"Alright." So he feigned his resolve.
"I agree with your plan."
Lotte tried to sound sincere as much as he could, but the chief only sneered in return.
"Do you not need time to think about it?" The chief looked at him sharply with a slight smirk. He knew that convincing Lotte shouldn't be this easy even though he already had his speech. Somehow, it made him think that the kid was the type who will only bend when faced with extreme situations.
"It's not like I have a choice. My family must be somewhere around here right? I wouldn't want any consequences I'm going to regret."
"But before anything else, I want to see them. In one piece."
The chief studied him for a moment. Lotte didn't avert his eyes. Despite the nerves crawling down his spine, he held his ground. His lack of interaction with the chief for years helped him numb the fear.
Every time they crossed paths, Lotte swore he could feel an invisible knife pressed in his neck.
What kind of guy gives off killing intent to a kid whenever they meet?
It also didn't help that he was in a weak body, he was sure as hell he wont be able to defend himself if the chief decides to hurt him. And that the chief was mysterious in more ways than one.
For some reason, he was left alone. For a very long time. That's when he finally found the drive to train.
One way or another, the chief must be the source of disaster that will befall this village. Not him. It was very telling to the situation, especially since the countdown was nearing its end.
The chief finally began to move and put whatever plan he has into action.
"That, you will. Unfortunately, I cannot allow that right now."
The chief reached out his hand as the steel bars that barred Lotte, parted a way. At first Lotte thought that the chief was letting him free. Until chains sprung up from his sleeves to bind Lotte.
The chains came at him as if it was alive and tightly bound his body. Helpless, Lotte could only fall and squirm on the ground.
'Shit!'
He knew the chief have some sort of magical means but steel chains coming to bind him isn't something he could really deal with in this cramped space.
'Is it magic? This is unfair…'
"I know you feel uncomfortable, but I can't take any risk." The chief certain that Lotte wont be able to do anything leaned down close to Lotte, "I don't know what kind of tricks you learned from that outsider after all."
Then the chief took out a vial familiar to Lotte. It was the same vial that contained the health and mana potion he got from Rugner. But the substance it contained had a different pink color.
He didn't know what kind of potion it was but his instincts told him otherwise. Any potion with that kind of color can't be for a good purpose.
"H-hey chief. Is there really a need for this chains? You know I have no choice but to follow you!" He tried to squirm and even used his strength but that only made the chains rattle and bind him more tightly.
The chief chuckled at the pathetic display before him, but he wasted no time at all and chunked the vial on Lotte's mouth.
Of course Lotte tried his best to close his mouth, but the chiefs hand glowed faintly as a sense of numbness spread from his facial muscles.
'God fucking damned magic…' That day, Lotte hated magic for the first time in his life as a transmigrator. Somehow the chief has that chains and he didn't know if there was more that he could do.
With his jaw slacked, the substance easily slid to his throat even without gulping. When all of it was done, he couldn't even cough it out or vomit.
"Congratulations Lotte. From now on, you will forget all about your worthless dream to leave the village."
"Forget whatever trickeries that old knight has told you."
"And forget all your memories since the time you woke up."
The words spoken echoed in his head repeatedly annoying him to no end.
But numbness persisted until his consciousness began to fade.
Then that was it.
***
Lotte's vision returned to where he was in the present.
The celebration. The coming of age. Its all coming back to him now.
Even the helplessness he felt became fresh to his mind. More than anything he wanted to leave this village for good right now. But, he didn't know how to. Only the chief must know how it works.
Besides, his family was still out there, held by the chief. He didn't know if that was really his father that he talked to, but he didn't see his sisters anywhere.
"Let us proceed by calling the last child to come of age. After which, at the end of our celebration there will be a special declaration regarding two of our newly recognized adults."
The sound of mild cheers broke Lotte's thoughts as the chief's voice echoed from the podium. A special announcement was either an engagement or a wedding that will take place soon.
"I am calling Lotte Fraulen, Son of Pierro Fraulen from our village and Dahlia who hails from the outside."
The other three besides him stood from the beside the chief. They were children Lotte hardly associated with. Except one of them.
"Yona?"
Among them stood Yona, clad in a red dress unlike anything Lotte had seen before, likely from Rugner. Yet, for all its elegance, the dress paled beside the wearer herself, who stood with her head downcast and her expression tight with anxiety. Lotte found himself wondering if Rugner just happened to have a stash of dresses like that lying around, despite supposedly never having left the village.
Their gaze met for a brief moment, before she suddenly looked down avoiding his gaze. Yona looked oddly well dressed for the occasion.
"Come here, Lotte. Let us begin the ritual."
Lotte cursed himself for taking too long to recall a memory, thus missing what kind of ritual was about to take place. Now all thats left was to find out.
He didn't like the feeling of how hes unable to avoid all of this events. Like his years of training was rendered useless because of the damned magic chains that popped out of nowhere.
He hesitated and just stood still. Slowly the applause and murmurs stopped and everyone turned to him. He even saw his father with a worried look on his face.
Why is he only standing still? Everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"… Lotte? What's wrong?" The chief beckoned over for him once again. He briefly turned his head and looked at Rugner who shook his head.
Whatever they communicated with in that brief exchange he didn't know. But they were definitely in this together.
He could see some people he'd interacted with throughout the square. The woodsman who supplied him with wooden swords, the old grandma who lived alone and always needed help to patch up her roofs, and the older unmarried women who used to tease him.
They'll be stuck in this village, until they grow of old age. They will never know the world out there, and their descendants will be the same. Something tells him, if the chief succeeds, that is the most likely scenario that will play out once this all ends.
Is he just going to stand by?
No.
No way in hell.
He already waited long enough. At this point, his life should lead a proper fantasy life at the very least.
And he will find that lifestyle outside.
He finally took his step. The people parted to make way for him.
The noise has stopped. As if everyone's attention was on him.
In the middle of the square, the chief stood with a small knife held in his hand, and a book in the other. It was the same book that Lotte always found him reading. Although he never got the chance to sneak a glance since the chief carefully set it aside whenever someone is around.
'That must be a tome. Or something that allows us of magic.'
Lotte was certain. That book contained something magical. And that something will make the life he spent here worthwhile.
"Give me your hand." Lotte slowly raised his arm. He looked at Yona who was still acting suspiciously, watching the whole thing transpire with bated breath. Her eyes shook when he did that.
It was a gaze full of worry. But behind there, was also guilt.
"This might sting a little, but bear with it." Just as the knife was about to cut his finger, and before Lotte could flung it away.
"Wait!" Yona protected Lotte's hand from the knifes edge, and the chief turned sharply at her.
"What is it, young miss? Is there a problem?" He said as gently as possible but there was still a noticeable irritation that slipped which made Lotte chuckle internally.
"That… can we not make him bleed?… Maybe, he could use my blood instead? He just needs enough to print his finger right?"
Lotte could almost hear both of the chief's and Rugner's sigh when she uttered her completely flimsy reason. Her intervention was likely not part of the plan. A glance from the book and he could see several fingerprints inside it. He didn't know what it does, but he wasn't really planning let them have his blood on that book.
Yona's action was timely. Unfortunately, it also revealed that she somewhat knew what this ritual is for. What it was, Lotte had some guesses.
A knife to cut, and the need for blood print in a suspicious book. What else could it be but some sort of a contract? Or worse, more memory tampering effects. A certain potion sure did him a number on that already. Luckily, someone with a similar tendency gave him a special necklace that could conveniently reverse it.
Her intentions right now was basically a plead to exclude him on their plan. Which endangers herself and also her mother. But maybe, they have Rugner's protection from the chief? They were collaborators after all.
"… That cannot be done. The blood on his name must be his own." He shook his head patiently, "Did your father not tell you how it is? Isn't this also for the sake of what the young miss wanted?" The chief carelessly said as if his presence here didn't matter, perhaps confident the potion he made Lotte drink is still in effect.
Hearing that, a surge of irritation overwhelmed Lotte, with all the plots and schemes going on around him. He didn't feel like a know it all transmigrator at all.
Right now in front of him, something was taking place that was absolutely crucial to the future of this village. This event must be the turning point of what could've been Saul's backstory.
The chief who wanted to kill him, yet also coveted his 'knowledge' and cooperation. The potion that messed up with his memory. This strange ritual, where the children who came of age would drip their blood and put their finger print on the book. Yona who's trying to stop it from happening to him…
What did the original Lotte do? He must've felt helpless faced with this situation. He must've been different to him, who wanted to go outside so vehemently. He must've tended to his sisters and their farm instead of training his physical body to the extremes.
He must've never approached Rugner. But, maybe he did approach Saul just the same.
He wasn't the Lotte that was supposed to be here right now. So what hes about to do will without a doubt be different from what the predetermined story of the novel is.
Still, he had no doubts about what he wanted to do.
Lotte took steady breaths, as he felt the nerve in his hands. He is confident of getting out of this situation. Extremely so.
As quickly as he could, he flung the knife away and took the book from the chief with a quick motion. It happened so fast that neither the chief or Yona was able to react.
He closed the book right away afraid that it might have unknown effects and hid it in his clothes.
To be honest, they might have put his blood there already for all he knew, and this is all just a farce to convince the whole village. Lotte could only hope that wasn't the case.
The chief recovered from shock almost immediately and held out his hand without a care for the crowd to see. Chains sprang up from his sleeves towards Lotte.
'Five in total…'
With the light in the surrounding, he could see clearly where the chains would bind him, following with his gaze, he used the spacious square to swerve and jump around evading each one.
This time Lotte easily avoided the chains as it slid to the ground leaving dust on its wake. Lotte never noticed before but the chains momentum was quite considerable. He might break a bone or two had those grazed him, instead of binding him.
"Tch, troublesome brat." The chief cussed out as he pulled the chains from his sleeves once again. Lotte marveled at the sight. There was no sign of the blue energy called mana he was expecting.
Unfortunately, there are more pressing matters.
"Come!" Lotte barked at Yona who was still fazed by the sudden turn of events.
"Lotte? What are y - Kyaa!" She wasn't able to finish as Lotte scooped her up. He didn't need any time to think at all that Yona somehow knew something about all of this, and she tried to prevent whatever was about to happen to him.
So, questioning her is what comes next. Lotte sprinted through the square and the onlookers only had apparent confusion on their expressions.
"Catch him! Don't let him take her! Lotte has gone mad!" Lotte heard those words as he looked backed, and saw most of the villagers sprang into action. They ran after him and some others were even headed to the barracks.
'So, are they somewhat brainwashed? When did the chief even do that?'
"Lotte! Put me down!" Yona flailed slightly in his embrace and pushed his chest away weakly.
"Are you sure?" In the past few years there was hardly any interactions between the two of them. Even so, he still didn't forget to occasionally tease and greet her. Maybe that was what made her act in harms way. Maybe she still thought of their friendship as something, even if it was only a memory from their younger days.
"…" Her silence was enough of an answer. So Lotte sped up and thought of a place to hide. Even if he can outrun all of their pursuers, theres only so much place he could run into. The surrounding terrains were all forest and rugged mountains far too high to climb.
That left only one place. It might be obvious, but the people from this village will have some qualms about it.
That will give him time he needed. Time to question Yona.
***
Meanwhile a group of gasping villagers came back to the chief.
"Where is the child?" The chief sternly asked as he looked around them and didn't see what he wished.
"C-chief. They went towards that place."
"What place!?"
"T-the killers home! The forest where that man stays!" They were referring to the old knight, Byrne whom Lotte used to hang around with. In his time in the village everyone knew Lotte was a special nutcase that hung around the alleged serial killer in the forest.
"R-right, the one you told us to be careful of… H-he might still be there and Lotte was quite close with him… So.." These were the few silent people who were also against Lotte's desire to go out.
"So? Why didn't you pursue him? Why are you fools in front of me without him?"
"That… That man was able to kill unknown monsters all on his own! We cant beat him!" The memories of the strange creatures split in many pieces were still vivid in their mind. It even began a tale to be used around the village by the chiefs machinations of course. It was in order to isolate the knight and prevent him from having any intentions of liberating this place or saving its people.
"That bastard already left the village! I made him so!" The chief could only scream in frustration, "Round up the men and arm yourselves. Surround the forest and make sure even a rat won't even be able to sneak out."
"The rest unable to take arms, return to their homes." Most of the able bodied men followed suit, and it even included the two boys from earlier.
When everyone was gone, only him and Rugner was left around the square. The lights still burned, and the sun had not risen yet. But there was little time left.
'The plan might be pushed back by next year at this rate.' The chief thought so, and gritted his teeth.
He was assured. Assured Lotte was already in the palm of his hands. There was only one person he could confront about this.
"Avatar!" He turned back at Rugner who has always been sitting somewhere behind him.
He was drinking a beverage leisurely and eating a dish like nothing that transpired ever concerned him, it made the chief sigh exasperatedly.
"What's the meaning of this? Is your potion rotten? Answer me!" He slammed his fists on the table and made Rugner's dishes rattle. Rugner stared at him in disbelief and sighed.
"I told you. Only three memories will be forgotten. It doesn't erase them. With enough reminders, the memory will resurface. You should've just told him to forget everything."
"I need that kids source of knowledge! You know I couldn't!" To this day, the chief still believed Lotte is able to acquire knowledge from some sort of source. It was the thing he was after from him.
How he wished to just ask Lotte on how he could do it, or just acquire it himself. Unfortunately, human greed and selfishness is present in the kids heart even though all he wanted is his knowledge.
And there was also the matter about that kids absurd strength and speed… He was perfect for starting a bloodline that generations to come will worship and look up into. He even took his sisters as leverage should the potion lose its effect overtime, but to think it would happen just as his blood was within is grasp.
"Haah, I told you already. The things in the treasury are all old and dusty. I'm not even sure if that potion's still good." Sighing, he shrugged his shoulders helplessly, "Hell, the other me never parted any alchemical knowledge in me. Only methods to somehow control the village." He briefly glanced at the arm that the chief used to summon chains.
"Why didn't you prevent the girl then? I thought we had an agreement, Avatar?"
"You keep your promises, and I keep mine. Isn't that our agreement?" The chief fumed but didn't do anything else.
"… I kept my end of the deal. You just failed to handle the situation." Said Rugner before downing mead on his cup, "As for Yona… Let the child be. They have nowhere to go. Maybe she still needs some time to calm down. She must be struggling with her conscience."
"We have no time for children's hesitation like that! If we are unable to do this now, then we need that kid Lotte locked up for a year once again!" The chief already had qualms about the fact an outsider like Byrne was able to find this place. It meant that, while they couldn't leave, people from outside could do as they please.
Slowly, the village was being revealed to the rest of the world.
"… That we will if we must. For now, just deal with the situation at hand. Make sure they don't go poking around 'that place'." Rugner stood up and left the chief who had looks that could kill directed at Rugner.
"Ah, just to remind you. Don't get any ideas in that fuming head of yours." Rugner, with his one reliable eye looked back at the village chief. It shone with a golden sheen and contained deep condescension that bore through the chiefs eyes.
"I could live a happy life with just the three of us. Although it wouldn't be as genuine as it used to be. So, help me to keep it that way, would you?"
Leaving those words behind, he headed to a place where he could have his fun. It was in the direction where Yona and her mother was living.
"Aarrgh!"
The chief whipped out his arm and chains appeared tearing the dirt on the ground. The opportunity came with ease and left just as easily. Now he's in a mess of a situation where he had to mobilize the villagers.
'Should I have killed that kid after all?' That was the first thing he wanted to do years ago and several after, but he realized that Lotte was getting foreign knowledge probably from his own head.
He wasn't a stranger to magic or any supernatural things, as he had discovered it long ago when he was chosen as the villages leader. Supernatural things can surprisingly happen even in this damned cage of a village. After the Overseer left, an avatar came to replace him, he was blessed with the power to 'Bind' and 'Weaken' through that being.
But he believed it was an opportunity. To usurp the village for himself and end this long standing curse of being under the whims of an Overseer. He just needed people to do the deed for him. People who had enough faith in him to sacrifice themselves.
The avatar might have something else in his tricks, but he knew the truth of that avatar more than it knew itself.
Right after the day that a man broke the taboo and tried to leave the village… He expected punishment to befall their village that had been at peace for a long time. However what came was something else.
Standing where the barrier had been, was a man with a golden eye and a patch on the other. He remembered the first words he uttered to him.
It was to fetch him a change of clothes. If it was told as a tale to anyone else, nothing would be odd about it.
But he'd seen 'real' avatars of the Overseer before. They were complete, obedient and accurate copies of himself, save from the differences in physique. And they were outfitted with the same robes that being preferred.
But the clothes he wore was without a doubt the one that the rulebreaker sported. That made him form a thought in his head, where those avatars come from, and what is the former identity of the one before him.
"Hah… Is it because of their blood ties? The thing follows his family even after being turned." A chuckle came out from the chief, no longer overwhelmed by the avatar's show of presence. For now he couldn't touch him, but once the village gains an unbreaking faith to him, he can start by isolating the man, away from his puppet soldiers.
The chief snapped out from his thoughts and walked towards the direction where his prey had fled.
***
In a place which was more than familiar to him, Lotte laid Yona down in what used to be Saul's bed.
He took a chair and sat facing her, ready to start asking questions.
"So, Yona… What exactly was happening earlier?" He spoke as coldly as possible to intimidate the other party.
"I…" She remained silent curling her fists.
"Don't waste my time. You tried to step in because you knew something would happen, once my blood stained this book." Taking out the book with a rather ordinary appearance he played around it in his hands.
"You did that because you still have a conscience." Lotte believed in her innocence if anything. The adults probably made the decisions for her to be included in that ritual, "So tell me, why is there a ritual included in the ceremony? What is the chief trying to achieve? What is his relationship with Rugner?"
He stared intently and saw her eyes glistening as if she was about to cry. But he didn't let it break his cold questioning, "What was about to happen back there?"
She was about to answer with a lie, but the coldness of Lotte's knowing eyes caused the words to stuck in her throat, "… You must already have an idea, Lotte." She faintly smiled in resignation as a single tear traced down her cheeks. Those gaze were much too painful to meet for her right now.
"… Speak."
"That was… the book was for keeping you here. That's what they said."
"Keeping me here? And it needs my blood for that to happen?" Lotte recalled whether he'd read something like that. But the only thing he would expect on a book that needs blood is some sort of controlling effect, or even make him constrained in some sort of contract.
Yona shook her head, "I don't know anything more than that. Father only told me because… I didn't want them to harm you." She felt relief. In truth, when she heard the function of the book, rather than fear, she felt relieved that something like that can be done.
In her eyes, Lotte had been an unstoppable force. Especially since that fair boy who suddenly appeared. She once saw that boy and Lotte having an intense spar, when not even anyone in the village could stand a blow from Lotte. Ever since then she avoided talking to Lotte, feeling his imminent success at leaving the village. Why? Because if he was going to leave anyways, then they could not be together.
So, young as she was, she thought that everything would come to pass as time kept her meager emotions buried. But they lived in a single village. It couldn't be help that they would cross pass sometimes, even for a brief moment. That her feet would take her where they trained. That her eyes would witness their bond together as she watched from afar.
She hated herself for that. For a long time now.
For each time she saw him, her heart would faintly flutter, and for each of his simple greeting, her heart would uncontrollably pound. Those moments when she could see him left her wanting more.
It was laughably simple how the things that could move her was those casual acts Lotte did, when there were countless who pined for her attention. She sometimes wondered if it was a curse set in stone, to always look at him but for that gaze to never be returned.
"Surely, there's something else right? Why did the three of you had to go through the same ritual?"
Even now, he was only looking at her because… he felt endangered. Because there was something he didn't understand.
"It was only for show. For the people to see." At this point her voice had turned meek. Her heart felt like a sinking abyss of guilt and hopelessness.
"Then what is it that you wanted? The thing chief talked about."
"…"
"Did you think I missed it? He said something about your wish. That the ritual is also a part of it. Tell me or else-" Before Lotte could scare Yona who looked the same all those years ago in his eyes, he was cut off with an unexpected revelation.
"I didn't want you to leave!" She couldn't but raise her voice angrily.
Lotte stared at her somewhat taken aback. "… You too huh?" He expected no less. No one except his father seemed to let him go. Even Saul in the end, tried to convince him. He never thought about it, but Yona was no different. It was just depressing how almost everyone is against him, and that things were escalating because of that.
"Well, was that all? You just didn't want me to leave?" At first he didn't really mind it. But now, it was a spot that made his blood somewhat boil.
"Hah, What more do you want me to say, Lotte?" Yona laughed depreciatingly, as she looked down and hugged herself. The words she wanted to say, and her real wish buried beneath her heart, she wanted nothing more than to lay all out on Lotte.
If only for making his decision to leave even more slightly difficult…
"After the ceremony… Once you put your blood in that book, leaving the village will be impossible. And once it's certain you couldn't leave…"
"I was supposed to choose you. After you were backed into a corner. When you could no longer chase the dream of leaving this village. When our future together was set in stone…"
If only she didn't hesitate. If only she let things proceed as it should be.
No, that wasn't right. Lotte was aware from the very beginning. The chief told her that the plan would work, and Lotte would not defy the ritual. So she agreed. Even though she knew his future might turn miserable after the deed.
"… But I don't want that. Please believe me… I didn't want you to suffer…" Each day he grew closer to leaving, her heart pained. But she didn't want him to see him changed. She wanted him just the way he is.
"…" Lotte listened and wondered whether the real Lotte experienced this. While she was still young, to the girl before him, the feelings she spoke of were real. But they were meant for the real Lotte whom he had possessed.
Even though he definitely should have been different from the real Lotte she's supposed to like, it turned out that way in the end. And his desire to leave was hurting her more than it ever should…
That fact made him feel quite guilty. He still knew in himself that despite her pleas, he won't change his mind. Reining his anger was the least he could do.
"… I wouldn't want that, if anything else… Really… Please believe me." Yona started to sob weakly, the kind that hurt the most unlike the time when Lotte chased him away.
"… Okay, I believe you." All that he could do was pat her head. When that happened she covered her face and cried even more.
"… Um, Yona?"
At this rate his interrogation would just be spent consoling her.
"What? What do you want… This bastard…"
"Uh, the thing is, I need your help."
Yona looked at him puzzled, with tears still staining her cheeks.
"Tell me everything you know. Anything at all. About Rugner and the chief."
"So you could leave easier?"
"That and… it's not like I'm gone forever once I leave you know? There's no harm in helping me."
Yona stared at him silently without responding. She seemed to be in thought and stopped tearing up.
"I could just visit occasionally okay?" Lotte doubted that he would be visiting often in this place since he was already making quite the spectacular memories just trying to leave… There's the chief in here too.
Yona who seemed to calm down took a deep breath, "… I really don't know much Lotte. I don't even know how father leaves this village. And why they're trying so hard to prevent you."
'So they didn't tell her much huh?'
"But… I know where your sisters are…" Just as Lotte was wondering what else to ask Yona, one of the things he'd been worried about came out from her mouth.
"What? Why didn't you tell me sooner!?"
"I didn't see you anywhere! Even after looking for you."
"Ah shit… well that makes sense." He was probably with the chief or something. Then he was somehow led to that spot where he awakened with a mug in hand.
"Wait, you looked for me?"
"Well… I didn't see you during the celebration, and there was no one in your house. That's when father informed me what will happen later on. The ritual and well… our.. You know."
'Our engagement?' Lotte wanted nothing more than to tease her right now as he always did, but that would be too cruel. He figured that was the case, since 'adults' in this village usually got married and engaged just as quickly, and engagements happened the most right after adulthood. Because the village is just that eager to see more kids filling the population.
"So, where are they?"
"Father brought them in our house. They must be with mom right now."
"With madam?" Lotte deliberated his thoughts. On one hand, he didn't trust Rugner. He never did since he had the potential to be an enemy. He trusts Yona and the madam. But will they be able to defy the chief once he orders them to keep him in check? Or maybe all three of them were collaborating?
Soon, the villagers will come here undeterred upon realizing Byrne's absence. Along with them would be the chief. He thought about what he could do, and his advantage over them right now. If the people started trying to restrain him, Lotte was sure that he would be unable to pull back his punches.
That would result in a large scale confrontation with all the able bodied men in the village. While he's confident that no one in the village can defeat him, it would be a different story if many at once came at him.
He didn't want to shed blood. Not yet at least. Not in the village he lived in.
Maybe, he could make an exception with the chief, though only when he was sure theres no strange magic coming.
Everything happened so suddenly and he was even captured easily. Now that he had some time think it was time to formulate a plan.
"Yona." Lotte held both of her hands in a cusp and drew closer to her, gazing intensely.
"W-what?" Yona pressed her back on the wall behind her, finding Lotte's gaze burdensome.
"I need you."