Morning did not arrive with sunlight.
It arrived with silence.
The cave was cold, but not hostile. The invisible barrier Arcit and Arcitia had formed wrapped the entrance like folded air, bending presence itself. Outside, monsters passed by without pause. Their instincts slid off the barrier as if the cave did not exist.
I opened my eyes slowly.
No system messages.
No alarms.
No killing intent pressing on my skin.
That alone told me one thing.
We had succeeded.
Iris was already awake, sitting near the cave wall, knees drawn close, watching the faint glow of the barrier pulse like a quiet heartbeat. Her hair, now the same reddish-brown as mine, fell loosely over her shoulders. The will mark on her arm shimmered faintly, no longer hidden.
~using Telepathy~
Iris "They think we're dead."
~using Telepathy~
"Yes," I replied. "No presence traces. No bond signals. Even Arcit says the area is clean."
She exhaled, not relief, but something sharper.
~using Telepathy~
Iris "Mart won't accept it easily."
~using Telepathy~
"He doesn't need to," I answered. "The world will."
Arcit's voice surfaced, calm as ever.
Arcit: "Observation complete. Allond, Ashia, Mart, and the assassins have retreated. Survivors are reporting a monster stampede. No bodies recovered."
Iris clicked her tongue softly.
~using Telepathy~
"A convenient story."
~using Telepathy~
"A necessary one."
I stood, feeling the weight of the new armor settle naturally around my body. Shiftron responded to intent, tightening plates where needed, loosening where speed mattered. It felt less like equipment and more like a second skin.
Iris stretched, rolling her shoulders.
~using Telepathy~
Iris "So… what now, 'dead man'?"
I looked toward the cave entrance, beyond the barrier, beyond the forest, beyond the guilds that thought they knew us.
"We start over."
Arcitia's voice joined in, carrying a sharper edge.
Arcitia: "Your identities are no longer registered. Guild records are being adjusted as we speak. Official status: deceased during a high-risk forest mission."
Iris smirked.
~using Telepathy~
"I always wanted to disappear once."
~using Telepathy~
"Careful," I said. "This isn't freedom. It's exile with a purpose."
Her expression softened, but her eyes stayed steady.
~using Telepathy~
Iris "I chose this road. Remember?"
We packed what little we needed. Supplies sorted cleanly inside the Stario item, each separated by Arcit's barriers. No monster loot mixed with tools. No traces left behind.
Before leaving, I paused.
~using Telepathy~
"One more thing."
Iris tilted her head.
~using Telepathy~
"If we're going to walk this path… we do it as equals. No lords. No servants."
She smiled. Not sharp. Not playful. Real.
~using Telepathy~
"Then walk beside me, Raidan. Not ahead."
beside her?, oh man. whatever
We dropped the barrier and stepped out.
The forest swallowed us instantly.
No presence.
No names.
No past.
Only two figures moving through the wild, marks glowing faintly beneath altered armor, carrying power that no guild, no system notice, and no assassin fully understood.
Behind us, the world buried us.
Ahead, something far worse waited....
I stopped in my tracks.
"Why did you stop?" Iris asked.
I was genuinely shocked by how beautiful she looked. Maybe she'd always been like this, but I'd never really paid attention before.
"You're amazing and beautiful! Now let's get some hunting done on our way to the royal capital so we can register with a new guild."
"Off we go!" Iris said cheerfully. Yes! I got him to call me beautiful, she thought to herself.
"You know you shouldn't express those kinds of emotions while my spiritual awareness is active," I said.
"W-w-what? I forgot about your spiritual awareness technique!" She was blushing now.
Maybe I shouldn't have said that.
"In that case..." Iris began.
Oh no. Here comes the question I've been trying to avoid.
"Shouldn't you tell me something?"
I'll play dumb. "Tell you what exactly?"
"What do you think of me?"
"You're a great cousin—kind, one of the strongest people I know, and smart."
Not what I wanted to hear, Iris thought, but I can tell he's aware of my feelings. All thanks to that spiritual awareness of his.
I stopped walking again. "I've always known how you feel," I said with a smile, then kept moving forward.
She smiled back and caught up to me.
After brutal battles and camping through all kinds of weather—rain, thunderstorms, days with a blazing sun—for six months straight, we finally made progress.
"This forest is so weird. How can the weather change this fast?"
"It was hard dealing with the sudden weather changes during battle," Iris agreed.
"And we finally reached A-rank!"
"What's your level, Raidan? I'm at 205."
"210!"
"No way! You're always in the lead. One day—one day—I will surpass you."
"I'm looking forward to that," I said. "Also, have you picked a new name yet?"
Iris "Oh yes, of course! I almost forgot about that. Um..."
"I'll go with Raven."
Iris "Yes. Mine's Vera."
"Nice choice."
"Looks like we're here."
Iris "Long time no see, Royal Capital!"
We moved through the crowded streets. Stalls overflowed with clothes, boots, potions, and strange little trinkets. Everything smelled like food and spices, with sunlight hitting the fabrics just right. Just like last time—nothing had changed.
"Looks like six months didn't change much," Iris observed.
"Let's stay at an inn for tonight, and tomorrow we'll head to the guild."
Iris "Got it."
We entered an inn, and I approached the counter. "Can we have two rooms for tonight?"
"Yes, that'll be one silver coin. Here are your keys."
Later, lying on my bed, I decided it was time to get to work.
"Arcit, what's this new form of my weapon?"
"It's a greatsword."
Greatswords—my favorite sword type.
"Thanks, Arcit."
Arcit "Should you try it out now?"
"Yeah, no point waiting until tomorrow."
The sword I held was a striking and mystical weapon. It glowed with vivid red energy, radiating magical power. The blade was long and straight, with ornate, glowing red patterns etched along its surface, giving it an ancient and enchanted appearance. The hilt was sturdy and well-crafted, while the overall design radiated both intensity and elegance. Its upright position and radiant aura made it absolutely mesmerizing. "Wow, that's awesome—even better than the dual blades... Wait, it turned green when I put it down?"
Arcit "It turned red due to recognizing its master and responding to your Spirit Will skill and your Shatterspring ability."
"Wow, that's awesome—even better than the dual blades... Wait, it turned green when I put it down?"
Arcit "It turned red due to recognizing its master and responding to your Spirit Will skill and your Shatterspring ability."
"I see. So from now on, it won't turn red unless I use those two skills."
"By the way, how do you even have a spirit... ghost... or whatever you are? Aren't you supposed to be a
system?"
Arcit "Yes, I am a system, but one of a kind—one that evolves as its master evolves."
"Are you sure I'm the master? Because you've put me through hell."
Arcit "I guide you to greatness and keep you on the right path."
"And is it the same story for Iris's system?"
Arcit "Yes."
Arcit "New mission: Find the lost Arc Will holder and make them join you."
"Ugh, can't you be nice and pick better timing?
I was just about to sleep. Plus, why don't you tell me where
this lost Arc holder is, like you did with the Phoenix wielder?"
"Arcit You were just an amateur back then. Now you should figure it out yourself."
"Fine, fine. May I ask three questions?"
Arcit "Yes."
"Is she in a guild in the royal capital?"
"What's this person's name?"
"What type of Arc spirit does she have?"
Arict "Yes, she's in one of the top three guilds. Her name is Wayla. Her spirit is a kin of the Guardian of the Ocean."
"One of the top guilds, Wayla, Ocean..." I thought it through. "She's definitely not in the Emberstalkers—their members can be counted on one hand, and none of them have water-type spirits. So it's either Moonrend Legion or Eclipse Wardens. I'll need to tell Iris about this."
"Okay, now let me sleep."
Speaking of Iris, I couldn't help but feel that maybe I shouldn't have told her that earlier.
I settled in, awaiting a new morning.