The morning rose dry.
The wind that blew from the mountains did not carry the freshness of Vaillo's forests. It was rougher air, as if it had passed through ancient rocks before touching the skin. We departed early, maintaining a steady pace.
As we moved forward, the terrain changed definitively.
The dark soil was gradually replaced by grayish ground. Trees became rare. In their place, natural pillars of stone rose like sentinels scattered across the plain. Some formations were so tall that they cast long shadows even with the sun still high.
Rai'kanna seemed comfortable in that environment.
"I like this. Open terrain. You can see far."
Vespera agreed.
"Fewer blind spots."
Elara analyzed the slopes in the distance.
"These formations aren't just natural. There are precise cuts in some of them."
Lyannis adjusted her gaze.
"Ancient intervention."
Liriel walked beside me in silence, observing every detail with calm attention.
I felt that we were entering another domain.
Not only geographic.
Cultural.
The Kingdom of the Cyclopes was not just a mountainous territory. It was a civilization built on a different scale. That was evident even before we officially crossed its borders.
At noon, we spotted the first clearly artificial structure.
A bridge.
But not a common bridge.
It was wide enough for three carriages to pass side by side, made entirely of massive stone blocks fitted together with impressive precision. There were no excessive ornaments. Only functionality and grandeur.
Rai'kanna let out a low whistle.
"This was built for giants."
Lyannis replied naturally.
"And yet it's elegant."
I touched the surface of the stone as we crossed.
Cold.
Resistant.
Without apparent cracks despite its age.
Elara commented:
"The density of this material is above average. They understand mining."
"And strategic construction," Vespera added.
On the other side of the bridge, two cyclopean guards awaited us.
They were tall.
Much taller than any ordinary human.
Their skin had a grayish tone, almost like polished stone. Each one carried long spears proportional to their own size.
But what stood out the most was their gaze.
There was no hostility.
There was evaluation.
One of them spoke with a deep but controlled voice.
"Identify yourselves."
I stepped forward.
"Takumi. Adventurer from Vaillo. I request diplomatic entry."
The guard observed each of them behind me.
Liriel maintained a serene posture.
Rai'kanna showed no intimidation.
Elara and Lyannis kept neutral expressions.
Vespera analyzed the environment discreetly.
The second guard consulted a metal plate attached to his belt. Probably some type of record.
After a few seconds, the first spoke again.
"The name is known."
There was no explicit admiration.
But there was recognition.
"Entry granted. The capital is two days' march."
I inclined my head slightly.
"Thank you."
We moved on.
As soon as we crossed the border marker, I felt something different.
It wasn't magic.
It was atmosphere.
Discipline.
The trails were wide and well maintained. Wheel marks indicated frequent traffic. In the distance, we saw groups of cyclopes transporting blocks of stone as if they were light loads.
Physical strength there was not a spectacle.
It was routine.
Rai'kanna watched, fascinated.
"They train from an early age."
Lyannis responded:
"The body posture indicates that."
Elara commented:
"There is implicit military organization."
Vespera added:
"And no unnecessary movement."
Liriel spoke quietly to me.
"Do you notice?"
"Yes."
"They respect strength."
"And stability."
This kingdom did not seem chaotic.
It seemed solid.
We camped at nightfall on an elevation that allowed us to see part of the cyclopean valley. In the distance, it was already possible to distinguish colossal silhouettes that probably belonged to the capital.
Statues.
Towers.
Gigantic structures.
Rai'kanna sat near the fire.
"If the city is as big as it looks, this will be interesting."
Lyannis flipped through a small notebook.
"Ancient reports mention monumental architecture, but few detail the internal politics."
Elara adjusted her cloak.
"If the stone truly is here, it must be protected with extreme care."
Vespera looked at me.
"Do you feel anything?"
I thought for a moment.
"Only expectation."
Liriel tilted her head.
"It's not fear."
"No."
"Nor anxiety."
"No."
It was something else.
Perhaps awareness of the step we were taking.
If the hypothesis is correct, we are closer to the key that can break the Fourth General's immortality.
If it is wrong, we will have crossed mountains for nothing.
But even that will not be a complete loss.
Knowledge is never waste.
As the sky darkened, I watched the stars appear above the cyclopean mountains.
The landscape was different from Vaillo.
Rougher.
More direct.
Rai'kanna approached.
"Thinking about the percentage again?"
"Yes."
She smiled slightly.
"You act like fifty percent is little."
"It isn't little."
"Then?"
"It's uncertain."
She crossed her arms.
"You've always faced uncertainty."
"But this time it isn't just about winning."
"It's about surviving."
"Yes."
She remained silent for a few seconds.
"Then let's turn uncertainty into an advantage."
Simple.
Direct.
Like her.
Liriel approached as well.
"The Kingdom of the Cyclopes isn't just brute strength. There is tradition here."
"I noticed."
"If this stone exists, it isn't just an object. It's a symbol."
She was right.
We're not asking for a weapon.
We're asking for trust.
That will require more than fame.
It will require posture.
Before lying down, I looked once more at the distant structures.
The cyclopean capital was close.
Two days.
In two days we will stand before the king.
In two days we will know whether the legend of the magic stone is real.
And if it is,
another stage will begin.
I closed my eyes feeling the dry wind touch my face.
The journey was not only physical.
It was preparation.
Each step toward the mountains was also a step closer to the inevitable confrontation.
And while the silence of the night dominated the valley,
one certainty settled inside me.
If a weakness exists,
I will find it.
And if it does not exist,
I will create one.