The ramp descended.
The cold air hit my face. It wasn't not freezing—just different.
It was way cleaner than Aventic's air, and sharper. Like someone had washed the world and left it out to dry.
I stepped off the plane.
And stopped.
Green.
Everywhere.
Hills rolling toward the horizon like sleeping giants. Fields patchworked in shades I didn't have names for.
There were no walls, no fences, or any watchtowers.
And most importantly there were no Duman.
Just... endless open space.
"Young Master?"
Shenhe's voice behind me. I realized I'd been standing frozen for... seconds? or maybe minutes?
"Yeah," I said. "I'm fine."
Angy brushed past me, spinning in a slow circle with her arms out. Her blonde hair caught the wind.
"It's beautiful," she breathed. "Shenhe, look—it's actually beautiful."
Shenhe said nothing. But her blue eyes were wider than usual. She was taking it in.
I could tell that even she was impressed.
A man approached from a small building near the airstrip. He was old, maybe sixty or more . Wearing clothes that looked comfortable and official at the same time.
"Young Master Namaska?" His voice was warm. "Welcome to Ilsa. I'm here to take you to your residence."
I nodded. "Thanks."
"Your luggage will follow. Please—this way."
He gestured to a vehicle I didn't recognize.
It wasn't any military or any civilian vehicle but something in between.
Angy grabbed my arm.
"Your protector is with you , Master?"
"What?"
"Nothing."
She was already moving toward the car, but I caught the glance she shot at Shenhe. A silent conversation. Years of practice.
Protector.
Is that what they think they are?
Or what they think I need?
I got in the car. After we all settled, the driver started the engine.
The drive took more than forty minutes.
Forty minutes of winding roads past rice paddies and small houses and people who waved at the passing vehicle like it was normal to wave at strangers.
"Everyone's so... friendly," Angy observed from the front. Her face was practically glowing, pressed against the window like a child seeing snow for the first time.
The driver chuckled. "That's Ilsa, miss. We don't get many outsiders. When we do, we make them feel welcome."
"Outsiders?" I leaned forward. "People don't come here often?"
"Almost never." His eyes met mine in the rearview. Old eyes. Wise. Like he'd seen things but learned to make peace with them.
"That's the point, I think. For those who need... peace."
I sat back.
Peace, huh ?
The word felt foreign in my mouth.Like a language I'd studied but never spoken. A concept I understood intellectually but had never experienced.
A word that somehow had escaped my fate after I...
Stop it, Nams.
We crossed a river, and after it, the village appeared gradually.
First a few houses. Then more. Then a cluster of buildings that might be shops—small, simple, nothing like Aventic's steel and glass.
And after we passed all of this, We reached in our destination.
A house .
A big house .
A house that was...modern.
That was the first surprise. After the rural roads and simple houses, I'd expected a hut. Maybe a cottage. Something rustic and humble.
This was two floors of clean lines and large windows, sitting comfortably at the edge of the village like it belonged and didn't belong at the same time. Like it was part of the landscape but also separate. Like us.
"Six rooms," the driver said. "Your father was specific about the accommodations."
Six rooms.
For me.
But why?!
We were three people only. And I knew Shenhe and Angy would sleep together, so why?!
"Angy and I will take the ground floor," Shenhe said, already moving toward the door.
"Young Master, your quarters are upstairs. Main bedroom."
"You knew about this?"
She paused. Looked back. "We've known for two weeks."
Right. They knew about the paperwork, the date.
They planned this .
I sat on the couches.
And stayed there .
I don't know how much I time spent sitting there, or if they called me even for once.
They banned me from doing any housework .
They didn't even let me bring my luggage on my own .
Around evening or should I say afternoon because the clock showed was 3 PM , I went exploring.
Only me. No Angy. No Shenhe.
The village air was cooling, the sun starting its slow drop toward the hills.
Farmers were leaving the fields. Mud on their clothes, and sweat on their faces.
They looked... happy. Tired.
But, happy why ?
In Aventic, farmers worked because they had to. Because the walls needed feeding. Because Dumans could come at any moment, and if you weren't ready you'll—
Here, they walked slowly. Talked to each other and laughed.
One old man caught my eye. He nodded and smiled.
I nodded back but didn't smile.
What's wrong with me?
Some kids in shorts were running on the road... probably they were playing.
What were they playing?
One boy held up a ball made of rags, grinning.
I walked more .
More .
And more .
I passed a field where older boys played something with bats and a ball. One swung. There was a crack. The ball soared.
"Six!" someone shouted.
What was this? A game?
"When I was your age I hit many big shots like this in cricket. "
Near a bench, one old man told this to a young boy. Probably his grandson.
Cricket?
So that's what they called it.
I'd heard the name many times in Aventic, but I never had any permission to play any game with outsiders.
My only playmates were Angy, Shenhe, and...
Don't try, Nams. She is like a page, but she's not from that book you're reading.
It had been ages since I forgotten her name.
All I remembered that she was the sister of Marcus.
Then I walked more, Until I went beyond the village.
The sound of flowing water hit my ears.
I saw a river nearby.
So, there was a river at the end of the village too .
I went to the edge of the river .
I saw people bathing in the distance.
Wasn't it an unusual time for taking a bath?
The water was crystal clear.
I headed down to the water and I dipped my fingers.
It was cold.
In this place, I could see many types of vegetable fields.
Some people were cutting those vegetables. Some people passed towards them .
I looked the ground covered in deep grasses.
I didn't know what my mind, or heart decided, but I lay down on the grass .
I breathed.
Simply breathed.
The smell of grass and mud hit my nose .
Above me in the sky, there was a great power present. Sun.
But it was not hurting me, probably, it was because it's getting weaker. It will get its power back when tommorow arrive but for now let me lay here .
I closed my eyes and tried to feel the fundamental concepts of this domain .
The concept of birds sound .
The concept of water burbling.
The concept of smell .
I saw afterimages of my previous battle. I can't lie that I didn't had any fun there but the only piece was missing which is the concept of quietness.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the twilight sky .
How much time had I been lying here, huh ?
I sat up from the grass, and began to walk toward my new home .
A cold breeze hit my skin .
It was seriously cold . I should've brought more clothes.
I saw people were coming back to their home . Kids returning. Some didn't want to go, but they were forced by their mothers.
A sudden sound of some vehicle interrupted my moment.
Some boys on their vehicles were speeding in this crowded place.
What a weirdo!
Around 6 PM, I reached the house.
"Master, Welcome back "
"Hey, Shenhe"
"Master, dinner is already made "
" Oh, you made it this time or that idiot "
"Idiot? If you mean Angy, then yes, she did"
" Ok, ok, then I'll be at the dining table after I freshen up"
When I went to the dining table, I saw they sat waiting like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Young Master." Shenhe gestured to a chair.
"Please, sit ."
I sat.
The food was good. Simple and warm.
Halfway through, Angy said, "So? First impressions about Ilsa?"
I chewed. Slowly swallowed.
"It's... quiet."
"That's bad?"
"I don't know yet."
She nodded like that made sense. "Fair enough, I'll ask again in a week."
Shenhe said nothing. She just ate, watched and waited.
After dinner, I took a shower.
I stared at myself like always in the mirror.
The same face. Same eyes. And obviously, that same idiot person.
Why do I feel different?
That night, I lay in bed watching the ceiling fan.
Thoughts drifted toward that girl Who has blonde,red eyes. Wearing nothing but a simple white turtleneck.
Her name? What was her name?
It was Ar... something.
I couldn't hold it. Every time I tried, it slipped away like an endless amount of slippery memories.
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