“Okay now, you have started history. Now, I need you to talk to someone,” the lady said, showing Rheis the picture.

  “That’s... I’ve seen him before. I don’t have the name but, yeah, I’ve seen him,” Rheis said, looking at the boy. “In fact, that’s from my mind, hey.”

  “You worry about that? I need you to meet him. I’ll continue as we go on,” the lady said, retreating back into the light.

  Rheis woke up to the sound of voices in the kitchen downstairs.

  ..........

  “We’ve been here for the longest time—a year—and still no sign of this sky girl,” a voice said.

  “The guild master accepted her presence; she’s not an old story. Let Veryn look for her,” Toney replied.

  “And I’d notice a duskwolf around Sky’s house,” she added.

  “One, or many?” Toney asked.

  “Many. Almost like they are here to take a territory,” Veryn replied, walking in. “Pretty nice house. Also has a good view of the guild.”

  “Stop spying on us,” Neyra snapped. “And about the girl—found her?”

  “No. But about the duskwolves... one of my friends saw them with a man. He had a scar on his face or behind the neck, I got lost in my thoughts,” Veryn said, taking his seat.

  “Let me leave you two, gotta talk to Joe,” Toney said, standing up to leave.

  “After covering districts in fog? Yeah, talk to him deep,” Veryn said.

  “Yeah, you’re just jealous,” Neyra teased. “I mean, bet he can get any woman he wants.”

  “Joe, right? Finally found you. I have a question,” the man said. He was tall and dark.

  “A question? I don’t recognize your face, which means you are not from here,” Joe replied.

  “Just a traveler. One of the special ones, I would say.”

  “Yes, I can feel it. Would you tell me your name?”

  “Terry. TK for initials,” Terry replied. “I think you can place the pieces. We’ve got a problem here around this kingdom, and I would like you to help me root it out.”

  “What guarantee is there that I would help?”

  “I know more about you—for example, about your girl. But I don’t like hurting the innocent, so I would like to know what you have seen,” Terry said, sitting on a table.

  “I won’t deny you are possibly stronger...”

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Possibly? What, a compliment from Julien and you think your fog is almighty?” Terry said, before tossing Joe onto the next bed. “I’m not the violent type, but for me to be wandering around like an adventurer, then of course it’s something big.”

  A healer appeared. “And if you think that after being totally healed you would still fight me, then you're dumber than you look,” Terry added.

  “My exhaustion can’t be helped. I don’t think she can heal me,” Joe muttered.

  “Funny thing, she’s not the average healer. And the other one is important; you will see her later. She can see memories with just a touch, but...”

  “But?”

  “You’ve gotta be asleep. See you...”

  To be honest, Joe’s eyes weren’t on Terry, but on the growing green eyes behind him.

  ............

  “You will regain your sight and senses, but a little later,” the man said.

  “Sorry, but I don’t have that time. Is there another solution?” Leon asked, looking at Ryke, who was barely listening and could not see.

  “Considering it’s morning, you can help me look for a plant. I know where they are, but finding them is a stretch,” the healer said. “It’s a special situation, for some reason... this boy, I mean.”

  “Okay then, let’s go,” Leon said, walking out of the room. Ryke waved at him as he left.

  “They went up against Obsidian Harriers. Stupidly brave,” Leon said, smiling.

  ........

  “Your cousin, Wendy—she’s in trouble, or will be.”

  “Is that why you forced me to sleep early?” Rheis asked.

  “Yes. She can see the deepest secrets by touch. She is with Terry.”

  “Will he kill her?”

  “No. But Terry, he is under those of the Realms, and searching for what we are,” the woman said.

  “What’s the problem then? He’s strong enough to handle himself and her.”

  “Rheis, we both know by now that you need to move out. Your parents' approval isn’t enough. Things are getting affected. Listen to your spirits. Listen to me, too,” the lady said, standing up to leave.

  “So, where am I going?”

  The lady stopped. “You are going to see Joe. We need to find an explanation; that will help with answers. Call it a change of plans.”

  .........

  “Come on Ben, take me seriously,” Sky said, hands up, ready to intersect every punch.

  Ben went in, throwing a left then an uppercut, but both failed to land. Sky stepped out of both attempts.

  “Okay then, let me get serious,” Sky said, hitting a roundhouse kick before connecting it with a leg sweep after her leg reached down.

  “I guess seeing them train is a good way of wasting time,” Aisha said.

  “Yeah, he’s clearly developing. His speed is increasing,” Dakota replied.

  “What about Anjali?”

  “Well, not bad, but I’m planning on pushing it after the tournament. She always liked it,” Aisha replied.

  “Okay then. What about the name? Found anything on it?”

  “No, Tork is helping with it,” Aisha replied.

  “You need to become faster. Can you do that?” Sky asked Ben. Sky was breathing calmly, their noses almost touching.

  “Yeah, I can do that,” Ben replied.

  “One more!” Dakota called out, with Aisha also shouting her encouragement.

  ........

  There was a man walking towards a tree in Veilwood. It was massive, bearing yellowish fruits with red on the top half, large enough to fill a whole hand.

  On the man’s shoulder was another adventurer, unconscious. The man placed him on the ground, caught a fruit that fell, and slowly squeezed its juice into the man’s mouth.

  ........

  “I don’t think you want to do this, Darmian. It would be easier if you just follow,” the man said. He was not tall, fair-complexioned, and had a sword at his side, though he seemed to plan on using his fists.

  “I told you, the only way you're getting me is if I’m unconscious,” Darmian said, wiping blood from his nose. His hands burst into flames.

  “Huh. Pride,” the man said, dashing in.

  The man dodged the first punch and attempted a roundhouse, but Darmian stepped back and lunged in, punching the man's torso. The man replied with an elbow to the ear. Stepping back, the man struck Darmian with a back-fist. Darmian didn't let it slide; he used a left feint and struck with a real left, before returning the elbow to the ear and connecting it with a spinning back-fist. The force was enough to send the man crashing into a tree.

  “Burn,” Darmian said, throwing a fireball. He missed the man, but the tree behind him was scorched.

  “You have met Terry. He said he will compensate. Why not just come without this fuss?”

  “Fuss?” Darmian replied, wielding his sword and engulfing it in fire. “Call it a fuss again!”

  “Men, why fight?” an Asian man said, appearing in black clothing.

  “I’ve been sent by Terry. This is not your business.”

  “Oh no, it is. Darmian, you see, his supposed to help me with sending a message,” the newcomer said.

  “And why am I of this value right now?” Darmian asked. “You want better, there’s plenty, I think. And I don’t like taking orders from strangers.”

  “This is Veilwood, near Valtherion. That means you are looking for something. But I truly need your help. So, I’ll be with Darmian. You can tell Terry to be patient.”

  “What’s your name? Of course, we would like to know.”

  “Kaein. It might be hard to find something about me,” Kaein said.

  The first man drew his sword, shifting his focus to Kaein. Darmian also turned toward Kaein.

  “I don’t think you can keep up,” Kaein said.

  Darmian’s sword flared with high flames, while the other man took his stance, his game face on.

  Suddenly, it was over. “What the fuck.......what are you?” Darmian asked, blinking fast, trying to process what had just happened.

  “I told you, you wouldn’t keep up,” Kaein said, smiling down at Darmian. “Now, I need to find a particular someone—AD. But if it becomes hard, I need you to find Kent and tell him this.”

  Kaein leaned down to whisper. The other man lay knocked out, bleeding with a broken hand.

  ' I never saw it coming' Darmian thought. “What if...”

  “Don’t worry, they won’t say no. Well, not Kent. And you will go; I think you know killing you isn’t hard,” Kaein said, standing up. “And if you do something to AD, I advise you to ask for mercy. You will never win that fight.”He said before walking into the forest.