“So, where are we going?” Tus spoke up while he warily looked at the man and woman who sat beside him.

At this point, Tus was completely changed into his new clothes that were purple and reflected light like a clean mirror. For the past hour, the people beside him didn’t say anything besides their names. The man named Worill Musonker, while the woman was named Shel Eorl.

Shel glanced at Tus in disgust before looking away while Worill politely replied, “I’m the chief of servants for milady while this woman beside us can be said to be a bodyguard and an assassin for milady. We’re heading to Froir for the meeting between the ambassadors of the three forces.”

“Three forces and ‘milady’?” Tus lived in the area for sixteen years before he entered the land of Oblivion and there were only two forces, Rul and Erkshem.

A hint of surprise flashed across Worills’ face, “You don’t know the three forces?”

“What would you expect? He’s probably insane and so are you for taking him with us.” Shel said on the side.

“Now, now, my intuition that was praised by our lord. How can I be insane?” Worill chuckled to himself before explaining very seriously. “Around fifteen years ago, a civil war erupted within both forces of Rul and our Country of Erkshem simultaneously. The civil wars lasted for nine years until in the end, both ended in victory for the rebels, and they joined the ‘neutral’ city of Froir that became the capital of a new Country named Confine. It has been six years since then, but we’re still going through different agreements to improve relations and open trade, while also getting rid of any remaining open hostility. That leads to us and milady going there.” Speaking up to here, Worill’s eyes shown in reverence and admiration, “The story of milady could be said to be outstanding. Four years into the war, our Country was losing, and our household was chosen to battle and defend Eielm city which was encroached on. Our lord and his daughter, our milady, lead the city to defend against forces that outnumbered us by three to one. Milady at the time was ten years old, but she was already grade 4 after receiving her mother’s blessing. She became among the top twenty percent of the new generation! When the enemies came, she and our lord rushed into them with a part of the city’s defense, and slaughtered over fifteen-thousand enemies in two days of constant battle, forcing the rest to retreat.”

Hearing this, Tus’s complexion became paler and paler. For one, he didn’t know how long he was gone for from this world after hearing about this struggle that also encompassed his town, while the other was the person who he was supposed to serve, someone who already killed so many people at ten years old. Even he himself fought against countless amount of monsters in Oblivion, but he has never killed, much less harmed, any person.

He couldn’t help but silently exclaim “Is she a monster in human form?!”

After going through his shock, Tus asked, “What year is it?”

Worill nodded, coming to his own unique understanding that someone that was naked and didn’t know about the three forces would not know what year it was, “The year is 367 EA.”

After a moment, Tus realized just how long he had been Oblivion. It has to be said that in Oblivion, that there are no day or night cycles, just all-encompassing day without any celestial object. Tus’s features became as white as fresh snow and he felt his body became heavier than lead. His stomach convulsed and he threw up yesterday’s dinner. ‘367 EA? I’ve been gone for two hundred years?!’

“What’s wrong? Did you eat something rotten?” Worill didn’t know what was happening as he asked. Shel continued to pay attention.

“I-I’m fine. Are you sure about the year?” Tus motionlessly sat in his spot on the coach with his eyes appearing increasingly empty.

Worill waved his right hand, taking out a book that was a calendar. He skimmed through it until he reached a page, showing it to Tus. “This is the year 367.”

‘All that time spent in that hellhole and yet came back achieving nothing into a place where I have nothing left for me, not even my clothes.’ Tus’s empty eyes glistened in tears, his body convulsed, and he began sobbing.

“I told you, he is insane.” Shel spoke still staring ahead.

Worill patted Tus’s back and spoke consoling, “Don’t worry, you serve with us now. There is no reason to be upset.”

“I wish we can arrive in Froir faster.” She spoke exasperatedly.

………

Near evening, Froir.

The city of Froir held a grand hub of trade with a hint of growing royalty with its current status as the capital of Confine. The streets were filled with hustle and bustle with active merchants who enjoyed the high wealth of the average populace who bought their wares. The activity had especially skyrocketed in recent days when there was the ‘new’ tradition of the three forces coming together to pass new agreements.

After the civil wars and the merge between the rebels and this city, a draft was written where there would be two meetings every year for, at least, the next thirty years. There wouldn’t be any further fighting or sabotage. At least that was one of the core elements of the draft.

This was to allow for stabilization, recovery, and for connections to grow between the three forces. Nevertheless, even though there was this draft, the forces of Rul and Erkshem still showed hints of hostility and anger, but they couldn’t do anything at all to the new Country. It was already too powerful for them to threaten in their supremely weakened states, so they could only opt for the peace.

At this time, a conspicuous carriage with three individuals on the coach entered with a steady pace. Of course, they were Tus, Worill, and Shel.

Tus was still pale, but his condition has already improved compared to earlier in the day. This was a needed adaption to Oblivion or else he would have long completely broken down while fighting for his life by himself for such a long time. He looked around the city as the remains of his gloom were slowly pushed aside by curiosity of the city. His heart gradually grew more excited as he asked, “Is this Frior?”

“Yep.” Worill nodded while looking at Tus’s complexion, “It’s good that you are feeling better or else I was afraid that Shel would have killed you if you kept up that depression.”

“Eh?”