The moment Richard stepped outside, he knew something was wrong.
The town before him was nothing like the human settlements he had known.
It had the rural charm of a countryside village—cobblestone roads, houses with wooden beams and stone walls, and people dressed in simple yet well-crafted clothes.
And yet, despite the traditional aesthetic, there was an undeniable modernity to the place.
Most notably, the contraptions.
Strange metal carriages moved through the streets without horses. Sleek, compact, and oddly shaped, they glided smoothly over the stone paths, carrying passengers effortlessly.
Some were small, fitting only one or two people, while others resembled carriages large enough for a family. The air thrummed with a low hum whenever one passed by.
It was unlike anything Richard had ever seen.
He narrowed his eyes, scanning the area. There were street lamps, but they had no visible flames.
There were signs written in human script, though the language itself was similar to what he remembered.
Shops now had large glass windows, displaying their wares in ways that felt both familiar and entirely alien.
Had human technology advanced this far?
He could already tell that magic still existed. He could sense it in the air, lingering like a faint pulse beneath the surface. But it was… different. More refined? No, more controlled.
Though it did appear less than it was a thousand years ago.
Richard's mind churned with questions. He had to get more information.
Beatrice was still gripping his wrist, happily pulling him forward. Deciding she was his best source for now, he reached out and tapped her shoulder.
Beatrice turned to him with a bright, expectant expression. "What's up, Richard?"
His crimson eyes locked onto hers, his voice calm but demanding.
"This town—what is it called?"
Beatrice blinked before grinning. "Oh! This is Began Hills!" She spread her arms dramatically. "One of the quietest and most peaceful towns in the entire Aragon Empire! It's a great place, isn't it?"
Richard ignored her enthusiasm. "Which kingdom? Which continent?"
Beatrice didn't seem fazed by his serious tone. "You really did forget everything, huh? Okay, so we're in the Aragon Empire, which is the strongest nation in Lumora!"
Richard's eyes narrowed. Aragon Empire? Lumora? He recognized the names but—
"And the year?" he asked sharply.
Beatrice paused for a second before replying, "It's 1022 AHW!"
Richard's entire body froze.
1022 AHW.
One thousand years.
A thousand years had passed since the end of the Holy War.
A thousand years since the fall of the first Demon King—Deivaros Veirs Crimson.
Now Richard.
Him.
His mind spun, struggling to process the revelation.
He had expected something to have gone wrong with the spell—waking up in a human orphanage instead of under the Demon King's castle was already proof enough.
But still to have been sent one thousand years into the future?
How?
The spell was supposed to preserve him—to transport him to safety so he could return and reclaim his throne.
But instead, he had been flung so far forward in time that his empire was likely gone. The humans would have rewritten history, reducing his reign to a mere legend.
His fists clenched.
Could it have been the Sage's magic?
The spell that had killed him?
His memories of that final moment were hazy, clouded by agony and chaos. But he remembered the power.
The sheer overwhelming and suffocating power of the Sage's incantation. A spell unlike any he had ever encountered.
Could that magic have interfered with his own?
"Richard?"
Beatrice's voice snapped him back to the present. He turned to see her staring at him with a look of concern.
"You okay?" she asked, tilting her head.
He schooled his features, forcing himself to remain calm. "I'm fine."
She studied him for a moment before breaking into a bright smile. "Good! Let's go then!"
Before he could react, she resumed dragging him forward, her grip unrelenting.
Richard sighed internally, allowing himself to be pulled along for now. He needed more information before he made any real moves.
So for now, blending in and observing was the best course of action.
Besides, he had one last question.
"Is there a library in this town?"
Beatrice perked up. "Oh! Yeah, there's a small one! It's not very big, though—mostly just history books and some basic spell manuals. Why? Are you suddenly interested in reading?"
Richard merely nodded.
Beatrice, of course, took that as confirmation and beamed. "Well, we can check it out later! But first—"
She suddenly yanked him harder.
"Playground!"
Richard barely had time to react as she practically dragged him toward a fenced-off area where several children were already gathered.
Three kids were standing together near the entrance.
Beatrice slowed down as they approached. "Richard, I want you to meet some of my friends!"
The first was a boy with blue and black hair, dressed in plain commoner's clothing. He had a wooden sword strapped to his belt, his stance confident and casual.
"This is Ben Rexandt!" Beatrice introduced.
The second was a girl with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a simple dress. Her hands were clasped in front of her, her expression warm and friendly.
"And this is Alice Virelle!"
The last boy stood slightly apart from the other two. He had jet-black hair and was dressed in higher-quality clothing—a well-fitted black shirt and matching trousers. His gaze was sharp and almost brooding.
"And this is Reid Marton!"
Ben and Alice waved enthusiastically. "Hi, Richard!"
Richard hesitated for a brief moment before giving a curt nod. "Hello."
Ben and Alice froze.
They exchanged wide-eyed looks before turning to Beatrice in shock.
"H-He just spoke," Ben stammered.
Alice clapped her hands to her mouth. "I—what—how?!"
Beatrice scratched her cheek. "Yeah, I dunno! He just… suddenly started talking today!"
Ben and Alice immediately closed in, inspecting Richard as if he were some rare species.
Richard's eye twitched as they leaned in way too close.
Ben poked his cheek. "You're sure this is the same Richard?"
Alice tapped his forehead. "Did a spirit possess him or something?"
Richard gritted his teeth.
"Stop that."
Ben and Alice pulled back, glancing at each other—then suddenly burst into laughter.
"He's just as grumpy alright!" Ben snickered.
Alice giggled. "Yep! Definitely Richard."
Richard exhaled sharply through his nose. These two were going to be annoying.
Before he could make an excuse to leave, Alice suddenly grabbed his wrist.
"Come on, Richard!" she chirped.
Ben latched onto his other arm. "Yeah, let's go play!"
Richard shot a glare at Beatrice, but she only grinned innocently.
And just like that, he was dragged into whatever nonsense they had planned.
Meanwhile, Reid stood behind them, watching everything unfold with a neutral expression. Unlike the others, he hadn't spoken much—just observed.
His sharp black eyes lingered on Richard for a moment longer before he turned away, his expression unreadable.