As the two brothers walked down the street, Zay pointed out the first large hotel he saw, a towering structure made of smooth stone and adorned with intricate carvings of ancient trees and symbols.
"That's where Shira said we can stay. She gave me enough gold to stay for a while..."
Or so he thought, until they entered the hotel. The warmth of the building hit them as they stepped through the door. The air was thick with the scent of burning wood and the glow of dancing flames from the hearths along the walls. Large iron chandeliers with flickering flames hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, golden light across the stone floors. The atmosphere was bustling with life, filled with the laughter and chatter of various patrons.
Elves, tall and elegant, with shimmering cloaks and sharp features, moved gracefully through the common room, their soft footsteps almost silent on the stone floors. Humans, more casually dressed, sat on plush couches near the roaring fireplaces, nursing mugs of dark ale and conversing in low voices. At the far side of the room, a bar stood where several older men with long beards and thick accents sat together, their laughter booming and rich with mirth as they shared stories of days long past.
Renzo glanced around at the lively crowd, and Zay scanned the room before walking up to the elf behind the desk, who was scribbling in a large journal. The elf looked up with a warm smile, his pointed ears twitching slightly at the sound of their approach.
"Welcome to Cal's Inn. It's five silver a week," the elf said, his voice smooth and melodic.
Renzo heard the price and nodded being satisfied.
Zay reached into his coat pocket and pulled out three golden coins, placing them onto the desk and sliding them toward the elf. "How long will this get us for a room with two beds?"
The elf flipped through the pages of his journal, his fingers delicate, and swift as he searched for the relevant information. After a moment, he looked up.
"It will last you sixty weeks."
Zay nodded, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "We'll take it."
The elf took the gold pieces and handed Zay a key made of gleaming gold, engraved with delicate symbols. "Your room is on the thirteenth floor, room seven. The stairs are down that hallway." He lifted his pen and pointed down a corridor.
Renzo and Zay exchanged a glance before nodding. They made their way down the hallway and approached a door made of marble, its surface smooth and polished, the edges carved with intricate patterns. As they opened the door, the sound of their footsteps echoed as they saw the stairs leading upward.
Renzo groaned as he saw the stairs. "Fucking hell," he muttered, grunting. "I've got too damn bad of a hangover for this."
He began to climb the stairs, and Zay laughed before following him up.
After seven minutes of walking up the stairs, they finally made it to the thirteenth floor. They opened a door made of marble, stepping into a hallway where they spotted room seven a little further down. The two of them walked down the hallway toward the room, and Zay lifted the key in his hand to the doorknob, unlocking it. The two brothers stepped inside and closed the door, locking it from the inside.
As Renzo sat down on the bed, he noticed the lavish surroundings. The room was a blend of elegance and charm, with stone walls adorned with tapestries depicting mythic creatures and ancient battles. The two beds were large, both with posts carved with intricate, twisting vines, and the soft, dark velvet curtains around them. The floor was covered in plush rugs, their designs so detailed it seemed as if they could tell a story, looking down. Candles lit the room with a warm, flickering glow, casting small shadows across the wooden beams of the ceiling.
Renzo sighed as he collapsed onto the plush mattress, only to see a message from the Resonance Lens appear before him.
[Seal of Crimson Tempest has deemed you worthy for your first task.]
"What the hell is a task?" Renzo muttered, glancing up at Zay.
"Just give it a moment. Let me know what it says. It's how you unlock the next sequence." Zay answered, his voice calm.
The message flickered for a moment, then continued.
[First Task: Scorch an animal to death using your Seal.]
Renzo blinked. "It says to scorch an animal to death using my Seal." He swallowed slightly, unsure whether to be amused or concerned.
"The hell is this? I mean, I don't mind. I could go for some roasted chicken or something," Renzo added, chuckling lightly to himself.
"Then, let's go do that now. Afterward, we'll continue training until the next Sequence is open," Zay said, standing from the bed and walking toward the door. He reached for the ornate key hanging from the brass hook by the door and unlocked it with a soft click.
Renzo blinked a few times in disbelief, then groaned. "DAMN IT! I hate stairs!" he shouted, reluctance dripping from his voice. He slowly rose from the bed, his muscles protesting, and shuffled over to where Zay was waiting by the door.
They stepped into the hallway, where the polished marble floor gleamed under the light of ornate chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling. Renzo paused at the sight of the stairs again, shaking his head in disdain.
With an exaggerated sigh, Renzo took the first step down, muttering under his breath as he continued down. Zay followed silently behind, a slight smirk on his face.
The two brothers opened the door to the first floor and walked through the corridor, eventually arriving at the common area before stepping out of the hotel.
"So, where the hell do we find an animal in a place like this?" Renzo asked as they walked.
"Just follow me," Zay said, heading east without breaking stride.
Renzo trailed behind him, and after an hour of walking, they came across a massive gate leading to a forest.
Zay walked up to the side of the gate, where a tall wall made of stone and marble loomed. Renzo followed, glancing around curiously.
After a few moments of silent inspection, Zay placed his hands against a specific spot on the wall. Aura surged from his body, flowing outward into the stone.
The wall pulsed, then slowly expanded before splitting open, revealing a path into the dense forest.
Renzo shook his head and didn't even bother to ask how Zay knew about the entrance. He just stepped through it, and Zay followed behind.
"So, did it say anything about a specific animal? Or just anything goes?"
Renzo glanced around and spotted a lone cow munching on grass in the clearing.
"It just said to scorch an animal," he replied, pointing toward it.
"Well, go get it."
Renzo nodded, his red aura beginning to coil around his body like a thin mist. Without realizing it, a resonance echo triggered.
[Blood Flame]
His aura darkened into a deeper red, matching the hue of his blood. Heat shimmered around him as a dark crimson flame formed in his palm. With a sudden burst of speed, Renzo surged forward and leapt at the cow. As his hand made contact, the dark flame ignited, and the animal's body flared up, becoming scorched and blackened in seconds.
"A resonance echo, already? Damn," Zay said, clapping his hands once in surprise.
Renzo stumbled back, his breathing heavy and uneven. "W-what the hell is a resonance echo?" he gasped before collapsing onto his back.
"Think of a fantasy novel where someone uses a skill or a special ability? That's what it is—just what the Resonance Lens calls it. Most people don't get a resonance echo until after the second Sequence," Zay explained as he walked over and extended a hand.
Renzo grabbed it, and Zay helped pull him to his feet.
"Since your Seal is blood-related, every time you activate an echo, it'll likely drain a certain amount of blood. It... probably regenerates over time."
[First Task Completed.]
Renzo saw the message appear in front of him and let out a relieved sigh. His breathing gradually steadied as he glanced around, still pale.
"T-that took a shit ton out of me... holy shit."
Zay chuckled lightly, already turning back toward the entrance.
"It does that to everyone the first time. But now that you've triggered it, you should be able to use it whenever you want."
The two brothers made their way back to the city as the stone wall behind them slowly sealed shut once more.