The training hall had long since quieted.
Night settled over Aurelian—but not all minds found rest.
At the upper balcony, overlooking the empty grounds. Two figures remained. General Knight Vaelric stood with arms folded, gaze cast outward.
Beside him— Arden Vol.
"…Well?" Vaelric finally spoke. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "What do you make of him?"
Arden didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained fixed on the distance. "… Abnormal."
Vaelric chuckled softly. "…That's vague. Be honest."
A pause.
Arden exhaled. "…His Aether capacity." His tone was flat. "Judging by the volume he forced through his body… after stabilizing it…"
A slight shift in his gaze.
"…it rivals yours."
Silence.
Vaelric's smirk widened. "…Rivals?" He let out a low laugh. "You're generous tonight."
Arden glanced at him briefly. "I'm being honest. If he survives refinement, he may exceed you."
That earned a proper laugh. Vaelric shook his head. "…You're being mean, that hurts my pride."
He turned slightly. "Keep an eye on him."
Arden didn't respond.
"As he progresses," Vaelric added, voice lowering. "…I want to know where that path leads."
A brief silence.
"…Understood."
The next morning, the gates of Aurelian opened at dawn. Captain Arden, together with Renn and his team departed from Aurelian.
Their destination:
Lumisdale — The Radiant Province.
Far from the structured stone of Aurelian… Far from its order and discipline…
Lumisdale was different.
The land stretched endlessly into vast grasslands, painted in soft greens and golds beneath an open sky that felt untouched by time. The wind carried no tension. No weight. Only calm.
Aether lingered here. Not as power, but as presence.
It flowed naturally through the land, like breath through lungs. Gentle. Harmonious. Alive.
There were no towering structures. No fortified walls. Only homes crafted from wool, wood, and animal skins— Simple. Primitive. Yet complete. It was a place where the world had chosen not to move forward— Because it had already reached perfection.
"…Feels strange," Taren muttered. "…It's too quiet."
Lio observed calmly. "... I agree, the place is too balanced."
Seris closed her eyes briefly. "…The Aether here is… peaceful."
Kael cracked his neck. "…Hmph. Doesn't matter."
Renn said nothing. But he felt it. This place was alive in a way Aurelian was not.
At the heart of the village, a large hut stood. Central and dominant. Before they could approach, children rushed toward them. Laughing. Curious.
Each holding small wooden plates.
"…Uh," Taren blinked. "…Why are they offering us—"
He froze.
Grubs. Alive and moving.
Arden didn't hesitate. "The people here shows hospitality by giving us their food, so eat.. "
Taren recoiled. "…You're joking."
Silence.
Lio hesitated.
Seris observed quietly.
Kael stepped forward. Without a word, he grabbed the plate and ate everything.
No hesitation.
No reaction.
Then,a single tear rolled down his cheek. Renn saw it. Their eyes met. Kael stare at Ren as if it was a challenge.
Renn smirked slightly. "…Fine."
He took the plate, and ate it. All of it. Clean. Kael's eye twitched. "…Tch."
Taren looked like he was about to pass out. "…You're both insane…"
Inside the great hut, a small figure stood waiting. An old woman. Barely reaching Renn's waist.
Wrinkled.
Thin.
But her presence was anything but small. Her eyes lit up instantly. "Oho! Visitors!"
She was delighted.
Arden stepped forward "…It's been a while."
The old woman grinned widely. "Arden! I am glad you are in good shape!" She laughed.
"And you brought children!"
Arden bowed his head slightly. "We will be in your care."
The chief's smile faded slightly. Eyes narrowing. "…Care, you say? The last time you said that is when you rampaged our town. "
A pause.
"You're not here to claim our land… are you?"
Silence. Then suddenly, a burst of blue Aether exploded from the chief's body. Dense, sharp and precise.
Lio's eyes widened. "…That color—"
Taren stumbled back. "…Wait, what is happening?"
Kael tensed. Only Renn and Seris remained still.
Then, the chief burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Look at your faces!"
Arden sighed. "…You haven't changed."
The chief grinned. "And you're still stiff."
Kael clicked his tongue. "…This guy…"
The chief wiped a tear from laughing. "So—what is it?" He leaned forward slightly. "Medical help?"
Arden nodded. "Yes."
The chief turned. "Follow me..."
As they moved—
Taren whispered. "…What medical help? We're not sick.."
Arden spoke calmly.
"Chief Mumanko. The greatest Aether medic in Lumisdale."
Lio nodded slowly. "…Blue Aether…"
Arden continued. "She specializes in Aether Meridian stabilization. She saved my life. I once suffered Meridian intoxication."
His tone remained flat.
"She brought me back."
He stopped. Turning to them.
"You five…are here to open your dormant Meridians."
"All Meridians have limiters. Like a lid on boiling water. That keeps your pity little self from exhausting your Aether without realizing. Today, we remove that lid."
Silence.
Chief Mumanko turned back. Grinning.
"It will surely hurt."
Kael went first. Needles pierced precise points across his body. Then, a burst. Red Aether exploded outward. Violent anstable.
Kael roared.
"…NGH—!"
The hut shook.
"…Stay calm!" Arden commanded. "Condense it! From outside, then into your core. Wrap it like silk into a sphere!"
Kael's breathing staggered. Then, slowed. The aura compressed. Stabilized.
He exhaled.
"…That's it?"
One by One. Taren, Lio and Seris. Each endured. Each broke, then reformed.
Lastly, was Renn.
Mumanko paused.
"…Oh?"
Her expression changed. "…This is…" She leaned closer. "Your Meridian…is too large. Most are the size of a fist." Her voice lowered.
"Yours… is the size of your whole chest."
The Aether inside him churned.
"…It's already trying to break free."
Renn remained still. Needles pierced. A moment. Then suddenly, blinding surge.
Golden Aether erupted—
It consumed the hut. The village. The sky.
For a moment, everything turned gold. Then, silence is back. The light vanished.
Renn collapsed. His body hit the ground without resistance. Lifeless in motion. Still.
"…Renn!" Taren stepped forward instinctively.
Lio moved quickly to his side. "…His pulse—" A pause. "…It's there."
Mumanko exhaled slowly. "…Nahh, he's ok. Just let him rest…"
The faintest trace of golden light flickered beneath Renn's skin.
Outside, the wind returned. Gentle. Calm.
As if Lumisdale itself was watching. Waiting, for what Renn Valehart would become next.