Will and Roland stood at the bus stop.
The evening sky had already started turning orange.
People passed by occasionally.
Some returning from work.
Some carrying groceries.
Some waiting quietly.
Neither of them spoke much.
Will stood with his hands in his pockets while his thoughts wandered.
Ashford family.
He quietly went through the memories in his head.
Small apartment.
Roland returning from work.
Clara making dinner.
Emily running around.
Vacations.
Eating together.
Staying overnight.
It wasn't one big memory.
Just countless ordinary moments.
Original Will remembered them clearly.
Too clearly.
He remembered how Roland laughed.
How Clara scolded.
How Emily cried.
How comfortable this place felt.
But—
those feelings weren't his.
Will knew these people.
But he didn't know them.
He had memories.
Not relationships.
He knew what Original Will felt.
But he himself—
felt nothing.
To him—
they were strangers.
Warm strangers.
People who looked at him with affection he couldn't return.
People who expected familiarity he couldn't give.
That made him uncomfortable.
After waiting for a few minutes—
a bus slowly approached.
The familiar mana-powered vehicle stopped in front of them.
The doors opened.
And immediately—
a familiar face appeared.
The bus driver looked at Roland.
Then looked at Will.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Oh?"
He leaned a little from his seat.
"Where are both of you going?"
Roland casually answered while stepping closer.
"Going home."
Then he pointed at Will.
"My wife is worried sick because of this boy."
"So I'm taking him to our house."
The driver looked at Will again.
Then nodded.
"Good."
Then his expression softened.
"How's Emily?"
Roland smiled.
"Good."
The driver nodded with satisfaction.
"That's good."
Then he waved.
"Get in."
Roland thanked him and both entered.
Will quietly followed.
The bus moved slowly through the evening streets.
Will sat beside Roland in silence.
The city outside passed by in streaks of warm orange and fading sunlight.
Normally he would've looked outside.
This world still felt new.
Every building.
Every road.
Every strange vehicle powered by mana.
But today—
his thoughts weren't outside.
They were somewhere else.
Roland looked at him.
"...You got quieter."
Will looked beside him.
Roland sat casually with one arm resting near the window.
Will smiled awkwardly.
"Sorry."
Roland laughed.
"No need."
Then after a few seconds—
"So."
Will looked at him.
"How's academy?"
Will relaxed slightly.
That topic was easier.
"It's okay."
Roland nodded.
"Study going well?"
Will answered carefully.
"I think so."
Roland looked suspicious.
"That doesn't sound convincing."
Will laughed.
"...Maybe."
Roland smiled.
The conversation stayed simple after that.
Roland asked about classes.
About whether academy food was edible.
Whether professors were strict.
Nothing serious.
Nothing unusual.
Then after a while—
Roland suddenly asked:
"So."
Will looked at him.
"You staying over tonight?"
Will blinked.
Roland continued casually.
"You haven't visited in a while."
"Emily will be happy."
"We can send you back tomorrow."
Will stayed quiet for a moment.
Then shook his head.
"...Sorry."
Roland looked at him.
Will answered calmly.
"I already missed classes because of the accident."
"I can't skip more."
Roland looked at him for a few seconds.
Then nodded.
"Fair."
But Will quietly looked outside.
That wasn't the real reason.
The truth was—
he didn't want to stay.
Not because he disliked them.
Actually—
that was the problem.
He didn't dislike them.
But he didn't know them either.
Original Will had slept there.
Original Will had eaten breakfast there.
Original Will had called this place home.
Not him.
If he stayed—
he would have to act naturally.
Sleep in someone else's room.
Wake up in someone else's house.
Eat with people who thought they knew him.
And pretend he belonged.
One evening was manageable.
Overnight—
felt impossible.
So he used classes as an excuse.
Roland didn't question him.
The conversation moved on.
But every now and then—
Roland glanced at him.
Like he wanted to ask something else.
Then stopped.
Eventually—
the bus became quiet again.
Roland looked at him for a moment.
Then looked away.
Something still felt off.
He couldn't explain it.
Will looked the same.
Spoke the same.
But—
something felt different.
Still—
he didn't say anything.
After around twenty minutes—
the bus stopped.
Roland stood.
"We're here."
Will followed.
The apartment looked exactly like memory.
Small.
Simple.
Nothing luxurious.
Two rooms.
Kitchen.
Bathroom.
Warm.
He recognized everything.
But recognition wasn't familiarity.
It felt like entering a place from a movie he had watched too many times.
Roland opened the door.
Then loudly shouted:
"Honey—look who I brought!"
Silence.
Then—
small footsteps.
A tiny face peeked from inside.
Emily stood near the hallway entrance.
She wore a cute cream-colored dress with soft layered fabric that puffed slightly around the skirt. Tiny embroidered stars and crescent patterns decorated the hem in pale blue thread. Over it she wore a short cropped cardigan with oversized sleeves that looked slightly too big for her. Her dark hair was tied into two uneven little side ponytails with ribbon clips shaped like tiny crystal flowers.
Then her eyes widened.
Immediately—
her face lit up.
"BIG BROTHER WILL!!"
Before Will reacted—
she ran.
Fast.
And slammed into him.
Will caught her automatically.
She wrapped both arms around him.
"BIG BROTHER WILL!!"
His body moved before thought.
His hand landed on her head.
His mouth opened.
"Did you behave?"
Silence.
Will froze.
Why did he say that?
Emily immediately smiled.
"YES!"
"Emily was good girl!"
She looked proud.
Will stared.
Muscle memory.
That wasn't him.
That wasn't something he consciously chose.
His body responded before his mind did.
That felt strange.
Before he could think—
another person appeared.
Clara.
Black hair.
Black eyes.
Youthful appearance despite her age.
She wore a simple sleeveless house dress common in Atherion.
The fabric was soft and light with a muted deep-blue color that shifted slightly under the room light. The dress fit comfortably without being tight and ended just above her knees. Thin silver embroidery traced along the collar and side seams in elegant flowing patterns resembling mana currents—subtle decoration instead of luxury. A narrow cloth belt rested loosely around her waist and she wore simple indoor sandals.
Nothing expensive.
Nothing flashy.
But neat.
Comfortable.
Warm.
She stopped.
Then smiled.
Not dramatic.
Not emotional.
Just—
warm.
"Will."
Will suddenly felt awkward.
Because she looked genuinely happy.
Like someone seeing family.
And he—
didn't know how to respond.
Clara smiled.
"How long are you going to keep him standing there?"
"Bring him inside."
Roland laughed.
Emily immediately grabbed Will.
"Come!"
She dragged him.
They entered.
Emily immediately took him toward one room.
The room.
His room.
Original Will's room.
Everything looked familiar.
Desk.
Books.
Bed.
Small things.
He knew where everything was.
But standing there—
it didn't feel like his room.
It felt like entering someone else's bedroom after reading their diary.
Emily climbed beside him.
Then asked:
"Where were you?"
Will blinked.
Emily continued.
"I was sad."
"You didn't come on birthday."
Will remembered.
Birthday.
Original Will promised.
He looked down.
"...Sorry."
Emily looked at him.
Then:
"But did you bring game?"
Silence.
Will remembered.
Original Will promised that too.
Will quietly answered.
"...Sorry."
"I didn't."
Emily froze.
Then slowly looked down.
Her eyes started becoming watery.
"...Oh."
Immediately—
Roland spoke.
Little harder than before.
"Emily."
She looked.
Roland sighed.
"You know your brother got hurt."
"Don't make trouble."
Emily looked guilty.
She quickly wiped her eyes.
Then forced a smile.
"It's okay."
"Emily big girl."
She looked at Will.
"I don't mind."
Will looked at her.
She wasn't upset because of a game.
She was upset because she missed him.
Not him.
Original Will.
That thought made his chest feel strange.
Before thinking—
he pulled her into a hug.
She froze.
Will quietly said:
"...Don't worry."
"Next time."
"I'll definitely bring your game."
Emily stared.
Then immediately exploded.
"REALLY?!"
Will nodded.
Instantly—
she started jumping.
"YAH!"
"PROMISE!"
Will smiled.
"...Promise."
Emily immediately became happy again.
Clara watched quietly.
Then said:
"You'll eat here tonight?"
Will hesitated.
Before speaking—
Roland answered.
"Of course."
He looked at Will.
"Academy cafeteria will be closed when you reach the academy."
Will hesitated.
Emily looked.
"...You are going to leave?"
Clara also quietly said:
"Stay."
Will looked away.
"...Sorry."
"I can't today."
Emily looked disappointed.
But quickly recovered.
"Then next time!"
"You stay!"
Will nodded.
Emily immediately stretched her hand.
"Promise!"
Will smiled.
"...Promise."
Dinner was ready not long after.
Clara called everyone over.
The table wasn't large.
Just enough for four people.
Simple homemade food.
Soup.
Bread.
Grilled meat.
Vegetables.
Nothing extravagant.
But warm.
Emily immediately sat beside Will before anyone else could.
She proudly announced—
"Big Brother sits here."
Roland laughed and sat opposite.
Clara quietly served everyone.
As they started eating—
the atmosphere slowly became more relaxed.
Emily talked the most.
She talked about school.
About how one girl cried because she lost a ribbon.
About how she got praised.
About random things that somehow connected to nothing.
Will mostly listened.
Every now and then answering.
And every time—
Emily looked absurdly happy.
After a while—
Roland suddenly leaned back.
Then looked at Will.
"So."
Will looked up.
Roland smiled.
"How's academy?"
Will answered normally.
"It's okay."
Roland nodded.
Then casually asked—
"So."
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
Will nearly stopped eating.
"...No."
Roland looked disappointed.
"No?"
Will sighed.
"...No."
Roland nodded slowly.
Then casually asked—
"Then what's going on with Luna?"
Will froze.
Emily immediately looked interested.
Roland continued.
"Every time I hear stories."
"She's always around you."
Will answered calmly.
"...Nothing."
"She's my childhood friend."
Roland looked unconvinced.
"Just childhood friend?"
Will nodded.
"...Yes."
Then Clara joined quietly.
"What about Elena?"
Will looked over.
Clara smiled slightly.
"That girl seems nice."
Will immediately denied.
"We're friends."
Roland laughed.
"Right."
Emily suddenly joined.
"I WANT BIG SIS LUNA."
Clara laughed.
Emily immediately continued—
"AND BIG SIS ELENA TOO."
Will nearly choked.
"...What?"
Roland looked completely serious.
"What's wrong?"
"If everyone agrees."
"You can marry both."
Will stared.
Then remembered.
Right.
This wasn't strange here.
Roland continued casually—
"Luna seems lovely."
"Elena too."
Clara nodded.
"Both are good girls."
Emily immediately raised both hands.
"I WANT BOTH."
Will rubbed his forehead.
"...Please stop."
Roland laughed.
"Look at him."
"Already embarrassed."
Emily giggled.
The conversation slowly moved away after that.
Nothing serious.
Just small family talk.
Will quietly realized—
this felt too normal.
Too ordinary.
Like this happened before.
Like Original Will had sat here countless times.
That thought made him uncomfortable.
After dinner—
nobody moved immediately.
Emily sat on the floor drawing.
Clara cleaned slowly.
Roland relaxed.
Then eventually—
Emily climbed back onto Clara's lap.
Her energy finally running out.
As Clara gently brushed her hair—
Emily slowly fell asleep.
Clara quietly carried her to the room.
The apartment became much quieter.
Only three people remained.
Roland looked toward the closed room.
Then suddenly asked—
"...Can I ask something?"
Will looked at him.
Roland looked directly at him.
"...You feel different."
Will froze.
Roland continued quietly.
"You look same."
"But..."
Silence.
Will looked down.
Then smiled awkwardly.
"...After accident."
"I almost died."
He stayed quiet for a second.
"...I don't know."
"...Everything feels different."
"...Feels hard to adjust."
Silence.
Then—
Clara suddenly stopped.
She slowly turned.
Her expression looked strange.
Then quietly asked—
"...Then why continue?"
Will looked up.
Clara stared at him.
"...Why don't you leave academy?"
Roland immediately looked surprised.
"Clara—"
But she continued.
"...You already can't use magic properly."
Her voice started shaking.
"...Then this happened."
"...Now you say you're mentally struggling too."
She looked down.
"...Why continue?"
Will stayed quiet.
Clara clenched her hands.
"...Dreams that kill people."
"...I hate them."
Silence.
Her eyes became wet.
"...Drop this Mage Lord dream."
"...Find safer work."
"...Live normally."
Roland immediately stood.
"What are you saying?"
Clara looked at him.
Her voice became softer.
"...We are his only support."
Roland frowned.
"What are you saying?"
Clara continued.
"...We already lost one."
"...I don't want another."
Silence.
Then she quietly left.
The room became quiet.
Roland sighed.
Then looked at Will.
"...Sorry."
He looked toward the room.
"...After our son died."
He stayed quiet for a moment.
"...There was an empty spot in her heart."
His voice softened.
"...Even though we had Emily."
"...It never really disappeared."
He smiled sadly.
"...Then she met you."
"...And little by little..."
"...that gap finally started filling again."
Roland looked down.
"...She started seeing you differently."
"...Not as replacement."
"...Just..."
"...someone she wanted to protect."
He let out a quiet breath.
"...Then she heard you almost died."
"...And she got scared."
Will looked down.
And said nothing.
Because deep down—
he felt guilty.
She wasn't talking to him.
She was talking to Original Will.
And Original Will—
was gone.
After a while—
Will stood.
"...I should go."
Roland walked him outside.
At the bus stop—
Will sat alone.
Looking outside.
Thinking.
Should he tell them?
Would knowing help?
Or would it destroy everything?
Maybe—
ignorance really was kinder.