Before the sun had fully set, Kael and Liam reached the Guard-Post. They carried with them the bodies of a few small animals—food for the night.
"Rest for now. I'll call you once the food's ready," Liam suggested. "Yeah... That sounds good," Kael agreed.
The two separated—Kael heading into the post while Liam turned toward the firepit. Just as Kael reached the gate, Liam called out, "Oh! I almost forgot—old man gave me a book. It's in my room!"
Kael turned slightly, puzzled. A book? From that old man?
"I'll check it out," Kael replied before continuing on.
As he entered the Guard-Post's main hall, a guard stepped forward, eyes wide. "By the gods… Kael!? I heard you were dead!"
"Haha... Me too," Kael answered with a half-smile.
"You look dead," the guard added, squinting at him. "I feel dead," Kael joked again.
"Well, it's good you're still breathing. Liam's been visiting your tomb every day for the last twenty days."
"…Hmm." Kael had no words for that. Just a quiet nod, then continued on toward the rooms, offering a soft farewell as he passed.
Inside, he found a bed. Without a second thought, he collapsed onto it like a corpse. The long journey, the weakened body—it had drained him.
His eyes barely shut before sleep took him.
When he awoke again, Liam was standing at his side.
"Let's go. Food's done," Liam said.
"Yeah…" Kael got up, groggy but awake, and followed him.
They walked to the back of the post, where Liam had made camp. A fire crackled between them, roasting rabbit meat slowly. They sat across from each other, watching the flames dance, listening to the quiet hiss of meat, the faint chirping of bugs, and the occasional pop of embers.
Liam sliced a piece, placed it into a small pot, and handed it to Kael. With it came lemon and spice.
He took some for himself. They ate in silence.
After a while, Kael broke it. "I heard you came to the chamber… every single day."
Liam just hummed.
"…Thank you," Kael said.
Again, a hum. Then silence returned, stretching between them until the last bite.
Later, inside the room.
"Did you read the book?" Liam asked, glancing at the table. The book was untouched.
"I fell asleep," Kael said, following his gaze.
"Hmm." Liam went to his bed without another word.
"I guess I'll check it out tomorrow…" Kael muttered, lying down as well.
(There are three beds in each cabin.)
In the bull cart the next morning, Kael and Liam had joined a merchant group heading for Valemire. They sat amid sacks of spices and crates of dried fruit, four guards traveling alongside.
Kael held the book in his lap—the one the old man had left behind.
"Hey, Master Liam," Kael said, flipping a page. "What was that old man's name?"
"I never asked," Liam replied, eyes still closed, resting.
"…Hmm." Kael went back to reading.
It was an unusual book. Not strange exactly. But rare.
A book on Tantra.
"Maha Tantra…" Kael whispered, reading the title. "Interesting name."
If his memory served him, Maha in the ancient tongue meant "Great" or "Supreme."
"Great Tantra… Even just 'Tantra' is dangerous enough in this region…"
Kael wasn't wrong. In Western Virelya, one of the major Power Houses…. The House Dravyen—had heavily restricted Tantra. Even the King of Virelya, Elurear CaerThale of the Royal House of CaerThale, was a master Tantric himself. He had once publicly warned of the recklessness of untrained practice, calling it a danger to the very Existence itself.
Following the king's decree, the noble houses complied. Some banned it entirely. Others, only in part.
In Valemoor, under House CaerVale, Tantra was partially restricted.
"Unauthorized use of Tantra is banned in Valemoor," Kael murmured aloud. He recalled the situation.
He sighed.
"Well… We'll see what the future holds."
And with that, he opened the book.
The first page bore a handwritten note in the ancient tongue:
"There are one hundred and eight ways in this book—taught to me by my master. I have listed them all here, in proper order. You only need one. Choose the one that suits you best."
Kael whispered the lines as he read them, his voice barely above the creaking of the cart.
…
"Permit," a guard demanded as Kael and Liam reached the gates of Valemire.
Liam handed over his Adventurer's Pass, while Kael presented his University Pass. After a quick inspection, the guards nodded and allowed them to enter the village.
"I've always wondered this…" Kael began, glancing sideways at Liam, who gave him a curious look. "Why do we have to show a pass just to enter Valemire? I'd understand if it were Valemoor, Durmira, or even Verenthal… but why is some random village so strict?"
Liam kept his eyes on the road as he answered calmly. "Because this is the closest settlement to the Spine."
"So what? It's not like people can just come strolling in from beyond the Spine or Zha'ath," Kael countered, unconvinced.
As they walked past a small bread shop, Liam stopped to buy a loaf. Kael moved a little ahead, drawn by the colorful display of fruits at a nearby stall.
"What's this fruit?" Kael asked, pointing to a basket of dark, spiny berries.
"Hogberries," the shopkeeper replied.
"Fresh?" Kael pressed.
"Picked just this morning."
"Hmm… I'll take three kilos."
"On the way," the shopkeeper said, binding the berries together with a rope. "Thirty shards, please."
Kael paid and slung the bundle over his shoulder as Liam caught up.
"Where do you think people like the Gloamforged come from?" Liam asked casually.
"They're adventurers, right? Don't they just move up the ranks as they get stronger?" Kael replied.
"Yes, but even someone like the Captain—who's walked all of Virelya… is still only Emberlight," Liam said, eyeing the berries on Kael's shoulder.
after a pause, "How much?", He asked.
"Thirty shards.", Kael replied.
Liam hummed thoughtfully, gaze fixed on the road ahead.
"It does smell like a bakery here, doesn't it?" Kael said, recalling something Edwards had mentioned when they first arrived at Valemire.
"Hmm," Liam agreed with a nod.
after a little pause, Kael spoke again.
"So you're saying there are people beyond the wall… and they're so strong that they rank differently as adventurers?" He asked.
"Hmm-hmm," Liam replied.
Kael tilted his head, looking up at the pale sky as they walked.
The bustle of the village slowly faded. Fewer people milled about, the buildings grew sparse, and open ground stretched ahead as they approached the far wall of Valemire.
Liam stopped in front of a wooden building as he heard a cry…
"Miya…", Kael spoke, as he also heard the cry.
As they saw a Bull-Cart standing middle of the open ground, and a familiar figure standing near that… They ran towards the cart.
But not for long…
Both of them stopped.
As they looked at the scene ahead of them.