As the door opened, Augustine felt the cold air running up his spine, sending him chills. The person who entered his room was someone he was familiar with; it was the head servant that his family had hired!
Augustine instantly knew who the head servant was; it was Stefan Oakley! He was staring at Augustine—or rather—Aafeen Pharos. He was in charge of making sure Aareen Pharos was not up to any mischief, such as escaping his unsupporting home. If he were planning anything, then he would be ordered to teach Aareen a lesson, simply abusing him to the point where Aafeen would almost die due to the injuries.
Augustine continued to stare at the books on his bed, not eyeing Stefan. It was simply because he knew not to provoke him. Any wrongdoing that would suspect him of planning to escape would surely result in his almost dying. Stefan eyed him coldly, his face hinting a sense of deep resentment towards Aafeen.
"What are you doing…?" Stefan said, his voice dark and sounding tired.
Augustine finally looked at Stefan, scanning his attire to the last detail before replying.
"What am I doing? I'm just organizing my books, you know how I am, being a massive reader and all."
Stefan's face changed, and he stepped back in confusion. He didn't expect Aafeen to respond in that way. He never heard Aafeen use such language ever in his life; he had only heard him say one word and ignore everyone entirely after. He grew suspicious, and he knew that Aafeen was planning something.
Augustine knew something was up and quickly changed the subject.
"...Um…Stefan, am I acting out…?"
Stefan hesitated, calming himself for a few seconds before replying.
"Certainly, Aafeen, you are. This isn't normal. The only explanation I have for this is that you've been reading too much."
"Yes, that's it. That's why I'm acting out. I…apologize, I don't want to danger myself again."
Stefan continued to stare at Aafeen, lost in thought as he wondered what to do.
His reaction is off. He's never spoken in such a language before… Those books must've really shaped him.
Augustine took this chane to ask Stefan an important question.
"Stefan, do you know where a bag is so I can carry some books? I want to view the open sky as I read my favorite fantasy books. It's an activity that I always wanted to do, so please, let me do it just once."
"Hm, a bag?"
"Yes, can I please get one? I'd like to see the sky for a little bit, go outside, and just enjoy it."
A bag? To go outside? He just wants to read? That's a little troublesome; he'll escape if he does that! But maybe he's telling the truth, maybe he just wants to read and see the sky…
"Aafeen, you know what your parents say, you can't go outside, even for a second. Therefore, I can't let you do this; it's dangerous. I should've beaten you already for doing this activity, but…I see why you're doing this. Maybe you just want to admire the sky, read, and finally do something you have never done before. So, maybe I'll lead you outside to a place that your parents don't look at much so you can do what you want to do, even if it's only for about twenty minutes. Do you want to do this?"
Augustine pondered the possibilities as Stefan waited for his response.
Aafeen's original escape consisted of this method, only that he didn't talk like this…but that wouldn't change anything…All I have to do now is agree and run as fast as I can with the books that I have, but I don't think I'll be able to get them all as I hoped.
Augustine finally nodded, he grabbed the two fantasy books that were still on the side desk, and he followed Stefan out of his room, leading him towards the back of the estate.
Augustine looked at the estate, recognizing its architecture and beauty.
It consisted of two floors, the first, the entrance and the operation room.
The entrance was heavily guarded; the chance of escape would be impossible. The marble floors shone brightly in the morning sun, following a reception room for business, and sections of rooms and hallways. In the hallways, there stood storage rooms and temporary rooms for visitors. When the hallways finally ended, there was a huge final room. That was the meeting room. The meeting room was for members of the Pharos family only; no one can come in when they're discussing, and no one can come out if they happen to accidentally or purposefully come into the room.
The second floor was the remainder of the temporary rooms and the resting rooms for the servants.
The estate wasn't that interesting for Aafeen, after all, he never got to see what it was like to explore the place, because his parents always trapped him in his room, never able to see the world at its full beauty.
After a few minutes, Augustine and Stefan finally arrived at the place.
It was a small area of land surrounded by trees, ancient animals roaming around in the dark. Augustine smiled at the sight. Everything is going to plan. Now I need to wait for Stefan to give me the bag so I can carry these books.
"Aafeen, here's your bag. Now, I know what you're thinking, but I can't let you go into that forest, it's dangerous, and it's forbidden by your parents, so don't even think about running through that area."
I know what you were gonna say, and I gladly decline!
Augustine took the bag, stuffed the two books securely on his back, and waited for Stefan not to look at him.
As time went on, Augustine realized that Stefan was still looking at him, waiting for him to disobey orders. The only way to get him distracted was to read the books that he had.
I have to read one of these…and I know just the one.
Augustine took off the bag and reached for the eerie moonlight cover. It was a novel about a superficial band of teenagers planning to save the world from certain destruction by the government, with characters such as beings from another world helping or aiding the government. Aafeen only made it to page 637 before Augustine transmigrated. It had a total of 1,278 pages, having around 834 chapters.
It's unfortunate that Aafeen has only the first volume; there are still five volumes left of the story…
Augustine sat down, and began reading silently.
Chapter 416: Almost Halfway
Nearing the end of the ceremony, Benedictus watched Celestia send off the remaining guests. He watched her with determination in his eyes. This was stage seven, the halfway mark of their journey.
After assassinating the head of the Society, he was on high alert, making sure this went to plan. He wanted to make sure that Celestia was ready to kill all remaining members of the Society. After making sure that she was, he signalled the move.
Celestia rushed toward the building of the Society and quickly made an entrance. She knocked down and killed multiple people in seconds. She continued on, killing with no stop when suddenly—
Augustine looked at Stefan, and there he was, looking at something in the distance that caught him off guard.
Augustine took off running the moment he saw Stefan's hazel eyes turn back to face him.
Stefan froze in fright; now, of all times, he would actually make his first attempted escape! He chased after him, miserably failing, and then caught his breath.
Augustine never felt this excited and scared in his life; he was actually escaping! He never thought he would experience something like this in his life! Now, though, it made him fear for what's coming next.
I have just passed the first challenge; there will be many more coming soon. I have to prepare, or I will die at the hands of some vicious beast.
As he continued to run, he gazed up at the sky and smiled deeply at this newly developed world.