With a bewildered expression, the wrinkles on Yurik's face deepened as he asked, "You say you're the second young master? What in the world are you doing here? How did you even get here? And where are your guards?"
Vonn shot back, "You're really asking me that instead of just saying if I can stay?"
Yurik chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Oh, you can definitely stay here, no question about that. But I'm still curious about your story."
Vonn lowered his head, a weighty expression flickering across his face. It was concerning enough for Yurik to sense there was a deeper reason for Vonn's visit—one that had little to do with seeking a mentor.
"You don't have to tell me everything," Yurik reassured, rising to his feet. "You're welcome to make yourself comfortable in the living room."
"I would be much happier there," Vonn replied, a glimmer of relief washing over him.
Yurik couldn't help but think, 'He's just a kid… There's no need to put him on the spot like this. This must be his last resort.' In a world that often overlooked those without obvious talent, Vonn's situation tugged at Yurik's heartstrings. It was a tough life for a child to bear, forced to act older than he was.
'How pitiful."
***
The next morning dawned bright and clear. Vonn had made it through the night, safe and sound under Yurik's roof instead of on the streets, but his journey across the city was far from over.
Taking advantage of his temporary haven, he seized the moment to ask for another favor. "Can I call you Uncle?" Vonn inquired, settling at the table where Yurik had prepared their breakfast.
Feeling somewhat comfortable with the hidden master, Vonn was eager to build a connection. 'In the near future, Linn and Sir Yurik will meet. They'll become master and disciple, so it wouldn't hurt to get acquainted first. Maybe some of Linn's blessings will rub off on me.'
Yurik pondered the question for a moment, then nodded with a gentle smile. "Sure, kid. You can call me that. I'm not so distant from my relatives."
Vonn grinned. "Of course, you are. You never accept disciples."
"As I mentioned last night, I can't do that anymore. I'm just a feeble old man now." Yurik's eyes held a hint of sadness.
Vonn shook his head slightly. 'He's still holding on to that idea. He really wants to keep his life quiet and peaceful.'
With nothing more to do, Vonn spent the next few hours chatting with Yurik before reluctantly preparing to leave. "How far is the other side? How can I get there?" he asked.
The old man shrugged. "I can't say for sure. I've never been there myself. But I've seen a few carriages outside for hire. If you're heading to the other side, it'll probably take you half a day. North Sword City isn't as small as you might think."
Vonn found himself momentarily speechless. 'Really? It's that far? I thought I could just walk there. Disappointment washed over him as he recalled his expectations from the novel. He sighed, 'Still... I need to get there and check on Linn. I could help him with a few things to speed up his growth.'
'I have no other choice. Diana will send people to hunt me down if the second consort doesn't surrender. And right now, I'm still on the run.'
He scratched his head, feeling a sense of defeat settle in his shoulders. Reluctantly, he asked, "Can I stay here at least for a few days? I'll try to earn money to get to the other side."
Yurik raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? I don't mind you staying here, but earning money? Does a young master know how to do that?"
Vonn chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You don't know what I can do, old man."
A smirk spread across Yurik's face. "You certainly don't sound like a kid."
***
This second time of going to downtown, Vonn had few things in mind in order to improve his situation. Surely, he wouldn't be able to get the resources since his discovery. His goal becoming a good strategist to the Silverfein family had slimmed and he couldn't risk himself being executed.
Hence, an idea came into his mind. 'I should find ways to change my hair color. And I… unfortunately become rogue if I can't change this to black.'
With few worries clouding his mind, unbeknownst to him, a being was observing him from a distance. A small cat with white fur, sitting on top of an establishment near him, her feline eyes stared at him.
As birds passed by the cat, it disappeared.
Vonn sighed. Walking around to check the nearby establishments what he could do.
Walking on the cobblestone road, feeling the roughness and few gaps, he felt alive for the first time. He was indeed in a European medieval place he had never expected to experience before.
"Move aside!"
A strong force from nowhere to his knowledge suddenly pushed him to the side, bumping into the walls of an establishment. His hands supported his fall, but he hit his back, sending throbbing pain.
As his face grimaced, he didn't stay calm and looked for the perpetrator. But, he saw who it was, and he wasn't sure what to feel.
A few people ahead of him was pushed aside as this person passed by. With how she appeared pleasingly appealing accompanied by her four guards who pushed people aside, she was cold and indifferent to people.
'That face… I remember her from the character visualization… One of Linn's antagonists.'
Biting his lower lips as he followed her with his gaze, she entered a smaller establishment, just beside of a huge stadium.
Vonn lifted his gaze, seeing the stadium for the first time.
'This place… Is this the Wounded Stadium?'
Most stadiums should be noticeable from a distance but this was different. The stadiums in this world wasn't alike to what's on Earth. Here, the place where people fight were made from magic, in order to save physical space.
'Right… this is the famous warped stadium, the Wounded Stadium, a stadium in the dimensional mirror of this world.'
Seeing the young lady who caused him being pushed entered the establishment, his feet followed, going to the same direction as her.
'Should I just kill her here?' Vonn asked himself, clenching his fist as he knew her really well. 'No… maybe not… I hate to think what she might do to Linn and how it might affect me, but, that was a crucial encounter for him at some point.'
"If I were you, I won't enter that amateur contest. You are not ready."
Vonn faced the weary voice coming to his side and saw Yurik.
"Why do you think I will enter?"
"This path is for warriors. The entrance for audience is at the other side."
Vonn raised an eyebrow and checked it too. He was right, this was the smaller entrance.
"Are you doing this in the hopes of money to go to the other city? I can help you. But not this one… You are not fit to fight. Even with how knowledgeable I am with sword, I can see that you are not fit to fight."
Vonn frowned. "I appreciate the thought, but, why do you think I will enter the competition? I am just a kid."
Yurik shook his head. "Your appearance, maybe. But your gaze and your stance, I don't think so. Follow me, I will introduce you to someone who can bring you to the other side for free."
Vonn didn't expect that and as he followed Yurik to somewhere, he looked back to the stadium where the future villain was in. He thought, 'It's not good to touch important characters in the story. I might cause a butterfly effect.'