In an open field outside the city, Le Vy and Minh Triet were fighting side by side against a high-ranked Demon — the Rat Demon.
Yet, the two could not find harmony. Vy's reckless, fast-paced assaults clashed completely with Minh Triet's sharp and calculated rhythm. Their attacks missed the mark, sometimes even interfering with one another.
Behind them, Ho Lam Uyen sat casually, one leg crossed over the other. She leisurely ate lotus sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves while calmly instructing:
"Don't just focus on the Demon in front of you. Observe the surroundings. Demons don't rely only on speed — they know how to hide as well."
Minh Triet narrowed his eyes, his LINH green flaring. His Clairvoyance activated, piercing through the Demon's movements and exposing its hidden trails.
Still munching on her sticky rice, Ho Lam Uyen warned:
"Don't rely too much on Clairvoyance. If you drag the fight out, the vision will backfire on you. Match the opponent's rhythm instead."
Vy tightened her grip on the three-section staff, LINH silver radiating from the weapon. Under Minh Triet's lead, her tempo began to align with his, their previously disjointed rhythm gradually merging into one.
In just a few exchanges, the Rat Demon was slain.
Ho Lam Uyen stood, still holding the half-eaten sticky rice, and said with a faint smile:
"Not bad. Continue like this and you'll soon reach higher levels of LINH. But now comes something far more important."
Their next mission was propaganda. They had to spread fear of Demons and faith in Gods among the people.
Vy frowned, nearly shouting:
"Why do we have to do this? Isn't killing Demons enough?" Her voice carried anger, tinged with suspicion toward The Heaven's Fracture.
Minh Triet let out a mocking laugh:
"How shallow. Gods are born from faith. Demons are born from fear. Without constantly seeding both, how could they ever grow stronger? Balance of LINH isn't maintained by killing alone."
Vy bit her lip:
"Then why not reduce both, keep them at a minimum? Wouldn't that also be balance?"
Minh Triet's gaze turned sharp, almost cutting:
"You really are foolish. True balance means balance across the entire world. If one place is strong while another is weak, disasters will follow. That is how The Etherfall begins."
Vy fell silent. She was beginning to understand — this task was not simple at all.
---
And so, the three of them walked through the bustling rows of stalls and markets, where common folk gathered.
Vy stepped forward first, her voice loud and severe:
"Demons bring calamity. They lurk in the dark, and with just a single moment of carelessness, they can destroy families and whole villages. Remember this — Demons never show mercy!"
Her words sent chills through the crowd. Mothers held their children tightly, and men clenched their crude weapons.
Then Minh Triet's voice rose, calm yet filled with commanding force:
"But do not let fear consume you. The Gods are ever-present, watching over and protecting us. As long as you hold onto faith, that belief becomes strength. Gods will grow stronger, and Demons will be forced to retreat."
Ho Lam Uyen watched silently, arms folded, not interrupting. She allowed the two to carry the weight of the task, learning to coordinate not only in battle, but also in the words that shaped the people's hearts.
The voices of Vy and Minh Triet echoed through the market, sowing both fear and comfort into the crowd. An invisible scale was being erected — and Vy realized that coordination was not only about synchronizing strikes, but also about guiding the balance of the world itself.