— That was good! — said Lon with a smile.
He had just finished reading the book "Journeys Across the Deep Skies of the Seas" and hadn't even noticed how dark it had gotten outside.
The story inside the book was so captivating that he couldn't tear himself away from it. He read it all the way until evening!
The story of Ryn and his desire to be a free man had deeply moved him. He never would have thought that the tale of a simple village man could be turned into such a masterpiece.
What struck him the most was Ryn's determination. He wasn't just an ordinary peasant, but an ambitious and persistent one, willing to do anything to achieve his goal.
The book also featured other fascinating characters who impressed Lon as well — Senna, Gory, Laz… there were just so many of them.
Lon could confidently say that "Journeys Across the Deep Skies of the Seas" was a masterpiece of this world, and Redmund — a great writer.
Putting the book aside, Lon got up from his bed and walked to the window to look at the evening view.
In this world, the sun didn't set behind the horizon like it did on Earth. Instead, it was slowly covered by giant black clouds at a specific time. This period lasted from six to ten hours, depending on the day. In the morning, the black clouds would unveil the sun again, marking the start of a new day.
It was fascinating because the entire world followed a unified time system, which was very convenient. Lon was amazed by this system.
«The sun, covered by black clouds… Why do the clouds cover the sun? Do these clouds follow some mechanism of scheduled coverage? Is it possible to fly up to the sun?» — many questions flooded Lon's mind.
But naturally, without receiving any answers, Lon sighed and continued to gaze at the evening sights of the Green District.
Steam kept rising from every house, showing no signs of stopping. Bronze pipes stretched out like unfastened wires, while the drifting airships in the sky continued with their work.
Many people were on their way home, and the streets were filled with them. Each person was unique, yet they all paid attention to their attire.
Men wore formal suits or coats with top hats; some had refined glasses in golden or silver frames. The wealthier ones carried canes. Each of them looked like a gentleman ready to help any lady in distress.
It was the same with women, though they had a wider range of colors in their clothing. Most wore dresses with ribbons or corsets that highlighted their graceful forms. On their heads were small veiled hats or full sun hats with ribbons. The women in these clothes were beautiful and graceful — the kind one might dream of being with.
Various carriages also moved along the streets, serving as taxis. Those who couldn't afford to hire one could take public transportation in the form of trams.
The city lived its own life, displaying all the possible beauties one could witness.
Lon sighed and felt a strong desire in his heart — to explore the city and the entire world.
«That will happen anyway, once I recover. So I just need to endure, like Ryn… There's no need to rush, because I have plenty of time.»
«But still…»
«Will I have the chance to return?.. Or should I just forget about it and become Renvel? But… what about my family on Earth? Won't they worry about my disappearance? Then again… I'm just an adopted child…»
Lon slowly closed his eyes.
«On Earth, I was just an ordinary poor student without even a real family… But here, I have a family that cares about me. A fascinating world full of mysteries that I want to explore and… freedom. Freedom that lets me avoid becoming just another office worker and instead choose my own path. Just like Ryn, who, despite being an ordinary peasant, had the freedom to become the king of an entire empire.»
He slowly opened his eyes and sighed.
«One way or another, time will tell.»
Finishing his monologue, Lon returned to his bed and sat down.
But then he heard a click from the door and turned toward it.