As I stood on the edge of a cliff, I couldn't help but marvel at the scenery before my eyes, gazing at a sea of sky with nothing but clouds and islands floating around.

Looking at a landscape I could only see from a small image in the game or imagined while reading the text, I felt moved seeing the real deal with my own eyes.

As expected, it's really beautiful... However...

But just as I felt joy, I was also filled with anxiety for another reason.

"Look, Merlin! We're really floating in the sky!"

"You're right, this is fascinating."

Damn it… I shouldn't have let my guard down until the very last second...

"One of the worlds that exist beyond the Root... no wonder your abilities feel so otherworldly..." Merlin muttered as she looked at me in contemplation upon hearing my words. On the other hand, Artoria ran to me before she grabbed on my clothes, looking at me with fear in her eyes.

"What do you mean by you're leaving? Please explain yourself, brother?!"

"Like I said, I felt like going on a journey. Don't worry, I will be gone only for a few days... or weeks to train, nothing more."

"In that case, please let me come with you!" Artoria pleaded with me but I shook my head.

"I'm sorry, the place I'm going to is quite dangerous. I don't want to put you in danger by letting you come with me."

After all, the world of Granblue Fantasy is filled with god-like beasts that rule concepts or natural phenomena roaming freely around. I'm not sure how well I can go against them with my newly awakened powers, but I don't want to take any chances.

"But still, even if it's dangerous, I don't want us to be separated. When I saw you not waking up at all yesterday, I was so worried I didn't know what to do… And now you tell me that you would be gone for days to a place I don't know... I don't think I will be able to take it..." Artoria said as she began to cry in front of my eyes, making me wince in guilt, before hugging me as I felt my shirt getting wet from her tears.

"Brother, I just want to be by your side forever... so please, don't leave me behind."

"Artoria..."

And as I tried to give her a hug to calm her down, I blinked when I received a notification from the Catalog, a window popping up in my vision.

Congratulation, you have captured Artoria Pendragon and made her part of your retinue.

As a reward, several perks have been added to the Catalog.

Huh?

Warning

There is twenty seconds left before the interdimensional portal close.

If you don't cross the portal before the time runs out, you will lose any progress made with [Left Exit Stage] and the gauge will be reset.

Eh?!

I quickly looked back to see the portal beginning to warp before slowly closing in on itself.

You can't be ser–"Don't worry, Artoria. Leave this to your lovely big sister!"

"Wha–Guh!"

The last thing I saw was Merlin's grinning face as she rushed towards us like a raging bull, ramming us like mad, pushing all of us through the portal before it closed completely.

I should have known better to not be careful with Merlin around. Well, I reaped what I sowed, I guess. But still, what should I do from now on...

"How long are you going to be down, Kay?" I heard Merlin speak up, making me glance at her as she approached me with a smile.

"I wouldn't be if it wasn't for you."

"Sorry for not being sorry." She said sticking her tongue out at me and I felt the envy to pull it with all my strength, but I let out a sigh and simply turned my gaze to the blue sky. But then, I felt Merlin hug me tightly from behind before I heard her speak.

"You know, Kay. Now that we entered this…world, I understand what you meant by this place was dangerous. I can feel some powerful source of powers roaming around, even one of them being in the center of this island." Merlin said while I nodded, having felt the same.

Over the years, as I continued to train and develop Seofon's abilities granted to me through the template, all of my senses improved over time to the point that I was able to sense powerful entities to some degree. Well, I still need some training to do in that aspect.

"But you see, while it was good of you to think about Artoria's safety, I think you should have put more thought into her feelings. Really, you are an expert when it comes to worrying people. First, yesterday and now, you planned to leave us to go on an adventure in a world like this one, how do you think we would feel if something happened to you while you were away?"

"But this world is..."

"Is dangerous, I know, and I understand that. But still, we'd rather risk our lives to be by your side rather than waiting in worry in Carmarthen. I don't believe we will be able to take it... I don't think you know this but Artoria didn't do anything but remained by your side yesterday. She barely ate or moved from her spot by your bed, so please, do not make her worry more than you already did." I heard Merlin say, muttering the last part, and I blinked when I felt her body shivering while hugging me.

Merlin, so you too... I suppose it was selfish of me for not considering the girls' feelings.

"Alright, you win." I said as I placed my hand over Merlin's arms that were wrapped over my neck. "However, Merlin, please promise me to never use your clairvoyance in this world. Never. There are things that are better left unseen, and I say this for your own safety." I said firmly and, after a few seconds, I felt her nod much to my relief.

"Just out of curiousity, what would happen to me if I do so?"

"You'll lose your sight." I said as I knew that a character ended up losing his sight after witnessing a certain divine being living in this world, with another getting his vision impaired just from seeing a vision of that memory.

I don't want that to happen to Merlin if she decides to use her Clairvoyance to see all across the world, only to lose her vision if she ended see that god by accident.

"I see. I don't know why you know that... Well, I have a few suspicions but I'll keep them for myself. Anyway, I'll believe in your words."

"Thank you."

"I should be the only one saying that. But still, to think that we are in another world outside of the Root's influence, this is just incredible. Hey, if this world exists, then that must mean there's a lot of them apart from this one, right?"

"Yeah, there are so many I can't count all of them."

"I see. Hey, if you end up visiting them, take me with you. I'd love to explore these worlds with you, I'm sure we'll have the best time together."

"Sure, if I feel like it." I said as I stood up from the rock I was sitting on and, with Merlin still hugging me with her arms wrapped around my neck, I walked to Artoria who was still looking in amazement at the bottomless sky

below the island we were standing on.

"Artoria."

"Ah, brother..." Artoria muttered when she noticed me standing in front of her before she averted her gaze, seemingly a bit embarrassed because of her actions before we crossed worlds.

Thinking about it, I won't deny that it feels a bit awkward though...

"Hum... I'm–"

"I'm sorry." I suddenly said, cutting Artoria off who looked at me in surprise. "I should have considered more about your feelings before making my decision, so I'm sorry."

"I should have thought more about your feelings before making my decision, it was pretty selfish of me, so I hope you forgive me for being a stupid brother." I said as I bowed my head to her, making Artoria gasp before she quickly shook her head repeatedly.

"Ah, no, it's fine. I don't have to forgive you for anything, I don't think you were in the wrong..." Artoria said before she looked down, playing with her index fingers. "And I was also selfish myself, so you don't need to feel sorry for that... As long as I don't come to hate myself or leave myself, I'm fine with everything."

"I see. Thank you, Artoria. I'm happy to have you as my little sister." I said as I patted her head, making Artoria smile as she leaned into my hand.

Alright, so what do we do now... I guess finding a village or any sign of civilization is a priority. Oh yeah, now that I think of it, I received some new perks since I captured Artoria.

Still, I was quite surprised when I suddenly got that notice, saying that I captured Artoria. I suppose it was her line about wanting us to be together forever that triggered the Catalog into capturing her. In a way, it can be seen as a declaration of love but, just like that time with Merlin, it wasn't a romantic declaration but rather one of brotherly love, so it fit the conditions for capture.

At least, I'm happy to know that Artoria loves me as her brother. That's great... Oh?! This is...

Educational Talent

You teach. You pass on information, you instruct, and you guide the learning process even with skills that you do not directly possess. Your descriptions and directions are never less clear than you desire and those you give them to will retain the information easily. You can even act as the best possible practice partner so long as you have a vague idea of the role and are physically capable of what is required.

Your students cannot learn anything from you that they would be otherwise incapable of picking up given sufficient time and effort. You simply reduce the requirements for both to a tiny fraction of what would otherwise be needed.

Well, since Ector isn't here, I guess I have no choice but to take over Artoria's swordsmanship training. Now that I think about it, wasn't there something about a compensation from the Company if I captured someone before they reached their full potential, with them downloading the missing abilities and a framework for the missing skills into them at no charge. I wonder if she received them... If so, it would be really awkward to explain where they came from.

Well, it seems like my days are getting better and better...

Meanwhile, at Carmarthen, a worried Ector could be seen running across the village, searching for Kay and the others.

"Where did they go?! Don't tell me... NO!!!!!!"