Later that night.
'I can't sleep.'
Jan pushed the covers down and sat up, scolding himself with a helpless chuckle. 'What am I, a kid?'
He was too excited to rest. It was the same giddy impatience as waiting for a new book to land on his doorstep.
Jan couldn't wait to start his magic training.
From the moment he'd arrived in this world, magic was the one thing that had fascinated him most. And now, after finally cracking the code, he was eager to see what he could really do.
The possibilities were endless. As Loris Thorne himself wrote:
If you have the talent and the will, nothing is impossible.
'Will I be able to shoot lightning at will? Like everyone does with their fireballs? How can I mix it with my swordsmanship? Is it even possible? Could I even… fly?
The thoughts raced through his mind. He wanted to try now. Earlier, exhaustion from the experiment had forced him to stop, but after dinner and some rest, he felt alive once again.
His gaze drifted to the sword hanging on the wall. He nodded to himself.
'I'll need to be quiet. I can't wake the girls.'
Taking the sword, he crept out of his room.
*Click—*
He shut the door carefully and padded down the hall. But as he reached the stairs, he noticed a faint light flickering from the inn's common room.
He descended slowly.
*Sniff—*
"Maria?" he whispered, frowning. "Why are you here?"
At the sound of his voice, Maria sniffed and hurriedly wiped her eyes with her sleeves.
"N-Nothing," she muttered, voice thin.
Even though her back was turned, Jan could hear the tremble. He approached with concern. "Why are you crying? What happened?"
When his hand settled gently on her shoulder, the dam burst. Maria shook, sobs breaking free as tears streamed onto the table.
Worried, Jan moved in front of her, cupping her cheeks, brushing away her tears with his thumbs.
"It's alright. Everything's alright," he murmured, sitting before her.
At his words, Maria collapsed into his chest, burying her face in his shirt. Her sobs dwindled into quiet hiccups.
Jan said nothing. He simply wrapped his arms around her and let her cry.
"I can't do it, Jan… I can't…" she whispered again and again, choking on the words.
Jan sighed. She didn't need to explain; he knew what she was going through.
He pulled her even closer and said, "Don't talk. Just cry. Let it out, then we'll talk."
She nodded against his chest, and gradually, her breathing steadied.
When she finally let go, she forced a faint smile. "I-I'm sorry you had to see this."
"Don't be." Jan ruffled her hair with a small smile. "We're friends. The least I can do is give you a shoulder to cry on."
Maria wiped her eyes, managing a real smile this time. "Thank you."
"These last few days have been really hard," She admitted. "You saw the funeral. They don't trust me with leadership. And why should they? I'm not like Dad or Mom. I'm not my uncle. I'm not even as strong as Sophia. I can't protect them."
Her voice broke again. "Why did they all have to chase Saveth? Someone should've stayed to guard the city! Dad would've never agreed if not for Mom and Uncle—they're as reckless as ever!"
Jan chuckled softly. "Funny you say that. He was the last one through the portal."
Maria looked up at him, whimpers ceasing.
"He could have stayed. But he didn't hesitate to join Rollo and Auntie Erza—because he trusted you more than he trusted them."
Jan's smile gentled as Maria's tears welled up again. "Don't tell Sophia, but… he didn't even mention her. He said: 'Report back to Maria. She'll know what to do.'"
"You really have a way with words, don't you?!" Maria chuckled, wiping her cheeks. "Thank you. You made me feel better."
Jan opened his mouth to reply. "You're—"
*Boom—*
It wasn't an explosion, but it was loud enough for both of them to freeze.
Maria and Jan sprang to their feet, trying to figure out what to do next, when Sophia's voice rang out.
"Enemies!"
Instantly, figures crashed through the inn's windows—shards of glass scattering across the floor. Shadows poured in.
Jan didn't hesitate. He unsheathed his sword, cut the nearest attacker down cleanly, then spun to clash blades with another.
Maria already had her staff in hand; magical circles flared, bathing the dim hall in blinding light.
[Holy Light!]
She cast carefully—the flash searing the intruders' vision. "Ten intruders. Two rangers in the back, no mages, eight melee fighters! I sense more above!" she called.
"Noted!" Jan shouted.
At the mention of rangers, Jan vaulted forward toward the rear. Still blinded by Maria's burst, the two rangers never saw him coming; he cut them both down before they could react.
"Maria, Jan! Where are you?!" Sophia shouted, but there was no time to answer. One attacker was forcing his way toward Maria, fighting through the glare.
Jan considered trying out a lightning attack, but feared injuring Maria. Without hesitation, he hurled his sword at the man's back—the blade thudded home, driving the attacker forward.
Seven remained, all deciding Jan was the greater threat. With their backs to the blinding light, they fixed him with fierce, murderous eyes.
He was now unarmed; if anything, this was their chance.
Well aware of their intentions, Jan leapt out the broken window. The enemies followed, blades flickering in the moonlight.
But that was part of his plan. As soon as they surrounded him outside, he shouted:
[Tesla Coil!]
Lightning ripped from his body, cracking and rumbling outward at the seven. It struck so fast none of them could react.
The bolts needed no precise aim—the electricity sought the nearest conductors. The attackers convulsed as the current struck, collapsing and trembling on the ground, paralyzed by the shock.
The attack wasn't lethal, but it was powerful enough to take them out of action.
Seizing the moment, Jan yanked the cowl off one attacker.
Golden silk hair. Pale skin. But most striking of all—no ears! The sides of his head were smooth, as if his ears had been razed away.
Jan stood frozen in place, shocked by what he'd seen. But a cold, commanding voice cut across the yard.
"Don't just stand there—kill them all! Leave only one!"