Bromma Village is a small settlement with only a few hundred people, mostly living in low, earthen houses. In the distance, dogs barking could be heard, sometimes high-pitched, sometimes low.
As the sun set, the smell of smoke began to spread from the various houses. From the smoke of each household, you could smell the aroma of delicious food.
Miller led the group slowly toward his home.
The villagers, upon seeing strangers, immediately showed expressions of disgust, quickly closing their windows and doors. The children playing outside were hurriedly taken indoors by their anxious parents as if Nors and his group were some murderers.
"What's going on with these villagers?" Alex was quite puzzled. He had never set foot in this village before, so why were the villagers so wary of them?
Miller sighed deeply, a bitter smile appearing on his face. He explained to the group, "Those people caused a lot of trouble in our village before, so now they are very wary of outsiders, afraid of a repeat."
After listening to Miller's explanation, they gradually understood. Although they felt uncomfortable with the wary glances, they had to endure it.
They walked to a secluded part of the village and arrived at a dilapidated brick house. Miller pushed open the front fence gate and led the group inside.
"You can rest at my place for now. My parents are gone, so there's not much to offer, but make yourselves at home," said Miller, leading everyone into the house. Although the interior was simple, it was neat and orderly. In the living room, there was a wooden table surrounded by a few simple wooden chairs. In the corner was an old sofa that looked like it had weathered many storms.
"There are only two rooms here, so you can use them for now. I'll sleep on the floor in the living room. I'll go prepare dinner." With that, he placed the reunion package on the table and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Celia tugged on Nors's sleeve. "Brother, it doesn't seem right for us to take the children's room."
Nors was indifferent; he wouldn't let Celia sleep in the living room no matter what. However, realizing there were only two rooms, he immediately spoke up, "Celia, Tuan Yuan, and I will take one room."
There was a moment of silence. Scarlett's expression turned slightly unnatural, and Ethan tried hard to maintain a smile. Only Alex, the simpleton, fearlessly looked at Nors, then at Celia, and then asked in surprise, "You guys sleep together?"
Why ask such an awkward question? Scarlett immediately covered her face and pulled on Alex's sleeve, signaling him to stop asking.
"Why not have the girls in one room and the boys in another? That's fairer," Alex suggested, ignoring Scarlett's embarrassment, thinking his suggestion was flawless.
Scarlett struggled to speak, "Celia, you should stay with me. It's more convenient for girls to be together."
Nors looked troubled. He had never been separated from Celia. Why should they have to be apart when they were out and about?
Celia held Nors's arm and said softly, "Brother, there are only two rooms here. Do you want Scarlett to sleep with a bunch of smelly men?"
Nors didn't care about Scarlett, but Celia's voice calmed his anxiety.
Scarlett immediately took Celia by the arm and said cheerfully, "Yes, girls should stay together."
Smelly men Alex and Ethan... weren't they considered smelly too? Was Nors the only one who smelled good?
Since his beloved sister had spoken, Nors had to compromise, reluctantly instructing, "Remember to cover yourself well when you sleep, okay? The night air is chilly. Be careful not to catch a cold. There are your usual pajamas in the backpack..." Everyone watched as Nors meticulously fussed over every detail. Even Scarlett could only complain silently in her heart.
"Got it, brother." Celia's eyes curved with a smile. She liked it when her brother cared for her.
"Don't worry, Dad. I'm here to keep you company!" Tuan Yuan jumped on the table, raising its hand as it hopped around.
"Alright." Nors smiled dotingly and immediately picked up Tuan Yuan, placing it on his shoulder to prevent it from falling off the table.
Alex and Ethan, who had almost no say in the matter...
Scarlett then took Celia to see their room. This was time exclusively for the girls!
Nors also opened the other room, which had only a cupboard and a double bed. There was also a small side table with a family photo of Miller's family of three. He picked up the photo and looked at it closely. The woman had a gentle appearance, the man was tall and sturdy, and Miller had a happy expression, holding his parents' hands. In a trance, he suddenly recalled a distant afternoon.
The sound of my father's voice and the gentle face of my mother have become surprisingly blurred in my memories."
Ethan, having laid the bedding on the floor, turned around to see Nors dazedly holding the photo.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just remembered something." Nors put down the photo, saying no more. Ethan glanced at the photo, guessing he was probably thinking of his family. Besides knowing that the two were adopted by Elder Yu, their background remained a mystery. Ethan's eyes flickered with a hint of complexity, deciding not to touch on such sensitive topics, and quickly changed the subject.
"Who's going to sleep on the floor? I don't mind." Ethan shrugged.
"I will. I'm not used to sharing a bed." Nors stood with his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall.
Alex immediately spread his arms and flopped onto the bed, rolling around. "Great! I can't sleep without a bed."
Ethan, with his cleanliness obsession, immediately dragged Alex off the bed, "Hey! Get up, it's filthy!"
Indeed, just like a young master, and I'm the nanny!
Ethan kept complaining silently, filled with resentment.
Nors glanced at them, then subtly swiped his finger in front of him. A blue virtual screen immediately appeared. He slightly turned his body, observing their reactions. They didn't seem to notice anything, indicating that only he could see it.
"Tuan Yuan, can you see anything in front of us?" Nors whispered to Tuan Yuan, who was gnawing on leaves on his shoulder.
"No, Tuan Yuan didn't see anything," Tuan Yuan answered honestly.
Having received the answer, Nors walked towards the bathroom. Only there was a private space. After closing the door, he immediately checked the virtual screen.
[System Detection... Detected A32026 Star Citizen - Ye Ziyun, meeting the criteria...] [Yes/No... Login?]
His finger swiped over [Yes], and the screen immediately changed, accompanied by music in his mind.
[Welcome to [Fantasy Oracle Order], where you will embark on a mysterious and magnificent journey across the continent of Seraphia, exploring the magical world. As an adventurer, you are assigned an important task – to collect rare magical resources and energy stones across Seraphia. During your adventure, you will encounter various forces, including mysterious magicians, the powerful Solan Empire, and cunning demons. You must also unravel the secrets of the Seraphia continent and survive in this mysterious land. Enjoy your journey!]
After the game introduction, the screen displayed various data about him. To Nors's shock, it showed his real name!
[Name: Ye Zi Yun]
Age: 22
Profession: Magic Swordsman
Level: 53 Hp: 50000/50000 MP: 150000/150000
Weapon: ??? (Unknown weapon, pending identification)
Scrolling through, all the attributes matched his own. He then checked the backpack section, which was empty. Nors took out Celia's special handkerchief from his pocket and mentally commanded it to be stored. The handkerchief immediately disappeared, replaced by its icon in the backpack section, labeled [Handkerchief]. It seemed this system could be used as a storage space.
"Collect," "Explore" – so these were their tasks? What was the purpose?
The next question was why he had this system. Could those people come from the same place as him? Ten years ago, he and Celia accidentally fell into this world. He thought they were the only exceptions, but a few years later, he encountered similar individuals.
Were they transmigrated physically or just their souls?
It must be soul transmigration; otherwise, when Celia killed them, they would have left bodies instead of turning into light and disappearing. Had the technology of that world reached the point of traveling to different worlds?
Each mystery made him feel extremely vexed. His requirements were simple; he just wanted to live peacefully with Celia. He didn't care about these troublesome matters or where he was.
His parents from the original world were long gone, and those who could protect them had also passed away.
Thinking of Elder Yu, Nors couldn't help but lower his head, feeling a pang of bitterness.
Besides Celia and Tuan Yuan, he kept a distance from everyone else. Only Elder Yu, who had genuinely cared for them, held a place in his heart. He respected him deeply. Without Elder Yu's sincere love, he didn't know if they would have survived in this unfamiliar world. Probably, due to recent troubles, he didn't have the energy to maintain a façade of calmness.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. Nors checked his expression in the mirror, then walked out.