Upon entering the caravan, Kaiser came to a halt just past the threshold. His gaze swept the interior in a single, predatory motion, cataloguing every oddity and potential threat. The air held a strange weight: tinged with the faint scent of old incense, it seemed almost to hum beneath the warm golden lanterns. Orbs of glass floated gently overhead, their flames casting restless patterns along the walls. All around, luxury and mystery collided—a space that should have felt safe, but set his instincts on edge.

From the ceiling, cages hung in neat rows, each one filled with utter madness: a crystal bird shone with every color Kaiser could remember ; a serpent of water coiled endlessly within its glass prison, as if seeking some unseen exit; a miniature storm cloud rolled in its own silent march, throwing sparks of blue lightning that never touched the bars. To others, it might have been a menagerie of wonders, tet to Kaiser, it was a list of dangers.

He let his eyes pass over racks of clothing more expensive than some kingdoms, and weapons that fairly pulsed with hidden power. For a moment, he considered the black coat edged in frost, wondering if its cut could hide a blade or a secret sigil, before dismissing the thought. Fine clothes and gilded weapons meant little on a corpse.

"A lot of effort to look harmless," Kaiser muttered, his voice flat, eyes never still. "Cleaner than most royal halls I've visited."

"Thank you!" boomed Glunko, swelling with pride. "It's my darling slime who deserves the credit!"

As if on cue, a turquoise blob slid out from beneath a chest, wobbling with enthusiasm. It paused, regarded Kaiser with a curious ripple, then resumed polishing the already gleaming floor. He barely glanced at it, expression betraying neither interest nor distaste.

Glunko, ever the showman, unfurled a swath of impossibly soft fabric across the floor. Kaiser crouched, pressing his palm to the material with pure skepticism. Comfort, in his life, was rarely offered freely.

"You always outfit your wagon in such peculiar materials?" he asked, each word filled with suspicion.

"Ah, that's a trade secret!" Glunko declared, laughter echoing from the walls. "Perfect for your young friend here."

Kaiser made no reply. He lowered Aria onto the bedding, hands steady and movements efficient. His nod to Glunko was curt, nothing more. "She'll recover well here."

"Oh, it's no trouble at all!" Glunko replied, clapping a heavy hand on Kaiser's shoulder. "You two have been through a lot, haven't you? That's why I offer a little kindness. The road can be a cruel mistress."

At the word "kindness," Kaiser's eyes narrowed. He tracked Glunko as the merchant led him to the front, always keeping his own body between Aria and him.

The front seat was cramped but well-cushioned. Kaiser settled in, silent, hands resting on his knees like a general waiting for his enemies to appear.

Glunko broke the quiet, tone softening with curiosity. "You said you're from the Southern Liberatorium. That much I figured—but originally? Where were you born, lad?"

Kaiser stiffened, caught off guard by the directness of the question. His first instinct was to dodge, but Glunko's wide, curious eyes—one positioned slightly farther to the side than the other—reminded him of how astute the merchant was. Lies might not cut it here. And perhaps... perhaps he needed to test the waters of this strange new world.

Clearing his throat, Kaiser decided to tread carefully. "Originally? I was born in a small city called Cordova."

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"Ah, Cordova." Glunko hummed meditatively, and his voice changed to one of deep thinking as his long hands adjusted the reins "Doesn't ring a bell. Can't say I've heard that name before. What else can you tell me about it?"

Kaiser leaned back a moment, his eyes seeming to scan around a bit in a search for an answer. "It was on the edge of the world, or at least, that's what we called it. A small city, part of the Kingdom of Nebrosa. Nothing grand, but it was home."

At the mention of Nebrosa, Glunko's face changed, smile fading, eyes narrowing in calculation. He regarded Kaiser in silence for a long, weighted moment, then nodded once. "Sir," he said, voice now grave.

"Don't call me 'sir,'" Kaiser said, sharp as a drawn blade. "Titles are for the dead and the vain."

Glunko smiled, a shade more cautious now. "Not about age or stature. Just respect. But—" He drew himself up, lowering his voice. "I think I've realized something. If I'm right, you're far older than you realize."

Kaiser's jaw set. "Speak plainly. I have no patience for riddles."

Glunko inhaled, as if steadying himself for the weight of history. "If you're from Nebrosa, then you're not merely old. Nebrosa hasn't existed in over five centuries. The War of the Gods, the rise of the Liberatoriums… every kingdom was crushed or consumed. If you truly hail from there, then you must be over five hundred years out of time."

Kaiser did not move. His stare remained fixed, unflinching, while inside his mind spun with questions and the sudden, silent rage of exile. He would not allow the shock to show, not to this merchant, not to anyone. He felt the years fall on him like a cloak of iron.

"You have your theories," he said curtly. "I have my own. Let's keep it that way."

Glunko nodded, offering a kind of respect Kaiser hadn't asked for. "Fair enough. Just hold onto that strength. The world has a way of calling on it when you least expect."

Kaiser gave the faintest nod, the gesture a silent threat. "This ride settles nothing," he said. "But I'll remember it."

A hush fell, broken only by the slow creak of wheels and the sigh of lanterns swaying overhead. Inside, Kaiser ran battle-worn mental circuits: Five hundred years. Impossible. His body had stopped aging at thirty-two, at the day of his prime, but if Glunko spoke true, everything familiar was lost, every enemy already dead or dust. Yet he refused to flinch, refused to let even a trace of weakness show.

Glunko finally broke the tension, voice returning to its earlier cheer. "You've held up better than most, for a man out of time. You wear the years well, lad."

Kaiser shot him a look as cold as midnight steel. "Keep your jokes. The world doesn't care for old stories, and neither do I."

Glunko's grin faded to something more respectful. "Still, a long sleep. Nebrosa… what was it like?"

Kaiser's gaze was a warning, his tone iron. "Enough."

Glunko lifted his hands, backing off with a small grin. "Curiosity's a vice, I admit. But every merchant knows when to fold his cards."

Silence settled. Kaiser watched the shifting night outside, jaw tight. After a moment, he spoke without turning. "If you want to earn that story one day, start with the truth. What kind of time am I in?"

Glunko's eyes flickered, sensing the test as much as the request. "Now that," he said, "Is a tale worth trading."

The merchant's mood shifted in an instant, enthusiasm bubbling up. He reached into his cloak and withdrew a scroll with golden edges. "This, now, is something rare. Open it."

Kaiser accepted the scroll with measured care, unrolling it across his knees. The parchment shimmered with runes and flowing script; within the curling letters, miniature figures battled, built, and fell—an entire era unfolding beneath his gaze. He did not react outwardly, though he memorized every image, every shift in the strange living ink.

"Magic," Kaiser muttered, eyes cold, mind already weighing uses and dangers. "Every age finds a new trick."

Glunko watched him with delight. "Got it from an auction, back when I was still chasing ruins."

"You're an archaeologist, then," Kaiser said, each word measured.

"Was. These days, I trade. But history…" Glunko let the word linger, "History's the only thing that never gets cheaper."

Kaiser's gaze lingered on the scroll, the moving images holding his attention. "And you just… carry this around?"

"Of course! Knowledge is a treasure, lad, and I'm a merchant at heart. I figured someone like you might appreciate a little enlightenment, and," he added, leaning in conspiratorially, "In exchange for deepening my knowledge about you, I'll happily deepen yours in return."

Kaiser snorted softly, rolling the scroll back up. "We'll see about that."

Glunko chuckled, his wide mouth stretching into a grin. "Take your time with it. The world's changed a lot in five hundred years. Best to start slow."

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