Inside the small clay-pot tavern, steam rose in thick wisps, the fragrant scent of rice mingling with the smoky aroma of earthenware. The air was warm and comforting. The lids of the pots clinked lightly, and one by one, steaming bowls of rice were set before the three of them. Khanh sat rather stiffly, his eyes sneaking glances at Vy, his heart still burdened by questions left unanswered after the incident at the marketplace. Vy remained silent, her eyes swollen red, faint streaks of dried tears still etched upon her cheeks.
Only Lam Uyen appeared unaffected, as though nothing unusual had happened. She laughed heartily, rolled up her sleeves, scooped a spoonful of hot rice into her mouth, and chewed slowly. As she ate, her gaze flicked toward the two youngsters. Her eyes curved with mirth, yet in their depths lingered a glimmer of something far more profound.
"You two still don't truly understand… what gods and demons are, do you?" she said at last, setting her spoon aside and lacing her fingers together atop the wooden table. Her voice, calm and steady, carried a weight that made both Khanh and Vy instinctively lift their heads.
She leaned back into her chair, eyes narrowing as though peering into distant ages, and began to speak:
"Since the dawn of time, before men knew of words, weapons, or fortresses… they already knew fear. That fear, when it grew and gathered, became a tide of dark spiritual force. And from that tide… the first demon was born."
Vy shuddered slightly, her small hand gripping the handle of her three-section staff resting beside her. Her shoulders trembled, yet her eyes never left Lam Uyen, as though ensnared by the tale.
Khanh swallowed down his mouthful of rice, his chest heavy. His mind conjured images of a primal darkness where mankind cowered helplessly… and within that darkness, a vague, monstrous silhouette took shape.
Lam Uyen's lips curved into a knowing smile as she continued:
"But men are not creatures of fear alone. They also know devotion. When they offered their hopes and reverence toward something higher, something beyond themselves… gods were born. Each candle lit, each whispered prayer, each drop of blood spilled in offering—all of it became spiritual force. And from it, the first gods descended."
Her voice echoed in the small tavern, and silence fell over the table. Vy's eyes gleamed with a mix of dread and fascination, while Khanh frowned deeply, his hands clenched against his knees without him realizing.
"This world…" Lam Uyen paused, lifting her bowl of rice, cooling it with a gentle breath before taking another bite. Only after swallowing did she speak again, slow and deliberate:
"…is divided into five nations: Bac Tu, Dai Long, Chien Dực, Bach Sac, and Xich An. Each has its own defining traits, no two alike. But… I will let you discover them yourselves, for what the eye sees is always greater than what words can tell."
She took a sip of hot tea, her expression sharpening, voice growing firmer:
"Among gods and demons, there exist beings beyond comprehension, their power eclipsing all others. These are known as the Primordial Gods and the Primordial Demons. Beings whose very existence once shook the world, whose authority none could resist. To this day, records speak of thirteen Primordial Demons… and seven Primordial Gods."
At this, Lam Uyen's face suddenly lit up with a beaming smile. Her eyes sparkled with pride, and she raised her teacup high as if to toast:
"And our Heaven's Fracture…" she declared warmly, "is the one who holds the scales, who keeps balance between these forces of gods and demons."
Both Khanh and Vy looked up at once, a faint swell of pride stirring within them. Yet in the next instant, Lam Uyen curled her lip, her expression twisting into disdain.
"Of course, there are also the petty errands for royalty and nobility…" she scoffed, her tone dripping with contempt.
Khanh blinked, caught off guard, his curiosity flaring stronger. He hesitated, then asked in a low but earnest voice:
"If… if that balance were ever lost… what would happen?"
The room grew still. Lam Uyen set her cup gently upon the table, her eyes turning dark and unfathomable. She stared straight into Khanh's eyes, her voice dropping like a blade of ice:
"If it is lost… this world may well be destroyed."
The words fell heavy, suffocating. Vy's hand tightened until her knuckles whitened, her lips trembling as her gaze blurred with unspoken dread. Khanh lowered his head, his heart weighed down as though a great stone had just dropped within him.
The oil lamp flickered with the passing breeze, casting wavering shadows of the three upon the wooden wall. In that fleeting moment, Lam Uyen's words carved themselves into the depths of their minds, unveiling before them a vast and perilous world far greater than they had ever known.