For two days the plains stretched endlessly. Grass swayed in golden waves, the wind humming softly, as though the earth itself was pushing us toward our destination. Kael walked beside me, his scar still fresh though the mark had healed. His silence had become his shield again, and I learned not to break it unless he chose to speak.
And then, as the sun tilted westward, I saw it.
The walls of Avreth rose in the distance — tall, carved from pale white stone that shimmered like marble under the light. Banners of blue and silver danced atop towers, each one bearing the sigil of a roaring lion. For the first time since my journey began, hope flared in my chest.
"Avreth," I whispered. "I finally made it."
Kael's lips curved — not quite a smile, more a twitch of memory. "Don't celebrate too early. The gates of Avreth don't open so easily for strangers."
His words proved sharper than prophecy.
The gates were a monument themselves — two slabs of steel reinforced with rune-carvings that glowed faintly. Armed guards in polished armor stood, spears angled toward the sky, eyes as sharp as hawks. As Kael and I approached, their leader raised a gauntleted hand.
"Halt. State your names and origin."
Kael stepped forward with the tone of someone used to guild formalities. "Kael, Hunter Guild member. Registered."
The guard nodded slightly, then his gaze flicked toward me — and lingered. His brows furrowed, suspicion etched into every line of his face.
"And you, boy. Your attire… foreign. Your aura… unreadable." He tapped the butt of his spear against the ground. "You may pose danger to the kingdom. By law, suspicious persons are to be taken before the Chancellor."
Kael's jaw tightened. "He's with me. I vouch—"
"Silence." The guard's voice thundered, making passersby pause and glance. "Speak again, Hunter, and we'll mark this as insubordination."
I turned to Kael. His fists clenched at his sides, veins straining against his skin. He lowered his gaze, biting down on fury, and forced himself to stand still. My chest ached watching him — chained by law, unable to help.
The guards stepped aside, and a new figure approached.
She moved with elegance — robes of midnight-blue trailing faintly, hair tied in a neat braid that shimmered almost silver under the sun. Her eyes — sharp, intelligent, carrying the quiet weight of command — met mine without flinching.
"I'll take him."
The guards saluted. "Yes, Lady Elira."
So this was my escort. Elira Veylan, daughter of the Chancellor himself.
As we walked into the kingdom, the world exploded in color. Avreth was alive — streets paved in smooth stone, vendors calling out their wares, fountains gushing crystal water, laughter of children chasing through markets. Towers rose behind walls, their windows glowing with magical light.
Yet Elira's steps were steady, her expression unmoved, as if she had seen this scene a thousand times and no longer cared.
She finally broke the silence. "You're unusually calm for someone being taken before my father. Do you even know what this means?"
I shrugged slightly. "I'm new here. Maybe you can tell me."
Her eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
"Auren."
"What are you doing here?"
"…Walking. Toward something I don't yet understand."
Her brow arched, unimpressed. "From where did you come?"
I hesitated. To say "another world" seemed madness. So I answered carefully: "Far away."
"For whom do you work?"
"No one."
She stopped then, turning to face me, her expression more curious than cold. "Then what is your specialty?"
"…My what?"
Her lips parted slightly, as though in disbelief. "You don't even know? In Avreth, in every kingdom of this continent, one's occupation and specialty are the foundation of identity. A hunter, an adventurer, a warrior, magician, healer, assassin… something. What you can do, what defines your path."
I frowned. "And if someone doesn't know?"
"Then they're either lying," she said sharply, "or… from somewhere very strange."
I met her eyes. "How do I check?"
Without hesitation, she raised her hand. A faint system window materialized in front of her, glowing lines of text in the air. I stepped closer, peering over her shoulder.
[Name: Elira Veylan]
[Occupation: Magician]
[Specialty: Healer]
Her voice softened slightly, perhaps out of pride. "I am a magician of the fourth order, healer specialty. That is my role in this world. Each person is granted their path at birth, recorded by the system. Show me yours."
My heart quickened. Slowly, almost trembling, I whispered the word in my mind.
System Window.
And it appeared.
But unlike hers, the letters glowed darker, sharper, and… chaotic, as if alive.
[Name: Auren]
[Occupation: —]
[Specialty: █████████████]
The text shifted, glitching, symbols I didn't recognize warping across the window. At the bottom, a single line pulsed in blood-red:
Specialty: Forbidden / Undefined
My breath caught.
Elira leaned closer, impatient. "Well? Show me."
But when I tilted the window toward her… nothing. The letters vanished, dissolving into mist, leaving only a blank screen in her eyes.
She frowned. "There's nothing there."
I swallowed hard. "Strange. Maybe it's broken."
She studied me, gaze sharp, as if peeling away layers of my skin. But after a long silence, she simply shook her head. "My father will decide what to do with you. Until then… keep your secrets. Just know this — no one lies to the Chancellor and walks away unharmed."
We continued walking, the castle looming closer, its towers casting long shadows over the bustling kingdom.
Yet my mind wasn't on the walls or the castle or even Elira's sharp warnings.
It was on that single word — forbidden.
What am I?