The silence didn't fade.
It stayed. Even after he woke up.
Aarav sat upright on the bed, shoulders slightly tense, his breathing uneven like he had just run from something he couldn't see. His hand pressed against his chest again, right where that strange warmth still lingered.
Not pain.
Not exactly.
But not normal either.
"…You again," he muttered under his breath.
That voice.
Still stuck in his head.
"You… are… late…"
Aarav closed his eyes for a second, then opened them again, staring at nothing.
"…Who are you?"
No answer.
Of course not.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Every time," he said, a bit louder now, "you show up, say half a sentence like you're in some dramatic trailer… and then disappear."
He waited.
Nothing.
Aarav exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"…At least complete your sentence, man."
Silence.
He stared at the ceiling now.
"…What do you want from me?"
Still nothing.
Something inside him shifted. Frustration. Real, sharp frustration.
"…Why me?" he said quietly. "Why bring me here if you're not even going to explain anything?"
No response.
Aarav let out a dry laugh.
"…Wow. Great communication."
He turned his head slightly, eyes narrowing.
"…Author."
A pause.
"…Yeah, I'm talking to you."
He raised one hand slightly, like pointing at someone invisible.
"What kind of story is this?"
Silence remained.
"Seriously," he continued, voice calmer but sharper now, "you couldn't just make it simple?"
He sat back, leaning against the headboard.
"One normal setup. Guy comes to another world. Gets power. Learns fast. Fights monsters. Becomes strong."
He counted on his fingers.
"Clear goal. Clear rules. Clear progression."
A small pause.
"…Everyone's happy."
His hand dropped.
"…Even I would've been happy."
That line stayed in the air a bit longer.
He looked at his palm again. Empty.
"…But no."
A faint smirk formed, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"You had to go for 'mysterious voice, unclear identity, zero explanation, constant confusion.'"
He nodded slowly.
"…Amazing writing."
A pause.
"…Really."
Silence.
Aarav stared for a few seconds more. Then sighed.
"…Yeah. Didn't think you'd respond."
He pushed himself off the bed.
"…This room is starting to feel like a trap."
---
The corridor outside was dim.
Golden lights lined the walls, soft and steady, casting long shadows that stretched across the polished floor.
Aarav walked slowly, hands in his pockets.
It was quieter than before. But not peaceful. Never peaceful.
"…Honestly," he muttered, "this place looks like it's pretending to be calm."
His footsteps echoed lightly.
For a moment, his thoughts drifted again.
"…It would've been better if I stayed in the village."
A faint smile appeared.
"Wake up. Eat something normal. Go out. Fight a few small monsters. Come back."
He nodded slightly.
"…Simple."
A pause.
"…Understandable."
His expression softened without him realizing it.
"…Sit outside with Meera…"
His steps slowed.
"…talk about random things…"
A small silence followed.
"…then slowly…"
He froze mid-step.
His face turned red instantly.
"…No."
He rubbed the back of his neck quickly.
"…Nope. Not finishing that."
He looked around like someone might've heard him.
"…Focus."
A small cough.
"…Survive first. Then think about… whatever that was."
A pause.
"…If I survive."
---
He turned the corner without looking—
And walked straight into someone.
Thud.
Aarav stumbled back, completely thrown off balance, and hit the ground.
"…That hurt."
He looked up.
The man in front of him hadn't moved. Not even slightly.
Messy black hair fell over his eyes. His clothes were plain, dark, almost blending into the shadows. His posture was relaxed, like he had nowhere to be and nothing to care about.
But something about him felt… heavy. Like the air around him had more weight than it should.
Aarav stood up quickly, brushing off his clothes.
"…Sorry. I wasn't looking."
No response.
He studied him more carefully.
"…You're not a servant."
Silence.
"…Not a guard either."
Still nothing.
Aarav narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Don't tell me…"
A small pause.
"…you're a thief."
The moment the word left his mouth—
The man moved.
Aarav didn't even register how.
One second he was standing—
Next—
He was in the air.
"…WAIT—!"
His feet dangled uselessly as the man held him up by the collar like it weighed nothing.
Aarav grabbed his wrist instinctively.
"Okay— okay— put me down first, then we talk—!"
Footsteps echoed from the corridor.
Two knights rushed in.
"My lord! We heard—"
They stopped.
Their eyes landed on the man.
And everything changed.
Their posture straightened instantly. Faces stiff. Color drained.
For a split second—they didn't move.
Then—they turned around.
And left.
Fast. Very fast.
Aarav stared at them, still hanging.
"…Wow."
A pause.
"…I feel very protected right now."
The man released him.
Aarav dropped down awkwardly, stumbling before regaining balance.
"…Thanks for that," he muttered, dusting himself off.
Then he looked up again. This time properly.
Messy hair. Lazy expression. Zero tension in his body.
But that presence… That quiet pressure.
Aarav tilted his head slightly.
"…Okay."
A pause.
"…You're one of those."
The man didn't react.
"…Yeah, definitely."
Aarav pointed slightly at him.
"You know… the type."
A small pause.
"…In anime."
Still nothing.
"…The ones who look completely normal—sometimes even weird—but turn out to be ridiculously strong."
Aarav nodded to himself.
"…Like that one guy who sleeps all the time but ends up being the strongest teacher."
Another pause.
"…Or the one who acts bored but can stop fights with one move."
He crossed his arms slightly.
"…Yeah. You're giving that vibe."
The man finally spoke.
"…You talk too much."
Aarav shrugged.
"…I'm trying to survive."
A pause.
"…Talking helps."
He hesitated for a second.
Then—
"…Can you train me?"
Silence.
"…Just basics."
No reaction.
"…I don't even know what that energy thing is. Everyone here uses it like breathing."
The man looked at him. Just for a moment.
Then—
"…No."
He turned.
And started walking.
Aarav blinked.
"…That's it?"
No response.
"…Seriously?"
Still walking.
Aarav sighed and followed him.
"Come on, at least give me something."
No answer.
"One tip. One move. One warning."
Nothing.
Aarav kept walking behind him.
"…You're really doing this?"
Silence.
"…Wow."
He ran a hand through his hair again.
"…New world. No powers. No explanation. And the one useful-looking person just says no."
A small pause.
"…Author, this is getting personal."
For a brief moment—the man's steps slowed. Just slightly.
Aarav noticed.
"…Yeah. You heard that."
No response.
---
They reached a turn in the corridor.
The man stopped.
For the first time—he looked back.
His eyes met Aarav's. Calm. Sharp. Not bored anymore.
"…If you want to survive," he said quietly,
"…stop chasing answers."
Aarav frowned.
"…That doesn't even make sense."
No reply.
The man turned—
And walked away.
This time—Aarav didn't stop.
"…Nope."
He followed again.
"…Not happening."
A small grin appeared on his face.
"…You look exactly like the kind of character who says one confusing line and disappears."
He pointed slightly.
"…Which means you're important."
The man didn't respond.
Aarav kept walking behind him anyway.
"…And if you're important…"
A pause.
"…then I'm not letting you go that easily."
Another step. Another.
A faint, stubborn smile formed.
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
"…New character unlocked."
—End of the chapter —