Elior walked into Farasa’s smithing quarter with the same quiet that had become his habit. The street smelled of hot iron and oil, a sharp, metallic scent that cut through the ordinary smells of the city and steadied him in a way he did not expect. He had the wooden bird tucked into his satchel, wrapped in cloth to hide the faint glow of its carved rune. He had carved it in the cave when his hands were steadier and his mind clearer, shaping the Life Rune into its wings in a way that had felt right, more instinct than plan. The bird was not a weapon. It was an exercise in control, a small test of how Essence would hold inside wood rather than paper. Still, he wanted someone who worked with material to see it, someone whose hands had shaped metal into tools and lives. The blacksmith’s shop was louder than he had imagined. Hammers rang against anvils in regular, powerful beats. Sparks jumped like a cage of tiny stars, and a steady heat bloomed from the furnace. Men moved with practiced r

Morning sunlight filtered through the dusty windows of the forge, cutting through the smell of burnt metal and oil. Elior stepped through the door quietly, carrying the wrapped blade under his arm. Doran was already inside, swinging a hammer with rhythmic force as he shaped a chunk of ore on the anvil.The sound echoed across the room with steady strength. Doran looked up as Elior approached.“You are early again, boy.” The man wiped sweat from his face and grinned. “I thought you would sleep till noon after working so late yesterday.”“I slept enough,” Elior answered simply.Doran had already grown familiar with Elior’s nature. The boy rarely spoke unless necessary, and even then his tone was calm in a way that felt older than his age. Doran had decided long ago not to question it.“You said you were working on something yesterday. Did it turn out well?” Doran asked.Elior placed the wrapped bundle on a table. “See for yourself.”Doran’s eyebrows lifted slightly. He unwrapped the clo

The morning sun spilled over Farasa City, painting the streets in warm gold. Merchants called out their wares, carts rattled along cobblestones, and children darted between the stalls, laughing. To ordinary eyes, it was an unremarkable day—but Elior moved as though apart from it, steps measured, deliberate, calm.Kavi padded lightly along his shoulder strap, its small body warm, yet a faint frost lingered on its fur. Occasionally it nudged his neck with its head, a gentle reminder of life and companionship. Its soft hums were the only sounds that acknowledged the tension lingering from the forge.Elior entered the inn. The familiar creak of the door barely disturbed the low chatter of breakfast. He placed his belongings carefully on a chair, the sword he had forged still sheathed and wrapped. Kneeling, he adjusted Kavi, who curled up and purred softly, the paradoxical warmth and frost of its body settling his mind.He opened the Book of Laws, scanning the

The caravan wound its way through the mountain roads for most of the day. The air grew thinner and colder as the peaks rose higher around them, jagged silhouettes cutting into the blue sky. By the time the sun leaned westward, the path ahead opened suddenly, revealing a vast mountain range layered like steps toward the heavens.Elior lifted his gaze.The Azure Sky Sect appeared.From afar, it was magnificent.Towering peaks formed a natural barrier around the sect grounds, their surfaces carved with ancient stairways that spiraled upward in wide arcs. Massive stone platforms hovered between cliffs, supported by formations so old that the marks of their creators had long faded. Grand halls clung to the mountainsides, their roofs glazed in blue tiles that reflected sunlight like still water.Even the clouds seemed to gather around the sect, drifting lazily between the peaks as if reluctant to leave.“So this is the Azure Sky Sect,” Aeris said quietly, following Elior’s line of sight.Th

The inner halls of the Azure Sky Sect lay deep within the mountain, far removed from the outer courtyards and training grounds. Elior followed Aeris in silence as they passed through long stone corridors lined with azure pillars and faded murals. Each carving depicted scenes of ancient battles, flying swords, and cultivators standing beneath a boundless sky. The grandeur was undeniable, yet the stillness was too heavy.There were no disciples passing through. No elders discussing matters. No servants hurrying about their duties.The hall felt… empty.They stopped before a pair of massive doors carved with cloud patterns. Ancient formations pulsed faintly across their surface, still active despite their age. Aeris raised her hand and pressed it lightly against the center. The doors parted without a sound.Inside was the sect’s inner hall.The space was vast, its ceiling lost in shadow. Rows of stone seats stretched outward, most of them unoccupied. At the far end stood a raised platfor