Chapter 19: A Journey Begins
As Reydon and Waker nodded to accept the mission, Guild Master Bayer leaned forward with an unusual seriousness in his tone. "Make your preparations. You'll depart after Juma prayer. It's a long mission. It'll take three weeks just to reach to your destination."
Waker blinked, baffled. "Three weeks? Where are we going? The next town's only a day's ride."
Bayer didn't answer directly. "Prepare well. You'll be crossing the Astal Mountains to reach a teleportation gate. Your destination is the city of Xrylus."
Waker sighed in disbelief. Ravi, hidden beneath his Reydon Leyn identity, remained calm outwardly, but inwardly he noted every word.
Xrylus. A floating city, built on an ancient platform long before the Sixth Great World War by Everlasting Conjurers who were rumoured to be mythical level Essence Weilders. At its heart lay the most prestigious Essence Weilder Academy in the empire, named after the legendary alchemist—Xrylus. The city was both a marvel of ancient magic and modern advancement.
Yet, Ravi's true destination lay before that: Aqua Hospice. A border city where there is chance for a cure. The Dark Sigil on his neck—the cursed mark threatening his sanity and life—grew more volatile by the day. And he knew it was only a matter of time before Corral Fukasaku or the Scorpio Order found him.
Waker was reluctant. The journey was long, and he worried for his younger brother. But ultimately, he accepted and returned home to prepare.
After the Juma prayer—where it seemed as if the entire city of Antiarena had gathered—Ravi and Waker made the same quiet dua, asking for a safe journey and protect their siblings.
At 2:30 p.m., they stood at the designated location. Three guards were stationed nearby, watching the perimeter. Soon, eight travelers approached—mercenaries and traders who had hired protection for the journey. Among them, four were confirmed Essence Weilders.
Ravi had orchestrated this from behind the scenes.
The previous week, he had subtly manipulated events. He let a minor cursed creature—a lingering phantom attracted to his Dark Sigil—attack the group. The eight travelers managed to fend it off, confirming his capability as he provided help. He also arranged for the guild master to meet the group by chance. That encounter led to the mission being officially assigned to Ravi and Waker.
To ensure no other Essence Weilders interfered, Ravi had quietly sabotaged their missions. Delays. Setbacks. Enough to keep them too busy to qualify.
As for the guild master's daughter, Ravi confirmed she had never taken a long or dangerous mission. Bayer doted on her and would never allow her to be risked.
Ravi also confirmed that the house they repaired the previous day—it belonged to this very group. They fixed it quickly to sell it before departing.
Among the group, eight distinct individuals stood out. Four were Essence Weilders with notable control over Essence Techniques, and two possessed awakened Essence Aspects. One was a child, no older than Zaara, clutching a wooden stick and two thick books: Encyclopedia of the Inmitten Continent and Beginner's Guide for the Privileged Essence Weilders.
Waker's eye twitched. Ravi could almost hear the sarcasm brewing in his friend's head.
He turned his focus to the group's members. All were ex-members of another guild—Great Claws:
Elyra Velin – A calm, silver-haired archer with precision-based Essence Techniques.
Tarin Drosk – Spear user, known for his brutal close-quarters combat style.
Sira Windemere – Agile and swift, a dual-dagger wielder specialized in speed-type Essence Techniques.
Velka Murne – Possesses a Wind Aspect; her control over currents makes her vital in navigation and scouting.
Garn Trelos – Earth Aspect user, grounded and resilient, a natural defender.
Mirelle Trelos – Garn's wife and a gentle healer with a supportive Essence Aspect.
Dorn Trelos – Their son, a Greatsword user with dual Earth-Fire Aspect and mastery over devastating techniques.
Kiran Trelos – Their youngest son. Awakened his Aspect at age three naturally. Talent ranked at Advanced. His aspect is unknown as it remained dormant.
Ravi's thoughts drifted briefly. A genius child ... just like Zaara.
He inhaled, preparing for the journey ahead. Aqua Hospice was near. And so were the people who wanted him dead.