"Huh…?"

  I blinked. The sky above me was gray, the smell of dust and city smog hanging in the air.

  "What is this place…?"

  I looked around, heart pounding.

  Cars honked in the distance. Skyscrapers loomed. Neon signs flickered. Crowds bustled past me like I wasn't even there.

  "W-Wait a second… this… this is Earth."

  My breath caught.

  "I'm back…"

  Then—footsteps behind me.

  "I see you've returned home… Shang."

  A familiar, raspy voice.

  I turned around slowly—my stomach dropped.

  "M-Mother?"

  There she stood... My Stepmother, with Same sly face. Same greedy eyes. But… she was gone. She had died. I had buried her with my own hands.

  My eyes widened. "How… how are you—"

  More people appeared. Faces I hadn't seen in years. Neighbors. Friends. My childhood teacher.

  All smiling.

  All chanting.

  "Shang. come here. here."

  Their voices grew louder. Distorted. Echoing.

  I covered my ears. "No… no, no, stop…"

  One figure stepped forward. His face was blank. Empty. He pulled a knife from behind his back and charged—

  "NOOOOO—!"

  I jolted awake, heart thundering in my chest.

  Eren, who had been dozing right in front of me, practically hit the roof of the carriage.

  "AAAAGGHHH—!"

  He scrambled back, hand to his chest, eyes bugged out. "You lunatic! You Jerk! What the hell is wrong with you!? You nearly gave me a heart attack! Again! Just like the last time!"

  I blinked at him, disoriented. "Oops… sorry. Just a… really bad dream."

  I scratched the back of my head sheepishly. Valea snorted.

  Cedric, trying to sip tea in the moving carriage, choked on it and burst into laughter.

  "Don't you dare laugh!" Eren snapped at both of them, face red, completely flustered. "I almost died! That scream was demonic!"

  Valea was nearly wheezing now. Cedric had given up all knightly composure and just let the laughter roll.

  Nico, meanwhile, stared out the window completely unfazed, muttering, "I wish I were a tree."

  "I mean…" Valea leaned toward me, a playful glint in her eyes, "Aries did look kinda cute while sleeping."

  I blinked. "Huh?"

  My face flushed red. I tried to look away, but she was too close, her elbow nudging mine.

  From the other side of the carriage, Nico rolled his eyes and fired back, "Sure, he looks cute. You, on the other hand, sleep like a dragon-chicken hybrid with a sinus problem."

  Valea spun around like she'd been slapped. "WHAT did you just say?!"

  "You snored like a war horn during an avalanche," Nico continued, deadly calm. "At one point, I genuinely thought a wild hog got loose in the camp."

  "YOU WANNA DIE TODAY, YOU WEED-HEADED GARBAGE?!" (Valea)

  "Bring it, farm animal!" (Nico)

  Cedric folded his arms, eyes narrowing with an exhausted sigh. "And there they go again…"

  I took the opportunity to change the subject.

  "Umm… where exactly are we going now, uh… Gramps?"

  "Gramps?" Cedric repeated.

  He blinked.

  Then slowly looked around the carriage. "Gramps? Where's he? Who's gramps?"

  Everyone, including me, just stared at him.

  It clicked.

  Cedric's eye twitched.

  "HEY—WAIT—NO! YOU MEANT ME?!" he stood up, almost hitting the roof of the carriage. "I AM NOT THAT OLD! I'M ONLY FORTY-ONE! FORTY. ONE. I STILL AM YOUNG, VALEA! TELL THEM I AM RIGHT?!"

  Valea shrugged, smirking. "Well… you are. Back in the last era."

  Cedric slumped back into his seat. "This is betrayal. High treason. I trained you, fed you, tolerated you."

  The carriage echoed with laughter, the sun gleaming through the trees, and the wind carrying our voices far into the road ahead.

  Even I laughed—genuinely.

  "Well, well…" Valea leaned closer, her voice playful as her finger gently poked my arm. "Looks like Aries is finally loosening up. Getting comfy with the gang, huh?"

  I glanced away.

  Before anyone could tease further, Cedric cleared his throat. "Ahem. Since Aries asked—allow me to share something important."

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  His tone shifted, serious now. "We're heading to the Kaelenor Kingdom."

  My brows furrowed. "Kaelenor? Why there?"

  Valea stretched her arms and leaned back casually, eyes half-lidded. "Uncle has some… Knight business to deal with in the Ashton Kingdom. Kaelenor's just our first stop. We'll be staying there for a few days before setting out again."

  The way she said it—like it wasn't just a stop—made me suspicious, but I didn't press.

  Cedric nodded. "Very well said. And, while we're at it… I suppose it's time you all knew." His gaze swept across the group. "You're just kids—barely fifteen. Except for Aries here. So I don't expect you to know what a Knight Summit is."

  "Pfft," Nico scoffed. "Let me guess—bunch of clanking morons in armor gathering around to swing metal sticks and compare bicep sizes?"

  Valea's eyes narrowed. "Even arguing with Uncle?"

  They kept chatting, playful barbs traded like old friends. But my thoughts drifted.

  I'm headed far… far from the Molgrith Kingdom. My home…

  my eyes narrow

  but this body doesn't even remember the location of his own damn house....

  ________________________

  The journey dragged long through winding forests and golden valleys. The sun gave way to stars before we finally arrived at the towering gates of Kaelenor—a kingdom of shimmering stone and light-soaked towers.

  We pulled into a grand estate nestled among blossoming gardens and ancient marble fountains—offered to Cedric as an honored guest of the realm. A sprawling villa where moonlight kissed every rooftop tile.

  "Aaarrgh, I'm gonna die," Valea groaned dramatically as she launched herself onto one of the velvet beds. "This bed is heaven!"

  Nico poked his head in from the doorway. "Look who's turned into a sleepy sow."

  She didn't even lift her head. "Shut up. If you say another word, I will Kill you!."

  I smiled faintly at the sound of their bickering and stepped out onto the balcony.

  The night was still. Crickets sang. The sky above Kaelenor was painted in deep hues of sapphire, dotted with glittering stars. The wind was cool, soft—unlike the cold from home.

  "It's beautiful, isn't it?" a voice,

  I turned to find Cedric standing beside me, arms crossed, a quiet look in his eyes.

  "Yes," I whispered. "It really is… Gramps."

  He groaned instantly. "Not this again. I swear, call me Gramps one more time and I'm kicking you out."

  I giggled.

  Then—he turned serious.

  "But… Aries."

  "Hm?" I looked up at him.

  He was silent for a moment, staring into the night.

  "Since you've chosen to travel with us… how about you train with us too?"

  I blinked. "Train…?"

  "I usually guide Valea, Eren, and even Nico—though he complains more than he swings a sword." He smiled faintly. "But I train them because I want them ready. Ready for anything. I want them stronger… sharper… unshakable. So, when the world turns dark—they can still stand."

  He paused, then turned fully to me.

  I stayed silent.

  "I'm offering you more than just strength," Cedric said, voice lower now. "I'm offering you purpose. Growth. Control. So… what do you say? You want to walk this path—with us? Train to become more than what you are?"

  I looked him in the eye—then smiled.

  "Sure. I'd be honored."

  He reached out and gently ruffled my hair. "That's what I wanted to hear."

  Just then—

  "HEY!! GET OFF, THIS IS MY SIDE OF THE BED!"

  "NO, I SAW IT FIRST!"

  Nico and Eren's voices echoed down the hall like thunderclaps. Footsteps. Screeching. A scuffle.

  "ENOUGH!!" Valea's furious scream tore through the villa.

  Suddenly—a gust of wind exploded from the room, tossing both boys across the floor like rag dolls.

  I chuckled as Cedric shook his head. "Well… training might not be the only thing you'll need to survive in this group."