A man named Johan

For the first time in Eldora, Kazuya ventured outside alone, without Lilia or Orin. A blend of anxiety and thrill filled him as he navigated the lively streets, absorbing the city's sights and sounds on his own. The imposing stone edifices, the intricate alleyways, and the aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the odor of livestock—it was a sensory overload, yet exhilarating.

Eldora was nothing like the world he had come from. The city was alive in a way that modern civilization wasn't. There was no hum of technology, no flashing billboards, and no blaring car horns. Instead, there was the rhythmic clatter of hooves against cobblestone, the laughter of children playing near fountains, and the distant clang of a blacksmith hammering steel into shape.

He had spent so much time relying on others to guide him, but now he was finally seeing Eldora for what it was: a thriving kingdom filled with people from all walks of life. Merchants shouted their wares, knights patrolled the cobbled streets, and beggars lingered in the shadows, watching with weary eyes. He felt like a ghost drifting through their world—an outsider with no real place in it.

As he wandered, he found himself in a market square, filled with a cacophony of voices and bright colors. The sight was mesmerizing, though he quickly realized he had no idea how to navigate such a crowded space alone. Stalls lined both sides of the street, overflowing with fresh produce, exotic spices, and trinkets that glimmered in the afternoon sun. The air was thick with the scent of roasting meat and the occasional whiff of unwashed bodies.

A vendor shoved a skewer of grilled meat toward him. "Good price, traveler! Freshly cooked! Only two coppers!"

Kazuya instinctively reached into his pocket and then stopped. He barely had any money. He wasn't even sure how much food cost here.

Before he could refuse, a hand reached over his shoulder and grabbed the skewer. "Put it on my tab, old man."

Kazuya turned to see a man leaning casually against a wooden stall. He had messy blond hair, a relaxed posture, and a grin that suggested he didn't take much seriously. His clothes were slightly tattered but well-worn, giving him the appearance of someone who lived life on his terms.

The vendor groaned. "Johan, you still owe me from last week!"

"And I'll owe you next week too. But you're too kind-hearted to let a man go hungry, aren't you?" Johan said with a wink before taking a big bite of the skewer.

The vendor sighed but waved him off, clearly used to Johan's antics.

Johan turned to Kazuya and held out the skewer. "Want some?"

Kazuya hesitated. "You just took a bite out of it."

Johan laughed. "So? You're not royalty, are you? No offense, but you don't exactly have the look of a noble."

Kazuya sighed and took the skewer. "Kazuya. And no, I'm not a noble."

Johan chuckled. "Well, Kazuya, you're lucky you ran into me. This city's got its charms, but it'll eat you alive if you don't know how to handle yourself. Lucky for you, I happen to be an expert in surviving."

"You mean an expert in mooching off people?" Kazuya asked dryly.

Johan grinned. "That too."

Something about Johan's easygoing attitude made Kazuya relax. Maybe it was the confidence in his tone or the way he seemed completely at ease despite the chaos around them. Either way, Kazuya had a feeling this was the start of an interesting friendship.

As they walked, Johan pointed out different landmarks. "That over there is the noble district. You probably don't want to wander too close unless you're interested in getting arrested for looking the wrong way at a noblewoman. And that big building there? That's the cathedral. The priests are nice, but don't get caught up in their business unless you enjoy sermons that last for hours."

Kazuya took it all in. The noble district was pristine, with marble statues and golden gates, while the cathedral loomed like a giant guardian over the city. It was clear that religion played a huge role in Eldora, but Kazuya had no interest in exploring that particular facet of the city just yet.

"And over there—" Johan pointed to a dingy alleyway. "That's where you don't go. Unless you want to get stabbed."

Kazuya frowned. "That bad?"

Johan shrugged. "Depends on who you run into. But yeah, the slums are rough."

As they continued, Kazuya couldn't help but ask, "So what do you do?"

Johan smirked. "I like to think of myself as a man of many talents. Sometimes I deliver messages. Sometimes I run errands. And sometimes… I drink until I forget my responsibilities."

Kazuya raised an eyebrow. "So you're unemployed."

"That's a harsh way of putting it," Johan said, feigning offense. "I prefer 'free-spirited.'"

Kazuya snorted. "Right. Free-spirited."

They continued walking, and for the first time since coming to this world, Kazuya felt a little less alone. Johan was different from Lilia and Orin. He wasn't a mentor or a caretaker. He was just... a guy. A guy who didn't ask questions he didn't want to answer. A guy who took life as it came and laughed in the face of hardship.

And maybe, just maybe, that was exactly the kind of person Kazuya needed right now.

As the sun began to set, Johan stretched his arms above his head. "Alright, Kazuya. I've shown you the basics. Now it's up to you to survive. Try not to get robbed, arrested, or killed."

"Great advice," Kazuya muttered.

Johan grinned and gave him a lazy salute. "You'll do fine, newbie. See you around."

And just like that, he was gone, disappearing into the crowd like a phantom.

Kazuya stood there for a moment, taking in everything that had happened. He had met someone new. He had explored the city on his own. And for the first time in what felt like forever… he had enjoyed himself.

Maybe Eldora wasn't so bad after all.

The streets of Eldora were quieter than before, the sky dimming as the last embers of the setting sun melted into the horizon. Kazuya walked along the winding path leading back to the camp, his mind replaying the events of the day. Meeting Johan had been refreshing in a way he hadn't expected. For once, he had a normal conversation with someone who didn't treat him like a lost cause.

The market district thinned out the further he went, giving way to more desolate paths where only a few stray lanterns flickered. The shadows stretched long and ominous, dancing against the stone walls. The sound of his footsteps echoed, accompanied by the distant murmur of voices from a nearby tavern. The wind carried the scent of burning wood and spiced ale, a fleeting comfort against the growing unease creeping up his spine.

Then, he felt it.

A presence.

It was subtle at first, like a whisper against his senses, but it grew heavier with every step. He wasn't alone.

Kazuya reduced his speed, casting a subtle glance sideways. In his peripheral vision, he spotted a figure under the faint light of a street lamp. Dressed in a long black coat, the man leaned against the wooden frame of a shuttered shop, arms crossed and posture relaxed. His face was angular—too angular, resembling something unnaturally flawless. His eyes, hidden beneath dark strands of hair, carried an inscrutable depth, causing Kazuya's breath to catch momentarily.

"You seem lost." The man's voice was smooth, almost amused.

Kazuya stiffened but quickly masked his surprise. "I was just heading back," he said casually, forcing himself to meet the stranger's gaze.

The man tilted his head slightly. "Strange. Most people tend to avoid this road at night."

Kazuya frowned. He hadn't thought about that. Had Johan warned him about this area? He couldn't remember. "I didn't think it mattered."

A soft chuckle escaped the man's lips. "Most wouldn't."

There was something about him that felt… off. Not in an immediately threatening way, but something deeper, like an instinct telling him that he shouldn't be standing here talking to this person. Yet, the conversation continued as if guided by an invisible thread.

"What's your name?" Kazuya asked before he could stop himself.

The man regarded him for a moment before answering. "Morningstar."

Kazuya raised an eyebrow. "That's your last name?"

The man's lips curled into a smirk, but he didn't confirm nor deny. "Does it matter?"

Kazuya huffed, crossing his arms. "Well, if we're just throwing names around, I'm Kazuya."

"Is that so?" Morningstar said, his gaze seeming to linger on Kazuya longer than necessary. It wasn't a look of curiosity—it was something else. As if he already knew something Kazuya didn't.

Silence settled between them, stretching out for an uncomfortably long moment. The distant sounds of the city felt muffled, as though the space around them had narrowed, pulling them into their isolated world.

Kazuya shifted on his feet, suddenly eager to leave. "Well, I should go. Don't want to get in trouble for being out too late."

Morningstar nodded slightly. "A wise choice."

Just as Kazuya turned to leave, the man spoke again.

"We'll meet again, Kazuya."

Kazuya hesitated. Something about the certainty in his tone sent a chill through him. He turned his head slightly, but Morningstar had already begun walking away, his figure disappearing into the darkness of the alleyway without another word.

For some reason, Kazuya felt like he had just encountered someone important—someone who would eventually change everything.

But for now, he was just another stranger in Eldora.