The night had just given way to morning, but four people were already seated around the fire, engaged in quiet conversation as they grilled meat. Across from Kael, three others sat, and he had already formed an impression of two of them.

Selene was a rank-one Luminaire. She wore a dark beige robe draped over her lithe frame, her golden hair swaying gently as the wind passed through it. Her blue eyes shimmered with energy, exuding an air of warmth and ease. It was tempting to lower one’s guard around someone like her. Yet, despite her innocent appearance, she was a seasoned Luminaire and a member of the Eirendaile family.

In contrast, Malric was her complete opposite. He, too, was a rank-one Luminaire, but where Selene carried warmth, he radiated a quiet, imposing presence. His short, dark hair barely stirred in the wind, and his broad shoulders gave him an air of solid authority. Though his muscular build hinted at raw strength, it was his demeanor that stood out most, calm, cautious, and calculating. From what Kael had observed so far, Malric was a man who weighed both his words and actions with care.

The third person, however, was the hardest for Kael to evaluate. Of the three, Torin was the only one directly related to the Eirendaile family. A man in his late twenties, he wore a black coat draped over his shoulders in the same manner as Kael. His black hair was slightly shorter than Kael’s, and his physique was solid yet well-proportioned. He spoke only when necessary, offering calm, measured orders or asking relevant questions. His deep gray eyes remained mostly fixed on the notebook in front of him, betraying little of his thoughts.

What was even more unsettling was that, just like Kael, Torin also suppressed his Luminaire aura, making him feel no different from an ordinary person. Kael had no doubt that he was a Luminaire, but the fact that he could mask his presence so effortlessly only put him further on guard.

The ability to suppress one's aura wasn’t unique to Kael; in theory, any Luminaire could do it. However, few bothered to learn the technique, as it required both discipline and control. Moreover, most had no reason to hide it. Being a Luminaire was a privilege, and many took great pride in their status, flaunting their power to those around them. For some, their abilities were everything. They would rather die than lose their powers.

Upon awakening as a Luminaire, the body underwent a transformation, purging all human impurities, refining physical traits, and enhancing natural attributes. Skin became smoother, features grew more striking, and, most importantly, the soul strengthened. This not only sharpened memory but also increased the production of thoughts, and expanded the mind’s capacity to retain them.

In essence, the aura a Luminaire emitted was a reflection of their soul. Selene’s aura, for example, was warm and inviting, suggesting that she was likely a kind and welcoming person. Malric’s, on the other hand, was cold yet carried faint traces of warmth, hinting at a more complex personality beneath the surface.

However, relying too much on an aura’s impression was a mistake. After all, Humans possessed will, the ability to act against their nature. No matter what an aura implied, a person's choices could always defy it.

And to suppress one’s Luminaire aura was, in practice, to suppress one's soul. It was an unpleasant experience that required the Luminaire to constantly divide their attention, steadily draining their thoughts.

Kael stared into the fire, his gaze steady, but his mind was anything but still. While his eyes remained fixed on the flickering flames, his thoughts moved rapidly, piecing together theories and evaluations about Torin. There was too much he didn’t know, and that alone made him wary.

A sudden clap broke the silence, the sharp sound of a notebook snapping shut. Kael’s focus shifted. He lifted his gaze and watched as Torin placed his hands on his legs and pushed himself up from the rock he had been sitting on.

"Alright, Daire, time is of the essence. I need to explain your role in this mission."

Torin lifted a hand to his shoulder, massaging it slightly before shifting his gaze toward Kael.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Kael had yet to reveal his real name to the other members of this newly assembled team. He straightened his back, signaling that he was paying attention.

Noticing Kael’s movement, Torin began speaking in his usual low yet commanding voice.

"Your role in this mission won’t be dangerous. That’s why we were able to post public notices, making it visible to everyone, not just Luminaires. You've made it this far without issue, so I don’t doubt your capability. However, as a mortal, fending off beasts won’t be easy. So don’t concern yourself too much with the combat aspect. Any threats we encounter will be handled by Selene, Malric, and me."

Torin dropped his hand from his shoulder and crossed his arms.

"The time for you to act will come when we reach Velthoria. As you know, trust between noble families is scarce. That is why each family has stationed some of its members in various cities across the continent. This serves two purposes: to ensure that other noble families act accordingly and to relay trustworthy information back to their own.

Additionally, when a noble family has one of its bloodline members stationed in a city, no other members, nor anyone affiliated with that family are permitted to enter. This rule exists to prevent large groups from forming and potentially threatening the city's stability. It is an absolute, mutual agreement that must never be broken under any circumstances."

Torin paused briefly before continuing, careful not to overwhelm Kael.

"The time it takes for information to be relayed back to the family varies greatly, but this time is different. We have completely lost contact with our family member stationed there. We don’t suspect anything serious has happened to her, but the possibility remains.

This is where you come in. We will set up camp a day's journey from Velthoria. From there, you’ll need to proceed to the city alone. Once inside, your task is to find her and ensure everything is in order."

Kael gave a firm nod, prompting Torin to continue.

"This is also why someone cautious is more valuable than a powerful Luminaire in this situation. You deciphered the message and navigated the Titanwoods undetected as a mere mortal. That alone puts me at ease."

Kael was taken aback by the unexpected praise but remained silent.

Slowly but surely, the mission Kael had accepted began to unfold before him in greater detail. The family's desperation was justified, but not for the reason he had initially assumed. He had braced himself for a daring assignment, one that would take him across great distances, eliminating countless targets. But that was not the case.

In reality, only a single person was in danger. However, due to the strict constraints placed on noble families, they were unable to act directly. The reason they had arranged this meeting in such a desolate place was to avoid the watchful eyes of the noble representatives stationed in Farkath.

Even though Kael was certain that Torin could have reached this tree on his own, they had arrived as a trio, increasing the risk of being noticed by others since they moved as three members of the noble family.

Torin hadn’t mentioned it, but Kael was sure they had chosen to travel in a group of three because they were uncertain of who would take on the mission. They had likely been prepared to escort whoever accepted it to the designated location if necessary. After all, there was still a long and even more dangerous journey ahead, he had only traveled a fifth of the distance between the two cities so far.

Torin watched in silence as Kael sank into deep thought. Having said everything he needed to, he turned away and began preparing to continue their journey east.

Kael didn’t know how much time had passed as he stared blankly into the dancing flames. His thoughts drifted aimlessly until a soft voice pulled him back to the present.

“You doing okay?”

Selene’s warm eyes met his, a friendly smile playing on her lips.

Kael snapped out of his trance and turned toward her. “Yeah, just planning ahead.”

She tilted her head slightly, studying him.

“Don’t worry too much about the beasts,” she reassured him. “We might not look it, but Malric and I are capable fighters. And if things take a turn for the worse, Torin will step in without hesitation.”

Kael held her gaze for a moment before offering a small smile. “Alright.”

Satisfied, Selene gave a confident nod, her golden hair shifting with the movement. Then, without another word, she rose to her feet and began gathering her things, preparing for the journey ahead.

Kael turned back to the fire, staring coldly at the embers flickering. Selene’s kindness might have seemed ordinary to a mundane person, but in fact, it was highly unusual. Luminaires rarely treated mortals as equals, let alone acknowledged them as anything more than tools. Yet, she did. It was a testament to her warmth, one that perfectly aligned with the nature of her Luminaire aura.