As Aetherion's veil dissipated, the shroud of invisibility that had enveloped Ryo lifted, rendering him once more perceptible to the mortal eyes that thronged the city. The same held true for the others, now scattered, each bound for their respective destinations.
Ryo, meanwhile, ascended a rugged, stone-textured step, its weathered surface worn smooth by the countless feet that had trodden upon it. This elevated vantage point afforded him an unobstructed view of the winding path that would ultimately lead him to the isle.
The original path, a serpentine course that threaded its way through the city's labyrinthine streets, seemed an exercise in tedium, prompting Ryo to seek out a more expedient route. His gaze roved over the surrounding landscape, drinking in the vibrant tapestry of sights and sounds that filled the air.
The city teemed with life, a kaleidoscope of diverse races and cultures that swirled together in a dizzying dance. And yet, despite the excitement that pulsed through the streets, Ryo couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach.
The scene before him stirred memories of his mundane routine back home, memories he had thought long buried. The daily commute to school, the ritual of mustering the will to walk alongside the throngs of people streaming in the same direction, the brief respite offered by the park, where he could momentarily escape the crushing tedium of it all.
The echoes of those memories now seemed to mock him, a cruel reminder of the life he had left behind, and the uncertain future that stretched out before him like an uncharted sea.
The balloon-like masks he had placed on the people around him were a feeble attempt to shield himself from the crushing weight of their collective gaze. By obscuring their faces, Ryo had hoped to render their scrutiny less oppressive, to make the crowds seem less like a living, breathing entity that was constantly watching him.
Yet, even with the masks in place, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being observed, that unblinking eyes were trained on him from behind the rubbery, expressionless faces.
It was a role he had often assumed in the past, adopting the mantle of the observer, but being on the receiving end of such attention, especially in a public setting, filled him with a growing sense of unease.
As he stood there, frozen in indecision, the masks seemed to loom before him, their blank, expressionless faces a reminder that, despite the crowds, he was utterly alone.
The thought sent a shiver down his spine, and with a sudden burst of resolve, he jumped down from the stone step, his eyes scanning the paths that lay before him.
Every route, no matter how circuitous or direct, seemed to stretch out before him like an endless, tedious gauntlet, each one leading, eventually, to the Isle of the Darkness Scenario in the northwest.
With a wry, self-deprecating smile, Ryo realized that he had been trying to avoid the very path that now seemed the most sensible choice. The original route, though long and winding, was, at the very least, a known quantity, and so, with a resigned air, he set off along the path he had initially sought to avoid, the crowd seeming to close in around him like a suffocating shroud.
As he trudged along, his head bowed in a posture of resignation, the world around him seemed to blur into a dull, featureless haze. The city's denizens, their faces hidden behind the balloon-like masks, became nothing more than indistinct, faceless drones, their presence a constant reminder of the crushing monotony that had defined his existence.
"Nothing's changed," he muttered to himself, the words barely audible over the din of his own thoughts.
"Not even after coming to another world. I'm still stuck in this same, endless cycle of apathy."
And yet, a faint glimmer of curiosity flickered to life within him, a spark that refused to be extinguished. "But why was the group different?" he wondered, his mind retracing the memories of his time with Tsukiko and the others.
"I could see their faces, every one of them. I didn't feel the need to...suppress them, like I do with everyone else." A faint, troubled frown creased his brow as he pondered the implications.
"It happened in Aridia, too. I could see Lyra's face, clear as day, but the people in the background...they were just faceless blurs."
A shiver ran down his spine as he realized that his subconscious had been making decisions, filtering his perceptions, without his conscious awareness. "What else am I not aware of?" he thought, a thread of unease weaving its way through his mind.
As he walked, the pangs of hunger began to gnaw at his belly, a physical sensation that pierced the numbness that had enveloped him. He felt a twinge of irritation at the interruption, but it was a fleeting emotion, one that he promptly suppressed. "I'll find something to eat," he thought, his mental tone flat, uninflected. "It's not like it matters, anyway."
As he trudged onward, the gnawing emptiness within his belly served as a poignant reminder of the liberties he once took for granted. The freedom to hunt, to stalk, and to savor the thrill of the chase – all of these pleasures were now nothing more than distant memories, taunting him with their absence.
In this desolate, floating city, the only creatures that seemed to thrive were the birds, their ethereal songs piercing the air as they flitted about with an abandon that only served to heighten his sense of disconnection.
And then, of course, there were the Skarviks – those detestable, transparent insects that seemed to haunt his every step in this forsaken world. Their very presence was a cruel mockery, a constant reminder of his deep-seated aversion to all things crawling, flying and six-legged.
It was as if they had a perverse fascination with him, dogging his heels with an persistence that bordered on malice. The luminary, that mystical, glowing bird-like entity that had been his sole source of comfort in this desolate realm, seemed to offer little solace in the face of such relentless, creeping horror.
The Skarviks' transparent bodies seemed to blend seamlessly into the surroundings, making them all but invisible as they flitted about with an unnerving, almost sinister intent.
It was as if they were waiting for him, watching him with cold, calculating eyes as they bided their time, awaiting the perfect moment to strike. The very thought sent a shiver coursing down his spine, his skin crawling with a mixture of revulsion and dread.
As he plodded onward, his exhaustion deepening with each leaden step, Ryo's gaze remained fixed on the ground, his eyes half-lidded in a futile attempt to shut out the world. It was a state of numbness that served him well, allowing him to navigate the unfamiliar streets of this mystical realm without being overwhelmed by the sheer strangeness of it all.
But his reverie was shattered when he stumbled, his fatigued legs tangling beneath him as he collided with a diminutive, raven-haired girl. Her dark, piercing eyes sparkled with mirth as she gazed up at him, her petite frame clad in a fitted leather ensemble that seemed to be an odd amalgam of functionality and flirtation.
The numerous straps and buckles that crisscrossed her torso only served to accentuate her striking figure, and Ryo's eyes widened despite himself as he took in the generous curves that seemed to belie her youthful appearance.
As he stood there, frozen in embarrassment, the girl cocked her head to one side, her gaze roving over his face with an unapologetic intensity. A sly, teasing smile played on her lips, and Ryo felt his cheeks grow hot with discomfort. It was a sensation he hadn't experienced in a long time, and it left him feeling off-balance and vulnerable.
And then, in a moment of stark clarity, he realized that he hadn't suppressed her face. He hadn't felt the need to, and that in itself was a strange, disorienting sensation. It was as if his mind had somehow, inexplicably, granted her an exemption from the numbness that had become his default state.
The girl's voice, like a gentle breeze on a summer's day, swept aside the cobwebs of Ryo's thoughts, halting the introspective spiral that had threatened to consume him. "Mister, are you lost or hungry... or both~nyu?" she asked, her tone a perfect blend of concern and playfulness.
Ryo's gaze refocused on the girl, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sought to confirm a suspicion that had been nagging at him. "Are you Japanese?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
The girl's response was accompanied by a gentle shake of her head, her dark tresses swaying like a curtain of night. "No, I'm not~nyu," she said, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes.
"However, I know all about it~nyu." Ryo's confusion was palpable, but he pushed aside his doubts, attributing her knowledge to the same mysterious forces that had allowed Lyra to recognize him and his companions as otherworlders.
As he stood there, lost in thought, the girl's relentless energy began to grate on his nerves. She flitted about him like a hummingbird, her constant chatter and movement an annoyance that he could no longer ignore. His eyebrows twitched in irritation as he asked her to please stay put, his voice a low, even growl.
The girl's response was a bright, sunny smile, one that seemed to light up the very air around her. "Vallia," she said, her voice like music, as she introduced herself. Ryo's reply was curt, his tone still tinged with annoyance. "I'm Ryo, Ryo Kobayashi."
As the girl's gaze sparkled with curiosity, Ryo asked her if she knew where he might find something to eat. Vallia's response was accompanied by a nod, her dark hair bobbing up and down like a puppet on a string.
"Down by the market," she said, "but you don't seem like you have any money~nyu."
As Vallia's words trailed off, her gaze lingering on Ryo's hapless expression, he suddenly snapped back to attention, his eyes widening in a moment of belated realization. "Wait, this world has a currency, right?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of hope and trepidation.
Vallia's teasing smile persisted, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she replied, "Yes~nyu." Her tone was playful, inviting, and Ryo couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation as he asked his next question.
"Would Ryo-nii-chan like to know about it?" Vallia asked, her voice dripping with excitement. As she began to speak, her words tumbled forth in a joyous, unchecked torrent. "I absolutely love the concept of money! I know all about it, you see. I'm a person who can discern the value of anything and liken it to money, too~nyu."
As Vallia's rant continued, her enthusiasm only grew, her words spilling forth in a dizzying cascade of excitement and passion.
Ryo's curiosity got the better of him, despite his growing unease with Vallia's effervescent personality. "What exactly is the currency they use here?" he asked, his tone a mixture of fascination and trepidation.
Vallia's giggles were like music, a melodic trill that seemed to dance on the air. "It'll be my pleasure to explain~nyu," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
As she began to speak, Vallia rummaged through a small pouch at her waist, producing a selection of coins that she arrayed before Ryo with the flourish of a conjurer. "The currency used in the Mirror Realm is called Aethon," she explained, "and it has several denominations."
She picked up a small, intricately carved stone. "This is an Aethonite, the smallest unit of Aethon. It's worth about 1-5 yen." Next, she produced a coin made from a glowing metal alloy. "This is a Lumin, mid-tier in value, worth about 500-1,000 yen."
Vallia's fingers danced across the coins, her touch light and sure. "This is an Aurum, a gold-like coin infused with magical properties, worth about 5,000-10,000 yen." She picked up a rare, ornate coin made from a mysterious material. "And this is a Kairos, used in large transactions, worth about 50,000-100,000 yen."
As Vallia spoke, her eyes shone with an unbridled enthusiasm, her love for the subject matter evident in every word. But when she came to the final coin, her tone took on a note of reverence, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Finally, there's the Eon," she said, her eyes sparkling with awe. "Extremely rare, a legendary coin said to hold immense value, worth about 500,000 yen or more." Vallia's gaze seemed to drift away, lost in thought, as she added, "Only rich rulers of nations hold these coins, and even among them, only a few." She smiled wistfully, her eyes returning to Ryo's face. "I don't have an Eon to show you, unfortunately~nyu. They're far too rare and valuable for someone like me to possess."
"In the Mirror realm, the Aethon serves as the standard currency, universally accepted by merchants, traders, and adventurers alike. The value of each denomination is carefully calibrated by the World's Exchange Commission, a prestigious council comprising distinguished economists from diverse racial backgrounds, all of whom possess expertise in the arcane art of alchemy."
As Ryo's gaze lifted, his eyes met Vallia's, and he felt a twinge of guilt for his initial reluctance. "Thanks for the info dump...Vallia," he said, his tone tinged with a hint of resignation.
Vallia's response was immediate and dramatic. She let out a strained, high-pitched squeal, "Nyuuu!!!!" Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as she added, "Friends should call Vallia, Lia ~nyu."
Ryo's expression transformed into one of pained disgust. "Friends?" he repeated, his voice laced with incredulity. "I talk to a random girl, and she thinks we're friends?" Vallia's face fell, her eyes clouding over with a look of sadness. Her lower lip jutted out in a pout, and she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I was going to give you a coin," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of petulance, "but I don't give coins to strangers ~nyu." Ryo's gaze met Vallia's, and he felt a pang of regret for his thoughtless words. He apologized, his tone sincere, and pleaded with her to accept his friendship.
Vallia's pout deepened, her eyes narrowing as she regarded Ryo with a critical gaze. For a moment, it seemed as though she might refuse his apology, but then her expression softened, and she smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief once more. "Okay, friend ~nyu," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "I'll give you the coin...but don't think this means you're getting off that easily ~nyu."