Kayle’s house stood a little apart from the main village—not secluded, but with enough space to feel separate. Unlike the tightly packed homes clustered together, his had privacy, a quietness that felt more noticeable today.

Kayle seemed to be trying to keep the mood up, but the weight of yesterday’s events still lingered between them.

His grandmother had given him a task—to deliver a message to the village chief. Something he wasn’t happy about, that was certain. But she hadn’t said a word about yesterday’s incident.

Why was she taking things so lightly?

She acted as if nothing had happened, brushing it off like a passing storm. Even now, she had insisted they go outside, as if everything was fine.

Conflicted, Kayle wasn’t sure what to think or feel.

“…”

Beside him, Nur walked in silence, dressed in the clothes Kayle’s grandmother had given him. The deep green robe draped over his shoulders, its worn yet well-kept fabric shifting with each step. It fit him perfectly, which only made him wonder—who had it belonged to? As far as he knew, no one in that house was his size.

Kayle, on the other hand, wore his usual outfit—loose, relaxed brown shorts and an off-white shirt with a half-lace tie, resembling something out of a medieval era.

“What is this village called?” Nur asked.

“It’s called Nauneya.”

“Nauneya? Where is this located?”

“Located? Well, it’s the borderland of the Indrayon Empire!”

“Empire?”

“Ya?”

Nur froze.

“Brother Nur!?”

Did I miss something? Was there an empire? Or is this place still ruled by a royal family? Wait—

A sharp pain suddenly shot from his spine to his head, spreading like wildfire. The sudden jolt was unbearable—his knees nearly gave out.

“Ugh…”

“Brother!!”

An empire…? No… there was no empire in my memory. Then how did I get here? No—why does it hurt so much?!

What happened?!

Kayle, seeing Nur about to collapse, panicked. He reached out, placing a hand on the back of his head as if trying to steady him.

“Should we go back? I’ll call someone!”

“No!” Nur snapped out of his thoughts, stopping Kayle. “I’m okay. It’s nothing, so there’s no need to call anyone. Let’s keep moving.”

Sweat dripped down his forehead. He forced a weird smile.

Ugh… what the hell was that? Nur thought.

Kayle hesitated, his face filled with doubt. He didn’t want to move.

“Why is everyone like this…?” He muttered. His gazes down saddened a sense of loneliness filled him

As he stood there, lost in thought—

”…”

“Hey, broth—, huh?.”

Nur was already walking.

“Brother Nur! Wait for me! How can you leave me behind like that? You’re so cruel!” Kayle called out.

The stone-carved streets stretched ahead, lined with houses and shops built close together. A few doors down, someone was watering plants outside their home. Further along, a group of women chattered among themselves, while elderly men sat outside, reminiscing about the past.

The village was like the night sky, and the people were the stars—bringing it to life, making it beautiful.

Nur and Kayle had to walk from one end of the village to the other. Kayle’s house was at one end, while the village chief’s residence was at the other.

As they continued, the path grew narrower. At the very end stood a bakery shop. The closer they got, the sweeter the air became—the scent of freshly baked bread filling the narrow street. This part of the village was quieter. Only a few people passed by.

Unlike the open streets from earlier, where doors were wide open and filled with lively chatter, this area was calmer. Balconies stood open, but the front doors remained closed. Some villagers sat outside, sipping tea, reading, or simply enjoying the quiet.

As they walked, Nur felt the weight of stares from above. People on the balconies were watching him.

”…”

They turned right at the bakery’s corner. The air felt hotter here—Nur noticed it immediately. Kayle, however didn’t seem to mind. Maybe he was used to it.

After walking another thirty meters, they took a left turn.

Ahead was another thirty-meter stretch, lined with six or so closely packed houses.

The narrow path was dimly lit, with only faint slivers of light seeping through. It felt like a shortcut, quieter than the streets before. But at the end of the passage was a brighter opening ahead. After turning left, the path led straight to what lay ahead—the heart of the village, the central circle.

…

Nur’s mind was still tangled with questions.

Was there really an empire called Indrayon?

The longer he stayed here, the stranger everything felt. This place, No! the world—it wasn’t like how he remembered it.

And the power he had seen before… it seemed familiar, but not in a way that made sense. The alchemy products—those could temporarily grant power. It didn’t make sense to Nur.

As they stepped into the light and entered the next area, Nur was stunned.

A sight unlike anything he had ever seen—something he had only dreamed of, something straight out of a comic.

The central park.

Shops and houses surrounded it, forming a wide-open space at the center. In the middle of it all stood a grand fountain, crystal-blue water cascading down, sunlight glinting off the rippling surface. The sound of flowing water filled the air, warm and soothing.

The buildings, like the ones before, were made of stone, but this place was alive with greenery. Vines crept up the walls, flowers bloomed in vibrant clusters, and the air buzzed—not just with people, but with laughter. Children ran across the square, their voices mixing with the chatter of merchants and villagers going about their day.

It was nothing like the quiet streets they had walked before.

Kayle moved ahead, Nur following behind. They were heading toward the water fountain, which stood at the heart of the square. From here, Nur could see that the road beyond the fountain, The path was wider.

As they passed by the fountain, Nur noticed countless bronze-colored coins resting at the bottom of the water fountain.

At this point, his mind was already overflowing with unanswered questions, and this just added another to the pile. He held back his curiosity and continued following Kayle, who seemed… oddly quiet.

Kayle had a slight pout, his usual energy noticeably subdued.

…Did I do something?

They stepped onto the boulevard, where the shops lining the street had a noticeably more luxurious appearance.

Nur couldn’t help but feel doubtful.

Is this really a village… or a small city?

The architecture, the layout—everything felt old-fashioned, yet oddly grand. Swords hung from shop windows, their polished blades catching the sunlight. People dressed in mid-Victorian-era clothing, from simple tunics to elegant coats and refined dresses. Even the stores displayed tailored suits and ornate gowns, far more intricate than anything Nur had expected from a village.

At the end of this street stood the village chief’s house.

As they walked down the street and reached the end, they stopped in front of it. Nur stood still, observing the house. It was nothing grand—just a humble home—yet it exuded the presence of someone important.

“Let’s go inside,” Kayle said, already walking past the gates and halfway to the doorstep.

Watching him enter, Nur followed behind.