Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey

[Hope Haven]

The retirement center that Thomas stayed in was located in the outskirts of Azurhaven. However, its name and appearance made it seem more like a comfy resting place than a retirement center.

I carefully walked up to the entrance and knocked on the door.

Soon, the door opened, and a middle-aged woman, who was likely a caregiver, appeared. She looked at me and smiled. Just when I was about to smile back and introduce myself, she spoke.

"Hello there! You must be Lucas Voss, right?" she said with a welcoming tone.

I blinked in surprise. "Uh, yes. How did you know?"

The woman chuckled lightly. "We were expecting you. Jonathan informed us you'd be coming by. Please, come in."

I stepped inside, taking in the warm, homely atmosphere of the place. It certainly lived up to its name—**Hope Haven**. The walls were adorned with calming artwork, and the scent of fresh flowers filled the air.

As the woman led me down a hallway, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of life Thomas Johnson had lived here in his final years. And more importantly, what answers I might find about Ella.

We finally stopped in front of a small, cozy room. "This was Mr. Johnson's room," she said softly. "Feel free to take your time."

I nodded in thanks and stepped inside, the door quietly closing behind me.

Click—!

I opened the door and stepped inside.

The room was modest but warm, with a few personal items carefully arranged on shelves—a photograph of a younger Thomas Johnson with a woman who I assumed was Ella's mother, a stack of books, and an old guitar propped up in the corner.

There was a faint smell of cedarwood, and sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow over the room.

There was nothing much to see here, hence, I quickly so out of the room.

Outside of the room I find the nurse from before.

"I was wondering if there was anything he left behind."

"Let me think... I don't think he specifically asked us to take care of it, but there was something."

"A letter?"

"Huh? Oh, yes, a letter. How did you know?"

My eyes opened wide.

A letter.

Thankfully, it seemed the plot device I put in was left unchanged.

"Where is that letter?"

"It's in the memorial along with his ashes. Why "

"Ah, well...."

I needed to think about how to answer this question.

I need to think of an excuse, I needed to think quickly, trying to come up with a plausible excuse for my interest in the letter.

"Well, it's just that I'm trying to piece together some family history," I said, trying to sound casual. "I heard that Mr. Johnson might have left some important information behind, and I was hoping to find any clues that could help me understand more about his past."

The nurse nodded understandingly. "I see. Well, the memorial is in the small chapel at the end of the hall. Feel free to go there if you'd like."

"Thank you," I said, giving her a polite smile.

I walked towards the chapel, my mind racing. Finding that letter could provide crucial information about Ella's father and potentially lead me to the next piece of the puzzle.

Entering the chapel, I was greeted by a serene atmosphere. The space was simple but reverent, with soft lighting and a small altar where Thomas Johnson's ashes were kept.

I approached the memorial and carefully examined the contents. The letter was tucked away in a small box, along with some other personal effects.

With a quick glance around to ensure I was alone, I opened the box and retrieved the letter. The envelope was yellowed with age, and the handwriting on the front was neat but faded.

I already knew what was inside the letter. It shouldn't be me, but his daughter who opens it.

...But what if the content was different?

Because of this worry, I opened the envelope. It was written in squiggly letters that I couldn't read. After translating it with my smartwatch, I saw that it was the same as what I created in my setting.

Feeling relieved, I placed the letter back and turned around.

Then, I entered Shadow Reapers Mercenary Site.

I began to type a message to Ella.

[We have located Thomas Johnson.]

[The price for the information will be 100 million C.]

[If you'd like to hear the answer, please complete the payment.]

After sending the message to Ella, I leaned back, feeling a mix of anticipation and guilt. I knew how much this information would mean to her, but business was business, and the Shadow Reapers had a reputation to uphold. Sentimentality had no place here.

As I waited for her reply, my thoughts drifted back to the letter. Despite knowing what it contained, opening it still left an odd feeling in my chest. It was strange, standing in a room dedicated to a man whose life I only knew through fragmented pieces. He was gone, but his impact lingered, especially on his daughter.

After waiting for five minutes, there was still not reply.

'Maybe she's busy?'

I shrugged and decided to leave it at that for now. Ella would respond when she was ready, and I had other matters to attend to.

As I stepped out of the chapel, the cool breeze from an open window swept over me, calming my nerves. The setting sun cast long shadows across the floor, making the hall seem even quieter.

I began walking back down the hallway, my footsteps echoing faintly. The warmth and comfort of **Hope Haven** contrasted sharply with the darker aspects of my life—missions, deals, assassinations. It made me wonder what life would've been like if I hadn't gotten involved with the Shadow Reapers.

But those were just fleeting thoughts. My reality was different, and I had long since accepted that.

When I reached the entrance, the nurse from before smiled at me again. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

I gave a nod, keeping my face neutral. "Yes, thank you for your help."

"Anytime. Take care."

With that, I stepped outside into the fading light, the sun dipping behind the horizon as evening fully settled in.

As I walked back to the academy, I couldn't help but think about the coming days. The main story was approaching fast, and dealing with Ella's situation beforehand was just one small piece of a much larger puzzle.

There was no time to dwell on emotions or what-ifs.