2 days. That's how long Lucan walked without food, water, and rest.
His body screamed at him to stop, but he didn't.
He had studied the map of Solara when he was young, but he barely remembered it now. He could remember that there was a small town near Advent Hollow.
He kept moving.
He stopped at a range of mountains in front of him.
"YES," Lucan thought. If he remembered correctly, the town was near this range.
He dragged himself forward.
Each step aching more than the last. His lips cracked. His throat burned. His stomach had long stopped growing. Emptiness had replaced it.
The wind howled between the jagged peaks.
He pushed through.
Hours passed.
Finally… light.
The gates of Mount Way appeared in the distance.
Lucan's knees almost gave out when he saw it.
A town built into the mountain slope, lit up with colour and life.
Vendors shouted across crowded streets.
Children darted between stalls.
The smell of grilled meat and fresh bread drifted in the air.
It was overwhelming.
Lucan's knees almost buckled, but he forced himself forward.
For the first time since Advent Hollow, he wasn't surrounded by silence. He was surrounded by life.
He pushed open the door of a small restaurant.
Warmth hit him immediately.
Tables packed with strangers.
Laughter.
The sound of mugs clinking together.
And in the far corner was a young man, maybe twenty, sitting alone.
Dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
He noticed Lucan stumble in.
"Hey," the man said, standing up. "You… look like a corpse."
Lucan said nothing. His throat was too dry to speak.
The man waved a waitress over.
"Food. Water. For him. Now."
Lucan collapsed into the chair opposite him.
The waitress brought bread, meat, and a jug of water.
Lucan devoured it.
The man just watched, a faint smile on his lips.
When Lucan finally slowed down, the man leaned forward.
"Name's Arthur."
Lucan hesitated.
"…Lucan."
Arthur nodded.
"Mount Way's a lively place, huh? But it's not the town that's important. It's what's beyond it."
Lucan frowned. "Beyond it?"
Arthur's eyes lit up.
"The ruins. A massive cave system just outside town. They say it belonged to an ancient kingdom. Lost treasure, hidden power… all kinds of stories."
He leaned back in his chair, lowering his voice.
"Rumor has it… people can hold more than one Essence."
Lucan's head snapped up.
Arthur chuckled. "Relax. It's just a rumor. Probably not true. But—"
Arthur and Lucan were still talking when a voice cut in from the side."You two planning to explore Mount Way?"
Lucan looked over.
A girl leaned lazily against the table next to theirs, a half-empty mug of ale in her hand. She must've been there the whole time, close enough to catch pieces of their conversation. Her silver eyes gleamed with interest.
Beside her, a tall boy straightened up from his chair, grinning like he'd just found entertainment for the night.
"Sounds like you're up to something fun. Mind if we join?"
Lucan blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't even noticed them sitting there. Arthur just gave a small shrug, as if he'd expected them to butt in sooner or later.
Arthur muttered under his breath, "... This is gonna be a problem."