In cutscenes.
In CG illustrations after major story arcs.
The confident smile.
The fearless expression.
The sharp, charismatic gaze.
But the child standing there now…
Looked nothing like that.
He was younger than Fainyx remembered... Perhaps around his current age. Far from the version shown in the main story.
And instead of radiating overwhelming confidence—
He looked… shy.
Orion hesitated before stepping fully out of the carriage, his small hands lightly clutching the edge of his sleeve.
His golden eyes scanned the surroundings nervously before landing briefly on Adam.
When Adam offered a polite nod, Orion straightened awkwardly and bowed—just a little too stiffly.
"T-Thank you… for your help," he said, his voice softer than expected.
Fainyx stared.
This wasn't the fearless, bold protagonist who charged into battle without hesitation.
This was just… a child.
A quiet and shy one at that.
In the game, Orion was destined to be great. Enter the Royal Academy,
surpass every rival and any major plot twist the game has given him, defeated calamity-class threats, stand at the center of every major event.
And eventually—
Stand opposite the final villain of the game.
The Demon Lord.
Fainyx forced himself to calm down and looked at Orion again.
He wasn't supposed to meet him yet.
Not in this timeline.
He was thinking of meeting him in the future maybe during the academy arc.
But not here...
Not like this.
Adam continued speaking calmly with the knights, unaware of his little brother panicking inside the carriage.
Meanwhile, Orion's gaze drifted.
And for the briefest moment—
His golden eyes met Fainyx's through the open carriage window.
Time seemed to still.
Recognition?
No.
Curiosity.
Orion blinked first.
Then quickly looked away.
Almost flustered.
Fainyx leaned back slowly.
He's so small… and shy…
This part—
Was never in the game.
No…
It never appeared because the story only began during Orion's academy days.
And more importantly—
Fainyx wasn't supposed to exist.
He was a variable.
An anomaly in a story that already had a fixed path.
And now—
Because he stepped outside with his brothers—
They met the protagonist earlier than they ever should have.
I guess I messed up…
Should I just go back instead…?
I don't want to get involved in the story…
He exhaled softly and glanced at Liam.
It seemed Liam was eager to go outside and greet the child.
"Hey, Fainyx," Liam said with a grin, "Maybe we can invite that kid to come with us!"
Fainyx said nothing.
But internally—
'Please don't.'
He quietly used magic to transmit sound, listening to the conversation outside.
It seemed the other carriage had a broken wheel.
The knights were asking if they could temporarily ride along, offering compensation.
Weinhart then asked calmly,
"Where is your destination?"
"The capital," the knight replied.
Weinhart nodded and turned toward Adam.
"Young Master, shall we permit them to join?"
Adam considered briefly.
"I'll ask my siblings if they are ok with it."
He then returned to the carriage.
"Liam. Fainyx," he said, "the Sterling carriage is damaged. They're requesting to ride with us to the capital. Do you agree?"
"I don't mind!" Liam answered immediately.
Adam then looked at Fainyx.
Fainyx hesitated for a brief second.
It would be suspicious to refuse.
And leaving a child in the forest—
Even if that child was the protagonist—
Wasn't exactly ideal either.
Slowly, he nodded.
Adam returned outside.
"You may join us," he said. "The knights will remain outside. The young master may ride inside."
The knight bowed deeply.
"We are grateful."
Orion followed, bowing clumsily.
Moments later—
The carriage door opened.
Adam entered first.
Then Orion followed.
"Th-Thank you… for letting me ride with you," Orion said softly.
Fainyx gave a small nod in response, then turned his gaze toward the window.
Avoiding.
Keeping distance.
He really looks cute as a kid…
But in the future… he becomes popular with girls.
Liam, however, leaned forward excitedly.
"Hey! Are you interested in Fainyx?"
Fainyx froze.
Slowly—
He turned his head toward Liam.
What are you saying?
Liam grinned.
"You kept looking at him!"
Orion flinched.
"I—I just wanted to ask something…"
"You can ask me!" Liam said proudly. "I know everything about Fainyx!"
'You absolutely do not.'
Fainyx mentally sighed and returned his gaze outside.
At least this meant less direct interaction.
Then—
Orion spoke again.
"U-Um… I wanted to ask…"
"…if he would like to be friends with me."
Fainyx's thoughts exploded.
What do you mean "friends"?! We just met!
Why are you asking that so suddenly?!
On the outside—
He remained completely expressionless.
Orion continued nervously,
"I… don't really have friends my age…"
"So I thought… maybe…"
Silence.
Fainyx hesitated.
If he refused—
Would that affect the story?
Would Orion's personality change?
Would it create unpredictable consequences?
…This is troublesome.
In the end—
He had no choice.
Fainyx gave a small nod.
Orion's face lit up instantly.
"R-Really? Thank you…!"
Liam clapped happily.
"This is his first time having a friend too!"
Adam nodded calmly.
"He has a weak body," he explained. "He stayed in the mansion for most of his life."
"…And he has a condition. He cannot speak."
He looked at Orion.
"Is that alright with you?"
Orion looked at Fainyx.
Then shook his head firmly.
"I don't mind," he said, more confidently this time.
"I'm just happy… to have a friend."
For a brief moment—
He looked different.
Closer to the person Fainyx remembered.
'…I guess Orion is still Orion.'
Orion then asked for his name.
Fainyx calmly took out his writing tools and wrote:
[Fainyx Von Nocte.
Pleased to meet you.]
Orion smiled brightly.
"Pleased to meet you too, Fainyx! and... please call me Orion"
Fainyx nodded and Orion smiled a bit then he became flustered and hides his face.
And then—
He started talking.
A lot.
About desserts he ate yesterday.
A carnival he visited.
How his father carried him.
his voise at first was a bit quiet but suddenly his voice soon found confidence and started talking nonstop.
Orion in the game was also chatterbox as he always see in the storyline that he always speak nonstop until his friends kept making him stop to no avail... it was actually also in his profile too.
Fainyx slowly grew tired.
He simply nodded occasionally.
Listening.
Enduring.
Even Adam and Liam began to feel a bit sorry for him.
"Should we stop him?" Liam whispered.
Adam shook his head slightly.
"He might feel bad."
Then—
A knock came from outside.
Adam opened the curtain.
A knight on horseback spoke.
"We've reached the capital."
The carriage slowed.
Stopped briefly for inspection.
The guards recognized the insignia and immediately allowed them through.
Fainyx looked outside.
And froze.
The capital.
It was alive.
People filled the streets.
Different races moved together—elves, dwarves, demi-humans.
Markets lined the roads.
An old woman selling apples.
A butcher preparing fresh meat.
The scent of grilled food drifting through the air.
It was his first time truly seeing this world.
Orion then spoke softly.
"…I'll be leaving here."
His voice carried a hint of disappointment.
Liam immediately brightened.
"Hey! You can visit us next time!"
Orion looked hopeful.
"Can I?"
"As long as you send a letter," Adam replied. "Our father will allow it."
Orion smiled.
"Then I will!"
They stepped out of the carriage.
Orion and his knights bowed gratefully.
Before leaving—
Orion looked back at Fainyx.
Orion smiled.
"Let's meet again Fainyx."
And then he left.
Fainyx exhaled quietly.
'Finally…'
He turned back to the city.
Excitement quietly bubbling inside him.
Though his face remained calm—
His eyes lingered on everything.
'I really am in another world… or rather inside the game'
"Come on!" Liam said, grabbing his hand.
"I'll show you everything!"
Fainyx nodded.
Even though—
He already knew this place.
Every alley.
Every hidden corner.
Even the black market.
Still—
Looking at Liam's excitement and also this is first experience going outside.
He couldn't refuse.
And so—
They stepped into the capital together.