The hum of the spaceship's engines was a soothing balm, a counterpoint to the adrenaline still coursing through their veins. They watched through the cockpit viewport as Kazakhar, the monstrous island prison, shrank below them, its network of dark levels and distant, burning lights dissolving into the vastness of the cosmos. The sight, so terrifying from within, was now strangely beautiful from above. They were out. They were truly out.
Adam, still strapped into his seat, leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Tom. "Namil," he repeated, the name tasting foreign, yet promising, on his tongue. "Why Namil, Tom?"
Tom, his face still pale but now alight with a quiet triumph, expertly piloted the demon craft through the initial atmospheric escape. "Because, Adam," he began, his voice surprisingly calm despite the chaos they had just endured, "Namil is a neutral country. It's the one place on the Evali continent where the demons can't openly touch us. It's a sanctuary."
Panchenko, still panting slightly from the dash to the ship, let out a whoop. "A sanctuary! You hear that, lads? No more giant worms, no more flying anglerfish, no more… Ursa!" He chuckled, a genuine, relieved sound.
"More importantly," Tom continued, his eyes focused on the navigational display, "Namil is where the Adventurer's Exam takes place. If we want total freedom, if we want to truly shake off the shackles of our past, we need to become adventurers."
Astrid, her eyes still red from crying over Harry, but now filled with a flicker of hope, looked at Tom. "Adventurers? What does that mean for us?"
"It means pardon," Tom replied, his voice firm. "The Adventurer's Guild is an ancient, powerful organization, respected even by some of the demon factions, for its strict neutrality and its role in maintaining a semblance of balance in the wider galaxy. Those who pass the exam and become recognized adventurers are granted universal pardons for past transgressions. It's the only legitimate way to truly wipe our slates clean, to stop being fugitives and start living as free beings."
Adam nodded slowly, absorbing this new information. It made sense. Running forever was no life. This was a chance for a true fresh start. "So, tell us about this Evali continent," Adam urged, leaning back in his seat, finally allowing himself a moment of respite. "Give us the lay of the land, Tom."
Tom, now fully in his element, pointed to a holographic map that shimmered into existence on the console. "Alright. The Evali continent is vast, diverse, and as you now know, heavily influenced by demonic activity. There are nine primary countries and territories."
He began to trace lines on the map. "First, there's the Yandhaq Empire." He paused, looking at Adam. "As you know, Adam, you came from there. It's located in the southwest of the continent.It's a demon-led empire, a human puppet state that has long bowed to demonic rule.
Adam felt a familiar pang of resentment. Yandhaq, the source of his initial imprisonment, the place where his journey to this nightmare began.
"Then, directly north of Yandhaq, is Jehanna," Tom continued, his finger moving to the next region. Julian, who had been silent, stiffened slightly at the mention of his homeland. "Jehanna, as Julian knows, is a nation of proud, disciplined swordsmen, famous for their martial arts and their ancient traditions. Though, as Julian's story tells us, they too have felt the iron fist of demonic invasion."
Julian nodded grimly, his gaze fixed on the holographic representation of Jehanna.
"Now, north of Jehanna is Alia," Tom indicated a sprawling, rugged territory. "They call it the Desolate Lands. It's a harsh, unforgiving region, largely ungoverned and ruled by warlords. A place of constant skirmishes and lawlessness. Not somewhere we want to linger."
He then moved his finger south, back towards their recent nightmare. "And in the south of Yandhaq is Kazakhar – the island we just left. A demon prison, as you well know. It's technically part of Yandhaq empire, an isolated, self-contained hellhole."
Tom's finger then swept west, to a large, verdant landmass. "Then, west of Jehanna is Namil, our destination. As I explained, it's a neutral country, known for its bustling trade, its diverse population, and its commitment to peace. It's heavily protected by various treaties and a formidable Adventurer's Guild presence, making it a safe haven from direct demonic intervention."
"Sounds like paradise after what we've been through," Panchenko muttered, already dreaming of a hot meal and a soft bed.
"But it's not without its challenges," Tom cautioned. "Neutrality often means a melting pot of different factions and interests. We'll need to be smart, and careful." He moved his finger further south. "And in south of Namil, and also west of Yandhaq," Tom continued, moving his finger south-west, "is the Kingdom of Mycia. This is the home of the Vampire Lords. Edward's ancestral home, I presume."
Edward, who had been listening in silence, finally acknowledged the statement with a faint nod, his gaze distant. "Mycia. A land of ancient bloodlines and shadowed castles. It holds many secrets."
Tom then continued his grand tour, moving further west. "Then, directly west of Namil is the Otrulia Empire." He indicated a vast, sprawling territory. "A powerful, expansionist empire, rivaling even Yandhaq in its reach and military might. They have a more… pragmatic approach to demons, often making non-aggression pacts if it benefits them."
"In the south of the Otrulia Empire is a desert country called Kabata," Tom continued, tracing the arid region. "A land of nomadic tribes and ancient secrets. Harsh, but resilient."
"And finally," Tom concluded, pointing to a cluster of islands far to the west of Otrulia, "in the west of Otrulia Empire are the Mosil, also called the Western Isles. These islands are largely ungoverned by conventional states and are infamous for being governed by the Pirate King. A dangerous but often wealthy region for those brave or foolish enough to venture there."
He brought the holographic map back into focus, showing the entire interconnected web of countries, landmasses, and the vast, empty spaces between them. "And yeah, that's the whole continent. From the warlord-controlled lands of Alia in the north to the demon-held island of Kazakhar in the south, and from the demon empires of Yandhaq and Otrulia to the neutral haven of Namil and the pirate-ruled Western Isles."
Adam absorbed the information, a dizzying array of names and territories. It was a vast, dangerous world, far larger and more complex than he had ever imagined in his isolated life in Yandhaq or the confines of Kazakhar.He had spent his entire life being a slave and was thrown to Kazakhar and focused on survival within the prison, on a singular goal of vengeance. Now, with escape a reality, a whole new world, a whole new set of possibilities, lay before them. The journey to Namil was just the first step. The Adventurer's Exam, the pardon, and then… the impossible dream of confronting the Demon King. It was a long road, but for the first time, he saw a path.
"Namil it is, then," Adam said, his voice filled with a quiet determination."A place to rest, to heal, to plan. "And then, we become adventurers."