As Gara and Leif continued their discussion about the [Rashanz] Fragment and the details of their abilities, someone suddenly tugged at the back of Gara's kimono.
The red-haired young man turned—and instantly recognized the face.
Short spiked green hair, a practical green adventurer's outfit lined with utility pouches and gear. A D Ranker who wielded the Original Story [Two Swords]. Of course—it was Jack.
The green-haired young man grinned and extended a hand. "Heyo, Gara. Didn't think I'd run into you here."
"Haha! Yeah, I know… I usually don't come anywhere near the Red Light Inn street, but had to this time," Gara replied, shaking his hand.
Jack's eyes shifted to Leif. "Who's your new friend?"
"Leif, a client of mine," Gara said. "And this is Jack—a Story Guide who works for Dante too. A good friend."
Jack and Leif exchanged a firm handshake and a silent nod.
Without hesitation, Jack slid into the seat next to them and flagged down a vendor to order something for himself.
"Didn't expect you to get a client so soon. I was only joking yesterday when I told you to step up as a Story Guide, you know?" Jack said with a playful grin.
"Haha! Funny story, actually. I didn't really step up on my own... It was Leif who contacted me," Gara replied, chuckling.
"Oh, really?" Jack raised an eyebrow, glancing toward Leif.
The blonde-haired young man gave a small nod. "I needed the help of a Story Guide, and Gara was available for hire."
"Hmm… Interesting." Jack leaned back slightly, then smiled. "No worries though, you're in good hands. Gara's a solid Story Guide, I can assure you of that."
He paused, then tilted his head. "If you don't mind me asking—where exactly will you be guiding him to?"
Gara's expression tightened at Jack's question, the usual spark in his blue eyes dimming just a bit. He had known this moment would come—telling someone. Still, part of him had hoped he could delay it, at least until he got back safely.
He had promised to drop by and visit Jack and Elena, but that was before everything changed. After meeting Leif and agreeing to guide him through an SS Ranked Fragment, Gara had made up his mind: no visits, no goodbyes, no worrying anyone unnecessarily. Better to explain things after the fact than cause anxiety before the journey even began.
But Jack had run into him before he left.
Leif, sensing the shift in tone, kept quiet. This wasn't his conversation to lead—and he didn't know enough about Jack to risk stepping in. He simply waited, his gaze neutral, giving Gara the space to handle it.
Gara cleared his throat, hesitating for a heartbeat. "Ahm—"
Jack narrowed his eyes slightly. "Umm… What's up exactly, Gara? Why are you acting weird all of a sudden?"
The mood had shifted. Just moments ago, they were laughing. Now, Gara looked like someone preparing to deliver bad news. Jack leaned forward slightly, concern slowly creeping onto his face.
Then Gara met his eyes.
"We're going to the [Rashanz] Fragment," he said, voice steady.
The words hung in the air like a weight, pulling all warmth from the conversation.
Jack let out a simple "Oh," his voice light at first—reflexive. But then his gaze dropped, brows furrowing as confusion set in. He shook his head slowly.
"Wait… I get that it's an SS Ranked Fragment and all, but something doesn't add up."
He looked between Gara and Leif, then fixed his eyes on the red-haired young man.
"First off, how exactly are you going to guide him through it when you've barely even cleared the prologue of one of its stories? You're a Story Guide, sure—but that Fragment's way out of your range."
His tone wasn't accusing, just concerned. Still, he pressed on.
"And second… why are you acting like this is some do-or-die mission? I know it's a high-ranked Fragment, but you won't actually be in danger. Even if you 'die' in there, you're just kicked out. Worst case—it costs you a few Cores. That's it."
Gara didn't answer.
The silence told Jack more than any words could. His eyes narrowed. His thoughts raced. He wasn't a fool.
And then it clicked.
Jack's voice dropped a pitch. "Wait… no. No way."
He turned slowly toward Leif, expression drawn tight with disbelief.
But the blonde-haired young man remained silent, offering no answer. Not denying, not confirming. Just letting the silence thicken between them.
And that, more than anything, told Jack the truth.
Jack turned sharply back to Gara, eyes wide with disbelief. He pointed a finger straight at him. "You're entering the real Fragment? An SS Ranked one?!"
His voice rose, drawing the attention of a few nearby diners, but he didn't care.
"Do you even realize what that means? There are D Rankers and above living inside that place! And it's not an Open Fragment, Gara!"
That last part hit hard.
Open Fragments—rare and dangerous in their own right—were ones where the inhabitants had become aware of the Story World, of the truth that their world was just a piece among countless others floating in the Sea of Fragments.
In most cases, the people inside a Fragment lived in ignorance, never knowing that their world was one of many—never knowing they were being watched, that there existed coded versions of them people interacted with as they played the story of their world.
Usually, only the strongest—emperors, final bosses—knew the truth.
But the [Rashanz] Fragment wasn't one of those enlightened places. Far from it.
Only a handful of its top figures, like the Emperor of the Rashanz Race, even had a clue about the existence of the Story World.
Which made infiltration incredibly risky.
Especially for humans.
The Rashanz weren't human. They had humanoid forms, yes—but their skin came in strange hues, some bore more than two arms, and above all, they all had horns. Every single one. Their horns weren't just for show—they were sacred. More vital than their hearts. Losing even one could be a death sentence.
If a normal human was discovered inside that Fragment—especially without a disguise—panic was the least they'd face. Violence was far more likely.
And then there was the rank difference.
[Rashanz] was an SS Ranked Fragment. That meant it housed players and natives from all over the rank spectrum—D, C, B, maybe even higher than SS, which was rare but not impossible.
And Leif and Gara?
They were just F Rankers.
Gara looked away, his gaze dropping toward the table. A flicker of guilt passed over his features.
That was when Leif finally spoke.
"You don't have to worry," the blonde-haired young man said calmly, crimson eyes steady. "The region we're entering doesn't have any living beings above E Rank."
Jack turned on him immediately, frustration simmering in his voice. "Oh yeah? And how do you know that?"
He didn't know Leif, and right now, he didn't like him either—not when he was dragging his friend into something this reckless.
"Because it's the Mountain of Lightning," Leif answered, unfazed by the glare. "Only wolves live there. The strongest ones are E Rank. Gara's story, [Root of All Things], can handle that. Especially with me backing him up."
Jack clenched his jaw, holding in a sharp response. He could tell Leif wasn't being smug—he wasn't even offended by Jack's aggression—but that didn't make it easier to swallow.
After a long breath, Jack asked, quieter this time, "Why though? Why Gara? He's never even stepped into the Mountain of Lightning. He's an F Ranker. If you're really serious about this, you should've hired a Story Guard. Not a Story Guide."
Leif's answer came without hesitation.
"I can't tell you why."
Jack's frustration simmered just beneath the surface. He clenched his hands for a moment, then loosened them with a sigh. He understood—people had their reasons, secrets they couldn't share. Still, it didn't sit right with him.
Gara wasn't just a friend. He was like a little brother.
And watching him walk into danger without being able to do anything about it… that gnawed at him.
The red-haired young man cleared his throat to get Jack's attention. "Dante knows," Gara said, voice soft but firm. "He knows everything. I'm sorry I can't explain why I agreed to this, but I did. And if Dante thinks it's fine… then that should count for something, right?"
Jack's eyes narrowed slightly. That caught him off guard.
Dante?
It made sense, he supposed. As the leader of the Story Guides Workshop—and an A Ranker who'd seen his share of danger—Dante wouldn't take something like this lightly. He knew what entering an SS Ranked Fragment meant.
And if he had signed off on it…
Maybe Jack didn't have to be quite so worried.
Still, that didn't mean he liked it.
Jack let out a heavy sigh, his gaze drifting to the side for a brief moment before he turned back and locked eyes with Gara. His voice was firm, layered with both concern and brotherly weight.
"You better make it back safely. You hear me?"
Gara blinked, caught off guard by the sudden intensity. Then, a real smile tugged at his lips—genuine and warm. He gave a firm nod.
"I will. No worries."
Jack extended his hand. "Shake on it?"
Without hesitation, Gara reached forward. "Shake on it," he said, and their hands met in a solid clasp.
Leif sat quietly off to the side, eyes lowered. He said nothing—but a strange, unfamiliar feeling stirred in his chest.
Jealousy.
Just a little.
"Ahm, so like... you're not gonna tell Big Sis Elena about this, right?" Gara asked quickly, a nervous grin forming. "I really don't wanna go through all that convincing again."
Jack ran a hand through his hair and let out another long sigh. "You're making this hard for me, you know that? I'm gonna have to lie and pretend I didn't know anything when she asks where you are..."
He paused, then gave in with a shake of his head. "But fine, I'll do it."
"Hehe! Thank you, thank you!" Gara beamed, clearly relieved.
Jack turned his gaze toward Leif again. His expression tightened. His impression of the blonde-haired young man had soured a little—still leading Gara into danger, still not offering a single explanation.
But Jack held his tongue and turned his focus away.
Gara had agreed to go, and Jack knew him well enough to trust that decision—maybe not as deeply as he wanted, but enough. Gara wasn't reckless, not without a good reason. He wouldn't dive into something this dangerous unless the rewards were worth it… and unless he had a plan.
And Jack also knew Dante. If that A Ranker, their boss and one of the best among the Guides, had given this mission his blessing… then who was Jack, a D Ranker, to say otherwise?
He would trust them. Even if it didn't sit right with him.
The three sat together, sharing food and conversation as the earlier tension slowly melted away. They drifted into lighter topics—favorite Reciters, the most epic Playthroughs of the month, and the latest Fragments trending in the Blue Trade Records.
Laughter echoed across the table, and with every passing moment, Jack's guarded expression began to ease. As he listened to Leif speak—not just as a client, but as someone who clearly knew his way around the Story World—his opinion began to shift.
The blonde-haired young man wasn't as stiff or mysterious as he first seemed. He had a dry wit, surprising insight into Reciter styles, and even shared a couple of sharp, well-timed jokes.
By the time they were done eating, Jack had to admit to himself—Leif wasn't half bad.
After a while, Jack stood up and stretched, brushing a few crumbs off his vest. "Well, anyway, I gotta get going," he said with a casual grin. "Promised Elena I'd take her out on a date today. Gotta prep and all that."
Gara smirked and leaned back in his seat. "Tsk, look at you—being a good husband and everything. Alright then, wish you all the best with the date. Catch you later, Jack."
The green-haired young man chuckled and nodded. Then he turned to Leif, his gaze shifting just slightly to the side as he spoke. "It was nice meeting you."
Leif had already slipped back into his quiet, unreadable demeanor. "Samewise," he replied in a flat tone.
With that, Jack raised a hand in a casual wave and turned away. He left the small plaza at an easy pace, disappearing into the flow of the crowd, the flicker of green hair the last thing visible before he was gone.
"So, what now?" Leif asked, his crimson eyes glancing sideways at Gara.
The red-haired young man leaned back in his chair, arms folding behind his head as he let out a content sigh. "Welp, we pretty much covered everything we needed to. As for the prep work we talked about, let's leave that for tomorrow. Day's still young, after all…"
He tilted his head in thought, then offered casually, "We can split off and do our own thing for the rest of the day… or, if you're up for it, I could take you sightseeing around this region of the White Clouds?"
Leif paused, considering it for a moment. Then he nodded. "Sure. I've got nothing else planned today anyway," he said, then added, "And I've been curious about this place. Seems like a good opportunity."
...
Gara led Leif through the quiet streets of Third Town, their district in the White Clouds, until they reached the most famous nearby spot for sightseeing—Whispering Steps Garden.
It was a serene slope of white stone steps, winding gently up a small hill. On either side of the path, softly glowing bluegrass shimmered under the sunlight, and elegant whistlebloom trees swayed in the breeze. Every time the wind stirred their petals, they gave off soft, flute-like tones—gentle, haunting, and beautiful.
The atmosphere was peaceful, free of noise and crowds. It was the kind of place that made people slow down and breathe. A favorite of young Rankers looking for inspiration, or simply a moment of calm before returning to the chaos of their paths.
Leif paused at the foot of the slope, his crimson eyes taking in the surreal landscape. "This is… nice," he admitted quietly.
Gara smiled, hands in his pockets. "Yeah. It's why I come here when I'm stuck or need to clear my head."
Leif's gaze wandered as they climbed higher, and in the distance, he noticed a massive wooden wall nestled between two whistlebloom trees. It stood tall, weathered by time yet full of life. Dozens of Players gathered around it—some chatting, others laughing, many carefully hanging small wooden plaques onto its surface.
Gara followed his line of sight and smiled. "That's the Story Memory Wall," he said. "It's where Rankers leave little plaques to mark their first victories—first Fragment cleared, first Rank earned, first time they used their Aspect… all that."
Leif watched as a young girl, probably a new F Ranker, nervously held up a plaque and hung it beside a dozen others, her friends cheering behind her.
"It's kind of silly," Gara added, "but it means something to people. Especially early on. Makes this whole journey feel a bit more real… more hopeful."
Leif didn't say anything right away. He just kept watching the wall, his expression unreadable—but softer than usual.
Gara didn't speak after that. He simply walked ahead at an easy pace, letting Leif take in the garden at his own rhythm.
The blonde-haired young man followed slowly, eyes wide with quiet awe.
The garden opened up as they ascended the slope, revealing the full view—Third Town District stretched out below them like a dream of cloud and stone, soft mists curling between ivory buildings that shimmered under the sun.
The hilltop path was framed by whistlebloom trees swaying gently in the breeze, their melodic hum weaving into the air like a lullaby. The glowing bluegrass beneath their feet gave the scene an ethereal glow, and in the distance, the Story Memory Wall stood solemn and proud, surrounded by laughter and dreams.
Leif exhaled softly, almost to himself. "I wonder how many places like this exist in the Story World."
Beside him, Gara chuckled. "You're forgetting—this is just the Story World. There's an infinite number of Fragments out there. Imagine how unbelievably beautiful some of those are."
Leif gave a small nod. "The [Ice Ninja] Fragment you were in recently looked nice. I have to admit."
Gara's smile faltered slightly, his expression turning a bit sour. He had been to that Fragment four times now. The sharp cold, the relentless fights, the memories—it wasn't a place he enjoyed remembering. Still, he couldn't deny it. The snowy mountaintops, glittering under a pale sun, were breathtaking.
"…Yeah," he muttered. "It looked nice."
As the two walked in peaceful silence, soaking in the beauty of the Whispering Steps Garden, a small group of children came running up the slope—though their attention wasn't on Leif. They rushed straight toward Gara.
Leif turned slightly, recognizing one of them: the girl from earlier, the one who'd hung a plaque on the Story Memory Wall. Her eyes were bright, cheeks flushed with excitement. Gara smiled warmly as they gathered around him, clearly familiar with the red-haired young man.
These were new Players—young, freshly ranked F—and she, in particular, had just stepped into the Story World for the first time in her life.
In the Story World, there were two ways for the children of Players to survive.
The first: be born inside a Fragment. In such cases, the child lived as a native, growing up like any other person in that world. Then, when the time came, they left the Fragment and awakened a Story through the Story System, officially becoming a Player.
The second: be born in the Story World itself. In that case, survival required a Story from the beginning. Parents could grant this in several ways—passing on one of their own Stories, borrowing them a temporary one, sponsoring them, or even splitting part of their own Story to share.
The young girl seemed to be of the first type. Judging by her excitement and the fact she'd only just become an F Ranker, she'd likely grown up inside a Fragment and recently awakened her first Story.
She looked at Gara with admiration, clearly seeing him as someone important in her early journey.
One of the boys, no older than twelve, ran up first with wide, gleaming eyes. "Gara!! I didn't think we'd see you here!"
Another followed quickly, grinning ear to ear. "Let's play! Let's play!"
The rest of the group chimed in like a chorus of sparrows, all talking at once—one asking who Leif was, another mentioning that Lavia had been looking for Gara, while yet another eagerly tried to introduce the new girl standing timidly among them. It was a flurry of voices and energy that made even Leif blink in surprise.
Gara, laughing, raised both hands in surrender. "Alright, alright—one at a time!"
He turned to the small girl in the group, offering a gentle smile. "First... nice to meet you, young lady."
The girl straightened a little, her cheeks flushing with pride as she nodded her head. "Nice to meet you too, sir Gara!"
"Tsk, none of that 'sir' stuff," Gara said with a chuckle, reaching out to gently pat her on the head. "Just Gara's fine."
She nodded, still a bit shy, then mustered up the courage to ask him questions—rapid-fire curiosities about what being a Story Guide meant, what Fragments were like, and how she could become like him. Her eyes sparkled with wonder.
It wasn't hard to guess why. The other kids had clearly spent the whole day hyping him up, spinning stories about the famous F Ranker with the Original Story, [Root of All Things]. To them, Gara wasn't just someone they knew—he was a hero, a symbol of what was possible in the vast, wild unknown of the Story World.
Gara patiently answered a handful of the girl's questions, his tone warm and encouraging. But as her curiosity began to overflow, one of the other girls gently pinched her arm and whispered, "You're asking too much, it's rude…"
The new girl flushed in embarrassment and quickly stepped back, fidgeting with her sleeves. Gara didn't correct the other girl, but he didn't scold the new one either—he just offered a small, understanding smile and let the moment pass.
Meanwhile, Leif stood quietly off to the side, doing his best to fade into the background. A few of the kids had turned their attention to him, tugging lightly at the edges of his cloak with curious fingers, murmuring "woah" and "cool" under their breath like he was some mysterious hero from a Reciter's tale.
He pretended not to notice. But inwardly, he was still adjusting to how chaotic—and strangely warm—this side of the Story World could be.
Gara noticed the way Leif was being circled like some rare animal on display and let out a short laugh. "Alright, alright, give the guy some space," he said, waving his hands at the kids. "He's not part of the Memory Wall."
A few of them giggled and backed off, but curiosity still shimmered in their eyes.
"Who is he, Gara?" one of the braver ones asked.
"He's a new client," Gara answered with a grin.
The reaction was immediate—wide eyes, dropped jaws, and a moment of stunned silence.
"A client?" one of them echoed.
"Like… you're actually guiding someone?" another whispered in awe.
They had always known Gara was a Story Guide, but seeing him with a client—here, in person—made it all click. It wasn't just a cool title anymore. It was real. Their respect for him swelled, nearly tangible in the air.
Just then, a boy tugged lightly at Gara's kimono, snapping him out of the moment. "Hmm? What is it?" Gara asked.
The boy stood on his toes and said, "Miss Lavia was looking for you. She and Big Bro Jordan said they wanna talk to you about something."
Gara's smile faltered.
He froze for half a second before catching himself, then nodded and patted the boy's head. "Thanks for letting me know."
But his expression told a different story—tight, uneasy, like someone who'd just been told they'd have to walk through a hornet's nest. If it were up to him, he'd rather walk into the [Rashanz] Fragment blindfolded than deal with Lavia and her brother right now.
Gara gave his head a small shake, as if physically tossing away the thought of Lavia and her older brother. No way was he going to let that ruin the peaceful mood of the Whispering Steps Garden. A spark of mischief lit up in his eyes as a better idea formed.
He turned to the children, who were still watching him with eager eyes. "So…" he began, voice raised just enough to grab attention, "anyone here in the mood to play Petal Drift?"
That did it.
Their expressions lit up with excitement, some of them practically jumping in place.
Petal Drift—one of the White Clouds' oldest and most beloved games. Played in open spaces from the youngest kids to seasoned Rankers trying to relax, it was a staple of local culture. Every visitor was bound to encounter it at least once.
The rules were simple, yet required finesse: each player wielded a light wooden fan. In the center, a referee would drop enchanted sakura petals—thin slips of treated paper made to catch even the faintest breeze. The White Clouds' natural winds would do the rest, swirling the petals unpredictably in all directions.
Using only their fans and no direct contact, players had to carefully guide the petals into their team's designated zone. Each petal that landed safely earned a point. But fan too hard and risk sending a petal flying—or worse, tearing it apart—and you'd lose points.
Scattered throughout the plazas were small stalls that sold cheap sets of the game—fans, petals, chalks for boundary zones—but of course, Gara didn't need any of those. With a tap, he accessed the shimmering interface of his Story System and reached into his Storage Space.
Every Player had one—an invisible storage dimension granted by the Story System. It could hold nearly anything… though with limits. Living, thinking beings couldn't be stored—humans, beasts, dragons, and the like were off-limits. But tools, food, clothes, and even potted plants? No problem.
A flick of his wrist, and Gara pulled out a bundle of light fans and a pouch containing a neat stack of sakura petals.
"Well?" he asked with a grin, holding the items out like a challenge. "Who's ready?"
The kids erupted with cheers. Even Leif, standing off to the side with his usual calm, couldn't help but let his lips twitch upward.
And thus, the game began.
With petals in the air and laughter echoing through the garden, Gara led one team of eager boys and girls—among them the wide-eyed new girl—while Leif, slightly more reserved but surprisingly competitive, led the opposing side.
A passerby, a young man in his early twenties, had been roped in as referee after a round of collective puppy eyes from the kids. Reluctant at first, he gave in with a chuckle, agreeing to oversee the match with mock seriousness.
The wind of the White Clouds played its part well, sweeping the enchanted sakura petals into spirals and loops, making the game both tricky and exhilarating. Fans fluttered with care and chaos alike as petals danced unpredictably, some caught in perfect arcs, others slipping through just inches from the scoring zone.
Time passed in a blur of laughter, playful shouts, and the rustling hush of fluttering petals.
In the end, it was Gara's team that scraped by with a narrow victory. Cheers erupted on his side, while mock groans came from Leif's—though even he couldn't hide the subtle smirk tugging at his lips.
"We'll win next time for sure!" one of Leif's teammates shouted, shaking a tiny fist in Gara's direction.
"Next time, we'll bring the best fan master in the district!" another declared boldly.
The kids laughed, some bragging, others making dramatic vows of a rematch. It didn't matter who had won—what mattered was the joy glowing on their faces, and the memory they'd all just added to the Whispering Steps Garden.
As the evening painted the sky in hues of amber and rose, Gara and Leif gently parted ways with the kids, their laughter fading behind them like a warm echo. The sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the Whispering Steps Garden, where the two Players settled on a quiet bench overlooking the peaceful town below.
"Welp, there are plenty of places to explore in the White Clouds," Gara said, a lingering smile brightening his face. "Once we get back from the [Rashanz] Fragment, I'll make sure to show you around properly."
Leif nodded, a hint of gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks for that."
Gara chuckled softly. "Ah, it's nothing. Besides, you're the one who's going to teach me Lightning and Shadow Techniques after all."
Leif corrected, a small smile tugging at his lips, "Lightning only."
Gara grinned back, quick to retort, "Lightning and Shadow, right!"
Leif groaned in mild annoyance but chose not to push it further. Arguing with Gara was a losing battle.
—End of Chapter.
-------
A Conversation for the ages:
Gara: Hehe, see how popular I am in the White Clouds?
Leif: You mean in the Third Town? Barely, I guess.
Gara: Hey! I'm basically a Star here, show some respect, alright?
Leif: I will, when you become a Star.
Gara: Haha! Very funny edge lord, very funny!
Leif: Haha! Very funny star, very funny!
Gara: That... Don't do that again, it just doesn't mash well with your personality!
Leif: Fine, I won't.