[ External area of the Orphanage's garden ]

It was already the end of the afternoon, and the sun disappeared more and more on the horizon of the orange sky, gradually giving more spaces to the small whitish dots that made their triumphal entrance one by one.

'Then…'

Walking silently towards the orphanage, I started thinking about everything that had happened just a few moments ago.

Putting it in a nutshell, some time had passed since, in a way I didn't know it, my memories — or what I believed to be mine — had taken over my consciousness.

My personality had been changed from one second to the next, huh?

This, frankly, made me seriously question one fact in particular:

Was I a mix of two idiots, or just someone who took control of a body that didn't originally belong to me?

''This is seriously complicated,'' I mumbled, rubbing my index finger across my chin.

The muscles in my forehead followed the instinct passed by the mixture of strange feelings that flowed through my body, making my face squirm.

I knew that wasn't the expression people were used to seeing on the jovial face of a child who wasn't even a decade old, but I didn't bother to correct it at all.

In the end, though I had wandered here for minutes, I hadn't seen a single living thing, with the exception of a few groups of birds flitting to and fro across the extensive lawn.

I was alone; at least at this point in the extense landscape.

The tranquility might seem obvious, but it hadn't hit me at all since I'd arrived here.

I narrowed my eyes, still lightly smoothing my forehead and temples, a little sore from the previous headache — my memories were more fuzzy than ever, but I felt complete.

I finally felt like myself.

Strange, isn't it?

Putting unnecessary thoughts aside, I quickened my pace.

I wanted to get to the accommodations before dark.

At first, as a helpless child, whether in the orphanage-managed territory or not, it was strictly dangerous to stay out of the dorms late.

In addition, apparently my version of this world, the one that had not been given the advantage of possessing the memories of what appeared to be my posthumous past life experience, was extremely naughty and creative.

He was a rogue, stubborn kid who acted as he pleased, ignoring everyone and everything.

Acting on instinct, doing just what he felt like doing, he was hated even by other children and utterly cast aside by them.

Well, whatever it was, it didn't matter now.

I just wanted to go home.

***********

Time passed quickly once again.

Not that I had any way of confirming exactly how much time had passed, of course, but I wanted to believe the fact that my judgment of time hadn't been clouded.

'It's here.' I stated internally.

Patting out my crappy clothes, soaked through with grass and dirt, I braced myself mentally and physically when I finally spotted the fenced entryway leading to the territory's main house.

In the next instant, not wasting a second more, I wiped my eyes and expression, trying to look impassive as I noticed a person twice my size waiting in front of the entrance.

''Do you think it's correct to arrive at this time, Rodiel?''

I glanced at the individual.

It was a woman with blond hair, dressed in a rosary and a long gray dress.

Crossing her arms, she gestured slightly for me to come over.

'Who is it...?'

Even searching through my confused memories of this life, I couldn't understand much about her.

Apparently, this body's original personality didn't care about this person at all.

I didn't judge him, but I still watched her.

The woman fiercely stood in front of the gravel road, waiting patiently with a relatively frightening imposing pose.

''So Rodiel. Tell me honestly, ok? What were you thinking to run away without explanations and where were you at all?''

In response to her torrent of questions, I simple shrugged.

The woman sighed at my clear disinterest, sliding her right hand over her face.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

''Well, let's put that aside. Do you have something to say to me?”

She narrowed her pupils, leaning in to be my height.

Staring at the blonde-haired woman, I understood what I should do.

''Sorry about that, sister. It will not be repeated.''

Clasping my palms together, I bowed slightly.

The woman coughed dryly, being somewhat embarrassed by the anger that had clearly flashed in her eyes earlier.

It seemed, however, that her change in action was due more to the sudden astonishment of seeing me, Rodiel ''The Fool'' — as others called me — acting with a shred of sense and ethics without having anything to gain by exchange.

Interesting. That was truly interesting.

‘’E-eh…’’ She stammered. ''No problem. At least you're finally back, that's what matters. Doesn't you agree?''

I smiled slightly.

I certainly wasn't a professional actor and I was never interested in anything like that either, but my pretense of being 'respectful' should be enough for now.

''Of course, sister.''

''Even so, I need to ask you something. Why the hell did you run away the day that person finally came to visit our territory?”

''Who are you talking about, sister?''

''I mean Mr Dashner. The one they call Steelheart. The same man who showed interest in adopting you, Rodiel.''

Okay.

That was mind-blowing even for me.

Steelheart, the impenetrable.

I would recognize that name no matter how much time passed.

To be honest, even if I died several more times, his noisy and unfunny lines of dialogue would still haunt every one of my nightmares, so as not to allow me to forget him.

He was a recurring character from the original TWOF setup.

As an ally who would help Taliyah Roosevelt, the protagonist, get successfully through the mid-story arcs, he had several motivational lines designed to stir up positive feelings in the player.

At least before falling victim to that incident.

Nonetheless, if I may say, I think you made some serious mistake in his settings, developers.

All I could feel as I watched Alana play that was anger.

Even more, thinking about that girl only made those damn morbid thoughts worse.

'Focus!' I shook my head quickly.

Thinking about that bitch would get me nowhere, and just served as a distraction from my true purpose here.

First things first, I needed to take advantage of this opportunity.

If a legendary hero intended to adopt me, who would I be to turn down his offer, right?

''So, sister, could you show me the way?''

The sister stared at me, dumbfounded.

Still, even though I felt that the aura around me was different from normal, the sister, with expressions that were difficult to read on her face, calmly guided me to where the man and the others were waiting.

We went through several corners.

Even so, I could see that whenever we passed, it was clear that large wooden fences surrounded the entire territory of the main premises.

And then we the arrived at our target's location.

It wasn't a mansion or anything like that, but a huge rural house that was very beautiful when compared to the rest of the buildings in the place.

‘I used to say that I wanted to live quietly in the countryside…’

''Sorry I'm late. There were some problems for Rodiel to be summoned here. Happily, we've arrived.''

With the sister's announcement, delivered in a loud, thick-pitched voice, I focused on the figures standing in front of me.

Looking further ahead, a procession of people in sumptuous dresses and suits was watching from the open front door.

Some of them would shoot looks of obvious scorn and disgust, scrutinizing me from head to toe.

There were also a certain amount of Mount Everest cold stares sent my way since I wasn't supposed to leave the residence.

Still, honestly, wasn't that overkill for a five-year-old kid?

The people of this world assuredly were too weird.

Not that I was surprised.

I was fully aware of which world I had been reincarnated in and which body I controlled.

''This is the boy you wanted to meet, Mr Dashner.''

An older sister stepped forward.

She pointed in my direction, drawing attention from the monstrously tall silhouette that was positioned in the darkest corners of the house.

My eyes roamed over the other people.

I could tell that beside the matriarch and the figure were tall, elegant men dressed in formal attire.

Having long ears, they were clearly male elves who were making fun of me by making fun of my clothes.

''I understand. Are you the one they call Rodiel? Nice to meet you, boy.”

I waved in its direction. ''The pleasure is entirely mine, Mr Dashner.'' I concluded the act.

The man snorted lightly, letting out a strong hot breath that, even from a considerable distance, hit me.

''I've heard good things about you, child,'' he commented. ''But what interested me most is the innate talent you carry with you.''

''Innate talent, sir?'' I asked, perplexed.

''Exactly.''

With a step forward that made the earth tremble a little, he revealed his face.

He was a huge bearded man, with toned muscles and dark skin.

"Woah!"

Ignoring the amazed sighs of the others, he majestically walked through the crowd towards me.

Stopping inches from me, he wore a serious and imposing expression, as if he were a king among his subjects.

The atmosphere had been dominated in the blink of an eye by the overwhelming presence that man unconsciously exuded.

My body shook. I just wanted to crash there.

An overwhelming and inescapable feeling.

That was an apt and short description of what that man represented.

''You have a talent that others don't have. Something worthy of envy. Something even I don't have in me. And that's why I want you to be my student.''

One of the elves accompanying the burly man approached him, touching his shoulder.

Noticing the sidelong glance Steelheart shot him, the elf began his explanation.

''Sir, if I may say so, this will be difficult to do. This child may be gifted, having scored near-perfectly on written exams and excelling on physical tests. But his behavior doesn't make him any better than a dumb beast."

Smiling, he grabbed me, lifting me off the ground.

''That's it! An instinctive beast! Clearly what I'm looking for!''

I swung my legs wildly, being held firmly by Mael Dashner's giant unnatural hands.

''But then, boy, what do you say about it? Do you want to be my student?''

From what I knew of the TWOF storyline, the original Rodiel would be orphaned for the next decade.

Later, by a coincidence of fate -- that is, the the purest screenplay convenience --, he would finally be noticed by nobles and then sponsored by an influential wealthy house of the kingdom's Capital.

However, I was not him and neither was he me.

What's more, wasting so much time and rotting in this place just to start blossoming at the beginning of the plot, amid catastrophes that would put my life at risk?

I couldn't accept doing it.

It was better to seize the opportunity handed to me here and now.

After all, I was indeed a unique, eccentric existence and therefore would make my way through my own decisions.

I would pave my survival with my own hands!

''I accept your offer. I will be your student.'' I screamed at the top of my lungs; relatively squeezed by man's unnatural strength. ''I want to be stronger! I will be a beast! I want to survive!''

Under the dim light of the sun falling asleep in the sky, that event marked the first time Mael Dashner and I had met.

Nonetheless, above all, that was the beginning of my journey towards the path of truth.