Yes, well, I kinda died – I think – and ended up in this other guy's body, whose name is conveniently just one letter off from my own. I'm not actually from your world, and know nothing about magic, so I'm pretty lost and have no clue how I'm gonna get back home.
The one person who might be able to help me sent me here to get him an apple, as a test. I'm here because my dragon saved me from a psychotic lake, and is too tired to fly me back just yet. Oh also, everything I mentioned happened just today.
…
Yeah. No way that was going to work.
Arin let out the breath he'd been holding with a whoosh, putting down the bowl he'd been holding.
'I am neither a hermit, nor a runaway. I really am just a traveler,' he said uncertainly.
'A traveler, traveling to –?'
'I did say I'm headed east. I'm going to…'
Layla leaned in closer, a glint of curiosity emerging in her beautiful eyes. 'Going to?'
'There's a… tower. Deep in the forest, to the east – ' The only other place he knew of.
'The House of Grace!' Realization dawned on Layla's face. 'The hidden tower overseen by that noble, from the capital city!' Crouching down by him, she asked, 'Arin, are you also from the capital?'
'Uh, no. I'm not.' Arin suddenly remembered that angry, pale-haired boy who had threatened him (and the horse-dragon) in the clearing where he'd first appeared. Hadn't he yammered something about how even the 'House of Waste' wouldn't be able to protect Rin?
Looks like Rin's master didn't evoke much confidence.
At the same time, Arin wondered whether he could take this opportunity to dig up some more information.
'But of course,' Layla was nodding now. 'It wouldn't make sense if you were. We heard something about a fallout from the previous traveler – the one who came by three years ago. He said that the eccentric noble had given up his title to live in a kind of voluntary exile. It had, in his words, been the central topic of gossip – widely discussed in the cities back then.'
Three years ago?
Thinking back to the tower's crumbling façade, Arin pressed his lips together. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for that white-haired man. Not only was he an outcast living in reclusion, but apparently also a very poor one at that.
Surrounded by weathered material and shoddy construction that highlighted his plight, it was no wonder he would choose to hide away in that glade-dimension-thing of his.
It was also no wonder that his personality sucked so damn bad.
Pulling back his thoughts, Arin put away the last spoon he'd been scrubbing, then stood up to stretch. Layla had left to hang up her cloth. Upon returning, she continued from where they'd left off their conversation.
'Then, Rin, are you an admirer of this noble? Or a student, perhaps, hoping to seek his guidance?'
'Oh. The latter. But tell me, Layla, does that weir- the noble, have too many admirers? I've heard of his… uh… impressive feats, of course, but I must say I don't know too much about the life he led in the capital.'
'We too have heard of the great contributions made by his family, even in this secluded little settlement of ours. But as for his personal life…' Layla looked thoughtful. 'I doubt that even the previous traveler knew much about it. Regardless,' her dimples deepened as she smiled again. 'What we do know is quite enough, considering it attracts hopefuls such as yourself.'
'Yes, of course,' Arin laughed.
And just like that, he'd failed spectacularly at digging for more information. Good job, him.
'But, Rin, since you aren't an admirer,' Layla continued suddenly, 'why not simply go to the capital? The House of Grace does not come under the Empire's purview, and the noble – given his circumstances – is unlikely to care much for glory or titles. There is no great wealth or advancement to be gained there. If it is knowledge you seek, you might as well take your chances under a well-established master.'
'Uh…' Arin stalled. He didn't know what other options there even were!
Seeing him hesitate, Layla backed off. 'You don't have to say, of course!'
Holding up her hands in a disarming gesture, she continued, 'I'm sorry for asking all these questions. It's a rare treat to have someone new to talk to, and I suppose I let my curiosity get the better of me.'
Arin felt his shoulders relax.
If he'd had answers, he actually wouldn't have minded Layla's questions at all. It made sense for her to be curious, after all. Spending year after year with the same few people, gazing across the same open pastures, with only trees and a slow-moving river to break the monotony – he had long since come to the realization that life in Lullwater, in spite of all its boons, was ultimately not as appealing as he'd first thought.
Arin also knew, of course, that the stress and unpredictability of his life back home in the city might sound just as, if not more, unappealing to Layla. It's not like he'd ever been a fan of that either. He just preferred it because that was what he was used to. Ultimately, that's probably what made all the difference.
Still. These poor people didn't even have WiFi access to keep themselves entertained!
'Don't worry about it, Layla,' he said with a grin. 'It isn't because there's some unspeakable secret. I just… don't really know how to, uh, explain my reasons. In words.'
'And you most certainly need not have to.'
Layla wrapped up their conversation with finality. Winking at him, she put away the basin of water. She then dimmed the lights with a wave of her hand.
'I've noticed that it's getting quite late. I suppose you'll want to turn in soon, especially if you have an early start tomorrow. I'll bring you to the spare room.'