The sky was heavy with slate-grey clouds, and a biting morning wind lashed at the nearby forest—a harsh atmosphere that embraced the departure of Ethan and Ainliss toward the city of Loumiron.
Ethan maintained his chaotic style of dress but had added some practical upgrades: high-laced leather boots that fit him perfectly and a thick, grey half-cloak to ward off the chill. A heavy, bulging rucksack rested against his back.
Ainliss, meanwhile, wore a long cloak of dark charcoal. His hair was tied back tightly with a simple leather cord, revealing his sharp features and absolute focus. He, too, carried a traveler's pack.
The two moved swiftly, leaving behind the district of Bostgast and the old man Eldweyn, heading toward an ancient stone path that stretched through the forest toward the horizon.
Silence hung heavy between them. Ainliss was lost in the contemplation of nature, while Ethan was drowning in his own thoughts and regret. Guilt was gnawing at his chest.
Ethan began a hidden internal struggle as the cold wind whipped against his new cloak. The silent journey had unleashed a remorse he didn't know he possessed.
"I bullied them all the time... Why do I feel guilty now?" he muttered in a voice so low it was barely audible. "I didn't do anything wrong. I was just angry... He provoked me."
Ethan's face was a mask of deep resentment and clear confusion. His brows were knit tight, his eyes fixed on the road ahead without truly seeing it. Ainliss noticed his state and offered a calm, gentle smile.
"Meditate on the nature around you," Ainliss said, his voice melodic. "Perhaps it will improve your mood."
Ethan snapped back with a flicker of hidden anger, "I'm fine..."
Ainliss spoke with a tone of quiet certainty, "We Elves can sense the emotions of others... You are not fine. Just observe. Let these winds carry away what burdens your soul."
Ethan fell silent for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead, Ethan," Ainliss replied.
Ethan kept his eyes glued to the ground, as if fearing his answer might reveal a dark secret. "What would you do if your friend killed someone in front of you during a fit of rage?"
Ainliss raised his right eyebrow, a look of caution and surprise crossing his face as he walked. "Did this happen in your world?"
Ethan nodded. At that moment, his expression was a mix of frozen shock and despair. His eyes were haunted by a painful memory, and his mouth was set in a hard line, as if fighting to keep the truth from exploding outward.
Ainliss spoke slowly, searching for the right words. "You mean an innocent person... someone who didn't deserve to die?"
A flash of shock hit Ethan's face, as if Ainliss had read his mind. "Yes."
Ainliss sighed, his mocking smile vanishing completely. He spoke with rare sincerity. "I wouldn't do anything... It would be tragic enough to watch him fight his own conscience. That battle is his true punishment."
Ethan continued thinking aloud, trying to rationalize his friend's tragedy. "And do you think... he will win?"
Ainliss replied with indifference, "Who knows? It depends on the strength of his conscience."
At that moment, Ethan felt a genuine sting in his heart, as if something was squeezing his chest violently. He whispered to his inner voice in regret, "Oh, Fyodor... forgive me, Fyodor."
His internal monologue went silent, and Ethan began to observe the forest intently, hoping to find a distraction. The surrounding trees were breathtaking; some bore leaves of deep crimson, others of golden yellow, creating a masterpiece beneath the grey sky. He watched closely, his curiosity piqued, until a horrific sight shattered the beauty.
Something moved silently in his peripheral vision... a shimmering flash, like light reflecting off glass amidst the shadows. He raised his head slowly. There, perched on an ancient trunk, stood his old nightmare: the Glass Creature.
The creature stood eerily still, like a transparent crystal sculpture, staring directly at Ethan. Ethan tensed, stopping dead in his tracks.
"Ainliss... there's a monster watching us," Ethan said in a low, trembling voice.
Startled by Ethan's sharp tone, Ainliss instantly drew a slender sword from the scabbard at his waist in a swift, practiced motion. "Show me," he whispered cautiously.
Ethan pointed a hand in absolute terror toward the tree, but the monster vanished instantly without a sound, as if it had dissolved into the air, leaving only a cold void behind.
Ainliss, after scanning the empty space with his sharp eyes, spoke with suspicious irritation, "Have you lost your mind? There's nothing there!"
"It was there!" Ethan retorted, his face slick with a cold sweat. "Right on that tree... a glass monster!"
Ainliss slowly sheathed his sword and sighed, giving Ethan an evaluating look. "Glass? I've lived in the forest longer than I've lived in the city, and I've never seen such a thing."
Ethan felt insulted and dismissed, as if his very reality was being questioned. "Why don't you believe me?"
Ainliss gave a cold smile and resumed walking, the sound of his new boots clicking clearly on the damp stones. "Fine, I believe you saw something. We'll stay alert. It could be a bandit."
Ethan was even more bewildered. "Do bandits have the supernatural power to create monsters?"
"No," Ainliss said. "But they rely on magic to create constructs that obey them. However, they are weak. A single Holy Knight can defeat ten mages or more."
Ethan wondered, "Who are the Holy Knights?"
Ainliss replied, his voice tinged with pride, "They are soldiers blessed by the power of the Tree of Aieltheris. Every kingdom possesses a number of them; they hold the highest ranks in the military."
The wind slapped Ethan's face, carrying the scent of decaying leaves and damp earth. He shook his head in exhaustion. "This is more complicated than physics..."
Ainliss let out a soft laugh. "If you ever see the city of Elonia, your mind will freeze from the complexity."
"Why?" Ethan asked with renewed curiosity.
"It is the greatest city Altheira has ever seen," Ainliss replied, his eyes gleaming for a second. "A city that doesn't belong to our era. A legacy untouched by humans."
Ethan felt a spark of genuine hope. "We have to go there! I feel like my answers are there..."
Ainliss laughed mockingly, bringing Ethan back to reality. "Don't get ahead of yourself. First, you have to meet Arinwald."
The reminder of his mission made Ethan's excitement wither. "I'm nervous about meeting him, especially since he's the son of that old woman."
"He is an old friend, a brother" Ainliss teased.
Ethan stopped suddenly. "Wait! You never told me about your past."
Ainliss answered coldly, staring at the horizon. "Fine. I am a member of the Royal Gendarmerie of Elgarath... an investigative officer."
Ethan felt a prickle of fear at this confession. Looking at his disguised companion, he asked, "Then where is your gun?"
Ainliss smiled, and this time it was a wide grin. "I I don't like guns!"
Ethan began to mimic the shape of a pistol with his hand, enthusiastically explaining how to shoot, complete with sound effects and recoil.
Ainliss shook his head dismissively. "I told you, I don't need it. Stop waving your hands around like a chicken."
Their footsteps remained steady on the dirt path, the rustle of fallen leaves filling the silence between them. Ethan looked at his Elven companion, who walked with an eerie calmness, and asked with a curiosity he couldn't suppress:
"Tell me, Ainliss... are you investigating anyone right now? A big case?"
Ainliss's expression shifted instantly. The slight mockery vanished, replaced by a deep shadow. He stopped walking for a moment, his voice becoming quiet—heavy with sadness and true dread.
"Yes... it's a monster. Not just a killer, but a nightmare that steals souls from this world. His method... it's horrific, precise. Every crime carries the mark of unspeakable suffering. Fifty-six souls... men and women. Every one of them lost their life in a way that breaks your heart. It wasn't just death... it was a silent scream. Every victim left behind a void that can never be filled."
A cold shock struck Ethan's heart. He stopped walking too, his voice stunned. "Fiftyyy-sixxx?! How have you not caught him yet?"
Ainliss sighed, looking truly exhausted for the first time. "It is clear he possesses a Root of Power that cannot be underestimated. We requested help from the Holy Knights, but we haven't received a response yet."
Ethan hurried to catch up, his mind buzzing with the new terms. "What are these damn Roots anyway?"
Ainliss looked at him, his voice weary. "It's a long story, Ethan."
"Just tell me," Ethan insisted, a hint of desperation in his voice. "You and the old woman were talking about this the whole time. I need to understand."
Ainliss stopped beside a massive oak tree and placed a hand on its rough bark. He spoke as if reciting an ancient, painful legend.
"After the Battle of the Black Flame ended, the aftermath was devastating. Monsters spread, and we felt weak. It was then that the Langonians gave us a great task: to protect Altheira and preserve the light of Aieltheris. Since then, it became mandatory for us to learn power and rise with it."
Ethan interrupted eagerly, "And what was the Battle of the Black Flame?"
Ainliss shot him a sharp look. "Don't interrupt me. The point is, for anyone to obtain power, they must merge with one of the two Great Trees. They will receive a Root of Power that aligns with their soul."
"But how does the Root work?" Ethan's eyes shone with curiosity.
Ainliss gestured to the tree. "Imagine this root is the source of power. It has many branches, and every branch has its leaves or fruits. For example, the Fire branch has different fruits: orange fire, green fire, blue fire, and so on..."
Ethan's eyes widened as he remembered the warmth of the flames on his wounds. "The nurse... she used a green flame on me that healed!"
Ainliss nodded. "Yes. We can use all types of fire through certain rituals or experiments, but we cannot harness and control them like a Root-bearer can."
Ethan paused, looking at his empty hands, then back to Ainliss with desperate hope. "How can I get power?"
Ainliss let out a soft, sad laugh and resumed walking.
"You already have it... You just need to know yourself."
The words felt like a stab of light. Ethan felt them shake something deep inside him, as if something had been waiting for that very sentence to wake up.