Chapter 20

Time flew and before Rey knew it, it was time for Lily to go back to school.

It excited him, really. It was shameful, how happy he was that his sister was going somewhere she couldn't interact with her family regularly, that he could meet Chris daily however brief those meetings were.

Maybe he would even find out whoever it was that Chris loved and have a talk with them regarding not breaking Chris' heart. It was an entirely plausible things for friends to do, alright!

But then, when he actually got to the school while bringing Lily's lunch, he was stopped at the gates by some apologetic guards. "Apologies, but the queen has ordered for no one but students, teachers and faculty members be allowed to come into school grounds. We will have to inspect the lunch for the b—Young Miss Lovell and deliver it to her ourselves."

"Oh, am I allowed to know why?" Rey asks after a moment, wondering if something happened. Was Chris alright? The two guards whose shift was always on when he comes to deliver food apologize once again, "This is a confidential matter that even we know nothing about."

That was very worrying.

Rey racked his brain on anything that happened in the game in his last life around this period of time. He had just been a casual player who had not truly looked into everything and usually...

The plot ended when the holidays end.

Around this time, Lily would have already gotten together with whoever she picked and they would live happily ever after. That was what Rey remembered. It has been something of a confessing on the day before the holidays so for the entire time said vacation lasted they could think clearly. Of courser, by the end, the protagonist is always able to pick up whoever she wanted.

Think, think. What did his sister—sister? Brother? He couldn't remember anymore. What was their name and what did they look like and everything and why, why can't he remember?!—rant on and on about? Focus, fire? Yes, the Ignis Kingdom. Something about them doing something and secret love interests. Next, focus, Terra? Terra would be allies.

Two more. What else? Wind, right, the Ventus will... what will they do? Clara was gone, what will happen?

Rey smiled at the two guards and left to go back home.

He'd have to write down everything he knew and could vaguely recall and draw lines between everything to make a plan. In a language that wasn't Japanese, English? No, this world was designed to be a Western fantasy game and he couldn't take too many chances. Chinese, yes.

It was time he made use of the information and jotted it down before it disappears.

/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\

Bright orange-yellow eyes darted around, relief blooming when they noticed nothing dangerous. The red-haired teen stepped forward and cautiously looked around again.

He continued to walk, casually this time and bumped into someone while distracted.

"Ah, I'm sorry!" The voice belonged to someone who was wearing a mask and had black hair. The teen, Aiden, stared unflinchingly at the other, expecting her...him...whatever. The masked person held a grace in their movements, almost seeming otherworldly and like the ridiculous blabbermouth Aiden was, he blurted out, "Are you an angel?"

He could pinpoint the second that the stranger's eyes showed that they registered what was asked and was amused rather than anything. Aiden stared unerringly at them, wondering just how someone could be so expressive.

"No, I'm not an angel," they giggled and oh f*ck—the stranger was beautiful like that, with eyes curving with a twinkle in them and posture relaxed. Even the world seemed to agree as the sun shone down at just the right angle, giving the stranger's hair a shine that made it seem lustrous and healthy.

"What's your name?" The stranger asks and Aiden wants to facepalm. Right. Manners. "Ah, my name is Ai—Allister, may I ask your name?"

"Reyham," the stranger tells him and oh, he's a boy? Either that or his parents had weird naming sense.

He nodded and asked, since this person was probably a normal citizen. He could sense no magic. "Do you know of the closest inn? I seem to have gotten lost and am unable to contact my... friends."

"Ah, is that so?" Reyham paused and thought for a moment. He hesitated, it was clear in his movements and the look in his eyes, "the inns around here are quite expensive. It is the Capital, after all."

Concern, worry and it was those things that made him flush red over anything else. A stranger cared, someone out there cared and that was... far more than enough for him. Aiden, however, was a prince even after everything so he looks Reyham in the eye and tells him, "Money is not a problem."

Reyham nods and says, "The Brightkeep inn is closest from here, just around the corner. They have the best food and should have some lodgings free at the moment. The Silverhill inn is a little farther, but it has the best viewing spots and is closest to the Magia Academy as well as the castle. Then there is the Crystalash inn in the middle of the Capital which is famous for being quite eccentric as far as temporary lodging goes. Would you like more options?"

"No, no, that is fine. Reyham, you don't happen to live around here do you...?" It hopefully didn't come across as him not liking the other or desperate. Hopefully.

Fortunately, he smiles brightly and replies, "My home is actually the bakery right beside us!"

"Alright," Aiden tries his best to not look like he had a puppy crush. He probably failed, "can you direct me to Brightkeep?"

Thankfully, the angel that was known as Reyham did as such and Aiden tried hopelessly to calm the pounding of his heart down.

(In another world, Aiden doesn't go off track and he bumps into the protagonist, Lily, as he was going to meet the spy from their kingdom. The two talked and in pure love interest and protagonist fashion, one of them falls head over heels for the other.

A small statement said about Aiden's family while Lily talks about her parents in great reverence and she replies with the childish answer of, "Then just leave or get rid of them!"

In another world, he is met by childish words not meant and acts upon them.

In this world, he meets nothing but consideration for himself and has nothing to act upon.

Funny how things change.)

/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\

I am going to try to write at least some words every day. Anyways, meet the new character! Aiden, to be more exact, Aiden Gehennam. Refer to Lily's notes, hehehe.

Anyways, next chapter, we're going to explore some magic. It involves Rey too!

Words: 1152