— Do you want to see the book we have about the beasts of the forest?

  — Yes, why not? Is it complicated or anything, then—

  — No, that's not it. It's not complicated, I think. I was just surprised... — she got up from her chair and ran to the door — I'll be right back.

  The battered door closed.

  While Isadora kept caring for Noah and talked to him to answer his questions as best as she could, the story he had told was still being digested by the Radiance family, especially by Undric. But one thing was clear: nothing he said was ever spoken beyond those decaying walls.

  — Do you believe in what he said...? — Undric asked as he lay down next to Mirabel — Living with demonic beasts... Is something like that really possible?

  — Apparently, yes... — she answered, placing the book in her hands on the small table beside the bed — But he is still just a boy.

  — A boy raised among demonic beasts, who knows little about human customs.

  — Hmm, he seemed to know enough to me. — Mirabel commented.

  Hugging her, Undric murmured:

  — Maybe too much...

  — Just don't do anything we might regret later, okay? Before anything else, he saved our daughter. — she warned him.

  — All right, fine, let's stop talking about this. I won't do anything unnecessary. — he said, closing his eyes, head near his wife's chest, continued — Filling my mind with these thoughts won't help at all... At most, maybe I'll talk to him again tomorrow.

  — You will...? — Mirabel smiled, pulling him closer — Going to scare him and tell him to behave, is that it?

  — Maybe...

  They both smiled.

  Despite their worries, their night was like all the others, peaceful and warm. They knew there was no point in arguing over something always beyond their control. To think about it and search for possible countermeasures, that was the limit of their capacity.

  Night had fallen and everyone went to sleep, except, of course, the guards, as well as Noah and Isadora who, after dinner, went to the bedroom to bring him his food.

  — You don't need to do this. — he said, opening his mouth for the spoon approaching him — I can eat by myself now.

  — No, I like doing this. I... — Isadora closed her smile and looked him in the eyes after a moment of silence — Maybe you're uncomfortable with me here...?

  — N-No, that's not it..

  A true answer seemed to have been drawn from his mouth by those eyes. Or was it false...? Something induced by, his feelings and thoughts conflicted, but they always found the same ending: obedience.

  Suddenly, Noah began to hear muffled sobs and, in his soup, he saw a few tears fall.

  Isadora took a deep breath before looking back at him.

  — Thank you... I know I've said that many times today, but... thank you.

  —...You don't have to cry to thank me, I know you're being sincere.

  Those tears, that expression, Noah didn't understand why, but that situation made him even more uncomfortable, his heart tight, something seemed to be forcing his throat closed, preventing his calculated words from coming out easily.

  — N-No, it's not that, I... It's not— — smiling, she looked into his eyes, freezing him — I'm not crying because I'm sad, on the contrary... I'm really happy. You know, I didn't tell my parents because I knew they would worry and suffer even more, but... I don't know how I lasted until the moment you came to help me. I... — she clenched her hidden fists, hurting her palms — I was thinking about killing myself.

  They say people are similar in some ways, but except for appearance, Noah never understood that. He never felt close enough to anyone to say he ever viewed someone as an equal. The painful mask he made in childhood persisted into adulthood and now, in another world where he'd thought he could change, to break free. But those tears resonated somewhere deep within, in his most hidden memories. A wish he'd long sowed, a weakness that always haunted him.

  — If you... If you'd arrived just a little later, I...!

  He didn't notice what he was doing or see Isadora's reaction, her eyes wide. Using his sleeve, he wiped away her tears, not noticing his own streaming down.

  — Fortunately, you were brave enough not to do it... There's no point in remembering something so awful. Move forward, it's the best way... I'll help you.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Words that didn't reflect his reality, because despite also being brave, Xiao Yang hadn't been able to move on in the end.

  — T-Thank you...

  Embarrassed, Isadora looked away a little to finish wiping her tears, not even noticing her hand moving away from Noah's.

  As for him, he didn't understand why he did such a thing, to say such absurd words "I'll help you..." It seemed unreal even as the memory was fresh. So, to himself, he was thankful she'd refused.

  However, Isadora soon realized her mistake and came back. She helped him wipe the tears Noah hadn't even noticed and, smiling, thanked him again for everything, even knowing those words had been said only because of the situation.

  — And sorry..., now you won't be able to finish eating this. — she said, placing the ceramic bowl onto the wooden tray in his lap.

  Isadora stood up and walked toward the exit.

  —...Will you come back? — he asked.

  She stopped near the door, hesitant. Having told him so much, at least right now, she would've preferred to be alone for a bit. She turned with a gentle smile.

  — Of course... I'll be right back. — she replied.

  After she left, Noah felt lighter, as if something restraining him had been freed from his feet. Still, he couldn't think about it, make sense of the facts, or even try. His mind just didn't let him.

  In the end, they really are trapped here and what they know of the forest comes from a handful of old books, not experience. He sighed, looking at the worn, yellowish pages nearby. What are the chances of there being an alchemy furnace in a place like this? Should I just ask...? In such a small town, how dangerous would it be to have this kind of knowledge?

  He played with his fingers for a while, little by little getting used to his movements. He paused, looking at the system.

  Can you tell me what the highest cultivation level is here? Both in this family and the whole town.

  [Actually, no...]

  I see...

  [But I can make an exception and tell you that Undric Radiance, as the second strongest native of these lands, is only at the last stage of Qi Foundation.]

  In Foundation, that's all? ...So, unless there's a very big gap, the strongest person must be at least in the condensation realm. But "native"? Are you saying there are people from other places who've come here?

  [The tutorial has ended and my exception has been granted. From now on, if you want information about other beings, it will require using points.]

  Tutorial...? I hope that's not about that forest. Who in their right mind would call that a tutorial?

  [...]

  Noah sighed.

  If there's a point system, is there also a shop?

  There was no answer.

  Is this something I need to discover on my own and unlock? Then, how do you earn points? ...I see, your creator is definitely a bad joker.

  The wind flowed quietly through the room, rustling the leaves and breaking against the tiles. It entered through holes in the walls and slithered to the bed, reaching Noah, who felt and heard nothing, submerged in his mind.

  You said "other beings," so I suppose information about me is still allowed. What about special cases, like opportunities? You said your main function is to help me seek power, so that should be permitted as well, I believe.

  [Yes, most of the time.]

  Most of the time? His eyebrow raised.

  [There are special cases, like inside ancient realms, in which seeking information about the place becomes forbidden.]

  I see... But back to what's important, how long will I be unable to use Qi?

  [About 8 days, as long as nothing serious happens.]

  Nothing serious? What—?

  The door opened, creaking loudly. With a bucket in hand, Isadora entered the room with slow, hesitant steps.

  — You don't need to do this. — Noah said, making her freeze.

  — N-No, I—

  — Can I ask you something?

  She stopped her unsteady steps so she could look at him.

  — Y-Yes, of course...

  — Can you ask someone to buy something for me? I'll give you the money.

  Isadora analyzed him for a moment as if searching for something clearly not there.

  — But... — she hesitated — Of course... What do you need?

  Hesitant, Noah reconsidered. He was unsure about something, but... what was it? Was it important? Maybe dangerous... Or irrelevant? After all, if he forgot, it couldn't be that worth thinking much about.

  — Is there anywhere in town you can buy an alchemy furnace?

  Astonished, she dropped the bucket on the floor.

  —...Are you okay?

  Ignoring the spilled water spreading across the floor, she picked up only the bucket and the rags. She stood up, not knowing what to say, words slipping from her mind.

  — Y-You're an alchemist, Noah...? — she managed to respond.

  — Something like that, I guess—?

  The bucket broke in her hands.

  — Sorry, I... — gathering the pieces — I-I'll be back soon! — she exclaimed as she ran from the room.

  With teary eyes, she hurried down the hallway, leaving pieces of the bucket behind. Her smile shone brightly even through the tears, and joy seemed as though it would leap from her chest.

  — Miss...?

  — W-Wait, miss—!

  The main courtyard guards didn't have time to try stopping her. Isadora, normally polite and careful to acknowledge everyone, seemed not even to see them.

  She burst open her parents' bedroom doors, banging them loudly.

  Undric woke up startled, immediately standing in front of Mirabel. His eyes scanned the room for an enemy. To his relief, it was only Isadora. He sighed but quickly turned to her again, realizing he had overlooked her tears.

  — What's wrong, dear? Did something happen?

  Isadora couldn't speak, no matter how hard she tried, her chest heavy as if about to explode, her throat choking under the falling tears. All she could do was cry. But as she saw her mother awaken and, worried, caress her face, she forced out the words stuck in her throat:

  — N-Noah, he... he knows alchemy, Father! — she blurted out between sobs.

  Undric froze, letting her slip from his arms so mother and daughter could embrace. As they cried behind him, stunned, all he could do was smile, while a single, freeing tear slid down his face, the last tear he had.

  He rose, lost in thought, and, leaving the room, wandered under the moonlight. Undric fell to his knees in the vast stone-tiled courtyard. He simply wept, cried, and gave thanks, kneeling to whatever divinity there was, to the god who had answered his prayers.