Chapter 2

As he pushed the door open, a small bell hanging above announced his arrival with a light chime. A strong scent of natural essences and the creak of old wooden floorboards welcomed him with open arms. Although the shop's interior was somewhat dark, certain bottles and jars on the shelves glowed dimly with mysterious reflections.Behind the counter, a young man with long, messy hair was reading a thick book, deeply focused on its pages."Hello. I'm here to ask about some plants I found on the way," Akihiro said naturally, without a trace of shyness.The young man raised an eyebrow, surprised by the interruption. He calmly closed the book and tucked it under the glass display case in front of him."Uh? Well... I wasn't expecting any customers at this hour," he remarked, sounding somewhere between curious and distracted."Could you tell me what this is?" Akihiro asked as he pulled his phone from his pocket and showed him the image of the plants he had found.The apothecary was startled, but more than the image itself, his attention was captured by the strange device Akihiro held in his hands. He frowned, visibly intrigued. For an instant, the thought crossed his mind that this boy might be an elf... or at least a half-elf."Tell me, kid... are you half-elf?" he asked bluntly."Not at all!" Akihiro denied immediately, almost by reflex. "Wait, do elves actually exist in this world!?""Well... you look like one," the apothecary replied, examining him more closely. "Though it’s more like… where did you get those clothes? The style looks Elven."Akihiro looked down at his outfit: it was just his world’s school uniform, but looking at it now, he realized that perhaps, in this world, its design appeared exotic. For a moment, he wondered if there really was some similarity between his clothes and those of the elves in this land.The man watched him more intently, his expression becoming somewhat analytical."So… where do you come from? And what is that device you’re carrying?" he asked, scratching his chin thoughtfully."Hey, don't get too nosey! I just came to find out what this plant is and that’s it!" Akihiro snapped, irritated. "And you haven’t even introduced yourself yet!"The apothecary let out a laugh and, with an agile movement, hopped over the counter to stand beside him.It was then that Akihiro noticed his attire: he wore a brown leather apron over a black-and-blue checkered shirt. It was a fairly casual look, but it carried a certain air of craftsmanship."My name is Alan. I'm a botanist, which is why I run this shop," he introduced himself, sounding a bit lethargic. "Now it's your turn.""My name is Akihiro Kirisawa," he replied with more formality than before. "I was summoned to this world recently… and that’s why I want to know more about it."Alan’s face turned somewhat somber. For a few seconds, he seemed to doubt what he had just heard. He didn't know if the boy was being serious or if he was simply a disoriented youth.He stepped closer to Akihiro and observed him carefully. He studied his clothes, his hair, and even the way he stood. Then, he returned to his position behind the counter."Well, I guess you’re right. You aren’t Elven... or at least not entirely," he finally said, shrugging his shoulders."Come on, for real now! Are you going to tell me what it is or not?" Akihiro insisted, crossing his arms."Sorry," Alan apologized half-heartedly. "I just wanted to be sure… Anyway, what you showed me are, basically, Seirbas.""Seirbas?" Akihiro repeated, intrigued."Yes, Seirbas. Never heard of them?" Alan asked, as if it were the most common thing in the world. "Ah, right… I have to act as if you’re a complete outsider."Akihiro felt that the man didn't entirely believe his story, but regardless, Alan pulled out the same book he had been reading earlier and opened it to a section that appeared to have botanical illustrations."Seirbas don't grow through normal means," he began to explain. "They only sprout in places with a high concentration of Pranatites. Those are rocks that contain fragments of life, generally used to store runic enchantments or study Prana."He gently turned a page as he continued his explanation."Seirbas absorb that residual Prana, which is why they are used to prepare medium or high-tier healing potions. They aren't easy to find, and those who do find them can sell them for a very good price among apothecaries and alchemists."Akihiro tried to read the book for himself, but as soon as his eyes scanned the letters, a strong wave of dizziness hit him, just like when he had tried to read the sign at the village entrance."So they’re worth quite a bit, huh?" he commented while recovering. "And how much do you think they’d pay for a few flowers?""If they’re fresh, any merchant in the capital could give you a gold coin for them," Alan replied without hesitation.Akihiro grew pensive. A gold coin? In his world, that might not mean much, but here… what did it signify?"Hey… and how much is a gold coin worth?" he asked.Alan let out a sigh and crossed his arms. "Do you really know nothing?"Even so, he answered."One platinum coin is equal to 100 gold. One gold is equal to 100 bronze. And one bronze is equal to 100 copper. Silver is the most valuable thing anyone can hold."Akihiro tried to process it all. It was a lot of information at once, but now he at least had a basic idea of the local economic system."Anyway, thanks for the explanation, Alan. Will the shop be open tomorrow?""Sure, why wouldn't it be? I just got back from the capital. I need to see how much I can sell in this village so I can eat. If you want, I can go with you tomorrow to look for those Seirbas.""No, thanks..." Akihiro replied without thinking.Alan was surprised by how quick and blunt the answer was. "Hey, but why not?""Isn't it obvious?" Akihiro countered seriously. "Who’s to say that after I lead you there, you won't attack me and keep everything? No, thanks. I’m fine on my own."Alan laughed with resignation and reached for something under the counter. Then, he tossed it to Akihiro with a flick of his wrist."Then take this."It was a small, light-brown card. On it was an image of Alan and several inscriptions engraved in dark ink:

Alan Stockton, 27 years old.Profession: Expert Botanist, Herbalist, and Healer-class Adventurer.Rank: Gold.Runes in use: Vitality Circles and Deity-style Alphabet.Companion: Alexandra Hermost (Update: Status: Alone)Status: Retired for family reasons.

Akihiro observed it in silence. Maybe this guy wasn't as strange as he seemed. Or maybe he was… but at least he wasn't a complete stranger anymore. He held the card in his hands, inspecting it closely. Although it was made of a strange material, somewhat rough to the touch, it looked like an official ID. Alan’s image was engraved with a faint glow, as if a magical layer protected it from wear and tear.I still can’t understand the language, Akihiro thought before tossing it back."What do you think, kid? You don't see a Gold Rank every day, do you!?" Alan spoke, full of pride."Gold Rank?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Is that any good?""I’d say it’s the best a civilian can reach without joining the military orders or the elite guilds," Alan replied with a half-smile, crossing his arms behind the counter. "Though I’m a bit rusty now.""And tell me, did you always work alone?" Akihiro asked with a tone of interest. "Or did you have a party?"The atmosphere tensed for just a second. Alan looked away, his relaxed expression cracking slightly."Something like that," he finally said, without offering more details. "But it doesn't matter anymore. Now I'm alone. That’s why I came to this corner of the continent."Akihiro nodded, not quite knowing how to continue. Silence took over the shop for a moment, interrupted only by the creaking of the wood beneath his feet and the lingering scent of dried herbs and essences in the air."Well," Alan broke the silence, quickly changing the subject. "If you change your mind and decide to trust me, I’ll be here. I know the terrain well, and if you really found Seirbas, there might be more in the area. And believe me, that’s not just any find.""We’ll see," Akihiro replied. "For now, I just want to rest. It’s been a long day."Akihiro had already pushed the door and the bell was chiming softly, marking his departure, when Alan’s voice stopped him from behind the counter."You look like you haven't slept in a week," he laughed mockingly. "Get some rest, kid. But remember this: in this world, distrust can save you... but it can also leave you completely alone. There’s my great lesson for the day... hahaha."Akihiro barely turned his head, intrigued by the warning. By instinct, he replied without thinking too much:"I'm actually not alone... By the way, do you know where the Mayor's house is?"The question seemed to ignite a spark in Alan’s eyes. He stood up enthusiastically, as if a juicy secret had just been revealed to him."Don't tell me you're going to see the Noble Brings!" he exclaimed, leaning both hands on the bar with excitement. "Wow! I definitely wasn't expecting that.""That’s right," Akihiro replied, now turning around fully. "Is he a good guy?"Alan smiled with a mix of nostalgia and admiration. His tone became warmer, but also a bit more serious."The guy is a saint, believe me. If he sees you truly need help, he’ll treat you like one of his own. Even his daughters will welcome you well. They’re polite, smart… and wiser than they look."He paused and then gestured with his fingers for him to come closer. Akihiro obeyed by inertia, almost caught up in the intensity of his expression."Listen... if you’re really interested in understanding this world, talk to them about anything you're unsure of. They know things that many nobles can't even imagine. They can even teach you how to channel Prana. And you know what else? They even know part of the Deific Alphabet.""Deific... Alphabet?" Akihiro repeated in a low voice, as if the word held a special weight.Runes... Prana... Magic.They were terms he had heard before, yes, but at that moment they felt more real, more connected. As if he were finally beginning to see the hidden skeleton behind this world.What if they really know how to create magic...? What if I could learn it too?During those brief minutes with Alan, Akihiro had, for the first time, the sensation of being inside a real fantasy world.And if he could just understand more... maybe, just maybe, he could be a hero.With that idea burning in his chest like a spark, Akihiro gave a soft nod and turned toward the door. The bell rang once more."Ask for Zenith! And then tell me all about it! Don't forget!" Alan shouted as Akihiro crossed the threshold.Once outside, he took a deep breath. The sky had already turned into a vast darkness filled with stars. Night had fallen faster than he imagined. He walked through the cobblestone streets with a new name etched in his memory: Seirbas. Perhaps that would be his first step toward survival… or, at least, toward earning a few coins."I also need to learn the language of this world…" he murmured to himself, hopeful. "I just hope it isn't too hard."And although he still doubted Alan—after all, he was a complete stranger in a strange land—something inside him, perhaps intuition... or maybe hunger, told him he could trust him. At least for now.