Another week passed before Auren finally found something that might entertain the kids. It wasn't exactly a mission, more of an optional activity. One that was considered dangerous and definitely not something young Starvanguards like the three teens should be joining. But Auren knew well that these three were far from ordinary, and so he decided to offer them the chance.
"Entering Echorift?" Alwyn muttered, his expression unusually serious.
"Echo…rift?" Han tilted his head. "Is that the weird space thing or something?"
"Now now, Han, I thought I already gave you enough reading materials. Do I need to start dropping more pop quizzes on you so you don't slack off?" Auren asked, wearing a mock-disappointed look.
"Please no, I think my head might explode," Han groaned. He had already read plenty of books and documents. His brain was overflowing with new information. What he really needed was a chance to stretch his legs and do something physical for once.
"Isn't that place dangerous?" Erika asked.
"It is," Auren replied. "I won't pretend it's the kind of place most masters would take their disciples to. But I think it will be a good experience for the three of you."
"Not interested," Erika said immediately. She might grumble about boring missions, but she wasn't nearly bored enough to walk into a dangerous situation. Unlike Han, who seemed to be part workaholic and part adrenaline junkie, Erika actually valued her life.
"You might make a lot of money," Auren said.
"What are we waiting for?" Erika asked, changing her mind without hesitation.
Han gave her a flat look. "Um... Master, can you tell me more about this Echorift?"
"I really should give you more reading material on this," Auren said. Han looked thoroughly defeated, but Auren continued anyway. "An Echorift is essentially the shattered remnant of a dead world that latched onto Arboren. Sometimes, the barrier between our world and that broken space thins enough to pass through. There are quite a few scattered across the land. Ordinary people aren't allowed to enter, but with a permit, access is possible. Being part of the Starvanguard is one way to qualify."
"If it's dangerous, why do people go in?" Han asked.
Alwyn was the one to answer. "Because of the resources. The unstable space inside Echorifts often produces high-grade aether crystals, which sell for a lot. Advanced technologies rely on crystals with high purity, so the demand is always high."
"We are definitely going," Erika said, her eyes gleaming like she could already see mountains of money waiting for her. With the help of her two loyal slaves (she meant helpers, of course), they were bound to gather more than enough. They would absolutely need to bring bigger spatial pouches to carry as many aether crystals as possible.
"Which Echorift are we entering?" Alwyn asked. There were several officially listed and permitted Echorifts, but he wasn't sure which one Auren had in mind.
"Ashdune Vale," Auren said.
Alwyn raised an eyebrow. He had never entered that Echorift in his previous life, but he had certainly heard of it. It was arguably the most talked-about one, largely because an otherworldly beast had once broken through it and crossed into Arboren. Fortunately, the creature had already been dying, so it hadn't taken much effort to bring it down. Even so, the incident had resulted in a significant number of casualties.
"You want us to go there?" Alwyn asked, narrowing his eyes. He was sure Auren would not choose such a place without a specific reason.
"Who knows, maybe you'll see some familiar faces," Auren said cryptically.
In the end, the group agreed to go. Han was mostly driven by boredom and curiosity about the experience. Erika had money on her mind. Alwyn, meanwhile, kept wondering what Auren was really planning. Despite having spent over a year with him, his master remained an enigma. After everything he had experienced in his previous life, Alwyn thought he had gotten better at reading people. But Auren continued to defy his judgment. Still, one thing was certain. Alwyn didn't believe Auren meant them any harm, and even if he did, Alwyn was confident he could handle it.
Since the Echorift was located far away, Auren chose to travel by Rune Track. They could have used teleportation instead, since Auren had both the credentials and the money. But perhaps he simply wanted Han to see more of Arboren along the way. Neither Erika nor Alwyn objected, so they boarded the train the next evening.
As expected, Auren had rented a spacious compartment just for them, sparing them from sitting among other passengers. Erika, already used to such luxuries, sprawled lazily in her seat by the window. Han also picked a window seat, pressing his face to the glass, completely absorbed in the view.
"What's got you so excited? Is this your first time seeing the outside world?" Erika teased.
Han did not answer right away. His expression was distant. "I don't know... maybe not. At least not scenery like this." After a moment, he shook off the odd feeling and gave a small laugh. "I mean, I worked as a programmer, right? I probably spent most of my time stuck in a tiny bedroom, not out on vacation."
"Guess not," Erika said. She did not point out how unsure he had sounded. "So, what was your world like?"
"Oh, it was way less exciting than this one. Instead of magic, we had technology. It helped with a lot of things and made life more convenient, but it definitely wasn't as cool. We did have trains, though. They ran on electricity or coal, not magic like this one." Han grinned. "...I don't think I ever rode one before this."
"Well, it's a good thing you're getting the chance now," Auren said.
Alwyn himself kept quiet, though he couldn't help wondering about Han's past. Based on their interactions over the past few weeks, he believed he had a decent grasp of Han's character. Han was straightforward and kind, the sort of person who was nosy enough to get involved in other people's business and genuinely liked helping others. Yet beneath that surface, there was a hidden side he rarely showed, one filled with swords, bloodlust, and hate. It was that side which had so easily sentenced Mira to death, only relenting when the others expressed hesitation. Unlike Auren, Alwyn, and Erika, who deliberately kept their secrets, Han didn't seem to be doing the same. If anything, it felt more like he was forgetting something. Memories buried so deeply they refused to surface, perhaps because they were too painful to recall.
Alwyn understood that feeling well and chose not to press Han for answers. As long as Han wasn't a threat, he saw no reason to pry and would continue treating him as a fellow comrade.
The journey to the Echorift passed smoothly and without incident. The train stayed well within the boundaries of the Ward, ensuring a safe ride from start to finish. Most of the trip took place overnight, and eventually, the group settled down to rest in their compartment. The beds weren't as comfortable as their own rooms, but they were soft enough, and the sheets were clean. One by one, they drifted off to sleep, letting the rhythm of the train and the quiet of the night carry them toward their destination.
Han was the first to wake the next morning, too excited to keep sleeping. Alwyn stirred next, followed shortly by Erika. As usual, Auren remained curled in bed, unmoving, until they were nearly forced to drag him off the train.
Arriving at the station wasn't the end of their journey. The Echorift wasn't located within the city itself but rather in a remote area that required them to hire a carriage. When they finally arrived, they were greeted by tall protective walls manned by guards. Auren stepped forward and showed the gatekeepers their identification. After a brief check to confirm their documents, the guards allowed them through.
Surprisingly, the area behind the wall wasn't overly crowded. After hearing how fruitful entering an Echorift could be, Han had assumed there would be more people around. But it was surprisingly sparse.
"Where are the others?" Erika asked. "There's barely anyone here."
"We arrived earlier than the official opening date," Auren said lightly.
"Ah, so you're using your status again, huh?" Erika replied, but there was no reproach in her voice. She didn't see anything wrong with pulling strings to get what one wanted. It wasn't like they were hurting anyone. And considering how often she benefited from Auren's status and connections, she had no complaints about the arrangement.
Still, it didn't seem like they were the only ones with early access to the Echorift. Several small groups were already gathered nearby, seemingly preparing for the journey into Ashdune Vale.
"Alright, this is as far as I'll go. I've given you everything you need to survive in there. Just don't be stupid, don't poke something you shouldn't, and you three should be fine," Auren said, clapping his hands.
"What are you going to do, Master?" Han asked.
"I need to catch up on my sleep, of course," Auren said, miming a pillow with his hands.
"Gosh, could you be any lazier?" Erika muttered.
"Alwyn, I'm leaving the leadership to you, okay? Keep an eye on your two juniors," Auren said, turning to him.
"Hey! I'm not a kid," Erika protested.
"And I'm not weak!" Han added.
"No promises," Alwyn replied dryly. He knew his companions all too well. Erika couldn't stand being ordered around, and while Han was more cooperative, there was always the risk he would get distracted by something and wander off on his own.
With that, Auren waved them off to get his beauty sleep. The three exchanged glances afterward.
"So what are we going to do then? We still have to wait, right?" Han asked.
"The Echorift should open in an hour or two," Alwyn replied, glancing at the portal in the center of the open field. It was made of stone, with vines creeping along its frame. At the center of the arch was a thin slit that would widen as the barrier between the two realms grew thinner. Alwyn had entered an Echorift before, so he wasn't particularly excited or intimidated by the situation.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," a voice suddenly cut through Alwyn's thoughts.
He paused, briefly considering pretending not to recognize the voice, but there was no chance of avoiding the confrontation. He sighed and turned around to meet the gaze of a young man with sharp eyes and long black hair tied in a high ponytail. The boy wore a red tangzhuang with black pants and boots.
"Never thought I'd see you here, Jiang Ruhua," the young man said with a mocking smile.
"Who?" Han asked, glancing around in confusion.
"What, you haven't even introduced yourself to your lackeys?" the young man scoffed.
"Oi, Alwyn, you know this bastard?" Erika asked, clearly annoyed by the stranger's tone. She was half-tempted to punch him in the face, but she knew better. Starting a fight would only get them kicked out and ruin their chance to enter the Echorift and earn their money.
"Unfortunately," Alwyn muttered. "What do you want, Jiang Ruiheng?"
"Look at you. No manners at all. You can't even show proper respect and call me older brother?" Jiang Ruiheng asked.
"Aren't you the one who called me a bastard and said I wasn't worthy of the Jiang name?" Alwyn said coolly. Dealing with Jiang Ruiheng had always been a source of irritation in his past life. The two never got along due to the circumstances of their births. Back then, he never missed a chance to cause trouble for Jiang Ruiheng. But since his regression, that kind of childish desire had faded. Internally, he was much older than he looked, and picking fights with children no longer interested him.
Han and Erika stayed quiet, watching the exchange with wide, curious eyes. This was clearly a golden opportunity for gossip, and neither of them wanted to interrupt when Alwyn had it under control.
"And you still don't deserve the name, especially after you ran away like a coward and a traitor," Jiang Ruiheng continued. "Maybe I should tell Father how you cried and begged for help from that disgraceful failure. Auren, was it? Just another washed-up man who used to be called a genius."
"Are you here just to waste my time?" Alwyn asked calmly. "This is a shameful display for a young master of the Jiang family."
"As if you have any right to speak about propriety," Jiang Ruiheng hissed. "But I suppose you're right. You should consider yourself lucky I don't have more time to waste on you."
With that, Jiang Ruiheng turned and walked back to his group. The other members wore cloaks with their hoods up, their faces hidden, but it was obvious they were also from the Eastern Ward.
"He's your brother?" Han muttered, glancing back and forth between Alwyn and Jiang Ruiheng.
"You're from the Eastern Ward?" Erika narrowed her eyes, studying Alwyn's features. He looked more like someone from the Northern Ward, with his pale skin and light blond hair, but his jet-black eyes were a clear giveaway. "I guess that explains your eyes."
"Indeed. I take more after my mother than my father. Small mercies," Alwyn said quietly. "As for that name, it's just one of many I was given. But I prefer to be called Alwyn."
It was obvious there was more to the story. A deep history between the two brothers. But Han and Erika chose not to pry.
"Sorry, Alwyn, but your brother… he really is cannon fodder," Han said.
"Cannon what?" Erika asked. This wasn't the first time Han had thrown around some nonsensical term from his old world.
"Cannon fodder. It's, uh, a term from fiction that people in my world use for characters whose only role is to be a minor annoyance or a small obstacle for the protagonist. They're usually dumb and overconfident, which… really fits your brother," Han added with a sheepish look.
"Ha! I like that! It's settled. He's Cannon Fodder One now," Erika crowed. She really didn't like the guy. People who acted all pompous and self-important made her want to claw their faces off. "Hey, Han, if we run into that cannon fodder again, let's make sure we steal all the aether crystals he finds."
"Okay!" Han agreed without hesitation. Normally, he wasn't one to support bullying, but Jiang Ruiheng had picked the fight first. Han didn't mind biting back when someone started it.
"You two," Alwyn said with an exasperated sigh, though there was a smile on his face.