《Return to You Who is Lost [BL]》 Guide Terminology: Calibre: Originally comes from the world core. It is the manifestation of a user''s willpower and intelligence. It can be in two forms; mental and physical abilities to fight against the threats (monsters) in this world. These people who possess Calibre are called ability users. Outer core: A fallen asteroid from another universe, the origin of Calibre. Monsters: Corrupted life forms that are attracted to the aura of Calibre. They lurk in every corner of the world. Clicker: A camera equivalent Recollect: A printed picture Continents and places: Empire of Eir: A prosperous nation that ruled the North. Its military and political strength is one of the world''s most powerful, hence dominating and conquering its neighbouring countries to expand its territory. Currently, there is rising tension between the Empire of Eir and Ordin. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. New Eternal: The capital city of the Empire of Eir. It is the heartland of celebration. The La Eir Imperial Palace is situated in the city, alongside the 4 Duke houses. Ordin: A country famous for its trade and sea ports. Situated near the coast and next to the Empire of Eir, there is a rising threat posed by the Empire of Eir and potential war to spark. For now, it remained politically neutral as it thrived to serve as a trading port for trading and exchange between the rest of the countries. Orias Port: The capital city of Ordin where central trade takes place. The fish near the port are exceptionally rich and taste scrumptious. No Man''s Land: A deserted, waste land full of war remains. It is situated between the borders of the Empire of Eir and Ordin. Nobody officially owns the land due to its desolated state. Organisation/Society: The Guild: A trading hub with many bounties and services. One such service is delivering. The Cleaner Crew: Provide protection and external services. Devoured Sun: An underground organisation assisting the operation of Eligos Restoration Project. Eligos Restoration Project: A project to conquer Ordin for its natural resources and exploitation. (Old Eligos was the capital city renamed as New Eternal ) Orient Express: An opulent train service that connects from Orias Port to Agares Agnes. Character information will be updated separately. Prologue ¡°Focus, Yohan.¡± An exasperated voice demanded his attention. Snapping back into reality, he faced a man who was sitting opposite of him. Dressed in a silk bathrobe draped over his shoulders with a wide exposure of muscular physique; as if crafted by the hands of Michelangelo himself, made him look like a living depiction of a European god¡¯s sculpture. His face¡ª as if carved by gods with his emerald eyes embedded like gems, he was the second prince of the Empire of Eir, Laurent Carlos La Eir. He narrowed his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows, revealing an impatient expression. ¡°Did you hear what I said to you? Your mind is running off somewhere again.¡± ¡°I apologise for my ignorance, Your Highness,¡± Yohan replied weakly, casting an uncomfortable glance to the side. He awkwardly straightened his back, feeling the immense pressure from the other party. However, he regained his composure, remembering his duty as His Highness¡¯s bodyguard. ¡°We could discuss this tomorrow. More importantly, you shouldn¡¯t be out of your chamber, Your Highness. If Sebastian was to notice your absence, it would alarm the whole palace,¡± Yohan firmly warned. He carefully collected the empty teacups on the table and walked away, excusing himself. In the bathroom, Yohan slowly washed the cups. Taking his time, he noticed a weary young man with tousled black hair in his reflection, having an overall depressive appearance. He tried to smile, but his eyes couldn¡¯t hide his exhaustion. Exhausted from living twice. In his first life, he was a poor college student in the modern world, named Yu De. He lived his life without his childhood memories, and was abandoned by his adopted parents. Because of his upbringing, he rarely interacted with anyone, and sought solace in his solitude, detached from his struggles to make ends meet. However his suffering was short lived. On his usual trip to the convenience store, he was fatally hit by a truck, ending his obscure life. When he opened his eyes, he was bewildered to be transmigrated into a game world that took place in mediaeval times. A system introduced itself and requested one thing from the player. [Completing missions is, and should be your priority, your return to your original world, and will only be guaranteed if you achieve the ''death ending'' !] ¡®¡­Imagine being relieved that you got a chance to live again, just to be asked to die for world peace¡¯ He protested. However, living in an unfamiliar world with no prior knowledge, he was left no choice but to walk down the scripted path. He set off to be an Imperial Knight, working his way up to be the right-hand man of the Crown Prince, and aided in the war against Ordin, the neighbouring country. It was once famous for its capital city, Orias Port, a popular trading hub where the world¡¯s trade took place due to its convenient geographical location. It had an abundance of natural resources and minerals, making its land rich and valuable. Between the borders of the two countries, there was a barren land named ¡°No Man¡¯s land¡±. The land that was once stretched over with light blue skies that painted the horizon, a portrait that contained beauties of every possible shade was now replaced with a dull grey hue. The only colour in sight. It was a phenomenon resulting from the residue degradation of the waste land, filled with rotten corpses and monsters. Clouds that resembled spirals formed a vortex in the sky, a mesmerising yet ominous sight. Years ago, miners discovered the vortex and began drilling deep into the uninhabitable ground. Scholars suspected it to be caused by the ¡®Outer-core¡¯¡ª the origin of Calibre. Calibre was the manifestation of the souls¡¯ will. It could be categorised into mental and physical abilities. Physical abilities could manipulate the invisible forces and natural phenomena that could change the natural laws, or a straightforward enhancement of one¡¯s physical state. While mental abilities could affect psychological behaviour. However, Calibre was not omnipotent, it had its properties and restrictions, limited to humans¡¯ capability. Since he was absent from the world¡¯s database, Yohan was not bound by any phenomenon present in this world. Unable to manifest a Calibre, the system granted him an ability, ¡°Nothingness¡±. His ability was self-beneficial and acted as a defence mechanism¡ª to fully resist any mental abilities. This helped him to create a misunderstanding that he held a mystery Calibre, instilling fear in his enemies. However, that fear came from his swordsmanship, not his ability. With this, he completed his missions, bringing victory back to the Empire of Eir. The Emperor commended his effort, bestowing him with the title of ¡®Count¡¯, estates and special rights. The citizens called him the Hero of Eir and celebrated the success of the war. It was then the system revealed his actual role, The Betrayer. Him deliberately sharing hopes with the people, gaining trust with his comrades, and his sincerity towards Laurent were all stepping stones to achieve his death ending. Infuriated by the system¡¯s deception, he sought his own way to live his life¡ª to experience emotions he previously didn¡¯t have. Alas, The system made no exception to his defiance. [Player Yohan, if you continue your obscene behaviour with the male lead, it will be ruled as a violation. You will receive punishment for not complying to the system¡¯s rules.] It warned. ¡°Violation?¡± He raised his voice. ¡°You didn''t say anything about- hah, never mind. Tell me what¡¯s the punishment.¡± [A forced death.] The unpleasant memories flooded his mind as the water flowed from the tap filled the basin, submerging the two cups. A hand from behind closed the tap lightly, and tightly wrapped his arm around Yohan¡¯s waist. He snuggled his head on his shoulder, his golden hair, brushed against his skin as he whispered pitifully. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is it because I was acting harsh on you just now? If so, please forgive me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that, your highness,¡± Yohan sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Just what?¡± Laurent sharply raised his voice. His elongated fingers that were ruffling his hair cupped his cheeks. With a serious face, he took a deep breath and finally gave his ultimatum. ¡°For many days, you have been acting distant, as if you¡¯re a stranger. You know how many people value you, right? Everyone is worried about you, your health and your mood. I don¡¯t need you to protect me or my Empire if the burdens you¡¯re shouldering drain your life away. So please, Yohan, don¡¯t be so hard on yourself.¡± Yohan pushed Laurent¡¯s hands away, his dull eyes on the brink of tears. However it wasn¡¯t Laurent that made him emotional. [Warning! Warning! Close contact, ¡ª- story -progression: negative.] [Punishment- instilled] ¡°N-no,¡± he mumbled. His eyes shaken in fear, fixated at a certain angle. Clenching his lips, Laurent pulled Yohan¡¯s arm into the darkness. The harsh force threw Yohan and pinned him down onto the bed as if gravity was concentrated only on his body¡ª rendering him unable to escape. Panicked, he begged Laurent. ¡°Wait, wait-Mhm-m,¡± He grabbed his chin and pulled it closer. Yohan struggled against his force, gripping the edge of his clothes over his shoulder. However, his mouth intruded his, both their tongues entwined, spiralling into a dance of dominance. Yohan widened his eyes as it met his, which reflected an uncut aventurine¡ª translucent and pellucid. Captivated by his gaze, Yohan¡¯s guarded nature melted, letting unfamiliar moans escape his mouth. In his last ditch effort, he forcefully turned his head away from Laurent, gasping for air. ¡°Yohan,¡± his voice commanded. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡± ¡°Walk away now, and I¡¯ll let you go. If you look back in my direction, I¡¯ll do what I want to you.¡± Laurent softened his expression to mask his possessiveness, his eyes prying onto his prey. Yohan could feel his glare, leaving him defenceless against his touch after the clash of their warmth. Everywhere his eyes went, the system screen always followed, watching his every move and decision, twisting it into its favour. So why should he hesitate? Relaxing his tense body, his eyes slowly locked in his, welcoming Laurent to his embrace. His mouth explored every part of Yohan, from his cheeks to his collarbone. His fingers busily unbuttoned their shirts, allowing him to feel skin-to-skin. His tongue rolled around Yohan¡¯s chest, the traces warming the sweat; like a cat marking its territory. His teeth bit at the tip and softly pulled. His lips kissed his chest and nibbled, playing with his dessert. Overstimulated, Yohan squirmed in his embrace, feeling a stiff erection. His watery eyes peek at his uncontrollable body, twitching in every orgasm. Laurent¡¯s enlarged hand sneaked down and held it. Slowly, he rubbed and stroked rhythmically, teasing Yohan¡¯s patience. He could feel their connection together, weakening his resolve to push Laurent away. Heat clouded his judgement as he was taken away by pure ecstasy. Everywhere Laurent touched heightened his senses. [Warning! Violation!] It repeatedly rang in his head. But the man who had absorbed his entirety, was what¡¯s left of his consciousness. His eyes blurred, and his hearing muffled. Squinting his eyes, his raised arms, embracing the man above him, surrendering himself to his desire. The momentum became faster, the wet squelched between his hands did not miss a beat, releasing its load. ¡°A-ah, that¡¯s so-!¡± Yohan exclaimed sheepishly. ¡°You¡¯re embarrassed already? We¡¯re just getting started,¡± Laurent continued. His lewd expression was like a wild beast, ravishing his entirety. His slippery fingers sneakily entered, rubbing against his inner wall. The walls hugged the shape of his fingers, pushing it deeper into the chasm. It consumed his fingers tightly as he twisted around, coating every area. Pressing a specific area, Yohan violently jerked. ¡°You¡¯re taking it well, but relax more,¡± he instructed. Yohan struggled to keep calm, his toes curled and his hands lost their grip, like shocks zapped against his will. Laurent¡¯s touch electrified his heated body as the tip of his fingers burnt his skin, saturating his intense thoughts. After ejacualating, his legs weakened and folded onto the bed. However, Laurent¡¯s hands gripped his thighs and spread them, leaving red marks. ¡°I¡¯m not done,¡± Laurent licked his lips. ¡°A-hmph, mh¡­ aurgh, huh?¡± Discreetly, he pressed his against Yohan¡¯s bottom half. ¡°Hic!¡± A terrified sharp inhale heard. The tip entered into the leaking membrane, roughly pushing through its way. Pain resonated through their nerves, his veins paled through his skin as Laurent entered ruthlessly. Yohan arched backwards and grasped. He clenched the bedsheet as he squirmed around, coping with the sudden pain. Tears fell as he struggled to keep up with the pace. Laurent lifted his legs up onto his shoulders and mercilessly thrusted. He felt his body being dragged down, wrinkling the once smoothen white sheet. It was a surreal feeling; it felt so repulsive and yet, his thirst was quenched. To reassure Yohan, Laurent¡¯s hand touched his clenched fist and invaded his fingers¡¯ space, forcing their fingers to intertwine. ¡°Aurgh, ah hah, hah¡­ pls¡± Yohan pleaded. ¡°Are you going to push me away?¡± He whispered airily. ¡°I¡¯m trying very hard to understand your hesitation.¡± Taking short breaths, Yohan mustered a dry voice. ¡°That¡¯s not what I want.¡± His hands covering his eyes to hide away his breaking point, his fingers massaging his swollen eyes. Shocked by his reaction, Laurent¡¯s body froze. Taking it out, his lonesome shadow blended into the darkness, hiding his expression. ¡°I-I,¡± His voice trembled. ¡°No, listen Laurent,¡± Yohan hurriedly corrected himself, swiping the system¡¯s window invisibly fast to the side. Gathering his strength, he lifted his body weight onto his calves and sat upright, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling of the warm discharge dripping down his feet. In that moment of silence, they said simultaneously. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m in the wrong,¡± ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± Yohan shook his head. ¡°I do owe you an explanation. However, you must understand everything has its reason. Sometimes, the truth is¡­ beyond your understanding.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t tell me? Who is forcing you?¡± Laurent questioned. ¡°No one.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me out of obligation.¡± The words Yohan desperately wished to say were swallowed. He could hear the shakiness of his voice, the pretence in his composure. ¡°I can¡¯t promise you anything. But, I will try my best to accompany you,¡± Yohan caresses the confused face. ¡°You¡¯re the people''s sun, you can''t risk it all for some half-hearted feelings. For us to be together shows how much we have already sacrificed.¡± ¡°¡­ I have no excuses. When it comes for you to decide, you can resent me.¡± ¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡± Laurent wailed aguishly. His bleary eyes reflected his fragility, glistening in clarity and desperation. If eyes were windows to the soul, they had given their inner selves to each other. Laurent''s head drooped defeatedly. He knew that questioning Yohan any further would put a strain on their relationship. Hugging a fleeting existence that would easily disappear from his grasp, he wondered if Yohan was ever living. ¡°You¡¯re so cruel.¡± Laurent muttered bitterly. Interconnecting their dampened bodies, they kissed passionately. Yohan smiled weakly. ¡°You¡¯re not to be blamed.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª As Yohan gained control of his slipping consciousness, he saw his feet standing on a rough wooden plank. His ears perked as the muffled cheered victoriously, chanting the words ¡°banish¡±, ¡°eradicate¡±, ¡°cleanse¡±. His numb mind was overwhelmed , but he understood the situation he was in. In front of him was an angry mob, violently throwing their hands out and shouting incessantly. Above the elevated platform, a hanging rope swayed along with the breezy wind. Then, he looked to his side where the imperial royal family sat stoic on their thrones. The emperor slanted his body, supporting his chin with his palm while tapping the armrest restlessly. Next to him was the second prince, sitting unnervingly on the plain throne. His body flinched, yet he looked in the other direction. His eyes darkened to the colour of natural emerald and his lips were dried. Once an astute man, who had become an empty shell of his former self, left to deal with the aftermath. As the rope tightened behind Yohan, strangely, he felt more regret than fear. For once, he felt a strong tug at the heartstrings, aching for the warmth he neglected long ago. He couldn¡¯t help but to smile bitterly. He did everything he could to love Laurent, despite the Emperor¡¯s decree to eradicate same-sex relationships. He felt defeated, achieving the death ending that he wanted to avoid the most. He didn¡¯t want to return back to his original world¡ª a world that ignored his desperate cry. [Ding!] [Congrats to Yohan, §¥rocicdo wgsvvxo? obpybqs? o,pybqod?] His remaining will dissipate after seeing the system notification. Before he could understand it, another system notification popped up. [?¦Ö?????=?] It was the first of many. Soon later, the same messages were overlapping and glitching. Yohan was taken aback. ¡®Is the system glitching? Rebooting? What is going on?¡¯ The unpredictable characters appeared briefly before being replaced by a new set of codes. It was like a whirlwind of numbers, symbols, and characters all mixed together. This abnormality distracted Yohan from his situation. Suddenly, the church bell tolled. A burlap was placed overhead, blocking his vision. The suffocation consumed his thoughts, succumbing to a long battle of peace. Chapter 1: Refracted mirror It felt like a dreamless night. Regaining his strength, he pushed open his heavy eyelids, revealing a slit of light. His vision and consciousness became clearer, as he faced the redwood ceiling above him. He turned his head to scan his surroundings in a daze. After a while, he recognised the familiar house, known as the ¡®customisable hut¡¯. This was where he ¡®spawned¡¯ and met the system after his first death. His arms lifted his body to lay against the bed frame. His throat was parched, but his delayed emotions came like waves, overwhelming him. Clenching the bedsheet, he violently pulled it to his face and tears welled up. With each drop, it left a shaded mark on the blanket. With his head in his hands, he inhaled and screamed, kicking his legs like a child throwing a tantrum. However, it was silent. The sour words were stuck in his throat, unable to voice out. The unbearable suffocation of his heart tightened as his hands ruffled and pulled it to inflict pain. Countless questions ran through his mind. What for to live if he was to be tormented by the facades of emotions and hypocrisy of his actions. He had to find a reasonable excuse to detach himself from his hatred. Something, someone to be his salvation. ¡®It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s fine. At least I get to see Laurent again. If things were to go in the same direction as before; I will give my whole heart to that man who truly understands me with no hesitation. Yes, that¡¯s why.¡¯ After calming himself down, he reluctantly accepted his situation. Preparing himself to greet the system, he touched the mirror in front of the bed. The mirror served as a customised feature, allowing players to change their desired appearance while being briefed by the system, similar to a game tutorial. To his surprise, the mirror didn¡¯t light up. Pressing his finger harder in different directions, the mirror was only left with traces of his fingerprints. ¡®Is the system still rebooting?¡¯ He thought after he faced the system¡¯s abnormality. Seeing the reflection of the default avatar, he confirmed his appearance didn¡¯t change. With the lack of response, he left the mirror alone. Gathering the materials available in the hut, he decided it was best to leave early, away from the system. Stepping out of the door, he halted and fumbled his bag to prepare a few copper coins before he walked down the compacted soil path. Behind the small hut was the capital city of the Empire of Eir, New Eternal. Amongst the minuscule houses, endless motion was taking place within its streets. With an air of excitement for the upcoming Imperial Knights¡¯ Recruitment, banners and flags were placed around as its citizens prepared flowers and gifts, supporting their loved ones who applied for the recruitment. This was the beginning of the game. However, instead of going there for the recruitment, Yohan had other plans. During his gameplay, he thought of many alternate routes. One of them was to be a delivery man for The Guild. The Guild was a global information trading company. It mainly specialised in bounty hunting, but provided other services such as delivering parcels. Many Calibre users joined The Guild to carry out expeditions to collect monsters¡¯ materials to trade for money. Yohan remembered his dealings he had with The Guild before. It was mostly involved in information exchange, but it also presented him an opportunity to use The Guild to transmit confidential military secrets to Agares, the rival power of the Empire of Eir under the system¡¯s schemes. When his betrayal was revealed, it caused a huge commotion, In fact, his initial crime of committing same-sex promiscuity was overlooked as the judge deemed espionage against the Empire of Eir a more serious crime. They also didn¡¯t want to reveal the inner affairs of the second prince¡ª not to tarnish their reputation. The betrayal of the Hero of Eir was enough to bring shame and distrust towards the upper power of the military. Lost in his recollection in his past with the Guild, he heard a galloping sound behind him. The horses neighed loudly as the squeaking wooden wagon rocked against the uneven road. Immediately, Yohan waved his hand to signal the driver that he wished to board the wagon. As the wagon approached him, the driver pulled the leashes and held his hand out, gesturing to him to pay up. He relaxed his clenched hand and the coins fell onto the driver¡¯s palm. Satisfied, he pointed at the back of the wagon with his thumb. Feeling the weight of the wagon as it momentarily swayed, the driver lifted the leashes and started moving. In the wagon was a young teenage boy. He looked around 18 years old, quite fit and was hugging a wooden sword. Curious, Yohan decided to ask his purpose for this trip. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Excuse me, I noticed that you¡¯re carrying a sword, are you heading to the capital city for sword training?¡± He asked. The young boy¡¯s face lit up and replied. ¡°Close to it, I¡¯m actually registering for the Imperial Knights¡¯ recruitment .¡± ¡°Right, the capital city has been busy with the preparation of the recruitment. It must be a rite of passage for you, young boy.¡± ¡°Young boy? Are you not the same age as me? When I first saw you, I thought you were also going to New Eternal for recruitment. By the looks of you, I can imagine you being a knight.¡± The young boy casually praised Yohan. Yohan mumbled a thanks, looking away in embarrassment. ¡®How could I forget that now it¡¯s 10 years in the past?¡¯ ¡°Then, what¡¯s your exact age, sir? I¡¯m Nathan and I¡¯m certain that I looked 18 and older,¡± Nathan pouted. With a closer inspection, he had a sturdy frame with freckles, his immaculate hazelnut hair revealed his pure topaz coloured eyes, shining innocently. Not knowing what to do, Yohan opened his mouth but had a momentary thought. ¡®Should I use the name Yohan again?¡¯ To him, the name carried an immense guilt of his previous life, his entanglement and mistakes. He wanted to start anew, aiming to leave the Empire of Eir¡ªaway from his past. It also didn¡¯t mean anything other than a username. He chose that name because it was the closest to his actual name, Yu De. However, he wished to hear it again, in Laurent¡¯s voice. Even if he was to take a different path; if fate could let them meet together, that would be sufficient. ¡°Yohan¡­ and I think I¡¯m twenty,¡± Yohan answered in uncertainty. ¡°Twenty is not that far from eighteen, but you¡¯re acting like an old man,¡± Nathan jokingly teased. ¡°So, what¡¯s the purpose of your trip?¡± ¡°I am looking for a job from The Guild, specifically delivering parcels.¡± ¡°The Guild? That¡¯s a good choice, in the past, I wanted to go for its bounties after manifesting my Calibre,¡± Nathan shared, clutching and relaxing his hand. Soon, his shadow grew and became three-dimensional, casting a filter of darkness over his arm as he manipulated the shadow. He shifted his finger towards Yohan¡¯s, wearing a cheeky smile. ¡°Don¡¯t flinch, Yohan,¡± he mischievously said. His shadow overtakes Yohan¡¯s shadow, slowly crawling up behind his shoulder. Yohan¡¯s eyes followed the shadow, which seemed to be playing with him. It poked him on his cheeks and absorbed into the shadow that overtook the walls of the wagon. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s cool? I wanted to further enhance my Calibre by receiving the Imperial¡¯s knight training and using it to defend the Empire,¡± he said, expressing his hope. After witnessing his Calibre¡¯s potential, Yohan nodded and encouraged him. ¡°You will become a great knight.¡± Thinking back, he never met anyone whose name was Nathan. With his Calibre, he should be guaranteed a spot in the recruitment. ¡°Words of advice, Nathan. Instead of displaying your Calibre, try to manifest it physically strong enough to cause damage on the training ground. You just need to incorporate your Calibre in your fighting skills to show your strength and wisdom,¡± Yohan advised him. ¡°Wait, why didn''t I think of that?¡± Nathan pondered. Then, he held Yohan¡¯s hands in gratitude, ¡°I knew I was right when I said you could be a knight! Are you sure you don¡¯t want to join the Imperial Knights?¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t have a Calibre,¡±Yohan rejected flatly. ¡°That¡­! Um,¡± Nathan retreated his hands and his face flushed. ¡°Sorry for being insensitive, but still, you could easily be an administrator.¡± ¡°Thanks for recognising my flair in giving advice,¡± Yohan smiled, easing the tension. Nathan relaxed and continued to share his stories. After a while, the wagon arrived at New Eternal. Passing by the gate, the transformation from the quiet nature to a city filled with flying confetti and lively music. Locals crowded at different stalls at Town Central, buying flowers, ribbons and food. Stopping at a horse stable, they were to alight the wagon. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I came here. The mood of the city always hyped me up!¡± Nathan exclaimed as he jumped off the wagon. He stretched his neck out, scanning his surroundings, searching for the Imperial Knights Headquarters. ¡°Nathan, it¡¯s there,¡± I pointed at two vague tall, greyish bricked towers, waving the navy coloured flag of the Empire of Eir behind thousands of cottage houses. ¡°Woah, that¡¯s very far. How did you see that?¡± Nathan asked, his hand blocking the sun as he squinted his eyes. ¡°¡­ we should get going.¡± Yohan said, quietly walking off. ¡°Wait up, you¡¯re walking so fast,¡± he gasped as he looked right and left, distracted by the rows of stalls selling miscellaneous items. As the towers got closer and bigger, it towered over them and Nathan stood still, dazing at its height. Nathan couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and interact with his surroundings, talking to people of his age who shared the same aspirations. Yohan gazed up to the flag that waved proudly. He visited the Headquarters many times, enough to be considered his home. He lived and worked there, training the soldiers and discussing plans. He had fond memories of that place; where he met his comrades-in-arms and everytime they succeeded in their excursions, they would drink recklessly, celebrating the glory of the Empire. Those were the good times. He was well respected and valued as a friend. Yet, he inflicted pain and suffering on his crimes. Most of them couldn¡¯t accept that he did it with a clear conscience. It was true that the Imperial Knights meant a lot to him, but now it was reduced to a place he no longer associated with. ¡°Yohan, thanks for guiding me here. If you¡¯re wondering where The Guild is, it¡¯s just down the street,¡± Nathan cheerfully mentioned. At that moment, an enhanced voice attracted the attention of the crowd. ¡°ATTENTION TO ALL PARTICIPANTS! Please queue up here to sign up for the Imperial Knights¡¯ Recruitment!¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s starting now. I can¡¯t help but feel nervous.¡± Nathan turned around to the long queue, which consisted mostly of experienced mercenaries . Yohan patted Nathan¡¯s shoulder, and reassured him. ¡°Nathan, focus on your desire to be recruited. In battles, skills are not the only factor to win the fight. You have to acquire battle strategies to fully utilise your Calibre and maximise your potential rather than solely relying on physical abilities. Knowing full well of your Calibre¡¯s properties can help you to navigate in battles, so be overwhelmed by others¡¯ experiences.¡± ¡°Yohan¡­¡± Nathan''s eyes glistened like a puppy¡¯s, admiring Yohan¡¯s battle expertise. ¡°Well, Nathan, you shouldn¡¯t be wasting your time hesitating. Be resolute and give your best shot,¡± Yohan finally concluded his well wishes. ¡°Mhm, you too, Yohan. Good luck with The Guild!¡± He returned his blessings and waved goodbye before walking towards the recruitment call. Chapter 2: Over the World Voyage (Pt.1) Arriving at a building that looked like an old British railway interchange with a big clock placed below its dome. Inside, it was full with adventurers, mages, knights, and healers, like the usual RPG games. Most of them chill at The Guild after finishing their bounties and collecting the money. Other than being a place where trading of materials and information took place, every guild had their unique bars and sold specialised drinks corresponding to the countries it was situated. For the Empire of Eir, its iconic drink was called: Over the World Voyage. It was a drink to celebrate one¡¯s voyage in arriving or departing New Eternal for their next journey. In the past, it was his favourite go-to drink. Yohan approached the registration counter at the corner of the hall. The Guild was also an authorised governmental office that could register your name and your citizenship. He had to do this manually due to the absence of the system that automatically signed your name into the Empire of Eir system. However, he didn¡¯t intend to be a citizen of any country, instead, he wanted an identification card. ¡°Hello sir, what do you want to register?¡± A young sweet voice asked. ¡°An Identification card.¡± ¡°Sure. What name do you want to reflect on your ID? Please provide your birthplace and birthday.¡± ¡°Yohan, I¡¯m from Dantalion Valley, born on 8 April¡± he said. ¡°Alright, please face the lenses here for a picture,¡± the kind lady pointed to the side. Due to the rising population of ability users, some innovations such as clickers (cameras) were invented to ease the complex process of drawing portraits and it was substituted with a recollect (picture) that took moments in an instant. With the sound of a ¡®click¡¯, the clicker immediately printed a small pixelated picture of Yohan¡¯s face. Despite not being as advanced as the technology he experienced in his original world, it was considered very impressive. ¡°Thanks for your patience, please wait till around 5 hours for your ID to be processed. In the meantime, do you wish to register for the Empire¡¯s Citizenship?¡± ¡°No. Instead, I want to sign up as a deliveryman for The Guild.¡± The lady at the counter looked at him momentarily before excusing herself to the back. Moments later, her manager came up to him and asked him to stay in a room for an interview. While sitting in the room idly, a bulk, tan skinned muscle built man entered the room. His ash grey hair covered a scar on his right eye¡ª painting a tale of experience and hardship. The Delivery Department¡¯s motto was ¡°Deliver all round the world¡±. This included dangerous areas as potential destinations. Even in normal delivery, monsters roamed across all corners of the world, hence, it wasn¡¯t as simple as it was. ¡°Hello young man, I¡¯m Owen, the manager of the Delivery Department. You must be Yohan right?. I was informed about your interest in becoming a delivery man. Then, how much do you know about this job? Other than travelling,¡± he asked. ¡°I believe that delivery is the key to customers¡¯ satisfaction, as such, delivering the parcel safely despite difficulties is The Guild''s utmost priority,¡± Yohan answered. Owen scanned Yohan¡¯s appearance before making a judgement. He raised his eyebrow, and asked, ¡°Do you have any physical training background or perhaps a Calibre?¡± Although Yohan expected his question, he was in a dilemma to choose which reasoning. He was a knight before hence he had swordsmanship skill, but his current physical state didn¡¯t imply he was exposed to swords yet. Furthermore, Calibre wasn¡¯t the right term to describe his ability. ¡°... I have a mental ability. However, it only activates when other mental Calibre affect me, hence I am unable to demonstrate my ability,¡± he replied honestly. Owen¡¯s eyes brightened, scanning at him for a while before grinning widely. He welcomed Yohan into the team and did the paperwork to officially make him a delivery man. He assumed Owen had used his Calibre on him and noticed that he was unaffected, proving his qualification for this job. ¡°Alright, Yohan. Before the day ends, let¡¯s practise some basic sword formations. Familiarising with the sword is one step to face danger,¡± Owen informed. ¡°Follow me, we are going to the training ground.¡± Next to the main building were columns lining a straight line, supporting the structure. It diverged into two wings, the right wing led to the backyard of the Guild which were the training areas. Inside, a row of sword racks aligned the curved wall, making a vast arena for training. Many Calibre users were throwing their Calibre around, causing many explosions. ¡°Ah those rascals, told them to tone their Calibre down and yet they¡¯re going all out,¡± Owen sighed, revealing a light smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the training grounds are protected by shield devices to prevent damage to the exterior walls.¡± ¡°Alright, there¡¯s one training ground left vacant, we can start here now,¡± Owen took out a sword and threw one at Yohan. He instinctively caught it and observed the sword. He held it and swung it into various directions, feeling the weight and listening to the sharp cut in the wind. ¡°This sword is not bad,¡± Yohan commented. ¡°Not bad you say, I¡¯m more impressed with your strength,¡± Owen¡¯s eyes sharpened, analysing Yohan¡¯s movements in slow motion. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re swinging the sword like a child''s play, but in the experts¡¯ eyes, your swordsmanship is formidable.¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Spar with me,¡± Owen declared. ¡°It¡¯s been awhile since I felt my adrenaline rush.¡± He chuckled, stretching his neck and rolling his shoulder. ¡°Do you want to switch to the wooden sword? Or risk it all¡± ¡°The latter,¡± Yohan answered. ¡°Okay then, you make the first move.¡± ¡®Alright, hold back your strength, don¡¯t go all out¡¯, he reminded himself. With a deliberate sloppiness in his movements, he charged forward, his hands showing an obvious direction. Owen leisurely deflected his sword to the opposite side, rearing his sword down its edge. Gaining control. Yohan feigned his body language to hit. Distracted, Owen quickly blocked his right, leaving his left defenceless. In that instant, Yohan¡¯s pupils swiftly directed to his left, revealing his true aim. Realising his mistake, he altered his sword from defence to attack, aiming for Yohan''s weak spot. However, a swish deafened his ear as he felt the warmth radiating from the sword¡¯s edge near his neck. Chills sent down his spine, freezing his body motionless. He broke into cold sweat as he looked down to check if there¡¯s any blood stains. On the contrary, his neck was mercifully left clean. ¡°Woo, how much are you holding back?¡± Owen whistled, raising his hands in defeat. Yohan¡¯s contracted muscle relaxed and dropped his sword. His chest tightened as he panted as he stood still, controlling his heartbeats. He was cautioned with his sword, but he underestimated the stamina and capability of his body. Just like most games, the default character had the lowest stats for all aspects. Even if a pro gamer created a noob account and played, it took more practice and skill to dodge all the damage to avoid respawning. This was his exact situation. His mind was like a tactical strategy compendium, able to deploy any sword style. However, his body was like a dull neglected blade, one swing, the blade would shattered into pieces due to the force and strength. ¡°Hey, Yohan. Are you okay?¡± Owen worriedly asked. He quickly held Yohan¡¯s shoulder and gently guided him to a nearby bench. Handing a cold bottle from his bag, Yohan placed it near his cheek, concentrating his mind to cease his dizziness. ¡°I apologise. I didn''t take your physical condition into account. Although I¡¯m astonished by your swordsmanship, I guess everyone has a reason to keep it hidden.¡± Owen sympathised. ¡®Now I am being mistaken as a weak boy with unknown illness,¡¯ Yohan smiled bitterly. ¡°It¡¯s okay. My fault for not updating you about my health¡­¡± Yohan responded. ¡°Alright, I will wrap this session up. After experiencing a spar with you, you no longer need any training,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°Also, you¡¯re free to use the training ground, but please don¡¯t push yourself too much.¡± Yohan nodded weakly. He was thankful that he was permitted to use the training ground, presenting an opportunity to train his stamina. After a break, Owen was getting ready to leave when Yohan grabbed his arm. ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your concerns, but can I use the training dummies? I promise I won¡¯t overexert myself.¡± ¡°As long as it¡¯s under my supervision,¡± Owen accepted passively. Facing the training dummy, he remembered the first mission set by the system. ¡ª¡ª¡ª [Mission: Complete 1000 hits] At first, he was dumbfounded. ¡®What kind of hit? Don¡¯t swordsmanship take many forms?¡¯ Raising his sword, he hit it roughly, venting his frustration. He found it ridiculous and repetitive, unable to adapt to the inconvenient ways after living in the modern world. From night to morning, he mindlessly hit, drenching in sweat until his legs gave up. He collapsed on the ground, unable to understand why he had to do all these. ¡°Swordsmanship is not about training. It¡¯s about the mind and the body to overcome hardship. If you have no reason to fight, then you shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± a scholarly voice echoed in the hallway. Turning his head to its direction, he noticed a man smiling confidently, yet his eyes scrutinising Yohan. The man''s overall appearance looked unreal, as if he¡¯s an incarnation of the Sun God. His golden hair absorbed the sun with his emerald eyes glistened, his broad physique tight fit his white uniform, enhancing and complimenting his colours. One look he knew the man held a high status, no one was born this exceptional just to be mediocre. ¡°What¡¯s your trouble, young man? You looked extremely fed up,¡± the voice commented. Summoning his remaining composure, Yohan politely bowed and answered, ¡°Pardon my nescient, despite given a clear goal, I was unable to¡­ relate and had difficulty understanding.¡± ¡°Difficulty, you say. Being an imperial knight is to serve the royal family. If your personal agenda is not enough for you to be motivated, why don¡¯t you use the royal family as the object of your loyalty? ¡± ¡°I have never seen the royal family before,¡± Yohan reflected on his statement. ¡°You can¡¯t say that when he¡¯s right in front of you,¡± the man chuckled. Approaching Yohan, he clasped his hand and introduced himself. ¡°I am Laurent Carlos La Eir, the second prince of the Empire of Eir. I forgive your imprudence, since I don¡¯t publicise my face.¡± Yohan stared at the glowing man in incredulity. Yet again, his thoughts justified that man¡¯s standing. ¡°I apologis-¡° Yohan immediately responded, but was cut off by His Highness. ¡°I said I forgive you. Well, after taking a good look at the royal family, why don¡¯t you use me as your reason to fight? I¡¯m handsome and smart, thus supporting me will ensure you a bright future.¡± ¡®That¡¯s very rich and narcissistic, coming from you,¡¯ Yohan thought sadistically. His Highness was probably the most handsome man he ever saw. He exuded elegance and power, taking pride in his stride, while being humble enough to ask a fellow recruit of his problems. Yohan could clearly see the future the man held. However, he wasn¡¯t able to give a definite answer. He wasn¡¯t born there nor had a deep national identity. ¡°I agree that your appearance is worth the nation''s support, however I can¡¯t based on superior genes as my loyalty,¡± Yohan truthfully shared. ¡°Then, what are you looking for? Tell me,¡± the man commanded. ¡°I mean no offence¡­ but I wish to know the quality of¡­¡± His voice trailed off. Yohan''s brain was working overtime. He had to convey in a way that didn¡¯t pin him on any violation, while keeping the true essence of his words. ¡°You want to know more about me, right? Fair enough. I always wanted to know where the knights¡¯ loyalty stemmed from. Is it the name of the Empire that they support and sworn to protect? Or the future of the Empire, the people that held the high position that needed its citizens'' support and compliance; for the Empire to progress towards the sun.¡± ¡°You satisfied me. There¡¯s no need to be on guard and formal. If you wish to use me, not as the second prince of the Empire of Eir, but as Laurent Carlos La Eir who is in that position and power, I¡¯m more than willing to prove my quality.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad that you understand where I¡¯m coming from,¡± Yohan finally said. He admitted to His Highness intelligence and emotional quotient. He expected him to stigmatise a commoner¡¯s lack of knowledge, just like affluent and influential figures. Like many politicians, they claimed they heard the masses¡¯ voice, yet they couldn¡¯t hide their hypocrisy when they governed the people. If the world had duplicates of His Highness, it would be a better place. Behind him, a short bloated man in a suit frantically ran, anxiously looking at his watch, he bowed and panted heavily, catching his breath. Before he could tip-toe and whisper, His Highness leaned over to lend his ear. ¡°Oh, I see. Excuse me, young man, it was a pleasant conversation with you. Could I have your name before I go to my meeting?¡± His Highness casually asked. ¡°Yohan, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Yohan, that¡¯s a wonderful name. Till we meet again,¡± His Highness waved, walking into the shadow ans vanished from sight. ¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°98¡­99¡­100!¡± Yohan shouted. His arms strained and blistered. His legs were trembling, but he stood solid to the ground. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s far I¡¯ll go,¡± Yohan proclaimed. Owen, who was watching from the side, opened his mouth, but he decided to smile and pack his things. Returning the swords to the racks, Yohan limped towards the exit. ¡°Do you need help?¡± Owen offered. ¡°¡­ I¡¯m still young.¡± Behind Yohan was laughter echoing in the arena. Chapter 2: Over the World Voyage (Pt.2) Walking to the counter of the Main Hall, he approached the same lady that registered his identification card. ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯m here to collect my ID,¡± Yohan informed. ¡°Oh you¡¯re back. Yohan right? Please wait a bit,¡± the lady spoke. She went to the staff room and came out with a card. ¡°Here is your name, your birthplace, your birthday and your profile. Please check if the printed information is correct.¡± The lady pointed to the words on the card. ¡°They¡¯re all correct thank you,¡± Yohan confirmed. ¡°Also, I would like to rent a room.¡± ¡°Okay, the rent per month will be $245. Please pay up first before your stay.¡± The lady checked the availability of the rooms. Handing her some crumbled notes and coins, she gave back the change and a key. It was labelled room 112, located on the right wing of the second floor above the bar. Yohan thanked the counter lady and headed upstairs. Walking up the stairs, he thought about his unfavourable luck. In the mid-afternoon, there was barely anyone around the bar. However, when it was nighttime, it could be noisy and bustling with drinkers, up until early morning. He didn¡¯t know if the walls were soundproof, but he hoped it wouldn¡¯t change his sleeping schedule. Entering his room, one noticeable feature was its window facing a brick wall of the next apartment, hence sunlight wasn¡¯t prominent in the room. Below the window was a bed, table and chair, the minimum furniture to call it a bedroom. Reading the evacuation map, the shared bathroom was located at the far end of the left wing. ¡®Hah¡­ for $200, I shouldn¡¯t complain about it¡­¡¯, placing his bag on the bed, the only things he had was a dagger, a bunch of crumbled notes and loose coins. He didn''t have a second set of clothes other than his default outfit. Stuffing extra cash in his pocket, he walked out the room and down the stairs The nostalgic aroma filled the dining hall as adventurers streamed in hungrily. Many waiters twirled around like ballerinas, endlessly serving the guests while carefully carrying stacks of mugs between their two hands. It was very impressive to maintain balance and had a clear view of their directions when the mugs reached over their heads. In evening time, Yohan instinctively eyed an empty seat of a nearby shared table. He decided it was a good opportunity to question the locals about any changes of the current events. ¡°Hello, is this seat free?¡± Yohan politely asked, establishing a friendly image. The adventurers occupying the table raised their heads, their eyes swiftly glanced and smiled. ¡°Yea, take a seat.¡± ¡°Have you guys ordered yet?¡± ¡°Nah, you order yours first.¡± The man in the middle chunked his mug and refilled another serving. Like a veteran, Yohan waved his hand and recited his order naturally. ¡°I would like to order your signature meal, black pepper sauce and the specialty drink.¡± ¡°Alright, coming right up.¡± The waiter nodded his head. Soon, a plate of sizzling chicken chop, glazed with black pepper sauce, decorated with rosemary and lemon as garnishes. Alongside was a light carbonated deep blueish drink with a boat ornament arrived on his table. Picking up his cutlery, he pressed his index finger on the knife and made a cut, taking a bite of the tender meat. It melted on his tongue, the pepper mixing the juicy meat, heating up the hotness. To calm his hot tongue, he drank a sip of the specialty drink: ¡°Over the world Voyage¡±, missing its salty taste. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°By the way, do you know about the recent events?¡± Yohan started to interrogate. The three men were having a great time of their life. Their faces flushed in red as their movements became mawkish. ¡°Huh ah? Oh that. Umm I just heard like,¡± the person at the left blurted. ¡°What is it again? Yea, the Ose Mansion. You know, at Ordin. They discovered many raw minerals¡­ diamonds or something. Lucky them, Ordin is expanding its market value.¡± He slouched down and patted his belly. ¡°Bro, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s asking about that,¡± the man at the right rolled his eyes. ¡°Here''s more interesting news. I heard the royal family is going to host the coronation ceremony for the next heir to the throne,¡± he explained. ¡°I guess that¡¯s the reason why the capital is so hype. Although there¡¯s no election, the public is split between the two brothers. I mean, princes.¡± ¡°Then, who do you support?¡± Yohan asked, curious of their opinions. ¡°The second prince, of course. His power of speech is so convincing,¡± the middle man interfered. ¡°What¡­ shouldn¡¯t it be the first prince? That¡¯s his rightful position. Also, he doesn¡¯t lose out to the second prince!¡± The man at the right exclaimed. ¡°Who do you support? ELLIOT?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m not even a citizen of the Empire, brothers. Didn¡¯t we come here to see the crowning thing,¡± the left said annoyingly. As the men had a heated debate, Yohan was lost in his thoughts. ¡®Laurent? Did he not participate in the coronation? That¡¯s weird¡­¡¯ ¡°The second prince. Isn¡¯t he a scholar?¡± Yohan pointed out. ¡°Yea he is, but he¡¯s an exceptional military commander. He¡¯s a complete all-rounder, that¡¯s why you should support him too,¡± the man in the middle praised ¡°Military commander? I thought he never showed his face to the public before,¡± Yohan asked. ¡°It¡¯s true that he doesn¡¯t publicise himself but his accomplishment in contributing to the breakthrough of physics at a young age of nine and the victory of the battle of Valefor Resolution have brought fame to his name!¡± Yohan furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. ¡®Something doesn¡¯t add up. Laurent was only able to achieve the breakthrough 7 years later and the Resolution was only after the coronation. Why are the events pushed forward?¡¯ It didn¡¯t seem that the men opposite of him were spilling nonsense information. There was no way they could know about future events unless it did happen early. Yohan lowered his gloomy eyes silently. Suddenly, he felt a strong pat at the back. Before he could react, the men collectively exclaimed. ¡°OWEN! No time no see.¡± ¡°Didn''t expect to see you three here, what''s your business with my apprentice?¡± Owen jokingly asked. ¡°Wait, he¡¯s your apprentice?¡± ¡°Mhm, Yohan is working as a delivery man.¡± Owen introduced. ¡°Yohan, to your left is Elliot, Herrace and Gerald. These are the rascals that were busy destroying the training field in the afternoon.¡± Owen sat next to Yohan and uncocked a bottle of alcohol. The three cheered, hitting mugs to mugs. ¡°I didn''t know you were a rookie, Yohan. Tonight will be my treat,¡± Herrace offered. ¡°By the way, what were you guys talking about?¡± Owen questioned. ¡°The coronation ceremonies. Who do you stand, Owen?¡± Gerald prompted. ¡°Ahahaha, I don¡¯t know yet,¡± Owen sheepishly said. The two men were shocked and started to convince Owen to stand on either side, trying to win over Owen as a support. As he listened, he noticed Yohan¡¯s discomfort. Worried about his physical condition from the afternoon, he excused himself to smoke and told Yohan to come along. Outside The Guild was a community garden. Standing below a lamp, Owen took a lighter and a cigarette. A flick, the fire lit the bud. ¡°Yohan, what¡¯s troubling you?¡± Gripping his arm, a long shadow casted on the ground, expanding into the darkness. He glanced to the side and mumbled, ¡°Can I know when the coronation ceremony is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s on the 18th Vanir in the Year of Equilibrium, why?¡± Owen inquired. ¡°I want to request that I be posted to Ordin after the one month trial. I wish to travel and start my journey from there,¡± Yohan touched his ear, forcing a small smile. ¡°Well, you did say you wish to see the outside world. I can write you a recommendation letter,¡± Owen noted, convinced by Yohan¡¯s request. ¡°But before that, since you have taken an interest in the coronation, you should come and pay your respect to the royal family,¡± Owen said. ¡°Of course, take it as a personal invite.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± A voice of clarity agreed. Raising his head in surprise, he faced his sentimental pupils dulled and diluted, the moonlight revealed his pale skin¡ª like a lost soul finding its place. Owen pursed his lips nervously. Although Yohan was in front of him, the image of him had an indescribable abysmal depth. Owen''s eyes quivered, unable to comprehend that moment of emotions. He was aware that Yohan was not as simple as he was, but he had sworn not to pry or assume people¡¯s secrets. Closing his eyes and relaxing his facial muscles, the tips of the lips curved to a gentle smile. He patted Yohan¡¯s shoulder and promised him. ¡°I will bring you there, so don¡¯t be despondent.¡± He chucked and pointed his thumb to The Guild. ¡°Let¡¯s go back, they will be worried if we¡¯re missing for too long. You should take a rest too.¡± ¡°Thank you, Owen.¡± Yohan expressed his gratitude, before he walked back to The Guild. Rubbing the cigarette bud on a bench, Owen let out a relief sigh. ¡®In the end, he is still an honest child.¡¯ Chapter 3: Our way out (Pt.1) The next morning, Yohan reported to the office for his first assignment. The wooden floor creaked behind his footsteps. Then, the silence set in. He raised his arm and knocked his knuckles against the door. ¡°Please enter,¡± A voice from inside projected permission. ¡°Excuse me,¡± twisting the knob, he entered the office. A figure stood at the side of the long wooden desk, her fingers lightly moving the top papers aside. She lifted her head and tucked her lilac hair behind her ears, greeting Yohan. ¡°Good morning Yohan. I¡¯m Gara, the manager of extended collaboration and resources. Please take a seat.¡± Yohan sat at the dark-red leather sofa, observing his surroundings. The forested green wallpapers complimented the Black Walnut wood furniture, creating a cosy, luxurious space. The warm light lamp at the table desk lighted the meticulous arrangement of papers and pens, giving an aesthetically pleasant feeling. An aroma of earthly tea filled the room, with the clanking sound of teaspoon and cups, Gara poured the hot water into the cup and brought the tray over to the coffee table. ¡°Here, have some Iris Tea.¡± Holding onto the ceramic cup, the cardamom smell wafted through the room. ¡°This is from the South right?¡± Yohan asked. ¡°Oh you¡¯re well versed in tea?¡± ¡°Not really. I had a chance to be introduced to it by a street vendor.¡± Yohan delicately held the teacup as he took a few sips to test the temperature. It had an aromatic, flowery taste, leaving a melty sweet nectar aftertaste. Placing the cup down, he pulled the document out and a ticket fell to the ground at the corner of his eyes. He immediately bent down and picked the ticket, flipping over to see a familiar printed emblazoned symbol. ¡®All Aboard! You Are Invited To A Party. For Mr Yohan Date: 19th Vanir in the Year of Equilibrium Time: 9 a.m. Location: Vidar, Vine Yours Sincerely, The Orient Express.¡¯ ¡®The Orient Express? Is this a vacation?¡¯ Yohan jokingly thought, remembering the resemblance between his past life. In his past life, The Orient Express was a luxurious sleeping car with utmost accommodation to passengers¡¯ comfort. It stretched across Paris to Istanbul in Europe and it costs more than a thousand euros for a train ride. However, it was justifiable. It was extraordinary in its indulgence of the rich experience of a nobleman back in the 19th century or the historical significance the carriages provide. He didn''t expect it to be reflected in the game world, proving the connection and inspiration taken from the real world. ¡°I heard from Owen that you want to be posted to Ordin Guild right? So your first assignment is to deliver a collaboration letter to Duke Vidar, who resided at Vines. Since it is privately owned land, only renowned train services could operate there. Hence, The Guild has offered to cover all the travelling and living expenses. This includes your stay at Duke Vidar¡¯s mansion for a year-long contract.¡± Gara explained. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°You should have a read through the content. If there¡¯s no further questions, please sign here.¡± Vines was well known for their grape wines, earning a reputable icon. Duke Vidar wished to expand his wine business towards affluent nobles, and utilise The Guild¡¯s delivery service to deliver wines for tasting. This benefitted The Guild to extend its sphere of influence of its extended service, providing a more inclusive image. ¡°More information about your job will be given once you reach Vines. For the time being before your trip, you can prepare the essential things and finalise your business here in New Eternal. Owen will oversee the rest.¡± Gara informed him. Nodding his head, he grabbed the fountain pen and signed his name across the beige paper. After confirming the details, Gara dismissed Yohan. Walking down the stairs, he met Owen. Wrapping the bandages around his hand, he pulled Yohan¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°Yohan, are you going to the training area?¡± ¡°Yes, and what happened to your hand?¡± ¡°There was an explosion at the training area. Apparently, some Calibre residue was left uncleared and erupted,¡± Owen sighed. ¡°Usually The Cleaner Crew will thoroughly clean the training areas after the day, but, I guessed some was overlooked. Anyways, I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s just a scorch mark. I¡¯m heading upstairs to get it healed. Just letting know it¡¯s no longer in use¡± Owen shrugged. ¡°You can kill time at Times Square. I heard there are performances and activities to do. Maybe check out the food stalls for lunch, since today¡¯s your day off.¡± ¡°Thank you, please rest well.¡± Returning back to his room, he took his bag and left for Time Square. Walking along the fabled bazaars, the herb-aromatic stalls filled the air as the people haggle the price. The colourful flowers of carnations and roses caught the people''s attention, crowding to wipe out the stock in preparation of the coronation ceremony. A faraway music strolled into the atmosphere, heightening the festive spirit. Closer, people were seen twirling around and singing, their shoes clicked and tapped, creating a harmonious symphony. Once it ended, the drinkers at the taverns clapped proudly, whistling while chatting the newest news. Rows of flowers were displayed at the stall, mainly carnations because it meant celebration. Most importantly, the citizens regard its warm tone colours as the sun hence it was a perfect symbol of the royal family. Yohan decided to get himself a bouquet of flowers and picked a few stems from the buckets when he noticed a corner of blooming white hydrangeas. Thoughtlessly, he picked the hydrangeas and mixed them into his batch of carnations. The owner realised this and stopped him. ¡°Sorry sir, these are leftover hydrangeas. They¡¯re not meant for the celebration,¡± the owner informed him. Gazing at the hydrangeas, he asked, ¡°Are there any other colours?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, the others are out of stock.¡± ¡°Then, I will have this wrapped up.¡± ¡°Together? You sure?¡± The owner raised his eyebrows in confusion. ¡°Yes,¡± Yohan reconfirmed, looking at the odd mix of white hydrangeas and orange carnations reminded him of one of the sunsets. ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª It was an ephemeral moment. Holding a watering can, the flowers in the Obsidian¡¯s palace twinkled under the sun. Laurent hummed a melody, enjoying his hobby of gardening. He wore a simple white shirt with sleeves rolled up and black trousers, his hair leisurely flowing with the wind. On his way to report his duties, Yohan stopped and turned to find a flattering smile in his direction. Approaching His Highness, who was bending down, he pulled Yohan¡¯s arm to his eye level; they closely inspected the imperfect white hydrangeas. They clustered and expanded beyond the view, brightly tamed and free. Laurent¡¯s fingers touched the petals and shared. ¡°These suit you the best.¡± Yohan watched him lovingly teasing the water droplets, dewing the wet soil. Intrigued, Yohan asked. ¡°Is this your favourite flower?¡± ¡°Mhm, they¡¯re bundled like balls, which is very cute.¡± He complimented its nature. ¡°I have received many flowers that represent the warm tones of the sun. Contrary to belief, the sun is actually white, which is my personal favourite colour.¡± He let out a small laugh. ¡°Then, what¡¯s your favourite flower?¡± Yohan took a while to think, unable to answer. He only knew popular flowers, but he didn¡¯t have any thoughts about their beauty. ¡°I don¡¯t know a lot about flowers,¡± he frankly responded. ¡°Is that so? Why not meet me here after your report? I can bring you around and explain the various plant species planted in my personal garden. I always wanted to share my ethnobotany,¡± Laurent chuckled. Seeing the genuine happiness on his face, Yohan agreed to his arrangement. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 3: Our way out (Pt.2) ¡°Yohan? Earth to Yohan? Hello?¡± A worried voice resounded in his mind. Opening his eyes, the headache resided, facing an ashen grey we hair contrasted by his tan skin, waving his hand while holding the barbecue skewer he bought for Owen. ¡°Is everything alright? The weather now is getting hotter and hotter, so please drink more water,¡± Owen flapped his hand. Yohan sluggishly placed his chin on his palm, his eyes drifting to the side. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just restless about the appearance of the second prince. It has been the talk of the town with many guessing his looks.¡± ¡°True, what do you think he will look like?¡± ¡°The sun.¡± ¡°Other than that, of course. He is part of the bloodline of the Sun God,¡± Owen responded matter-of-factly. ¡°No, I mean it literally. Once you get a glance of him tomorrow, you¡¯ll get what I mean.¡± ¡°You sound sure about that,¡± Owen pointed out. ¡°¡­ you won¡¯t believe how otherworldly he is.¡± ¡°Right, you sound like those hopeless romantic maidens fantasising the prince¡¯s look. Imagine he is just an average human,¡± Owen joked. The remaining time was filled with filler, incessant chattering till the early morning of the 18th Vanir. The excited citizens gathered and occupied their spots at the palace parade, trying to get a closer look at the royal family. Anticipating the moment when the second prince would officially show his face for the first time. Carrying his bouquet, Yohan met up with the trio and Owen. ¡°I¡¯m still loyal to the crown prince. He had been making an effort to address the public''s concerns and opinions. Even though he was not born a scholar, he has the experience under his belt!¡± Gerald rumbled. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m sure the second prince is a dark horse. He must have his reason for not outshining the crown prince. After all, he hasn¡¯t been crowned yet, but people naturally called him the crown prince due to him being the eldest,¡± Herrace refuted. ¡°Do you think a drama will stir up? What if the second prince is crowned instead?¡± Elliot asked, eating his sandwich along the way. In front of them was a massive crowd, gathering like bees to a hive. The buzzing noises gradually increased as the sun rose. Squeezing their way through, they stood shoulder to shoulder, with a competition of heights to get a wider view of the palace¡¯s balcony. ¡°Hey Yohan, do you want to switch places with me?¡± Elliot offered, seeing Yohan being blocked by a head taller man in front of him. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Yohan kindly turned off the offer, staring directly at the man¡¯s back. He did it intentionally¡ª not because he wasn¡¯t interested but he didn¡¯t want to be seen. Although he was within millions of people and no one could recognise him, he didn¡¯t know how he would react when he saw Laurent. Ten years together wasn¡¯t a short period, that was a decade of understanding each others¡¯ complexity. It only boiled down to this moment where they reconciled; but only he remembered their time together. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. It was lonely and deserved. Yohan knew it was difficult to meet old faces, those he shared, taught and experienced with. He decided to leave them behind in this lifetime, so that they walked a different path¡ª one without him. His thoughts were interrupted by trumpets blowing loudly, signalling the start of the coronation ceremony. Everyone quietened down their voices, their heads uniformly raised towards the balcony. Speeches were made with ceremonial marches. The new recruits strided in, holding the imperial flag of Eir. The white horses stomped majestically alongside the professional knights, marching and reciting the commands perfectly. Yohan moved slightly enough to spot familiar faces. As expected, the arrangement of the recruits didn¡¯t change. In the second row and second column stood the famous twins: Eloise and Elio. They were exceptional physical enhancers. Eloise mainly buffed stamina and Elio applied durability on weapons, customised to the weapon users¡¯ strength. A few rows down was Sorelle. She had a unique ability to create barriers, acting as a defence shield and imprisoned attackers. Her walls have a set of properties and neutralise or rebound Calibre within its inner walls. Next to Sorelle was supposed to be Yohan, if he had joined the Imperial Knights. However, the spot was left empty with no replacement. Even though it was strange, he dismissed it as an act of respect to the unfortunate recruit who couldn¡¯t participate in the event. Standing at the front, the polished badge shined as Nathan was dressed in a different attire. It had appeared that he successfully joined the Imperial Knight and was promoted to the commander of a division. Feeling proud that he successfully changed one variable different from his previous life. Letting out a small sigh of relief, he was glad that his friends were still in the Imperial Knights, thriving to serve. After the military march, the pope stood forth and addressed the crowd in his empowering speech. ¡°Shall the sun shine eternal and bless our souls! Let it shed and eject, absorbed by the chosen one who shall lead the Empire of Eir to glory and divinity!¡± The crowd applauded and cheered, throwing petals and whistles. Yohan uncovered his hood to have a clear view. His heart pumped with adrenaline, almost as if it could jump out his chest anytime. The throbbing sensation was felt in his throat as he anxiously watched. The door opened and the esteemed royal family stepped out, waving their hands. However, the crowd died down. Only the sharp inhalation of air could be heard, most of them stoned and rooted to the ground. One by one, they dropped onto their knees with noises of realisation of what they had seen. Adorned with golden ornaments, his tailored white coat clasped with emeralds¡ª signifying his respective eye colour. The exquisite cape draped over his right shoulder, exposing the delicate design of golden linings, swirled rhythmically across his body. It hugged his proportions, outlining his fit-figure prominently. His slicked faded hair, sharpened his defined facial features. Clad in stellar radiance, his colours reflected the parable of the sun; his eyes shine brilliantly, like a crystal chalice. Rays of divinity streaked the sky, captivating the devout crowd¡ª beholding the unparalleled beauty in their gazes. They stretched and reached their arms, desperately grasping the fleeting incarnation of the Sun God. There he stood, magnificently above the rest¡ª Laurent Carlos La Eir. ¡°No wonder he never shows his face!¡± ¡°Is he even real? Oh my days!¡± ¡°He¡¯s the embodiment of our light! Everyone who¡¯s here to witness will be blessed for life!!¡± The praises among the people grew louder and louder. Some felt a dawning moment of his worldly presence, tears streamed down their faces, while others found it difficult to deny that it transcended their faiths. He alone was enough to convince them that the sun descended physically before their eyes. Standing amongst the enchanted masses, Yohan flipped his hood over and lowered his head to a degree that was enough to see Laurent. Once, the sun saw the vanity darkness. The brilliant light it emitted gave the darkness a meaning to reason its existence. In its nature, the indelible void enshrouded the sun, slowly overshadowing its light. Yet, the sun embraced it. Soon, the world plunged into total obscurity¡ª where the sun can no longer be seen in the chasm of nothingness. However, the gods gave them a chance. Reverting back to the past, they were found the furthest away from each other. As it should be. Chapter 3: Our way out (Pt.3) If Yohan represented the darkness, he understood his standing after experiencing the gravity of his desire. Watching from afar, he handed his bouquet to a ragged mother who was praying wholeheartedly. Her child, curious of her mother''s action, pulled her clothes to no response. Not to interrupt her prayers, Yohan placed the bouquet in front of the mother, who didn¡¯t move an inch. Hanging her head low, her body trembled and the ground absorbed her falling tears. Grabbing the bouquet, she hugged it tightly like a baby. The child next to her poked her fingers through the petals, lightly fiddling it. She broke into a smile and told her mother. ¡°These flowers fit the Sun the most!¡± Yohan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Before the girl could continue to thank him, he placed his index finger to his lips, gesturing a silent sign. After a while, the mother wished to express her gratitude. Lifting her head, she found no one was near her except her child. Patting her head, she asked her child who was the kind stranger who gave the bouquet. The child cheekily hugged her mother and snuggled her head between the flowers and her body, shaking her head. ¡°That¡­ That¡­¡± Gerald shuttered, his knees gave up and his body dropped. Caught off guard, Elliot and Herrace quickly supported his slumping body. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Elliot asked. ¡°No way¡­ He should have kept his face hidden. His Highness''s presence literally wiped out all my memories of the first prince! Oh no, I can¡¯t remember how he looks!¡± ¡°I wish I could say you¡¯re overreacting but no one can justify that,¡± Herrace sobbed. ¡°Stop! You¡¯re so ugly when you cry,¡± Gerald said while hiccuping, unable to recover from the shock of his life. Yohan stared at them, covering his face in embarrassment. A hand from behind pressed his shoulder, his arm covered his eyes as he admitted. ¡°I take back my words. Whatever you say about him being otherworldly is an understatement! Holy...¡± Yohan arched his eyebrow in concern. He faced Laurent¡¯s face for over a decade, but he had never reacted this extreme. However, he agreed that Laurent had a bewitching charm. Finally getting a proper sight of the balcony, he noticed Laurent''s eyes busily scanning around, placing his gloved hand on the railing. Underneath his friendly smile, his eyes glared at the hypnotised crowd as if searching for a person. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Suddenly his eyes locked in with Yohan¡¯s, sending numbing heat down his back. He instantly avoided eye contact and focused on his companions on the ground. Ignoring the attention from the balcony, he distracted himself and assisted Gerald. Then, he proposed to leave for fresh air. Walking down to a nearby tavern, the group sat down and ordered excess mugs more than a person needed to drink. ¡°Ah! So refreshing. I thought eyes got blinded,¡± Herrace laughed. ¡°Man, we still have to watch the ceremony. At this point, the second prince might as well take the crown!¡± Gerald exclaimed. Yohan gripped the handle and drank hurriedly. ¡®I never thought of this day when Laurent will be the crown pince. That¡¯s a big change.¡¯ He knew Laurent enough that he never intended to be involved in politics. It was already proven in his previous life. Hence, the sudden change of the crown prince might lead to a new future path he couldn¡¯t predict. This caused him great anxiety and nervousness. He thought what would change was within him, and not the whole history of the Empire of Eir. Although he had yet to be involved with the storyline, the world seemed to deviate itself from its designed setting. ¡°So when is the ceremony?¡± Owen asked. ¡°Around 11? Don''t worry, we can just sit here and watch the nearest broadcast screen,¡± Gerald replied. Just as he said, a flick appeared and a screen expanded. Everyone immediately stopped and their eyes glued to the screen. There, the most beloved face of the Empire walked along the red carpet in his heavy velvet cape. ¡°No way, it¡¯s really him!¡± ¡°But wait dear. Isn¡¯t it supposed to be the first prince regardless of achievement?¡± ¡°You have a point. Speaking of that, I didn¡¯t see the first prince anywhere on the balcony!¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s the official appearance of the second prince so he doesn¡¯t need to be there,¡± the woman justified. The couple next to their table watched keenly, whispering among themselves. Yohan had happened to eavesdrop and realised a fact. Skipping a monarch to crown the second-in-line heir to the throne was unusual. He knew the Empire of Eir was very traditional about their laws, so why was this occasion made special? There were two reasons. Either the first prince is severely ill, or the first prince was abdicated. At that moment, it dawned on Yohan. It was an undesired realisation that he didn¡¯t want to admit. However, with the various changing factors revolving around that man, could it be possible that he¡­ ¡®No way. That''s not possible,¡¯ Yohan shut his thoughts. On the screen, Laurent kneeled and received the crown named ¡®Solas Ventus¡¯. Placing replicas on his hand, he vowed to the Empire of Eir that he would lead them closer to victory. His charismatic speech echoed through the quiet streets. After he ended his speech, everyone bursted into thunderous applause. All the remaining citizens came out to the streets, crowding the path where the royal family would wave in their carriages, receiving gifts and praises. Pushing the chair out, Yohan placed his hand over his forehead. ¡°I wished to join but I feel a bit light headed,¡± Yohan lied. ¡°Since I have given my bouquet away, I will excuse myself.¡± Back in his room, he laid out his clothes and packed everything into a briefcase. Grabbing the unsealed document, the Orient Express ticket slipped out. Riding with the wind to the opened window Yohan leaped onto his bed and catched it midair. Exhausted, his body collapsed onto the bed. Sinking into a cotton-like material, it wrapped his entirety, darkening his world.