Sol's bedroom was bathed in the soft glow of suburban daylight, casting a tranquil ambiance over the room. A gentle breeze wafted in through the open window, carrying with it the distant sounds of the modern world.

Sol lounged back on his couch, with Zephyr at his side.

"Guess what, Sol? I met this girl, and she's pretty cute," Zephyr said, brimming with excitement.

Sol couldn't resist teasing his friend. "Oh, a girl, huh? Are you absolutely certain she's not just a catfish?" He folded his arms, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.

Zephyr laughed it off. "No way, Sol! I met her in real life. I doubt you could pull that off."

Sol frowned, tilting his head back before replying, "Come on, Zephyr, you know I've done it before. But you also know why I don't bother anymore."

Sitting beside him, Zephyr locked eyes with Sol, showing genuine sympathy. "I'm sorry about that, bro. You didn't deserve that kind of treatment. You deserve someone much better. If you want, I could..." Zephyr's words trailed off as Sol cut him off.

"It's fine, really. I'm not interested anymore. So, tell me more about this girl you've met?"

Zephyr's smile turned gentle. "She's actually really sweet, Sol. I think she might be the one. I feel like I could settle down with her."

Sol nodded, it felt wrong to him, but understanding his friend's happiness and not wanting to bring his past to ruin the moment. "I hope it works out for you, Zephyr. You deserve happiness."

Zephyr stood up from the couch. "Thanks, Sol. I appreciate that. Maybe I'll introduce you to her sometime. Then you'll see she's different from the others." Sol rolled his eyes, placing his arms on his thighs as he watched Zephyr leave the room.

"Anyway, I have to head out soon. But like I said earlier, you should really try to move on. I'd hate to see you spend your life as a recluse." Zephyr winced before disappearing through the door frame. Sol, still sitting on the couch, stared up at the ceiling of his room.

I'm sorry, Zephyr. I don't think I'll ever be able to move on. But as long as you can lead a decent life, that's all that matters to me.

Morning had arrived, and Sol, lying on the grassy plain, struggled to open his still-stuffy eyes. He pushed himself upright to take in the scenery.

This truly is my new reality, and it's still difficult to accept.

He glanced at Caulot, who was still sound asleep. Many things weighed on Sol's mind, but one question nagged at him more than any other.

Why was I dreaming of Zephyr? It's been so long since I last had a dream. Could it be that Caulot somehow reminds me of him? Sol intensified his focus on Caulot, hoping to find answers, but he came up empty-handed. Disappointed, he got up, only to be hit with a strange sensation in his stomach.

What in the world? Why is my stomach gurgling like this? Sol hurried into the nearby forest, his stomach feeling as if something inside was about to skewer him from within. He found a narrow stream, barely the width of a bush, and prepared to relieve himself. However, there was a problem.

Sol's sense of desperation grew as he faced the grim prospect of soiling his armor. He couldn't bear the thought of being remembered as the guy who smelled like feces, not to mention the relentless teasing he'd endure from Caulot. Frantically, he searched for any opening, mechanism, or switch to detach his armor.

A switch? The idea suddenly struck him like a lightning bolt. As his impending predicament drew nearer, the notion clung to him, echoing TEL's earlier comment.

"I suppose it's more like commanding it while envisioning it, master."

Commanding? I've got the envisioning part down, but what does the other part mean? There was little time to ponder as the urgency of the situation intensified. Here goes nothing!

[De-equip Vile Armour] Sol mentally commanded, and a blue halo surrounded him, causing the vile armor to dissipate. Sol stood naked, with only his helmet, ring, and the vile blade sheathed on his right hip remaining.

It worked! he thought with relief, though he knew he couldn't celebrate just yet. He still had to address his impending problem. After he had finished and cleaned himself, he heard a rustling noise in the distance. Sol hurriedly made his way to a nearby thicket and concealed himself, peeking out to investigate. The sound of heavy footsteps grew louder, and soon dozens of men emerged, clad in leather and chainmail armor, armed and ready. Sol could overhear their chatter.

"Haha, we've struck gold, lads!"

"Aye!" The men cheered joyously. Sol noticed some of them carrying red cloth.

"Still, I wonder what took down these four? Aren't Rojos supposed to be too weak to handle seven strong men?" The leather-clad man voiced his concerns, trailing behind the plated man. "You're right, but since we found it, we can easily get a few drinks from the village. Hell, maybe even find a few women!" He hooted, signaling the other men to follow, which they eagerly did.

Sol rolled his eyes. All this effort for women? It hardly seems worth it. He also observed that these men had a different accent from Caulot's, and they weren't carrying red cloth like velvet. Instead, they had stolen Sol's kill. While a mysterious rage welled up inside him, he knew better than to confront these men. So, these must be the knights Caulot warned me about. If I were to reveal myself, I'd likely be arrested. However, Sol had temporarily forgotten about his perilous predicament. He was stark naked, and the thought of being caught was more embarrassing than frightening. Holding his breath, he managed to avoid detection as the group of men departed. Sol removed his green wrapping and used the nearby freshwater to clean himself again. Then, he prepared to summon his armor.

[Equip Vile Armour.]

Fully armored once more, he let out a relieved sigh. He had narrowly avoided an incredibly embarrassing moment. Now that he understood how his equipment worked, Sol decided he would definitely thank TEL for saving him. As he thought about TEL, he remembered his previous command to the phantom-like creature and decided to summon TEL again. Sol clapped his hands and chanted.

"TEL, we need to talk."

TEL materialized before him in the stream, with the water flowing beautifully downstream. Sol turned to face the metallic creature.

"Master, I have brought valuable information."

Excited to learn more, Sol leaned in, eager to understand his current location. While Caulot's words were intriguing, he was primarily concerned about the country he now found himself in.

"So, TEL, where are we exactly?"

"From the knowledge I've acquired, we are currently residing in the Holy Roble Kingdom, and the village you saw is named Refugio Aurora. We are presently in the southern part of the country."

TEL explained that the north and south were divided by a massive bay. Sol, growing more curious by the moment, interrupted TEL to inquire about the Rojos he had killed and what they were.

"What about the Rojos I had you investigate?"

"Yes, master, I've determined that they are not a result of QIP manipulation."

Sol remembered that term, QIP, but he didn't know what it meant. Asking what such a thing was, TEL responded by stating that it was the embodiment of one's soul, containing their memories and personality, a quantum signature related to that being's ancestors, but unrelated to genetics.

"I have also discovered that the forest we are currently residing in is, in fact, the last forest of South Roble."

This revelation left Sol baffled. He was aware of deforestation in the old world, but he didn't think such feats were possible in a medieval world like this.

"I suspect it's because of the beasts, such as the Rojos or the Nocterrors that the boy mentioned, which have prevented this forest from being cut down."

Sol was caught by surprise. "You know about that? How?"

TEL's eyes flickered, and he spoke in a mechanical way, explaining, "It's because I'm always vigilant about what my master's needs are." However, this explanation didn't clarify how TEL knew about topics he shouldn't be present for. Just then, a shout interrupted their interaction, and Sol recognized the voice—it was Caulot's. TEL, preparing to leave the scene, was halted by Sol.

"TEL, thank you. Your advice saved me!" Sol expressed his gratitude to the robotic dog, even though TEL's reactions were more mechanical than human. TEL acknowledged the thanks with a tilt of his head, his way of expressing gratitude.

"I appreciate your gratitude, Master. I shall take my leave," TEL said before scurrying off, disappearing into the forest. Sol hurried towards the distressed voice of Caulot, who was shouting for him.

"Sol! Where are you?!" Caulot's voice echoed in the forest, filled with worry. He had seen Sol enter the forest earlier and was concerned that something might have happened to him. But there was another fear lurking in Caulot's mind.

Did he leave me, like everyone else? Caulot's heart sank at the thought. He had finally found someone with whom he could share his interests without being met with disgust.

Has he grown tired of me? Did his disgust finally overcome him? These thoughts weighed heavily on Caulot as he crouched behind a bush. He scolded himself for shouting, realizing that if a Rojo appeared, he might not survive.

Peering over the bush, he saw a figure approaching. "Caulot, are you there?!" It was Sol. Caulot raised himself from his hiding spot, tears welling up in his eyes. "Yeah, I'm here. Where were you?" His voice cracked with relief.

Sol placed his hands on his hips, attempting to explain without mentioning his embarrassing predicament. "Sorry for leaving like that. I had to use the restroom."

Caulot blinked, puzzled. "What's a restroom?"

Sol struggled to explain while avoiding the details of his recent ordeal. "Um, it's where you... you know, let yourself out. I think that's the best way to put it."

Caulot remained perplexed; he had never heard of a restroom before. Is it a place where people rest? But why in a forest? Caulot squinted at Sol, now convinced that he was indeed a peculiar individual. He brushed aside these thoughts, cleared his throat, and expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Sol. I appreciate you not leaving me."

Sol was taken aback. "Why would you think I would leave you?"

"I have my reasons." Caulot smiled, lowering his head, his mismatched eyes meeting Sol's visor.

Breaking the awkward silence, Sol suggested, "Listen, we should probably leave. I spotted a group of knights exiting the forest."

Caulot agreed, and the two silently made their way back to the shack. Sol noticed the empty pots and couldn't help but wonder: Was Caulot's dish the cause of my stomach ache? He couldn't verify it, but he didn't want to offend Caulot either, so he kept silent.

Meanwhile, Caulot had something on his mind. "Sol, I wanted to ask you, where did you come from exactly? I know you're not from here and probably arrived through the ports, but I'm still curious. Were you driven off by these 'deathless' or 'Titans' you mentioned earlier?"

Sol found himself at a loss for words. He couldn't reveal the truth, that he was from another world, as it would complicate matters immensely.

However, he had already shared terms from the world of Infinity Blade with Caulot, and now he needed to fabricate a believable story that carried some semblance of truth. Sol lowered his head, turned away from Caulot, and clenched his fist to add conviction to his words.

"I came from a land that was ruled by beings known as the Deathless. They used Titans to exploit our people. I was a knight serving them. Fortunately, I managed to escape and ended up here, far away from any Deathless. I only ask that you keep this a secret from anyone else. Don't even mention it."

Caulot nodded in agreement. "Very well, Sol, but you said you were a knight, right? Then why did you tell me not to call yourself that?"

Sol quickly fabricated an explanation. "It's because I don't believe I'm worthy of such a title. I've lost most of my skills due to the arduous journey. Now, I'm just a regular man wearing a suit of armor that I'm not special enough for." Sol felt a twinge of guilt for lying to Caulot, who had been nothing but honest with him. However, he also felt somewhat redeemed, as this part of his story was true. He was indeed a nobody without exceptional skills or talents, just wearing a potentially priceless set of armor.

Caulot turned to face Sol's visor. "In that case, maybe we could spar together?"

"Spar?" Sol raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Yes, that's right. Let me grab my sword." Caulot jogged back to the shack, disappearing from Sol's sight for a moment before returning with a wooden sword in hand.

"It's not much, but I like to train with it," Caulot explained.

Sol nodded, curious about Caulot's intentions. "Train? For what, exactly?"

Caulot blushed, then mumbled, "To become a knight."

Sol found this intriguing, considering that Caulot had expressed his dislike for knights earlier. "Why become one? I thought you disliked them?"

Caulot blushed even more but composed himself. "It's true that I don't like them, but I still want to become one. I have a cool reason."

Sol raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's this cool reason?"

Caulot looked down shyly, and then blurted out his reasoning. "It's because I want to wear cool-looking armor too!"

Sol couldn't help but laugh, not because it was a foolish idea, but because he understood the sentiment. He remembered how he used to play Infinity Blade for hours, acquiring gold to buy different armor sets just to look amazing.

Caulot, still blushing, asked tentatively, "Is it a stupid idea?"

Sol chuckled and reassured him, "No, I understand. In fact, I like that reasoning."

Caulot's eyes lit up with excitement. "Maybe one day, if I work hard enough, I'll be able to buy armor that looks as striking as yours."

Sol felt a sense of camaraderie with Caulot at that moment. So that's why he reminds me of Zephyr. He and I enjoyed playing Infinity Blade when we were kids. At least now I know we have something in common with Caulot.

Caulot then brought up the issue of their spar. "I only have one wooden sword, and I'd rather not be slashed by that blade." He pointed to Sol's Vile blade, which was sheathed on Sol's hip.

Sol understood the concern and walked to the edge of the forest. He tore off a branch and held it like a makeshift sword. Caulot, witnessing this, was still a bit apprehensive.

I'm kinda regretting asking to spar with Sol, he thought to himself.

Sol noticed Caulot's uncertainty and reassured him, "Don't worry, I'll try to be gentle."

This comforted Caulot somewhat, as he could tell that Sol had no malicious intent. With newfound confidence, Caulot charged at Sol, catching him off guard. Sol stumbled slightly.

Dammit, I'm still not used to this armor.

Caulot swung his wooden sword, slapping it against Sol's armored chestplate.

"Alright, I won the first round!" Caulot exclaimed, feeling a rush of victory.

Sol, a bit bewildered, asked, "Wait, how were we supposed to decide who wins again?"

Caulot scratched his head, embarrassed. "Um, sorry, I didn't think of that."

Sol chuckled, realizing the innocence of the situation. "Wait, did you just spar without making any rules?"

Blushing with embarrassment, Caulot admitted, "Yes, yes I did. I'm sorry, I got carried away."

Sol grinned warmly. "It's fine. It would be nice if I knew the rules, though."

Caulot suggested, "Well, let's just make it that if your wooden sword touches your opponent, you win. Oh, and don't hit too hard. I'll try to control my power too." He smiled as he explained his makeshift rules, a bright spark of excitement in his eyes. Sol found himself appreciating the simplicity and innocence of the moment.

Sol was filled with a sense of nostalgia as he sparred with Caulot. Back then, me and Zephyr were like this. Claiming we had immense power and strength when we didn't. It's child-like behavior, but I don't mind playing as a child again. Despite being a grown adult, he wanted to savor what remained of his innocent youth.

Caulot launched his attack, and Sol, anticipating the move, closed his arms close to his chest, clenching the branch like a boxer guarding with his fists. However, Caulot had another trick up his sleeve. He feinted his attack, striking at Sol's heel instead. Sol barely avoided being touched by stepping back. Caulot then struck upwards, but Sol wasn't going to let him have his way. He slashed his branch at Caulot's wooden sword, attempting to parry the upcoming blow. Caulot, using his small stature, turned his entire body and exploited an opening to stab Sol.

Caulot had won again, and Sol didn't feel the stab; he hadn't been able to keep track of what had just happened to him.

"What happened? That was fast," Sol said, somewhat irritated.

Caulot giggled. "I stabbed you, silly. Be a bit faster next time!"

Sol was determined not to let Caulot win easily. "A rematch! 0-1, that's our ratio; you won once. The first time doesn't count."

Caulot nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's fair, but don't think this will make it easier."

Sol chuckled, appreciating Caulot's newfound energy and enthusiasm. They continued to spar with each other, and by the end of their duel, they had completed ten matches. Caulot had won six matches, while Sol had won only four. Caulot was panting and sweating profusely, but strangely, Sol didn't feel tired from their game.

Caulot, still catching his breath, said, "Man, you are amazing. Even after all that, you are still not tired."

Sol, lying down on the grassy field alongside Caulot, responded, "Your swordsmanship was incredible! I could barely react. Why did you even need me to save you from those Rojos?"

Caulot smiled warmly. "I'm not sure, but whenever I do something with you, I feel safe, like I don't need to worry about anything." Suddenly, his expression turned into a frown as he explained his source of discomfort. "But whenever it's with someone else, I just can't. Maybe it's because I overthink it too much, like I feel embarrassed that I might fail."

Sol understood what Caulot was going through. "Is it because you lack confidence in yourself? Let this duel of ours help you believe in your skills. Although If I may ask, how long have you been training?"

Caulot, still exhausted, muttered, "Two years by myself. It's usually a hobby I do whenever I'm free. I'd practice on a tree or something."

Sol was surprised by Caulot's talent. He has talent, unlike me, he thought. But regardless, it makes me happy that he trusts me. It reminds me of the old days with Zephyr. For some reason, Sol felt a wave of sadness thinking about those days, but he quickly brushed those thoughts aside. I'm not going to waste this opportunity. I found someone who I actually consider a friend. He may not be Zephyr, but I'll help him achieve his dream. I'm going to move forward. Sol felt better after clearing his thoughts.

They both lay on the grassy floor, gazing up at the sunny sky. Fluffy clouds drifted lazily across the blue expanse, casting intermittent shadows. Leaves rustled in the gentle breeze, creating a soothing melody of nature's own. The air was filled with the refreshing scent of the outdoors, and Sol couldn't help but savor the simple beauty of the moment.