Chapter 16: The Path I Take
Reyvik, Nibsken, and Grak'Mar followed Kael to the wooden table he had just pointed at.
As they walked, Reyvik noticed something strange on Kael's back.
"Yawn… Hmm? Kael…" Reyvik mumbled, still half-asleep even though he had just howled a few moments ago. He blinked and tilted his head. "What's that black cloth on your back?"
"Hm?" Kael turned his head slightly toward him. "Oh, these?" He held up the black cape draped across his shoulders. "I found it in that black box."
"Looks cool, human! But no shine…" Nibsken commented.
"Yeah, goblin, why would a black cape be shiny?" Kael replied dryly.
"Can I touch it?" Reyvik's wolf ears twitched with curiosity.
"Yeah, sure," Kael said with a nod.
Reyvik reached out with his furry paws and brushed the cape.
"This looks so co—" His words cut off as his eyes widened. "Hnghhh! Awoooo! Why is this so heavy, huh? Reyvik wolf paws still on the black cape. Sigh… Don't wanna lift it anymore, Kael. Reyvik gives up. it makes me tired…"
"Hahahaha! Of course you can't lift it, forest dog!" Nibsken laughed, flexing his tiny arms. "Leave it to us—the strong Durvakians!" he declared proudly, showing off his biceps despite his petite frame.
"Okay, goblin…" Reyvik muttered, clearly irritated.
"Let's lift it, Ogre!" Nibsken shouted.
"Hmm!" Grak'Mar snorted, eager to show off his muscles. His massive hands gripped the cape.
"One, two—lift!"
"Hngghhh! HARGHHHH!"
"WAHHH!"
"Whoa! Why's this so heavy?!" Nibsken gasped.
"What'd you put in there, human?!" Grak'Mar groaned, unable to believe he couldn't even budge Kael's black cape.
Kael smirked, effortlessly untying the cape from his shoulder. He folded it neatly and said,
"Guess the so-called Durvakians aren't that strong after all."
Kael walked straight toward Durmuk and the others at the wooden table.
Behind him, Nibsken and Grak'Mar stood frozen, still stunned by what they'd just witnessed.
Reyvik smirked, tapping Grak'Mar's shoulder.
"Told ya!"
Kael turned his head slightly. "What are you guys waiting for? Let's see what the boss is doing."
"Tch! No need to be so cocky, human!" Nibsken grumbled.
"Let's go, goblin," Grak'Mar replied with a sigh.
"Yeah, yeah…" Nibsken muttered as they followed Kael, with Grak'Mar lumbering behind them.
When Kael reached the table, he leaned forward and asked cheerfully,
"So! What do you think about the items, boss?"
"Hm?" Durmuk didn't look up, still focused on the scattered books and strange relics before him.
Liraen and Nylum were watching quietly, while Volgran sat nearby calm as always, his massive hand surrounded by a swarm of tiny insects that hovered peacefully in the air.
Durmuk let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry, ma boy… Seems like I could only figure out one of these items."
"Oh?" Kael's tone dipped slightly in disappointment. "That's okay, boss. So, which one?"
"Ah, this one." Durmuk lifted the item Kael had thought was a sword earlier. "The others are hard to understand… especially da cylinder and that glowing sphere."
He stroked his thick white beard thoughtfully. "This is the only one that makes sense to me."
Of course, Kael thought. He's the best when it comes to weapons, after all.
"What's with that one, boss?" Kael asked curiously.
"This weapon is incredible," Durmuk said, eyes gleaming. "Maybe the first of its kind I've ever seen, ma boy."
He gestured for Kael to look closer.
"See this handle? It's got two sides — one up, one down — where you can attach one blade each."
Durmuk gripped the handle and gave it a quick pull.
Clack!
"It even splits into two short handles," he said proudly.
"Whoa! That's cool!" Kael exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement.
"Oh, that's not all, my boy," Durmuk continued with excitement. He rubbed his finger along the center of the handle, revealing a hidden latch. "Look here — the middle part opens. See this hollow slot? And the symbols on the cylinder — the plus and minus signs? Same as these, right?"
"Yes, boss!" Kael replied eagerly.
Durmuk chuckled. "I don't know what you think about this, ma boy, but maybe it's got some connection to that other thing."
"Yeah… maybe it does," Kael murmured, studying the weapon thoughtfully.
"That's all for the handle," Durmuk continued. "But the blades — now that's a different story."
He picked up the four blades — two short, two long.
"Look at the edges, my boy. They've got some kind of electrical pattern, like they've been struck by lightning — or maybe the current's meant to travel through each blade, one after another. The other two seem to be replacements."
Kael leaned in closer, setting the black cape on the table. He picked up the handle and one of the blades, examining both with intense focus.
Durmuk, curious, reached toward the cape Kael had just put down.
"Hm? What's this, ma boy?" Durmuk asked, brushing his fingers over the fabric. Kael didn't answer — his mind was elsewhere, lost in observation.
Durmuk pinched the cloth between his fingers. "What is this material? Dense, yet it moves with the wind…" He tried lifting it. "Yep, just as I thought — it's heavy… no, not just heavy. It can't be lifted."
He decided to test it. Forming a small ball of compressed air with his Wind Might, Durmuk launched it at the folded black cape.
SWOOSH!
The wind projectile passed through the cape as if through air — leaving no mark, no resistance.
Durmuk blinked. "What a terrifying material…"
He turned back to Kael. "Okay, my boy, that's all I can tell you for now—"
"Ma boy?" he called again when Kael didn't respond.
"Oi, human!" Grak'Mar's deep voice snapped Kael out of his thoughts.
Kael blinked, then smiled — realization gleaming in his eyes.
"Yeah… thank you, boss," he said, lifting the handle. "Thanks to you, I finally figured out what this item really is."
"Hahaha! Good for ya, my boy!" Durmuk laughed heartily, clapping Kael on the back — a little too hard, making a loud thud.
"But next time," Durmuk grinned, "don't forget to tell me when you're not coming to work, eh?"
"Ouch! Hahaha okay, boss!" Kael laughed, rubbing his back.
The others burst into laughter too, the sound echoing through the quiet hall.
Then Nylum broke the laughter with her watery, curious voice.
"Sooo… what's thaaat, Kaeel?" He pointed his watery finger at the handle and blade.
Kael grinned. "Yeah, I think this hole right here—" he pointed to the middle of the handle, "—is meant for a battery. And if I insert one here, hopefully the black metal blades will conduct electricity."
He looked at them, eyes glinting. "Then it becomes… an electromagnetic sword. Either I can attach the blades together or make them levitate through powerful electrical charges."
Everyone fell silent. Even Durmuk the greatest forger in the realm was speechless.
"Ele… what?" Liraen asked, brow furrowed.
"Electromagnetic," Kael replied calmly.
"What's that?" he pressed.
Kael smiled softly. "Hmm… I think it'd be hard for all of you to fully understand, but here's the simple version."
Everyone leaned in as Kael explained.
"If I attach a battery to this handle, and then connect any of these black metal blades to it, I can control the other blades from afar just like how you, Liraen, control the wind with your Might."
Liraen's eyes widened, then he nodded slowly. Kael pointed at the handle, its middle wrapped in rough wood and frayed ropes as if already imagining it completed.
"So… Ren," Kael called gently.
"Hmm?" Liraen tilted his head, both hands clasped together.
"As I told you earlier," Kael said with quiet determination, "this electromagnetic sword… will be my Bilah, my blade a weapon that will accompany me for the rest of my journey."
A faint smile appeared on Liraen's lips. The others nodded proudly as Kael raised the handle high, showing it to all of them and even Elvareth, who watched from inside the house, couldn't help but smile.
"So what's the name of it, Kael?" Nylum asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"Hm?" Kael looked at him.
"Your sword. What's it called?"
Kael chuckled softly. "Yeah… I've already thought about that. It might sound unfamiliar, but I've decided to name this sword…"
"Tesseract."
All of Kael's friends fell silent as he spoke the name of his sword. The word echoed softly, yet carried a weight none of them could explain.
Then Durmuk broke the silence with his hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! Good for ya, ma boy!"
He crossed his arms proudly. "I heard from Commander Aeronis that you'll be training with him soon. When's that happening?"
"Oh, yeah about that," Liraen spoke up. "He'll start training next week, boss."
"Hmm… If that's so," Durmuk said with a firm nod, "focus on your training. No need to come to work for a while, ma boy."
Kael looked at the old dwarf, short, sturdy, and wise and smiled.
"Thanks, boss. I promise… I'll become a Realm Protector, no matter what."
Durmuk's eyes gleamed beneath his thick brows. "Don't just become one, ma boy… Become the best of them."
Kael nodded and turned to look at everyone, his friends, Elvareth, and Durmuk.
He bent down, picked up the long black blade, and attached it firmly to the handle. Then, with a deep breath, he stabbed the sword into the ground.
He looked at them all his friends, Durmuk and Elvareth sitting calmly by the wooden back door and spoke:
"Listen, everyone… I will become the best Realm Protector.
The best this world has ever known."
No one spoke. Before them stood a human no, the only human left.
A being who chose to fight not for his race… but for peace.
While many Realm Protectors fought for their own people, Kael had already shown something different — a heart that fought for the realm itself.
That's why they're called Realm Protectors, not Race Protectors.
His dream wasn't born from pride or loneliness.
He didn't want to protect the world because he was the last human.
He wanted to protect it because he refused to let the peace he lived in disappear — because he wasn't afraid to stand for others.
He only wished to repay what the other races had given him.
A simple goal… yet one that carried deep meaning.
To protect.
This realm.
At any cost.
End of chapter 16
So does the training Arc Begin