When Lon opened the door, he immediately felt the gentle warmth of the sun strike his face. He was back in the same place where he had entered the wooden house.
He looked around and realized that nothing had changed during his absence. People were still walking by, paying no attention to the strange wooden structure he had just exited.
He sighed.
«Such a powerful ability... I wonder if I'll ever become a Woven one day. And if I do, will I be as strong? I guess that's a question for my inner self. Even if I do become a Woven, it doesn't guarantee I'll be strong right away... Though I still don't fully understand how this system works. But I think, to reach Grendel's level, you'd have to be a true master.»
Today, he had seen a Woven — and not just any Woven, but a very powerful one. That alone was a promising start to his exploration of the world. And he had received a valuable item from him, one that would greatly help him in the future.
«Looks like Dilan and the others were wrong. They said the Woven are arrogant and self-important, but I didn't see that in Grendel at all... Or maybe I just got lucky to meet one like him.» — Lon smiled bitterly.
He shook his head and turned around, hoping to see the wooden house once more.
But all he saw was a regular storefront window, displaying various types of clothing.
«That was fast.»
Lon wasn't too surprised — he had expected something like this. A secret store housed in a wooden cabin wouldn't just sit in the middle of a street forever. Naturally, it would disappear and move on to another place.
He sighed again, feeling a slight tinge of sadness. But he quickly regained his composure and looked at the people walking by.
He waited patiently for his body to return to a fully conscious state so he could head home properly. Of course, he could have just walked home directly, and probably arrived faster — but something told him that wouldn't be wise.
His intuition told him not to rush.
So he stood aside and waited for that moment. While he waited, he imagined different ways he could use such an ability.
«Since I'm partially intangible, I could commit all sorts of crimes... Like stealing from a shop by simply taking the items, or riding public transport without paying... But of course, I wouldn't actually do that. If you have the ability to pay, it's better to pay than to steal. Besides, I don't know how long I'll stay in this state. It'd be a bit awkward if I suddenly reappeared in the middle of a tram...»
As Lon thought about this, he felt the outside air growing stronger and his body growing heavier — a sign that he was returning to his normal form.
«Finally, I'm back. That was a strange experience... one I'll remember for a long time. Now, it's time to see Renvel's house.»
Lon stepped out of the alleyway and headed toward Renvel's home, eager to finally see it.
===
Lon arrived at a quiet street lined with two-story houses. Each of them was different — each had its own unique design and variation. They looked fresh and unusual, as if each one housed a quirky neighbor full of stories to tell.
As he walked, Lon glanced around repeatedly, taking in every possible design and marveling at them. Even though he had Renvel's memories, experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.
For him, this kind of neighborhood was new. He had spent his entire life in a cramped three-room apartment back in his previous world — one without proper heating. That's why his reaction was so full of awe.
He was a little disappointed to know these houses probably didn't have all the comforts of modern civilization. But it didn't bother him too much — with Santi's books and the nature of this world, he would find alternatives and keep himself busy for a long time.
As Lon continued admiring the houses, he noticed an old man walking ahead.
The old man had gray hair and brown eyes. His face was a bit thin, clean-shaven, and his expression looked tired, as if he hadn't slept in days. He wore a white shirt tucked into trousers, held up by two black suspenders, and brown leather shoes.
Despite his age, he looked neat and well-organized — suggesting he was part of the middle class.
Lon recognized him immediately — it was Mr. Sanderson, who liked to take walks here from time to time to clear his head.
According to Renvel's memories, this man was kind and helpful, always willing to assist those in need. He frequently visited Renvel's home to lend a hand.
He had never married and had no family of his own, which gave rise to a deep affection for the local children. The other parents didn't mind him spending time with their kids — he was highly educated and often taught them useful things.
Sanderson was happy to do it too — it gave him a reason to stay active and spend more time with them.
«Sanderson... just a lonely old man with no family... What a shame.»
He was a pitiful figure. Remaining single his whole life, now he tried to fill that emptiness by teaching the neighborhood kids. Lon didn't think it was a bad thing — just sad. It was clear he was trying to cover up the void inside.
Still, no matter how much he thought about it, Lon felt something like closeness toward Sanderson. Most likely, it was Renvel's memories influencing his emotions again.
Lon shook his head and pushed the thoughts away. He simply smiled and called out:
— Good afternoon, Mr. Sanderson!
The old man lifted his tired eyes and saw Lon reaching out a hand toward him.
A spark lit up in his eyes, and he gave Lon a wide smile, shaking his hand warmly.
— Well, look who it is! Isn't it our very own engineer, Renvel Habott! How many days has it been since we last met? Two weeks? Or three?
Lon chuckled and replied:
— Mr. Sanderson, it's been two weeks. As you know, there was a malfunction at work… which landed me in the hospital for two weeks. But fortunately, my injuries weren't too serious, so they released me today.
Sanderson shook his head.
— Yes, I heard about your hospital stay from Donald. I was surprised, really. It was some kind of malfunction in the new engine, right?
Lon nodded.
— Yes. There was a failure in the new engine, and it exploded... Luckily, no one died. Just twenty people were injured.
The old man nodded thoughtfully, then asked:
— That's good. As long as everyone survived, that's what matters. I assume you're heading home now? I could invite you in for some tea. — he gestured toward his house. — Just like the old days.
But Lon gently shook his head and sighed:
— I'm sorry, Mr. Sanderson… But today, I'd like to be alone at home.
Sanderson looked a little disappointed, but smiled nonetheless and said:
— That's alright. I understand. You've been away from home for two weeks, of course you want to be there. Nothing wrong with that.
— Then, see you tomorrow, Renvel! — he said, continuing down the path.
Lon watched the old man's back and called out:
— You too!
Then he turned away and continued on his way home.