Hortus Arcanus planēta

ACT 2

Al

“What did you just say?”

Everything happened so suddenly that my mind couldn’t keep up.

But before I knew it, my feet were already carrying me toward the prince surrounded by dark rumors.

And then—

I heard a sudden whoosh.

“Well, well… did you forget? Your magic doesn’t work here.

…Eh, whatever.”

He turned toward me.

“So you finally showed yourself—

…Huh? Wait. Who the hell are you?”

“—?!”

He could see me.

And I hadn’t even touched the button.

But somehow, that didn’t matter right now.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Refa.

“Why? Why do you know that person?”

“That person… you mean Refa?

More importantly, who even are you?”

As he spoke, the prince of dark rumors smoothly rose from the luxurious crimson sofa he had been sitting on.

Clack. Clack.

With composed steps, he walked toward me, crossed his arms, and stopped directly before me with perfect posture.

“Ah, um… my name is Goldcent Lumia.”

“Then are you a   book caretaker too?”

“book caretaker…?

What is that?”

“…So you’re not.”

“Well… I-I don’t really know what’s going on, but when I touched this button and that book, I somehow ended up in this world…”

“That button… it’s the same as his.

So you are a  book caretaker after all.”

“N-no, um… I really don’t know anything about these  book caretaker I don’t understand any of this.”

“Hm. Well, whatever.

You seem to know him—no, know Refa—so even if I don’t fully get it, I’ll explain things to you since you don’t know anything.

This concerns the world itself, after all.”

“The world itself?”

“…Nah, forget it.

I’m Al. Nice to meet you.

Technically, I’m the second prince of this kingdom.”

As he said that, Al extended his right hand.

We exchanged a firm handshake.

“Well, standing around talking is kinda pointless. Let’s sit down and talk.

Ash, you there?”

The moment Al called out, a voice answered from behind us.

“Yes, of course.”

“Don’t appear without making a sound. You’re gonna scare people.

And prepare some tea.”

“Certainly. Shall I prepare the usual tea?”

“Yeah.

Lumia, this is my butler, Ash.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Lumia.”

“N-nice to meet you too…”

“But anyway, Lumia, you want to know about Refa, right?”

“Yes…”

“Before that, do you know why this world was created?”

“No… but do you know?”

“Yeah. I do.”

“How do you know something like that?”

“Because Refa told me.”

“…Then… do you also know that this world was never supposed to have a story?

And do you know how the story of this world ends?”

“No. I know this place exists inside a story.

But I don’t know the ending.”

“…I see.”

“Well then—

let’s start by talking about this world first.”