Mysteries: Arcana Wars

…Now I know why the windows were sealed…

Klein was still terrified.

Not only to prevent me from running away from here, but also to prevent me from being mentally polluted by staring at the world outside the window.

But why does this place look so much like my home in the Fifth Epoch?

It seemed as if sparse thoughts floated out of Klein's mind and merged into the world before him. The further Klein walked, the stronger the sense of déjà vu became.

It was not just the blurry vision, but also the rough touch and turbid smell. The whole world was proving to Klein that everything he thought of was coming true.

The moving hands stopped again. Paintings and photo frames began to appear on the walls, and the black and white photos captured the happy moments of the family.

Klein stroked the wooden frame and stared at the family portrait under the glass. His bookish face was in the center of the picture. On the left was Benson, who had already started a family and had a mature man's temperament. Next to him was Ruth, who was holding her little daughter. On the right was Melissa, who had grown up. She had her long hair tied up in a bun, revealing a scholarly temperament.

...It's really...happy and perfect...

in case……

If only life... could be as perfect as this...

He turned around and found more photo frames in front of the corridor. They seemed to be dormant outside of his consciousness. It was not until Klein cast a probing look that he realized there were so many photos in front of him.

Has this always been here, or did it just suddenly appear?

...No, it doesn't matter anymore.

Klein moved forward, and the photos in the frame recorded various warm moments in the Fifth Epoch that Klein had never seen.

Newly married Benson and Ruth stood in front of the camera smiling stiffly, Melissa, who had just graduated, threw her thesis happily, and her little niece, who had just learned to walk, was curiously playing with the music box...

The fragmented fragments constructed a long and warm picture for Klein, telling the story of the Fifth Epoch that he had not yet witnessed.

...Is this...my "future"...

Did I really get all this at that time?

So, is this the real reality?

Klein held on to his body and read the photos on the wall eagerly, like a refugee who had been wandering on a deserted island for many years and saw a banquet, unable to restrain his urge to feast on it.

But the story finally came to an end, and the corridor finally came to an end.

A simple door became the end of the story. A faint warm firelight peeked out from the crack of the door, gently tickling Klein's feet.

Open it, open it.

Everything you expect and desire is behind the door.

Chaotic and fragmented thoughts rolled and fought in Klein's mind, but in the end he still grasped the door handle.

The door slowly opened, and the warm candlelight and the aroma of food flooded Klein's face.

The familiar houses were hung with fresh wreaths of moonflowers and calendula, festive candles lit up every corner of the restaurant, and plain linings were washed white and neatly laid on every table and chair.

In the center of the table, surrounded by bouquets of flowers and candles, was a sumptuous meal. Tussock fish was fried crispy, pea soup was stewed until soft, mashed potatoes mixed with cheese exuded a rich milky aroma, and freshly baked black bread had a soft belly.

A few bits of bright yellow lemon pudding were dotted between the dishes, and five simple tablewares were placed on the table.

The childish little girl sat on a high stool, waving baby cutlery excitedly.

"Dongli night! Dongli night!"

The soft calls, like magic spells, tightly grasped Klein's thoughts. The world before his eyes suddenly had a layer of illusion torn off, and immediately became real and vivid.

"Wow! Our little Klein is back!"

Ruth, wearing an apron, walked quickly from the room, greeted Klein warmly, and took off his dusty coat.

Klein hurriedly took off his clothes. Only then did he realize that he was wearing a dull Fifth Epoch-style coat and vest. Even his shirt had become old and yellowed.

No, it’s more like a... trance than a discovery?

Like the slight distraction when a carriage passes by, like the moment of forgetfulness when passing through a door, like the sudden dizziness when looking up from a desk.

A fleeting sense of dissociation made Klein feel that the life before him was unrealistic and false, as if his life should not be like this.

When I went out today...was this what I wore?

He glanced at the uneven dressing mirror beside him, and the bookish face in the mirror was full of confusion.

Klein was not very good at dealing with this sister-in-law. Ruth had moved in with him for several years, but Klein's impression of this lady was very vague, as if she were a stranger he had only met once at a wedding.

Fortunately, Ruth had no intention of starting a conversation. She was a very efficient woman, so she quickly took Klein's coat and went into the bedroom to continue her housework.

For some reason, Klein felt that he should look out the window. Heavy snow was falling outside the window, and the entire Backlund was covered with a thick layer of white. The streets were filled with a festive atmosphere, and even the bells of the carriages sounded so crisp and beautiful.

The endless whiteness was reflected in the ground, so white that it was dazzling, and so white that it made Klein feel uneasy.

The outside of the window shouldn't be white. A sense of absurdity and weirdness rose in Klein's heart. He always felt that the outside of the window should be a strange black. It was not the black of the night itself, but something else.

Klein couldn't tell what it was, but at least the area outside the window shouldn't be an unsettling white. This made him feel that what was outside the window was no longer "outside the window", but another room, another "inside the window", another world that he couldn't escape from.

"Klein! Klein is back!"

A cheerful shout came from the kitchen, interrupting Klein's chaotic thoughts and startling him so much that he turned around and looked in another direction.

Benson walked out of the kitchen singing and laughing. His black hair seemed to be thinner than Klein remembered, but his brown eyes were more calm, making Klein involuntarily want to rely on his maturity and stability.

"What are you still standing there for, my little Klein, sit down quickly!"

He grabbed Klein, who looked confused, and came to the dining table, shouting into the kitchen.

"Master Chef, where is our main dish for today?"

"coming!"

Melissa came out of the restaurant carrying a pot of steaming beef stew. She seemed to have grown up a bit more than Klein remembered. Her hair was tied up in a bun, and her glasses were covered with a layer of mist due to the temperature difference.

"Try it! Klein, try it!

"I learned a new way to make it, Klein, come and try it! I swear to the goddess, it must be tastier than last week's!"