Ethan didn't sleep.
He couldn't.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the reflection.
Blue skin.
Alien features.
A face that wasn't his.
A body that wasn't Krindrus'.
Something in between.
Or perhaps...
Something entirely new.
The inn room was silent.
The only sound came from the faint crackling of the fireplace.
Ethan stood before the mirror again.
The helmet remained dissolved into his right arm like liquid silver.
His unfamiliar face stared back.
"...Krindrus?"
No answer.
He frowned.
"You're worrying me."
Several long seconds passed.
Finally—
"I am here."
The voice was quieter than before.
Not weak.
Thoughtful.
"You've been silent."
"...Yes."
"You've never been silent."
"I know."
Ethan folded his arms.
"So?"
Krindrus hesitated.
"I have searched my memories."
"And?"
"I found nothing."
That answer struck Ethan harder than expected.
"You don't know what I am?"
"No."
"You've fought thousands of species."
"More."
"You've traveled the stars."
"Yes."
"You've seen civilizations rise and fall."
"I have."
"And you've never seen...this?"
"No."
Ethan looked back at the mirror.
"...Great."
Silence settled again.
Eventually Krindrus spoke.
"There is one possibility."
Ethan immediately looked up.
"What?"
"I cannot confirm it."
"I'll take anything."
"The Celestari maintained records of races encountered throughout the galaxy."
"And?"
"There were...rumors."
Ethan waited.
"Of beings born between realities."
"...What?"
"They were never confirmed."
Krindrus sounded uncertain.
"Creatures that did not evolve within a single universe."
"They existed where different possibilities intersected."
Ethan blinked.
"That sounds impossible."
"It should be."
"...Comforting."
"It is not meant to be."
Ethan sighed.
"So your answer is basically..."
"I do not know."
"Right."
Morning arrived sooner than Ethan would have liked.
The city outside had already awakened.
Church bells echoed across Valenor.
Merchants prepared their stalls.
Workers filled the streets.
Life continued.
As though the universe hadn't just informed Ethan that he might not belong to any known species.
He slowly allowed the helmet to reform around his head.
The liquid metal flowed upward.
The familiar silver visor sealed shut.
Almost immediately...
He felt safer.
Hidden.
Anonymous.
Or at least...
As anonymous as a six-foot-tall knight in glowing celestial armor could be.
His stomach reminded him that existential crises did not replace breakfast.
The innkeeper greeted him with surprising cheerfulness.
"Good morning!"
"...Morning."
"I trust you slept well?"
Ethan considered lying.
"I slept."
"Good enough."
The older man laughed.
A plate of bread, eggs, roasted vegetables, and smoked meat appeared before him.
Ethan reached for a piece of bread.
Then stopped.
He realized something.
He had no idea how this body actually ate.
"...Problem?"
Krindrus asked.
"I just realized I don't know where my mouth is."
"..."
"..."
"I had not considered that."
"Very helpful."
"You successfully consumed food yesterday."
"Yeah."
"But the helmet never came off."
Another pause.
"I recommend experimentation."
"...You make it sound like we're conducting science."
"We are."
Ethan pinched the bridge of his nonexistent human nose.
"I miss having normal problems."
The helmet shifted.
A narrow opening silently formed beneath the visor.
"...Huh."
He cautiously took a bite.
It worked.
The armor automatically reshaped itself before sealing again.
"...Convenient."
"The armor prioritizes biological functionality."
"I guess whoever designed this thought of everything."
Krindrus quietly replied,
"They tried."
Elsewhere...
Deep beneath Valenor Castle...
Far below the royal chambers...
Far below even the oldest foundations...
A chamber of polished black stone remained untouched by time.
Seven enormous crystal pillars stood in a perfect circle.
Within each crystal floated ancient light.
Six glowed softly.
The seventh...
Suddenly cracked.
A sharp sound echoed through the chamber.
Crack.
Then again.
Crack.
The light inside twisted violently.
An elderly man in white robes looked up from his meditation.
His eyes widened.
"No..."
He hurried toward the crystal.
Impossible.
This seal had remained stable for centuries.
Another crack spread across its surface.
The old man's expression darkened.
Without hesitation, he reached toward a golden bell resting upon a nearby altar.
He struck it once.
The sound never left the room.
Instead...
The entire kingdom felt it.
Invisible waves spread through enchanted communication arrays.
Across Valenor...
Across military headquarters...
Across hidden towers...
Across forgotten temples...
One message appeared simultaneously.
Emergency Council Summons.
Back in the city...
Ethan sneezed.
"...Weird."
Krindrus became alert.
"...Did you sense that?"
"What?"
"A disturbance."
Ethan looked around.
People continued walking.
Nothing seemed unusual.
"I didn't feel anything."
"You would not."
Krindrus' tone had changed.
"I recognized ancient magical frequencies."
"You know what caused it?"
"No."
"But..."
"It came from beneath this city."
Meanwhile...
Inside the Adventurer's Guild...
Alfred quietly organized examination paperwork.
Names.
Ranks.
Applications.
Routine work.
Then one file caught his attention.
Ethan Cross.
Unknown race.
Unknown homeland.
Unknown age.
Multiple magical affinities.
Magic Knight.
Alfred adjusted his glasses.
"...Curious."
He opened another cabinet.
Inside were records dating back decades.
Hundreds of unusual applicants.
Dragonkin.
Half-spirits.
Ancient bloodlines.
Even descendants of forgotten gods.
Yet...
Nothing resembled Ethan's registration.
Alfred closed the drawer.
"...Perhaps this examination will be interesting after all."
A shadow fell across his desk.
He looked up.
Standing before him was the crimson-armored knight from yesterday.
"You wished to see me, Lady Seraphine?"
She nodded once.
"I have a question."
"Of course."
"The silver knight."
Alfred smiled faintly.
"I suspected this visit concerned him."
"You know who he is?"
"Only what he told me."
"Which was?"
"His name."
"Ethan Cross."
Seraphine frowned.
"Nothing else?"
"He claims to be from a distant land."
She folded her arms.
"I approached him yesterday."
"I heard."
"He was polite."
"Yes."
"He showed no hostility."
"Correct."
"And yet..."
She looked toward the guild entrance.
"I have fought dragons."
"I have stood beside archmages."
"I have crossed swords with demon generals."
Alfred waited.
"I have never felt pressure like that."
The room became quiet.
Alfred finally spoke.
"Do you believe he is dangerous?"
Seraphine answered honestly.
"...I don't know."
Then she added something that surprised even herself.
"But I don't think he wants to be."
Far above them...
Beyond clouds.
Beyond the blue sky.
Beyond the atmosphere itself.
Something enormous drifted between the stars.
It possessed no true form.
Only shifting light.
Countless eyes opened across its impossible body.
Each one focused upon a single point.
Valenor.
A voice older than galaxies echoed through the void.
"...The Divergence grows."
Another voice answered.
"...A foreign soul has awakened."
A third.
Far colder.
Far crueler.
Spoke only four words.
"...Find the Broken Star."
Across impossible distances...
Something began moving toward the world.
—/——//-/—/-
Morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows of the Adventurer's Guild.
The guild was quieter than usual.
Not because there were fewer adventurers.
Quite the opposite.
The Selection Examination was only hours away.
Every available seat was occupied by hopeful applicants, curious veterans, and guild staff preparing paperwork for what promised to be the largest examination Valenor had hosted in nearly a decade.
Behind the reception counter, Alfred adjusted the stack of registration forms one final time.
Everything had to be perfect.
It always was.
A pair of armored boots echoed across the polished wooden floor.
Alfred looked up.
Lady Seraphine approached with her usual composed stride, her crimson cape trailing neatly behind her.
Unlike yesterday, she wasn't wearing her helmet.
Her auburn hair had been tied back into a practical braid, revealing sharp emerald eyes that missed very little.
"Good morning, Alfred."
He offered a polite nod.
"Lady Seraphine."
She rested both hands on the counter.
"I've come for the examination roster."
Alfred had expected as much.
Without a word, he slid a leather-bound folder toward her.
She opened it.
Her eyes skimmed down the names.
After only a few moments...
One eyebrow rose.
"...You're serious."
"I generally try to be."
"Five?"
"Six, depending on your definition."
She looked back at him.
"We haven't had this many unusual candidates in years."
"I am aware."
She continued reading.
The first name caught her attention immediately.
Princess Lyanna Aurelia.
"...The princess actually entered?"
Alfred nodded.
"Officially."
"I assumed that was only a rumor."
"So did I."
Seraphine closed the folder halfway.
"The Kingdom of Elyndor has never allowed one of its royal heirs to take the Adventurer Examination."
"Correct."
"And now their first princess wishes to become an adventurer."
"Apparently."
Seraphine sighed.
"I can already imagine the political consequences."
Alfred smiled faintly.
"I suspect His Majesty is imagining them as well."
She turned another page.
"...Prince Cassian?"
"Kingdom of Ardens."
She blinked.
"They sent their second prince?"
"He insisted."
"I thought he was training with the Royal Knights."
"He was."
"And now?"
"He wishes to prove he earned his reputation."
Seraphine chuckled softly.
"Royal children truly are troublesome."
"They are young."
"They're nobles."
"There is a difference?"
She gave him a flat look.
"...Fair point."
Another page turned.
This time...
Her expression became serious.
Magnus Hale.
King-Class Mage.
"...Confirmed?"
"Confirmed."
"I heard he was studying overseas."
"He returned last month."
Seraphine frowned.
"He's barely twenty-six."
"I know."
"Youngest King-Class mage in nearly forty years."
"And yet..."
Alfred tapped the page.
"He is no longer the youngest."
She looked lower.
There it was.
Another name.
Selene Vael.
King-Class Mage.
Age: Twenty-Three.
Seraphine slowly looked back up.
"...You're telling me we have two King-Class mages taking an Adventurer Examination."
"It would appear so."
"Why?"
Alfred shrugged.
"Neither explained their reasons."
"Wonderful."
She pinched the bridge of her nose.
"The examination arena wasn't built for this."
"I have already requested additional barrier mages."
"How many?"
"Twelve."
"...That may not be enough."
"No."
A long silence settled between them.
Then...
Seraphine turned another page.
Her eyes narrowed.
The file contained almost nothing.
No homeland.
No family.
No magical school.
No known affiliations.
Only a single sentence.
Codename: Ash.
Threat Assessment:
Potential City-Level Catastrophe.
She stared.
"...This cannot be accurate."
"It is."
"Who wrote this?"
"The Arcane Council."
Seraphine looked again.
"...Power capable of leveling an entire city?"
"So they believe."
"And they simply..."
She gestured toward the folder.
"...allowed this individual to participate?"
"They insisted."
"That seems irresponsible."
"The Council believes observation is preferable to isolation."
Seraphine sighed.
"They always say that."
"And?"
"They're occasionally correct."
She closed the file.
"I hope today isn't one of the occasions they're wrong."
Alfred quietly nodded.
"So do I."
There was only one file remaining.
She already knew whose it belonged to.
Ethan Cross.
Unknown race.
Unknown age.
Unknown origin.
Magic Knight.
Multiple elemental affinities.
Armor cannot be removed.
Seraphine read it twice.
Then looked toward Alfred.
"...Still nothing?"
"Nothing."
"No noble records."
"No."
"No magical academy."
"No."
"No church registration."
"None."
"No family."
"No."
She closed the folder.
"I've spent my entire career judging people."
Alfred waited.
"I can usually tell what someone is."
She looked toward the guild entrance.
"When I stood near him yesterday..."
She searched for the words.
"It felt..."
Alfred remained silent.
"...Ancient."
The receptionist nodded once.
"I felt it as well."
She looked surprised.
"You did?"
"Briefly."
"And?"
"I have no conclusion."
"That unlike the city-level mage..."
She glanced toward Ethan's file.
"...Mr. Cross doesn't feel dangerous."
"He feels..."
Neither of them finished the sentence.
Because neither knew the answer.
Across town...
Ethan stared at himself in the mirror.
Again.
"...Seriously?"
The silver armor looked mostly unchanged.
Mostly.
Something new had appeared overnight.
Around his waist...
Flowing beneath the armored plates...
Hung a long surcoat.
Deep mint green .
Its edges shimmered with threads of silver.
An unfamiliar emblem had been embroidered across the fabric.
A circle of seven stars surrounding a single radiant sun.
Ethan touched it.
The fabric felt impossibly soft.
Almost alive.
"...Krindrus?"
"I'm here."
"Explain."
"I cannot."
"You've been saying that a lot lately."
"I have noticed."
Ethan gently pulled on the cloth.
It didn't tear.
Didn't wrinkle.
Didn't even move.
"So..."
"My armor just..."
He gestured vaguely.
"...grew clothes."
"The Celestari armor evolves."
"I thought you said it repaired itself."
"It does."
"This isn't repairing."
"No."
"What is it?"
Krindrus became thoughtful.
"A surcoat."
"I know what it's called."
"I do not know why it appeared."
Ethan frowned.
"You've never seen this?"
"No."
He sighed.
"This whole 'ancient warrior doesn't know what's happening' thing is becoming a trend."
"It is."
"...You're taking this surprisingly well."
"I am attempting to."
Ethan looked down again.
The crest caught his attention.
"Do you recognize the symbol?"
"...No."
That answer unsettled him more than anything else.
After fastening the cloak over the new surcoat, Ethan picked up the small satchel the innkeeper had loaned him.
It contained little more than bread, water, and a towel.
Apparently examinations lasted most of the day.
As he walked downstairs, the innkeeper smiled warmly.
"Big day?"
"I guess."
"Nervous?"
"A little."
The older man laughed.
"I've seen hundreds of adventurers leave this inn."
"And?"
"The nervous ones usually survive longer."
"...That's strangely encouraging."
The streets leading toward the guild were packed.
Applicants walked in groups.
Some wore polished armor.
Others carried staffs taller than themselves.
Rangers adjusted bows.
Priests whispered prayers.
Excitement filled the air.
Ethan walked quietly among them.
"...Krindrus."
"Yes?"
"What were the Celestari like?"
"In what regard?"
"Before everything happened."
A pause.
"We were explorers."
"I thought you were warriors."
"We became warriors."
"What changed?"
Krindrus answered almost immediately.
"War."
Ethan nodded.
"Makes sense."
"But..."
"What kind of war?"
Silence.
"A terrible one."
"Against who?"
No answer.
"...Krindrus?"
"..."
"You don't have to tell me if—"
"The Devouring Legions."
The words were different.
Cold.
Sharp.
Every syllable carried an edge unlike anything Ethan had ever heard.
"There was no diplomacy."
"No surrender."
"No mercy."
Ethan felt a chill run through him.
"They consumed worlds."
"Children."
"Cities."
"They burned oceans."
"They—"
Krindrus stopped.
His voice had changed.
It wasn't merely deeper.
It was...
Hungry.
Ancient rage simmered beneath every word.
For one brief instant...
Ethan no longer heard the calm mentor.
He heard a commander standing upon a battlefield surrounded by endless death.
"...Krindrus?"
Silence.
Then...
A slow exhale.
"...Forgive me."
The familiar voice returned.
"I allowed memory to overcome judgment."
Ethan remained quiet.
"...You've never sounded like that."
"I hope never to again."
"What happened to them?"
Another pause.
"We won."
Something about those words disturbed Ethan.
Not because of what Krindrus said.
But because of what he didn't.
The Adventurer's Guild came into view.
The crowd outside had doubled since yesterday.
Hundreds of applicants filled the enormous courtyard.
Ethan immediately noticed the variety.
A beastkin woman with wolf ears sharpened twin daggers.
An elderly wizard leaned heavily upon a crystal staff.
Twin brothers argued over whose sword was larger.
Several elves stood together beneath a tree, calmly observing everyone else.
Two dwarves competed in an arm-wrestling match despite the examination not having begun.
"This is...a lot of people."
"Indeed."
Heads turned.
Whispers spread.
"The silver knight..."
"He's here."
"That's him?"
"I heard he walked out of Black Hollow."
"No way."
"They say he's cursed."
"They say he's a dragon."
"They say he's a prince."
"They say he's dead."
Ethan sighed.
"...Rumors spread fast."
"They always have."
Before long, guild attendants directed everyone toward the enormous training grounds behind the guild.
Stone arenas stretched across nearly an acre.
Protective barrier crystals stood at every corner.
Watching platforms overlooked the field.
On the central stage stood Lady Seraphine.
Beside her...
A man Ethan immediately recognized from the game's artwork.
King Aldric Valenor.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Golden hair streaked with silver.
His royal armor gleamed beneath the morning sun.
Despite wearing a crown, he carried himself more like an experienced knight than a monarch.
The conversations died almost instantly.
The king stepped forward.
"Welcome."
His voice carried easily across the field.
"Today, each of you seeks the right to call yourselves adventurers."
"No bloodline."
"No title."
"No wealth."
"No family name."
He looked across the crowd.
"None of these matter here."
Even the nobles stood straighter.
Lady Seraphine continued.
"The examination will consist of three stages."
"The first evaluates control."
"The second evaluates teamwork."
"The third evaluates combat judgment."
She deliberately emphasized the final word.
"This is not a tournament."
"You are not here to kill one another."
"You are here to demonstrate skill, restraint, and decision-making."
King Aldric nodded.
"Power without discipline is a threat."
"Courage without wisdom is recklessness."
"We seek adventurers."
"Not destroyers."
Ethan found himself agreeing.
The king smiled.
"You have one hour before the first stage begins."
"Prepare yourselves."
The crowd erupted into conversation.
Some stretched.
Others prayed.
Several immediately began boasting.
Near one corner of the courtyard...
Raised voices caught Ethan's attention.
A boy.
Maybe sixteen.
Thin.
Short.
He wore simple leather armor that looked secondhand.
Three larger applicants had surrounded him.
One laughed.
"You're actually taking the exam?"
Another snorted.
"I've seen scarecrows with more muscle."
The smallest applicant looked down.
"I...I passed the written evaluation."
The biggest man grabbed the front of his shirt.
"Then maybe you should've stayed in a library."
Several nearby applicants watched.
None intervened.
Ethan sighed.
"...Seriously?"
He began walking.
The crowd naturally stepped aside.
His armored boots echoed against the stone.
One.
Two.
Three.
The bullies finally noticed him.
"What?"
The largest turned.
"...Can I help you?"
Ethan stopped a few feet away.
His voice remained calm.
"I think you've made your point."
The man laughed.
"And?"
"And I'd appreciate it if you let him go."
"Oh?"
"You asking nicely?"
"Yes."
The three exchanged amused looks.
One smirked.
"And if we don't?"
Ethan looked at the frightened boy.
Then back at them.
"Then I'll help him leave."
The largest applicant sneered.
"You think because you've got fancy armor—"
He reached toward Ethan's chest.
The instant his hand touched the silver plate...
The armor reacted.
Not violently.
Simply...
Firmly.
A soft pulse of light rippled outward.
The larger man was gently—but irresistibly—pushed backward several steps.
He stumbled before catching himself.
His eyes widened.
"...What?"
Ethan looked down.
"...I didn't do that."
Krindrus answered.
"Defensive reflex."
"I was trying not to cause trouble."
"You succeeded."
The surrounding crowd had gone silent.
The bully glanced between Ethan and his own hand.
For the first time...
He seemed uncertain.
Ethan spoke again.
Still calm.
"Nobody's hurt."
"Let's keep it that way."
The three looked at one another.
After a tense moment...
The largest clicked his tongue.
"...Whatever."
He shoved his companion's shoulder.
"Come on."
They walked away, muttering under their breath.
The smaller applicant remained frozen.
"...Are you alright?"
The boy looked up.
"...Y-Yes."
Ethan offered a small nod.
"Good."
"You should probably get ready."
The boy smiled nervously.
"...Thank you."
As Ethan turned to leave, he became aware of dozens of eyes watching him.
Among them...
Lady Seraphine.
King Aldric.
And Alfred, standing beneath the guild balcony.
None of them had missed what had just happened.
What impressed them wasn't that the mysterious knight possessed incredible power.
It was that...
Given every opportunity to use it...
He hadn't.