Morning arrived with the crowing of roosters.
The first rays of sunlight spilled across Green Willow Village, painting the rooftops in shades of gold.
Inside the Willow Rest Tavern, the aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon drifted through the halls.
Kael slowly opened his eyes.
For a brief moment, he stared at the unfamiliar wooden ceiling.
"...Right."
"I'm traveling."
He climbed out of bed, folded his blanket neatly, and tidied the room exactly as Grandpa Elias had taught him.
When he opened the door, he found Lily already waiting outside.
She smiled brightly.
"Good morning!"
Kael returned the smile.
"Good morning."
She peeked into the room.
"...You cleaned it?"
Kael nodded.
"It wasn't mine."
Lily blinked.
"So?"
"So I should leave it cleaner than when I entered."
She tilted her head.
"...Why?"
Kael answered without hesitation.
"Grandpa said that if someone lends you something, you should return it in better condition if you can."
Lily quietly committed those words to memory.
---
Downstairs, breakfast was already underway.
Ben was happily eating his third helping.
Clara sighed.
"You'll finish the kitchen's food before we leave."
Ben swallowed a mouthful of bread.
"I'm supporting the local economy."
"You've been supporting it since sunrise."
The table erupted in laughter.
Kael quietly took his seat.
Emma soon arrived carrying a large bowl.
"Mountain porridge."
"I thought you might like something familiar."
Kael looked genuinely surprised.
"You remembered?"
She smiled.
"You looked disappointed yesterday when someone ordered the last bowl."
Kael looked down at the steaming porridge.
"...Thank you."
Emma simply waved before hurrying off to another table.
Ben leaned over.
"The people outside the mountain aren't so bad, are they?"
Kael looked around the lively tavern.
"No."
"They've all been very kind."
---
Not everyone shared that opinion.
Outside the tavern...
Four familiar figures sat beneath a large tree near the village entrance.
Rolf rubbed the bruise on his shoulder.
His expression was dark.
"We're leaving."
Bren frowned.
"Just like that?"
Rolf spat onto the ground.
"That kid isn't ordinary."
Hugo nodded silently.
"I couldn't even touch him."
Tanner looked toward the tavern.
"...Should we tell Boss?"
Rolf remained silent for a long moment.
Finally, he nodded.
"...We'll report it."
"He'll decide what to do."
The four men stood and quietly left the village.
None of them noticed Gareth watching from the tavern window.
The merchant captain narrowed his eyes.
"...Boss?"
He repeated the word quietly.
Then his expression became thoughtful.
---
An hour later, the caravan departed.
Villagers gathered near the entrance to wave goodbye.
"Safe travels!"
"Come back soon!"
Ben waved enthusiastically.
"I'll bring fresher bread next time!"
An elderly woman laughed.
"You'd better!"
As the wagons rolled away, Kael looked back one last time.
Green Willow Village gradually disappeared behind the hills.
It had only been a single night.
Yet...
It had become his very first memory of the outside world.
---
The road stretched endlessly before them.
Fields slowly gave way to forests.
Forests became rolling hills.
By midday, the caravan entered a broad valley where countless travelers moved in both directions.
Kael looked around curiously.
"So many people..."
Unlike yesterday's lonely road...
This highway was alive.
Merchant caravans.
Horse riders.
Families.
Traveling performers.
Martial artists carrying swords, spears, and staffs.
Everyone seemed to be heading somewhere.
Lily noticed his curiosity.
"There's always more people around this road."
"Why?"
"It leads to Azure River City."
"Oh."
She pointed farther ahead.
"And after that..."
"...the Martial High Entrance Tournament."
---
As they continued walking, Kael noticed something else.
Many of the young travelers carried weapons.
Some wore matching robes.
Others proudly displayed family crests embroidered onto their sleeves.
A tall youth wearing blue robes casually spun a long spear while talking with his companions.
Nearby, a girl in crimson clothing practiced sword movements as she walked.
Two muscular brothers competed to see who could lift the larger boulder during their rest stop.
Kael quietly watched.
"They're all preparing."
Morris nodded.
"They've probably trained for years."
Ben smiled.
"They're all dreaming of entering Martial High."
Kael looked thoughtful.
"...Is it difficult?"
The merchants exchanged glances.
Finally, Gareth answered.
"Very."
"The tournament gathers talented youths from every corner of the continent."
"Some come from families that have produced martial masters for generations."
"Others are disciples of famous schools."
"And a few..."
"...are monsters."
Kael blinked.
"...Monsters?"
Gareth laughed.
"Not real monsters."
"Geniuses."
"The kind that make ordinary people wonder if Heaven was unfair."
Kael nodded slowly.
"I see."
Then...
He returned to watching the passing scenery.
As though the conversation had little to do with him.
---
That afternoon, the caravan stopped beside a clear river to rest.
The horses drank greedily while the merchants unpacked lunch.
Nearby...
Several groups of young martial artists had also chosen the same location.
Most ignored one another.
Some quietly observed potential competition.
Others openly boasted.
"My family's Crimson Tiger Fist has never lost!"
A broad-shouldered youth proudly declared.
His companions cheered.
Another group snorted.
"That's because you've never faced our Gale Spear Style."
The two groups glared at each other.
Neither side moved.
Yet an invisible tension lingered in the air.
Kael sat beneath a tree, eating the lunch Clara had prepared.
Lily sat beside him.
"...They're weird."
Kael glanced toward the arguing youths.
"They seem very excited."
"They're always like that."
"I see."
He took another bite.
"...The bread is good today."
Lily laughed.
"You always end up talking about food."
Kael thought for a moment.
"...Food is important."
"I suppose it is."
---
As the caravan resumed its journey, Gareth quietly rode alongside Morris.
"What do you think?"
Morris knew exactly who he meant.
"The boy?"
Gareth nodded.
"He doesn't even realize what he is."
Morris stroked his beard.
"Perhaps that's for the best."
"He has no arrogance."
"No desire to show off."
"He treats everyone the same."
The old merchant smiled faintly.
"I've traveled for over forty years."
"I've met nobles..."
"Clan heirs..."
"And martial geniuses."
"...None of them reminded me of him."
Gareth followed Kael with his eyes.
The young man was currently helping Ben push a wagon that had become stuck in soft mud.
He wasn't using excessive force.
He wasn't drawing attention to himself.
He simply helped because someone needed help.
Gareth smiled.
"Martial High..."
He murmured.
"I wonder what kind of storm you're about to receive."
Far ahead...
Hidden beyond the horizon...
Azure River City awaited.
And with it...
The first true gathering of the continent's young martial talents.
Kael's quiet journey was only just beginning.
End of Chapter 12