"Welcome to the outer ruins of Hollowveil," Faral said quietly.
"Faral, you are awesome!" Herkid exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement.
For the first time since Zhu and Mara had met him, Herkid looked nothing like the quiet, sad man they had met at the camp site. His eyes sparkled with childlike wonder as they darted from one towering ruin to the next.
Neither woman realized that, at his core, Herkid had always yearned for knowledge.
In a perfect world, he would never have become an adventurer. He would have been a professor, a scholar, or an archaeologist—someone who devoted his life to uncovering history and sharing it with others. Few things excited him more than discovering the forgotten stories of the past.
Unfortunately, life had never given him that choice.
Growing up in the slums with an abusive father, education had been a luxury far beyond his reach. Books were rare treasures, often costing more than his family could spare. Even so, whenever he managed to save a few coins, he bought a worn secondhand book or borrowed one from anyone willing to lend it.
Over the years, he had pieced together scraps of knowledge from old journals, tavern tales, and guild records.
Among the countless mysteries of the world, none fascinated him more than the Ruined City of Hollowveil.
Most scholars believed it was nothing more than an exaggerated myth. Others insisted it had once existed but had long since crumbled into dust. There were no maps, no reliable records, and certainly no surviving eyewitnesses.
Yet here it was.
Standing before him.
Real.
His entire body itched to explore every crumbling street, every towering structure, and every forgotten monument hidden beneath the vines.
However, when he noticed the amused expressions on Mara's and Zhu's faces, he forced himself to calm down, though the grin on his face refused to disappear.
Faral seemed to sense his excitement.
"You may explore later, Herkid," the guardian said with a hint of amusement. "You still have a considerable distance to travel before reaching my dwelling. It would be unwise to delay."
The moment Zhu heard the words 'considerable distance', her shoulders slumped dramatically.
"No..." she groaned. "You mean we have to keep walking?"
"You have only been walking for twenty-three minutes after your last break," Faral replied matter-of-factly.
"It has felt like twenty-three years!"
"You are exaggerating."
"I am suffering."
"You are not."
"I am absolutely suffering."
"You tripped over three roots because you refused to watch where you were going."
"They attacked me!"
"The roots remained stationary."
"They launched a coordinated assault."
Faral paused for a moment. "...Your imagination is remarkable."
Mara covered her mouth to hide a laugh, while Herkid chuckled openly. The playful exchange chased away the solemn atmosphere that had settled over the ancient ruins.
With their spirits lifted, the three companions continued deeper into the forgotten city, unaware that every step brought them closer to secrets that had remained buried for thousands of years.
For what felt like the hundredth time, Zhu dragged her feet over another cracked stone road.
"I've decided," she declared dramatically, "if I survive today, I'm never walking again."
"You've said that at least fourteen times," Mara replied with an amused smile.
"And I mean it more every time."
Herkid chuckled, though even he was beginning to tire. They had spent hours weaving through the labyrinthine streets of the ancient city. Every turn revealed another breathtaking sight—towering buildings draped in emerald vines, broken bridges suspended between crumbling structures, plazas swallowed by towering trees, and statues whose faces had long ago been claimed by moss and time.
The city was magnificent.
It was also enormous.
Just when Zhu thought her legs might finally give out, Faral's calm voice echoed through their minds.
"We're here."
The words instantly banished every trace of exhaustion.
The narrow street opened into a vast courtyard bathed in warm afternoon sunlight.
All three stopped.
Silence settled over them.
Unlike the ruins surrounding it, this place felt...alive.
At the center of the courtyard stood a circular fountain carved from pale white stone. Though weathered by countless centuries, crystal-clear water still flowed gracefully from its tiers, splashing softly into the basin below.
"How is it still working?" Mara whispered.
Around the fountain stood enormous trees whose roots curled gently around cracked walkways instead of destroying them, as if they had chosen to protect the ancient craftsmanship rather than consume it.
The surrounding buildings stretched high into the sky, their walls cloaked in thick curtains of ivy. Brilliant green vines cascaded over balconies and shattered windows, softening the harsh edges of stone and steel. Sunlight streamed through openings in the canopy, bathing the courtyard in shifting patches of gold.
Tiny white petals drifted lazily through the air.
Birds chirped from hidden branches overhead.
After the oppressive silence of the deeper ruins, the gentle sound of flowing water was almost magical.
"It..." Zhu slowly turned in a circle, taking everything in. "...it's beautiful."
"I wasn't expecting this," Mara admitted quietly. "It feels like we've stepped into another world."
Even Herkid, who had spent the entire journey marveling at every forgotten monument they passed, stood speechless.
He walked toward the fountain almost reverently, running his fingers across the smooth stone.
"No cracks from battle..." he murmured. "No signs of looting..."
His gaze swept across the towering buildings surrounding the plaza.
"This place was preserved."
"It was," Faral answered.
A cool breeze stirred through the courtyard, carrying with it the scent of fresh water, flowers, and ancient stone.
The sanctuary possessed a strange tranquility.
The thick, oppressive corruption that had lingered throughout the ruins was absent here, replaced by a peaceful stillness that settled deep within the soul.
Faral's voice carried a hint of warmth.
"Welcome..."
The fountain sparkled as sunlight danced across its surface.
"...to my home."
Zhu walked over to the fountain and dipped her fingers into the water.
It was cool, pure and so refreshing.
She blinked.
"Wait... this water isn't corrupted."
"It cannot be corrupted," Faral replied. "The fountain is connected to the heart of the Rushing Spring. The spring continuously purifies the mana within this sanctuary."
Zhu immediately scooped up a handful of water and splashed her face.
"Oh... oh, that's amazing."
She collapsed dramatically beside the fountain with a long sigh of relief.
As the cool, purified mana eased the fatigue in her body, she suddenly remembered someone.
Her eyes slowly scanned the courtyard, searching for the offending guardian.
She still vividly remembered wanting to punch Faral the first time she met him.
Now that she had recovered enough to move...
Well, she could finally follow through.
With renewed determination, Zhu pushed herself to her feet.
"I've changed my mind."
"Oh?" Mara laughed.
"I can walk again."
A mischievous grin spread across Zhu's face as she cracked her knuckles one by one, eagerly searching for Faral.
"Come out, my good friend Faral," she called sweetly. "Let's have a nice little talk."
Faral's calm voice echoed through the courtyard.
"I sense violence in your tone."
"There is absolutely violence in my tone."
"I see."
"You made me walk for hours."
"It was approximately four hours and seventeen minutes."
"See!" Zhu pointed accusingly into the air. "You're even counting! Come out you fiend"
"Here I am" A glowing fountain drew her attention.
Floating peacefully upon its surface was a magnificent lotus unlike any she had ever seen.
Its broad petals shimmered in shades of deep violet and lavender, each one dusted with tiny droplets that sparkled like gemstones. At its center burned a brilliant golden crown of stamens, radiating a warm glow that reflected across the rippling water.
The flower looked almost unreal.
As though it had bloomed beneath moonlight instead of sunlight.
Zhu couldn't help but stare.