1
"Yup, good luck, guys. It's getting late, and I'm off," Ronan said, turning toward the exit of the inn. Planning to go out again... Weren't we supposed to maybe get some rest before tomorrow?
"Hey! Wait for me, Ronan! I wanna go out too!" Sela called out, rushing to his side. Seriously? She's going with him? Just... why?
"...Uhmmmm… suuuuure…" he replied, his tone unreadable. Was he annoyed? Excited? Hard to tell with that guy.
Guess it's just me and Farren for a while. Not that I'm complaining. Getting a break from Ronan and Sela honestly sounds kind of... peaceful. Maybe I'll hit the library later if I get the chance.
"Well, we're off," Ronan said, raising a hand in the air to wave us off.
Sela, of course, mimicked him, lifting her own hand and chiming in, "Byeee!"
And just like that, they were gone. I wonder if they'll actually come back tonight... or not?
"Well, looks like they're gone," Farren said casually, clearly not surprised.
"Guess so... Kinda relaxing though, right?" I replied, matching his chill tone.
"Haha, yeah, for sure," Farren responded, looking amusingly calm, almost too composed for someone who just watched Ronan and Sela run off into the night. "Do you have anything to do? If not, want to just sit down and chat for a while? Not that I've got anything in particular on my mind, but... could be nice to just chatter a bit, no?"
"Sure, that's fine by me," I replied with a nod. "I was planning on heading to the library, but it's not that late yet, so I don't mind talking for a while. Actually, I kinda feel like I want to talk with you. I mean, we haven't really had much time to just sit down—just the two of us—and talk, right?"
I let myself ease into the calmness of the moment, the quiet inn almost soothing after everything.
"Anyway," I added, "was there anything specific you wanted to ask about or something?"
"Alright, great," Farren said, settling into the same mellow rhythm. "And nah, nothing special. I just get the feeling we might have a lot in common. Just a hunch, really."
He kept his tone steady—not stiff, but definitely polished, like someone used to holding a certain posture even when they relax. I matched it without thinking. Guess I still haven't shaken off the habits from that kind of world either.
Never heard him talk like this before… Guess I really don't know him that well, huh?
"Yeah? You think so?" I asked, narrowing my eyes slightly. He definitely acts strange from time to time… Maybe we do have something in common—maybe.
"I do," Farren replied without hesitation. "Please, take a chair. Settle down and relax."
He paused for a moment, giving space between his words. That tone… it was almost unsettlingly polite. Way too refined. Like someone out of place here. Did someone possess him? He kinda reminded me of Julian just now.
"Wine, right?" he added casually, glancing toward the small cabinet near the wall. "Feel like sharing a glass?"
"Uhm… yeah, thank you." I nodded, taking the offer and settling into the chair while still watching him out of the corner of my eye.
What happened to him, really?
To be honest, I've seen through his act for a while now. I mean—how could I not? I recognize it. I've worn that same kind of mask before. That careful smile. The calm tone. The fake ease. I know what it feels like to play a part—acting like someone brighter, someone louder, someone who can take the lead and make others laugh, even if that person isn't really you.
Farren's version is just more... refined. Polished. Like a well-rehearsed performance.
But the real question is—why is he doing it?
I can't think of a reason. Not a solid one, at least.
But then again... I don't actually know him. Not really. Even though Ronan, Farren, and I have shared good moments—goofed around, messed up quests together, argued over dumb stuff—I've never really asked about their pasts. Never heard their real stories.
Then again... I haven't exactly told them mine either.
"So, by the way," Farren started, walking over with a bottle of wine and two glasses in hand. "It's clear you've been through some stuff... So how's it been so far? Hanging around with us, I mean—our party." He sat down and slid one of the glasses across to me, then casually poured a generous amount into each. "I hope we've made things a little lighter for you."
He knows I've been through stuff? Is it that obvious?
I know he's aware I'm not from this world—and that I've lost things. But… have I ever told them about the really bad parts? The stuff I don't say out loud?
"You can see that, huh?" I asked, fingers brushing around the base of my glass. "Well… thanks to you guys, I've been able to move away from my past. A bit at least. Maybe even more than a bit. Especially thanks to you and Ronan."
I lifted the glass slowly, letting the scent of the wine hit before I continued, "So… thank you."
He nodded, soft and sincere.
"But anyway," I added, watching the wine swirl, "how much do you actually know about the stuff I've been through? My past?"
Farren leaned back slightly, raising his own glass. "I'm happy to be that person for you—like how Ronan and the others were for me," he said, then moved his glass toward the center.
I met his halfway. Clink. The soft ring of glass echoed faintly between us.
"Cheers," I muttered.
"Cheers," he echoed, then took a small sip, his movements calm, deliberate. He brought the glass back near the table, absentmindedly circling it against the wood.
"Well, what do I know about you?" he said after a short pause. "To be honest... nothing for sure. I just had a feeling. I don't know the details, but I've always felt like we've both been through... something. Different things maybe, but with the same kind of weight."
"I see," I nodded, sipping mine. "So, what made you notice? You think the others picked up on anything?"
"It's in your eyes," he said simply. "The way you talk. The way you carry yourself sometimes. I come from a similar place, that's why I recognized it. But no—I don't think the others know. I doubt they even suspect you've got a darker past."
He spoke with a calm I hadn't heard from him before. Like this was the version of him that rarely got to talk. Or maybe the one he kept locked up.
"I figured something like that," I said. "I've noticed things about you too, you know. How you act all loud and noisy, always cracking jokes, pulling focus. Like you're trying to distract yourself... so you don't have to think too hard. Or feel too much."
He chuckled softly, a little surprised. "Damn... nailed me."
Our eyes met for a second—just long enough to acknowledge it. The unspoken thing. That shared ache behind the act.
"Yeah," he said, more quietly now. "Truth is, I can't really accept myself. Not because of who I am, but because of who I used to be. So I pretend. I become someone who isn't me. Someone easier to live with."
He looked at the wine in his glass like it held some kind of answer.
"Even now, I'm putting on a mask. Just a different one." He looked up again. "But you... it feels like you've started being yourself lately. That's something. I really admire that. I hope I can get there someday too."
I didn't know what to say right away. But I got it. Even if our paths were different, we were walking in the same kind of shadow.
"Thank you," I say, my voice low, fingers gently resting on the side of the glass. "But honestly... I wouldn't have been able to take even one step out of that shadow if it weren't for you and the others."
I glance at him, a faint smile tugging at my lips—but it's tired. Honest.
"I've moved forward, yeah… but fully accepting myself? I don't think I ever will. Not really. And maybe that's okay. Maybe neither of us have to."
Farren seemed satisfied… yet distant, like always. It was clear—there's something buried deep inside him, something he can't let go of. And honestly, I don't think it's something words could fix. Whatever it is, he'll have to face it himself, in his own time. I know how that feels. I never faced my own past either—not really. I was just lucky I didn't have to.
So we just sat there. Time passed. No words needed to fill the silence. Just the sound of wine gently swirling in our glasses, and a quiet room thick with unspoken things. There was more said in that silence, in a single glance, than a whole conversation could've managed.
2
"Mind if I sit down?" I ask softly, careful not to disturb her calm too much.
"Oh, hi Kaito. You're welcome to." Althea looks up from her book briefly, offering a small smile before her eyes drift right back to the pages in front of her.
"Thanks." I set my two books down on the table and take a seat beside her. I pick one up and flip it open, quickly getting into it. One of them is about the history of this region, the other covers various labyrinths—not the one we're about to explore, unfortunately, but still useful. There's always something to learn.
Still… curiosity gets the better of me. "Hey, what are you reading?" I ask, leaning slightly to try and glimpse the title on her page.
"I found something about a labyrinth near the town of Sandory," she replies without looking up. "It's mostly just basic stuff so far—general warnings, structure patterns, the usual. But I'm hoping it'll go deeper later on. There might be notes on unique features or creatures tied to it, so I'm sticking with it for now."
"I see. Sounds like a solid choice," I said, giving a small nod as I leaned back in my chair.
"Mhm," Althea hummed without looking up, her eyes already drifting back to the pages like the conversation never happened. Yeah… not much interest in keeping it going, huh.
Well, guess she's not the chatty type. Probably better not to push it.
I settle into my seat, keeping quiet… just me, my book, and the ever-growing silence between us. Reading, or at least trying to. My eyes drag across the lines, but my brain's barely keeping up. I catch myself tapping my finger against the table—over and over again.
Her eyes flick toward me every so often, small glances from behind her book. I don't think she's moved an inch since I sat down, other than the few moments I broke her rhythm. How the hell can she just sit there, locked in like that?
I mean, sure—I'm reading too, but… even I can't focus for that long without music or something in the background. I get distracted way too easily if it's just me and the book. Unless I'm really into it, my brain just starts drifting.
Well, guess I'll try to read a bit longer and then crash for the night. I should probably be well-rested for tomorrow anyway. Wouldn't wanna stumble into the labyrinth half-asleep—that'd be a pretty bad look for a "brave adventurer." Reading late always wrecks me the next morning.
And there I sat, reading for… I don't know? About half an hour more at least? I didn't really find much useful information, sadly—but hey, I came across a few decent things to keep in mind. Hopefully Althea had better luck digging up something good for tomorrow.
Maybe even Orin found something. I heard he was planning to ask around town for info about the labyrinth. We can only hope he got something solid.
Well, I better head out. I do wonder, though—how long is Althea planning to keep reading? Then again, she's smarter than most of us when it comes to this stuff. She knows we've gotta be rested up for tomorrow, so I shouldn't worry too much. Still… I hope she can actually sleep, especially with Sela out there, wandering around town at night.
In the best case, maybe Althea finds her and brings her back. Who knows, maybe she's got some kind of spell to track Sela's mana or something. That'd be pretty useful.
"Well… I'm gonna hit the bed for tonight. See you, and good luck finding anything useful," I say as I stretch my arms into the air, pushing back the chair before grabbing the books and heading off.
"Yeah, good night, Kaito," she responds casually, waving me off without even looking up. Not even a glance? Dang… guess she's deep into whatever she's reading.
I quietly return the books to the shelf and step out of the library. The night air greets me the moment I step outside—cool, quiet, and calm. Thankfully, the inn is just across the street.
I cross over slowly, hands tucked in my pockets, eyes flicking up to the star-scattered sky.
Then, heading up the creaky stairs of the inn and into my room, I get ready for bed without much thought. Just the usual routine.
Tomorrow's the day… I just hope we'll be alright in there. Whether we even make it far or not—it's hard to say. Maybe we'll take it slow. Could be a matter of days… weeks, even, before we reach the end. Who knows.
Certainly not me.
I let the thoughts drift away as I settle under the sheets. My eyes close slowly, and the weight of the day starts to fade from my body. I feel myself slipping into sleep—
But then, there in the dark, something flickers at the edge of my mind. A number I didn't want to think about. A number I ignored last night.
A number I can't ignore now. And as I saw it… felt it even, it was like a chill ran down my spine… like I froze.
My chest tightened—there was this burning scent, faint and sudden, like it came from nowhere.
Like I'm scared of it…
"…29…"
3
Everyone had gathered around a table in the inn's bar, starting off the morning by getting ready for the labyrinth. Orin stood while the rest of us sat, most of us already set to dive into the planning… Almost.
"…So, where the hell is Ronan? Still sleeping? How did Sela get up before him?!" Orin snapped, his voice sharp with irritation. He let out an annoyed sigh before muttering, "Whatever. Let's start without him."
Sela, listening to his outburst, just looked around the table awkwardly—looking as silly as always… Though yeah, how did Sela of all people wake up so early? Especially knowing she was definitely up late last night…
And do we even know if Ronan is sleeping? Sleeping in this inn, at least? Or is he outside somewhere… I swear, if I see him walk in here with two ladies on each arm—Neh, Ronan with women? I don't know any girl that'd wanna be close to him with the way he acts. We got Althea as a prime example… Sela doesn't count.
"First off, I'd like to know if any of you have gotten any useful information," Orin says, looking over us, waiting for someone to speak up. Well… I guess I should let Althea go first. She's probably got the most useful info, or at least I hope she does. I haven't really come across anything too helpful. And I doubt Sela or Farren have found anything either.
Anyways… What did I learn? I guess I got some info about the history of this place, but while it was interesting, none of it was useful for approaching the labyrinth. The only thing useful was some general knowledge about labyrinths—like the different types, at least the common ones, and how their difficulty scales. But there was nothing specifically about this labyrinth.
At least I'll know what the others are talking about if they bring up any of that stuff, or general info about labyrinths.
Actually, I did find something specific to this labyrinth. It was in the textbook, but only as an example. Some labyrinths have had people disappear inside them… The strange part is, only some of the missing people were found later on—but not in the labyrinth. I'm not sure how that helps, other than the fact that we should be aware that there could be something in this labyrinth that isn't ordinary.
"I didn't find too much useful information, but I did find some stuff. First thing is, no one really knows how difficult this labyrinth is. It seems like it'll be somewhere between a level 3 and 4… maybe even a 5. The main reason for such a high ranking is because people have been disappearing inside of it. No bodies found, nothing. It might have something to do with teleportation or… something like that." Althea answers, her tone well-paced and serious — much more serious than usual.
Maybe it's because this labyrinth is on the higher end of the rankings… A labyrinth's difficulty ranges from 1 to 5, with 1 being the easiest and 5 being the deadliest. It's usually based on how many casualties have happened and the creatures living inside.
"About that—about people disappearing and maybe it being due to teleportation—I'd say the same. The people who disappeared… some of them were actually found later. So that would mean they weren't killed, but rather transported somewhere. Whether it's teleportation or something else though, I don't think we can be sure," I add on.
Not that I would really know… this is all new to me. I don't even fully understand this world yet. I mean, I guess some other form of transportation could be possible too, even though teleportation sounds like the most obvious answer to me.
"Though, as said, I don't think we can be sure it's teleportation. It's a really high-ranked magic… I haven't even heard of anyone who can use it. I did learn somewhere that teleportation magic is possible if you mix the right basic magics together with enough skill," I continue.
Though thinking about it, I guess I read that back in the other world… in Luminara Kingdom. Still, this world and that one seem connected somehow. I mean, why else would they use the same alphabet, for example?
"I see. Thank you," Orin said, giving a firm nod. He paused for a moment, organizing his thoughts before continuing, his gaze steady across the table. "So... we're dealing with teleportation—or at least, that's what we think—and a labyrinth ranked somewhere between three and four." He drew in a slow breath, letting it out in a small sigh. "We'll take it slow. No rushing. We move carefully, explore little by little. If we get separated because we got careless, it could end badly. That's something we can't afford."
He leaned forward slightly, resting one hand on the table, his expression serious but calm. "That being said... we're not likely to be killed just by the teleportation itself, whatever it is. I believe all of us are capable enough to survive even if we do get separated—though obviously, we'll avoid that as much as possible."
Orin's eyes drifted over to me, lingering for a second longer before he spoke again, his voice a little lower.
"Still... if there's anyone I'd worry about the most, it's Kaito," he said, a half-smirk flashing across his face, quickly fading back to a more serious look. "He's smart. Smarter than most of us, honestly. And he's a full member of our party—we're not leaving him behind, no matter what." He drummed his fingers lightly against the wood, thinking. "But... he's not the strongest fighter. If he ends up alone, it's not impossible he could get injured. Or worse."
Orin shook his head lightly, a small, almost fond sigh slipping out. "Maybe I'm overthinking it. Kaito's clever—he'd survive on his own if he had to. Still... all the more reason we keep a close eye on him."
Well... thanks, I guess. I mean, he's kinda making me speechless over here... What should I even say? He's right, though. I wouldn't really call myself that smart, but hey, I'll take the compliment.
"Yeah, for sure. We'll take good care of our little Kaito," Farren said, flashing me a teasing grin, his eyes glinting with that usual mischievous light.
But then, something shifted. His expression softened, the joking look fading into something more genuine—something you didn't often see from him.
"But honestly... we shouldn't worry too much," he said, voice a bit steadier now, more sincere. "I'm sure Kaito wouldn't want us treating him like some kid we gotta babysit. He's tough. Maybe not the strongest when it comes to raw strength, sure... but he's smart. He knows what he's doing. I trust him to make it through whatever comes his way."
Farren leaned back with a small, crooked smile, a familiar spark returning to his voice. "And if he does get himself hurt, well... I'll just beat him up for making me worry."
Bruh… I swear I can't bring myself to talk like this… They are way too nice… "Thank you…" I say, the only thing I got out of my mouth.
Bruh… I swear, I can't bring myself to talk like this... They're way too nice.
"Thank you..." I muttered, the only thing I could get out of my mouth.
"I see," Orin said, giving a small nod. "And I think you're right. If anyone should be looking after Kaito in there, it should be you or Ronan... or maybe both."
His gaze drifted off slightly, like he was thinking ahead, steady and composed.
"Putting that aside," he continued, voice calm but firm, "there's one thing we definitely need to keep in mind. For the mages—Kaito, Sela, and Althea—do not use any spells that could cause heavy destruction. We don't want the cave collapsing on top of us. Of course, it depends on what the labyrinth looks like once we get inside, but either way, you should be careful with your magic."
"Also, I'd recommend keeping fire magic to a minimum. The last thing we need is the cave filling with smoke or turning into an oven."
"Understood. I'll stick to water and wind magic," Althea said, her voice calm and steady. "Earth magic would likely cause too much damage, and I'm not as skilled with lightning as I am with water and earth."
"Eh, doesn't really matter for me," Sela chimed in with a little grin. "I pretty much only use lightning anyway, so whatever."
It wasn't exactly the most serious response, but then again, Sela trying to act serious even now would just feel... wrong.
I gave a quiet nod. Honestly, I don't have much of a choice. I can't use earth or fire magic yet — only water. And it's not like my water magic causes much destruction anyway. I'll probably just stick to using my sword in there.
"Alright, good. Now, for how we'll approach this," Orin says, his gaze steady as he looks around the table. "I'll take the lead up front. Ronan and Farren will follow right behind me. Kaito, you stay in the middle — keep a bit of distance from them, but stay ahead of Althea and Sela. Althea and Sela, you'll cover the rear. That way, we're protected on all sides, and we can react fast if something happens. Sound good?"
"Yes," we all responded to Orin in unison.
It sounded well thought-out. Though, I suppose depending on how the place looks inside, we might need to adjust our positioning a bit.
And just because I'm in the middle doesn't mean I'll just be tagging along doing nothing — actually, I think that's exactly why Orin put me there. With Ronan, Farren, and Orin leading the front and Althea and Sela guarding the rear, I'll have the space to keep an eye out — watching for anything the others might miss.
My job isn't just to stay safe. It's to cover the blind spots they can't see.
"Even though we have a positioning plan mapped out, we need to stay flexible once we're inside," Orin said, his voice steady as he glanced around at each of us. "Depending on how the labyrinth is built, we might need to shift around. But for now, this is the formation we'll start with."
He took a small pause, as if organizing his thoughts, then continued with a firmer tone. "Now, let's go over everyone's roles, just to be clear. Ronan and Farren — your job's simple: keep the front safe and cut down anything that comes at us head-on. I'll back you up if needed."
He briefly looked at me. "Kaito — you'll be our eyes. Watch the blind spots and stay sharp. If you spot anything suspicious, don't hold it in — speak up. I won't have the time to lead, fight, and analyze everything at once. I'll be relying on you for that."
Then his gaze shifted toward Althea and Sela. "Althea — your focus is twofold: keep an eye on the labyrinth's mana flow and try to figure out anything related to the teleportation phenomenon. And while you're at it, defend the sides and rear, and jump in at the front if we need backup."
He turned to Sela, softening his voice just slightly. "Sela — you'll support Althea. You might also need to use your lightning to scout ahead quickly or light up the darker areas so the rest of us can fight properly."
Orin gave a small nod, as if to say he trusted all of us to handle it.
We all nodded in quiet agreement.
With that, it felt like we were done.
Orin let his shoulders relax slightly, stretching his back with a brief sigh.
"Well… now we wait for Ronan," he said, glancing toward the distance. "Once he's back, we'll move out and approach the labyrinth."