69 Chapter 69
Aruno set his bowl down, the warmth lingering on his fingers. Silence stretched between them for a moment, only the soft crackle of the fire filling the room.
Void's voice slid into his mind, amused. "So, Ghost, do we get a bedtime story next or are we just collecting village blessings like trophies now?"
Aruno didn't respond, letting the comment pass. Instead, he leaned back, studying Liraya. There was something about her composure that made the clearing outside feel distant, almost irrelevant.
"You're calm," he finally said, voice low. "Even with all this… chaos."
Liraya tilted her head slightly, a faint smile on her lips. "Calm doesn't mean unafraid. It means knowing what you can control and what you cannot. The storm outside? That we cannot change. But what we do here, what we choose to give and protect… that we can."
Aruno allowed a corner of his mouth to twitch, a hint of a smirk. "And you are teaching me this… because?"
"Because even the strongest traveler needs rest," Liraya replied simply.
Aruno's eyes flicked to the window, the clearing beyond quiet and still now, the rain gone. He let the comment sit with him, the first trace of calm settling over him.
Void's tone shifted, sly this time. "Rest? You? Ha. I'd pay to see that."
Aruno didn't answer. He simply leaned forward, elbows on the table, letting the fire's warmth seep into him. The storm had passed, and for a brief moment, the world felt slower, smaller, and somehow safe.
Liraya watched him, her hands folded in front of her on the table. "When paths open," she said softly, "choices appear. The merge may have changed the world, but the steps we take still matter."
Aruno nodded, absorbing her words. "Then… I'll move forward. Carefully."
Void muttered in disbelief, "Carefully? That's not the Ghost I know… oh, this is going to be fun."
And for the first time in hours, Aruno allowed himself to breathe. The battles would not end, but for now, in the small warmth of this village and the quiet guidance of a stranger, he could pause.
Aruno stepped out into the village. The rain had stopped, leaving the stone pathways slick and glistening in the fading light. Villagers watched him as he passed, keeping their distance, sensing the sharp, controlled aura that clung to him. Children peeked from doorways, and whispers followed him down the streets, but no one approached.
Void's voice murmured in his mind, dry and incredulous. "Well done, Ghost. Walk through a village like a shadow and you're still treated like a polite stranger."
Aruno ignored him, moving steadily through the cobblestone paths that wound between small homes. Smoke drifted from chimneys, and gardens glistened with leftover rain.
At the center of the village, a large building caught his attention. Hammering rang out, metal singing with each strike, and warm light spilled from the open doors. Inside, a blacksmith worked over a glowing forge. He was massive, broad-shouldered, muscles flexing under layers of soot and sweat. Sparks flew with every swing of his hammer.
Aruno stopped just outside the doorway, observing. The blacksmith noticed him, but only half-turned, aware of a presence without fully registering it.
He wiped his brow and spoke, voice deep and steady. "Name's Kaelor. I make weapons, rings, charms, all kinds of enchantments. You're… not from around here, are you?"
Aruno's eyes scanned the shelves lining the walls, filled with weapons, rings, amulets, and charms, each pulsing with faint magical energy. "No," he said simply, voice low. "Passing through."
Kaelor gave a small nod, hammer resting on his shoulder. "Then feel free to look. I don't usually see travelers like you walking calmly through the center of town. Curious."
Aruno didn't move immediately, just studied the enchanted items and the blacksmith at work. His focus was precise, measuring the potential of each charm and ring without touching them.
Aruno's gaze fell on a ring resting on a carved wooden stand. Its surface shimmered with an almost alive light, the runes engraved along the band pulsating faintly as if breathing.
"What does this do?" he asked, voice calm, measured.
Kaelor's massive frame shifted as he leaned closer to examine it. "Ah… that one isn't just a trinket. That's a warding ring of the High Thariel. It shields against curses, amplifies magical resistance, even strengthens latent abilities. Very few can handle its energy properly. Misuse it, and it could burn the unprepared."
Aruno's eyes scanned the intricate runes, reading their flow instinctively. "I'll take it."
Kaelor's brow furrowed. "You've got coin for that? It's not cheap."
Aruno's hand moved subtly, and a shard materialized in his palm. It glimmered with a light that seemed older than the mountains, deep and alien.
"I don't have traditional currency," Aruno said, holding it out. "Can this serve?"
Kaelor's massive hands closed around the shard, examining its weight, depth, and glow. His eyes widened slightly as the energy thrum vibrated faintly in his chest. "By the Thariel… I've never seen one like this offered in trade. That… that could cover a dozen rings like this. You're not ordinary, are you?"
"Not concerned with ordinary," Aruno said simply.
Kaelor exhaled slowly, then shook his head. "No. You can't just take one. That ring alone isn't enough for someone like you. Not with the way you carry yourself. You'll need more. One alone would be wasted on someone with your presence. You must take at least three—cover yourself, augment yourself, and protect yourself. Anything less would be foolish."
Aruno raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "Very well."
Kaelor carefully selected two more rings, each humming with its own potent enchantments. One shimmered with a protective aura, the other thrummed with a latent offensive energy, responding almost instinctively to Aruno's aura.
"You can't just leave them behind," Kaelor said firmly, placing them in front of Aruno. "Someone like you… you'll need them all."
Aruno slid the first ring onto his finger. The moment it touched his skin, the faint glow from its runes vanished, and soon the ring itself seemed to disappear entirely. He held up his hand, turning it, but there was no trace of the band remaining.
The other two rings followed suit, vanishing as soon as they settled onto his fingers. Only the faint pulse of energy hinted at their presence, a quiet thrum against his aura.
Kaelor chuckled, a deep rumble. "Ah, yes. That's normal for rings forged by the High Thariel. They meld to the wearer's aura, become invisible to the naked eye, but never lose their strength or enchantment. The power is always with you… even if no one sees it."
Aruno flexed his fingers subtly, feeling the energy shift and settle around him. "Interesting."
Kaelor leaned back, arms crossed, his presence commanding even in casual posture. "Most mortals would panic if the rings vanished. They'd think they'd been tricked or cheated. But… you… you carry more than sight can measure."
Void muttered in Aruno's mind, a trace of amusement in his tone. "Invisible jewelry, huh? I bet you'll freak out a few people just by moving your fingers."
Aruno allowed himself a faint smirk. "It seems we have new tools to test."
Kaelor's voice grew firm, almost paternal. "Remember, their invisibility is no reason for carelessness. Their magic still flows through you. Misuse, and even you could be overwhelmed."