"Kh!"

"..."

"..."

"...You okay? Should we ask them to slow down?"

"It's… it's fine. I just haven't experienced this kind of quaver cradling my feeble body before."

"...Quaver?"

"Shaking."

"Oh… You really do read a lot of books."

"Well, it's the only thing I could do."

Vayne tried his best to smile; his furrowed eyebrows, however, failed to hide the pain that was crawling through his bones.

They have been travelling in a carriage for a few days now. And throughout this linear journey, he and his brother have gotten to know each other.

And although he was not able to relate to him, it was good directly hearing stories from others other than his mother.

"Don't worry, brother. We'll be reaching the border to the Dark Continent soon. After that, we will be…

…walking." As for Vale, his words could not help but become weak as his eyes slowly landed on Vayne's leg.

And as soon as Vayne saw this, he let out a quiet chuckle and patted his twisted leg, "Welcome to my life, Vale. Damned either way."

"Pft," Vale also let out a small chuckle as he looked his brother in the eyes, "That you are. I'll just ask the escort to carry you if you can't walk anymore… they're strong."

"...Thanks?"

The two talked for a couple more hours. And finally, as the sun was reaching its peak and shining everywhere on the land around them, they arrived at the border that separated the Safe Lands from the Dark Continent.

And it was as Vayne read it— walls that tempted to reach the skies, said to be built by the gods of old themselves… or so they were written.

Vayne had always thought this to be untrue, a dramatic exaggeration of what is. But now, as his eyes reflected the gigantic golden gates that covered his entire view…

…perhaps the words held true, after all.

He had always wondered what it would be like to climb these walls; to have the Safe Lands behind you, and the Dark Continent to your front. How freeing it must be. It… would be a good place to die.

But alas, it will always remain to him as it has always been— a dream.

"Brother!"

And then, the imagery that Vayne built in his mind completely shattered with the loud voice that almost deafened his ears.

"What are you still doing there!? Come on, slowpoke!"

"...Pft," Vayne could really only chuckle as he saw his brother hopping up and down, waving his hands like a child and garnering the attention of everyone there.

And by everyone, Vayne meant the almost hundreds of people that were loitering and walking at the edges of the colossal walls.

He had also read this before— the Free Markets.

A market where people trade their goods. Goods that were received, hunted, and discovered from the Dark Continent.

He had never seen this many people before. He no longer knew what was more drowning— the colossal gates, or them.

Vayne then took a very long and deep breath, before finally carrying himself towards his brother. But alas, the torrent of people made it hard for him to even take a single step. And when he was finally able to do so, he was nudged.

It was just a simple bump, but it was enough for Vayne to almost tumble backward. Fortunately for him, his brother suddenly came out of nowhere and caught his arm.

"Hey! The fuck!? Don't you see someone is walking here!?" Vale raised his fist and started cursing the man who bumped into his brother; the man, however, didn't even give as much as a glance.

"...Peasants, always the same wherever you go," Vale could really only roll his eyes, before proceeding to walk beside Vayne, "Come on, brother. While you were daydreaming, our Explorer escorts have already secured us passage through the gates, let's just leave these people."

"...Already?" Vayne could really only look at all the treasures being sold on all the stalls; the way they glimmered caused his eyes to almost squint.

"Pft, those are all trash," Vale lowered his voice as he leaned to whisper to his brother as they walked, "The explorers we're with know the location of an Artifact."

"...An Artifact?" Vayne's eyes slowly started to turn wide as he looked at his brother, "You mean— !"

"Ssh! Lower your voice. But yes, a freaking Blessing, bro!" And as wide as Vayne's eyes were, the smile on Vale was the same, "I…

…plan to get it."

"A… a Blessing…"

Blessings— abilities that are granted or bestowed to people through artifacts. Artifacts that crumble and wither away as soon as they receive their rightful owners.

Sometimes they come in the forms of fruit, sometimes a lamp, and sometimes… even something as mundane as a rock. Most of the artifacts come from the Dark Continents, continents that are still very much uncharted by the people.

There are times, however, when people get lucky and an artifact spawns near them— they were bizarre like that, no one could really explain where they come from.

And to think Vayne might actually see one before he dies.

"That is astounding news, brother," Vayne breathed out, "What kind of Blessing do you think the Artifact contains?"

"No idea, but I was hoping it's a Strength-type."

"That's good," Vayne breathed out, "I am truly ecstatic for you, brother."

"...Huh?" Vale blinked a couple of times as he halted his steps, "It's not for me."

"...What? You're planning to sell it?" Vayne also blinked.

"No… it's for you."

"...What?"

"I already have an Artifact waiting for me once I return home," Vale said as he looked his older brother in the eyes, "I can't take another one."

"...Ho," Vayne could really only let out a barrage of stuttered breaths as he returned his brother's gaze,

"It's… it's not right to jest like that, brother."

"...I'm not. This Artifact we're going to search is for you."

And then, right there and then— everything disappeared. The people, the colossal walls, everything disappeared; taking his thoughts of suicide along with them.

"Bro… why are you crying?" Vale could only bite his lip as he tried his best not to tear up, "You… you're embarrassing me in front of the explorers."

"It's… Thank you, brother," Vayne chuckled as he wiped the tears on his face.

"Well, don't thank me yet. We might not even be able to find it. I just couldn't help breaking the news since I'm so excited," Vale then gritted his teeth as he gripped Vayne's arm.

"Well, no matter what the outcome would be… I am already grateful to you for bringing me along."

"Damn right, you should," Vale nodded several times, "Now…

…to the Dark Continents!"

***

"Brother!"

"!!!"

Vayne felt his buttocks almost scratching the sharp rocks that littered the ground as Vale pushed him away…

…protecting him from the beast that almost threatened to make a hole in his chest. No, comparing their sizes— Vayne's entire torso would have been ripped apart if Vale did not push him away

It was a beast called Monobor, a type of wild boar that was probably four times the size of Vayne. It only has a single tusk on its front jaw– that single tusk, however, was as large as Vayne himself.

Vayne was not even allowed to relish and indulge in the sights of the Dark Continent. It seemed like a desert wasteland, but at the same time, there were trees. Trees almost as tall as the border, but separated by dozens of meters from each other.

This area was called the Danger's Peek, the entrance of the Dark Continent; filled with dangers no normal man could survive.

He has seen illustrations of the monobor before, but none do it justice now that he was looking at it in all its glory…

…and currently, Vale was making quick work of this giant monstrosity. He was mounted on its back, not even falling as the monobor tried to fling and throw him away violently.

And finally, after what seemed like the 12th stab of his spear on the monster's neck, it fell.

"Are you okay, brother?"

and without even looking at his game, Vale quickly rushed to help Vayne, whose buttocks were still planted on the ground.

"I should be the one asking you that," Vayne could really only sigh as he grabbed his brother's hand; slightly struggling to lift himself up.

They have been walking for more than an hour— the longest Vayne had even tried walking. He was exhausted, and yet he finds himself still seemingly filled with energy.

After all, according to their sources…

"We got it! We found the Artifact!"

…the monobor was the one guarding the so-called Artifact.

"Give it to my brother, quick!"

The Artifact was inside the hole of a tree. How Artifacts get to where they are, no one truly knows. But none of those matter, however.

Vayne and Vale could really only just look at each other with excitement as the two Explorers brought them the Artifact— a small vase.

"This… is this really mine?" Vayne was hesitant to touch the vase; smooth and immaculate enough to reflect the excited smile on his face.

"Yes, just use it! Rub it hard since it's a vase!"

"...You're mistaking it for a lamp," Vayne let out a small chuckle, "Vases are to be broken."

"Then break—"

And without even waiting for anything else, Vayne let out an almost cracking roar as he slammed the vase on the ground— shattering it into pieces completely.

"..."

"..."

"...So?" Vale then looked at his brother from head to toe, "...Did it work? Do you feel any different? Isn't there supposed to be a light or something? Shouldn't the pieces wither?"

"...It should," the excitement in Vayne's voice was the one to wither away, "...It didn't work."

"...What? Try stepping on it! Maybe it's not broken enough!" As Vale, a certain panic and tremble started to build up in his voice.

"It's a dud, Vale," Vayne closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath as he let his thoughts wander for a moment, "It happens, I've read about—"

"No! Do it again, just try fucking stepping on it!" Vale said as he pushed the pieces closer to Vayne with his foot.

"Vale, it's alright."

"It's not alright! You don't understand, you have to get a Blessing! Haven't you suffered enough!? This… this is so unfair to you… you…"

"Vale," Vayne could really look at his brother. Although their time together was brief, it was enough to prove that maybe in another life, the two of them could have been best of friends,

"It's alright… You have done enough for me already…

…go home, I'll be staying h— Vale?"

And before he could finish his words, he saw the tears that were falling on Vale's face…

…as well as his spear that was now deep through Vayne's chest.