-Slam!

A loud slam suddenly echoes through the room.

"Hey, Mason, do you ha—holy mother of—what happened here?"

The voice is familiar, and I look at the source with effort. To my surprise, it's the same guy I bumped into earlier. What is he doing here?

QUEST COMPLETED! You survived Mason.

You received 100 Stat Points.

The System pops up. I can't help but feel glad that the duel against Mason is finally over.

"Here, take this. It'll patch you up."

Mason's voice brings me back to the moment, and I turn to see him offering me a healing potion.

"Thanks…"

I gratefully accept and drink the potion, feeling the soothing effects wash over me almost immediately.

"Hello, is anyone going to answer my question?"

Mason turns to the guy. "Look what the cat dragged in. You missed quite the show, René. Next time, grab a front-row seat instead of sneaking in at the end."

So, the guy's name is René.

"A show? I'm not here for any damn show, Mason. I just came to grab a drink, not to watch some poor sap get beat to a pulp!"

"Relax, René. The bar's always open, and the entertainment's free. Grab a drink and enjoy the view, my friend. Life's too short for just business, don't you think?"

Mason then turns back to me, offering a hand to help me. I grasp it, pulling myself to my feet. I notice the sorry state of my uniform—it's quite tattered from the fight.

"You've got a spark in you, kid. My name's Mason Schmidt. And who might you be?"

Mason extends his hand once more, this time in a formal introduction.

“I’m Dominic Eñeforte. Nice to meet you too," I reply, shaking his hand firmly.

"About the orb purification—I'll let you know when it's taken care of."

I nod. "Okay, I'll give you my contact number."

Mason shakes his head. "Save it. I've got my ways of getting in touch."

I raise an eyebrow. "And how will you do that?"

"Let's just call it a secret, shall we?"

"Uhh…sure."

I'm not entirely sure what his methods involve, but it seems best to go along for now.

"Hey, what's this? You guys yappin' about Monster orbs or somethin'?"

I turn around and see René approaching us. He's another character who has never appeared in the web novel; just who is this guy?

"Dominic, this here's René. Don't let the mug or the scowl fool ya—he's one of the best informants in the city. René, meet my new acquaintance."

René looks at me, then extends a hand, albeit reluctantly.

"Yeah, the pleasure's all mine. So, you're a new customer, huh? What's your story?"

"Just trying to find my way around, learn a few tricks here and there."

Mason grins. "René's your guy if you need to know the ins and outs of the less... savory parts of town. But fair warning, stick close to the light with this one."

René chuckles dryly. "Very funny, Mason. I might know the dark corners, but I always keep it straight. Mostly."

"That's true enough. Just keep your eyes open, and you'll learn a lot. Drinks are on the house for this meeting; how about that?" Mason says.

René then nods at me. "Alright, kid, let's see what you're made of. But first, let's toast. To new beginnings and profitable friendships."

I hesitate; even though I'm an adult stuck in a teenager's body, I'm still not allowed to drink. Besides, if Celine manages to smell alcohol on me, then I'm doomed. She's pretty scary.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

"Wait, I can't drink alcohol, I'm only fifteen."

"Don't worry, kid, I'll just serve you some juice." Mason offers.

Oh, that doesn't sound bad.

"To new beginnings."

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

After our informal gathering at Le Petit Verre, I stepped out into the cool evening air, feeling the buzz of the city's nightlife beginning to pick up.

The time I spent inside has been unexpectedly fruitful. During our drinks, René and I exchange phone numbers. Although I'm puzzled by his insistence—given that I'm only fifteen—he explains that I seem like someone who might soon need access to critical information. Given his line of work as an informant, it makes sense.

Reluctantly, I agreed and exchanged numbers with him, considering it might be helpful if I needed to purchase information from him.

"Haa!" I stretch my arms upward, feeling refreshed yet contemplative.

Now that I'm waiting for the orb to be purified, my next task is straightforward. I need to gather the artifacts for the Manaficial ritual, which I plan to collect tomorrow after school.

The artifacts are scattered across various temples, each located in distinct regions of Verdant Haven.

The first artifact, the 'Mirror of Lysandra,' is housed within the Temple du Miroir Caché in the Greenwood Region to the north.

The second, the 'Scepter of Binding,' lies in the Temple du Sceptre Lié in the Misty Peaks Region to the east.

The third, 'Chalice of Merging,' is housed in the Temple du Calice de Convergence in the Emerald Coastline Region to the west.

Obtaining these artifacts is no small feat, as each temple has traps. But I'll start with the 'Mirror of Lysandra' since the traps in that temple are relatively easier to spot and avoid.

-Ring!

The sudden sound of my Commlink interrupts my thoughts. I take it out and see that Celine is calling.

I answer, "Hi, mum."

"Dominic, where are you? It's 5:18 PM!"

I glance at my watch, surprised by how much time has passed.

"I-I'll go back home. I'm hanging out with Arthur. Bye, mum!"

"Wait—"

I end the call abruptly, not wanting to extend the conversation into a lecture.

"It's time to go home then."

With a sense of urgency, I run toward the 'Gare des Étoiles,' eager to catch the next train home and not further worry my mother.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Two hours later, I stand in front of my house. With a deep breath to settle my thoughts from the day's events, I open the door and step inside.

The familiar sounds of home greet me as I walk into the living room.

I see André, Celine, and Clark clustered on the sofa; their heads bent over a photo album spread open on the coffee table.

Celine points at a photograph.

"This is Dominic when he was six years old, Clark. Isn't he cute?"

Clark, looking puzzled, raises an eyebrow. "That's Dominic? Why does he look so…thin?"

André chuckles and pats his head gently. "Haha! Don't be like that, Clark!"

Their laughter fills the room, and I can't help but smile at the sight.

It's heartwarming to see André back home and getting along so well with Clark, especially in such a familial setting.

But their focus on the photo album piques my curiosity—this could provide insights into Dominic's past, a history I haven't been privy to since my transmigration didn't include access to his memories.

"What are you all doing?" I ask as I approach them.

At the sound of my voice, they all turn to look at me.

"Dominic!"

Clark exclaims, his face lighting up. He jumps off the couch and runs over to me, wrapping his arms around my leg in a tight hug.

I reach down and ruffle his hair affectionately.

"Hey, Clark, how are you?"

"It was fun! Miss Celine and Mister André were fun."

"Is that so? I'm glad then."

I say, my gaze shifting to Celine and André, who wear expressions of mild concern.

"Dominic, what happened to your uniform?" Celine suddenly asks, her eyes narrowing at seeing my tattered clothes.

Oh, right. I had almost forgotten about the state of my uniform after the "duel" with Mason.

"Oh, I fell on the ground while walking here," I improvise quickly, scratching my head.

Celine sighs heavily, and André facepalms, their reactions a mix of disbelief and amusement.

"Ahem," I clear my throat, eager to change the subject. "Anyway, what are you all doing?"

"We were looking through your pictures from the past, Dominic!" Clark exclaims.

"Oh?" I feign surprise and interest.

"Uh-huh!" Clark nods vigorously, grabs my hand, and pulls me toward the coffee table. "Let's look!"

"Woah! Slow down there, Little One!" I laugh, allowing myself to be led.

We settle on the floor around the album, and Clark hands it to me. He eagerly points out a photo.

"Look here! Celine told me that you and Arthur are childhood friends!"

I study the picture of a younger me and Arthur, both of us grinning broadly at the camera, our clothes splattered with mud as if we've just come from an adventure in the playground.

"Do you remember this, Dominic?" André inquires.

I nod, playing along. "Yeah, it was a…fun time."

Clark flips to the next page, revealing a group photo from what appears to be an elementary school graduation.

"Look here, Dominic. Celine told me this is your elementary graduation picture."

I look closely. There I am with Arthur and a girl with long silver hair and striking eyes. Arthur has his arms around both of us.

Something about the girl stirs a pang of sadness in me, a reaction that seems intuitive, though I have no memory of her.

"Ah, your graduation. What good memories. You remember Fleurine, Dominic?" André asks.

I shake my head. "No, not really. Who is she?"

Their expressions change suddenly, a shadow passing over both their faces.

"Well, she's one of your close friends alongside Arthur," Celine explains softly. "But, she...passed away shortly after the graduation."

The news hits me unexpectedly hard, a sense of loss for a memory I don't possess but somehow feel deeply. No wonder I'm reacting this way.

"Don't be sad, Dominic; I'm here for you."

Clark's tiny hand on my sleeve draws me out of the brief trance induced by the revelations of the past.

His simple and heartfelt words offer a gentle reminder of the present connections that matter.

I look down at him, his eyes wide with empathy and understanding that seem beyond his years. I can't help but smile as I reach out to ruffle his hair.

"Thanks, Little One."

Despite the complexity of my situation and the emotions stirred by memories not my own, Clark's straightforward compassion lifts my spirits. I feel a bit lighter, a bit more present in the moment.

"Anyways…" André interjects, perhaps sensing a need to shift the mood. "Enough of the sad past; let's look at other pictures, shall we?"

His suggestion is timely.

I nod eagerly, grateful for the chance to steer away from the poignant memories and back to lighter topics.

"Yeah."