"This world… doesn't it remind you of all those cliche stories we used to read as children?"

As Adrien's voice permeated the air, sending a chilly sensation through the ears of the only audience he had—Rey—he had an air of solemness. An eerie silence accompanied his voice as he continued, his blue eyes dulling with every uttered word.

"The Dragons are the villains, set on world domination… and the other races are being overrun by evil. Heroes are summoned to face this threat, and by slaying the Emperor, they root out the evil completely…"

Rey remained quiet as he heard Adrien speak.

He had never read or heard of any of those stories that Adrien referred to as 'cliche', and perhaps that was because he wasn't particularly afforded much of such books when he was a kid. He eventually outgrew his interest in them.

Even now, Rey found himself having more of an affinity with textbooks or documentations, rather than novels.

"It's almost like we are in such a cliche setting… and someone has developed this entire narrative to pit us against the ultimate evil."

Rey kept up his silence.

"You've seen it too, right? Some things that clearly seem biased. For example, the Elves… they're special and loved by this world. I can't use Necromancy on them—well, except Dark Elves, but still… it's almost like they were built by some sort of higher entity."

"Like… God?" At this point, he had to say something.

"You could call them that. I'd rather call them a Story Teller. In this narrative… this game of blood and death, we have been chosen as the heroes—the main characters that should bring balance and peace to the world."

"Okay…?"

"Doesn't it make sense that the villains could also be brought into this world the very same way? H'Trae is like a blank canvas… some sort of battlefield where good and evil clashes." He said with a deeper frown.

Rey could sense multiple emotions emanating from Adrien. This was the first time he would be seeing the boy express himself so deeply and seriously.

The sight was… odd.

"I don't know what benefit comes out of this, and I have no idea what good could possibly come out of this chaos. Personally… I'm not interested."

"Not interested? Is that why you want to go home?"

"YES! I wish to leave H'Trae and break free from this cruel game that is being played." Adrien raised his voice as he jumped from his seat. "That's all I want!"

"...."

"We are the heroes now… the Otherworlders who will save this world from destruction. But what happens if another summoning takes place and we end up as the villains? That would be an epic plot twist, wouldn't it? Something such a cliche and twisted storyteller would employ to enrich their plot."

"...."

"It sickens me… bothers me to no end. No matter what actions I take, and what agency I have… it makes no difference if I'm a puppet on a string. So, that's why I realized the only real choice I can make."

"... And what's that?"

Adrien smiled broadly at Rey, his eyes gleaming with sheer malice and determination.

"I'll cut those strings off and see myself out of the game. By expelling myself out of this narrative, I remove myself from the board."

After absorbing all of Adrien's words, allowing everything to sink in, Rey's thoughts slowly began to surface from the inner depths where they were brewing.

'He's not wrong…'

After his encounter with The Oracle, there was no way Rey could sit there and deny Adrien's suspicions, or outright dismiss them. This indeed appeared to be a game, and they were all merely boards meant to move against the other side.

'But this guy… he's dangerously smart and perceptive.' Rey narrowed his eyes as he faced Adrien.

'I also had a few suspicions here and there due to what I saw, but to think he figured it out…'

More and more, Rey grew impressed by Adrien.

But, that wasn't all.

Alongside the increasing respect he was developing for the one opposite him, there was also the gnawing fear—the unease that ate at him.

Adrien Chase was a very dangerous person to have as an enemy.

'Is this why Ater wanted me to converse with him like this? To understand him more, but also to recognize his value as an ally… as well as his threat as an enemy?'

If that was the case, then he was finally able to see the much bigger picture, along with making a few unsettling discoveries that were still very difficult to accept. Right now, Rey didn't even know what to do or say to the boy before him.

'The Oracle… the Dragon Emperor… whatever this game they're playing is… it seems all of us are stuck in it together.'

When he was oblivious to all of this, Rey thought of H'Trae as a paradise for himself.

He had power, wealth, purpose… and allies.

But now, the world was beginning to look like a cage to him. He didn't want to see things this way, but he was now left with no choice.

And the worst part…?

'Even after learning all of this… I don't want to leave.' Rey found himself thinking, his fists tightening as he stared very deeply at Adrien. 'I love this world—despite every messy thing about it. I want to live here, grow here, explore here… I want to do so much here.'

But, Rey had to face reality.

'Maybe I should—'

"Alicia made it clear on a few occasions that she wanted to find a way home too, right? You see, we're not on opposing sides as you make us out to be." Adrien interrupted Rey's thoughts with his calm, soothing voice.

He was back on his seat, completely relaxed on the chair behind his desk.

As his piercing gaze reached Rey, he smiled softly. Then, slowly stretched out a hand towards him, Adrien parted his lips and made an offer.

"Support me, Rey. Let's work together to find a way home."

*

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Thanks for reading!

What do you think, everyone? Should Rey take the offer or not?