Three days passed.
Ethan woke up suddenly, grabbing his head as he sat up on the bed.
He glanced around the room—simple, but cozy. His gaze landed on the calendar hanging on the wall. His eyes narrowed.
'I spent hundreds of years in that dark space… and only three days passed here? How?'
[Time in different dimensions flows differently. Some faster. Some slower.]
After pondering for a bit, Ethan examined his surroundings. It wasn't the Hargrave mansion. It didn't seem like a noble house at all—more like a decent middle-class home.
'Looks like I was saved by strangers. They probably don't know who I am. If they did, they would've sent me back to the Hargrave estate instantly… which means I'm safe, for now. I can recover here.'
"You're awake?" a voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
A middle-aged woman in a green gown and white apron entered the room. She was holding a tray of food. Behind her was a pretty young girl carrying a jug of water, a light blush on her cheeks as she snuck glances at Ethan.
"Thank you… for saving me," Ethan said softly, trying to stand and bow.
The woman quickly moved to help him. "It's my pleasure. I know how you must feel. Don't think too much about it."
Her words puzzled Ethan slightly.
"Here. Eat," she said, handing him a bowl of porridge.
Without hesitation, Ethan dug in, eating greedily.
'They probably think I'm some abandoned kid. Judging by the amount of food, they assume I've been starving my whole life. Maybe they want me to stay… to work for them?'
'Maybe they want to adopt me… or use me for chores.'
He glanced at the woman and her daughter.
'No… they don't seem like that kind of people. But it doesn't matter. I'll leave once I've recovered.'
After the meal, Ethan chatted with them for a while. They asked about his past, and he responded with a fabricated story, earning their sympathy with each word.
Soon they got to know about each other personality.
...
"Come quickly, Jenna. We'll soon meet your father," the middle-aged woman said, pointing toward the cabin in the distance.
Jenna jumped in excitement and skipped toward her mother.
Ethan, smiling foolishly, ran after them. His gaze lingered a little too long on Jenna, earning him a sly smile from the woman, who noticed her daughter's reaction. She shook her head with a murmured chuckle. "Youngsters."
"We were like this back then," a man's voice echoed in her mind.
"Of course," she replied aloud.
"Hmph! Using telepathy again," Jenna grumbled with a pout.
The trio approached the cabin. A man stepped out, standing firm as his wife and daughter rushed into his arms.
Ethan watched them with a soft smile.
'So this is a village... no, there's a defensive array. That barrier doesn't let outsiders in unless the village chief permits it. Based on how easily I entered, he must've already known about me. Or maybe… Jenna's father is the village chief.'
'And if her mother promised to adopt me, then I've got a new identity to use at the academy. Speaking of which, the session might've already started...'
After the family reunion, the woman whispered something to her husband, who turned to look at Ethan.
Ethan quickly put on a fearful expression.
The man—tall, lean, and surprisingly handsome—grinned. "Boy, I see you've got eyes on my daughter."
Jenna's face turned scarlet as she punched her father. "What are you saying!"
Ethan didn't reply at first, maintaining a nervous look.
The villagers had begun gathering after hearing the man's loud voice, eager to witness the drama unfold.
"Sir, it's true I admire your daughter," Ethan said with a bitter smile. "But I know my place. She's destined for greater things."
The man was caught off guard. His smile faltered just slightly.
Jenna's face dimmed.
"Let's talk inside," the man said, turning away with his wife and daughter.
The disappointed villagers shook their heads and dispersed. Ethan followed behind them.
'This isn't just a village—it's a clan. They all look alike, and their auras resonate. A family clan, definitely.'
'Jenna's dad hid his hostility behind a smile. I bet his wife didn't even notice. The villagers clearly don't welcome me either.'
'This family won't adopt me. I'll have to change plans. Can't repeat the mistakes from my previous life. Never assume.'
The manor they entered sat at the village's center. Opulent and massive, its space seemed to exist on a different plane altogether. High ceilings, strange architecture—definitely no ordinary house.
As Ethan walked through the hallway, he noticed something strange—dozens of youths, around his age, lying inside sleeping pods. Monitors blinked and beeped, tracking vitals.
He stopped, curiosity overtaking him.
"They're called sleeping pods," Jenna said, stepping beside him. "We use them during trials."
"Trials?"
"Yes. When we enter the pods, our souls are transported to another dimension to complete trials. My father let you in, so he won't hide this from you."
She took a breath before continuing.
"The trials aren't too hard, but we leave our bodies behind and possess wooden humanoids. That makes it difficult to pass even the second level."
The middle-aged woman added, "You'll be drawn into the trial too—by tomorrow night, at the latest."
'So that's why she saved me? Doesn't add up. Why go this far just for me to enter a trial?'
"Each level gives rewards—sometimes spells. If you're lucky, skills. That's why we're stuck on the second level." Jenna continued.
"Wait… Am I here just to participate in this trial?" Ethan asked.
"Yes," the woman said with a calm smile.
Ethan blinked several times before shaking his head. "Too dangerous. I don't want to die. I'm not ready for a coffin yet."
The family laughed lightly.
"You won't die," Jenna's father said firmly. "Even if you fail, it only harms your soul. Unless you die too many times without healing it."
'So failure damages the soul… but they must have a method to heal it. Common for them, maybe. Still, they're hiding something. They need me for something.'
"Then I want compensation," Ethan said flatly.
The woman leaned close to her husband and whispered, "He's greedy. That's why I picked him. With enough money, he'll risk his life to map out the third level. Any loot? We can buy it off him."
Jenna's father nodded.
"We'll pay you 10k."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "10k is too little. My soul will degrade every time I enter. By the time I want to sell my soul to the devil, it'll be underpriced."
The family was stunned. Even the guards glanced at each other.
"Oh?" Jenna's father raised an eyebrow.
"100k per entry," Ethan countered.
"No. 50k, and we'll heal your soul each time."
Ethan shook his head. "50k and a soul-quality enhancement pill."
"That's too expensive. We can't offer that. If you won't do it, leave."
Ethan turned to walk away.
Jenna's father's eyes flashed with menace.
Ethan stopped. "80k. Plus soul healing."
"Deal."
"Convert the healing pills' cost to cash. Add that to the 80k," Ethan said suddenly.
"What?" Jenna's father looked baffled.
"Let's call it an even 200k." Ethan grinned. "That covers everything."
"I haven't agreed!" the man snapped.
But Ethan cut him off. "Send the payment. I'll enter the trial now. Just tell me what needs to be done."
'This way, I can get money and grow stronger. They won't let me die. No matter what, they'll have to heal my soul. Whether they like it or not.'