"Y-You finished Volume One already?"

Mr. Scroll nearly choked on his tea, stammering as he stared at Kaide in disbelief.

Kaide and Filyn had stopped by the publishing firm to update him on his progress. Since Mr. Scroll had heard about Kaide's recent injury, he assumed the manuscript would be delayed. Most authors would take a few extra weeks to recover before continuing their work. But here Kaide was, casually dropping the news that he had already completed it.

"Yeah, I just had so many ideas bouncing around in my head that made sense in world building. I had to put them to good use."

As Kaide and Mr. Scroll discussed the manuscript over tea, Filyn lounged on the office couch, idly scrolling through her phone. She was clearly uninterested in the conversation, though the occasional smirk on her face suggested she was still listening.

"I actually have another story idea,"

Kaide added after a sip of tea.

"But I'll hold off on publishing it for now. There's another kind of book I want to write first."

A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes as he rubbed his hands together, grinning like a man about to unleash chaos upon the world. He was plotting one of the most confusing series imaginable — something so deep and convoluted that even fledgling fans struggled to unravel its mysteries. The worst part? He barely knew anything about it. He had only scratched the surface of its lore, and yet, here he was, scheming to bring it into Hyperdimension.

Mr. Scroll raised an eyebrow but ultimately shook his head.

"If you're confident about that, I won't stop you. Just don't drive your readers insane."

Kaide nodded, satisfied.

"By the way, this volume ended up with 16 chapters—"

Mr. Scroll immediately choked on his tea.

"Sixteen?! Kaide, do you realize most light novel volumes typically have around twelve chapters? If you cram too much into one volume, you might burn out before you even get to the next one."

Now it was Kaide's turn to nearly spit out his tea. He had read plenty of long stories, but he never actually counted how many chapters they had.

"So one volume usually has  about twelve chapters long. . . That's good to know. . ." he murmured, absorbing the new information.

Mr. Scroll nodded.

"It's not a strict rule, but keeping it balanced will help you maintain consistency for future volumes."

Kaide leaned back, arms crossed.

"Got it. I'll keep that in mind for next time."

Satisfied with their progress, Mr. Scroll set his teacup down on its saucer and straightened his posture. His expression turned more serious as he looked directly at Kaide.

"Now that we've covered the updates, there's something else I want to discuss — something important for your future as an author."

Kaide mirrored his posture, sensing the shift in tone.

"What would you like your pen name to be, Mr. Arc Kaide?"

A silence settled over the room, save for the quiet hum of the machines and the sound of Filyn's game. Minutes fly by as Kaide ponders about this question that he hasn't thought about since the very start.

Kaide exhaled slowly. "I already have an idea, but I'd like your opinion on it."

Mr. Scroll gestured for him to continue. Taking a pen, Kaide wrote down the name:

Reishin Towa (零新永遠)

He slid the paper across the table, watching as Mr. Scroll examined it with a curious expression.

"This name comes from New Tokyo," Kaide explained.

"'Rei' (零) means zero or restart, 'Shin' (新) means new, and 'Towa' (永遠) means eternity. It represents both a fresh beginning and something that lasts forever."

Mr. Scroll nodded in understanding.

"Although I have never heard of a place called New Tokyo, I believe this name is very impressive. It has a strong meaning behind it. A fitting name for someone with ambitious stories to tell."

Kaide smiled slightly, feeling a quiet sense of satisfaction.

Filyn, still absorbed in her game, finally chimed in without looking up.

"Sounds fancy. Hope you don't regret picking something so dramatic."

Kaide sighed. "Would it kill you to be supportive for once?"

Filyn smirked. "No, but where's the fun in that?"

Mr. Scroll chuckled. "Well, Reishin Towa, let's see how far you take that name in the literary world."

Kaide looked down at the paper, the name staring back at him.

A fresh beginning. A lasting story.

He was ready.

|♪♪♪♪♪|

As Kaide and Filyn returned to their room, deciding to rest for the day, the two stepped into the dimly lit hallway of the inn, the scent of aged wood and faint traces of herbal incense greeted them. The place had become their temporary home during their time in the city, and though it wasn't the most luxurious, it had a certain warmth to it.

Filyn stretched her arms over her head as they reached their room.

"Whew, today was a lot. Can't believe you actually went ahead and finished the manuscript so fast. Even Mr. Scroll was surprised."

Kaide set his bag down by the small writing desk, exhaling as he leaned against the chair.

"It just felt right to finish it. Besides, the ideas wouldn't stop coming, so I figured I'd take advantage of the momentum."

Filyn flopped onto her bed, her tail flicking lazily as she pulled out her phone.

"And now you've got a whole pen name to go with it. 'Reishin Towa' sounds way too cool for a guy like you."

Kaide rolled his eyes, sitting down at the desk.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

A brief silence settled between them, filled only by the soft hum of the room's magic-powered lanterns. Kaide's gaze drifted to his Dimenswatch EXA, the sleek, dark-blue device resting on his wrist. He had ignored it for days now, messages piling up from numbers he knew all too well.

His parents.

Filyn noticed the shift in his expression, her eyes flickering to the watch. She didn't say anything at first, simply observing as Kaide reached for the device but hesitated just before touching it.

"You're thinking about it, aren't you?"

 Filyn's voice was quieter now, lacking her usual teasing tone.

Kaide let out a slow breath, his fingers hovering over the watch.

"I've put it off for too long."

Filyn sat up, watching him carefully.

"You don't have to force yourself, you know. But if you're gonna do it, you might as well do it now before you talk yourself out of it again."

He gave a small, bitter chuckle. "You know me too well."

With one final breath, he tapped the screen. The Dimenswatch EXA flickered to life, its interface glowing softly. Navigating to the call function, Kaide hovered over the contact labeled "Home" before finally pressing it.

The screen pulsed as the call connected.

A few rings. Then—

"Kaide?"

His mother's voice came through, warm but edged with concern.

Kaide swallowed, suddenly feeling the weight of months of silence pressing down on him.

"Hey, Mom. . ."

Filyn quietly stood up, stretching.

"I'll give you some space," she murmured, heading toward the door.

Kaide met her gaze for a moment, gratitude flashing in his eyes. She nodded, then slipped out of the room, leaving him alone to face the conversation he had been avoiding for so long.

His mother exhaled in relief on the other end of the call.

"It's been so long since we've heard from you. Are you okay? Where are you?"

Kaide leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling.

"I'm. . . I'm okay, Mom. I promise. I just kind of forgot about the watch. And I didn't even know it had such features."

A pause. Then, his father's voice came through as well, firm but not unkind.

"Didn't I tell you to explore what it does as well, Kaide?"

He closed his eyes, fingers tightening around the watch.

"Sorry, I had things to do that took all the time I had back then."

Kaide exhaled, moving the Dimenswatch EXA closer to his mouth.

"It's a long story," he muttered.

"And a lot has happened since I left."

His mother's voice was gentle, but firm.

"We have time, Kaide. Just talk to us."

His father remained silent, but Kaide could feel his presence on the other end, waiting.

He leaned forward, resting his forearm on his knee.

"Alright. I'll tell you everything."

"When you both told me to explore different worlds, I didn't really know what to expect. I thought it'd be simple — travel, learn a few things, maybe come back with some new skills. But... it didn't take long for reality to hit."

He glanced at the sword resting against the wall. His first real taste of battle was still burned into his memory.

"I took on a quest in the Desert Wastes to help me get used to real combat. I thought I was ready. Turns out, I wasn't."

His mother gasped softly, but he continued before she could interrupt.

"The heat, the exhaustion, the way the monsters moved — it was nothing like it was back home. I still remember the adrenaline, the panic when I got hit for the first time. But I also remember Filyn laughing her ass off when I tripped in the sand."

A quiet chuckle escaped him. Even in that grueling moment, there had been something ridiculous about it.

"Speaking of Filyn, I met her pretty early on. She's... a handful, but I don't think I could have made it this far without her."

His mother's voice softened. "A friend?"

Kaide smiled faintly.

"More like an annoying little sister. She acts tough, but she's always got my back."

His father finally spoke.

"And this... 'Filyn' is trustworthy?"

Kaide nodded instinctively.

"Yeah. As much as she messes with me, I know she'd never let me down."

He thought back to Chrome, to the bizarre incident of being "forced" to sleep in her room. He debated whether to explain it but decided against it. His mother might misunderstand.

Instead, he moved on.

"I've met all kinds of people. Some were allies, some were... less than friendly. There was one guy, an experienced adventurer, who told me something that stuck with me. 'Survival isn't about strength alone. It's about knowing when to fight and when to step back.' I used to think I had to win every battle, but I've learned that's not always true."

His mother hummed in thought. "That's a good lesson."

Kaide slightly tightened his fist.

"I got hurt pretty badly once," he admitted.

"My arm took longer to heal than it should have, and Filyn wouldn't let me hear the end of it when she found out I forgot I could just use magic to fix it."

His father sighed. "You forgot you had healing magic?"

Kaide rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah. Not my proudest moment."

His mother chuckled, but there was concern beneath it.

"You really need to be more careful."

"I know,"

he murmured. "But honestly? I don't regret any of it. Every challenge, every mistake... It's helped me grow."

A warmth filled his chest as he thought about what had kept him going.

"There's one more thing. I started writing."

Silence. Then—

"Writing?" his father echoed.

Kaide nodded.

"I submitted one of my first light novels. Under a pen name — Reishin Towa. It's... something I've grown to love. I don't know where it'll take me, but I want to keep going."

His mother's voice was full of emotion. "Kaide, that's incredible."

His father's tone was unreadable at first.

"...So you found something you truly enjoy."

Kaide swallowed. "Yeah. I did."

Another pause. Then, his father exhaled. "I see."

Kaide leaned back in his chair, feeling lighter than he had in a long time.

"That's everything. The good, the bad... all of it."

His mother sniffled slightly.

"You've been through so much... I just wish we could have been there for you."

Kaide smiled. "You gave me the push I needed. And I'm grateful for that."

His father's voice was steady.

"Then, I suppose there's only one thing left to ask. Are you coming home to visit?"

Kaide hesitated.

For the first time in a long while, he realized he had an answer.

"...Not yet."

His mother sighed, but he could tell she understood.

"Just promise me you'll stay safe."

Kaide nodded, even though they couldn't see him.

"I will."

His father's voice softened just slightly.

"Then make the most of your journey, son."

"Make sure to give us updates! We wouldn't want to suddenly know that you got a life threatening condition."

"I'll try whenever I can."

As the call neared its end, Kaide exhaled softly, letting the weight of the conversation settle. His parents were still on the line, their presence familiar yet distant.

Just as he was about to say goodbye, the door creaked open.

"You done yet?"

Filyn asks, ears twitching in curiosity as she breaks the silence.

"Or are you gonna sit there staring at your watch like a lovesick idiot?"

Kaide rolled his eyes. "Real funny, Filyn."

Before he could stop her, she waltzed into the room, arms crossed. Her eyes flickered to the Dimenswatch EXA, catching the faint glow of an active call.

"Oh, wait. Are you still talking to them?"

A moment of silence. Then, his mother's voice — gentle but amused.

"And you must be Filyn."

Filyn blinked, ears perking up.

"Oh! You guys know about me already?"

"Kaide mentioned you quite a bit just now," his mother replied warmly.

"It sounds like you've been watching out for him."

Filyn flicked her twintails and placed a hand on her hip.

"Well, someone has to. Your son has a habit of forgetting things — like his own magic. I swear, it's like babysitting sometimes."

Kaide groaned. "Filyn—"

His father chuckled, surprising both of them.

"So, he's still as absentminded as ever."

Filyn smirked.

"Oh, you have no idea. But don't worry, I keep him in check."

His mother laughed softly.

"I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for looking after him."

Filyn's expression softened, her teasing edge fading for a moment.

"Eh, don't mention it. He's annoying, but he's family."

Kaide glanced at her, caught off guard by the sincerity in her voice.

His mother's voice turned warm.

"That means a lot to us, Filyn."

Filyn grinned.

"Well, someone's gotta be there to make sure he doesn't get himself killed. You guys raised a good one, though. He's got guts — even if he's a dork."

Kaide sighed.

"Can you not roast me while talking to my parents?"

His father chuckled again.

"It's good to know he has someone like you by his side."

Filyn gave a dramatic shrug.

"Of course. He's stuck with me."

His mother laughed again before her voice softened.

"Kaide, Filyn... take care of each other, alright?"

Kaide nodded.

"We will."

Filyn smirked.

"No promises, but I'll try."

His mother sighed playfully. "That's all I can ask."

As the call finally ended, Kaide set the Dimenswatch EXA down, exhaling deeply.

Filyn flopped onto her bed with a grin.

"Your parents are nice. They actually like me."

Kaide shook his head with a small smile.

"Yeah, I noticed."

A comfortable silence settled between them. The weight of the past had lifted, and for the first time in a long while, Kaide felt like he wasn't carrying it alone.

For the first time in months, he felt at peace.

|♪♪♪♪♪|

Kaide and Filyn had been on the move for the past month, jumping from quest to quest, traveling through forests, caves, and even small towns while still staying in Lowee. They had taken on various jobs, ranging from monster hunting to gathering rare herbs, with the occasional treasure hunt thrown in.

Filyn kept Kaide on his toes, always dragging him into whatever trouble she could find, whether it was challenging a local monster or just pulling pranks on unsuspecting villagers. Despite the constant chaos, Kaide had begun to feel a sense of rhythm in their partnership. 

Filyn's constant energy balanced out his more reflective nature, and slowly, they began to form an unspoken understanding — one that made every day feel a little less heavy.

By the end of the month, Kaide felt a small sense of accomplishment. His skills had improved, his magic had become more instinctual, and his writing, though he hadn't had much time to focus on it, was still a constant undercurrent in his thoughts. 

He had also taken the time to reflect on the light novel he was working on, mentally organizing the next few volumes.

It was on one quiet evening after a particularly exhausting quest that Kaide and Filyn decided to take a well-deserved break. They were sitting in the small room they had, tired but content, when his phone on the table buzzed to life.

Kaide picked it up, eyes narrowing slightly as he saw the incoming call from Mr. Scroll.

"What's up, Mr. Scroll? Did anything happen?" Kaide answered, surprised to be hearing from him so soon.

The voice on the other end was enthusiastic — far more than Kaide expected.

"Kaide! You won't believe this, but I've got some great news for you!"

Filyn's ears perked up at the excitement in Mr. Scroll's tone. She leaned over to get a better look at the screen, eyes gleaming.

"What's going on?" Kaide asked, curiosity rising.

"You've got your first BOFURI feedback!" 

Mr. Scroll's voice was practically vibrating with excitement.

"The test releases we sent out a week ago to a select group of readers — well, let's just say the response has been overwhelmingly positive."

Kaide blinked, a wave of disbelief washing over him.

"Wait, seriously? You mean people actually read it?"

Mr. Scroll chuckled.

"More than read it. They loved it. I'm talking high praise, Kaide. They were captivated by the characters, the plot, the pacing — everything. There's even been a request for the next volume already, and we haven't even finished the first one yet!"

|♪♪♪♪♪|

Chapter 8

Catching up and Updates

3000 Words