[Lior: …]
It is night. I am inside the carriage. Several hours have already passed since we left the Eidoriku mansion. We are on a dirt road; I can barely see anything from here, even though I'm sitting close to the ground.
I settled myself against the bars, near the door, so I could at least contemplate the scenery and everything around us. It still hasn't dawned.
"..."
Lylia is beside me. She's asleep on my shoulder, her breathing calm and soothing. Lord Akuma let her keep her glasses; he said they were a gift when we departed. The same happened with my collar—he gave it to me. The difference is that, unlike her glasses, this serves me no purpose. Chiyo told me not to take it off, probably to show respect.
The truth is, it doesn't bother me anymore. I don't feel it as something foreign to myself. Maybe I've already accepted that I'm just an object—a catboy who now has a new master. Honestly, the feeling it gives me is somewhat comforting. It's reassuring to wear something you identify with. With this and nothing more, I can keep living.
Lylia is beside me. I don't know her very well. I don't know about her past or what motivates her to keep standing. I only know she has lived a long time because she is an elf. She must have many stories to tell and many experiences to share—you could say she's a living encyclopedia. Right now, though, she looks defenseless, asleep and unprotected, like a simple piece of cargo being transported from one end to another.
I'm much smaller than her. I only reach her neck, so she must be several centimeters taller than me. I don't know how tall I am, but that doesn't matter anymore. There's no need to measure myself—unless, upon arriving at the mansion, the master orders it.
For now, I don't want to think too much. I'm in a position where I simply feel too lazy to think. It's night, and several people in this carriage have already fallen asleep. There's a blue-haired boy who has been staring into nothingness, probably lost in his thoughts. Who knows? Maybe he feels the same as I do. I was sold again—whatever they do to me now doesn't matter. This routine will repeat itself sooner or later.
I just keep looking to the side, to the right, at the dirt road near me. My feline eyes can only perceive so much; they're probably not as sharp as those of real cats, but something of my roots still helps. There must be something good I can take from this life—from this weak, thin, poorly fed body.
I'm just staring to the side, already feeling drowsy. It's quite relaxing to hear the wheels rolling over the dirt, though it's uncomfortable to lean directly against the wood and feel every jolt from the wheels. Obviously, this place doesn't have the technology to create rubber wheels or motorized cars, so there's no point in considering that as a possibility. Supposedly, this world is in the year 512 P.D., though I don't know what those last initials mean. In my world, it would be A.D., but since everything here is different—and historical processes must have unfolded differently—P.D. probably means something else entirely.
[Lior: …]
Ah…
Well, there's no need to think about those things. I'm getting sleepy. It's better if I rest. They told me this transfer will last several days, since the mansion we're heading to is inside the capital of the country. They say it's like a small castle, with a little garden outside and a tower that lets you see everything from above. I wonder what it will be like to sleep there.
I want to see the city. I want to see something more than mansion hallways. Will there be guilds and things like in isekai worlds? It would be a curious experience to see that. There's an entire world out there that I don't understand—but that world I don't understand already judges me like a bug. It's not much different from the social system of the Middle Ages, so maybe I can guide myself by what I've read in history books.
I don't know how everything will be, but I don't want to have high expectations. Everything around me always disappoints me, so feeling that way is already a habit. I'll look at the present. I'll stay seated here with nothing to do. I'll follow orders. I don't want to think about trivial things anymore.
I don't want to feel anything new—only what I'm already used to.
I'm going to sleep…
I'll sleep so I can wake up tomorrow. There's nothing left for me to do. There's nothing left for me to think about.
I'll sleep…
I'm sleepy…
I'll sleep…
Slee…
p…
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Deeply immersed in a dream, Lior was there, inside the carriage.
Asleep, sleeping since the early hours of the morning. It was late—very late—so much so that when he finally drifted off, dawn had begun to break. The night passes quickly; there is nothing else to do but remain still inside this cubicle. The place is not comfortable at all, yet there is a certain curiosity in feeling that sensation of traveling into the unknown. He may end up somewhere unwanted, somewhere he does not truly wish to be—but that does not change the fact that he is seeing the world.
It is a feeling that brings expectations, something to feel for. Wanting to see something different always opens the door to thinking too much.
Something new… a new world…
[Lior: Ñhmm…]
Sleeping and thinking, in a dreamlike haze. Sleep and more sleep, there, inside that carriage.
Nothing else matters now. Lior is sleeping—let him sleep in peace. The boy is tired, exhausted. There he is, resting his head against Lylia, who in turn rests hers on his shoulder. Sleeping, sleeping. Sleep, sleep.
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: …]
Sleeping and sleeping.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I woke up.
[Lior: Hey, about how much lyonger is it, nya?]
[Lylia: Huh? Ah… A-ah… Lior, you're awake.]
"…"
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: Oh… goodness… don't say things like that out of nowhere. At least let me know you're awake or greet me first.]
It was daytime now, bright and sunny. The carriage was crossing a plain covered in green grass. The sun shone strongly from above, and the heat could be felt even through the fabric.
[Lior: ...]
[Lylia: Lior, there's still a long way to go. We've only been traveling for a day. Remember, this trip takes at least a week.]
[Lior: A week?! Hey, that's a lyot! I never imagined it would take that long! There's nothing to do—it's so boring being here, nya.]
[Lylia: Honestly… you sound like an immature child saying that. Just go back to sleep or think about something else. Time passes fairly quickly, you know.]
[Lior: You can say that—you're an elf. A week for you is just a breath.]
[Lylia: …]
"…"
Lior had only just woken up, and his usual personality showed despite the circumstances. It seemed that nothing had changed.
[Lylia: …]
[Lior: …]
The entire carriage fell silent. Apparently, Lior had been the only one speaking. All the maids seemed uncomfortable because of it. Lior looked around and noticed every gaze directed at him. His ears lowered slightly, his swaying tail curled around his legs, and his eyes dropped. He shrank into himself under that sudden feeling.
"…"
At that moment, he turned to his other side—to where the wide green plain stretched out, divided by a dirt road. Honestly, the landscape was beautiful. Everything was lovely, pretty, breathtaking. The breeze brushed against the rolling green grass. The air felt clean and fresh, pure and refreshing. Lior stared at that beautiful scenery with wide-open eyes. Perhaps his feline curiosity had awakened, because he felt the urge to throw himself into all that green.
It was so beautiful, so peaceful. A small caravan—only two carriages. Don's carriage went ahead, while the carriage carrying the slaves followed behind. There was no one else but them: the drivers, the slaves, and the owner. Even though the atmosphere felt heavy, there was a certain vibration in the air—something called freedom. Being able to admire such landscapes is not an everyday thing. It is something unique, new for some—including the young cat demihuman sitting at the side.
[Lior: …]
It could be said that this was Lior's first time truly seeing part of this world. He had never left the Eidoriku mansion during the entire year, which had limited his imagination greatly. Now he could witness this world's beauty firsthand and compare its landscapes to those of his homeland.
Although…
[Lior: It doesn't change anything…]
"…"
This was literally something he could have seen if he were on vacation with his family. It might all be very beautiful and all that, but that doesn't change the fact that he has seen it hundreds of times before. Even so, Lior doesn't know what he could have expected. It is a world like Earth in general. It's not as if everything would automatically be magical and mythical. Besides, this world seems more realistic than fantastical—though magic does exist here, unlike in reality.
Thinking about these things opens up new possibilities for him, but all of them close for one obvious reason. There's nothing wrong with seeing and discovering new things; clearly, all of this has great potential. It doesn't take away the fact that he feels slightly disappointed—but what does it matter? He could have imagined what this world was like just by looking at his own living reality. He is a slave, first and foremost. The maids all live in deplorable conditions with low spirits. Clearly, this world is nothing like the beautiful, magical "isekai" idea makes it seem. It is simply cruel—and sadly, something he has to accept.
[Lior: nyah…]
Trees, dry grass, small cabins visible on the horizon. Far beyond all that pasture. Most likely it's a rural village—or perhaps just a few sad huts built in the middle of nowhere. Supposedly, at this moment, Lior and the others are literally at an empty point on the map. The destination of the small caravan—at least Lior doesn't know it. And judging by the distant looks in the other slaves' eyes, no one knows where they are headed. They'll just have to wait. That's all. Trying to relax is probably the best option—there is literally nothing to do.
He remembers past moments, when he and his family used to travel to different cities in their country just to sightsee. Enjoying those outings and having a good time—that's simply what he wishes he could feel right now. Seeing his little sister, playing ball with her, lifting her in his arms. Seeing his mom, who would always wake him up when he overslept before going to high school. His father, rarely present because he wasn't very attached to the family, yet always the one who took them on trips to places they could afford. It was beautiful to feel that—freedom, the ability to go anywhere and enjoy life.
Something he longs for deeply now. Playing with his friends, crushing them in matches of the video games they used to play. Spending money on those games and getting scammed by gacha pulls. Watching series and movies in his free time. It was simple, but fun. He enjoyed those things; he would never have traded them for anything. He was lazy—sometimes. Usually. Almost always. Always. But so what? He enjoyed those moments. They were feelings that left a mark on his life, on his heart.
But…
They will never come back. They will never happen again. Lying down in his cushioned bed, certain that tomorrow he would be with his family. Sitting at the table and eating a warm bowl of cazuela on a rainy day. Having tea for dinner with bread, cheese, and ham. Staying up late at night. Feeling that warmth that filled the emptiness he now carries. Losing it, knowing there is nothing he can do. There is nothing left— even his routine has been shattered.
Waking up without a reason to exist, in a different and unrecognizable body. Looking into the mirror and not seeing himself. Feeling fragile, small, submissive before everyone around him. Breaking easily simply because he is forced into things— a contrast he will never overcome. He doesn't feel that vibration anymore, that sense of life he once had. That goal to pursue, even if it was something basic like studying and getting a profession. All of that, once so close, now feels distant—even foreign.
This world isn't built for that. The world he now stands in simply makes no sense to him. He was forced—from beginning to end—to reincarnate into something he never wanted, into something he never needed. He will never understand why it was him and only him. Even though he doesn't know for sure if he was the only one brought from another world, the mere fact that he doesn't know makes it pointless to dwell on it.
Lior is not in a position to think for himself. He is a being without rights who follows the instructions of his buyer—his master. He cannot make decisions because he has no such possibility. He simply cannot do what he wants right now for that reason. If he were some generic hero with a perfect, purchased life, perhaps he could do whatever he pleased. But a simple "no" is enough to strip him of any argument.
His life is already decided. He is a miserable slave who, at this moment, is only seeing all this because he happened to be fortunate enough to witness it. Being transferred from one mansion to another allowed him to see this landscape, which in turn triggered this domino effect of thoughts and reasoning. Something he doesn't want to accept—but already has. Something he never signed—yet his signature was already on the paper. It is involuntary. It is imposed. Nothing more than that—and yet so many more things run through his mind right now. It isn't hard to feel everything cracking apart; his head is already growing weary.
He has to let things flow. He has to wait for some kind of opportunity. There's no use thinking too much—it's just a waste of time. Although right now, there's nothing better to do. His gaze drifts into nothingness, beyond the wooden boards, toward that landscape he had been admiring moments ago.
Look and look—nothing more. Time passes quickly. Maybe that will work. He simply has nothing else to do, and this feeling will repeat itself during the six remaining days of travel.
Look at nothing. Get lost within himself. Reflect on nonsense. It's a way to kill time—a way to avoid thinking about what cracks his soul. It's not worth feeling sorrow. It's not worth feeling fear. It's not worth feeling curiosity. No one will help him satisfy those emotions.
He just has to sit there and wait…
Look outside, toward the small lake on the right. Feel that breeze. Feel something. Something positive. Something positive—something trying to be positive.
He is already dead. That's why there's no reason to keep going.
But curiosity killed the cat.
And right now, that cat is Lior.
Remain there…
Remain there…
That plain…
That plain…
"…"
How beautiful…
"…"
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Night begins to fall… there isn't much more to tell. Lior has spent the time sleeping and waking, sleeping and waking. Sleeping in a place like this is going to leave him with some serious back pain.
"…"
[Lylia: Ahmm…]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: …]
[Lior: …]
Lylia, the white-haired elf, stared into nothingness—at one of the wooden panels covered by cloth inside the carriage. Most likely she was dissociating, thinking about something else, about the thousands of memories she must carry. After all, she's an elf. She must have lived many years and kept on living—she looks like a young woman, yet this is probably the closest thing to seeing one's grandmother in a youthful body.
"…"
[Lior: Lylia…]
[Lylia: Uhm?]
Lior called out to her, pulling her from wherever her mind had wandered. His voice opened her eyes—rather, her awareness—and she turned a serious but tired gaze toward him.
[Lylia: …]
[Lior: Um… well… can I… ask you something, nya?]
[Lylia: Ah… well… yes, of course.]
[Lior: …]
Lior stared into those green eyes, so similar to the many green eyes he has seen in this world. They seem to be common here. Lylia returned his gaze, posture straight as always, looking at the slightly shorter, effeminate cat boy before her.
[Lior: You… how did you end up here?]
[Lylia: …]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: Eh… what do you mean?]
[Lior: I mean, nya… how did you become a slave?]
[Lylia: …]
The elf standing before him received that question with wide eyes. Her gaze opened completely, and her mind seemed to blank out. Lior watched as her composure fell apart in an instant.
Lylia looked forward, then at her hands, opening and closing them slowly. Her ears twitched slightly, her gaze faltering again and again. She grabbed part of the ragged clothes she wore and wrinkled them in her fists. Finally, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and looked back at Lior.
[Lylia: This… is a rather… delicate topic for me, Lior.]
[Lior: Ah… um… if you don't want to tell me, it's fine. I'm no one to force you to talk about your past. I was just curious, nya…]
[Lylia: …]
Lior grew nervous, his hands waving quickly in apology and denial. He didn't want to offend her. His gaze dropped to his tail; he grabbed it with both hands, his ears drooping.
Lylia watched him—calmly, on the surface.
[Lylia: You really are a cat.. Lior...]
[Lior: Mhm...]
[Lylia: Relax… I was just saying.]
[Lior: …]
Lior looked back at her. His expectations seemed to return just because of her words. She intertwined her hands and continued.
[Lylia: Well… everything happened quite some time ago… when I was little.]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: I used to live in a village. It was called the elven village of Nostreone, far to the south of the capital.]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: That entire territory was elven. Elves had lived there for centuries upon centuries. There were elves over a thousand years old—they would always tell us fascinating anecdotes and stories.]
[Lior: Ah…]
[Lylia: Back then, we were the ones in control. Our tribe was known as the hardest to defeat, because our magic was extremely powerful, and humans still hadn't discovered how to use it. Demons and beastmen could wield it as well, but they simply weren't as strong as we were.]
[Lior: …]
Lylia brought two fingers to her jaw, holding it lightly as if steadying herself.
[Lylia: I remember that in those days, the Four Empires still existed. Those four nations were well known among all races, since they were constantly at war. They had territories spread across regions far from civilizations unrelated to humans. And they always competed to see which country dominated the most land.]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: It was like that for several years, until… around the time I turned fourteen…]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: That day… that day… changed everything…]
[Lior: …]
Lylia lowered her head, her gaze drifting as she spoke of events long past. Lior watched every reaction, every subtle shift in her expression.
[Lylia: The Empire… the one from the north… returned once more for another battle… but…]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: But… that… that… no…]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: That day… I don't know how, but… the humans fought… with magic… and… everything… everything… everything…]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: They razed it all… everything… my home… my family… my parents… my brothers… my neighbors… my friends… everything… everything…]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: They burned it all… my father… my brothers… I saw them… burning alive… and I… I tried to put out the fire, I tried to put out the fire…]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: I… I was there… those men took me… they grabbed me… along with some neighbors… I was trying to put out the fire… but they took me… and some of my friends… were there too…]
[Lior: Ah…]
[Lylia: My family… they were burning… I couldn't, I couldn't… save them…]
[Lior: Mhm…]
[Lylia: And when… they took me… they tore off my clothes, held down all my limbs… and threw me to the ground… several of them… I tried to struggle, I tried to move, I wanted to escape but I… I couldn't… I couldn't, I couldn't…]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: Then… I turned my head, while they were gripping my neck. I looked to the left… and there… there she was, on top of a barrel… my mother… she was being… she was being… being—]
[Lior: Enough, Lylia!]
Lylia was lost, reliving that sensation, that moment, everything she had seen and felt. That day—the day she lost her home and her purity. The day everything froze, the day everything ended. The day everything was left behind, leaving nothing but an empty shell with no will for anything. A person who could no longer recognize herself, who lost everything that mattered to her. Nothing remained but her life—her pathetic life, which now feels worthless. Useless. There is nothing left.
[Lior: Lylia… Lylia…]
[Lylia: Huh…?]
[Lior: C-calm down, n-nya, you're not there anymore…]
[Lylia: Mhm…]
[Lior: Look, this… it was… ah… something…]
[Lylia: …]
[Lior: It was something… that… uh…]
[Lylia: Ah, Lior…]
[Lior: C-calm down… there's… there's no need to explain more… I… I understand… I understand well enough, nya… I really do.]
[Lylia: Ah… uhm… s-sorry… I let my emotions take over…]
[Lior: It's fine, I'm telling you it's fine… but it would be better if you rest now. You look exhausted and… honestly, it would do you good to sleep.]
[Lylia: But… I…]
[Lior: Lylia, please… rest. Just like when you tell me to sleep, nya.]
[Lylia: …]
[Lior: If you want, lean on me again, like you did last night. Just… stop thinking about those things for a while. Clear your mind a bit.]
[Lylia: Ah… mhm…]
[Lior: Stretch somewhere too, maybe your muscles are all stiff. That helps release stress and ny—]
[Lylia: …]
[Lior: A-ah…]
Lylia looked at Lior. She held his gaze for a moment… and then smiled.
[Lylia: Ahem… Lior, relax. You could say I'm better now. It was just a small lapse—whenever someone remembers difficult things, they react like that.]
[Lior: …]
[Lylia: It happens to you all the time, so don't deny it. You get nervous very easily. You need to learn to control that.]
[Lior: Uh… y-yes… I-I will…]
[Lylia: Well… even if you're partly right… will you let me sleep on your shoulder? Yesterday that was the softest place I could find to rest.]
[Lior: Ah… y-yes… of course. Sleep well.]
[Lylia: Th-thank you.]
In a brief exchange of words, everything settled. Lylia seemed stable again—perhaps that quick recovery came from her experience. Still, that doesn't change the fact that despair had consumed her entirely in that moment. Too many traumas swallowed within a single memory. Maybe a little rest will help. Hopefully she won't have nightmares.
[Lylia: …]
[Lior: …]
Lylia settled beside Lior. He blushed faintly, then turned his gaze toward the outside of the carriage. In a way, it could be said that Lior is beginning to gain some control over himself. His lust is almost completely shattered, so he no longer reacts to that kind of closeness the way he once did.
He simply looked outside, where a vast forest rose as the road cut straight through it. The scenery changed constantly—it was simply beautiful to watch everything passing around him.
To admire that beauty… it was nice. Losing himself in it, not thinking about routines or the ordinary, felt like freeing himself from his chains for a while. Just watching and watching, as the world moved before his eyes.
There were flowers out there, some with exotic colors, others more common. It was about enjoying the moment, for as long as it lasted.
Enjoy the moment while it lasts…
Enjoy it…
Enjoy…
Be…
Live…
Here…
Here…
Here…
"… "
I don't understand it…
but… whatever…
"…"