Chapter 9: Forgotten ones
The five of them sat within the carriage as they made their way towards the mayor’s mansion.
Jaden was utterly confused by this, but he didn’t show it on his face as he could now at least read all the messages he had obtained from the system.
[Unable to exit the ’dream’ realm.]
[Host is currently within the grimzone - The City of Eternal Prison.]
[Leave the grimzone to exit the ’dream’ realm.]
’What’s a grimzone and what’s the dream realm?’ he questioned within his mind as he guessed about what it could be. Soon, however, he inwardly shook his head and looked at the figures sitting with him.
’They somehow know me... or they used to know the past me.’
’Are they friends of Jaden Cross before transmigration?’
’If there was a Jaden Cross before transmigration, why did I have my camera and clothes from Earth?’
’So many questions, but no answers...’
’I just have to wait for them to answer me...’
Jaden knew that he could obtain answers from the four figures who were sitting with him, and the last figure was probably the one he was thinking about.
The carriage was silent as Arden and Jamie stared at him like he was a monkey in the zoo. Navin had his eyes closed as he lay back in his seat, and Selina had her usual indifferent expression plastered over her face.
Jaden also closed his eyes as he collapsed in his seat.
A sigh left his lips before he could stop it and echoed like a war drum within the silent carriage. The sigh was a statement of his confusion about everything.
Soon, the carriage entered the western district of the city and made its way to the far end, where the mayor’s mansion was situated. A few moments later, the carriage stopped at the gates of the mayor’s mansion. All of them stepped out of it.
Jaden walked towards the gates. The guard who stood at the gates looked at Jaden with a puzzled expression.
"Why are you here, young master?"
Jaden stopped in his tracks and looked at the guard as he spoke while scratching the back of his head.
"My friends and I had already finished, so we decided to enjoy some time together."
"I-I see." The guard gave him a forceful smile as he opened the gates for them.
The guard bowed as he saw Navin and Selina within the group. Jaden turned to look at them and gestured for them to enter. The group stepped forward and entered the gates.
As they made their way towards the entrance of the mansion, a maid who stood at the entrance with the same indifferent expression as before, but this time her eyes appeared warm... as if she had seen someone she wanted to meet for so long.
Jaden narrowed his eyes for a few moments at that and hid them within the next moment.
’Just as I thought...’
The group in tow with Shelly entered the hall of the mansion and ascended the stairs as they made their way towards Jaden’s room.
Soon, all of them sat in Jaden’s room. Jaden himself stood by the window as he questioned.
"So... what is going on?"
He questioned not because he was being impatient, no, it was because he was in no way ready to see Shelly stick to Selina like a chewing gum stuck under a bench.
’That smile... I don’t know why, but it looks so weird,’ he thought, but didn’t dare to voice his thoughts.
"How much do you remember?" Navin questioned while sitting at the edge of the bed.
’How much should I reveal... Do I even have to reveal anything?’
"What am I supposed to remember? My mind is too hazy for me to answer such a vague question..."
’Please fall for it!’
Navin looked at Jaden with a frown for a few moments and nodded.
"I see..."
"Do you remember us entering the dream realm?" Arden questioned from the chair, which was placed beside the study in the corner.
Jaden looked at Arden and shook his head. Making everyone’s expression dark.
Selina suddenly stood up from the bed and questioned with a trembling voice.
"H-How much of your life do you remember?"
’Is she talking about the life of the previous Jaden?’
He imitated a look of confusion and answered her question with a similar tone.
"What are you talking about, My Lady? I’ve always been a noble, I am the son of the mayor after all."
Everyone’s expression darkened even further when they heard that... Selina’s body froze in place as she looked at him with extreme worry and guilt. And that expression of guilt confused him.
’Are all of us in this predicament because of her?’
’That explains the slight enmity Navin showed to her at the church.’
He looked at everyone with an imitated frown as he questioned.
"Am I not supposed to be the son of the mayor?"
Jamie, who was leaning against the wall, looked at Jaden with his sharp brown eyes. His long blond hair jumped a little as he straightened himself and spoke in a grave tone.
"No, you are not. You are not supposed to be the son of the mayor. You are a damn commoner."
"Damn it! Why am I talking like an evil noble?"
He turned and pointed towards all of them as he added.
"None of us is supposed to be whatever we are right now."
"This is the dream realm, we are simply stuck in one of its damn grimzones."
’AH! THANK YOU!’
"What’s the dream realm and what’s a grimzone?"
Jamie looked at Jaden with an annoyed expression as he spat and cursed at him.
"Ah, this bastard even lost his memories."
Navin, who had organised his thoughts, looked at Selina and found that she was still in a state of shock.
"Jaden..." he called out, his voice was low, but it echoed like a drum within the silent room.