Reveal

Later that night, I tell Ariella everything about the day I was summoned—how I was treated at the royal palace, how I was nearly turned into a sex slave, and how I killed the King's guard to escape.

I don't tell her everything just yet.

I plan to, soon. After this, I'll explain what we've been doing, what our next steps are. But for now, the truth about the Basilisk Order and the Oculars is better kept secret.

But at the very least, Ariella now knows the truth:

That I am not from this world.

That I came here searching for my long-lost sister.

"I… I can't believe it…" Ariella whispers, her hand covering her mouth, her face pale with shock. "The heroes… they're being turned into slaves?"

"Yup. That's the ugly truth."

If I were just some random person telling her this, she wouldn't have believed me. In fact, she'd probably have me executed on the spot.

But I'm her teacher.

And my words carry weight.