The room was dark, with a flickering candle barely illuminating the space. Silence filled the air, and heavy curtains blocked out the sunlight. Septh sat at a table, surrounded by towering bookshelves filled with thousands of volumes. She was engrossed in a book titled *"Repento Ka Reviatha,"* which translated to *"Cycle of Devil."* Her face grew increasingly horrified as she read, her stomach tightening at the dark truths revealed about the Darkened World. Unnoticed, Hannah observed from the shadows, a faint smile on her face.
Outside, the sun was high, and a gentle breeze rustled through the trees and grass. Zephyr, exhausted from training, continued to swing his sword. The sound of the church bell echoed from the city center, signaling noon. Clayman glanced toward the sound, inhaling the fresh air deeply. "That's enough," he commanded. Zephyr stopped, wiping sweat from his face, his clothes soaked through. "Clean yourself and meet me at the gate," Clayman ordered. Zephyr sighed and stood straight, "Yes, sir," he shouted, then left.
A few minutes later, Clayman and Zephyr walked through the lively streets of the city. People bustled about, some recognizing Clayman. "Hey, is that him?" a boy asked his friend. "Yeah! He's so cool," the other replied. Zephyr noticed Clayman's popularity and glanced at him as they walked.
They reached a bar made of stone with wooden doors and windows. Inside, men enjoyed food and drinks, sharing stories. The room was bright, with candles and sunlight streaming through the windows. As they entered, they saw Ki and Kenji at the counter—Kenji drinking beer and Ki eating vigorously. Zephyr ran up to Ki and slapped his back, causing Ki to nearly choke on his food. Ki quickly drank water, settling the food. Zephyr laughed, irritating Ki, who started to attack him. Clayman calmly sat beside Kenji.
"You rarely come here. What's the occasion?" Kenji asked teasingly. "The weather is nice. Isn't that enough?" Clayman replied coldly as he ordered a drink. "Just asking," Kenji responded, matching the cold tone. They sat in silence until the bartender served Clayman his drink.
"They've started to move," Clayman said, his voice deep and cold. The scar across his face ached as he thought about the approaching events. "I know. My intel reported signs of gathering," Kenji's voice turned serious. "We just need the King's order," he added. Another silence followed. "I'm not supposed to show weakness, but... I'm worried," Clayman admitted. "About your people? You haven't changed. You always put others before yourself," Kenji replied. "I won't be able to face my father if I can't protect those in front of me," Clayman said, tapping the table for a refill.
"I still remember when I got transported here. I was younger than them," Kenji said, nodding towards Zephyr and Ki. "This world is cruel, even for the young. I just want to see what's on the other side before I die. What's it like where you come from?" Kenji smiled at Clayman's words.
Weeks passed. Wooden swords clashed as Zephyr blocked attacks from all directions. His opponent swung down at him, and Zephyr sidestepped, leaping forward and placing his sword at his opponent's throat, signaling victory. Clayman approached. "Your improvement is fast, but not enough," he mocked. "What do you mean?" Zephyr asked, breathing heavily. "Yes, you're improving, but your routine is stagnant. You need to adjust your training to keep progressing," Clayman explained. Zephyr stood straight, "Yes, sir!"
Ki ran nonstop through the forest, with Kenji behind him. "Faster! Faster!" Kenji commanded. Ki pushed himself but eventually stopped from exhaustion. "Good," Kenji said as Ki sat on a log, drinking water. "I have a question," Ki asked. "What is it?" Kenji replied. "There's dark smoke over there," Ki pointed. "Never go there," Kenji warned. "That area was used for training summons. Strange phenomena occur there, and survival isn't guaranteed. No more questions. Now run!" Despite his exhaustion, Ki stood and started running again.