrugged. "But sometimes, legends carry a hint of truth. Someone believed in it enough to write it down, after all. And sometimes records like these... they just need someone willing to find the proof."
Ace's gaze brightened at this encouragement, and Arlon continued to read, his eyes drifting across the ancient text. "This part here mentions a god who was once human... someone who left marks across the world to show control over the sky and beyond."
"A human who became a god?" Arlon's curiosity grew. If the power existed to transcend humanity, could it also work in reverse? What if he could find some path back to his original life?
Before he could delve further, Dimitri knocked on the door, his tone impatient. "My lord, you should be resting for the journey tomorrow."
Arlon exhaled, reluctantly closing the book. "Fine, Dimitri, I'll sleep."
As he lay in bed, his thoughts wandered back to the mystery of the god mentioned in the book-a god beyond the novel's familiar lore. Could this be another hint, something pointing to the possibility of breaking out of this world? He'd never been so certain that the narrator was hiding something... or that he was so close to discovering a path he wasn't supposed to see.
By the time the sun reached its peak, the villa buzzed with preparations for departure.The carriage waited, its dark wood and polished brass trim gleaming in the morning sun.
Dimitri gave the carriage a skeptical glance as he approached Arlon, who was overseeing the preparations.
"My lord," Dimitri said, eyeing the carriage with thinly veiled skepticism. "Are you certain this is wise? It was meant for two passengers, not an entire traveling party."
Arlon waved off Dimitri's concerns with a slight smile. "It'll be fine, Dimitri. The carriage is large enough. Besides, it's better if we all stick together."
Dimitri looked back at the carriage, then at the group, his expression dubious. "As you wish, my Lord. But don't blame me if there's barely room to stretch your legs."
Ace, currently in his cat form, leapt up onto Arlon's shoulder, curling his tail around Arlon's neck with a purr. "Don't worry, Dimitri! We'll fit just fine," he said with a playful flick of his tail. "And with me on Arlon's shoulder, I'm barely taking up any space at all."
Alice laughed as she gathered her belongings. "Well, Ace certainly has a point. Plus, Eric's already claimed the window seat," she added, nodding toward the young gray wolf, who was practically bouncing with excitement.
Eric looked up eagerly, his bright eyes sparkling. "Can I sit by the window? I want to see everything!"
Arlon smiled warmly. "Of course, Eric. You can have the window seat."
Lawrence stepped forward with a polite smile. "Don't worry, Sir Dimitri, we'll be careful not to crowd."
Dimitri shot him a look, raising an eyebrow but then sighing in resignation. "Fine," he said, relenting with a slight nod, "but I reserve the right to take the corner seat."
With everyone settled, they climbed aboard. Arlon took his seat with Ace comfortably perched on his lap, his small paws kneading into Arlon's knee as he purred contentedly. Eric took his spot by the window, while Alice and Anthony sat opposite Arlon, and Lawrence lounged on the other side, next to Dimitri.
As the carriage began to roll forward, Ace stretched, glancing around the group. "Alright, so, who's up for some storytelling to pass the time?" he asked, his feline voice full of excitement.
Arlon chuckled, giving Ace a fond scratch behind the ears. "Only if you promise to keep the stories under five minutes, Ace. We don't want you running out of energy before we even reach our destination."
Ace feigned offense, his whiskers twitching. "I would never! My stories are concise and captivating, thank you very much."
Eric, still glued to the window, turned his head briefly. "Can I tell a story too?" he asked, his voice muffled against the glass.
Alice reached over and tousled Eric's hair. "Of course, Eric. You can be our storyteller too."
The carriage buzzed with laughter and warmth as each member took turns sharing stories. Ace, true to form, spun wildly exaggerated tales of his supposed heroics, drawing groans and chuckles alike.
Eric, nervous at first, shared a tender story about saving an injured bird, his words growing steadier with encouragement from Alice. Even Lawrence, who usually kept to himself, surprised everyone with a humorous tale of a merchant's 'magic potion' gone wrong.
Then, it was Lawrence's turn. He had been quiet up until now, leaning back in his seat, but at the mention of stories, his interest piqued. "Alright, I suppose I can share one," he said with a grin, looking around at the others with a playful glint in his eyes.
The story was filled with humor and slight absurdity, and as he told it, the entire carriage erupted into laughter.Ace, as animated as ever, leaned back into Arlon's lap, clearly basking in the attention his tale had earned.
Even Lawrence, who usually remained stoic, allowed himself a rare chuckle.
Arlon's gaze, however, drifted back to the window, the laughter in the carriage fading into background noise as he took in the view. The warm wind swept through the open window, carrying the faint scents of wildflowers and freshly tilled soil.
As the carriage wound its way along the mountain path, the land stretched below—rolling hills bathed in golden light, rivers snaking like silver veins through the valley. It was a sight meant for kings.
It was breathtaking.