— "Now, can I finally know why you dragged me to this cursed place?"
Eric turned halfway toward Arthur, his eyes glinting faintly.
— "Alright, you want to know? No more secrets then."
He drew a slow breath before speaking in a calm tone.
— "I'm here… to steal something."
…
— "Steal? You want to steal something? And what exactly?"
But before Eric could reply, the sound of galloping hooves echoed through the narrow alleyway beside them, clattering against the stone walls.
Lowering his voice, Eric said,
— "No time to explain here."
— "Then let's get out of this place immediately."
Arthur started moving quickly to leave, but Eric's hand shot out and grabbed his arm firmly.
— "Where do you think you're going?"
Arthur turned to him, irritated.
— "Is this really the time for your madness?"
— "We can't just walk out like this — not with our faces and clothes the way they are. The guards who chased us have surely described our appearance by now. Your face alone is hard to forget. Luckily, they don't know our real names yet."
Arthur sighed, clearly annoyed.
— "Then what do you suggest?"
Eric reached into his small satchel and pulled out two dark hoods. He also removed a scarf from around his neck.
— "Put this on, and take off your jacket. We'll lose them while heading over there."
— "Over where exactly?"
Eric smiled faintly as he pulled the hood over his head.
— "Just… follow me."
Arthur hesitated for a moment, uncertain about his companion's cryptic plan, but with no better option, he followed him — toward whatever awaited them in the shadows.
The two walked along the crowded pavement, weaving between streams of pedestrians filling Lumiera's broad streets. They kept their heads low, careful to avoid curious glances that might recognize them.
While Eric kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead, Arthur couldn't help but quietly marvel at the city around him.
The houses of Lumiera stood tall and elegant, painted in strange, vivid colors that shimmered under the sunlight as if part of a living painting. In the great garden by the road, people strolled peacefully; children ran among the flowers, their laughter drifting softly through the air.
Rows of shops lined both sides of the street, their gleaming displays filled with goods more advanced and beautiful than anything Arthur had ever seen. Fountains poured streams of crystal-clear water around statues carved with exquisite detail — every corner of the city radiated luxury and life.
Eric broke Arthur's silent wonder with a slight smile.
— "This is Lumiera… paradise on earth, isn't it?"
Arthur didn't reply — he simply gave him a look that carried unspoken admiration he wasn't willing to admit.
They kept walking until Eric turned into a quiet side alley, stopping before a small building with a faded sign that read "Marianne's Clinic."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
— "A clinic? Why are we stopping at a clinic?"
Eric looked at him with confidence.
— "This is my little hideout. I come here from time to time. It's perfect for our situation… my wife runs the place."
Arthur blinked, then smirked slightly.
— "Ah, I see. That explains it."
Eric pushed open the door, and the gentle chime of a bell rang through the air.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of herbs — fresh, calming — and warm sunlight filtered softly through the windows, bathing the room in a golden calm.
Arthur sat in the waiting area, taking in the quiet atmosphere, until he heard a gentle voice say:
— "Welcome."
From behind a light curtain emerged a woman dressed in a simple healer's gown, her face half-covered by a light veil. When she saw Eric, her expression brightened into a sincere smile.
Eric turned toward Arthur and said quietly,
— "Arthur, can you wait here for just five minutes?"
— "Sure."
— "Good."
He walked with his wife behind the curtain, leaving Arthur alone in the still room.
Arthur waited in silence, listening to the ticking of a clock and the faint murmurs from the next room — until Eric's voice called out:
— "Arthur, can you come in?"
Arthur stood and entered the adjoining chamber. It was a modest treatment room, filled with herbs, tools, and rows of small glass bottles. In the center stood a narrow bed meant for patients.
Eric spoke seriously:
— "I want you to understand, Arthur — the healing done here isn't only traditional medicine… it involves magic as well."
— "And what exactly do you need me to do?"
Eric exhaled slowly.
— "To prevent the guards from recognizing you, my wife will cleanse your body — remove every scar and trace that could give you away. Think of it as a chance to start over… free from the marks of your past."
— "Hmm… alright, I'm in."
— "Excellent. Lie down, then."
Arthur obeyed, lying on the bed as Eric's wife stepped closer, placing her hands gently beside his face.
From her palms, a radiant green light spread, soft as silk, flowing across Arthur's skin. Within seconds, his old scars began to fade, slowly disappearing as though they had never existed.
Eric handed him a small mirror.
— "Care to take a look?"
Arthur raised the mirror and stared at his reflection — at the smooth, unmarked skin that replaced years of wounds. For a moment, he felt an unfamiliar lightness inside him.
— "I… don't know what to say. Thank you — both of you."
In the corner, Eric stood before another mirror, dyeing his black hair a pale white, then cutting a shallow mark near his eye.
— "Hey, what are you doing to yourself?"
— "Changing my identity."
His wife smiled softly and brushed her glowing hands over the wound, leaving a faint bruise in its place.
— "I'll get rid of it later," Eric said calmly.
They changed into plain civilian clothes in the Lumieran style. Eric turned to Arthur with a reassuring smile.
— "I think we're disguised well enough now."
— "Good. So… are we leaving?"
— "Yes. It's time."
Under the bright sun shining over a vast, flower-filled garden, Eric sat at a stone table, with Arthur seated across from him. The warm breeze whispered between them.
After a moment of silence, Arthur spoke:
— "I want to know exactly… what is it that you plan to steal?"
— "A jewel."
— "A jewel? Is it valuable or something like that?"
— "More than you can imagine."
— "And why do you want it? For money?"
— "No. Not for money. The reason runs much deeper. This isn't some ornament — it's something with power… an energy you wouldn't easily understand."
— "What do you mean?"
— "Even I don't know everything about it — not its origin, nor how it's truly used."
Arthur leaned forward, intrigued.
— "Then take it slow, and explain."
— "It's connected to the forces that flow within gifted people like me — powers known as Blessings. Imagine gathering immense amounts of that energy and sealing it into something small, like a jewel. That's all I know. The way to awaken it, though… remains a mystery."
— "If you don't know how to use it, then why do you want it?"
— "Because I know someone who does."
Arthur paused for a few seconds.
— "And who might that be?"
— "A mysterious fighter. I've never seen anyone fight like him. Meeting him wasn't easy, but we came to an understanding — our goals align."
— "And where is he now?"
— "Haven't seen him in a long time. Since before my marriage, actually. But I believe our agreement still stands."
Arthur bowed his head slightly, thinking, then asked:
— "Alright… do you have a plan to reach this jewel?"
Eric smiled with confidence.
— "Of course. My time here hasn't been wasted."
He pulled a rolled-up parchment from his pocket and spread it across the table.
Arthur examined it closely.
— "A map… to an underground vault?"
— "Exactly. It's massive — and getting inside won't be easy. But the real challenge isn't the vault itself… it's who guards it."
— "Who?"
— "The vault is under the protection of the Knights of Valgar."
— "And who are they?"
— "The elite order — the strongest military force in all of Lumiera."