‘I am requesting an All Guild's Campaign.’

Letting out a breath, Lan slumped back in his chair as understanding of what would come next hit him. During the All Guilds campaign, many lives would be lost because of what he had just done, but he hoped that they would be able to save many more.

After a moment, Lan looked up at the Guildmaster.

‘Have you heard of the name Arron Cross?’ Lan asked, trying to change the topic, getting a raised eyebrow from the Guildmaster.

‘The Black Fox?’ the Guildmaster shot back. ‘I have. He is the Sage that I told you about the last time we spoke.’ he said, looking at Lan as if they were both holding one half of the same picture, just waiting for the other to show theirs.

Lan let the information sink in. The fact that the Summoned Hero and the others had known his name tied him to Arron Cross, along with his abilities, on top of the fact that Arron Cross was a Sage who spoke out about the beliefs of Summoned Heroes, left little doubt. Arron Cross had been one himself.

‘You knew that I had ties to Arron Cross, didn’t you?’ Lan asked.

‘I suspected.’ The Guildmaster nodded.

‘How?’

‘With your condition, it was harder to tell the first time we met. But looking at you, you have more than a passing resemblance to the portrait of Arron Cross in the Hall of Sages. But what made me pause was your hair. Arron Cross was said to have hair like black glass, but when the light hit it, it would shine with the deepest blue.’

Lan frowned but didn’t say anything.

‘In the clearing before the Razorwolves, when I looked at you, I was sure I had seen a few locks that turned blue in the light. That, along with the Mark, it seemed like you had been right where you needed to be.’

Lan had never noticed any difference in his father’s or Silas’s hair, let alone his own, but he hadn’t been looking for differences. Even still, there didn’t seem to be much denying it now. The blood of his father’s side was that of a Summoned Hero.

The very idea made Lan feel small. No, made the world feel like an endless ocean, for if Arron Cross had been a summoned Hero, a man that had become a Sage, wouldn’t that make his belief that he had come from another world and not a Tale true?

That meant the Summoned Hero threatening the world had really been taken from his world at the whim of those with more power than compassion.

‘So we are in the wrong?’ Lan asked.

‘I don’t see it that way,’ The guildmaster answered. ‘I was not lying when I said most kingdoms no longer use Hero Summoning, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Crownguard has not in hundreds of years, but I can understand what you must be going through. Not only are you just learning the truth, but it must be worse in your case. If you aren’t up to bringing down someone you see as a victim, then no one will look down on you for staying out of it. You have already done more than enough.’

Lan shook his head. No matter how he felt, that was not even a question. ‘No, no matter what happened to that man, this world is not his to destroy. It’s my duty to see this through to the end, not just as a Light Marked but for those I care about. Plus, it’s what we adventurers were born to do, right?’ Lan smiled.

‘Speaking of which, I see you still aren’t using the Title. Do you still feel like you haven’t earned it yet?’

Lan thought about it, but only for a moment. In the eyes of the Lords, he had already earned the Title, which wasn’t why he hadn’t been using it until now. The question was, did he think he had earned it now?

Lan chose to show his answer instead of saying it.

[Name: Landrin Cross]

[Title: None > Adventurer – Wild Hunt]

Being able to see his basic information, the Guildmaster smiled. ‘Welcome to the guild, Hunter.’

[Title Passive: Plus five points to your highest attribute when fighting alongside others of the Wild Hunt.]

‘Thank you, Sir.’ Lan smiled, feeling an odd sense of belonging fill him as he took a moment to enjoy the achievement. Despite everything, he had carved a path for himself.

‘Just call me Boss, everyone else does.’ The Guildmaster said on instinct. ‘Now come on. Let’s go give the others the good news. But I warn you, you aren’t going to win new fans with this one.’ The Guildmaster said, making Lan nod gravely.

He had just signed the death warrant of many of them, but that included himself. He had to face that fact.

Light Mark or no, he had seen the odds that they were up against first hand. A darkness that could wipe out a Goblin Swarm was just one form of magic made by a man set on killing the Lords of Light.

Then there was the vampire that had made him powerless in multiple ways. That was to say nothing of the others, all wrapped in mystery. Lan had to face the fact that he might not see the end of the Campaign. If anything, having been tasked with saving the Tear meant he couldn’t give up, and even if, by some twist of fate, the Campaign was called off, he would still have to go alone.

Lan looked up, finding the Guildmaster smiling mischievously at him as he stood, leaving Lan to have to struggle to catch up.

‘Everyone!’ The Guildmaster called, and as one, all heads turned to the balcony they were standing on. ‘Last time I spoke to you like this, I told you to act as if you were preparing for an All Guilds Campaign… Well, thanks to Landrin here… you can stop acting.’ The moment the words left the Guildmaster's mouth, the air in the hall became electric, and wild grins joined looks of excitement and surprise.

‘After the Sky Eater’s reign, I was sure there wouldn’t be another All Guilds Campaign in my lifetime. I was wrong. And though few of those who faced the Sky Eater with me are left in this hall, it won't give me a moment's pause because I know that all of you are up to the task. Even still, this is a world-ending threat. Many good adventurers will not be making it back…’ The Guildmaster paused, allowing his words to sink in. ‘So I want every last one of you to pay your respects to the other Guilds for their losses when this is done. Good hunting.’

The Guildmaster turned and headed back to his office, too humble to bask in the glory of the roar of challenge that rose in the hall for an enemy too far away to know to regret the hell they had called down on themselves.

Swept up by the atmosphere, even Lan found himself joining in, beating the front of his chest plate in time with the drumming of armour and feet.

Once the uproar died down, the hall cleared in a heartbeat, leaving him in an empty hall. Remembering his state, Lan was much slower in descending the stairs.

‘Hmm… I see that you have learned to Wisp Walk.’

Hearing the voice that could only belong to one person, Lan looked back to find Art on the fourth step behind him, making Lan jump back.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

‘Ah! How?’ Lan asked, sure that he should have heard the odd old man coming. ‘Wait, you know about Wisp Walking?’

‘And I see that you have found your path.’ The old man went on as if Lan hadn’t asked a question.

‘Huh?’ Lan said before looking down to see he wasn’t wearing the Black shackle anymore. But hadn’t he been wearing it in the cave? He thought before wondering the last time he had seen it. ‘But I still don’t know what path I should take.’ He said a little sadly at the loss.

‘Did you not look at your stats?’ Art said, tilting his head.

Doing so, Lan found what he expected, five points in everything and the rest of his points unused.

‘It’s just all five.’ Lan said.

‘No, you fool of a boy, they are all even.’ Art sighed.

For a moment, Lan stared at the old man, ‘Right, well, bye now,’ Lan said, starting to walk away.

‘What, you don’t believe me?’ Art cried, chasing after him.

‘It’s not that I don’t believe you. It’s just that everyone I have spoken to tells me to be careful with my stats. I can’t think of anything more wrong than even stats. I mean, I would be weaker than everyone in everything.’

‘No, you would be weaker than everyone in some things and stronger than them in everything else.’ Rushing to his side, Art saw Lan hesitate and capitalised on it. ‘Let me ask you this: when you were using the shackle against strong enemies, what did you do, Humm?’

Lan thought about it. Both times, he needed to push the shackle to its limit to keep up.

‘You tried to face their strengths, didn’t you?’ Art finished as if reading his mind. ‘Most youngsters do. But think what would have happened if you had targeted their weakness…’ Art paused long enough for the thought to take root in Lan's mind.

The Goblin knight had not been that fast, and speed had been what Lan had used to kill the other knights he had faced. As for the hobgoblin, speed had seemed like the only answer, but when he had managed the cut on its face, what if he had had a little more strength behind the blow.

‘And not just agility and strength. You would be surprised how deep the words of a man with high intelligence and charisma can cut in a fight. Even stats may leave you at a disadvantage in the short run. But in the long term, you will become unstoppable as others stop investing in their weaker stats.

Lan listened closely now, but only because it sounded like this wasn’t the first time the old man had given this speech, and the confidence in which he spoke told Lan it had most likely worked before.

‘It’s too bad I can’t keep using the shackle.’ Lan fished, hoping he could get another one of the prized tools. ‘That was if it didn’t leave me wanting to slam my head into a wall.’

‘Well, no wonder,’ Art chimed, ‘Every time you change the configuration, you are cutting parts of yourself and sticking them somewhere else. When you put a point in a stat and remove it, it takes its toll. Do that enough, or with a significant investment, and it’s even harder on your body.

But you wouldn’t be the first Light Marked to try that. No, but you already chose your path, didn’t you. You can’t Wisp Walk without Synchronicity.’

This made Lan stop. He had hoped he hadn’t been right about that.

‘And if you are going to face the coming war, you are going to need the Wisp Walk at the least.’

‘I don’t know, I think just flying would be more useful.’ Lan rubbed his eyes.

‘F-flying.’ Art spluttered indignantly. ‘Fly! Flying is admitting that the earth has dominion over you, and that is why you must rebel against it. When you Wisp Walk, you become empowered by the Ancient Will, which gives you the authority to write your own dominion. Up, down, flying, swimming, running diagonally through the air or just sitting upside down on the ceiling. None of it holds meaning beyond what you give it. For you Walk with the light of the Mother. If that’s not enough. Try looking at your stats after you Wisp Walk.

Looking around at the empty hall, Lan guessed It would be fine. With a crystal shattering, Lan watched the world blur as he moved a few feet to the left and up while making Mari jump.

‘Sorry,’ Lan called to her, trying not to kick his legs as he opened his tome.

[Attributes:]

[Strength: 5 + 20]

|Body: 5 + 20

|Will: 5 + 20

|Dexterity: 5 + 20

|Mind: 5 + 20

[Charisma: 5 + 20]

‘Twenty-five!’ Lan shouted and moved, making the Silver Wind start to spin him around before he stopped himself.

‘Well, you are still young to this.’ Art sighed, disappointed as if an astronomic buff in power was nothing. Even still, this had to be why he felt like lightning was running through his veins as the Silver Winds shrouded him.

‘The flexibility to target an opponent's weakness and the power of your bond. Do you still think you do not know your path?’ Art asked as if knowing he had won, and as Lan thought about it, it really seemed like he had.

Although only for a few seconds, raising his stats by twenty was crazy. It would put all his stats at thirty-seven for just a few moments.

‘Oh come on, do you know how long I have had to wait for a Light-marked who hasn’t broken their synchronicity?’ Art huffed, losing patience. ‘Too long! Just say yes already. So many Light Marked wasted by spending their points before I could reach them. I finally found one, and he is dumb enough to take gifts from strangers,’ he sighed.

Ignoring that last part, Lan wanted to ask Art about his role in all this, but He found his mind wrapped around dividing his stats equally. Despite Art’s rambling, the Tear had deemed the power great enough to spare some of her dwindling power to grant it to him. And there was a small part of his mind crazy enough to be excited by the idea.

Like there was some potential to the madness that he was just starting to see.

‘I’ll even throw these two in for free.’ Art said, and when Lan looked down, he found a flat dark grey bracelet with what looked like a bell attached to it. The other was an Ability Gem. The knowledge of an ability stored in the form of hardened manifested memory.

‘The Tuning Bell will weaken the distance and power of your Wisp Walk while greatly decreasing the cost of each Walk.’

Floating to the floor, Lan took the two before pausing.

‘What ability is it?’ he asked, narrowing his eyes at Art. Although it had been a big help, he didn’t want another surprise like the Black Shackle.

‘Oh, just a common enhancement ability.’ Art shrugged, making Lan even more suspicious.

‘Hmm.’ Lan hummed. ‘Voice?’ he thought to the voice just in case she could do something.

{I can’t tell much, but it looks to be a standard Ability Gem.} said in his mind.

‘And the bracelet?’

{That, too, is just what the man said.} the voice said happily.

Feeling a lot more confident, Lan took the gem in his hand and touched it to his forehead.

[New ability gain]

[Boost – a simple yet core ability for any warrior. Boost raises the user's highest stats by twenty for twenty minutes.]

Taking a deep breath, Lan activated the boost ability, a red flame rising over his body before vanishing. Frowning and looking at his stats, Lan sighed.

‘Right, I don’t have a highest stat, and I won’t if I listen to you.’ Lan glared down at Art, even though Lan knew he should be grateful nonetheless, seeing how much Ability Gems could cost. It really did seem like the man was just toying with him.

Yet Art just looked at him with that same all-knowing smile. ‘what? Even if you can’t use it, you would rather not have it?’ the old man asked as if there was a choice in the matter now.

‘I guess not.’ Lan said before sliding the bracelet on.

[Tuning Bell – An item crafted by the Keepers of old for their charges, allowing for refining a Young Light's power. While Wearing the Tuning Bell, the stats boost of your Wisp Walks is lowered by ten points while its maximum range has been locked to twenty meters. In return, the duration is increased to ten seconds, while the cost is dropped to five mana.]

Lan paused at that. Negatives aside, five mana seemed really good, and if the Silver Wind of each lasted ten seconds, that seemed to make up for it if what Art said about his movement was true.

‘Ah, I see that you are starting to come around to the idea.’ Art gloated. ‘But that isn’t even the best part. Only a step…’ he winked. ‘…ping stone to the true power of your bond.’

‘What do you mean?’ Lan asked, wondering how else he could use his bond.

‘The Bond Ability… like Wisp Walk is the act of a Messenger tapping into the power of other celestials. But a Messenger’s true power is that they are crucibles for refining other celestials and their powers. You may not be a true Messenger, but you are the Legacy of one, and your Wisp leads me to believe that you will be able to resonate. Manage to accomplish this, and there is no telling what you will achieve.’

‘How do I do this?’ Lan asked, feeling himself drawn in.

Slowly, Art leaned in, his eyes growing wild with the revelation to come. ‘You start by not getting ahead of yourself.’ He finished with the smuggest grin the human form could manage, but he went on before Lan could throttle him. ‘Start by mastering the Wisp Walk. The more familiar you are with your Messenger blood, the more natural it will become. For now, focus on developing as many different abilities and skills as possible from different paths.’

Despite himself, Lan smiled. ‘Haven’t you heard the saying, “A Jack of many is…’

‘Yes, yes. A master of blah, blah, blah. But let me ask you how many masters of their paths have you seen, Huh?’ Art challenged, and although Lan knew two candidates, he could see the point. Not many people reach the point of mastery of their paths. Even still, focusing ensures one at least had the chance to achieve it. But going down the path art offered now would be choosing to forsake even that little spark of hope.

‘The more well-rounded you are, the more you can capitalise on the equal stats. Try to get as many as you can before investing your points. The lower your stats, the easier it is for you to pick up entry-level skills and abilities of different paths.’ With that and a wave, Art walked back up the stairs.

Snapping out of his musing, Lan found himself alone and realised he had decided. Although he still had many questions, he would walk his ancestor's path, a thought that was as terrifying as it was exciting.