The surprise came so suddenly that, for a brief moment, Kyle couldn't believe his own ears.
It wasn't until Ava urged him again that he snapped out of his daze and hurried into the adjacent bedroom. He carefully pulled a chest from beneath the bed and lifted the lid.
Inside was a mess of crumpled papers—mostly debt records.
Kyle pushed the documents aside and reached to the very bottom, retrieving a ring.
It was silver, set with a pale blue crystal no larger than a fingernail. Yet the crystal wasn't entirely pure—within it, a fine red thread, no thicker than a strand of hair, seemed to be suspended, marring its clarity. The craftsmanship was rough, giving the ring an unremarkable, even cheap, appearance.
Kyle had no idea what significance this ring held, but his mother had always treated it with utmost care.
She had warned him time and again never to lose it.
If he ever traveled far, he must carry it with him at all costs.
Kyle clenched the ring in his palm and scanned the room.
The furniture was old and dilapidated—nothing worth taking.
Having never left home before, he hastily packed a few changes of clothes, wondering if there was anything else he should bring. Before he could decide, Ava's urgent voice rang out once more.
"Hurry! We're running out of time."
Kyle quickly responded and dashed outside.
The puppet stood with its head lowered, holding a sheet of parchment in her hands.
Kyle leaned in for a closer look—only to find that it was a map!
And not just any map.
It was unlike anything he had ever seen.
Maps in this era were exceedingly rare.
Accurate maps were privileges reserved for the highest rulers of each nation.
Among common folk, rough maps circulated—hand-drawn charts passed down from seasoned mercenary companies or powerful adventurers. These maps, while often containing more details absent from official records, were unreliable at best, their accuracy impossible to verify.
Kyle's mother had once owned such a map. But after she fell gravely ill, he had no choice but to sell it to buy medicine.
Yet the map in the puppet's hands—this was something else entirely.
The forests were marked in green, the mountains in brown, and the flowing Silver Moon River in blue. Even the borders of each nation were clearly delineated, drawn with such precision that it seemed as though a god had gazed down from the heavens and meticulously sketched every detail of the land.
But one thing struck Kyle as deeply unsettling.
Everything on the map appeared normal—except for one place.
The entirety of Rhine Duchy was marked in a vivid, ominous red.
Kyle was still reeling from the sight when the puppet extended a jade-like finger and pointed toward a towering mountain range that separated two duchies.
"Kyle, look here. We are currently at the northernmost edge of Rhine Duchy. The closest land beyond is Ironrock Duchy, just past this mountain range.
Tell me, what do you know of Ironrock Duchy? If you were to live there, do you think you could adapt?"
Kyle nodded without hesitation.
He had rarely ventured beyond his home, but his mother had loved telling him stories.
From those tales, he had gradually pieced together the differences between the duchies.
If Rhine Duchy was akin to a refined noblewoman, then Ironrock Duchy was like a rugged, battle-hardened man.
"Then it's decided."
The puppet clapped her hands, dismissing the game's 3D satellite map as it vanished into thin air.
Then, the puppet extended her left hand, palm facing upward.
The air around her began to ripple, as though stirred by an unseen force.
A faint glow flickered in her palm, gradually intensifying and taking shape—a scroll, ancient and ornate, materialized from the shimmering light. The edges of the parchment gleamed with golden runes, their intricate patterns flowing like living things, exuding an aura of profound mystery.
Ava cast a quick glance at it, the corners of her lips curling into a satisfied smile.
Yes, just as described in the game's shop—pre-activated and ready to use. All that was left was to tear it open.
And so…
She grasped both ends of the scroll and applied the slightest pressure.
With a soft rip, the parchment split cleanly in two.
The moment it tore, the runes flared to life, pulsing wildly. Light erupted from the scroll, surging outward and enveloping the puppet's entire form.
The puppet turned to Kyle, extending her jade-like hand.
Gently, she clasped his fingers.
Or perhaps—at this very moment, she also clasped his heart, and his soul.
The luminous radiance expanded, swallowing Kyle whole.
At that very moment, the thunderous clamor of galloping hooves echoed from the far end of the street—a cavalry unit, approaching at full speed. Dust billowed into the air as the rhythmic pounding of boots and the sharp clang of armor merged into a chaotic symphony.
Ava glanced through the doorway, catching sight of the distant figures.
She smirked, her voice laced with amusement.
"Ha, too late. Bye-bye."
As her words fell, the room was instantly flooded with blinding light.
Then—silence.
The radiance vanished in an instant, along with the two figures who had been holding hands.
Darkness reclaimed the stone house.
Only the relentless drum of approaching hooves remained, echoing through the desolate streets.