It’s been over two days since I had a decent night of sleep. Not the case of Apricot, who seems to sleep very easily, be it on Vera’s shoulder or inside her bag. Since we have been traveling out of the forest, she sleeps much more than her normal amount, apparently due to a lack of mana. Not like I completely understand those things yet.

I did not expect water elementalists to be so valuable. All I did was give some help to the nearby farms, and we were cheerfully greeted by the lord of these lands. 

I was very happy to have a proper bed all to myself, but somehow, I haven’t been able to sleep. The full moon dimly lights my room, perfectly fitting itself right in the middle of my window; I did not close the blinds, as I find the view very calming. At first glance, it looked like an old-fashioned castle, but it is preserved well. The dark wood of the floor is flawlessly clean, just like the plain white walls. The cross right above my door makes me wonder how much religion has changed in this reality. Or if it did, at all. 

Eventually, I got up. Taking a stroll in the long hall that gazes at the feud, I realize the curious configuration of this place. We were given a tour of the building and told the cemetery was at the back of the castle. Why would they highlight this random information, and omit what are these thin long towers in the distance, past the fields?

I can’t sleep, so might as well kill the curiosity.

Now that I think about it, around that area…

I'm pretty sure they lived here, but maybe now known as someone else entirely. 

But maybe I shouldn't think about it this way anymore. This castle, all these houses around it, the farmers we helped earlier crying from happiness, the graveyard beautiful in its melancholy brightened by the full moon. It all tells me. 

This fake world is legitimate in its way, but as I feared, some things never change.

She is gone even here, uh.

I wanted to fool myself, but it's no use. The tombstone of the one person I could say I ever loved was specially decorated, built a little bit higher, and fully adorned with flowers and vines. It looked well taken care of. Like they tried to keep it lively.

A loved teacher, it says. At least this remained the same.

"You know this one, water boy?" I hear a voice behind me - "Or were you attracted by my little mementos?"

Hypnotized by the nostalgia I just found, she took me by surprise. I turn around in shock, facing her without saying anything for a few seconds. A very old woman just appeared out of nowhere.

"Hey? Do you need help, boy?" she says - "Did I scare you?"

"Yes, you did. Please refrain from greeting people like that." I reply - "I do know this one." 

"Oh-ho my, I'm sorry. So, did you come to help, then?" she asks

"Help with what?"

Just as I say this, the playful look on her face is straightened, which can't be good.

"A wizard of the dead has come to town. Hiding in the shadows, he was reported to appear in graveyards. Including this one." she explains with a slightly angry expression - "That's why the castle's security is tightened." 

Yet, they were very welcoming to me and Vera. Are they expecting some extra help? Hell no, we are in a rush here...

And what would be a wizard of the dead, anyway? Just as I was about to ask her, a word pops up in my mind.

"Necromancer"

Oh no.

"He's up to no good, water boy." she says, patting me on the shoulder - "But we can deal with it no problem. Young people like you should stay away from stuff like this."

The old woman puts a rose on the tomb we both came here to see and walks away.

"Goodbye, dear." she turns her head before getting out of sight - "Don't stay up too late, will you."

I sit on the ground. All of a sudden, I feel very sleepy. Just as a weight is lifted off my shoulder, another one comes crashing down.

This world truly never changes.