Xavier stood rigid at the doorway, staring at the blazing red sky, which seemed like a sign of impending doom. Distant sounds filled the air—a rustling, a growl, something moving fast—creating an eerie atmosphere. A thick fog covered the ground, and far away, shadows of strange creatures moved like the undead on the hunt. Xavier's heart raced, and his breath caught in his throat.
"Don't go outside!" The woman's voice rang out, clear and urgent, but something inside Xavier still urged him to explore. Despite his hesitation, curiosity gnawed at him. Just as he was about to take a step, footsteps approached quickly.
"You won't survive out there. Ghouls roam at night," the woman whispered, pulling him back inside and shutting the door tightly.
"Ghouls? What are they?" Xavier asked, confusion evident in his voice.
The woman looked at him with a tired expression. "They're hunters of the human race. They're active in the morning and at night, but their power grows stronger at night due to the hellish energy surrounding the Hollow Grim."
"Hollow Grim? Hell? So, am I dead?" Xavier's voice cracked as his eyes filled with tears, trying to make sense of the situation.
The woman gave a faint smile, patting his shoulder. "No, you're not dead."
The confusion in Xavier's mind remained, but he tried to ask more politely, "Then, what's your name?"
The woman smiled warmly. "My name is Lisa Afrodite, and this is my daughter, Elvie Melters," she said, introducing her child.
Hearing the name, Xavier let out a small smile. "Afrodite? Like the goddess of beauty?"
Lisa chuckled softly, then asked, "And what's your name?"
"Well, ma'am, my name is Xavier William."
Lisa looked surprised. "I've never heard of the name William in any kingdom or clan."
"Hehe, of course not. I'm not from this world," Xavier muttered under his breath, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
But his curiosity got the better of him. "But... why does your daughter have a different last name?" he asked carefully.
Lisa's smile slowly faded, and her eyes briefly showed pain.
Noticing this, Xavier immediately regretted asking. "I'm sorry, Lady Lisa. I didn't mean to—"
"It's alright, Xavier," she said gently. "Elvie took her father's clan name, Melters." Her voice softened, sounding bittersweet.
Feeling guilty, Xavier awkwardly smiled. "Sorry if my words upset you."
Lisa let out a small laugh at his odd expression. "It's fine, really."
Lisa Afrodite was stunningly beautiful, with golden blonde hair, glowing skin, and sharp eyes. Xavier quickly realized that she looked around the same age as he had been in his previous life. "If only she weren't married and had a kid, maybe..." he thought to himself with a small chuckle.
"You seem better now," Xavier said, smiling. "It's nice to meet you, Lady Lisa." He gave a slight respectful bow, then gently patted Elvie's head. "You're very kind, Elvie. Your name is as beautiful as your mother's."
Elvie blushed shyly, while Lisa smiled again, this time filled with gratitude. But after the moment passed, Xavier sank back into his thoughts, staring blankly. He was starting to realize that maybe he was, in fact, dead. The feeling of sadness hit him hard once more.
"Damn... am I really dead?" Xavier lamented in his heart. "I haven't even finished reading The Last Emperor. There are still so many books I haven't read!"
Lisa, noticing Xavier tearing up again, seemed puzzled, unsure of what to say. "What's wrong, Xavier?"
Wiping his eyes, Xavier sighed. "Is this all real? I remember being in the library, reading a book... and then suddenly, I'm here."
In a low voice, he added, "If I died just from reading too many books, that's really ridiculous."
Lisa smiled gently. "You're not dead, Xavier. But this world... Artevia... it's much worse than you can imagine."
Xavier listened, but his mind kept circling back to the unanswered question. Was this some sort of punishment? But what for? Reading too many books?
"It's too much if this is a punishment just because I love reading," he mumbled, letting out a bitter laugh.
"What is it that really makes you sad?" Lisa asked softly.
With eyes still wet, Xavier replied, "I haven't finished reading my favorite book, The Last Emperor."
Lisa paused for a moment, looking at Xavier with a mix of amusement and pity. "Is that really what you're thinking about at a time like this?"
"Of course! What else?" Xavier responded, sounding like a child.
Lisa couldn't hold back her laughter. Seeing how much Xavier cared about something so seemingly trivial in such a dire situation made her smile.
"Alright, Xavier," Lisa finally said. "Rest. Tomorrow, I'll tell you more about this world."
Xavier wiped away his tears and let out a deep sigh. "Those damned gods. They really like to toy with humans. In every story, they're always such a nuisance. If not them, who else could I blame for my situation right now?" Xavier muttered to himself.
"Tomorrow morning, you'll learn more, Xavier. For now, save your strength. In Artevia, age is everything in this world, and nighttime is the most dangerous time."
"Age?" Xavier repeated the word in his mind. Artevia... this world... everything felt wrong. What awaited him tomorrow?