Friend

Klak... Klak...

A horse-drawn carriage approached from the distance.

A horse-drawn carriage? Am I in an era where horses are the common mode of transportation?

The carriage stopped right in front of Arshen, revealing a pair of black and white horses pulling an elegantly designed carriage. The coachman, dressed in black with a tall hat adorned with white feathers, looked equally refined.

Tlak...

The carriage door opened, revealing a man with long, neatly combed dark green hair and a sapphire ring on his index finger. He wore a double-breasted suit, a tall black hat, and held a cane in his left hand. He looked at Arshen, who stood there in his long brown coat.

"Get in..."

The man said, as if he knew Arshen.

Huh?

"Sorry, but have we met before?"

Arshen asked, trying to confirm.

The man paused for a moment before chuckling.

"Your memory is terrible... It's only been six months since we last met, and you've already forgotten me. It's me, Broughstone."

Broughstone frowned, looking at Arshen with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

Broughstone? Ah... Now I remember. Though he looks quite different with his dark green hair, I vaguely recall him as Broughstone. But... what is he doing here?

"Ah... Sorry, I've been losing track of time lately."

Arshen smiled as he climbed into Broughstone's carriage.

"Let's go!"

Broughstone commanded the coachman, and the carriage began to move.

Plak...!

The carriage rolled forward, carrying Arshen and Broughstone inside.

"So, the honorable Mr. Broughstone, where have you been all this time?"

Arshen asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

"It's a long story. In short, I've been hiding from The Hat. They've been watching me since I reached the seventh realm pathway back then."

Broughstone stroked his cane as he explained.

'Pathways are levels in the mystical world, starting from Realm 9, known as the Appearance of Ritualism, Then Realm 8, and so on.'

Arshen stared at Broughstone, pinching his chin as he asked with curiosity.

"The Hat? What's that?"

"Simply put, they're an official Commoner organization established by the church and the kingdom."

"We—no, I mean 'we'—those who perform rituals outside the church and kingdom's oversight are called unofficial Commoners."

"Though they have their own name, we usually call them The Hat because of their appearance. As The Hat, they monitor and, if necessary, eliminate us unofficial Commoners who threaten stability."

Though he didn't fully understand, Arshen stopped asking further questions, as Broughstone's expression suggested he didn't want to elaborate.

"What about you?"

"I heard you quit being a circus performer. Have you performed a Ritual Role yet?"

'Ritual roles refer to Pathway 9, the Appearance of Ritualism. This is also the first step for ordinary people to enter the mystical world. There isn't just one ritual role; there are many, and each role has different ritual requirements.'

"Which ritual did you take?"

Broughstone asked, his expression serious yet curious.

Ritual? What does he mean...

As if realizing something, Arshen began to think deeply.

Wait, if that's the case, was what Arshen did in the forest back then actually to perform a ritual role?

As if a memory fragment flashed through his mind, Arshen recalled visiting a bar and receiving information from someone about a ritual. Because of that, he had been watched by someone.

Cold sweat began to seep from Arshen's pores, his face pale as he fell into a daze, not uttering a word.

This... This memory matches what's in my notebook. Someone tried to watch me because of the ritual information I bought from someone, and that ritual was...

MURDERER!!

The word echoed in Arshen's mind, causing him to furrow his brows in panic.

Damn...!!

What have I done...? Did I take the Ritual Role and become a murderer? What have you done, Arshen Rosselvelt?

Thinking back, it makes sense now why I had that white dagger. It was one of the ritual materials for the murderer.

The muscles in Arshen's face tensed as his thoughts spiraled into darker territory.

But to perform the Murderer ritual, I needed human blood mixed with the blood of a carnivorous animal, fermented and buried for a week.

Since I didn't see that blood in the forest, it must still be buried there.

"Fiuhh..."

Arshen breathed a sigh of relief, his face returning to normal as he forced a bitter smile.

"Ah... Sorry, but it seems I haven't performed the ritual yet. I still haven't found one that suits me, and I need more time to think about it."

Arshen answered ambiguously, unsure whether he had already become a Murderer or not.

Broughstone stared at Arshen with his blue eyes, sensing something amiss, but he suppressed his curiosity and said, "I see. That's good. You don't need to rush into it."

"Alright, alright..."

Arshen turned his face to the carriage window and crossed his legs.

"By the way, what have you been up to?"

Broughstone asked, stroking his cane.

"If I told you I've been lost in the forest all this time, would you believe me?"

Arshen replied without looking at Broughstone.

Broughstone chuckled, tapping his cane on the carriage floor.

"Well, I wouldn't be surprised if you got lost in the magical forest of Elden. In fact, I'd commend you for making it out of that area."

Elden...

"Ah... Right! You said it's been five months since we last met. What's the date today?"

"It's Monday, December 21, 1501."

Arshen turned to look at Broughstone, his brow furrowing in surprise as he pondered something.

"Wait, if that's the case, it should be winter. But why is there still green grass, rivers, and leafy trees here? And why doesn't the air feel that cold?" Arshen began to notice the oddities of his surroundings and questioned whether Broughstone was lying to him.

"So you don't know? I thought you were aware since you're here."

Broughstone widened his eyes, surprised by Arshen's ignorance.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Huff... In short, all of this is because we're still in the Elden Forest. We'll be out of the forest's outer area soon, and the cold air will start to set in."

"This surprises me. I thought you came here to meet me, who's been hiding here all this time."

Broughstone sighed, closing his eyes as if disappointed in the man before him.

So that girl tricked me. And...

Hahh... I need to control my anger right now. Anger only makes me irrational. I need to be more careful from now on. For now, I should be grateful I made it out and at least had the luck to run into Broughstone here.

Arshen furrowed his brow, tightening the muscles in his face and clenching his fists in frustration as he imagined the hooded girl laughing smugly for deceiving him.

Arshen took a deep breath through his nose and exhaled, trying to calm his emotions.

"Broughstone! Is there any way for someone who's already performed a ritual to go back? Is there any way to redo a ritual that's already been done?"

Arshen asked, curious.

Broughstone answered with certainty.

"No! Once someone has ascended a Pathway, they can't go back or redo it. At least, that's what I know, It's all because the mystical world is full of mysteries, who knows that, but for now I will say, no..."

Gluk...

Arshen swallowed hard and asked again.

"Then do you know anything about the Daylight Order?" Arshen asked, a hint of frustration in his voice.

Broughstone tilted his head, thinking for a moment.

"Daylight Order...?"

"Hmm... I don't know, and I've never heard of it before. From the name, it might be a hidden, ancient organization or a newly formed mysterious group."

"Why? Are you involved with them?"

Broughstone replied, looking at Arshen strangely.

"No! Don't worry about it. Forget I mentioned it."

Arshen didn't press further and tried to end the conversation.

Klak...klak...

Several hours passed, and the biting cold began to seep into the air.

"We've arrived. I can't take you any further. You can walk north from here to a small town called Garam."

Broughstone opened the carriage door, glancing at Arshen as he stepped out.

"Alright, thank you for the ride."

Arshen said, adjusting his brown coat and star-patterned gloves.

"Ah, I forgot... From now on, you should call me Sigrid Barnovelt. I've had to change my identity as a precaution."

"Then, until we meet again."

"Very well, Mr. Arshen. May the god of fate bless your journey. I look forward to our next meeting, my friend..."

Arshen chuckled, turning to the path leading to a place with gray smoke rising in the distance, waving his hand without looking back.

"Yes, may the goddess bless you, Mr. Broughstone... Ah, sorry. Mr. Sigrid Barnovelt."

Broughstone smiled without a word and closed the carriage door.

The carriage moved away until Arshen could no longer see it.

Arshen smile and said with a sigh.

"A friend..., Huh....."