I was holding onto the carriage doorframe, just about to climb in, when I heard a familiar, hesitant voice call out from behind me.

  “Grim! Wait, please…”

  I frowned, puzzled, and turned around. Lady Ainsworth?

  She stood before her own grand carriage a short distance away, nervously fidgeting with her fingers, her usual composure seemingly gone. Her face looked… worried? Concerned? Hm… this is unexpected.

  I glanced back at Lord Rockford, who was already seated comfortably inside his carriage, an eyebrow slightly raised at the delay. “Could you perhaps wait just a moment, Lord Rockford?” I asked, a little embarrassed. “If not, I can just catch up later, somehow…” I finished with a slightly awkward grin.

  But Lord Rockford simply waved a dismissive, yet kind, hand. “The events of this day have cast a heavy shadow upon everyone’s spirits, Grim. No one will be particularly productive for the rest of today. So please, take your time. I will wait here.”

  I paused for a moment, looking at the Archmage intently. A man of true stature, it seemed. Powerful, yes, but also seemingly upright… even humble in his own way. Or maybe he’s just playing a long game, pursuing his own agenda, a cynical part of my mind whispered. But I pushed that thought away. I wanted to believe there were genuinely good people in this world, and perhaps he was one of them.

  I nodded gratefully. Before turning to go, I added, “Lord Rockford, thank you for your patience. I’ll try to be quick.”

  The man just looked at me with those luminous green eyes that seemed to see so much. Then, he closed them briefly and gave a small, assenting nod.

  I turned and walked slowly towards Lady Ainsworth. My heart was racing, and my thoughts were just as chaotic. What could she possibly want now?

  As she saw me approaching, a faint, tear-filled but seemingly sincere smile touched Lady Ainsworth’s lips. Her hands slowly stilled their nervous movements as I stopped at a respectful distance before her.

  I gave a slight bow. “Lady Ainsworth.”

  When I looked up again, she was regarding me with a sad, unreadable expression. “Grim…” she began, her voice soft, hesitant. “I… I wished to humbly apologize to you. For my inability to help you, for my… failure to protect you adequately.”

  To my utter astonishment, Lady Ainsworth actually inclined her head in a gesture of apology, a noblewoman bowing to… well, to me. It felt incredibly strange.

  When she raised her head again, she continued, her voice laced with regret, “You had to endure terrible things because of Victor… because of us. I wish to offer you some form of compensation… If you want money, just tell me how much… or whatever else it might be, anything at all, please, just tell me.”

  I remained silent for a long moment, looking deep into Lady Ainsworth’s eyes, searching for… something. Deceit? True remorse? It was hard to tell.

  Ultimately, I thought, I only ended up in this mess because I was naive. Naive and weak… and that’s the crux of it in this world, isn’t it? Strength. Whether it was political power, personal might, or the strength of wealth. Eat or be eaten. The moral codes I knew from the 21st century simply didn’t apply here in the same way. Of course, the people here weren’t barbarians in the truest sense. There were laws, a recognized sense of right and wrong… but behind the scenes, behind closed doors, power was still the deciding factor.

  And currently, I had very little of that.

  “No,” I said finally, my voice firm. Before Lady Ainsworth could respond, I raised a hand slightly, a gesture asking her to let me finish. She looked a little surprised by my assertiveness but remained silent.

  “I thank you for the offer, Lady Ainsworth, but I must decline. Since I arrived in this land, things have been done to me. People have made decisions for me. The only moments I truly felt I had any say over my own life were when I was fighting for survival against those goblins in the wilderness, and down in your cellar when Theo and I were fleeing for our lives. So, you’ll have to forgive me, Lady Ainsworth, if I’d rather make my own decisions in poverty than be comfortably dependent on someone else, no matter how well-intentioned.”

  She listened attentively, her gaze fixed on me, and then gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. Her head seemed to hang a little lower now. She resumed her nervous fidgeting with her fingers.

  “Should you… should you ever change your mind,” she said quietly, “you will always be welcome. I will instruct the household staff to receive you with the utmost cordiality at any time and to provide you with anything you might desire.”

  Hm. Why is she doing this? I wondered. Is it guilt? A charade to maintain her image after Victor’s downfall? Or perhaps even some form of penance subtly imposed by the King?

  Dwelling on it now wouldn’t get me anywhere useful. So, I sighed, a complicated mix of emotions churning inside me.

  “Thank you,” I said simply. “I will… consider it.”

  Her gaze seemed to brighten a fraction when she heard that. “I wish you and Pip all the best, Grim,” she said, her voice a little stronger now. “Above all, I wish you peace and rest…”

  With that, she turned abruptly and stepped into her waiting carriage. The footman closed the door quietly behind her and then swung himself up onto the driver’s box. With a sharp crack of the reins, the carriage lurched forward and slowly rolled away down the cobblestone street.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I stood there for a moment, watching the carriage disappear around a corner. I let out another heavy sigh.

  Well… now I’m truly on my own. In this world, that could be both a curse and a blessing. But, thank the gods, I wasn’t as helpless as I once was.

  Scenes flashed through my mind: the desperate fights against the goblins, the raw, untamed power that had nearly crushed Lord Ainsworth.

  Great power comes with great responsibility. I really needed to learn how to use my magic properly, to control it. Both for myself and to protect others… if I ever found anyone else worth protecting besides Pip.

  Suddenly, it hit me that Lord Rockford was still waiting patiently in his carriage, and I was just standing here like an idiot, staring into space. Hahaha… whoops.

  A short while later, we were back inside the Arcane Sanctum. As we entered the grand, echoing entrance hall, we found Lady Irene engaged in a quiet conversation with a clerk behind a long, polished counter.

  I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder, and when I turned, Lord Rockford was looking down at me.

  “Grim,” he said, his voice kind. “This is where our paths must diverge for now. Lady Irene will take care of you shortly, once she has concluded her business.”

  He paused, then his green eyes seemed to become distant, unfocused for a moment. He blinked a couple of times, a slight frown creasing his brow, as if a thought had eluded him. Then, somewhat confusedly, he finished, “…I wish you… all the best.”

  He looked at me intently for another moment, that strange, lost look still in his eyes, then turned without another word and walked away with slow, deliberate steps, disappearing down a dark, echoing corridor.

  Puzzled, I watched him go until he was out of sight, feeling a bit lost myself standing in the middle of the bustling hall. I really can’t figure that man out…

  But then again, I probably didn’t need to. It was highly unlikely I’d ever see him again. Our paths had crossed due to sheer, bizarre chance. Nothing more.

  So be it. I looked around the entrance hall while Lady Irene was finishing her conversation.

  Messengers hurried back and forth, laden with crates, sacks, and all sorts of peculiar-looking apparatuses that hummed or occasionally sparked. There was a constant, energetic bustle, a thrum of activity. And yet, something about it all felt strange to me, not entirely uncomfortable, just… odd.

  For years, back on Earth, I’d lived a life filled with shame and scorn on the streets. My clothes were always torn, often dirty and stinking. My hair and beard had been wild and unkempt. I’d moved through the world like a skittish deer, always expecting the next blow, the next insult.

  I had been insulted, screamed at, spat upon, sometimes even beaten. And all because they could do it… because I was weak. In that world, and it seemed in this one too, what truly counted was how strong you were—whether that strength came from money, influence, or raw power.

  But here… here in this strange, magical place, I didn’t feel directly weak right now. I was in the body of a boy, yes, but even so, I’d managed to overwhelm a grown man like Lord Ainsworth, even if it wasn’t a normal, controlled state of magic…

  And yet, I was keenly aware that I was still just a very small fish in a vast, dangerous ocean. Back then, Corbin could certainly have killed me with ease; my accidental burst of gravity magic had only caught him off guard. But if I could learn to harness these powers properly… what kind of life could I build then? But what does one do with such power? Fight. Kill… be killed.

  I shook my head, banishing the dark thoughts. No. I’d spent my whole previous life fighting, just to ensure my own survival and Pip’s. Now… now I wanted to try and live a peaceful life, at least for a while. To learn, to grow, perhaps even to find some small measure of happiness.

  After a few more minutes, Lady Irene finally finished her business with the clerk. She turned to me with a sincere smile. “Thank you for being so patient, Grim. Come, let’s go upstairs. I believe someone is very, very eager to see you.”

  And at the thought of finally being reunited with Pip, a genuine grin spread across my own face.

  Lady Irene led the way, and we walked through the winding corridors of the Arcane Sanctum once more. “So,” she began casually as we walked, “Lord Rockford couldn’t convince you to stay and study here, then?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh a little at her directness, that she’d bring it up so soon. “Absolutely not,” I said, shaking my head firmly.

  Lady Irene remained silent for several paces, then said, her tone carefully neutral, “I won’t try to persuade you either, Grim. But… you do realize how incredibly foolish that decision is, don’t you?”

  That definitely struck a nerve. Confused, I looked at Lady Irene. She sighed, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

  “No offense intended, Grim. But you are, currently, a nobody. You have nothing. You came from nowhere, you have no home, no family besides your cat, and not a single copper coin to your name. The only thing you truly possess is a talent for magic—and by all accounts, it’s no small talent either.”

  She glanced at me, her blue eyes sharp. “Apparently, you are not yet aware of just how rare it is for someone your perceived age to unconsciously wield a higher form of magic like you did. Most initiates your age are barely grasping the fundamental theories, let alone casting effectively. And from what I hear, you can already manipulate several forms of magic. And when someone like Crownfield praises a student in the highest possible tones…”

  She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

  What?! Corbin praised me? When? Was he also at the trial? True, he was Lord Ainsworth’s mage, but I hadn’t seen him anywhere in the Chamber of Final Light.

  Lady Irene chuckled, she must have seen the utter bewilderment on my face. “Crownfield mentioned to me sometime in the last two weeks that he had acquired an… exceptionally talented student. And he described your progress in rather… considerable detail…” she said cryptically, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

  I honestly didn’t know what to say to that, so I just remained silent, my mind racing. Corbin… praised me?

  When we finally arrived at Lady Irene’s chamber door, we could already hear impatient scratching and soft meows from the other side.

  Chuckling, Lady Irene produced a small, ornate key from a pocket in her robe—no magic this time, apparently—and slowly unlocked the door. She had barely pulled it open a few inches when a black shadow darted out from the gloom within, zipping past her legs into the corridor. With a small, knowing sigh, Lady Irene quickly closed the door again.

  The black shadow, a furry missile of pure delight, then launched itself straight at me.

  With a loud, rumbling purr, Pip landed deftly in my arms, immediately nuzzling her head against my chin. Laughing with pure joy, I hugged my little furry angel tight. “Pip! I’m so sorry I was gone so long! Is everything alright with you?”

  Her response was a loud, clear meow, as if to say, ‘Of course, now that you’re back!’

  I had to laugh again, burying my face in her soft fur. Lady Irene, however, was watching us with a very strange, almost thoughtful expression.

  Oblivious, or perhaps just not caring, I continued to cuddle Pip. Scratches behind the ears, under the chin, gentle rubs on her head—Pip was lavished with all the affection I’d been bottling up. Eventually, Lady Irene cleared her throat somewhat impatiently, though there was still a hint of amusement in her eyes.

  “Ready for your new home, Grim?”