The morning sun spilled golden light over Blackthorn's stone cottage on Aethelsburg's outskirts, the air crisp with dew and the faint hum of the rift's pulse trembling through the ground.
The yard stood quiet, training dummies untouched, their wooden frames pristine, awaiting use.
Ash arrived first, his wild hair tousled, a satchel slung over his shoulder, his bandaged shoulder stiff from the journey.
He knocked on the weathered door, stepping into the cottage as Blackthorn, a retired knight, greeted him with a gruff nod.
Leaning on a wooden crutch, his disarmed state a testament to past battles, Blackthorn's rugged face bore the scars of a long career. "Where's the other one?" he asked, his voice rough as he adjusted his stance.
Before Ash could answer, the door creaked open, and Eren entered, his dark eyes scanning the room, his presence silent but intense.
Blackthorn studied them both, then gestured to a rough-hewn table.
"I need to let you both understand something first—your starting point." He spread his hands, the crutch resting against the wall.
"Most essences fall into basics like rock, water, sand, fire, blood, earth, and the like. Common stuff, easy to train. But from what I've seen of you two, you've got something rare, rare essence. Ash, that glow you threw back there—unstable, wild. Eren, those fades of yours, phasing in and out—nothing standard. I don't know much about rare essences, I'm not the right man to train you. My knight days taught me blades, not this."
Ash blinked, confusion clouding his face. "What do you mean, rare? I don't even know what I'm doing half the time," he admitted, rubbing his neck.
Blackthorn waved a hand dismissively. "Exactly my point, lad. Your power's a mystery—could be tied to something big, but I'm out of my depth. Same with you, Eren. Those Echoes aren't textbook."
Eren remained silent, his gaze fixed on the table, his thoughts a locked vault.
Blackthorn sighed, reaching into his cloak to pull out a weathered map.
"I'm sending you to the Spade Kingdom—Valderon. There's a man there, a great hunter, retired like me. He'll know what to do with you. I had let him know you'll be coming, my message should get to him before you get there. Here's his address." He slid the map across, marking a point where golden dunes met sandstone spires.
Eren's face tightened, a flash of shock and suspicion flickering across his features at "Spade Kingdom."
His hand twitched, a fade sparking briefly, as if the name dragged up buried memories of sand and blood.
Ash noticed, leaning forward. "You okay?" he asked,his tone cautious.
Eren's jaw clenched, his silence a cold barrier, his gaze fixed on the map.
Blackthorn chuckled dryly. "Don't mind him—he's a closed book. This hunter's the best I knew. He'll unlock what you've got and bring out your best, so get Packing; you leave at dawn."
Dawn broke with a chill, the cottage yard buzzing as Ash slung his satchel over his shoulder.
Blackthorn had arranged a rickety cart pulled by a sturdy mule, its wooden frame creaking under their weight.
Ash turned to Elis, who lingered nearby, she was speaking to a maiden, her green eyes, glowing faintly —with her pink hair resting upon her shoulders in a blue dress.
"We're heading to the Spade Kingdom—Valderon," he said, offering a small smile. Elis's eyes brightened.
"That sounds thrilling! I'd love to come— I'ld love to go on another adventure."
Ash, appreciating her offer, nodded. "You can join us. Might need the help."
She beamed, rushing off. "I'll go grab my things quick!"
Eren, standing by the cart, said nothing, his disapproval a silent storm.
Before they could load up, Elis's father, a stern knight, approached.
"You go nowhere Elis— your leg hasn't still fully recovered," he ordered firmly.
She sighed, her shoulders drooping. "Be careful, Ash," she whispered, stepping back as Ash and Eren climbed aboard, the cart jolting forward with a groan.
The journey carried them through Clover Kingdom's rolling hills, the cart's wheels rumbling over dirt paths, the mule's steady plodding a rhythmic pulse.
The air cooled as they descended into the arid expanse toward Valderon, the landscape shifting to golden dunes that stretched endlessly, their curves sculpted by relentless winds.
Twisted scrub clung to life amid faint scars, and the sun climbed higher, its heat pressing down like a weight.
Ash gripped the cart's edge, the wood rough under his palms, glancing at Eren, who sat rigid, his fades flickering faintly.
"This desert's something—those dunes look like frozen waves," Ash remarked, testing the silence.
Eren offered no reply, his gaze unyielding, his cold demeanor unbroken.
The cart rocked over a rut, jolting them, and Ash winced as his shoulder twinged.
"This mule's got a stubborn streak," he muttered, half to himself. Eren's lips tightened, but he stayed mute, his focus on the shifting sands ahead.
By midday, the heat intensified, the cart's canopy offering scant relief.
Ash unfolded the map, its lines blurring under the glare.
"We should check our route," he said, squinting. "Looks like a village up ahead—maybe ask for directions."
Eren's head snapped toward him, his voice low and sharp. "Talk to no one. We don't need their stares or trouble."
Ash frowned, meeting Eren's cold stare.
"How else do we navigate? This map's a riddle, I can barely understand it."
Eren's fades flickered, a silent warning, but Ash pressed on, the cart rolling toward a cluster of sandstone huts.
The village emerged from the haze, a small outpost with domed roofs and woven mats shading market stalls.
Merchants haggling over dried fruits and leather goods cast curious glances as the cart approached.
Ash hopped down, ignoring Eren's glare. "Excuse me," he called to a wiry man with a turban, "we're heading to Valderon. Know the path?"
The man scratched his beard, eyeing the cart. "Valderon's a day north—follow the trade road, but watch for sandstorms," he advised, his voice raspy.
A woman nearby, sorting spices, added, "Stay clear of the ruins west—bandits lurk there."
A young boy, tugging at her skirt, piped up, "My pa saw strangers there last week!" Ash nodded thanks, turning back, but Eren's eyes narrowed.
"I told you to keep quiet," he muttered, his tone icy.
Ash sighed. "They helped us, what's the harm in that." Eren's silence deepened, his suspicion a palpable weight as they climbed back aboard.
As the sun dipped, they halted near Valderon's outskirts, the cart creaking to a stop.
Ash gathered dry brush, sparking a campfire that crackled against the cooling desert air, casting long shadows on the dunes.
The city's sandstone spires glowed under the setting sun, a distant promise.
Ash sat cross-legged, poking the fire. "Woke up in a river once, soaked and lost—craziest thing, what about you?" he said softly, leaving space for Eren.
"You really like to talk" Eren shunned, his gaze on the flames, his mind replaying Cale's death, the blood on his hands, his vow to avenge her.
A dry wind rustled the sand, and Ash glanced at the stars.
"Clear night, at least," he murmured. Eren didn't respond, his coldness a barrier, though his presence by the fire suggested a reluctant tolerance.
The next day, the cart rolled into Valderon, the Spade Kingdom's grand capital.
Vast sandstone plazas stretched before them, arched markets teeming with caravans hauling spices and fabrics, and wind-sculpted towers rose like ancient sentinels.
The desert-modern vibe—elegant without technology, its arid grandeur alive with merchants haggling and guards patrolling—felt alien.
"This place is different from the clover kingdom, we could get lost," Ash muttered, shifting uncomfortably.
Eren nodded faintly, his suspicion from the map's name deepening.
"Too exposed," he said quietly, his voice tight.
A fortified ruin with rune-carved walls loomed ahead, its presence commanding.
As the cart neared, a towering figure watched from a balcony, his voice booming, "You're late," the ground subtly shifting underfoot with his "Calibrating Rock" essence.
Ash and Eren exchanged a wary glance, unaware this was Grandmaster Jio's domain.
The wind carried a faint whisper, marking the journey's end with promise and uncertainty.