After the healing potion Reinhard gave me finally kicked in, a tingling warmth spread through my muscles. The pain was still there, muted, dulled, tolerable.
Reinhard assured me everything was fine, and before I could slip into a well-earned rest, I was dragged into a second interrogation by the twins. Their curiosity about my phone knew no limits.
By the time I'd answered most of their questions (and dodged a few I couldn't explain without a PowerPoint presentation), the sun had dipped lower in the sky. Evening had arrived, and with it came the girls' sudden dash back to the kitchen to begin making dinner.
With the twins out of our hair, Reinhard suggested we take it easy for the rest of the day. No more sparring, but that didn't mean we were off the hook entirely. He was determined to work our minds instead.
He led me to the Astrea estate library.
And… yeah. Calling it a "little library," as he had, was a criminal understatement. The sheer number of books and scrolls lining the walls nearly gave me an existential crisis. I'd seen smaller college libraries back home. Hell, I'd seen city libraries with less impressive collections.
But what really drew my attention was the massive carved table in the center of the room. A flat, detailed rendering of the continent, landmasses, rivers, mountains all etched like a board game map.
That's when Reinhard casually dropped the bomb that yes, their world actually was flat.
Naturally, I vowed vengeance.
First, for giving flat-Earth conspiracy theorists back home actual ammunition… and second, for that vile healing potion and laughing at my suffering.
Revenge came quickly.
He brought me over to a dense shelf of thick tomes, general knowledge of the kingdom, he said. I believed him. Every spine looked like it weighed more than a toddler, and every shelf was packed like a hoarder's fever dream.
Reinhard pulled one out and turned to hand it to me. Some important book with an unknown, twisty-looking title.
I took a step back. Crossed my arms. Flashed my most smug, villainous grin.
"I apologize, my dear friend… but it would seem I cannot read this world's script."
The look on his face?
Priceless.
'Who else could declare themselves completely illiterate and stand tall with pride, but I?'
Reinhard blinked. Once. Twice. The book still extended halfway between us.
Then, slowly, his arm lowered.
"You… can't read?" he asked, voice gentle but tinged with honest surprise, like I'd just admitted I didn't know how to breathe.
"Not your alphabet, no," I said, arms still crossed, my grin only widening. "I didn't exactly get the starter guide when I dropped into your world, Rein."
For a long moment, he just looked at me. Then he set the book down, brought a hand to his chin, and gave me a thoughtful nod.
Then my plan backfired.
"…We'll fix that."
"Huh?"
"You're going to learn," he said with a smile that made it sound far more like a promise than a suggestion. "And don't worry, I'll help. We'll start simple."
To his credit, Reinhard didn't treat me like a child. He grabbed a different book, a smaller one this time, and walked me over to the large table, clearing a spot. He cracked it open to a page filled with neat, careful lettering and symbols, pointing to each as he sounded them out slowly. Reinhard's voice was calm and steady as he pointed to a symbol on the page.
"This one sounds like 'ka.' It's used in a lot of place names. Can you say it back to me?"
I echoed him. Nodded. Tried to look engaged. Truth was, I was cooked.
The healing potion had dulled the pain, but the sheer exertion of the day was finally catching up to me. My eyes flicked across the strange glyphs as Reinhard continued, but my brain was floating just a few inches above the page. Between time-stop sword analysis, invincibility trial runs, and nearly vomiting up magic cough syrup, the adrenaline had finally started to wear off.
"…And what sound does this one make, Ethan?"
My head jerked up.
Shit. I hadn't even heard the question. Reinhard was watching me patiently, smile warm but expectant.
Crap. Crapcrapcrap, what had he just said?
I didn't want to let him down. He'd done nothing but help me all day. I didn't want to be that guy, the guy who gets offered a lifeline and shrugs it off.
So, I triggered it.
Reason and Judgement.
Click.
The world froze around me, in this lull where I could think infinitely, I desperately tried to remember what he had said, then everything slowed. My thoughts sharpened.
And then… I rewound.
Not literally, but in the space behind my eyes, the past few seconds came rushing back in pristine clarity. Reinhard's voice, steady and clear. His finger on the page. The subtle shift of his smile when he glanced up at me. It all played back like a perfect recording, despite the fact that I hadn't been actively paying attention.
'Holy hell. Even when I'm not focused, it catches everything in my field of view?'
I zoomed in, mentally, not physically, on the symbol he had just pointed to.
"Ra," I remembered. He'd just explained it. Said it was common in older noble family names.
I returned from the memory and blinked once.
"'Ra,' right?" I said casually, like I'd totally been here the whole time.
Reinhard lit up. "Exactly! Very good."
I returned his smile, but it twisted a little with guilt. It didn't feel right taking credit for something I didn't really earn.
So I scratched the back of my neck and sighed. "Alright, I gotta come clean. That wasn't entirely me."
Reinhard tilted his head.
"I used Reason and Judgement. Turns out it doesn't just stop time and sharpen focus, it lets me play back what I've seen. Like, perfectly. I was zoning out a little, not gonna lie, but I didn't want to let you down, so I used it to catch up."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Reinhard smiled, soft, genuine. "Thank you for telling me. And honestly, that's a remarkable discovery. It's not just your power that's impressive. It's how you use it."
I blinked. Then chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. "Well, I guess the moral of the story is… even if I cheat, I cheat with style?"
He laughed. "And with honesty. I'll take that over empty praise any day."
The weight in my chest eased. With that minor hiccup cleared up, I leaned forward and flipped the page, confidence blooming now that I didn't have to hide behind my power.
"Alright. What's next?"
We kept going.
I didn't hold back anymore. Every new symbol Reinhard showed me, I locked in place with a glance. The I-script, Ro-script, and Ha-script. Each one etched itself into my memory like it had always been there. The way his hand moved, the brush strokes, the subtle pronunciation, every detail was preserved with crisp clarity.
Every page we turned, every example he gave, every correction he offered, I folded them into myself like I was absorbing the language, ingraining everything like I'd always known it.
Thirty minutes in, I was reading simple sentences aloud. Another twenty, and I was scanning the map table, rattling off street names like a local.
Reinhard watched me like I'd grown a second head, equal parts impressed and quietly mystified.
Eventually, the twins returned, this time carrying trays of food. Without a word, they moved to a corner of the library and began setting dishes out on a small table tucked neatly away from the shelves, their motions smooth with practiced ease.
Taking the cue, I set down my writing utensils and followed Reinhard as he rose to join them.
Dinner that night was another masterpiece, savory, simple, and made with the kind of care you could taste in every bite. A hearty beef stew simmered with root vegetables and thick chunks of tender meat took center stage, its rich aroma filling the library and making my stomach growl before I even sat down. Beside it were sides of buttered flatbread, crisp roasted greens, and something that tasted oddly like mashed sweet potatoes but with a nutty, cinnamon-kissed twist.
And as usual, Flam and Grassis were off to the side, standing primly like two statues in matching uniforms, arms folded and eyes mildly judging.
I'd had enough of that.
"Alright," I said, pointing my fork at them mid-chew. "New rule. You two don't get to slave away making meals like this and then just... loiter in the background like you're on duty. Sit. Eat."
Grassis raised an eyebrow. "We are on duty. "
Flam crossed her arms, already gearing up to reject me. "We serve. That's what we're here for."
"Yeah, well, I'm here now too," I said, swallowing the bite I was halfway through. "And what kind of ungrateful idiot would I be to let my new friends stand around with empty stomachs after feeding me like royalty?"
They exchanged a look, clearly not used to being argued with. Reinhard, of course, was just smiling into his cup of tea like a man enjoying the world's most wholesome rebellion.
"You know he's not going to stop, right?" he said, glancing at them. "It's easier to give in."
"I'm very annoying," I added helpfully.
A long beat passed.
Then, without a word, Flam rolled her eyes, picked up a chair, and set it down at the table beside me with unnecessary force. Grassis did the same on Reinhard's side, quieter, but no less smug.
"Fine," Flam muttered. "But if you say one word about my table manners, I'm dumping your tea over your head."
I raised both hands in surrender. "I would never."
The four of us dug in, and instantly the table felt complete. There was conversation, clinking utensils, a few more jokes at my expense, and honestly? I didn't mind. Not one bit.
"So," Flam began as she stabbed a piece of something that looked suspiciously like grilled squash. "You promised to tell us more about your weird little world, didn't you?"
"Technically, you promised while sprawled out and gagging on a healing potion," Grassis added cheerfully.
I feigned a grimace. "And here I thought I could escape that trauma."
Reinhard smiled. "Consider it a lesson in accountability."
I rolled my eyes, but the grin came naturally. "Alright, fine. Ask away."
"What's the weirdest thing your world has that wouldn't make sense here?" Grassis asked immediately.
"Skydiving," I said without immediately.
Grassis blinked. "Wait. You're telling me humans in your world… fly?"
"In the sky?" Flam added flatly.
I shook my head. "People get inside giant metal birds—and then jump out of them. On purpose. For fun."
"The metal bird is like a carriage, but flying. People can't fly on their own, obviously, so when these lunatics hurl themselves out of the safe metal bird, they're falling from the sky—and the only thing that stops them is… tarps."
The twins shared a long, horrified glance.
"...Why?" they asked in perfect sync.
I shrugged. "Thrill-seeking. Adrenaline. Bragging rights. Who knows."
"I think he got hit harder than we thought if that's the world he thinks he came from," Flam muttered, though her lips quirked upward.
Reinhard, ever the optimist, leaned in slightly. "So your people can travel through the air with these birds? How fast can they go?"
"Depends on the model," I said, rolling my shoulder. "From my country, the United States, to London? That's about 5,500 kilometers."
A quick flicker of Reason and Judgment confirmed the numbers. I was off by 91 km. Close enough.
"General flight time? Around seven hours."
Grassis gasped dramatically. "And here I thought ground dragons were fast."
Flam folded her arms, frowning in mock seriousness. "At this point, I'm convinced your 'other world' is just a very elaborate fever dream."
Reinhard chuckled, setting down his fork. "The more I hear about your world, the more incredible it seems. And yet, you've adapted to ours with impressive ease. Most travelers from distant provinces struggle with even the basics of script. But you're already reading mid-tier court records."
I gave a modest shrug and tapped my temple. "Well, to be fair, I've got a bit of an edge."
Grassis narrowed her eyes, already sensing where I was going.
"It's one of my abilities," I said, not bothering to hide it. "Turns out, one of the things I can do is perfectly remember everything I see and hear. If I glance at a word once, I can rewind and analyze every stroke, every sound Rein made while explaining it. It's like having a photographic memory… but on crack."
Flam blinked. "So you're cheating."
"Strategically applying available tools," I corrected, placing a hand over my chest like a noble.
Grassis made a dramatic sound of disgust. "Ugh. You even make cheating sound smug."
Reinhard, on the other hand, just smiled into his stew. "Even so, being honest about your strengths takes more character than pretending they don't exist. I respect that."
"Damn right," I said, stealing a piece of flatbread from his plate.
Flam raised a brow. "Prodigy with manners, too."
I humphed with exaggerated swagger. "But of course, I possess etiquette rivaling royalty."
The laughter that followed was warm and full, the kind that settled low in the chest and lingered like an afterglow.
Eventually, the plates emptied, and the sky outside dimmed to a dusky lavender. Flam stood first, stacking the dishes with practiced ease. Grassis followed with a yawn and a stretch.
"We'll handle the cleanup," Flam said casually.
"Don't stay up too late," Grassis added with a little wave. "We need you alive to tell more stories tomorrow."
"Good night, Ethan. Sir Reinhard."
"Night, girls," I said, leaning back in my chair as they slipped off toward the kitchen.
Reinhard rose, stretching his arms above his head with a contented sigh. "Come on. Let's get you to your room. You've had a long day."
I nodded, feeling the pleasant pull of fatigue settle in. As I followed him out of the dining room, I glanced back just once at the table, still half-lit by soft crystal light.
Stepping into the hallway outside the library, I noticed the lanterns had all been lit, their bluish glow casting soft shadows across the walls. It was quiet now, the calm kind of quiet that made you want to breathe slower, deeper. Through a few tall windows, I could still see streaks of the sunset fading behind distant rooftops, painting everything in a muted orange hue that made the marble floor look even more regal than usual.
Reinhard led me around a corner, and for the first time since arriving in the estate, we climbed a staircase, wide, polished, and elegant, the kind of staircase you'd expect to find in a noble's estate. A soft, u-shaped curve wrapped around a centerpiece on the landing: a towering painting hung in the center, regal and proud.
It depicted a line of red-haired figures, each dressed in ceremonial whites, each with that unmistakable, piercing blue gaze. That same unwavering confidence. That same calm nobility. The resemblance was clear; this was the line of the Sword Saints.
My footsteps slowed just slightly as I looked up at it. A whole legacy… and now Reinhard stood at the end of that line.
And I was sharing a roof with him.
I skimmed them absently until one in particular stood out.
Theresia van Astrea.
Her name was there, but not untouched. The metal plate had been scratched, no, gouged, as if someone had started scraping it off in a burst of emotion, only to stop halfway through. The marks were shallow, unfinished… hesitant.
I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Just ahead of me, Reinhard hadn't even glanced at the painting. His gaze remained forward, his pace steady.
By the time we reached the third floor, I was lightly panting from the climb, not quite out of shape, but nowhere near used to this much activity in one day. My body was still sore from training, walking the entire capital, and still echoing with the strain of muscles that had no idea what they were doing earlier.
We turned down one last hallway lined with more warm lantern light and polished floor runners, and Reinhard finally stopped before a tall oak door.
"This one's yours," he said, giving the handle a smooth twist and pushing the door open for me.
The guest room was… cozy. That was the first word that came to mind.
Golden light spilled from a crystal sconce on the wall, casting a soft glow across polished wooden floors and cream-colored walls. A thick, patterned rug stretched across the center of the room, its intricate design subtly depicting a dragon coiled among blooming flowers. Opposite the door was a large window framed by deep blue curtains, partially drawn to reveal the faint orange afterglow of sunset still lingering on the horizon.
A four-poster bed sat off to the side, made up with crisp white linens and a navy blue blanket tucked with almost military precision. It looked comically luxurious after a life of secondhand sheets and beat-up mattresses. There was even a carved nightstand beside it, complete with a glass of water and what looked like a single sprig of lavender lying on the tray beside it.
To the left, a modest desk and chair were neatly arranged beneath a smaller window, accompanied by a shelf with a few basic tomes and scrolls, likely meant for light reading. A matching wardrobe and coat stand stood silently by the far corner, waiting to be used.
It wasn't overly ornate. It didn't scream wealth or nobility. More like a five-star hotel room. It radiated a quiet sense of care. Everything in the room had been arranged with intent; someone had made this space feel like home, not just lodging.
I stepped inside, soaking it all in, and let out a low whistle.
"Not bad," I murmured, reverently placing my twelve-pack of Dr. Pepper onto the desk chair.
Reinhard chuckled softly from behind me. "I'm glad you like it."
"You handled a lot today," he said. "More than most could. Sleep well, Ethan. Tomorrow's a new day."
I met his eyes, and for a beat, neither of us said anything. Then I nodded. "You too, Rein."
He gave me a parting smile, calm, sincere, and gently shut the door behind him.
For the first time today, I was truly alone.
Even back in the alley, there had been people passing by. But now, there was nobody. Just me, my thoughts, and silence.
And with that silence… came the thoughts I'd tried to keep buried.
While I quietly wrestled with them, I changed into the pajamas laid out on the bed, an azure-blue set, soft beyond words, woven from fabric so gentle it felt like I might disappear into it.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, I considered something dangerous.
With Reason and Judgement, I could look back on my family, every memory, every moment, replayed in perfect clarity. Frozen in time, never fading.
I sat with the idea for a long minute.
Then I set it aside.
Because if I did that… if I stepped out of those memories, back into this room, this world…
I'd shatter.
Instead, I lay down in the most comfortable bed I'd ever known and glanced out at the moon, massive and gleaming through the window, larger and closer than the one back on Earth.
"Another damn thought," I muttered, frustrated, trying to banish Earth from my mind.
I focused instead on what I had now.
Flam and Grassis, snarky, sharp little sisters I never had.
Reinhard, a best friend, a guide, maybe even the big brother I always needed.
With thoughts of them slowly overtaking the ache, I let myself drift into sleep.
But still, despite it all—
One tear slipped down my cheek, silent and warm, as I pulled the covers over my head and disappeared into dreams.