As they progressed further, Kael had started to feel that there was something strange about that man named Mark. It was hard to tell exactly what he wanted or what he was after. While this question kept circling in his mind, he turned to Liora in the corridor lined with stone walls and asked in a lowered voice:
"What's that guy's deal? Why does he act like that toward me, why is he so different?"
Liora paused for a moment. She opened her mouth, then closed it. She was torn between speaking and staying silent. She took a deep breath and slowly began to speak. As they walked through the crowd, people seemed to recognize Liora; they greeted her, but Kael couldn't help noticing the coldness and distance in those greetings.
"This place… is a society. You probably know that by now. He has a clear opinion about most people. But… there are disagreements about how we should do what we do, which methods we should use. My view and theirs are completely opposed. That's why, behind his seemingly friendly behavior, there is hidden hostility. But…" Liora was speaking in veiled terms, implying things without saying them outright. Kael, meanwhile, was still unsure—should he trust her?
Kael asked insistently, "Then, what were you founded for, what is your goal?" He repeated the question firmly.
Liora took another deep breath. This time, her answer was clearer, though still shrouded in mystery:
"This place is no different from your world—actually, it's worse. The place we're in now is the Kingdom of Veridane, responsible for the wheel of time. It's located in the northeastern part of the continent. Here, nobles fight mercilessly for power while the people take all the beatings. Innocent people are punished for no reason—they're sentenced when they've done nothing wrong. Bribery and corruption are at their peak. In your world, such things are done secretly. Here, they happen openly, in public squares, right before everyone's eyes. Violence, arrests, executions… Think of the darkest times of the Middle Ages, then multiply that by several times."
With determination on her face, Liora continued:
"There's struggle between temples, between societies. Chaos is everywhere. People aren't even safe in their own homes. Against this hellish order, we, as Ater Veritas, were formed. To destroy this system, to put an end to this cruelty."
Among Liora's words, Kael felt the reality of this cruel kingdom reverberating more deeply, echoed by the footsteps of the soldiers. Life here, in Veridane, was far more brutal and far darker than anything he'd ever known. As he escaped the soldiers, he now found himself face to face with the injustice and darkness he sensed around every corner.
The harsh realities of this bleak land echoed in Kael's mind—the beatings of innocent people in front of their children, the complete disregard for justice, and countless other unseen atrocities. Thoughts poured slowly from his lips, his voice deep and quiet as it echoed:
"Even if the rules of a region change, isn't the human mind the same? They only care about the result… They never care what people go through to reach that result. War… death… pain… grief… genocide… These are the truths of this life."
Liora smiled slightly at Kael's words. Her smile carried a faint warmth despite the weariness she bore within.
"You could've made a wise philosopher," she said softly. "Most people can't express such truths with such honesty."
Kael lowered his gaze to the ground and let a faint, bitter smile play on his lips. The storms inside him were reflected on his face—his thoughts dark, uncertain, and restless. As he spoke of his world and the current state of things, his voice trembled slightly:
"According to society and this system's judgment, I was never considered smart. On the contrary, I was a failure. My world is no different, really… Just a shade lighter than this. But in essence, we all live under the same dark sky."
Liora suddenly stopped, her posture growing heavy all at once. Kael met her gaze as she turned to him with eyes filled with meaning. There was a silent warning in them. In a slow and calm voice, almost a whisper, she said:
"When we go inside, don't say a word. I'll do the talking."
Upon hearing this, Kael nodded slightly; he understood without needing words. His anxiety gave way to quiet acceptance. Everything was full of uncertainty, but he had no choice but to trust Liora.
They reached the door. Liora approached it with slow and deliberate steps. She gently touched the door with her palm and tapped softly with her fingers. From inside, a deep, firm voice echoed:
"Enter."
Liora took a slight breath and turned to look at Kael. Kael closed his eyes, took a deep breath; he could feel his heart racing. Then he slowly opened the door. The door was made of old oak, heavy and weathered, with carved patterns that carried the fatigue of years. With a faint creak, the door opened and they stepped inside.
The room was unlike any Kael had ever seen. When he opened his eyes, the sight before him made him feel as though he had stepped into another world. Wooden shelves stretched from the walls to the ceiling, covering the entire room. Thousands of books filled the space, their dusty pages seemingly heavy with ancient knowledge. The scent of old paper, a faintly acidic and sweet aroma, lingered in the air. It seemed as if there were tiny hidden corridors and little chambers between the shelves, each guarding a different secret.
In the very center of the room stood a large table, made from dark, ornate wood. On the table were old-fashioned ink pens, yellowed parchments, open books, and several candles; the candle flames flickered softly, casting a warm and peaceful light over the room.
The man seated at the table was striking. He looked to be in his late forties or early fifties; his hair had started to grey, and the lines on his face spoke of deep wisdom and long years of experience. His glasses, thin-framed and round, gave him an intellectual air. His eyes, deep and sharp, scanned Kael with an authoritative presence that dominated the space. His posture and movements revealed a calm yet resolute nature; as if he knew all the secrets, all the answers.
Caught between the man's gaze and the thousand questions swirling inside him, Kael stood still in this silent and mesmerizing atmosphere. He stood at the very center of truths to be spoken and realities to be lived. As the door closed behind them, the silence in the room deepened.
Liora's lips parted, just about to speak when a loud, commanding voice rang out from the depths of the room. The tone was so firm and absolute that the entire air in the room tensed in an instant. There was neither a tremble nor hesitation in the voice—it was spoken with authority:
"Liora, why did you abandon your post? You knew Artemus would escape—and who is this guy you brought with you? I've never seen him before!"
Kael's heart sank at those words. The weight beneath those sentences exploded in his mind. Did she know Artemus would escape? Had Liora been pretending all along? As these thoughts stormed within him, hundreds of questions swirled in his head.
In that moment, Liora's determination came to the forefront. She took a deep breath, locked eyes with the man standing in the center of the room, and began to respond with a calm yet razor-sharp voice.