Back to the present time:
Anna leaned close to me, her voice barely a whisper but brimming with excitement. "Hey, can we kidnap him?"
I stifled a laugh, shooting her a suspicious look. "Kidnap him? Anna, we can't just kidnap people, especially not the arbiter."
"But think about it," she insisted, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "He is a very innocent person in the novel. And he looks and talks kindly. So he might give crucial information."
I shook my head, trying to suppress a smile. "Anna, you might be right, but this world doesn't follow the novel. Besides, kidnapping isn't exactly heroic behavior."
She pouted playfully, crossing her arms. "Fine, but just imagine the adventure it would be."
I chuckled, giving her a playful nudge. "I think we have enough adventure for one day, don't you?"
Anna sighed dramatically, but a mischievous grin still played on her lips. "Yeah, I guess you're right. But mark my words: One day, regardless of the characters being evil, I will meet them all."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Sure, Anna, whatever you say. But for now, let's just stick to not kidnapping people, okay?"
"Deal," she agreed with a mock salute before turning her attention back to the unfolding scene before us.
I straightened up, taking on a more serious tone. Stepping forward, I addressed the arbiter directly.
"I apologize for the interruption, Arbiter. My name is Magnus Miller, and this is my sister Anna Miller, along with our friends Alina Mapisto, Rowan Wilson, and Elijah." I gestured towards each of them in turn.
"Hey there, Arbiter," I said, flashing a friendly grin. "I'm Magnus, and this bundle of energy is my sister, Anna. The gang here," I motioned to our friends, "is Alina, Rowan, and Elijah."
"We've kind of stumbled into some interesting stuff and could use a bit of help," I explained, my tone more relaxed now. "Mind giving us a moment for a private chat? We've got some things on our minds."
The arbiter's response came swiftly, surprising me with its immediacy. "Yes," he said simply, his voice carrying an air of authority tempered with a hint of curiosity.
I blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by his quick agreement. "Uh, great!" I managed to stammer out, recovering my composure. "Thank you."
"But only you," he said as he pointed towards me.
"Wait, just you?" Anna exclaimed, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "What about the rest of us?"
I held up a hand to calm the rising tension, shooting a reassuring smile at my friends. "Hey, guys, it's okay. Let's just roll with it for now. I'll catch you up on everything afterward, I promise."
Alina crossed her arms, clearly frustrated. "But why just Magnus? We're all in this together."
Rowan and Elijah nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring Alina's sentiment.
I took a deep breath, trying to defuse the situation. "I understand your concerns, but let's trust the arbiter's judgment for now. I'll make sure to fill you all in on what he says as soon as I can."
After diffusing the situation, I gave them a mischievous smile and said, "Besides, I am the main character. No one can kill me."
As I entered the private room with the arbiter, a wave of curiosity washed over me, mingled with a hint of apprehension. However, before I could voice any questions, the arbiter surprised me by stepping forward and pulling me into a warm embrace.
"Hey, Magnus," he said, his voice filled with genuine affection. "I've missed you, buddy."
I pulled back, utterly bewildered. "Wait, what?" I stammered, my mind struggling to process the sudden display of familiarity.
The arbiter, or rather, the person who had introduced himself as the arbiter, now smiled warmly at me. "Sorry for the confusion. I should have introduced myself properly. I'm Jordan."
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of the name. Jordan. The very same Jordan, who had been my closest friend during my high school days back on Earth, the same Jordan, who had saved my skin countless times and had been there for me through thick and thin.
I felt a rush of emotions flooding through me as I struggled to comprehend what was happening. "Jordan?" I repeated my voice, barely a whisper.
He nodded, his expression earnest. "Yeah, it's me. Or at least, it's the soul of me that's been reincarnated into this person," he explained, gesturing to himself.
Taking a moment to collect myself, I returned to Jordan's embrace, feeling a rush of emotions flood through me. "I can't believe it," I murmured, my voice filled with wonder and gratitude. "To think that you're here, in this form..."
Jordan nodded, understanding shining in his eyes. "It's a lot to take in, I know. But I'm here to help you, just like old times."
"Jordan," I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity, "how did you manage to reincarnate?"
A shadow passed over Jordan's face as he considered his response. "Well, Magnus," he began slowly, "it's a bit of a long story. After... after the accident, I found myself in a strange place, somewhere between life and death."
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of the accident; the memory of Jordan's tragic death is still fresh in my mind. But here he stood before me, alive in a new form, a testament to the mysteries of the universe.
"I felt drawn to something," Jordan continued, his voice soft. "A calling, a purpose that I couldn't ignore. And before I knew it, I found myself being pulled back into the cycle of life."
I listened intently as Jordan recounted his journey, his words painting a vivid picture of his experiences beyond the veil of mortality. It was a tale of resilience and determination, of a soul finding its way back to the world of the living.
"Wow," I murmured, feeling a mix of awe and disbelief. "That's... incredible, Jordan."
He nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It's been quite the journey, Magnus. But I'm grateful to be here now, with you and the others."
"Hey, guys," I called out, motioning for my friends and sister to join us in the private room. "Come meet someone."
As they entered, their curiosity evident in their expressions, I gestured towards Jordan with a smile. "This is Jordan," I said, my voice filled with warmth. "He's an old friend from... well, from another time."
Anna's eyes widened in surprise as she took in Jordan's familiar face. "Jordan?" she echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Jordan nodded, offering a friendly smile. "Yes, it's me," he confirmed, his gaze sweeping over each of them in turn.
I introduced my friends one by one, watching as they exchanged greetings with Jordan, their expressions ranging from astonishment to curiosity. Despite the initial shock of seeing Jordan alive and well, they seemed to welcome him with open arms, accepting his presence without question.
"It's a long story," I explained, glancing at Jordan with a knowing smile. "But let's just say that Jordan here has had quite the journey."
As my friends and sister listened with rapt attention, Jordan recounted his experiences, sharing glimpses of his remarkable journey through life and death.
Anna curiously asked, "So reincarnated as Edward in this world, right?"
As Anna's question lingered in the air, Jordan's expression turned grave. "Yes," he confessed, his voice tinged with sorrow. "I am part of the fallen imperial family of Eldoria."
My friends and sister exchanged wary glances, the weight of Jordan's admission sinking in. Memories of the turmoil and destruction caused by the Eldoria family flooded back, along with the chilling reminder of Ariana's sinister actions, a stark contrast to the heroic portrayal Anna had encountered in the novel.
"But that's all in the past now," Jordan continued, his tone resolute. "I have distanced myself from the darkness that consumed my family and have dedicated myself to righting the wrongs of our past."
After a moment, Jordan sighed heavily, his expression weighed down by the burden of his family's dark legacy. "I must confess," he began, his voice tinged with regret, "that there are still members of my family who harbor ambitions of power and dominance."
My heart sank at his words, a cold dread creeping into my veins. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Jordan met my gaze with a solemn expression. "They seek to restore the glory of Eldoria by any means necessary, including the destruction of the Gloria Empire," he explained, his words hanging heavy in the air.
As Jordan's words settled over us, the gravity of the situation became even more apparent. I could feel the weight of his revelation pressing down on me, the sense of urgency growing with each passing moment.
"But how do they plan to achieve this?" Alina asked, her voice laced with concern.
Jordan's expression darkened further, his eyes reflecting the turmoil of his thoughts. "They possess a fragment of the Crown of Eldoria," he confessed, his voice heavy with dread. "Though its true power remains locked away, they believe that with the right key."
"Key?" Elijah asked in disbelief.
Jordan continued seriously. "Yes, they believe the key is Magnus."