*echoes of footsteps*

As we walk and is only accompanied by the sound we're making and the silence besides it, i see the objects that i'm searching for is in sight. "Ah! There they are.

I'll just put these two in the ragged bag and there we go. Let's go back to the others before it's too dark". I grab the bag, which is pretty rough in and out, yet it doesn't stink and is actually quite light.

(I guess he's already not going to be back with the signs of all this accumulated waste on it)

He looks over the surrounding, still shuddering of the peer pressure of being inside. A"Yes yes yes, i don't wanna stay here any longer"

As i look at the inside before going out, i recollect my memories of Father's tablets in comparison to this dusty one.

Rather than clad in black with some silver, this one even with the deteriorating paint has some mark that tells me it's grey and white.

The design of the tablet isn't too different, so i have some hope that it'll be a sufficient replacement for when father's in the academy.

(Come to think of it, could the problem of it not displaying the screen properly is because it's depleted it's battery?

But the thing doesn't have a hole for 'charging up'... Maybe i'll find out back at home.

That aside, i haven't known most of the academy around the city, maybe i can ask Rexar if he's in one?)

I walk past him, who's watcging the perimeter. "Rex, are you in an academy?"

He noticing this immediately turns himself to lead on the front. "Aah, but of course! Since i've acquired the job of 'Mage', i was enrolled by my parents to learn magic like everyone else, even though father wanted me to be a 'Knight'.

I picked this job because i wanna help father's arsenal craft-smithing and mother's potion brewing". Exiting the cave, he find a stick and poses it as wielding a sword.

Remembering from my days from the outside that there's plenty of Jobs you can acquire, even a Swordmaster or Magemaster, i find his job to be rather disappointing.

I know of some jobs that'll fit him better for assisting Smithes, like 'Craftmeister' that is proefficjent on learning, improvising and making formulas on crafting many kinds of items; 'Combat Mage', which can make the most of any magic that has the sliver of destruction in them; or 'Mage Knight', which combines magic and apply them on their knightsmanship, that is already deadly to begin with and blossoms them with exerting radiance of power.

Looking at the surface of the river which is flowing with low current, i wash up my face. *splashes* "Pwah.

You know, there's the option of acquiring 'Craftmeister' so you don't have to pick either, right? Though it'll be harder to learn both at the same time.

Then again, there's the option of 'Combat Mage', 'Mage Knight' and many others.

You just had to 'search' for your preferences in an Aeon Tablet". I describe my way of handling information, by being upfront and blunt.

(They do exist, i swear but, it's weird that not even a mention of them on the internet is found after all that time browsing...Don't tell me, the Dive's had a gamebreaking bug, isn't it?

Agh, this won't do for our sales and variety in fantasy classes. I can imagine it already)

"Eh?! No way! You're kidding, right?". Being on the back despite being bigger, he's panting and is desperate for a breather or two.

(Serves you right, runner)

Arriving on the spectating spot first, i sit, waiting for him left behind. "Why do you think that?

Besides, it's not too hard to change your job.

All you need is just to wait a predetermined time and you could change your current job with another... Wait... Don't tell me... you don't know this, too?"

Staring at the dirt, then he stares to the side, not sure how to answer. "... No...?"

(Quite pathetic that i am the one teaching here, really.

Knowing all this stuff and got reminded of them after a few minutes on the internet, i can't blame him for not being knowledgeable off it.

But he's in an academy, isn't he? A 'Magic' one at that, and he is definitely not paying much attention with how shallow he knows of Job as a whole, as simple as it is.

Maybe when he's back home, i can go teach him if he's not too busy

All we had to do is to ask our parents... hope it works)

Dropping down, i stretches my joints, preparing to go for another run. "Hey, what do you say if i play with you at your house?"

Heads up, he thinks for a few second. "Hmm? I don't mind, but i'm only at home after midday, and i don't know if our parents will aprove of it"

I pat his back, and proceed to go back first from him. "Then let's ask them, yeah?

I want to hear more about your studies, the academy, the city and more!

If you agree, i can teach you something you may not know like how to increase Uncle Carmine's efficiency in arsenal craft-smithing". I know of a description from the net, though i don't know in it's practicallity.

"Really! Then let's get back quick!

I'll tell mom and dad, and you tell yours, too!". Bolting for a sprint, he surely have enough breather for another race.

As i follow suit, i have but no odds of winning over his overbearing stamina. "Ey! Wait up for me!

I can't run as fast as you are with me carrying these! Rex~!"

. . .

*muffled sprinkling water*

Avoiding the living room and dining room since the elders are busy doing their things, i showed Rex the way to the bathroom. (The mood is just not right for us- No, for Rex to comprehend it)

*flush*

Waiting for him, i stand behind the exit. (Quiet the mass, taking a whole minute by the sound of it)

*door closes*

Looking at Rex, his belly got swallowed by a thin margin. "Hmmph.Come on, i'll walk you through the house". I strat on the front first.

Annoyingly, he goes on the front after me, Yet Again in a place he doesn't know off. "So what's for dinner?". Rex in front is inspecting the doors, ceilings and the floor just because.

"Why do you think i know of Elena's dishes? I've only known her for a year, and there's still too many that she cooks just for my appetite alone, not including the others"

Jop

"Uh... right...?". He scratch his head, tilting to the left.

The night is a little more lively now that there are guests staying over for a night.

Before dinner, i showed Rex my room but i continued towards Father's and Mother's room to check if i could 'recharge' the tablet.

Having Father's room in my sight, i stand before it and i faces Rex. "And here we are, can you wait for me outside just for a while?"

"OK". He plays with his fingers and his eyes looks at the door from time to time, wanting to go with me inside.

I open the door and peak if there were to be a presence in it, thankfully none. (I did knew that Father and Uncle Carmine are discussing over something in the living room right now, maybe about the Rogue War and their history? Mans' Talk)

As i enter the room, i notices that Father put his tablet at the desk on top of some glowing lines.

I put the bag just below the desk and took out the tablet.

Wanting to see it more to check if the one i found is compatible with, i grab a chair, put it beside the table and climb it. (*grunts* Sure is hard with these tiny, mingly hands)

Looking at it, a circle with symbols, lines and other inscriptions i don't know of yet is 'Charging' Father's tablet with the image of an hourglass is near-full, approximately 80 to 90%. (Wasn't used if it's not electricity or battery but, it works. Even though i find it confusing)

I replaced Father's with the one i'm carrying and successfully it is displaying the 'battery' bar. (That took little to no effort in searching)

*Dead Battery Clicks*

Seeing that it's at the absolute bottom, i drop down and plan to head out to my room, dropping my bag a quickie one.

*door closes*

"So, is it working?". Rexar knowing that i'm recharging the tablet.

"Yep, and let's put this bag in my room before we eat, yeah?". I walk on to my room before him.

"OK!"

He later lay down in my room, while i chill and read.

. . .

At the dining room, i saw that mother is back to her usual self!

With Elena standing besides her, the tables still have 4 more seats and so Me and Rex have ourselves to eat. (Can't look at her without a fake smile because of my 'doing' )

Mother thankfully forgave me, thinking that i was scared too but, i felt bad knowing that mother is the one suffering the most.

(I'll ask father about the things i carried in my room tonight after dinner)

Me and Rex both told our parents about playing at each others' house on a day-to-day basis when either of our parents are present.

They agreed, with the condition that either parents are escorting one for the other until they pick us up before night falls. (They shy away for a moment... Reason is known that i'm lonely... Goddamnit)

Rex mentioned my sister at one point, and so i try to ask him about here but were interrupted by our parents saying to me that 'You can ask her when she is here again'. (What a bummer, what's so wrong with asking for her identity?

Maybe it's some kind of rules that is only available after i'm 14? What else can it be?)

Elena is acting like her usual self, not showing any kind of 'big sister' activity and serving the family like a normal maid, thankfully... though her eyes constantly glances at me like she wants to pamper me again, and in result i got shivers from that.

Since there's instances of kids raised by their maids are then married in most of the stories i were read, i can't sleep well with her hectic breathing last night. (Honestly, if she plants to raise me as her 'Lover', I Swear, that i'll run away from home.

Best thing i can do is to either be her : Love cupid, whoever her partner could be; or be confined within her views, seeing as how Possessive she is of me. And i Definitely prefer the Former/1st over the Latter/2nd)

Anyways, dinner's over and i'm here, carrying the ragged bag with Rexar, waiting in front of the living room wanting to talk with Father who's having a conversation with everyone. (*Inhales, Exhales* Here goes nothing)

*door creaks*. As i peak the inside of the room, there Father is sitting with all the elders, with Elena on the way back.

All of them are at a couch, near the seat where i was interrogated by Father just then.

At each opposites of the couches are Father and Mother, Uncle Carmine and Aunt Raisya respectively.

"Oh? What're you two doing standing there?". Unbeknownst to me, he stares at me straight in the eyes, not giving me a chance to fall back.

(Welp, Father noticed us so might as well tell him with the others.

I don't know about Rexar hearing this, though. What should i do?)

Opening it the whole way, we expose ourselves to their view. "Well um... Dad, i'm bringing you something". I tap Rex's shoulder, and he gives me the bag.

He squints his eyes, then shrugs off like he's not taking it seriously. "What is it? A book?"

"No dad, it's um..." . I glanced at Raisya with a straight face, signaling her to get Rex away from the room by switching eyes on Rex to the edge of my eyes directing the exit.

She got the gist by the looks of her nodding once. "Rex?"

"What is it, mom?". Without a care of what's really happening, he sincerely just asked of it.

"Can you go back with Elena to stay at Arlan's room? We want to have a conversation with Arlan here"

He looks on the faces of them all, and notices the mood. "... *Gasp* Arl? He won't be detentioned, won't he?". He's worried for me, even though it's not even a day we've met.

"It's okay. I'll be fine, so just play with Elena for a while, okay?". She waves off her hands to Elena who's waiting besides the door.

"Hmm, okay...". There he goes with his shoulder hanging, Elena walks with her just outside the room.

*door closes*

(*breathes out* Now, i guess this is it)

I walk to them, dragging the bag down. "Yesterday, i just had a thought to go read outside because of how noisy Elena is while mother and father is still in the academy.

After a while i got bored, so i had another thought to walk alongside the rivers, until i found an abandoned cave"

Putting it in front of my parents, i open it. "There's not much left aside from these two.

A letter that has some scribbles, and this old tablet". Presenting to Father, the tablet; and Mother, the letter.

Father lifts his eyebrows. "Ah! Elena did say that you are given punishment for leaving without asking, but to think that you've gone down the river?

Thank God the area around here is guarded and patrolled thoroughly.

Well, let me see it, Arl". He reaches out his hands.

I bring it with me to him. "Here Father. I'll guide you through it"

" *chuckles* Guide me, huh? I'll appreciate that". He laxes himself, seeing that it's basically the same as his.

I don't dare to do it with my hands since that'll be too rude for the inspector, Father.

He starts up the tablet like his own, i tell him the password, and the tablet displays the screen properly.

When i think of it, Father's is pretty much similar to this. (... I think it's a product of the same.

I guess i did right by charging it first before dinner)

He puts it down, pinching his nose. "Tch. So, how does this 'Connects' with you having 'That' dream?"

"Yeah kid, 'less this relic's cursed ya when it's found?". Unvle Carmine stares at it with such curiosity.

Aunt Raisya goes in deep thinking. "Hun', are you saying that he could be..."

Mother silents her with a gesture to 'Shut It'. "It's okay, i've checked him with my skill 'Appraisal' and he's clear from any such thing.

Now tell us Arl, how does it goes?"

I froze, shocked that there's no word needed to cast her spell. (Wait, she checked me like, just now? Silent Incantation or whatever it was? I should be more careful around Mother)

I ready myself mentally, and take a deeo breath. "Actually, when i found it i had no idea it was near depleted and the screen doesn't appear after inserting the pins.

But i did feel some weird feelings on my whole body after that. It goes on like this. . ."

I describe what happened with minor details that might add up to why i occured upon a 'Dream'.

. . .