I groaned as my consciousness rose from the depths of the abyss known as slumber. A dark, empty, nothingness. Not a single peep of a dream.

  Mm, actually, I vaguely remember something about burnt macaroni. Weird.

  Regardless, even though my slumber was a bit relaxing, it wasn't as.. rejuvenating as I'd have liked my sleep to be.

  “Nngh, even waking up for school with barely a few hours of sleep felt better than this,” I mumbled to myself, feeling groggy and like death incarnate.

  I put my arm over my face, covering my eyes before they could even open. My stomach.. I'm still starving.

  Ugh.. I have to sleep more.

  With how dead I felt, the idea of fully waking up right now was absolutely, without a doubt, not—

  "Oh, you're awake."

  —an option…

  Frowning, I lowered my arm.

  My eyes reluctantly blinked open and I squinted while scanning the room tiredly.

  A plain, medium-sized room, that I’ve never been in, decorated with the bare essentials:

  A bed that I lay upon in one corner, a desk and chair on the other side of the room adjacent to the bed, a wardrobe, and a chest large enough for me to see the top of it over the foot of the bed.

  Although, I couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room. Figuratively, of course. In actuality, it was a boy in the room that I couldn’t ignore.

  And the foreign room itself.

  I sat up while rubbing my eyes.

  "[Where]..?" I muttered while swiveling my head side to side, still trying to make sense of where I was.

  He sat in his chair, reading a book, with one leg propped up. Upon noticing my speaking, he set the book down on the desk and quickly regarded me with a finger to his lips.

  “Before you say anything! I want you to know that you’re in my room at the boy's dormitory. So I’ll need you to be quiet.”

  I frowned as this didn’t help me one bit in determining where I was. He must’ve misunderstood my expression as he raised his hands defensively.

  "I only brought you here because I thought you needed help."

  So I guess he found me unconscious outside and brought me here?

  "[Oh.. Thanks],” I croaked, expressing my gratitude somewhat flatly. My voice was a bit hoarse from the lack of use for who knows how long.

  His eyebrows raised inquisitively and his lips formed a slight frown; he stared at me.

  Did he not understand what I said?

  I cleared my throat.

  “[I mean, thanks for saving me],” I repeated, speaking a bit more clearly.

  Unable to bear the awkward staring contest we were suddenly having, my eyes flitted to different parts of the room again, and happened upon a witch's hat that matched my outfit hanging on the bedpost.

  He followed my line of sight.

  “Oh, I hung your hat there. It was on your head when I found you and fell off while I was bringing you here…”

  I blinked at him. Hat? I don't remember wearing any hats after getting out of the statue. But he’s saying it’s mine so it must’ve been with me?

  “Your feathered accessories didn’t fall off at least.”

  He pointed to the top of my head, where my antennae swayed from the tilting of my head.

  Before I could explain that my antennae weren’t accessories, a knock sounded from the door.

  The boy jumped out of his chair at the sound and glanced back and forth between me and the door in a panic.

  I guess it wouldn’t be good if I was spotted in the boy’s dormitory.

  From the door, an irritated voice of an older man shouted. “Serwin Wispfiel, I’ve a report describing a violation of curfew and suspicious activity! Open the door at once!”

  Despite my body’s fatigue, I threw the covers off of me and scrambled off the bed to find somewhere to hide.

  Sensing my intentions, the boy whisper-shouted and pointed.

  “Quick! In the wardrobe!”

  “Serwin Wispfiel! I demand you open the door at once! Or I will come in myself!”

  The boy— Serwin —stumbled towards the door and I started towards the wardrobe but the door swung open, stopping us in our tracks.

  He didn’t even wait!?

  Gulping, Serwin uttered a lame greeting towards the glaring man whose eye twitched at the sight of me.

  “Uh, good morning. Now, I know how this looks Auxiliary Dormkeeper, but I assure you it’s not what it seems,” Serwin raised his hands in subservience.

  Looking past the man, I could spot a few curious souls peeking in at the commotion.

  Great, a crowd.

  The Auxiliary Dormkeeper glowered at Serwin, and, being the burly man he was, the Auxiliary Dormkeeper was quite intimidating.

  “Serwin Wispfiel. Allegations of violating curfew, suspicious activity, and now.. this?! And his accomplice..? You,” he pointed at me. “You both better be prepared for serious disciplinary action for this effrontery to the institution!”

  Uh oh, that’s not good. We’re in deep trouble, aren’t we. Uh oh, hmm, yep. Uh oh. Serwin saved me though. To be punished for helping someone.. that’s...

  Unfair.

  Plus I’m indebted to Serwin since he helped me. And I’ve never failed to repay my debts; I hate being in debt. Usually I avoid being indebted in the first place, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.

  “[Sir, it’s just a misunderstanding. He was simply—]!”

  “Wait! Sir, Auxiliary Dormkeeper! This is a misunderstanding! I admit to the violation of curfew, but suspicious activity and—” Serwin blurted, cutting me off.

  Uh. Rude. I was trying to help..?

  “Enough! Save it for the Head Dormkeeper! You’re both in deep already, I recommend sealing your lips before you worsen the punishment!” he shut Serwin up and left for the door, waving us to follow. “With me!”

  Serwin cursed under his breath as the Auxiliary Dormkeeper left. His hands were trembling before he clenched them and turned towards me.

  “Let’s.. Let’s go. M-maybe we can explain ourselves and.. avoid expulsion,” he said, dejected.

  What?! Expulsion!? For this? Isn’t that kind of harsh?

  For such harsh punishments to be dished out for a.. minor misconduct such as this misunderstanding. Is this place that prestigious?

  Speechless, I could only nod slowly. Since I was more confused than anything, I didn’t feel nearly as bad or anxious as Serwin must have felt.

  I have to prevent his expulsion..

  “Quickly!” shouted the Auxiliary Dormkeeper, jolting us from our positions.

  I grabbed my hat and, reluctantly, we followed behind the Auxiliary Dormkeeper while trying to avoid the stares from other residents of the dorm; that is, we tried to avoid the numerous stares of adolescent boys.

  Biting my lip, I wore my hat to hide my face. Luckily, witch hats are big enough to cover the majority of one’s head.

  However, my embarrassment from the attention as we strolled through the large halls slowly turned into annoyance as their immature tomfoolery got on my nerves.

  One boy who had a hand to his mouth hooted energetically. “OooOooh!”

  “Would you look at this?! The magicless boy is not loveless ahahaha!”

  “Sneaking a maiden into the castle of wizards!? He’s got guts if anything bahaha!”

  I huffed at the gall of these boys. Just being in their presence made me feel mature despite being about the same age.

  Some castle this is. Maybe this “Royal” Magicademy isn’t that prestigious after all if its students act like this.

  “Shame he’s going to be gone, it was such a boost in confidence having someone so pathetic close by.”

  Unbelievably irritated, I readjusted my hat before glaring at the hooligans when the Auxiliary Dormkeeper abruptly turned towards them as well.

  “What are you dullards looking at?! Hm!? Classes begin in minutes! You know tardiness is one of the worst transgressions you can make here at the Royal Magicademy!” boomed the Auxiliary Dormkeeper. “Do you want me to personally take you to the disciplinary overseer?”

  Shook by the Auxiliary Dormkeeper’s half-reminder-half-threat, they cleared their throats and scattered about to their own business.

  “[Idiots],” I muttered.

  I couldn’t stand boys that acted so immaturely to the point they looked like unintelligent cavemen that could only speak the language: stupid.

  Actually, it didn't have to be boys. I couldn’t stand anyone that acted like that.

  Sure, there were some people like that in Adventuria too that I had to deal with, but at least I could pummel them. Not to mention, they quickly cleaned up their act when they knew you were an ascended. Unfortunately, it seemed that authority and power reigned supreme as the quickest way for some people to realize how dumb they were being regardless of the time and location.

  “[I hope one of them trips],” I said before sniffing. The image of the boy claiming this place to be a castle tripping over an invisible tripwire made me smile inwardly.

  Strangely enough, I heard a small yelp and some snickering erupt from behind. I don’t know what happened, but I felt my elation grow from the thought that one of them actually did trip.

  Feeling a bit better, I glanced at Serwin who I couldn’t say the same for. Poor guy was pale.

  “A-Auxiliary Dormkeeper, please reconsider!” begged Serwin. “I— Yes. I have class to attend at this time as well. So if you could just overlook this one misunderstanding…”

  “Serwin Wispfiel. You’d do well to recall my earlier warning: Be. Quiet,” growled the Auxiliary Dormkeeper. “You have two marks against you already, continue and a third and final mark for defiance will guarantee severe punishment not short of expulsion.”

  Serwin’s mouth clamped shut and the Auxiliary Dormkeeper regarded me next.

  “As for you lass, you’re in just as much trouble if not more. Cease your empty incantations lest you be marked with unauthorized spellcasting!”

  M-me? Incantations? What the heck’s he talking about?!

  Confused, my own mouth clamped shut as I quickly nodded.

  I don’t even attend this magic academy or whatever, and yet the thought of school punishment is terrifying. Ugh.

  Serwin and I trudged after the Auxiliary Dormkeeper to what seemed to be our impending doom. But after several minutes, we found ourselves in front of a large building not unlike the boy's dormitory, but not exactly the same either.

  A towering edifice, the large building stood, a fortress of authority. The site where the fate of the damned is arbitrated.

  The large door barred our path, and whether my currently crummy well-being added to it or not, a daunting pressure emitted from the tall-standing entryway. Shockingly, where there should have been a door— wooden or not —was nothing but solid marble and stone, similar to the rest of the building. Embossed at the center of it was a carved out hexagon with a marking.

  “I’m sure the both of you already know this,” the Auxiliary Dormkeeper said. “But this here is the center of the residential sector of campus. The top floor of this building is where the Head Dormkeeper’s office resides. As for the rest of the building, well, it’s the dormitory for teacher’s that reside on campus. So it'd do you both well to be on your best behavior.”

  “Th-that explains why the air feels suffocating. Is this what they mean by the weight of intent? Of mana? A feeling of increased gravity?” Serwin muttered. “Actually, what is the mana density here? Is it even at acceptable levels for mere students?”

  “Hmph. You can’t call yourself a student of the Royal Magicademy— much less a mage —if you can’t withstand something trivial like this,” the Auxiliary Dormkeeper grumbled before muttering to himself afterwards. “How the standards have dropped.”

  Serwin shot him a sidelong glance, clearly peeved at the Auxiliary Dormkeeper’s remark.

  I glanced around and held my hands up to the air, but didn’t feel anything like what Serwin described. If anything—

  “[Hm. It does feel the slightest bit humid. Or was it always like that?], I muttered to myself.

  He must have been regarding the daunting pressure I feel. Though it's hardly suffocating, just.. humid.

  “Empty incantations again, lass?” he said, eyeing me.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  I only shot him a weak smile in response.

  …And I still have no idea what he means by that. Empty incantations? I’m not even trying to spellcast or chant anything. At least, not on purpose..

  With another grunt, he faced the door and placed his hand in the hexagonal imprint at the center of the entryway. Immediately, the marking within illuminated and a soft rumble sounded. The entryway split in two—

  What!? Isn’t this just like an automatic sliding door?!?

  Adventuria had a myriad of interesting entryways for some unique places— most of them magical. But there was never something that was straight up an automatic sliding door. The game devs always went out of their way to make sure to implement something more fantasy or otherworldly rather than having automated sliding doors in a fantasy world because ‘it’s powered by magic’.

  I mean, I guess it makes sense this building doesn’t have something fancier like a colossal golem acting as the door. A colossal golem is bigger than this building in the first place, but that’s besides the point.

  Was this not Adventuria after all?

  I’m Celia.. but what if this isn’t Adventuria? With the size of Adventuria’s world, it made sense that there’d be some locations I haven’t discovered for myself. But a place like this that has a large university-like campus.. I could only assume I’m in at least a large city or capital.

  This place is called the Royal Magicademy after all. ‘Royal’ implies it’s related to royalty or its location must be at the heart of this royalty’s kingdom; a capital.

  I definitely learned of most if not all kingdoms and capitals in Adventuria, so I should know of a location as significant as this. Especially one related to magic. But the fact that I don’t must mean that this isn’t Adventuria. Or, of course, the world of Adventuria could have changed before I woke up as Celia. Even so, I couldn’t have been asleep in that statue for that long.

  Can I even return to my old world? Maybe this is all a dream?

  I was excited last night, but that’s because it still felt like a game. Now that I had more time to think, I’m really just a lost child with no clue as to how I would return home. I didn’t even have access to my equipment I had in the game, leaving me quite vulnerable.

  I’d be okay if I had my items at least..

  I shivered as the reality of the situation sunk in.

  “I uh.. I have not a doubt that it will all turn out okay. Don’t worry,” Serwin said, noticing my uneasiness.

  I don’t think he knows why I shivered.. But thanks nonetheless.

  I forced a smile in response but Serwin ended up shifting his focus back to the Auxiliary Dormkeeper rather quickly.

  Was my smile too forced?

  “Let’s go,” the Auxiliary Dormkeeper commanded.

  I let out a slight sigh as we stared at the Auxiliary Dormkeeper’s back and walked into what might as well have been the equivalent of the teachers’ office. Though it was on a much larger scale as it was an entire building.

  Aw no air conditioner.. Though I don’t need it as Celia.

  A woman sitting behind a desk in a small booth of sorts to our left greeted us.

  “Ah, Mr. Auxiliary Dormkeeper~ catch yourself some rulebreakers?” she called out in a teasing tone while leaning forwards. “You seem to be rather dutiful unlike the last auxiliary dormkeeper.”

  “Ms. Scrya,” he replied, nodding towards her. Befitting his stolid behavior, the Auxiliary Dormkeeper hardly reacted to the woman’s tone as he continued. “These two committed transgressions that can’t be overlooked. I’m taking them to the Head Dormkeeper to determine their punishment.”

  Seeing that she got no reaction, she dropped the teasing tone and replied rather boredly with the wave of her hand.

  “Well, don’t be too harsh, will you? The number of proficient mages have been dwindling lately. So we don’t need to uproot any saplings before they grow to bear fruits. Y’hear?”

  “Hmph. The punishment they receive will reflect the magnitude of their misdemeanors.”

  With that the Auxiliary Dormkeeper continued onwards. As I followed, I felt an odd feeling of prying eyes on my back and instinctively glanced backwards. However, the lady, Ms. Scrya, was minding her own business and reading papers on the desk. No one else was in the room.

  Odd. Am I imagining things?

  Brushing the thought aside, we entered a small cylindrical chamber that had no door, and the Auxiliary Dormkeeper and Serwin both stopped abruptly, catching me by surprise.

  I looked around, curious as to what we were doing. I expected to be climbing up stairs right now since the Head Dormkeeper’s office was on the top floor.. but what were we doing instead?

  We turned to face the open doorway and I felt a slight breeze from below when the floor beneath my feet vanished. I flinched and nearly flailed as we were suddenly suspended in the air.

  “Ah, never been in a lift before?” Serwin asked, the corners of his lips curled in a stifled smile.

  I only blinked at Serwin in response.

  A lift—?

  Ignoring gravity, the three of us began to float upwards. We went higher and higher until we slowed upon reaching the top floor. The 'ground' beneath us re-solidified.

  Serwin let out a big sigh before uttering out, “Hooo, okay.”

  Meanwhile I shut my gaping mouth before I could continue to look dumb.

  That was a straight up elevator!!

  But I had no time to linger on that thought as in mere moments, we arrived in front of large, chocolate colored wooden twin doors that lead into the Head Dormkeeper’s office.

  The Auxiliary Dormkeeper raised his hands to knock, but a voice from within allowed our entry before he could rap the door.

  “Enter.”

  Oh?

  I fully expected the hoarse voice of a wise old man, but instead I heard the sharp voice of confidence that held an edge of critical judgment. Serwin went rigid as he heard the voice.

  He must be really anxious.

  The Auxiliary Dormkeeper opened the door, holding it open for us to go through first before following from behind.

  The Head Dormkeeper, as his voice hinted, was nothing like what I first imagined. He was young.. Or looked young at least. He had wisdom in his sharp eyes that challenged anyone who met them. Black hair slicked back, a handsome face full of self-assuredness. He definitely wasn't the old mage teacher stereotype I envisioned.

  “Auxiliary Dormkeeper, Serwin,” regarded the Head Dormkeeper with a nod and sharp glance. His gaze then shifted to me after which a frown made itself at home on his solemn expression.

  “And who’s this?” he asked.

  “[My name is Celia],” I replied with a slight bow.

  There wasn’t much else I could do in my honest opinion. I couldn’t tell him anything relevant such as what class I was a part of at this institution, what grade I was— however that worked here —, or even where I came from, because that information didn’t exist!

  There isn’t anything I could tell him aside from my name that wouldn’t be suspicious.

  One of the Head Dormkeeper’s brows raised.

  “Incantation in front of my face? How bold,” he mused.

  “You welp! I’ve warned you to cease your empty incantations, do you wish to increase the severity of your punishment?” the Auxiliary Dormkeeper growled, shifting towards me.

  Why in the world does everyone keep saying ‘incantation?’ whenever I speak? I’m not chanting anything, I’m just speaking normally!

  “[Seriously, what are you talking about]?” I huffed in exasperation.

  This was getting really tiring already. What do I have to fear anyway? I’m not a student here, so they can’t scare me with anything. The worst they could probably do is just kick me out of this place, which I’m fine with to be honest. I’ll just go and find the adventurer’s guild, pick up some requests, and go on an adventure like old times. No biggie.

  However, I was a bit curious as to why he kept pointing out ‘empty incantations’ whenever I talk normally. It’s not like I was chanting any spells, though I guess that’s what he means by ‘empty’. But incantations? From speaking normal english? How so?

  Confused, I listened closer as the Head Dormkeeper’s continued speaking, ending his short-lived amusement.

  “Hmm. No. You weren’t exactly chanting incantations.. Could it be?”

  “Ahem. [You are..] hmm, yes that should be it.. [You are speak ancient language]?”

  Wait what?! He wasn’t speaking English! Wait, they don’t speak english!? But then. How did I.. wha—?

  Before I could respond, I keeled over as a sharp pain stabbed through my head.

  “Ggk!”

  “H-hey! Are you okay?” Serwin hurriedly asked, kneeling beside me. “Father, what did you do to her?”

  My mind exploded with information— the vernacular of this world that I could hardly make sense of with the pain—and each second introduced another searing bolt of pain that fogged my mind more and more.

  Wait, Father?

  Just as I thought the pain couldn’t get worse, it suddenly vanished, leaving a weird phantom pain of sorts to bother my confused self.

  Ugh my head.

  “Quiet, Serwin, I did nothing. Though I am curious as to what is causing her sudden pain.”

  “Quick.. We should get the healer!” Serwin blurted.

  “No.. it’s fine,” I muttered, holding my head with one hand and raising my other to stop Serwin.

  “Oh? You’re speaking commonglish now?”

  “Huh?”

  He was right. I was speaking in their tongue now. Commonglish, he calls it. Although it felt foreign on my tongue, speaking and thinking it felt completely natural. Of course, I could still do things in English too.

  Hello. [Hello]. Weird. [Weird].

  It was an odd feeling. Like someone downloaded a language pack to my brain.

  Wait, that’s not what actually happened right? With the sharp pain and all? I’m so confused.

  Serwin offered his hand, which I accepted and used to stand up again before dusting myself off afterwards.

  “In any case. I’m glad we can communicate now, girl. You seemed to have become my son’s love interest after all.”

  What.

  “Father! She’s a commoner! Demihuman as well! Such blatant lies.. I mean.. we’re getting off track!”

  “Actually,” I started to correct Serwin. “I’m a dr—..”

  On second thought, maybe it wouldn’t be smart to tell them I’m a dragon monarch. I don’t know what meaning that existence holds here, and I already made my lack of knowledge apparent with the language difference.

  “I mean, Serwin is right. Why would a human such as him be interested in a demihuman like me. Sir,” I said, playing off of what Serwin said.

  Though being called a commoner annoyed me, perhaps I let being an ascended player go to my head.

  “I.. believe we’re here to be punished from a misunderstanding?”

  “She is right, Head Dormkeeper. They’re here to be punished for their misconduct.”

  “I don’t believe I was wrong, Serwin. But yes, let’s move on. What misdeeds have they committed Auxiliary Dormkeeper?” the Head Dormkeeper asked while opening a drawer.

  “Serwin here has a couple accusations of breaking curfew, and more importantly.. he had snuck this lass into the boys’ dormitory! The nerve..!”

  “Is that it?” the Head Dormkeeper asked, clearly uninterested.

  He took out a large book and lay it on the desk in front of him before tapping the cover twice. The words on the book’s spine and cover started glowing which caught my attention.

  “Is that.. it..?” the Auxiliary Dormkeeper repeated. “But.. Head Dormkeeper! They are clear violations of the Magicademy’s rules! And rules need to be enforced, rulebreakers punished! Else the standard of our prestigious institution decreases as well as its reputation.”

  “Hmm. That is true,” he agreed, his attention elsewhere.

  He kept his focus on the book and chanted. “[Search: Serwin Wispfiel].”

  The book shone brighter before its pages rapidly started to flip to the next page by themselves. After a moment, it stopped and seemed to find what the Head Dormkeeper was looking for.”

  “Auxiliary Dormkeeper, it appears that he has no prior records of breaking rules before, so I believe a warning would be enough. In addition, I do not believe my tame son is bold enough to bring a girl to his room with lecherous intentions.”

  I heard Serwin quietly groan as he— I presume —died inside.

  “Sir. To have preferential treatment because he is your son—”

  “Do you really think I, of all people, would be biased in this matter? Auxiliary Dormkeeper? Do you oppose my judgment?” asked the Head Dormkeeper. He definitely did something, as he suddenly seemed to appear a bit more threatening than before.

  “.. No sir,” the Auxiliary Dormkeeper replied.

  “Now. Girl. Tell me, what did you say your name was again?”

  “Huh? Oh. It’s [Ce—], erm, Celia.” I responded.

  “Celia?” he repeated. “No surname?”

  “Mhm.”

  Soon after I confirmed my name to him, the book began flipping through its pages. However, it started flipping back and forth several pages before coming to an abrupt stop and ceasing to glow.

  “Unregistered.”

  Uh oh, cat’s out of the bag.

  “Aha well you see. The thing is.. I’m um, not actually a student here.”

  “What?” Serwin exclaimed.

  “T-Trespassing!? You snuck an unaffiliated person with you onto the prestigious campus of the Royal Magicademy? This is—!”

  “Auxiliary Dormkeeper,” the Head Dormkeeper interrupted. “Please be silent.”

  “Why are you here, and how did you sneak onto campus? I’m sure we have plenty of countermeasures to prevent such things that you must have bypassed. Are you a spy for foreign kingdoms?”

  “Definitely not,” I huffed.

  “Then why are you here?”

  I don’t know if I should be telling this.. But whatever! I’ll just omit some things.

  “I just woke up here with no recollection of how I got here.”

  “...I see. Serwin, Auxiliary Dormkeeper, you are dismissed. I shall determine appropriate punishment for Serwin as you so wished for Auxiliary Dormkeeper, albeit in a less official way. Now leave us.”

  “..Yes, Head Dormkeeper.”

  “Yes, Father.”

  “Serwin, I’m sure I reminded you of using proper titles on campus.”

  “Ah, I mean. Yes, Head Dormkeeper.”

  They both left the room with Serwin giving me one last curious glance by the door.

  “Now then. When exactly did you wake up?” he asked.

  “Last night.”

  “Where?”

  … I can’t say that I woke up in the statue right..? Ugh but screw it! He might be able to help me figure out what’s going on anyways! I don’t think Serwin’s father is a bad guy anyways.

  “Uhh.. in a big courtyard looking area?”

  “It wasn’t, by chance, near a statue.. Is it?”

  They already know?!

  “Well, no. Not by a statue. I was inside the statue.”

  He seemed to be taken aback but quickly composed himself as he leaned forward, even more intrigued.

  “...Inside?”

  I nodded.

  “I see, so you woke up in the statue in the courtyard with no recollection whatsoever.”

  “Well, I DO have recollection. I just don’t remember how I got here. I remember everything up until…”

  I let out a sharp gasp.

  “[Ignentaraz]!!”

  What happened to Ignentaraz?! I lost consciousness right after he was born. But I must’ve disconnected right? Then what happened to him? Is he okay?

  “[Ignen.. tarawz]??”

  “[Wait]!.. I mean wait! Wh-what year is it?”

  Last I recall, it was the year 433 in-game. The game’s third year in service. Even with a new location, it couldn’t have been that long since—

  “Hm? It’s currently Year 733. Why do you ask?”

  Wh—

  My breath stopped short and I fell to my knees.

  Three hundred years? I ditched Ignentaraz for three hundred years? Ignentaraz, one of the Dragon Monarch’s children that I promised to take care of and grow up with?

  Why?

  All that show of reassuring those Dragon Monarchs, and I couldn’t even begin to keep my promise? I betrayed their trust immediately!

  Before I knew it my hands were gripping at the smooth stone floor, my nails clawing through it.

  “Three hundred years,” I muttered through gritted teeth, my vision already blurring.

  What became of the game, Adventuria? And what of everyone else?

  Artena, Kenta, Igny, and Thenaraz? Are they all gone? Did they even face a similar situation as me? They could be on Earth still for all I knew. In that case, it would have been three years already. Where was I this entire time? If I’ve been gone that long, was my real body in a coma? Or did I really..?

  In any case, I must be here all alone. Arriving in this world too late after everyone else would have arrived and perished, or here alone because no one else is facing the same situation.

  I’m all alone.

  I bit my lip hard enough to bleed.

  “[Shit]!”

  “Celia! Talk to me. What do you mean, three hundred years?”

  I gazed up at the man.

  “It’s been three hundred years,” I replied.