Dax’s gaze swept over Vieran’s collection of items, his expression neutral until his eyes locked onto a pendant. The centerpiece was a smooth gem, faintly glowing with an inner light. He reached out, his fingers brushing the pendant. “I want this one,” he said.

Vieran’s eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms. “That’s a precious item, Dax. Not something you can just take. Look over here instead.” He gestured to a nearby collection neatly arranged on the floor. “Plenty of good options.”

Dax shook his head, his hand still hovering over the pendant. “No. I want this.”

Vieran sighed, a flicker of irritation breaking his calm demeanor. “This pendant is worth more than a healing pill. More than a Vitalumen Pill, even. It’s in a different league entirely.”

“It’s the same tier as the rest of this stuff,” Dax countered.

“You’re wrong. It’s far more valuable,” Vieran replied, his tone sharpening. Then, after a moment of thought, he added, “If you’ve got something worth trading, we can talk.”

Without a word, Dax reached into the satchel slung over his shoulder and began pulling out a small assortment of items he had pilfered from Bloodmaw’s storage. Dark energy swirled faintly around them.

Vieran’s eyes scanned the collection, lingering on a small object tucked among the rest. It was a circular talisman, its etched runes faintly glowing despite the surrounding taint. A faint trail of light followed the motion of Vieran’s hand as he gestured toward it. “That one,” he said, “I’ll take it.”

Dax arched an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching into a sly grin. “That one? It’s more precious than anything here.”

Vieran smirked, recognizing the game Dax was playing. The man had caught on to his earlier tactic. “We need Lightfinder’s ability to see light trails if we’re going to travel safely through this mist,” Vieran explained. “If you give me this, I’ll guide you to one place of your choosing.”

Dax crossed his arms, unimpressed. “Not enough.”

Vieran rubbed his chin thoughtfully before adding, “Fine. I’ll purify all your items for free as part of the deal.”

Dax’s grin widened. “Now we’re talking.” He reached for the pendant, tossing the talisman to Vieran in one smooth motion. “Looks like we both got what we wanted.”

Vieran caught the talisman, his fingers closing around it as a faint trail of light lingered in the air. “Seems so,” he said, his voice calm but edged with satisfaction.

Vieran glanced at the unpurified items Dax had laid out earlier, then gestured toward them. “Mind if I purify these now?”

Dax gave a slight nod, leaning back against the wall. “Go ahead.”

Vieran placed his hands over the corrupted items, a faint golden aura emanating from his palms. As the light began to seep into the objects, the dark energy coiled and hissed like snakes, reluctantly giving way to purity. The air grew warmer, and the faint scent of burnt iron wafted through the room.

“Why only a handful of items?” Vieran asked. “You were in Bloodmaw Reapers’ storage. Could’ve taken more.”

Dax shrugged, watching the purification process with a calm expression. “We’re not hoarders. Quality over quantity. Besides, we infiltrated this place for an item they stole from us.”

Vieran’s gaze flicked up for a moment, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “Did they destroy something important to you?”

Dax’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Seems like it’s the same for you, isn’t it?”

For a moment, Vieran hesitated, the glow in his hands faltering slightly before he refocused. “Yeah,” he murmured, and let the conversation end there, returning his attention to the items.

When the purification was complete, Vieran handed the purified items back to Dax, who inspected them briefly before nodding. “We can stay here for one hour. I have scouted them for days. Most of the Bloodmaw Reapers are out right now. But if we leave too soon, there’s a chance we’ll run right into them.”

Vieran straightened. “So that’s how you managed to infiltrate this place. It’s barely guarded.”

Dax smirked faintly but said nothing more.

With that, Vieran turned toward the pendant he had traded for. Sitting cross-legged in a corner, he pulled out the purified phantom core from the wolf he had slain earlier. Holding it carefully, he summoned a glowing magic circle in the air. He placed the core, the pendant, and two other components into the circle.

The circle thrummed with power, absorbing the materials. Then, with a flash of light, the magic circle shone brightly before disappearing. At the same time, a system message appeared in his vision.

[You have learned a new factor: Guidelight Eyes – Allows the user to see trails of light connecting living brings to closest Luminorbs, guiding them to safer routes]

[Blueprint progression increased by 15%]

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

[Name: Vieran Voss

Tier: 1-B

Circuit: Lightfinder (85%)

Factors: Item Purification, Guidelight Eyes

Traits: Strength, Stamina, Satiety, Speed, Vitalumen Control, Endurance, Pain Resistance, Reaction, Critical Chance, Purification Bonus

Vitalumen: 40%

Nox: 29%]

Dax approached him. He stopped a few paces away, his arms crossed casually. “So, did you get that light-trailing ability?”

Vieran glanced up, nodding once. “I did.”

Dax nodded back, his expression calm but his tone firm. “Don’t forget your promise.”

“I haven’t. Where do you want to go?”

Dax’s confident demeanor faltered slightly as he fell silent, his gaze turning inward. Before he could speak, Lila appeared, her small frame slipping quietly beside him. She looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

Dax’s expression softened as he met her gaze. He reached out and gently held her hand, offering her a reassuring smile before turning back to Vieran. “Honestly, we don’t have anywhere to go. Our community... it was destroyed by the Bloodmaw Reapers.” He paused, his grip on Lila’s hand tightening briefly. “We’d be grateful if you could help us find another community. Somewhere we could join and start over.”

Vieran’s eyes flickered with understanding. “My group is in the same situation. Bloodmaw destroyed what we had, too.”

Dax studied him for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle. “Then I guess we’ll be companions for a while. Look after us, yeah?”

A faint smile tugged at Vieran’s lips. He nodded. “I will guide you after we leave this territory. But while we’re still in Bloodmaw territory,” he added, “you’ll lead the group.”

Dax blinked, caught off guard by the declaration. “You sure about that?”

Vieran met his gaze steadily. “You’ve helped us. I’ll trust you.”

Dax straightened slightly. “I won’t let you down,” he promised.

Vieran nodded again, his faint smile lingering as he turned his attention back to the dark horizon beyond their temporary haven.

The group sat in tense silence, waiting as the minutes dragged on. Nearly an hour had passed. Suddenly, Lila stood and moved toward the door.

“I’ll check downstairs,” she said, her voice quiet but determined.

Jeff, sitting cross-legged in the corner, looked up. “You sure you’ll be okay?”

Dax chuckled. “She’ll be fine,” he said with a wave of his hand. “She’s practiced the [Silent Prowler Blueprint]. Perfect for scouting.”

Jeff didn’t look entirely convinced but nodded. Lila disappeared down the stairs without another word, her footsteps so soft they were barely audible.

The group waited in silence, the room cloaked in a heavy unease that pressed down on them. Every sound felt amplified, making their nerves tighter with each passing second. Jeff tapped his foot anxiously, while Dax leaned against the wall, arms crossed, though his gaze never left the staircase.

The minutes stretched unbearably long, each one feeling heavier than the last. Then, finally, the faint creak of the stairs broke the silence. All eyes snapped toward the doorway, breaths heaved as her figure emerged from the shadows.

“So?” Dax asked, leaning forward slightly.

“They’re having a meeting,” Lila said, brushing dust off her sleeves. “Same as usual. This is our chance to leave.”

Vieran frowned, glancing toward the broken window. “And how exactly do you plan to get out? This tower isn’t exactly ground level.”

Dax smirked, gesturing toward Lila. “She can walk across the walls. She’ll carry us one by one.”

Lila crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “I’m not going back and forth carrying men.”

Dax blinked, caught off guard. “What? You were fine carrying me before!”

“That was because I didn’t have a choice,” Lila shot back. “Now we can ask Grimclaw for help. Why not use that giant eagle of theirs?”

Dax groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “This isn’t the time to be picky. We need to get out now.”

“Picky?” Lila’s tone sharpened. “I’m saying there’s a better way—”

“Enough.” Vieran’s calm voice cut through their brewing argument. He looked at Lila. “Grimclaw will carry me and Jeff. You carry Dax. That keeps things simple.”

Lila sighed. “Fine. Just Dax, though.”

Dax grinned, shooting her a playful look. “Please be gentle when carrying me, babe.”

“Don’t push it,” Lila muttered, already moving toward the window.

Vieran shook his head. It was time to leave, and these pairs still had time to argue.

Lila crouched slightly as Dax stepped closer, her arms extending toward him. For someone so slender, she handled his weight effortlessly, lifting him as if he were a sack of grain. With no hesitation, she stepped onto the wall. Her feet clung to the surface with ease, her movements confident as she began walking vertically downward.

Dax glanced down. “Please walk slowly, babe,” he muttered, his voice slightly strained.

Above them, Grimclaw cawed sharply, spreading its massive wings before diving off the edge of the tower. Vieran held tight to the eagle’s talons, his cloak flapping wildly in the wind. Jeff, with a grunt of effort, leaped from the ledge and latched onto Vieran’s leg. Grimclaw didn’t falter, its powerful wings cutting through the air as it carried them downward.

As the eagle passed Lila and Dax on the wall, Vieran turned his head and called out, “I’ll wait for you at the destination!”

Dax nodded, raising his voice over the wind. “Alright! Be careful!”

Grimclaw gave a final caw, wings beating hard as Vieran directed it toward the clearing below. The descent was swift, and within moments, the eagle’s talons touched the ground. Vieran and Jeff dismounted quickly, their boots sinking slightly into the soft earth.

Vieran turned, his eyes scanning the distant silhouette of the Bloodmaw Reapers’ base. The towering walls loomed ominously against the dark mist.

They waited in silence. After a while, faint footsteps and the familiar sound of voices broke the quiet. Lila emerged from the mist with Dax following close behind.

Vieran let out a long breath of relief. “I’m glad nothing happened to you two.”

Dax grinned, slinging an arm around Lila’s shoulders and pulling her close. “Of course not. My girlfriend’s the best at what she does,” he said proudly.

Lila rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away. “Let’s not push our luck,” she said, though her faint smile betrayed her flat tone.

Vieran shook his head, his lips quirking into a smile as he glanced between them. He wasn't sure if he could endure a journey with a lovestruck couple. But at least, they were capable.

"Are you ready?" Vieran asked.

Dax gave a confident nod, his arm still resting casually on Lila’s shoulder. “We’re ready whenever you are.”

Vieran took a deep breath and moved forward, ready to use his new factor. His irises briefly glowed softly before radiating forth like pond ripples. His pupils turned white, with spiraling designs that resembled runic symbols drawn around the edges. These were the Guidelight Eyes.

Through the enchanted gaze, Vieran could see thin, silvery threads extending from their chests. Each thread trailed forward, weaving together into a single cord that stretched into the black mist beyond.

“I see it,” Vieran said. “The threads... they show the way.”

Dax tilted his head, curious but trusting. “Where’s it leading us?”

“Follow me. This is the path we should take.”

Without hesitation, he began walking. Dax and Lila exchanged glances before falling in step behind him. The mist seemed less oppressive now, as if the Guidelight Eyes cut through its shroud.