It was uncomfortable.

She entered the room with confidence, but she feels like going back now. Who wouldn't, when there are countless eyes staring back at you everywhere?

She gulped. Naturally, she doesn't know what to do. All her life Yun was confined—the most social interaction she had was from her family members and hospital staff. Even in this life—so far, she had only interacted with her father, siblings, and servants.

Did she do something wrong? Was there some kind of ritual you needed to do upon your arrival?

Stupid brother! She internally cursed the older companion, having no other way to vent her frustration. Who would leave a child in an intimidating setting like this!? Only him!!

She stood rooted on her spot, not knowing what action to take. Continue to walk ahead? What if it's rude. Head over to the table of food they have at the farthest corner of the room and eat? What if it's rude. Why is she just standing in front of the door anyway, what if it's seen as rude!!

I can't afford offending anyone in this world. She looks down to her feet in despair. The most magic I could do is open doors. I don't even know how to fly. I don't have the means to protect myself—I don't think I could rely on that brother of mine either!

At such a high-tension moment, she remembers the reason why she's here in the first place—

"The first thing you'll do once we get off is to find the birthday boy."

"Fiery red hair. Blue eyes."

"His name is Yoseph Kramer."

"Right, I should go find him," she muttered under her breath, lifting her head to scan her surroundings.

She tried her best to ignore all the eyes that was on her, and filter out everyone in order to spot a blue-eyed redhead. It wasn't too long before she discovered him— he was just too conspicuous, like a red rose in a bed of white roses.

He was also looking back at her with great interest. Good, she nods, and heads toward him with a determined expression.

The crowd of children surrounding him parted, letting her through until she's in front of him. She finds herself looking down— as it turns out, she's half a head taller than him.

"Happy birthday." Yun's voice clearly sounded.

He doesn't immediately respond, only blinked at her with his round, brilliant azure eyes.

She swore she could almost hear everyone's breathing in the vicinity. It was too quiet, and the lack of response to her greeting makes her want to disappear in embarrassment.

"You are?" The redhead carefully asked, still dumbfounded at her otherworldly appearance.

He was reminded of his older sister's doll collection. Each are beautiful—having been crafted by the finest craftsmen—with rosy cheeks and bright eyes.

The set of eyes before him, blinking behind long lashes... he was reminded of a porcelain doll's. Frankly, every other person in the room had thought the same thing as him.

"I'm Nayun Jang." She immediately answers with a smile.

Nayun Jang?

Jang...?

Collective gasps and mumbling immediately broke out throughout the dining hall at the mention of her name, which made Yun visibly nervous in anticipation on how they would react next.

The children, having no idea about world history and social status, had little to no reaction to her name drop—but the adults present were in a state of chaos.

I knew that there was something unusual about that child!

If I had known that this was a Jang..!!!

Should I approach her?!

Damnit, young master Yoseph is in the way...

"Nayun Jang. It is a pleasure to meet you, the name is Yoseph Kramer." As a child of the prestiged Kramer family, naturally, Yoseph was mannered and proper, enough to already know to gracefully bow back in greeting.

"Would you care to join us outside?" He asks. He was about to be dragged out to spar anyway, it wouldn't hurt to let her tag along.

Right, I was to make friends with the guy. Nayun could only nod stiffly. "I would love to."

Even if they tried their hardest to hold back, everyone else who were left still let out an audible moan of disappointment. It's not like they could follow the kids outside. Oh well, it's not like the party's over anytime soon. They could always wait for the little bird to come back in their sea of open jaws.

***

"Huh, so that's all you've got?"

Nayun Jang has no idea what just happened.

While she was indeed going in blind, she was still at a loss of words after seeing everyone fighting to the death right after they stepped out of the door that lead to the vast open-field of the Kramer household.

In the middle was Yoseph Kramer, standing proud and unscathed. He still had the same amiable smile from earlier, but Yun doesn't know what to feel about it after seeing him beat up the other children who dared to challenge him.

Yoseph's opponents were boys who looked like they were older or the same age as him. The younger ones in the group seemed to have a sharp survival instinct, preferring to watch and cheer on the sidelines with her. At some point the boys ganged up on Yoseph—launching at him at the same time with all their might—but the readhead still managed to tackle a couple of them, providing him a chance to prolong the distance between them right after, preventing further attacks.

"Why not take this opportunity to use magic against me?" Yoseph was calling out to the earth and wind magic users, as there was soil and wind present that they could manipulate. At least that's what he would've done if he was in their shoes, but nobody seemed to remember they were Kleimann, not until he made it obvious for them.

Immediately, the soil beside Yoseph rose to swipe at his leg, but as he was an earth magic user himself, he immediately buries the soil back down. Without missing a beat, Yoseph locks eyes with the one who initiated the attack and sent a small quake towards his way—all while making a shield made out of the earth below him to block the strong gust of wind that threatened to knock him off his feet.

Yun was too immersed in the surreal fighting scene in front of her to not notice a foreboding presence making itself comfortable on the soft earth beside her.

"I'm stronger than him,"

She failed to hear him, instead hyperfocused on the way Yoseph elbowed the fiesty kid coming up from behind him. She swore she heard something broke.

"Really ?" Vonn's lips form into a childish pout after being ignored further. His eyes follow hers, and seeing that she still had her attention set on this friend of his, made him feel unpleasant.

Yoseph felt a stronger gust of wind coming his way, and so he instinctively pulls up the earth infront of him as a barrier—only to be betrayed, and have another gust of wind come down on him from above, crushing him to the ground. Someone had finally taken him down.

"That was me." Vonn speaks once again, and Yun finally looks sideways to see a boy with a very proud look on his face. 

"You..." Nayun had a look of surprise on her face. She wasn't sure if it was really him who did it, but by his haughtiness alone she assumed that he was probably telling the truth. "You're pretty strong..."

"I know," he says, rolling his eyes at her. He stands up from sitting, and looks down at her. "I'm Vonn."

"Vonn... I'm Nayun," she introduces herself, and offers a hand for a handshake. She didn't expect him to completely ignore it and continue staring her down.

"Let's fight."

"What?" Yun immediately paled at his declaration.

Are you serious? Not even an hour in and she was already challenged to a fight?

"Vonn!" a choir of voices shouts for his name in frustration, immediately diverting his attention from her to them.

"What?" Vonn asks, foot tapping on the ground impatiently, arms crossing in front of his chest.

The group surrounded Yoseph in a tight circle as he slowly sits himself up. Seeing him struggle, they were almost spiteful at the black-haired wind magic user.

"That was too much!"

"Why did you attack big brother Yoseph?!"

"You aren't even part of the game!"

That was just a game? Yun couldn't believe what she had just heard.

Meanwhile, the boy beside her could only shift his weight on his other leg as he looks at them with clear distaste.

"Yoseph, you hurt?" he asks. But it was obvious that there was no sign of him being worried for the birthday boy.

"I am fine," Yoseph gives an reassuring smile for the others to see, but that aggravated them instead.

"Vonn, apologise!!!"

"Madam Harper won't like this!"

"You can't go bullying others like that!"

"Bullying?" Vonn laughs loudly, before walking towards the group. Each step he took sent a tremble down their spine, and when he was mere centimetres away from them, they almost let out a terrified shriek.

"I was just playing with him. It looks like you guys want me to play with you too?"

"N-No thank you!" And they all scattered, a lot further than he expected. Yoseph sighs, before looking up at his friend.

"They misunderstood you."

"I'm obviously stronger than you. Why won't they play with me?"

"Because you're too scary."

Nayun almost cried in relief after being left alone by that Vonn kid. She couldn't agree more, he radiated a dangerous energy that she herself knew not to mess with.

Now that that brute Vonn was talking to Yoseph, the other children were merely awkwardly looking on. The conversation between the two didn't look like it was going to end soon, so their eyes started drifting—eventually falling on the mysterious girl who had just made an appearance today.

With great enthusiasm, she was now their new target for attention.

"Big sister, what's your name?"

"N-Nayun Jang," it was a bit uncomfortable to introduce herself all over again.

"Where are you from?"

Crap. I don't know. "The Jang household."

"Oooh. Why are you so pretty?"

"Thank you." she doesn't really know how to properly respond to that.

Unbeknownst to the lively crowd, two pairs of eyes looked on from afar.

"...Yoseph."

"Mmm?"

"You need to train more."

Yoseph laughs for awhile, but stops abruptly after seeing his friend's serious expression.

"Why?" he was a bit heartbroken. After all, it was his birthday today. He couldn't even have a single day without anyone reminding him to practice and do better.

"You're weak." Vonn simply says, still not taking his eyes off the girl in the center of the crowd.

"..." Yoseph doesn't have anything else to say. He was indeed weak.

After reflecting in a mere span of ten seconds, Yoseph speaks up. "Tomorrow. I'll train tomorrow." 

He had declared firmly, eyes determined—but Vonn doesn't seem to be moved. He only yawned in response.

***

"I believe it's time to go back," Yoseph informs everyone after coming back from the hall. Everyone else was seated properly by now, he only needed these few to go back to theirs for him to deliver his speech.

Nayun visibly sighed in relief. She was actually waiting for someone to pry everyone away from herself for a while now. It's not only because she was starting to get burdened to be surrounded by lively children, she was also worried that she wasn't doing what she was supposed to do—which is to befriend Yoseph Kramer.

But where does she even start? How do they even form a bond? The only way she could think of was to fight him, but she was certain of a crushing defeat. 

She let herself be dragged by two small kids on either side of her towards the huge magic door that leads to the dining hall.

A lot more people than earlier.

What seemed to be a quaint dinner between four or five families suddenly doubled, and the dining hall was filled with tables that weren't present earlier.

"Sit with us!" The two children who was latched on either side of her arm dragged her to a table, and made her sit on a vacant chair. She made eye-contact with the other people in the same round table, and luckily, they looked like they were friendly—each offered her a warm smile.

"Did my twins bother you?" An older woman smiled apologetically, before pinching the two children who was previously the ones who dragged her into the table, much to their dismay.

"Mom!!" The girl and boy had the most aggrieved expression she had ever seen.

Yun chuckles in amusement. "It's alright. If anything, I should thank them for keeping me company."

The woman sighs in relief. "I am glad. It is our pleasure to be of help to a Jang."

"—Miss Jang, I am Bonnie Harper. You can refer to me as Madam Harper." One of the two adults sitting in the table introduced herself out of nowhere. Her desperation to get into the small girl's good book was clearly evident, but not to the child.

"Nice to meet you." As each moment passes, she's kind of getting eager to be conversed with by an adult.

"How do you like the party so far?"

"It's nice. Although I admit that I'm still quite nervous."

Such eloquence. Madam Harper wasn't surprised, she is a member of the esteemed Jang family afterall. "I have a son your age, I think you've already met him."

"I did?" She wonders. Of all the children she'd interacted with, she didn't really learn much of everyone. Who among the children was her son?

"Yes, we have certainly met." A familiar voice sounded from behind her, and before she could even turn to look at the speaker, he had already sat down on the vacant chair in the middle of hers and Madam Harper's.

"V-Vonn." She nods at him in greeting, to which he looked pleased with. He grins widely at her.

"Yo."

"Vonn, what is with your attitude?" At the snicker of Madam Salt sitting in front of her, Madam Harper immediately flushed red in anger and embarrassment, but Vonn seemed quite the troublemaker. He shrugs dismissively, before dragging his chair closer to Yun's.

"So when are we going to fight?" he cheekily asks, making her gulp down nervously.

"Why do you insist on fighting me?" She doesn't understand. She came here in a puffy white dress, she's certain that she wasn't emitting an aura of a hooligan or anything of the sort. Why the hell is he dead set on picking a fight with her?

"I think you could beat Yoseph. I just wanted to know if you could beat me too."

She doesn't know if she should tell the child of not. What goes on a little boy's imagination, she has no idea. But she certainly wasn't living up to his expectations.

"Listen..."she starts, but before she could even utter another word, the lights in the dining hall dimmed, and soft applause sounded across the room. She paused briefly, before clapping along.

In the elevated platform on the very front, stood five people. Yun winced to get a better view, and recognised the little boy present, who was standing in the middle.

"That's... Yoseph." she whispers to herself.

"He looks funny." For some reason, Vonn found it in himself to comment, making her frown at him. He doesn't take his eyes off the stage however.

"First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone who attended my son's seventh birthday party." The tallest and bulkiest man present spoke in a clear and dignified voice that somehow could still be heard from where she sat. "I am aware that it has been tough to travel from the warmth and security of your homes. Nevertheless, every single one who had received an invitation spared precious time to attend today. And for that, once again, I express my gratitude for."

That's Yoseph's father? Yun blinks, and looks at the other three people with him. She assumed that the oldest woman must be Yoseph's mother, and the two teenagers present must be his siblings or relatives.

"This is the last time that I would speak for my son, therefore I would like to take my time to reminisce.

"Seven years had passed ever since the birth of our beloved son, Yoseph. Our youngest. It pains me to see another one of my children grow up and leave the nest, but as it is a crucial part of molding oneself into one of the future successors of the Kramer family, I shall let him depart with sound mind."

Everyone except the 'mother'(who had jet-black hair) shared the same shade of light blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes that you could see even from afar. One could say that it must be the Kramer insignia, as only they sport the specific shade of identical blonde hair and blue eyes.

But why is Yoseph the only one with bright red hair?

She was so lost in thought, it was only when Yoseph stepped forward did she realise that Yoseph's father had already ended with his speech.

Yoseph waited for the applause to die down, before taking a deep breath and speaking.

"I thank my father for the wonderful speech. I will hold dear the words spoken today close to my heart, and enter the gates of Velhelm with authenticity and righteousness, as how my ancestors did, and my predecessors would."

Yun almost doubled over in shock. Was he really a seven year old? Why is he speaking like that? And with absolute confidence too— she didn't even see him shrivel away under the eyes of hundreds... unlike her. Not that she doubts child prodigies, she just couldn't help but remember how she was told that at such age, she had a hard time expressing herself through words.

"Ten years. I shall be gone for ten years, but I will reassure everyone that I will come back as someone worthy of the Kramer name."

"Where's he going?" Yun frowns, leaning closer to the boy beside her to ask curiously.

"Velhelm. Aren't you going there too?" His thick brows furrowed together.

"Me? To Velhelm?" she was once again lost. 

And now I'm suddenly going somewhere? There was never a mundane day in this world. Every once in a while she'll find herself thrown into a situation she doesn't expect—and it was honestly worse than a jumpscare.

Vonn blinked at her, shocked at her response. "...could you possibly not know Velhelm?"

He personally doesn't know anyone who hadn't heard of Velhelm. Even the youngest of children knows what it is, and even dream about entering as soon as possible—he was the same.

"No...? Is it an academy or something?" She guesses, not really knowing why that's the first thing that have come to mind.

"So you knew after all." He rolls his eyes and leans on his chair. For a moment, he had thought she was one of those people who lived under a rock.

Yun tilted her head to the side in fascination. Who could've known, it was really an academy. It's just that she was subconsciously reminded of Velhelm, the academy where the protagonists' of the novel, "Yoseph Kramer and The March", spent their youth in. It's really amusing, how not only was there a Yoseph Kramer in this world, the name of the academy this Yoseph would enter was also Velhelm...

...The name of the academy this Yoseph would enter was also Velhelm?

A tightness to Nayun's throat appeared, and it felt like her heart fell to her stomach.

A specific passage suddenly sounded through her mind.

[Yoseph Kramer, the venerable Yoseph of the Kramer house, glowed with intense anger. He shone even brighter today, everyone present couldn't help but fall to their knees in submission. Beside him stood his right-hand man, Vonn Sy Harper, a bone-chilling smirk stretching his lips.]

Come to think of it, the boy looking at her right now was also named Vonn. His mother, who was sitting beside him, also introduced herself as Madam Harper.

"No way..." One by one, the sound of her worldview collapsing before her eyes rang loudly in her head, painfully beating against her skull.