Karn heaved his bag onto his shoulder, feeling the weight of disappointment in his heart as he trudged behind Hope. She offered to lead him to sleeping quarters for the night.
He’d mustered a smile, appreciating her kindness. As they walked, a gentle breeze caught her flowing white dress to billow behind her, adding an ethereal touch to the already otherworldly girl.
The burden of the book resting in his pack weighed heavily on him, a burden he wished Hope didn't have to bear, but events left him with little choice.
Earlier, Farlen had informed Karn that Hope would indeed take it south-west and it would be the hot-headed Roven who’d accompany Karn to Branside. The sudden eruption of hostility from Roven had surprised everyone, as he was usually a mild-tempered young man. Karn, however, understood the reason behind Roven's unexpected change. The same happened when Hope came into contact with the book. It was as if its power seeped into those nearby.
Hope led Karn down a narrow street, guiding him with an air of shyness. She blushed and stumbled over her words as she pointed out her house, admitting that she rarely had guests.
Karn nodded politely, grateful for her offer of shelter. He considered the secluded nature of the town. Spare rooms were likely a rarity.
"I can sleep on the couch," Karn suggested.
She looked at him quizzically and asked, "What's a couch?"
Karn chuckled awkwardly. "Never mind."
"I have linen and a thick rug, if that's what you're wondering," she offered.
Karn weakly nodded. "Sounds perfect." Fatigue overwhelmed him, and he longed for rest.
As she led him inside, Karn gasped in amazement. The room seemed to come alive as they entered. The floor sank deeper into the sand, and sunshades gracefully unfurled, revealing the twinkling stars above. Delicate, naturally fluorescent lights glowed within intricate patterns in the wooden walls, which transformed into a cosy space. A bed materialised on the other side, conjured from the wall itself, adorned with fresh linens.
Perplexed, Karn asked, "Where can I sleep?" The solitary bed was the only furniture in the room.
"Oh no," Hope said. Blushing, she hurried to the opposite side and placed her hand on the wooden surface. In an instant, another large wooden slab materialised, shaping itself into the contours of a bed. Hope quickly arranged fresh padding and sheets on it.
"Here," she said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
Expressing his gratitude, Karn moved toward the bed, ready to collapse onto it, when Hope let out a small squeak.
"Aren't you going to wash up first?" she asked.
He paused, surprised. "You have a shower?"
Hope stared at him, momentarily puzzled, before taking his hand and sighing exasperatedly. "This way," she said.
Leading him toward a wall, she revealed a hidden set of stairs. Karn's jaw dropped as they descended into the ground, arriving at a vast underground pool. It resembled an artificial indoor sea, complete with real sand and thousands of twinkling fairy lights, creating a magical atmosphere in the confined space.
To the side, nestled in a snug alcove, a stack of clean white towels caught Karn's eye. Next to them, a set of white linen robes. Before he could inquire about the robes, a sudden sound of cloth hitting the floor caught his attention, causing him to freeze in place.
Karn turned his head, his cheeks instantly flushed with embarrassment. There, at the edge of the bath's shoreline, stood Hope, her gaze fixed on him with expectation, completely bare. His eyes darted away.
"Uh, sorry," he stammered, feeling a mix of surprise and awkwardness.
"What are you doing? Wash yourself," she insisted, disregarding his discomfort.
Nodding in response, Karn swiftly shed his garments, his face flushed with self-consciousness. While attempting to preserve his modesty, he cautiously followed Hope into the inviting shallows of the pool and kept his gaze averted. As his body submerged into the water, a delightful warmth enveloped his skin, soothing his weariness.
His hand darted to his shoulder, feeling the smooth bumps of the wing pattern that lay there. Hope watched him as he felt around the mark but kept silent on the matter. The only thing in his mind is that he hoped the wing didn’t look too strange, trying to distract himself from the underlining meaning behind the mark.
Hope gracefully moved through the pool and cupped some sand from its floor, using the gentle abrasiveness of the fine grains over her skin.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Karn, intrigued by the experience, cupped the water in his hands and sensed a medley of fragrant herbs mingled with minerals. He mimicked Hope's actions and began to cleanse himself, savouring the sensation of the soothing warm water against his body.
He closed his eyes, savouring the rare moment of relaxation. It was a fleeting chance for rest, a break before the trial ahead that would consume him.
"Karn," Hope's soft voice broke the silence, carrying a faint note of sorrow.
He turned his gaze towards her, his attention captured by the sight of only her pretty head protruding from the water.
Suppressing a sob, she mustered the courage to speak her fears aloud. "I'm scared," she confessed, her voice quivering.
Karn nodded. The movement rippled through the pool's calm surface. He watched her intently, his eyes locked with hers, as she gazed into the depths of the water. He understood the weight of uncertainty that burdened her.
"This task we've been entrusted with," she whispered. "I don't know if we'll return."
For a moment, Karn couldn’t respond. Silence to envelop them, his gaze unwavering as he contemplated the gravity of her words.
"I'm sure we'll be fine." Summoning his wavering courage, he pressed on. "Farlen mentioned that Alec, Bolgart, and even Palin will be by your side."
Hope shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes, one escaping and tracing a path down her cheek.
⚔
"Are you even listening?" A soft voice echoed through the mist that clouded Karn's senses.
He turned his gaze to an unfamiliar face, a young man in his mid-teens. Adorned in magnificent armour polished to perfection, the boy's long hair framed a cheeky smile. Karn felt a wave of confusion wash over him as he struggled to make sense of his surroundings.
The lad stood proudly in the centre of what appeared to be a vast training field, wielding a hefty sword with ease in his slender fingers.
"W-What?" Karn stammered, his mind attempting to grasp the reality that seemed to elude him.
"I said, are you listening?" The young man stepped forward, raising Karn's blade higher with his armoured glove.
It was a confusing sight, as the boy, despite his youthful appearance, stood a head taller than Karn himself.
"Ready your sword! Father is watching," the youth gestured over his shoulder, directing Karn's attention. As his eyes followed the gesture, Karn's eyes fell upon the tall walls of a grand castle that enclosed the training field.
"Yes, my sons. Like that," a voice proclaimed, moving to stand beside his children, drawing his own blade from its sheath. The weapon emitted a subtle vibration, adorned with intricate runes. It appeared impossibly heavy, dwarfing the sword held by Karn.
"The sword art of our noble lineage stems from our proud bloodline. To master it, you must embody the five virtues of our house," he declared.
He raised the blade high above his head, executing a swift and powerful downward slash.
"You must be strong enough to protect," he continued, the path of the blade twisting and flicking with a tender finesse as the man rolled the pommel in his hand, finishing with a flourish. Pausing the motion, he shifted his body to the side, executing a graceful countermove against an invisible opponent.
"You must be gentle enough to lead," he said, guiding the blade skyward in a horizontal position, stepping back and angling himself for a defensive stance.
"You must be wise, understanding your own limitations and when to defend," his expression turned grave, teeth clenched as he lowered the tip of the sword, stabbing it forward with force, twisting it ruthlessly as if striking down those who threatened his people.
The man’s expression softened as he watched his sons.
"And the fifth virtue?" the youngest child inquired, seeking his father's wisdom.
The man paused, a warm smile gracing his features. "Clear thinking. For without it, none of the first four virtues can truly exist. You must discern when each virtue is required, and, most importantly, understand why. Clear thinking is the path that grants us clarity of thought and enables us to lead."
Through the eyes of the son, Karn stared down at his own blade, his fingers rolling it contemplatively. Summoning his adolescent strength, he attempted to replicate his father.
⚔
Karn's eyes opened as his hand slid off the hard cover of the Book of the Known. The room was still immersed in darkness. Melted wax from his bedside candle had spilled over the metallic surface, leaving a messy pattern.
"What was that?" he muttered, rubbing his weary eyes.
It hadn't been a mere dream. It felt more like someone else's memory, imprinted upon his mind. His gaze fell upon the book lying before him, its cover still warm from his touch.
His eyes widened. “How?” He didn’t remember getting it out. In a panic, he bolted upright and stared at the book with apprehension.
In that moment, it had felt as if he had truly been in the training field. Karn could feel the sensation of the cool steel in his hand, the faint pull of gravity tugging at his legs. He could almost smell the dusty air as the man strode by, skilfully wielding his blade.
Karn stared at the book. Somehow, touching it had triggered a long-forgotten memory, sealed within the ink. Perhaps that memory had been trapped there for decades, or even centuries.
Regardless, it felt like a dream—a fleeting glimpse into the life of an unknown noble, if only for a moment.
"Karn?" Startled, he turned as Hope poked her head through the door, her complexion pale.
"Yeah?" Karn swiftly rose from his bed and approached her.
"It's Ralina."
He paused, his mind racing. "Wait, Ralina? The Felren girl?"
Hope nodded, her expression urgent, and motioned for him to follow. He then noticed that she was wearing the same uniform the guards usually wore.
Something was wrong.
"Wait, what?" Karn hastily gathered the book, placing it in his pack, and swiftly joined her.
They dashed up the streets, their footsteps reverberating against the smooth surfaces of the Heart building. Karn's pack bounced on his back with each stride.
But the discomfort didn't bother him. In fact, the metallic pressure against his back provided a strange sense of reassurance. Together, they ascended the stairs, passing concerned faces, until they burst into the meeting room.
Ralina stood before them, her arms crossed, and her appearance dishevelled. An angry scar lined the right side of her beautiful face.
"Magic man," she greeted Karn with a nod, her eyes darting momentarily to Alec, who stood beside Farlen and Bolgart, their expressions grim.
"Karn, you won't be leaving anytime soon," Farlen stated firmly.
"What's happened?" Karn inquired, a hint of concern in his voice.
Ralina stepped forward, fidgeting with the cloth around her neck. She bore the marks of a fierce struggle, with fresh blood stains adorning her torn clothing. "The Felren are coming for the book."