He doesn't possess the relic, neither does he seem to be an apostle. Rather, he's quite weak, to be honest.
Hehhhh~ then what's up with him ending up there? Didn't Lord Lucius say that an apostle would end up there?
Who knows? For now, let's go back. Leave him here for a while. Peter will make sure he doesn't escape.
---
"Huh… Where am I?
"Is that… Ezel's voice… and the other man's…?"
"Wasn't I… dead?"
Raiyan
"What is this warmth…? It feels… comforting."
Raiyan
Raiyan finally opened his eyes. His vision was blurry at first, shadows and light merging, but slowly came into focus.
And then—he saw something that made him think that maybe… maybe his life wasn't so bad after all.
A beautiful girl was holding his head in her lap. She had wolf-cut blonde hair that shimmered softly in the firelight, and her silver eyes gleamed with concern. Her expression was serious but calm, almost… ethereal.
He shifted slightly and realized he was in a small wooden cabin, the kind that looked cozy but also utilitarian. The floor was rough-hewn wood. There was only one bed in the corner, and a stone hearth nearby crackled with a gentle fire.
A man stood beside the fire. His posture was straight and refined. He had sharp, defined features: straight, combed-back black hair, with a single lock curling over his forehead.
His eyes were cold but not unfriendly, and his arms were crossed as he observed Raiyan.
Raiyan sat up abruptly. The fresh memory of Ezel and that strange, terrifying man struck him hard like a cold slap. His heart throbbed, his breath quickened, fear settling in again.
"E-Excuse me. Who… are you guys? And… where am I?" Raiyan mumbled, voice dry.
The girl and the man glanced at each other briefly.
"Calm down," the man said. His voice was deep and steady, a calmness that grounded the air around them. "We were sent by Lera. From Elm's Hollow. I assume you know who that is."
Lera?
The name rang like a distant bell. The girl from that village… south of Moonfang Forest. She had helped him when he first arrived in this world.
Raiyan's eyes narrowed in confusion.
That Lera?
But… how? Why? He didn't want to trust people. Not after everything. His breathing suddenly became ragged that startled the girl. His hand reached for his chest instinctively, gripping his shoulder tightly, trying to control his erratic breathing.
Then a voice cut in.
"My name is Constance. Constance Vidgal," the girl introduced herself, smiling gently, her silver eyes glinting. She placed a hand softly over her chest with grace, her aura bright.
The man took a step forward. "I am Edward Theodore. I and Constance are Lera's companions."
They looked genuine. Sincere. Raiyan could feel it—there was no hostility in them. No hidden malice.
Still, He didn't trust them. But… he had no choice. Not now.
And Lera… she had helped him once before. Perhaps she had done so again.
Still, questions raced in his mind. Why did Lera send them for me? How did she even know where I was? Weren't we on different continents?
And these two—Edward and Constance—definitely didn't look like villagers.
"Uhmm… How did you know where I was? And… well, what do you want with me?" Raiyan asked, trying to keep his voice calm despite the tension in his body.
Constance answered first. "Lera requested us to help you. We found you a mile's walk from here, in an abandoned building. You were tied to a seal chain."
Seal chain? Some kind of magic spell? He was alone?
Raiyan blinked, trying to piece it together. "Wasn't there someone else there? Maybe… at the entrance? Or nearby?" His voice was edged with desperation now.
Edward and Constance exchanged curious looks.
"No," Edward said slowly. "There was no one. Only you. I broke the seal chain with my magic. As for how we found you, It seems like you have the Mark."
Raiyan's body stiffened. "The Mark?" he echoed, voice taut with fear. "What's the Mark?"
Edward shook his head. "You'll have to ask Lord Fulgur about that. Unfortunately, we don't know the details. We'd just misinterpret."
Lord Fulgur? Who the hell was that now?
More questions piled up. Raiyan's thoughts were spiraling—but Edward's next words caught him off-guard.
"How did you end up in that situation?"
Both Edward and Constance were staring at him now—Constance especially, her eyes focused, intense, almost… too intense. Raiyan blushed, feeling awkward under her gaze.
He didn't trust them yet. But… he could trust them enough to speak. To at least explain what happened after he left Lera's village, the mission, Ezel, and that horrifying man who defeated him like he was nothing.
Constance glanced at Edward, whose arms were crossed again, his gaze now out the window, staring at the sky.
"What do you think, Edward?" she asked in a low voice.
Edward grunted. "Beats me. Maybe an Acolyte of an Apostle. We need to see Lord Fulgur soon, though. Things will be clearer then."
Raiyan stared at them blankly. Acolyte? Apostle? What was this some religious showdown?
None of this made sense.
And worst of all—it sounded like they were expecting him to come with them. Again.
No way in hell, he thought. Not again. Not after everything.
But reality was harsh. His situation was bad. Very bad. That smug man… he never wanted to see that face again. He never even wanted to be within ten meters of his presence.
These two? They seemed like they were fighting something far greater. Something connected to that man, possibly.
Something Raiyan didnt want to be a part of, but oh well. Right now, he needed support to survive in this strange world.
So… for now, he would play along.
"Uhmm… Where's Lera now?" he asked.
"She's in the capital—Xorkhor," Constance replied. "It's not far. If we leave now, we can reach by midnight."
"I agree. We should move," Edward said, stepping outside to ready the horses.
Constance's silver eyes met his again. He blushed. Why are her eyes so damn shiny? Oi, what the hell? Why's she staring so intensely? Please don't.
"Can you move, Raiyan? If not, you can ride with me," she offered with a polite smile.
Very tempting—but no thanks. I can't handle that level of cuteness.
"No, I'm totally fine… wait, did you say Xorkhor? We're in Wena—the Holy Moulmian Empire?" Raiyan asked, blinking rapidly.
Constance tilted her head, confused. "Where did you think we were?"
Of course it was Wena. One confusion after another. One disaster after another.
As if this world… just didn't agree with him.
For now, he set his mind on meeting this Lord Fulgur and Lera.
Maybe the either of them, knew something about his constant troubles.