Nathan had arrived in Velkros after nearly ten days of a grueling journey.
He was too tired to even bother taking off his dusty cloak. His feet carried him straight to the door of the old but safe inn at the western entrance of the town. As he stepped through the creaking door, the warm air inside hit his face—and his weary shoulders eased a little.
The moment he dropped himself into the first empty table, he quickly ordered to silence the growl of his stomach.
Meat stew, warm bread, plenty of butter... and a bottle of lukewarm drink that followed.
But neither the food nor the drink… For Nathan, the true luxury was what he was about to do: a hot bath.
For the first time in a long while, he would lie down on a real bed instead of thorny bushes.
For ten days he had slept on stone ground, always on guard and never letting go of his weapon. If it could be called sleep at all—more like passing out. Every night, one eye had always remained open. Even in his dreams he carried a dagger.
When hot water touched his skin, his first reflex was to raise his hands into a defensive stance.
He paused for a moment. Took a deep breath. And focused on enjoying the pleasure of the hot bath.
He would meet with the rest of the team for the mission tomorrow. For now, just one night.
One night of rest was his right.
When Nathan awoke from his deep sleep, the sun had already risen, and the beams of light streaming through the small window of the room had begun to brighten the edge of his bed.
He buried his head into the pillow for a moment.
For the first time in a long while, his body felt this light.
Sleep… he had truly "slept."
The clawing nightmares of the creatures that had chased him along the road seemed to have finally quieted.
He took a deep breath, then straightened himself and got out of bed.
Even the cracks from his joints pleased him.
His only plan for the morning: eat something and relax a little before the mission briefing.
When he went down to the lower floor, the hall on the ground floor of the inn was still quiet.
But in one corner, a familiar, large silhouette caught his attention.
Valric.
Nathan hesitated, then slowed his steps as he approached him.
Valric was nearly two meters tall; his shoulders broad as a bow, his body solid as stone.
But the face carried by that massive body was surprisingly gentle.
On it was a few days' beard, distinct yet soft features, and strikingly large gray eyes.
His hair was long and straight, falling in brown waves down his back, tied at the nape.
He wore loose dark trousers and a light armor top that left his arms completely bare.
Even in this simple outfit, his muscular and well-built body was more than clear.
Valric turned to Nathan.
He raised his eyebrows slightly in greeting.
"So you finally made it," he said in a deep yet soft voice.
Nathan grinned lightly, yawning with a bit of relief.
"I've been on the road for ten days. Kept running into transformed creatures," he said. "Even so, I arrived earlier than I planned."
Valric nodded. "The situation is bad everywhere. Transformed creatures—their numbers are growing.
Lucien went last night to investigate an area that might be their base. He hasn't returned yet."
Nathan rolled his eyes, shrugging his shoulder.
"Lucien can take care of himself," he muttered. "As always, he does things his own way."
Valric nodded as if to say there was nothing to do.
"Lucien… he likes working alone," he said.
"Just sometimes, when I'm with him… I feel like a burden."
Nathan didn't say anything, but fixed his eyes on a point and thought.
Being around Lucien could sometimes feel both reassuring and unsettling.
As if staying in his shadow… was inevitable.
Just then Nathan's stomach growled.
When it echoed in the silence, Valric let out a short laugh.
"Right on time," he said, signaling to the attendant wandering the hall.
"Come on, let's feed you first. Then we'll talk about the mission."
After eating their meals, Nathan and Valric set off toward the area Lucien had gone to investigate the previous night.
The journey took about two hours.
The terrain was both steep and uneven; rocky passes, dried stream beds, narrow paths filled with thorny bushes...
Their steps were cautious, their weapons ready at any moment.
Finally, when they reached the slope of a steep and barren hill, the air suddenly changed.
Valric was the first to notice.
"Stop," he whispered.
Nathan halted right behind him, he felt it too.
There was something there. Moving, breathing… but not human.
Both of their bodies reflexively crouched at the same time. They blended into the shadows, hiding their presence.
Nathan made a short signal with his eyes. From his belt, he pulled out a small flute and produced a faint whistle-like sound.
The scout bird silently rose from the trees and glided toward the horizon. Shortly after, it vanished from sight.
Nathan closed his eyes. Through the eyes of his scout, he began to scan the area.
The inside of the cave was dark.
The stone walls were wrapped in the growls of the creatures within and the scent of blood mixed with earth.
On the ground lay shattered bones, traces of fresh blood, and grotesquely twisted bodies.
Some resembled humans—but they were no longer human.
In the very center of the cave, a figure stood.
'Lucien.'
His clothes were soaked in blood.
His black armor was cracked, the edges of his cloak torn.
But the sword in his hand was still gripped tightly.
His face was pale, sweat dripping from his forehead.
But his eyes—those piercing blue eyes—seemed to shine from within the darkness.
He was tired. Exhausted. But he had not given up.
Lucien did not even look at the corpses of the transformed creatures surrounding him.
He only tried to steady his breath.
He was using all his will just to remain standing.
He took one more step.
And then… Nathan and Valric slipped quietly inside from the shadows at the edge of the cave.
Nathan frowned as soon as he saw Lucien's state.
"Once again you've taken down an army all by yourself," he muttered.
Valric froze for a moment before drawing his sword.
As he looked at Lucien in that state, in his eyes there was a faint… respect.
In the darkness of the cave, Lucien narrowed his eyes slightly.
In his voice was both exhaustion and that peculiar mocking coldness:
"I thought you'd never come."
Valric placed his hand on his sword and glanced around.
With an expression that showed nothing ever truly shook him, yet that he was ready for anything, he replied:
"We'll handle the rest."
Lucien stepped forward heavily.
The moment he pulled his blood-soaked sword from the ground, the sound of metal echoed through the darkness.
Until then it was as if he had only existed in the depths of the cave.
But now… he was coming out.
At the top of the hill, the morning sun had risen.
As the sunlight struck his white hair, it seemed to blaze like a burning ember.
The dried and fresh blood stains on his clothing became clearer in the light.
When he woke, the sky was tinged with purple. The sun was about to set.
For a moment, he felt disoriented.
Then he flinched at the deep growl from his stomach—
He had eaten nothing for nearly 24 hours.
From his bag, he pulled out a few pieces of dried meat; as he chewed, he was also thinking:
"Are Nathan and Valric still there?"
Without wasting any time, he began striding quickly toward the cave.
There was still fatigue in his steps, but in his eyes was that familiar determination.
When he reached the outside of the cave, Nathan and Valric turned their heads in surprise as they saw him.
Nathan: "You didn't return to the inn? You're still here?"
Lucien answered without narrowing his eyes:
"I had no energy to return. What's the situation? Did you find anything?"
Valric glanced sideways at Nathan and shook his head:
"We didn't come across anything similar to the core Nathan brought in the box."
"Just... the usual red cores."
Lucien's brows furrowed.
"What exactly was in the box?"
His voice was neither angry nor emotionless — just… extremely focused.
Nathan pulled the box out of his backpack.
He lifted the lid.
From inside, a purplish, glowing core appeared. It was denser than the others; as if it was still warm.
Lucien tilted his head, studying it carefully.
"This… is different," he said quietly.
Nathan sighed softly.
"Alex encountered a transformed one who was still conscious during the Kelm village attack.
Before killing him, he got some information about this place.
He also sent this core… hoping it might help in research."
Lucien said nothing.
He just kept his eyes fixed on the core.
He stared at it for a long time.
For some reason he didn't understand… the energy radiating from this stone was so similar to the power within himself.
In that moment, something tightened in his throat. Something familiar yet repulsive stirred inside.
Once again, he hated himself… and his magic. The power he never used unless forced to, the one he even tried to suppress… It no longer felt like a gift, but a curse.
Valric was the one who broke the silence.
"Compared to the other cores… this one carries an extremely dense dark energy," he said.
"The owner of this core must have been very powerful. If there are many like this… we're in real trouble."
Lucien and Nathan unintentionally locked eyes. Both their faces soured.
A short silence fell. In that silence, the weight of possibilities pressed down on them. But they knew. There was only one thing they could do.
Fight.
Before entering the cave, they lit a few torches. It was too dark inside; they needed light for a detailed investigation.
The ground of the cave was covered in blood from end to end.
Everywhere was filled with the corpses of creatures and transformed humans.
The heavy smell of iron seeped into their lungs.
They collected every core they could find, one by one. The blackish fluid sticking to their hands was still warm.
As they went deeper into the cave, the stench became unbearable. But they had to check. They couldn't overlook any detail. Later, Orven Guild's cleaning team would come to clear the corpses.
Their investigation of the cave lasted until midnight.
When they finally came out, the first thing they did was take deep breaths of the fresh air.
They were utterly exhausted and hungry. Their clothes were soaked in blood, they could barely stand.
Without saying a word, they began walking slowly toward the inn. At that moment, nothing else mattered.
Only a warm shower… and a soft bed.
When Aryel and her family arrived at the capital Velmira, the sun had not yet set. The Academy was built on a lush green hill in the southeast of Velmira.
Far from the bustle of the city center but under the watch of the palace, it was both close to nature and strategically located.
Velmira, the capital of Solvena… was a city worthy of being called a capital.
A place where light merged with the city, where even shadows could be brightened by splendor.
The streets of the capital were paved with gilded stones.
Even the smallest ray of sunlight reflected off the walls, while the golden-ornamented columns dazzled the eyes.
The massive towers in the center of the city housed both magic academies and noble families' mansions.
In Velmira, every building was like a performance.
Arched windows, elegant balconies, courtyards decorated with white marble floors…
Even the streets seemed to smell as if specially washed with perfume.
Every passing carriage was extravagant; every outfit was meticulously tailored.
Here, being plain was considered a flaw.
Those who ruled Velmira were born there, raised in light, and learned to fight shadows there. In Velmira, wealth wasn't just money — grandeur, knowledge, and lineage were above all.
The Orven Guild was also in the capital Velmira. On the west side, built upon an old temple. The kingdom's most dangerous missions were first evaluated there, then suitable teams were chosen.
As they moved away from Velmira's stone streets, the steps of the enchanted horses pulling the carriage slowed.
The road ahead curved gracefully like a silver river, leading to the Solaris Manor glittering atop the high hill.
Not a palace… not a fortress… but still extremely magnificent.
Golden-ornamented columns, towers reaching to the sky, delicate lights floating in the air…
The whole manor seemed as if it was born from light itself.
The windows turned daylight into rainbows; even the flowers in the gardens didn't look ordinary — some glowed, some chimed softly like notes.
Sera stared out the window, mesmerized, not blinking.
"This… is this going to be our home?"
Her voice was trembling, yet filled with hope.
Aryel leaned down and held her hand.
"Yes. This is your home now, too."
At that moment, the main gates of the manor opened by themselves. Two elegant attendants came out, bowing gently before them.
Sera tried to say something but no sound came out. Without letting go of Aryel's hand, she stepped forward slowly.
When they got out of the carriage, Aryel's eyes locked on someone.
In front of her stood a tall, broad-shouldered young man with short blond hair, stern yet charismatic. His lightly bronzed skin bore the traces of years spent under the sun.
The ornate knight's armor he wore clearly showed he was no ordinary warrior.
The engravings, the crest on his shoulder plates, and the elegant yet deadly-looking sword at his waist… Anyone who saw him would know he was a high-ranking knight.
"Brother!" Aryel called and ran into his arms.
Griffine embraced Aryel and gently patted her head.
"Congratulations on your graduation," he said sincerely.
Sera stared at the handsome, imposing man with admiration. She couldn't take her eyes off him.
Griffine turned to the little girl looking up at him with wide eyes.
"And who might this young lady be?" he asked in a gentle voice.
Sera shyly half-hid behind Aryel but still spoke:
"M-my name is Sera. I-I will be living here now."
Griffine knelt down with a smile and placed his hand on Sera's head.
"Welcome, Sera. My name is Griffine. I am a knight," he said kindly.
But at that moment… a familiar ache rose within him. His lost sister.
She should have been about this age… Where was she, what state was she in? Was she still alive, or had she already been consumed by the darkness?
His eyes were on Sera, but his mind was elsewhere. For a moment, he fell into silence. The pain inside him went unnoticed by anyone.
He was pulled from his thoughts by Sera's excited voice.
"Wooow, a real knight?"
Darius approached, smiling.
"I'm a knight too, didn't I tell you?"
Sera's eyes lit up even more.
"Really?"
Darius leaned slightly, lowering himself to her eye level.
"There are many knights here, Sera. All of us will protect you. You are safe here. Come, let's show you your room."
Sera nodded eagerly and followed Elyndra and Darius.
As she walked with her tiny steps through the vast corridors, the uneasiness within her began to give way to curiosity and trust.
Aryel and Griffine stayed behind.
They walked in silence for a while. Griffine drifted into the past.
A few years after losing his sister, he had joined the Holy Knights.
When he first met Aryel, she was only nine, and he was fourteen.
From that day on, he had seen her as his own sister.
And Aryel had embraced him like an older brother.
To see her today, graduated, standing tall as a young woman…
It was a proud moment. Yet inside him, the ache of something missing still lingered.
Lost in thought, he was startled by Aryel's voice.
"Brother… have you found any trace?" she asked, her voice trembling with sorrow.
Griffine shook his head. "Still no trace… No matter how much I search, I still have nothing," he said, gazing into the distance with a sigh.
Aryel spoke without hesitation.
"I will help you find her, brother. I truly believe… you will find her."
Griffine's eyes welled up. Something was stuck in his throat.
He couldn't utter a word.
They simply continued walking in silence…
But Aryel's words seeped into the darkness within him like a faint light.
Vega, Kael, and their sisters were traveling in the same carriage.
Since both families were heading in the same direction, they had decided to travel together. The road was long, but the silence weighed heavier than the distance.
The volcanic mountains rolling endlessly beyond the window reminded Kael of his childhood. Emberhold. The heart of fire. His home.
But this time he wasn't just returning there. He was going to face something.
Kael's family, the Fenixar dynasty, was the oldest and most respected mage lineage in these lands. In their blood flowed not ordinary flames, but the legacy of the Phoenix. Or so it was said…
But this legacy wasn't simply given. Like every Fenixar child, Kael too had to be tested.
The Phoenix Rite.
Even the name made a knot form in his throat. The stories he once listened to with awe now weighed heavy on his chest. The rite was more than a test; it was a path to prove who you were, who you could be. The fire had to accept you. If not…
Kael closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
No one ever openly spoke of the trial's details. Each person faced themselves. Some emerged successful, others… their names were never mentioned again.
"There is such a thing as a second chance," his grandfather had once said. "But those who fail the first time usually can't gather themselves for the second."
Kael leaned his head against the window. He didn't know what awaited him at the end of this road. But one thing was certain:
There was no place left to run.
His thoughts were interrupted by Vega's voice.
"So you're going to inherit the Phoenix's powers," he said in mild astonishment, his tone lacking its usual cheerfulness. Kael realized Vega had overheard while listening to Elira, Vega's sister, and Ashara, Kael's sister, talking.
Kael suddenly became aware of all the eyes on him. Vega was looking at him. So were Elira and Ashara, now silent. The carriage suddenly felt suffocating.
His throat went dry.
Somewhere inside him still whispered:
What if you fail? What if the fire rejects you?
He answered without averting his gaze, though his voice didn't come out as strong as he wanted.
"...If I pass the trial, yes… I will inherit it."
The words hung in the air. Even to his own ears, they sounded foreign. No matter how much he didn't want to, his lack of confidence seeped into his words.
Vega frowned slightly. A moment of silence, then he spoke without looking away:
"Of course you'll pass. Why are you even thinking otherwise?" he said earnestly. "You've faced transformed humans, monsters. You didn't run, you didn't lose your courage. Why are you thinking like this now?"
Kael felt embarrassed.
For some reason… he didn't want Vega to see this side of him.
In Vega's eyes, he wanted to appear strong, determined. To reveal his fears, his weakness… especially to Vega… was something that made his chest ache.
But Vega was right. Kael knew this.
"Why am I afraid?" he thought. "If I fail to inherit the Phoenix's flames, what then?"
For a moment, a deep silence filled his mind.
Even then, I'll keep fighting, he told himself. I can't abandon my friends. Vega… Aryel, Maia… no one.
His shoulders relaxed a little. A tiny spark stirred inside.
I'm not weak as I am. Even without the Phoenix's flames, I'm strong enough… and I'll grow stronger.
He glanced sideways at Vega. Vega looked like he was waiting for an answer, eyes fixed firmly on him. Silent but patient.
Kael finally took a deep breath.
"...You're right," he said. His voice was clearer now. "And I wasn't afraid. I was just… a little worried."
He paused for a moment, then straightened his head and continued:
"Whether I inherit the Phoenix's flames or not, I am already strong. And I will keep growing stronger."
A smile appeared on Vega's face, followed by a soft chuckle.
"That's more like it," he said. "That's the arrogant, confident Kael I know."
Kael frowned but smiled.
"Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult? I can't tell."
Both of them started laughing lightly. For the first time during the journey, the air between them softened this much. Words flowed, and inwardly, the bond between them became more apparent.
Just then, Ashara's voice came from the back:
"So… what exactly is your relationship?"
The carriage instantly froze.
Elira spat out the water in her mouth. Kael's face turned pale. Vega froze for a second, then blinked.