The following morning brought a heavy silence to the mansion. Tawan awoke to the soft glow of sunlight creeping through the heavy curtains, casting golden streaks across the elegant furnishings of the room. His head felt groggy, and the weight of yesterday’s events still lingered in his mind. He had hoped it would be a bad dream, but as his eyes scanned the unfamiliar room, he realized that nothing had changed.
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The room was pristine, just as it had been when he first entered it. There were no signs that anything out of the ordinary had occurred. No signs that he had traveled back in time.
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Tawan, stop. You need to figure this out, he thought, shaking his head to clear the fog of sleep. There was no point in pretending this wasn’t happening. The sooner he faced the truth, the better.
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The door to his room creaked open, and a servant appeared, offering him a warm smile. She was dressed in a traditional outfit, with soft brown hair tied neatly at the nape of her neck. Her gentle eyes were kind, though there was a certain distance in them—something that made Tawan feel like he was still an outsider here.
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“Good morning, sir,” she greeted him softly, her voice polite but distant. “I’ve come to prepare you for the day. His Lordship wishes to see you soon.”
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Tawan blinked in surprise. His Lordship? He hadn’t expected to be summoned so quickly by Natee. The words from last night echoed in his mind—you’ll never be alone here, Tawan. He couldn’t help but wonder what Natee had meant by that.
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“I… I’ll be ready in a moment,” Tawan said, a bit flustered by the sudden attention. The servant nodded and disappeared without another word, leaving Tawan to gather his thoughts.
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After a quick wash and change into the clothes left for him—fine fabrics that felt too extravagant for someone like him—Tawan made his way through the mansion’s grand corridors. He had no idea where Natee wanted to meet him, but he assumed he’d find his way soon enough. The mansion was quiet in the early morning, and the usual bustling sounds of the city were replaced by the chirps of birds and the rustling of leaves outside.
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As he approached the sitting room from the night before, he spotted Natee standing by the window, staring out at the expansive gardens. His tall frame was almost regal in the soft morning light, the deep blue of his tailored jacket making his silhouette stand out like a painting.
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Tawan hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. The man had been nothing short of enigmatic since their first encounter, and Tawan was still struggling to understand who he really was—and why he seemed to have such a deep interest in him.
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“You wanted to see me?” Tawan finally asked, his voice breaking the silence.
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Natee turned, his dark eyes meeting Tawan’s with an intensity that made his heart skip a beat. There was no warmth in the gaze, only a quiet, calculating curiosity.
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“Come in,” Natee instructed, his voice smooth and unwavering. “There’s something we need to discuss.”
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Tawan stepped inside, his nerves tightening as Natee gestured for him to sit at one of the chairs near the window. The view of the gardens stretched out before them—lush, green, and peaceful, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions churning inside Tawan.
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Once seated, Natee studied him for a moment before speaking. “You still don’t fully understand why you’re here, do you?”
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Tawan shook his head, his throat tight. “No. I don’t. But you must know something about it. What is this place? What’s happening to me?”
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Natee’s lips curled into a faint smile, though there was no warmth in it. “This is my world, Tawan. And you’ve somehow been drawn into it. There’s a reason for it, though you’re not yet ready to understand it.”
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Tawan frowned, frustration bubbling up inside him. “Then tell me! I don’t want to be here. I want to go back. I don’t belong in this time, in this place, with you.”
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Natee’s eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. “You may not belong here yet, but you will. And that’s why I’m here to guide you through this. I need you to trust me.”
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Tawan recoiled slightly at the words. Trust him? He barely knew Natee, and yet here he was, asking for trust. There was something unsettling about the man—his presence, his power—it felt like everything was carefully calculated.
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“I don’t trust anyone right now,” Tawan admitted, his voice strained. “Especially not you.”
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Natee’s smile never wavered, though the glint in his eyes darkened, as if Tawan’s defiance intrigued him. “I understand,” he said calmly. “You’re scared. Confused. But all of this—our world—can be overwhelming for someone who’s not used to it.”
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Tawan’s mind raced. The more Natee spoke, the more questions surfaced. Why was he so calm about all of this? Why did he seem to know so much? And what was his role in this strange, new world?
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“You still haven’t answered my question,” Tawan said, trying to regain some control over the conversation. “Why am I here? What do you want from me?”
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Natee’s expression grew more serious. He leaned forward, his gaze locking onto Tawan’s with a depth that made Tawan feel exposed. “I don’t want anything from you. But you’re here for a reason, Tawan. You’re part of something much bigger than you can understand right now. And I will help you figure out what that is.”
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Tawan swallowed hard, feeling a growing sense of unease. Natee’s words were cryptic, but there was an undeniable force in them. It was as if Tawan had been caught in a web, and no matter how much he struggled, the threads were tightening.
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“And in the meantime?” Tawan asked, his voice barely a whisper. “What am I supposed to do?”
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Natee stood, his tall figure casting a long shadow across the room. “In the meantime, you’ll learn. I’ll teach you what you need to know. About this world, about the people who live in it, and about yourself.”
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Tawan stood too, feeling the weight of the conversation press down on him. “And if I don’t want to learn?”
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Natee’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening slightly. “Then you’ll be lost. This world doesn’t give second chances, Tawan. Once you’re in, there’s no going back.”
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Tawan’s heart raced. What did that mean?
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Before he could ask another question, Natee motioned for him to follow. “
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Come. It’s time for you to see what this world has to offer.”
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