After returning to the Heaven's Fracture, Khanh and Vy were officially acknowledged as members of the order. There was no grand ceremony, no lavish rite—only the quiet recognition of those who had walked the path before them. Yet, in that silence lay a weight heavier than any words of praise.
The days that followed were filled with training and study. The masters of the order observed every step they took, every movement, every flicker of their gaze. Each mentor judged them through their own lens—testing, evaluating, then silently acknowledging. They could all see it clearly: Khanh and Vy not only possessed ability, but also hearts aligned with the purpose of Heaven's Fracture.
And yet, no one within the order lied to themselves. The path ahead was drenched in peril, riddled with truths that could shatter the mind, horrors that could break the spirit, and death waiting in the shadows at every turn.
One day, during a training session, Bui To Nhu stepped forward, her voice resonating through the hall:
"Are you truly ready? This path demands not only strength… it may take away everything you hold dear."
The question fell heavy, like an invisible blade cutting into the air.
Khanh remained silent for a long time. After the ordeals they had endured, his view of the world had changed completely. In his eyes now, the truth of the tiers of society was undeniable:
Tier 0 — the mud-dwelling masses, nameless and voiceless.
Tier 1 — the radiant center of splendor, yet beneath the glow, places more wretched than Tier 0.
Tier 2 — the seat of observation, where greater powers watched and manipulated, where authority and schemes hovered like phantoms.
Khanh's face hardened, his gaze sharp as tempered steel:
"From this moment… my goal is not only to maintain the balance of primordial gods and demons. I will also balance the rotting hierarchy of these tiers."
His words ignited the room like a spark striking dry tinder.
Vy listened, and her heart burned. She remembered the mother weeping for her lost child, the corrupt officials who cared nothing for the lives of the people, the countless faces of despair abandoned in silence. She bit down hard on her lip, then raised her eyes, blazing like blades:
"Even if it costs me my life… I will complete the mission. Nothing will stop me."
The atmosphere in the hall erupted. Members of the order shouted and cheered, applause echoing against stone walls, voices rising together in unison. The flickering candlelight illuminated faces filled with joy, determination, and pride. It was as if a new flame of hope had just been kindled.
Only Minh Triet remained silent. He stood in the shadowed corner, his eyes deep as an abyss fixed upon Khanh and Vy. Without a word, without a change of expression, he simply turned away, his figure vanishing into the dim corridor, leaving behind a trace of cold air.
Moments later, La Diep approached. In his hands, he carried a folded bundle of cloth. His voice was calm, yet his gaze held quiet pride:
"These are your uniforms."
When Khanh and Vy unfolded the bundle, they found two long gray cloaks—light to wear yet heavy in meaning. Upon the back of each cloak was embroidered the symbol of a crescent moon—as sharp as a blade, as serene as the midnight sky.
They draped the cloaks over their shoulders. The firelight caught the crescent sigil, making it gleam as if truly glowing against the dark. The other members of Heaven's Fracture raised their hands in unison, voices thunderous as they roared:
"Heaven's Fracture endures forever!"
In that moment, Khanh and Vy understood: the road ahead held no return. The cloak upon their shoulders was not mere clothing—it was an oath, a mark carved deep into the fate they had chosen.