The carriage wheels rolled along the road, traveling through a vast, open field as the blazing sunlight shone down, casting the vehicle’s shadow across the dirt.
The soldier sitting at the front of the carriage swung his arms, snapping the reins against the two horses ahead.
Inside, the silhouettes of the four passengers could be seen through the window.
From within, a gaze peered outside, reflecting the sprawling plains and the distant animals appearing in his eyes.
Cattle grazed out on the vast grassland under the blistering sun, while birds flew across the far-off sky.
Ersak’s face came into view, the sunlight streaming over his features as he stared out the window.
Ersak turned his head, looking back inside the carriage.
Everyone was silent, no one saying a word.
The carriage rocked gently back and forth, the sound of the wind rustling the grass outside echoing within the cabin.
Ersak lowered his head slightly, his own thoughts ringing in his mind, “Since the day I entered this world, a few days have already passed…” Everything went completely black before his eyes, a pitch-dark void as Ersak’s deep, heavy voice echoed, “Why am I still here?”…
Ersak’s silhouette appeared, sitting inside a quiet, dark space.
His eyes grew heavy as the thought echoed in his mind, “What else do I even have left?
Why am I still here?…” The space plunged into silence, and Ersak’s figure grew smaller, smaller…
shrinking into the darkness…
“ERSAK!” “Ah!?…” Ersak’s eyes snapped open, looking ahead in startle.
He stared at the three people sitting across from him, breaking out in sweat as he asked in confusion, “W-Why are you calling me…?” Enmie looked at Ersak, her eyes locking onto him as she spoke, “I thought you were acting a bit strange, so I just called out to wake you up.
It’s nothing.” Ersak stared at Enmie, his eyes wide with confusion, “Huh?…” He let out a sigh, closing his eyes and lowering his head slightly.
Enmie’s expressionless face remained fixed on Ersak, her unblinking eyes reflecting his form within her red irises.
Sensing a gaze directed at her, Enmie looked straight ahead.
Hawen was watching Enmie.
The two looked at each other without a word.
Enmie sat up straight, closing her eyes as she exhaled a sigh, her body relaxing slightly.
Hawen looked ahead, his gaze shifting over to Ersak, who sat silently with his head lowered.
Hawen reached his hand into his coat, pulling out a blue book.
As he flipped the book open, Lusia leaned her head over to peek at it, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Hawen.
Lusia: “I feel like I’ve seen you read that book more than twice now.” Hawen looked over at Lusia, gently pushing up the frame of his glasses.
He held the book up, pointing at the title as he spoke, “This is a biology book.
I just bought it this morning, so how could I have read it twice?” Lusia broke out in a sweat, looking at Hawen as he pointed at the book with a smug face.
In her mind, she thought, “This guy…
what’s with the intellectual act.” Ersak watched the two of them.
Hawen opened his book to resume reading, and Ersak slowly shifted his gaze over to Enmie.
Enmie cracked one eye open to look back at Ersak.
The two faced each other, keeping silent.
Enmie suddenly squeezed her eyes shut, stretching her body as she let out a yawn, wiping her eyes before speaking, “We’re probably getting close now.” Ersak looked outside.
The open plains were shrinking as mountains began to appear, shifting in and out of view.
Lusia looked toward the front, speaking to the soldier driving the horses, “I think it’s just a bit further.
We’re at the edge of the kingdom already.” Ersak looked at Lusia.
Lusia turned her head back to look at Ersak, who asked in confusion, “Can I ask, what kingdom is this?
Why are we even coming here?” The moment Ersak’s question left his mouth, Hawen answered immediately, “The kingdom of Shirima…” Before he could finish, Enmie cut in, introducing it with an excited voice, “One of the great kingdoms, known as the central kingdom of the continent, and it’s also where the headquarters of the organization is located.” Ersak lowered his head, looking down in deep thought.
Suddenly, the soldier driving the carriage called out, “Get ready, everyone.
We’ll begin entering the central kingdom of Shirima in just a moment.” Ersak slowly lifted his head, his eyes gradually brightening as he looked ahead.
Ersak kept his gaze fixed toward the front, alongside Enmie and Lusia who were also staring ahead.
The carriage slowly moved into the mountain pass before them.
Ersak looked out, spotting a massive gate bearing the words welcoming visitors to the kingdom of Shirima.
The carriage slowly rolled toward the entrance.
Light gradually emerged, growing brighter and completely blinding.
Ersak went blank, his eyes widening, “Huh!…” A flash of white light appeared, filling everything.
The light slowly softened as powerful gusts of wind rushed in, causing Ersak’s hair to violently whip around.
Birds flew past the carriage, crying out without pause.
A vast land opened up before them.
Ersak looked forward in utter shock, peering out the window at the birds soaring outside.
The carriage wheels rolled forward past roadside flowers, with butterflies fluttering and settling upon the petals.
Ersak moved toward the front.
The carriage rocked gently back and forth, causing him to stagger slightly as he leaned outward to look at what lay ahead.
Shock washed over his features, his face freezing in amazement as he broke out in sweat, stammering out, “W-What is this…
it’s even…” Enmie stepped out, bending her body to lean forward as she looked up at Ersak with a smile.
Ersak and the carriage grew smaller in the distance as a strong gust of wind kicked up, violently shaking the grass and flowers, sweeping across the vegetation past cattle and sheep, over to the fields and streams.
Everything shrank away.
High up in the sky, the sun radiated its brilliance, casting shimmering beams of light down on the kingdom ahead as a colossal realm came into view.
The sunlight struck a pure white crystal, reflecting its glare as it rotated atop a towering spire, turning gently alongside a red crystal that orbited it.
Other towering spires and smaller red and white crystals scattered across the kingdom flashed with glistening reflections.
Ersak’s face was locked in shock, freezing as he stared at the majestic kingdom before him.
His pupils trembled non-stop as his trembling voice escaped his lips, “I-It’s grander than anything I’ve ever seen before…” The road gradually widened, transitioning into stone pavement.
Thump!
The carriage jolted violently as it hit the stone path, joining other carriages entering and exiting the main thoroughfare.
Ersak looked to both sides, taking in the bustling traffic of the other vehicles.
Enmie suddenly stood up straight and shouted toward the front, cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone as she yelled ahead, “E-TY-NA–!!” Enmie’s sudden shout right beside him startled Ersak, causing him to dodge away a few steps as he leveled a confused glare at her.
Enmie raised her hand high, waving it back and forth happily.
Ersak looked in the direction Enmie was waving.
A graceful silhouette was slowly advancing toward them, the fabric of her clothes fluttering gently alongside her delicate, sky-blue hair drifting in the wind.
Everything seemed to slow down before Ersak’s eyes.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently, snapping him back to reality as he focused on the scene ahead.
Enmie dashed forward with a bright smile and hugged Etyna tightly, burying her face into her as she cried out, “Oh my god, I missed you so much!!
It’s been forever since we last met!” The girl with delicate, sky-blue hair and sharp white accents smiled softly.
“It’s only been a few months, what’s with the dramatic reaction?” Lusia and Hawen stepped out of the carriage behind Ersak, walking toward Etyna.
Ersak watched them, lowering his head slightly as he climbed down to join the group.
Hawen offered a smirk, tilting his head slightly.
“Our instructor hasn’t changed a bit, has she?” Etyna puffed her cheeks, her face turning red as she glared at Hawen.
“What’s that supposed to mean?
Care to explain yourself?!” The group burst out laughing.
Behind them, Ersak watched the carriage drive away until Lusia suddenly grabbed his collar and yanked him backward.
Startled, Ersak leveled a confused gaze at her, clamping his hand over her wrist as he whispered, “What the hell??”