The next morning, Noah awoke within Aetherveil, the misty expanse still humming faintly with his presence. Zara awaited him, her silver form standing gracefully as though she had been there all night.
"Zara," Noah asked after stretching, "yesterday you said I could bring people here. How exactly does that work?"
Her eyes glimmered with a knowing light. "It is simple, Master. You must know their name and face. Once you focus on them with intent, Aetherveil will respond, and they will be drawn here. But…" She paused, her tone turning more serious. "It would be wise to wait. Your cultivation is still at its first stage. With more strength, your willpower will be sharper, and those you summon will be far more subdued."
Noah's brow furrowed. "Wait… how did you know I was already thinking about calling people into this space?"
Zara's lips curved into a faint smile, her silver eyes narrowing playfully. "Master… you forget. We are soul-bound. Your thoughts are as clear to me as words spoken aloud. There is nothing you can hide from me."
A flash of embarrassment flickered across Noah's face, but he quickly shook it off. "Fine. Then at least stop calling me 'Master' all the time. Just call me Noah."
Her expression softened, but hesitation lingered. "It is… improper to call one's master by name."
"That's an order," Noah replied firmly, though not unkindly.
Zara lowered her gaze for a moment, conflicted, then finally nodded. "...As you wish, Noah."
A faint satisfaction warmed his chest. With that, he stepped out of Aetherveil and returned to the waking world.
The city of Tharvane was alive with noise and color when Noah entered its bustling heart. Merchants hawked their wares beneath bright awnings, children darted through the streets chasing each other, and the aroma of spiced meats drifted from taverns. To Noah—who had never known such a place before—it was both overwhelming and intoxicating.
He wandered for a while, his sharp eyes scanning everything with quiet fascination. That was when he saw her.
A woman stepped gracefully from a fine restaurant, her presence drawing eyes the way the moon pulled at the tide. Her beauty was striking—hair like midnight silk, a body sculpted in elegance, and a poise that suggested nobility. The moment Noah's gaze met hers, his breath caught. Something in him stirred, deeper than simple attraction.
So beautiful…
Without hesitation, Noah approached. His lips curved into a confident smile as he greeted her with a charm that felt natural, almost effortless.
"Forgive my boldness," he said smoothly, his eyes holding hers, "but beauty like yours deserves to be spoken of, not hidden behind passing glances."
The woman blinked, surprised at his directness, then let out the faintest laugh, a musical sound. She studied him with quiet interest, her eyes lingering longer than propriety allowed.
But Noah's sharp senses caught something else—a faint ripple in the air, a shadow shifting unnaturally. He turned his head slightly, his gaze fixing on the dark corner of the street. "You can step out," he said casually, his tone calm but firm. "Your presence is far too heavy to go unnoticed."
A flicker of movement—then a tall man emerged from the shadows, his aura betraying the strength of a seasoned cultivator. His eyes narrowed at Noah, cold and warning.
Before tension could rise further, the woman raised her hand gracefully. "Enough, Jareth," she said softly, her voice like silk but carrying command. "Do not embarrass me."
The man, though reluctant, bowed slightly and retreated once more into the shadows.
Noah chuckled lightly, meeting her eyes again. "So, even a beauty like you walks with hidden fangs at her side. I should be honored you've allowed me even a few words."
Instead of offense, the woman's lips curved. She leaned forward just slightly, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. "You're quite bold. Most men flinch before Jareth even makes a move. Yet here you are, smiling."
"Life's too short to flinch," Noah replied smoothly.
There was a pause, then the woman's voice dropped lower, almost conspiratorial. "Meet me here tomorrow. I find myself… curious about you."
With that, she turned and walked away, her steps elegant, her silken dress swaying. The protector followed in silence, but not before giving Noah a long, assessing glare.
Only after she disappeared into the crowd did Noah finally exhale, a slow grin spreading across his face. Zara's voice chimed softly within his mind.
Elen Whitlock, she whispered, amused. Second wife of Eriol Tom Brant, one of Tharvane's most powerful men. Dangerous, Noah. Very dangerous.
Noah's grin widened. Dangerous women are the most tempting.
Noah walked the streets of Tharvane with a spring in his step, Elen Whitlock's lingering smile still etched in his mind. Yet curiosity gnawed at him. How had Zara known so much about her the moment Elen's name was spoken?
Inside the misty stillness of Aetherveil, Noah finally asked the question.
"Zara… how do you know all these things? You're not even from this world."
Her golden eyes shimmered with a soft glow as she floated before him, hands folded neatly. "It is not mere knowledge, Master. It is an Eye Ability. Through our soul bond, I can glimpse into truths hidden from ordinary eyes. When your spiritual energy grows strong enough, you too will wield this sight."
Noah's brows lifted slightly. An eye ability… another card up my sleeve.
The next morning, with renewed focus, he made his way toward the Information Guild, a sprawling stone building near the heart of the city. The guild was famed for buying and selling secrets—everything from merchant routes to political scandals, and even cultivation manuals whispered about in distant kingdoms.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of ink and parchment. A clerk approached, wearing a polite but calculating smile.
"Welcome, customer. What knowledge do you seek?"
"I want to know about the powerful people in Tharvane," Noah said evenly. "Their names. Their faces. Their influence."
The clerk's eyes glimmered with interest. "That is costly information."
Noah smiled faintly. With a thought, he summoned a heavy pouch of gleaming gold coins into his hand.
They were forged within Aetherveil, shaped by his control over Qi. Though they carried no spiritual properties, each coin had still drained a portion of his spiritual power.
He felt the faint tug in his dantian, the threads of Qi unraveling before slowly replenishing themselves. It wasn't enough to weaken him, but it was a reminder—Aetherveil's creations came at a cost.
The clerk's eyes widened at the sight, his composure briefly cracking. "A-as you wish. Please wait a moment."
Within the hour, Noah received a neatly bound ledger, filled with names, portraits, and notes on the city's prominent figures. He flipped through it casually, committing everything to memory before tucking it away.
Business done, he left without another word.
But the Information Guild was never satisfied with one transaction. The moment Noah stepped out, the clerk hurried into the back chambers, clutching the gold coins nervously. He was ushered into an office where a sharp-eyed officer sat behind a desk.
"You look troubled," the officer said without glancing up.
The clerk licked his lips. "Sir… the man I just served… he paid an enormous sum in gold. The way he carried himself—it wasn't normal. I thought…"
Before he could finish, the officer's hand sliced through the air, silencing him. "Dismissed. Leave the rest to us."
The clerk bowed and scurried out, relief and fear mingling in his chest.
Moments later, the officer tapped his desk twice. A figure emerged from the shadows of the room—draped in black, face hidden beneath a hood.
"Find out who this Noah is," the officer ordered in a low, sharp tone. "And do it quietly. A man who spends money so carelessly… is either a fool or someone far too dangerous."
The black-clad man bowed soundlessly, then melted back into the darkness.