Caged Bird

Darien's POV:

Hirayuki is the youngest investigator in the palace's investigation division. The palace appointed him after solving many difficult cases while simply playing as a detective, and just like us before, he was someone who didn't have any magic.

Looks like I've met a character who shouldn't exist in this world, and I've learned information I shouldn't have heard. Sigh, what is happening here? A character I never even created has appeared out of nowhere. Should I try to find out more? But, I don't think he's a bad person... Maybe?

*Facepalm* Let's think about all that later, Hikaru, because you and your brother are in trouble now. Now, Hirayuki has long since left us to report to his superiors, and Eirian has explained everything that I missed after being in a coma for two weeks.

So, here I am, on a hospital bed, waiting for Eirian, who just went to the restroom. I'm thinking back on all the information I got from my brother and Hirayuki earlier, with my hand on my chin like a detective, too. Maybe I can be a detective--stop thinking about silly things, Hikaru. *Sweatdrop*

First of all, my idea of only giving Darien a class in this world has been changed so that every character in this world has a class based on their original power. This means they have no choice in what class they want after completing the daily quests. But in Eirian's case...

He didn't have any power before, and the class he got has never been heard of and has no information, while other classes have information from the previous world, such as warrior, mage, bard, and so on. Not only that, but the power Eirian received is also a power with no information. The system is no help at all.

But Eirian said he's not the only one with a different kind of power. I heard that the Prince of Serenity also has unique power, just like Eirian. Also, my and Eirian's hidden traits are strange... 

I didn't have time to complete the status window for Darien before, so I already expected him to have no power--I mean, he would still have power, but without a name for it--but why don't I have a class here?  My second title is also strange. Not to mention that, I never have made a status window for Eirian in the first place because he should die, but now... 

Somehow, he has status with a unique, but unknown class and power.

Oh my god.

What the hell is going on? Everything is getting stranger and more unpredictable. Eirian's and my status window, the existence of a character like Hirayuki, and everything else. Did someone find my notebook and continue writing my novel? If so, who? A close friend? No, that's impossible. I haven't seen them since high school. A fan?

Maybe a fan, because in my original world, everyone must have heard the news that I died, but still, how could they find that notebook?

"Darien?"

"!!!"

I was startled when Eirian's voice was so close, as if he were right next to me, which he was. He was standing next to my bed with a puzzled look, but his eyes were full of worry. I must have been so deep in my thoughts that I didn't even notice him calling me again. I need to fix my habit of overthinking.

"Hm? What is it, Eiri-niichan?" I asked, trying to sound confused with an innocent look. Eirian let out a long sigh, looking tired as if he already expected this response from me, but he then gave a small smile before touching my head and ruffling my hair with gentle affection. I feel embarrassed being treated like this, but... I still love it.

"... I met the doctor while coming back from the toilet, he told me that you've fully recovered, but you can't get too stressed or do anything beyond your limits."

"Does that mean! Gasp! We can go home!?" I shouted, not too loudly, but I was just so happy I finally got out of here. I never liked hospitals. Even in my original world, I preferred to treat myself or ask my doctor to come to my house if it gets worse. It just... The bad memories in a hospital made me uncomfortable and... Scared.

I'm still here because Eirian was here to accompany me. If not, I would have already run away from here a long time ago.

The blond boy looked shocked for a moment when he saw me almost jumping off the bed, so excited and happy. Of course, I realized what I was doing, and my cheeks must have turned red because Eirian just laughed, making me even more embarrassed. Argh, I wish I could use my power to disappear right now.

Huh?

Power? Wait, what is my power? I know my power doesn't have a name, but I still haven't decided what kind of power I want to give to this character. I may have any power after the world changed, right? What if I don't have any power because I'm in this world now, or the person who is working on my novel, or this world gave me no power at all?

No... How am I going to survive in this world, then? If it's true that someone is working on my book and using my notes, or if this world functions according to my notes while changing them, then the big events will surely come. How am I going to survive when those events happen?

The second main scenario will happen in a few years... What do I need to do?

"Hahahahaha! Darien! Are you forgetting where we have to live after--Darien? A...Are you okay?" Eirian's laughter and his intention to tease me disappeared when he saw me fall silent. My face must have looked scared or pale because he became worried sick again. Sigh, I don't like making him worry all the time either.

"... That..." Should I tell him? I'm sure Eirian noticed my status earlier; maybe he can help me. "Actually, Eiri-niichan saw my status earlier, right?"

"Hm? What about--Oh, your power..." It seems Eirian just noticed that my power icon was empty. Maybe he was too focused on other things and overlooked it. Well, I did too. *Facepalm*

"Hmm... Why don't you try asking the system about your power? They might answer, or they might not," Eirian suggested, but when he said "not", he must have asked the system a lot before. It was as if he were done with the system. Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to try.

"System, do I have no power?"

"You have a power, Darien, but it is not yet time to reveal your true power."

Eirian and I raised an eyebrow in confusion before looking at each other with a puzzled expression, then turned to look at the floating screen in front of us again.

"I didn't think this damn system would answer what you asked."

૮(˶ㅠ︿ㅠ)ა

"Oh, Eiri-niichan made it cry." I took this opportunity to tease him, so I gave him a playful smile as if I was enjoying it, and he just looked at me with a face that said, 'Are you enjoying getting revenge on me?'

"But, what does it mean, 'it is not yet time to reveal your true power'? Hey, system,  can you tell us what that means?" Eirian asked, trying to ignore me, who was giggling softly at him, satisfied that I could get back at him for once.

"Sorry, Eirian. I can't tell you. You just have to wait (˵ ¬ᴗ¬˵)"

"Hahaha! Eiri-niichan! Have you and the system been enemies for a long time? Hahaha!"

"... I'm going to strangle this damn system one day..." Eirian muttered, emphasizing each word with anger and a look on his face as if he were annoyed about being played with by the system. And this system also seemed to enjoy teasing Eirian. I don't remember writing this, but it's kind of fun.

"Let's see if you can ¬‿¬"

"That is! I will--!!!"

"Eiri-niichan, calm down!" Okay, maybe it wasn't a good idea to keep teasing him.

The next day,

At the Serenity Palace...

Eirian and I will be living in the palace for a while until they find someone or a family who wants to adopt us. Since the orphanage was destroyed and all the staff, including the person who ran it, died, and there was only one orphanage there, the two of us had nowhere to go.

Eirian and Darien don't have any relatives or close family acquaintances either. I have a few ideas for Darien's family story later, but I don't think I wrote them in the notebook. I really hope the person who continued writing my novel isn't as crazy as I am. I would much rather live peacefully with just Eirian. No... that's impossible, sigh...

Others must think it's strange why the two of us were brought into the palace. They could have just ignored us or let us live on the streets, but because of our strange and unique statuses, I think the palace staff believe we might be dangerous or have a connection to the events that happened. Or, they want to use us.

As we walked through the luxurious, vast, and much taller hallways than the orphanage I lived in, even for just a day, I tried not to stare in awe at the beauty and spaciousness of these hallways. Each of these hallways could make an entire house!

Eirian also looked as shocked and in awe as I did, but we both tried not to stand out. It was impossible, though. All the maids and guards there, as well as some staff, whispered to each other, looking at use with judging and curious looks. Some didn't care and just went about their business.

It wasn't surprising... Eirian and I aren't from noble families or have any ties to the palace or any of the staff work there. What's the point of us being here?

It wasn't strange to see some of them looking at us like trash and judging us, but sometimes I got annoyed and wanted to gouge their eyes out. Sigh, just be patient, Hikaru. Everything will be okay. I just need to make sure the two of us don't get into trouble. I will change our fate one day.

"This is your room. If you need anything, lease press the red button next to the bed. And don't wander into the main hall. That's where the king and his family live. You two are in the palace staff wing now. Hirayuki-sama will be your caretaker for the time being.

He also living in this wing. You can ask for help from him or ask any questions. He will come later to give you a brief on what you can and cannot do. So, I will take my leave if there is nothing else," said the man, who was a knight assigned to bring us here.

Well, actually, I had something to ask, but the knight had already left after pushing us into the room and closing the door hard in front of my face. Rude. I felt annoyed, and Eirian looked like he wanted to murder someone now.

I then looked around our room. It was pretty good. It was bigger than our room at the orphanage before. The bedsheets looked expensive, even if they weren't silk like the royal and noble families used, but it was still better. There were two singles beds, an attached bathroom, two large wardrobes, a large ceiling fan, a big window and the wallpaper on the walls was creamy yellow.

Everything in this room wasn't too excessive, but I hesitated to touch it for fear of damaging it. It was quite expensive, and we didn't have any money.

"... We are being watched...," Eirian whispered to himself, but I could hear it too. I'm sure he wanted me to hear it because he was standing close to me, and I knew it because I felt it too. Being watching. They must be crazy to think the two of us are the masterminds behind all this.

Our current place might be luxurious and better than before, but... For some reason, I don't feel like this is a home. It feels like a prison disguised in all this luxury.