They walked on in silence for a while, the mood sinking instead of lifting—the exact opposite of what Jordan had intended.
After a few minutes, he cleared his throat and tried again. "Alright then," he said, forcing a lighter tone. "Who's your favorite Reciter?"
Strangely enough, no matter who tried to change the subject in the Story World, it always seemed to circle back to Reciters.
Leif answered first. "[Informant Z]."
Nothing more.
Jordan glanced at him, then nodded in understanding. From the moment they'd first met, Leif had been quiet, observant, and sparing with his words.
It seemed that hadn't changed—he was simply the type who didn't feel the need to say more than necessary.
Jordan then turned his head toward Gara just in time to hear the answer.
"The [Traveler]."
He broke into a grin and let out a short chuckle. "Yeah," he said, "that makes total sense."
Gara blinked. "Hey—what's that supposed to mean?"
"Well," Jordan replied, "you love adventuring, you're a Story Guide, and you're as talkative as one can be. When you think about it, that fits the [Traveler] perfectly."
The tension in Gara's shoulders eased a little. He nodded—and then immediately launched into it.
"I mean, of course it does," Gara said, starting to grin. "The [Traveler] is incredible. His Recitings are rare, sure, but that just makes them better. Every single one of them hits hard. Way more impact than most others."
Leif turned his head slightly. "That's debatable," he said calmly. "[Informant Z] is a dignified individual."
Gara looked at him, incredulous.
"And," Leif continued, unfazed, "he's the main Reciter of the only Z Ranked Fragment—[Roses Universe]."
The argument was officially on.
After a moment, Gara suddenly stopped mid-step. "Wait—we didn't even ask you," he said, turning toward Jordan. "Who's your favorite Reciter?"
Jordan visibly leaned away, lifting his hands a little. "Hey, don't attack me," he said quickly. "It's [Informant Z]."
Gara froze.
Then his expression twisted into exaggerated betrayal. "How?" he demanded. "What is this? Everyone I meet—everyone except Dante—likes [Informant Z] more! What, are you all trying to act mature or something?"
Jordan burst out laughing.
Leif did too—actually laughing this time, a rare, genuine sound that caught Gara completely off guard.
Seeing that, Gara couldn't help but laugh as well.
"Seriously," he said between breaths, "so far, not a single person I've asked has named anyone else besides the [Traveler] or [Informant Z]. It's like they're the only Reciters that exist!"
He waved a hand dramatically. "They're not even the only Z Ranked Reciters. You've got the whole trio from the Blue Trade Organization—[Blue Archivist], [Voice of a Thousand Nights], [Bedtime Stories]. Then there are others like [Director Hollow], [The Needle Voice], and plenty more."
He shook his head, still smiling. "The Reciter world is way bigger than people pretend it is."
Jordan laughed along with them, then added, "Still, even if everyone keeps choosing the same two, at least they've got one thing going for them."
He gestured lightly between the three of them. "Just mentioning them brings people together."
Gara paused at that.
Only then did he realize how easily he'd been talking—how animated he'd been—with Jordan. Normally, he'd find an excuse to slip away as soon as possible. But now, there was no teasing about marrying his sister, no playful pressure hanging in the air.
Because of that, he could finally talk to him like this.
And despite the fact that Jordan was a C Ranker, he treated Gara like an equal.
That realization earned Jordan a bit more of Gara's respect.
Time passed as they continued chatting about Reciters, their footsteps carrying them through the streets. Gara greeted passersby now and then, exchanging brief nods or quick hellos.
No one stopped him.
No one asked questions like they usually did—just simple greetings.
It felt strange.
But it also made sense. After all, the prison break two nights ago had involved Dante.
Jordan was still curious about how Gara and Leif had both reached E Rank after stepping into an SS Ranked Fragment like the [Rashanz], but he chose not to bring it up again.
Instead, he kept the conversation light, cracking small jokes here and there, deliberately avoiding any mention of Lavia. For now, he simply tried to befriend the two, easing the tension little by little.
Before they realized it, the trio arrived at the only hospital in Third Town.
The building stood apart from the rest of the district—a massive green structure rising five stories high.
Above it, a wide platform held several flying buses, the ambulances of Third Town, hovering as they arrived and departed in steady intervals.
People moved in and out of the entrance nonstop: a few D Rankers, some E Rankers, but mostly F Rankers carrying Borrowed Stories, their exhaustion visible even from a distance.
A handful of security guards stood watch near the entrance. The moment their eyes landed on Jordan, their bodies stiffened. They also recognized Gara—his reputation in Third Town was hard to miss—but for now they ignored him, snapping into salutes directed at Jordan instead.
The white-haired young man waved it off with a relaxed smile, telling them there was no need, that he was just here to visit his little sister.
The guards, all E Rankers with Borrowed Stories, slowly relaxed, though the tension never fully left their shoulders.
Gara smiled softly and patted a couple of them on the shoulder as he passed, offering silent reassurance before stepping inside after Jordan.
Leif followed last, quiet as ever, his crimson eyes briefly sweeping the surroundings before the hospital doors slid shut behind them.
...
Once inside, Gara and Leif followed Jordan as he stopped briefly at the reception desk, exchanged a few quiet words, then continued deeper into the hospital.
They stayed close behind him, boarding an elevator that hummed softly as it carried them up to the third floor.
The corridors there were long and clean, washed in pale light. Patients passed by as they walked—some on stretchers, some supported by family, others moving on their own.
A few recognized Gara and greeted him.
He returned every greeting with a smile, asking if they were doing alright. An elderly woman waved him off proudly, saying she was fine, just a mild cough.
A young boy grinned and said it was only a small injury, that he'd be back on his feet in no time.
Step by step, the hallway narrowed, until they finally stopped in front of a single green door.
Jordan didn't open it right away.
He turned to face Gara and Leif instead.
He didn't mind that Leif had come along—Gara had already said they were friends. What mattered was something else.
Jordan studied Gara for a moment, knowing how often the red-haired Story Guide usually found excuses to avoid him… and by extension, his sister.
This time was different.
Gara was here by his own choice, standing right outside Lavia's room.
Jordan paused, giving him that moment—silent, unspoken—making sure he was truly ready before whatever came next.
Gara drew in a slow, steady breath, then gave a brief nod.
Jordan returned it, satisfied, and lifted his hand to knock gently on the door.
"Who is it?" a female voice came from inside.
Jordan smiled. "It's me."
The voice on the other side immediately relaxed. "Then come in already. Why are you even knocking, you dummy? You usually just barge in and—"
The words cut off mid-sentence as the door opened.
Jordan stepped inside, with Gara and Leif following right behind him.
The room was simple and clean.
A single hospital bed rested near the center, a window letting in soft daylight, and a small desk pushed against the wall.
Everything—from the curtains to the walls—was tinted green, giving the space a calm, almost gentle atmosphere.
Lying on the bed was a young woman with long, flowing grey hair spread across the pillow and sharp crimson eyes.
Her mouth was still slightly open, shock frozen on her face as her gaze locked onto the two figures behind her brother.
A heartbeat later, her cheeks reddened faintly.
This was Lavia—the C Ranker with the Original Story [Mysterious Prison].
Jordan couldn't hold it in.
He burst into laughter and instinctively sidestepped just as a pillow came flying his way.
It missed him completely—only to slam straight into the person behind him.
Gara.
The pillow smacked him square in the face before dropping to the floor.
"Are you stupid?!" Lavia snapped, her voice sharp with embarrassment. "Why didn't you tell me you brought Gara—and someone else—with you?!"
Jordan wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning. "Because," he said simply, "it's funnier this way."
Lavia let out a long sigh, visibly deflating, then turned her head slightly to the side and went quiet.
Gara bent down, picked up the fallen pillow, and dusted it off absentmindedly. As he straightened up, a thought crossed his mind.
…She activated Leif Mode.
It was only a thought—but somehow, Leif felt something was off.
He glanced at Gara from the corner of his eye, a sharp side-eye full of quiet suspicion.
Gara merely smiled lightly in response and stood upright.
Lavia didn't speak again.
She remained silent, her cheeks still faintly red, embarrassment hanging thick in the air.
Gara said nothing.
And Leif, as always, remained Leif—silent, unmoving, observing.
The room settled into an awkward, fragile stillness.
Jordan, feeling the weight of the silence, took a step forward and cleared his throat.
"So… how are you?" he asked.
Lavia turned her gaze to him. The embarrassment from before vanished, replaced by a composed, almost officer-like expression. "Weren't you here this morning?" she replied flatly.
"Same as then. I'm doing fine. The Doctors say I'll be discharged in a few days, at most."
Jordan nodded slightly.
"Why are you here again, by the way?" Lavia continued, eyes narrowing just a bit. "You already checked on me earlier, and nothing's changed. So?"
Jordan looked away.
Lavia watched him for half a second—then her lips curled. "You're using Gara as an excuse to run away from work, aren't you?"
Jordan took a step back and scratched the back of his white hair, forcing a laugh.
"Whaaat? Me? You know me, sis. I'd never do that. I'm a diligent wo—"
"Slacker!"
Her shout cut him off completely. "Get back to the prison this instant!"
Jordan let out a long, defeated sigh. Then, slowly, he turned back to her, clasped his hands together, and put on his most pitiful expression.
"Pleeeeease?"
Lavia sighed, rubbing her temple, and shook her head without saying another word.
Jordan froze—then silently pumped his fist at his side in victory. He cleared his throat with an exaggerated ahem and turned to Gara.
"Well then," he said, "I'll be… uh, in the hallway for a bit."
He glanced at Leif and jerked his head toward the door. "You wanna continue that Reciter talk from earlier?"
Leif understood immediately. He gave a small nod, stepped past Gara, and followed Jordan out into the corridor.
The door closed softly behind them.
And just like that, Gara was alone with Lavia.
Gara cleared his throat softly.
He lingered where he stood for a moment, fingers curling and uncurling at his sides, before finally speaking.
"Uh… do you mind if I come a bit closer?"
Lavia shook her head, still silent.
Taking that as permission, he moved away from the door where he'd been standing the entire time and stopped a short distance from her bed—not too close, not too far.
Silence settled over the room.
After a few seconds, Gara spoke again. "How are you doing?"
The moment the words left his mouth, he froze. "Ah—wait. You already answered that. Sorry, I—sorry for asking again."
Lavia shook her head lightly this time. "No, it's fine," she said.
The quiet returned, heavier now.
Gara hesitated, then gathered himself once more. "If… if you don't mind," he said carefully, "could you tell me what happened? And what's wrong with you right now. Only if it's not too private."
She nodded, fingers tightening slightly over the blanket.
It was awkward—more than she expected.
Gara was being far too polite, far too careful, nothing like the man she usually spoke to in passing. But she understood. She felt tense too.
After all, this was the first time they were speaking alone, without Jordan hovering nearby.
Lavia cleared her throat, then began.
"Two nights ago," she said, voice steady but quieter than before, "Dante came to visit his little sister. Nova. Like he always does."
Gara listened without interrupting.
"He'd been visiting once every month for about a year by then," she continued. "So none of us thought anything of it. It was routine. Normal." Her gaze drifted toward the window for a moment.
"In fact… things had been going well. Surprisingly well."
She paused briefly, then went on.
"Nova used to be difficult to manage as a prisoner. Unstable. Hostile. But during that last month…" Lavia exhaled softly. "She changed. Calmed down. Followed orders. Talked less. Even cooperated."
Her crimson eyes returned to Gara.
"We thought Dante's visits were helping. That whatever he was saying to her was finally getting through."
She hesitated, biting the inside of her cheek, before continuing. "I… I'm not exactly sure how much I should reveal to a member of the public," she said softly, her voice almost breaking, "but… basically, a group of girls hacked into the prison system. Took control. Released a bunch of prisoners…"
Her hands tightened in the blanket, and her gaze dropped. "And then… it was carnage. A lot of guards… died. Some were badly injured… it was… not a great day."
She swallowed hard, taking a moment to compose herself, and then looked back at Gara. He had been silent the entire while, listening with careful attention.
"Since I'm a C Ranker," she continued, her voice steadier now, "I'm among the strongest of the guards in the prison—alongside Jordan, that is. During the chaos, Jordan was confronted by a C Ranker girl from that group… using an Original Story called [Kibrit Seller]. And I… I faced another C Ranker girl from that same group. She's a bit more known in the Story World because of her grandmother… [Red Hood]."
Her crimson eyes flickered with a mix of fear and resolve as she spoke, the weight of that night hanging heavily in her thoughts.
Gara gave a slight nod, keeping his expression calm.
He didn't know much about this [Red Hood] figure, though Leif had mentioned her once—her grandmother had been a big deal in the Wonderlands, a kind old woman, and somehow, after her passing, the granddaughter had fallen into a life of crime.
Lavia continued, her voice tight with memory. "My fight against [Red Hood]… didn't go too well."
She paused, biting her lip as if weighing her next words. Then, slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet Gara's. "I… I can't tell you everything right now. But… things happened between us. In the end… I got injured and lost consciousness."
Gara immediately raised a hand, shaking his head gently. "It's fine. No worries. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
A small, relieved smile touched her lips. "Thank you," she said softly, gratitude flickering in her crimson eyes.
She then continued, her voice steady but soft, "Later… I woke up here, in the hospital. My injuries… they were bad, but not critical. There were other guards who needed the healing potions more than I did. So the prison used theirs on them first, and I was moved here. I'd still get healed, but it would take longer than just taking a potion and being fine immediately."
Gara nodded, listening intently.
He wanted to ask why the Grey Rose Organization hadn't just sent extra healing potions—they could clearly afford it, after all, they were the controlling force of the White Clouds and one of the strongest factions in the Story World.
But he hesitated.
Lavia, after all, technically worked as a guard for the Grey Rose Organization herself.
Some things were better left unsaid.
Lavia seemed to have finished recounting the chaos of the prison break.
The room fell into a brief, heavy silence.
And then Gara's eyes flickered with sudden remembrance.
Swiftly, he opened his golden Story System Interface, and his hand slipped into an invisible space—his Storage Space.
Lavia's gaze immediately sharpened. Surprise and curiosity painted her features, but she said nothing, watching him closely.
From the depths of his Storage Space, Gara retrieved a small object—a white notebook.
Its cover was adorned with delicate clouds painted in white, a crimson moon glowing softly in the background.
He drew a deep breath, steadying himself, then held it out toward her.
"I… I brought you a visiting gift," he said, voice careful, "I wasn't sure what to get, but Leif suggested a notebook. I know you could just write in your Story System Interface, but… I thought a physical notebook might be nicer. Of course, if you don't want it—"
Before he could finish, Lavia had already reached out and taken it.
"I… I like it," she said softly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you… really. I actually own a few already, but they're… already filled."
She froze mid-sentence, suddenly realizing what she had said. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and for a moment she looked away in embarrassment.
Gara couldn't help it—he chuckled quietly.
Her eyes flicked back to him, and then, seeing his laugh, she couldn't hold hers either.
A soft, shared laugh filled the room, cutting through the tension and bringing a lightness neither of them had felt in a while.
The laughter then faded, leaving the room in a quiet, reflective stillness.
After a moment, Lavia spoke, her crimson eyes fixed on Gara. "What about you?" she asked.
"Last I heard from Dante, you were guiding someone to the [Rashanz] Fragment… And now, in just two days, you've returned as an E Ranker? And Leif—the F Ranker last I knew—he's E Rank too? What… exactly happened?"
Gara opened his mouth to answer, but Lavia spoke again, cutting him off gently.
"Wait… the guy who came with you… that's Leif, right? I remember seeing him with you the last time we met."
Gara nodded, confirming her memory. "Yeah. That's him."
The red-haired young man then turned silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts, before speaking again. "I… I can't go into all the details," he said carefully, "but… basically, Leif and I—we were both struck by the Golden Lightning of the [Rashanz] Fragment. That's… how we Ranked up to E Rank."
Lavia, who had been holding herself with all the dignity she could muster, froze.
Her jaw dropped in pure shock.
She pointed at him, still speechless, eyes wide, silently asking if he was serious.
Gara simply nodded.
She lifted her index finger abruptly, a silent plea for a moment to process it.
He smiled faintly and nodded back.
Of course she needed a moment.
Who would believe that an F Ranker had been struck by Golden Lightning in an SS Ranked Fragment—and not only survived, but actually Ranked up because of it?
He remained silent, giving her the space she clearly needed. His gaze stayed on her, patient, calm, while his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
There was so much he couldn't tell her.
The Cover Club.
The presence of two SS Rankers—[Blue Waves] and [White Space].
His mind briefly returned to the kind old man, and a small, unconscious smile formed on his lips. Then Runa's face surfaced as well.
Strangely enough, he had only said goodbye to them that very morning, yet it felt like a lifetime ago.
Too much had happened since he returned to the White Clouds today.
And that wasn't all.
He couldn't speak of his involvement with the [Rashanz Emperor], an X Ranker. Nor of his unexpected friendship with the Crown Prince of the Rashanz Species.
And the Competition—everything tied to it—was absolutely out of the question.
There were too many secrets weighing on him, things he had to keep buried, and the realization bothered him more than he liked to admit.
At least… he could talk about them with Leif.
And with Dante too—once the [Hiro Hunter] recovered enough, that is.
After a moment passed, Lavia finally seemed to calm down.
It was obvious she wanted to ask more—much more—about how all of that had happened, but remembering his earlier words, she held herself back.
Instead, she smiled warmly. "Congratulations," she said. "On leveling up for the first time… and on reaching E Rank."
Gara's thoughts about secrets and hidden truths came to a halt. His cheeks flushed faintly as he turned his face away, scratching the back of his head. "T-Thanks," he replied.
Lavia's smile lingered, but she didn't say anything else.
For a brief while, silence settled over the room once more, gentle and unhurried.
This time, Lavia was the first to break the silence. She cleared her throat, glancing slightly away, a faint flush coloring her cheeks.
"I'm not going to ask why… as an F Ranker, you decided to go to the [Rashanz] Fragment," she said carefully. "But… I do want to advise you not to be so reckless in the future. You could actually die in a Fragment that High-Ranked, you know."
Gara's cheeks stayed red, and he nodded earnestly. "Thanks… I'll take your advice to heart. I'll think carefully before deciding on another High-Ranked Fragment next time."
Lavia nodded slowly, then fell silent again.
The quiet between them was awkward, heavy with unspoken words.
She didn't know what to say next—they had already gone over the prison break, the [Rashanz] Fragment, everything about him… so what was left to talk about?
If Jordan were here, he'd probably come up with something immediately. But she wasn't Jordan. She wasn't sure what to say.
Then, Gara cleared his throat.
"Ahm… so," he began, his gaze fixed somewhere on the floor, cheeks still flushed.
"About… the marriage thing… I—I'd like to discuss it with you, if that's okay."
Her heart nearly stopped.
She hadn't expected him to bring it up. Usually, he was the one dodging the topic, finding excuses to run from it. And now—out of nowhere—he actually raised it?
Her own cheeks burned, and she couldn't meet his eyes.
She mumbled, a little breathless, "Uh… huh… sure… ahm… so… what about the marriage thing?"
For a moment, Gara didn't speak.
He seemed to gather his thoughts, his chest rising and falling as he took a steadying breath.
Finally, he lifted his gaze—or tried to, though Lavia was looking everywhere but at him—and spoke, his voice firmer now, more serious, but still tinged with nervousness.
"I… I'm sorry," he began, cheeks still red. "I'm sorry for always running away from this topic… for leaving you without an answer all this time. I… I just… I didn't know how to handle it. No one's ever really… been interested in me like that before. I didn't know how to react… so I… I ran away again and again."
Lavia finally turned to him, meeting his gaze directly.
Her eyes widened slightly, clearly shocked—she hadn't expected him to open up like that.
A small, gentle smile formed on her lips as she spoke.
"It's okay… no worries," she said softly. "Actually… I'm sorry too—for always hinting at it, even when you clearly didn't want to talk about it. I just… wanted an answer, but that's no excuse for bothering you for so long. I apologize for that as well."
Gara raised his hands quickly, shaking his head. "No, no. If I'd given you an answer sooner, none of this would've happened. It's on me."
She raised her hand in return, a faint smile still lingering. "No, no… even if you hadn't given an answer, there was no reason for me to keep bringing it up every time we met."
For a moment, silence settled over the room.
Then Gara let out a light chuckle. "Alright… I accept your apology."
She chuckled in return, meeting his gaze again. "And I accept yours."
After a brief pause, Gara cleared his throat once more. "Ahm… anyways," he began, his voice steady but still careful, "my answer… is that I can't get married anytime soon. It's not that I'm not interested… or that I am—it's just… I can't get married right now, or anytime in the near future."
—End of Chapter.
-------
Finally, huh!
Gara: Finally gave her an answer, I feel like this has been going on for so long.
Leif: Years, right?
Gara: Yup, two or three years. Anyways, now, I wanna ask why she wants to marry me, and what kind of person she is, and a bunch more.
Leif: Haha! You want to get to know her right after you rejected her?
Gara: Uhhhh... Yesss????
Lavia: That's cruel, honestly.
Gara Left the Chat.
Gara Returned to the Chat.
Gara: Ahm, see, I didn't run away this time.
Leif: Well...
Gara: Well...
Gara: I did my best, okay?!!!