Chapter 12: Night of the Numbers
KRNNNNNK—CHHHHK—GRRRRWWWWNNK…
The monster elevator groaned as it rose, its ancient gears echoing like the breath of some slumbering giant.
Kael's gaze never left the black box. Strange numbers crawled and shifted across its surface, changing with each passing moment. His focus was so intense that Nylum and Nibsken could only stare at him in silence, unease stirring in their eyes.
Still clinging to Volgran's massive foot, Grak'Mar leaned toward Liraen.
"Oi, Elf… is human alright?"
"I'm not sure. Let me check."
With a sweep of his wind Might that swirls under his feet, Liraen glided up to Volgran's shoulder where Kael sat clutching the box.
"Yo, Kael. Are you okay?"
Kael didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on the glowing sequence, his lips parted as though he were counting under his breath.
"Kael? Oi, Kael!"
The human startled, gasping softly as he finally registered Liraen's presence.
"Y-Yeah, Ren… I'm okay."
Liraen studied him for a moment longer, then gave a slow nod before descending back to Grak'Mar at the bottom.
"He's fine."
"Yeah…" the ogre muttered, unconvinced.
It was rare for Kael to act this way, perhaps the first time any of them had seen him so entranced.
As silence lingered around Kael's unusual behavior, the monster elevator began to slow.
The dull glow of the worker section flickered into view.
SKREEEEEEECHHHHH—CLAAAANGG!
With a grinding shriek and a heavy slam, the monster elevator came to a stop.
The vast worker section stretched before them lined with rows of metal shelves, cabinets, wardrobes, and barrels. Silver bars hung from the ceiling, meant for workers to store their belongings. Yet the place felt strangely hollow and quiet, most of its lab workers still busy far below underground level.
Volgran's enormous figure led the way, his steps echoing as he approached the biggest out of four metal doors made for his size.
On the other side, eyes immediately turned toward the customer section separated from the workers' space by a shimmering wall of green crystal water infused with Might. The barrier glowed faintly, the Might crystals above the customer section shimmering brighter now that night had settled. Many nobles, merchants, Realm Protectors, and other travelers from all races, especially Elemarit races that consist of elementals and spirits still lingering and buying the equipment in the customer section.
Nylum leaned close, lowering his voice.
"Hmm… many of the customers and Realm Protectors seem to be from the Elemarit races."
"Yeah, I noticed it too. Water," Nibsken muttered softly.
"Maybe because it's night," Reyvik chimed in, his ears twitching eagerly, eyes wide and no longer drowsy.
"Ceh! Forest dog, so you're not sleepy anymore, huh?" the goblin sneered.
"Can't blame me, goblin. It is night already…" Reyvik grinned, his fangs glinting.
Liraen hovered beside them, his wind Might beating softly as he too gazed toward the bustling customer section. Grak'Mar's eyes followed, equally drawn in. No matter how many times they had seen this sight, it never failed to amaze them.
But Kael…
His eyes hadn't moved once. Still fixed on the black box, on the shifting numbers and the strange, cryptic outlines. He turned it over and over in his hands, as if searching for something hidden in its design.
What do these numbers mean?
What's the connection between them and this pattern?
What could be sealed inside?
And who… who could have created a box that uses numbers as its very language?
The questions tangled in his mind like threads without end.
Liraen glanced at him, lips parting as if to speak but nothing came. There were no words that could reach him in this state. Kael's stare was unwavering, locked onto the box as though the world around him no longer existed, as though nothing and no one could disturb him.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
Volgran's footsteps echoed through the vast, silent worker's section. The giant drew closer to the largest of the four massive metal doors, its surface towering like a wall of iron.
When he finally stood before it, he pressed his enormous hand against the cold surface. At once, the door stirred, recognizing the Might that flowed within his touch.
With a low, thunderous groan, the colossal gate began to part. Shafts of golden light pierced through the widening gap, and as it opened fully, the brilliance of the late evening spilled over them the orange hues of a dying sunset painting the sky above.
The door rumbled shut again behind them as Volgran stepped forward, each movement steady and deliberate. By the entrance, a few Dragonoid and Ogre gatekeepers stood guard, their sharp eyes softening as they raised their hands in acknowledgment.
They knew these faces. Young bloods, brimming with restlessness and ambition. Gatekeepers had seen many like them before each carrying something in their hearts, each destined to chase after it.
So they just let them pass…Chasing whatever they desire.
Volgran continued his steady walk to the massive metal gate. To their side lay the outside of the customer section, divided by a shimmering wind-Might barrier. Long queues of weary customers still stretched outside, but beyond the metal gates, crowned wagons and noble carriages already waited to carry their owners home.
As they passed through the gates, the smooth stone gave way to a muddy brick path. Despite the late hour, many still made their way toward the Forgehold traders, laborers, and wanderers of every race.
Upon Volgran's shoulders sat four of his companions, while one clung firmly to his left foot. Above, the elf circled lightly through the air. Volgran himself didn't talk much, but he needed no words; he understood his role well. He was the largest, the strongest, and the quiet strength of their group.
Step by step, the muddy bricks turned pale, giving way to white stone as they drew nearer to the heart of the town.
Volgran slowed his pace as houses and street vendors began to appear, their stalls lit by crystal lamps and glowing charms. Giants or titans rarely ventured into streets like these their size alone made them a danger to the delicate bustle of town life. But Volgran was different. Those who lived here recognized him at once, not as a threat, but as a gentle giant who treaded carefully among them.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Each step sent a low rumble through the white-brick ground, yet it was not fear that followed it was familiarity.
The streets came alive with the denizens of the night. Fairies glimmered like drifting sparks, shadowfolk slipped silently between the stalls, nocturnal beastfolk prowled lazily through the crowd, while hulking night trolls bargained with merchants. Goblins chattered in groups, and insectoids with translucent wings buzzed overhead, their carapaces catching the lamplight.
"Be careful, Volgran!"
"Make way, give him space!"
"A giant is coming through!"
The voices of Kallidorra's townsfolk echoed through the night streets, not with fear, but with practiced rhythm guiding one another to clear a path for the gentle giant. Lantern light reflected off the white bricks, casting long shadows as the crowd parted, allowing Volgran to pass without incident.
Kael lifted his gaze from the black box for a moment, watching as the townsfolk worked together. A faint smile tugged at his lips. This was not the first time they had walked these streets with Volgran, and the people had long since learned to trust the giant's careful steps.
They were close now. Kael's home was only a few streets away.
Then, at last, Volgran's orange eyes caught sight of it a sturdy two-floor wooden house, its frame aged but well-kept, with a handful of warm lights glowing from within. Just a few steps more.
Volgran slowed, his massive strides shortening as he approached the house, careful not to shake the ground too harshly.
Volgran stopped in front of the two-floor wooden house, shorter than his height
"Put me down, Volgran. Bring the others to my backyard," Kael said, balancing the black box in his arms.
"Okay," the giant rumbled.
He lowered his massive hand from his shoulder platform. Kael leapt onto the giant palm with the box pressed close, then Volgran carefully bent down and set him on the ground. With that done, Volgran carried the rest of their companions around the side of the house toward the backyard.
Kael, meanwhile, slipped through the front door.
The faint warmth of cooking herbs and simmering broth drifted from the kitchen, where Elvareth the motherly elf who tended the home was busy at the hearth. Kael hesitated for a moment, but decided not to disturb her. Quietly, he hurried up the stairs.
His room door creaked open. At once, he set the black box down on his table. The glowing outlines flickered, then faded away the moment no Might touched its surface.
Kael's gaze shifted to the far side of the room, where three levers stood by the window. He reached out and pulled the first down.
Clack!
Light bloomed across the house, changing from dull crystal lamps light to brighter electric energized light.
He pulled the second.
Clack!
In Kael's room, there were two doors one for entering, and another that led outside. But since his room was on the second floor, the drop was far too high for him to jump safely. That was the reason for the second lever.
The moment Kael pulled it CLACK—CREEEEEAAAK—THUD! a hidden mechanism came alive. From the second door, a wooden staircase slowly descended, stretching all the way down to the backyard.
Volgran was already there, lowering himself onto the spacious grass with a heavy thud. From his broad shoulder platform, he carefully set Nylum, Nibsken, and Reyvik down with his giant hand, each of them steadying themselves as their feet touched the earth.
Kael ran down the stairs from his room into the backyard, setting the box on the ground.
"Wait I still need to bring some of my things," he said quickly
Nibsken stretched his arms and hopped off Volgran's hand with a shake of his head. "Alright, human… whatever you wish." He knew better than to question Kael when his mind was working.
Without another word, Kael darted back to the wooden stairs, climbing up toward his room once again.
As Kael searched upstairs for his things, the others lingered in the backyard.
"Isn't that Miss Elvareth inside?" Nylum pointed toward the glow of the kitchen window with his water hand.
"Yeah…" Nibsken's eyes lit up. "She's gorgeous!"
"That's Kael's mother, goblin," Grak'Mar grunted, giving Nibsken a sharp slap on his bald head.
"Ouch!" Nibsken rubbed his scalp.
"Bwahaha!" Nylum Laughed at Nibsken, and even Liraen chuckled. "But you're not wrong. Even at her age, she's beautiful."
"Yeahh…" Reyvik stretched, his wolf ears twitching. "Everyone from your race has pretty faces, Ren."
"Hah! True enough," Liraen replied smugly, brushing a hand through his long hair.
"Except you, elf!" Nibsken barked, bursting into laughter.
Liraen's brow twitched. "I can't believe I'm being mocked by a short, bald goblin…"
"What did ya say, elf!?" Nibsken snapped, puffing out his chest.
"Hahaha!" The others erupted in laughter at their bickering.
Just then, Kael descended the wooden stairs, arms full of tools and the black box balanced carefully. "Alright, alright enough flirting with the old elf," he said dryly.
Reyvik's ears twitched as he jabbed a clawed finger at Nibsken.
Everyone looks at Nibsken's confused face and laughs.
Kael just let him be then he called Liraen
"Ren, help me with the table," Kael called.
"Alright." Liraen grabbed the small wooden table near the back door and carried it over. "This one, Kael?"
"Yeah, put it here."
Thud! The table landed on the grass. Kael carefully set down all his tools on it the black box resting at the center like some strange relic.
"Okay… let me check the number pattern first…" Kael muttered, already pulling out pens, scraps of paper, and a worn notebook.
"Volgran!"
"Yap!" the giant rumbled.
"Touch the box again."
Volgran's huge hand pressed against the black surface. Instantly, orange lines flared across its edges the numbers returning in their eerie glow.
Kael's eyes lit up. "Perfect…"
He snatched his pen, and with frantic precision his hand darted across the page, copying every shifting numeral. His wrist moved like a machine, his focus absolute. The others could only watch, stunned at how fast Kael worked.
The others stayed quiet, simply watching Kael as his hand raced across the paper.
"Woow, he's fast when it comes to this," Reyvik said in awe, his ears twitching as his tail gave a restless wag.
Their amazement was broken when Nylum spoke up.
"What exactly are those numbers, Kael…?"
"Hmm?" Kael didn't lift his eyes, continuing to write, glancing between his books and the glowing black box.
"This?" he asked, jotting down another sequence.
"Yes. I… I mean, we don't really understand."
Kael's pen paused for a moment. "Numbers are a representation of the quantity of something, Nylum. Numbers help us to tell 'How much' of something"
"I understand that, I mean I can count," Nylum replied, his watery body rippling as he tried to form a hand fingerless, shaky, but vaguely pointing.
Kael chuckled. "Hah. You still don't get it, right? Numbers aren't just for counting. They're math. A language to represent value, measurement… and the closest thing to absolute truth. For me, it's the most logical language in this realm."
The group fell silent. The distance between Kael's way of thinking and theirs felt impossibly vast.
Kael bent over his work again, filling pages with symbols while the black box pulsed faintly.
Outside, one sun began to sink below the horizon while the other two lingered, casting a faint golden glow across the sky. Fifteen moons slowly revealed themselves, each a different color, painting the night in shimmering hues. Kael's house glowed brightly under the hum of electric powered bulb lights, unlike the other houses lit by flickering fire-Might.
Nocturnal beastfolk emerged into the night wings flapping, paws padding moving alongside the creatures of day who sought their rest.
To most, this world seemed vast and endless, a mythical realm without borders. But to Kael, it was just a small living place, waiting to be understood…..
Hours passed. Kael wrote without pause, the moons climbing higher, their light outshining the last remnants of sun.
Some of his friends drifted into sleep. Grak'Mar and Nylum curled up on Volgran's massive shoulder while he was sleeping, dozing beneath the moonlight. Reyvik, however, stayed awake, his bright eyes fixed on Kael's moving hand. His ears twitched, his tail swayed, his entire body alert — the moonlight had stirred something within him.
Still, Kael did not stop. His pen scratched endlessly, chasing the numbers, chasing truth.
Then suddenly—
Kael gasped, his pen freezing mid-stroke.
"HAH… HAHAHAHAHA! I knew it!" He dropped the pen, staring at the glowing numbers with wide eyes.
The sudden outburst made Liraen jolt awake. "Wha—what is it, Kael? What's with the numbers you're talking about?"
Kael exhaled sharply, his expression a mix of triumph and disbelief. "Sigh… Guys… I think I finally know how to open this box."
"Awooo!" Reyvik's howl cut through the quiet, his wolf ears twitching in excitement.
"What's that, Kael?" Nylum asked as he and Grak'Mar slid down from Volgran's massive shoulder. Nibsken and Volgran stirred awake, blinking in confusion at the sudden energy.
Kael grinned, holding the black box tightly. "Yeah… I've figured it out. These numbers, this endless sequence it isn't random. It's a code. A key meant for me to unlock it."
He flipped the black box upside down, revealing strange, interwoven patterns etched into its underside. The glowing sequence aligned with the grooves, like a riddle waiting to be solved.
"…This puzzle was here all along."
Everyone fell silent as Kael spoke.
"Okay, guys… I'm sorry, but I have to solve this by myself. You should all head home it's already late. This is something only I can do."
"Hah? Whyyy, Kael?" Nylum's watery form rippled as he stabilised himself after sliding down from Volgran's shoulder.
"This will take a long time, Nylum… maybe a few days."
"But—"
Nylum stopped when Liraen placed a firm hand on his liquid shoulder. "Let him be, Nylum."
"…Sigh. Okay, Ren."
Grak'Mar, Nibsken, and Reyvik exchanged looks. They could see Kael's mind racing faster than any of them could follow.
Kael gave them a small, tired smile. "Thanks, everyone… but I need to do this alone."
"Awoooo!" Reyvik howled, his wolf ears twitching. "Alright, guys, time to move!"
"Yeah, yeah, forest dog, no need to get too excited," Nibsken muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Giant! Let's move!" Grak'Mar called.
Volgran hesitated, his booming voice softer than usual. "…But Human?"
"Human's gat work," Grak'Mar replied before Kael could answer. "We leave him here!"
"…Aye." Volgran nodded, lowering his enormous hand to the ground so the others could climb aboard.
Reyvik, Nylum, and Nibsken hopped onto Volgran's massive hand, and he carefully lifted them onto his shoulder platform. Volgran stood tall as Grak'Mar clung to his left leg, while Liraen floated beside them with his wind Might.
From below, Kael waved with a smile. Volgran gave a slow nod and took a heavy step forward.
"Bye, Kaaelll!" Nylum's watery voice rippled with each echoing step.
Kael waved back.
THUD.
THUD.
Volgran's footsteps grew fainter as they left Kael's house behind.
Once they were gone, Kael gathered his tools, books, papers, and the black box, carrying them upstairs. He closed his door and pulled the lever to retract the wooden stairs.
Sitting at his desk, Kael placed the black box before him. Strange patterns marked its underside, whispering secrets yet to be solved. His mind sharpened, his hands moved quickly across the pages—
his spirit burning with the resolve to one day stand as a Realm Protector.
End of chapter 12
Those number sure are something mystery
What's in the box
How will Kael open it?