Adventurer’s Encyclopedia

"Anyone home?" Anara calls out, her voice warm as she raps gently on the wooden door. The sound echoes slightly in the quiet of the late morning, but before it fades, another voice immediately follows, mimicking her.

"Anyone home?" Elara repeats in a giggle, her tiny hands patting at the air as if she’s knocking too. The bright enthusiasm in her voice makes me shake my head. She really is always brimming with energy.

The door swings open a moment later, revealing Morgana Add, my uncle’s wife. She stands tall in the doorway, her dark auburn hair neatly tied back, though a few loose strands frame her face.

There’s something both refined and simple about her—she wears a modest dress in deep earthy tones, but the way she carries herself, graceful and steady, makes it clear she’s seen more of the world than most people in this town.

A faint aroma of baked bread and spices drifts past her from inside, wrapping around us like a welcoming embrace.

The house always smells like this—warm, familiar, alive. It’s a place of comfort, where the sounds of laughter and quiet conversations always fill the space.

"You guys are late," Morgana says with a teasing smirk, stepping back and opening the door wider. Her voice is smooth and kind, but there’s a subtle firmness to it, like someone who’s used to managing a busy household without breaking a sweat.

"Sorry, Morgana. Orion was trying to wiggle out of this visit," Anara chuckles, shifting slightly as she pats my back, where I’m still clinging to her.

Morgana’s sharp gaze lands on me, her smirk deepening. "Really?" she hums, crossing her arms.

"What’s wrong, Orion? You didn’t want to see your favorite aunt?" There’s an exaggerated hurt in her tone, but I know better. She’s enjoying this.

I let out a small noise and bury my face into Anara’s back, pretending to be too shy to answer. It earns me a chuckle from both women.

It’s not that I dislike Morgana—in fact, I think she’s pretty great—but these visits always take so much energy. And I already know Aria is going to try bossing me around again.

Anara steps inside, and the warmth of the house immediately envelops us. The scent of fresh bread is stronger here, mingling with the subtle sharpness of herbs hung up to dry near the kitchen. Sunlight streams through the open windows, casting golden pools across the wooden floor, and the gentle creak of old beams overhead reminds me of how sturdy this home is, how lived-in.

Uncle Darius may be a lower-class noble, but his house holds the charm of a village chief’s home—bustling, welcoming, and always full of life.

Morgana has always been a bit of a mystery. The adults don’t talk about her past much, but I know she, Anara, and Uncle Darius all grew up in the same orphanage. That’s why they all share the surname Add—they made their own family, quite literally.

I think about that sometimes. How Uncle Darius managed to marry his childhood crush, how their story played out like something out of a fairy tale. If only life were always that simple…

Morgana snaps me out of my thoughts with a knowing glance. "You’re in luck. Aria’s been asking all morning when you were going to get here." There’s amusement in her voice, but also a quiet warning. Aria’s energy is about to crash into us at full force.

Before I can brace myself, Elara squirms out of Anara’s grip, her little feet hitting the floor with a soft thump.

She immediately darts past Morgana, peering eagerly into the house, her eyes scanning for one person and one person only.

"Aria! We’re here!" she shouts, her voice ringing through the halls like a chime of excitement. She doesn’t need to be told twice.

It isn’t long before a small, quick-footed figure comes bounding down the hallway, her footsteps light but quick, like someone who can’t wait to share a secret.

Aria, Uncle Darius’s daughter and just about our age, skids to a stop in front of us, her dark, tousled hair falling into her eyes. She swipes it away impatiently, her sharp, knowing gaze already locking onto us. She has Uncle Darius’s hair and Morgana’s eyes—eyes that always seem a little too clever, a little too knowing, for someone her age.

As soon as she spots us, she breaks into a wide grin, one that practically screams mischief. It’s the kind of grin that makes me immediately wary, because I know she’s already planned out at least a dozen games she’s going to drag us into, whether we like it or not.

“There you are! Took you long enough,” Aria says, crossing her arms with an exaggerated huff, as though she’s been waiting for hours and we’ve completely ruined her plans. But the sparkle in her eyes gives her away. She’s just teasing.

Before either of us can respond, she grabs Elara’s hand, already tugging her toward the back of the house.

“Elara, come on! I found something cool in the backyard!” she announces, her voice bubbling with excitement.

Elara’s face lights up like she’s just been handed a treasure chest full of gold. “Something cool? What is it?” she asks, her feet barely touching the ground as Aria pulls her along.

“You’ll see!” Aria calls over her shoulder, already halfway down the hall.

Morgana and Anara exchange a look, the kind of look only moms can give each other—half amusement, half exasperation, and a whole lot of fondness. It’s a look that says, There they go again.

“Orion, you can join them, you know,” Morgana says, giving me a gentle nudge with her elbow. “I’m sure Aria would love to boss someone else around besides just Elara.”

Anara chuckles, adjusting the scarf around her neck with a playful smile. “Bossy as ever, that one,” she mutters, her tone affectionate despite the words. “I wonder where she gets it from…”

Morgana raises an eyebrow, her lips twitching like she’s holding back a laugh. “Oh, she’s got a mind of her own, that’s for sure,” she says, her voice full of pride and just a hint of exasperation.

I sigh quietly. There’s no getting out of it now. I might not be the most energetic of the bunch, but at least there’s never a dull moment when Elara and Aria are around. And with Morgana and Anara laughing softly behind us, it feels, just for a moment, like everything is peaceful.

Without a word, I quietly slip away from the bustling room, my footsteps barely making a sound on the creaking wooden floor.

The laughter and chatter from downstairs fade behind me as I climb the narrow staircase to the top floor of Uncle Darius’s house. This is where I go when I need to think. My sanctuary.

The top floor is small, just a single quiet room tucked away from the rest of the house, where the family stores old books, maps, and a few dusty relics.

It smells faintly of aged paper and polished wood, a musty, comforting scent that always makes me feel a little calmer.

The light filtering in through a small window casts a warm, golden hue over the piles of books scattered across the floor, and the dust in the air catches the sunlight like tiny floating stars.

Near the window, I’ve set up a makeshift reading spot—a small, worn cushion and a stack of books within arm’s reach. One book, in particular, lies open in front of me: Adventurer’s Encyclopedia.

I settle down onto the cushion, the familiar weight of the book grounding me as I flip back to the page I’ve been reading.

I’ve been pouring over it for days, trying to piece together what happened after… after my death. It’s still strange to think about, even now. This world is so different from the one I knew, and yet, in some ways, it’s eerily familiar.

In this world, where power and money often dictate everything, knowledge is my strength. It’s the one thing I can rely on. And so, I keep reading, my eyes scanning the familiar pages, hoping—no, needing—to find answers.

The pages tell me a story I’m not sure I can believe. But even as doubt creeps in, I keep reading, hoping that somewhere, hidden in these words, I’ll find the clarity I’ve been searching for.

According to some books, Yuui, my old comrade, wins the battle against the forces threatening the Kingdom of Alkia. She’s hailed as a hero, the savior who turns the tide and secures the kingdom’s future.

The scribes paint her as larger than life—a warrior who faced down impossible odds and emerged victorious. But that’s where the story takes a strange turn. After the victory, the goddess grants Yuui a wish and then vanishes. What happens to Yuui after that remains a mystery.

Some versions claim she returns to her original world, disappearing without a trace. Others suggest she embarks on another journey, hopping to a different world, continuing her role as a savior. But I’m not buying it. Something feels… off.

I flip the page slowly, my eyes narrowing as I scan the text.

The goddess Uranas… A chill runs down my spine at the name. She’s not the type to keep her promises so easily. If she’s involved, there’s always a catch. That’s how she operates. She doesn’t grant favors without strings attached. Once her work is done, she discards people—or worse, eliminates them if they’re no longer useful.

There has to be more to the story, something that isn’t written in these pages. My gut twists as I think about her—the deceptive, manipulative goddess who enjoys twisting people’s fates for her own amusement.

I can’t shake the feeling that Yuui’s story, as it’s told here, is incomplete. Did she really get what she wanted, or was she just another pawn, like so many others before her?

The air feels heavier as I sit there, lost in thought. The faint smell of old paper and dusty wood fills the room, mingling with the warmth of the afternoon sun streaming through the window. I glance at the stacks of books piled around me, but none of them have the answers I need.

If I want the truth, I’m going to have to look elsewhere. The High Priest at the church might know something. They have access to ancient records, secret texts passed down through generations. If anyone can tell me what really happened to Yuui, it’s them.

A soft creak pulls me from my thoughts. I turn instinctively, my senses sharp, and spot Morgana standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, watching me with a curious expression. She doesn’t say anything at first, just tilts her head slightly, her auburn hair catching the light.

“Orion, what are you doing up here?” she asks, her voice gentle but laced with mild curiosity.

I sit up straighter, shutting the book quickly as though I’ve been caught doing something I shouldn’t. “Just… reading,” I reply, trying to sound casual, even though my mind is still racing. I don’t want to explain everything. Not yet. “I like the quiet up here.”

Morgana steps inside, her gaze flicking to the book in my hands. She arches an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Adventurer’s Encyclopedia, huh? You’ve been reading that one a lot lately.”

I shrug, flipping the page for effect, pretending to be more interested in the text than I actually am at the moment. “Yeah, it’s interesting. I’m learning a lot about… old legends.”

She doesn’t respond right away, just watches me with that quiet, observant look she has—the one that makes you feel like she’s seeing right through you. Then, with a soft sigh, she walks over and lowers herself onto the floor beside me, her long skirt pooling around her legs.

“You’re a curious one, aren’t you?” she says after a moment. “Most kids your age wouldn’t be able to sit still long enough to read through these old books.”

I glance at her, but I don’t say anything. I’m not like most kids. I never have been. And she knows it. We sit there in silence for a few moments, the quiet hum of the house surrounding us, the distant voices and footsteps drifting up from downstairs.

Morgana’s gaze softens as she places a hand gently on my shoulder. The touch is light, but it carries a quiet strength.

“You know, if there’s something you want to know, you can always ask,” she says, her voice low, almost as if she’s afraid someone might overhear. “The church keeps many secrets, but there are ways to learn them… if you ask the right questions.”

I blink, surprised by her words. Does she know something? There’s a glint in her eyes, something deeper, something that hints at knowledge she hasn’t shared. For the first time in a long while, I feel a flicker of hope. Maybe I’m not as alone in this as I thought.

“What do you mean?” I ask quietly, my heart beating just a little faster.

Morgana smiles—a small, knowing smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Just… be careful, Orion. The truth isn’t always what it seems. Sometimes it’s hidden in plain sight, but sometimes… it’s hidden because it’s dangerous.”

Her words hang in the air, heavy with meaning, and I can’t tell if she’s warning me or encouraging me. Maybe both.

Without another word, she rises gracefully to her feet, smoothing her dress as though nothing unusual has just been said. “Now, come on,” she says lightly, her tone shifting back to its usual warmth.

“If you’re done with your books, your uncle’s waiting for you. You know how he gets if he thinks you’re avoiding him.”

I glance down at the book in my lap, then slowly close it, my mind buzzing with questions. Dangerous truths… Maybe she’s right. But I need to know. For Yuui. For myself. For whatever lies ahead.