Noa sat by the fire, biting into the meat. He fell silent for a moment. Silence enveloped the surroundings—only the crackle of flames and the heavy stillness before rain remained.
He drew a deep breath.
I have nothing left to lose…
I destroyed the last of it with my own hands…
His mood darkened. Something sank deeper in his chest.
I feel an emptiness inside… I want to scream… but no voice comes out.
X did not respond. He was merely listening.
Noa tilted his face toward the sky and sighed. Clouds gathered slowly, and unexpectedly, rain began to fall. Raindrops struck Noa's face, mingling with the fire to create a strange, haunting scene.
In a resolute inner voice, Noa declared:
Noa S Dragon died today.
He became a memory left in the dust of the past.
Now there is only Zaber.
Silence returned.
At that moment, Noa felt a strange sensation in one hand. His palm glowed as black energy coursed through his veins like dark tendrils.
Noa raised his hand indifferently.
"What is this…?"
In the next instant, he did not even notice the surroundings change.
Noa stood in a pure white, formless space. No—he could not even tell if he was standing. His mana sensory ability did not function here. He was enveloped in complete darkness, but it was a darkness perceived not by eyes, but by the mind.
Someone seemed to approach.
Tok… tok… tok…
Noa tried to remain alert, but his inner senses failed him. He could not discern whether he was sitting or standing—this state unsettled him slightly.
Suddenly, someone stepped forward and seized his blindfold.
Noa jerked back, voice cold.
"Who are you?!"
The unfamiliar figure responded calmly, yet with commanding authority.
"Calm yourself."
The instant he heard that voice, Noa froze. His breath caught in his throat.
The figure gently removed the blindfold with both hands.
Noa opened his eyes in the pure white, featureless void.
Standing before him was his father.
"It's been a long time, my son."
Noa stood petrified. His voice trembled as it emerged.
"Father… are you alive…?"
Zagn looked directly into his eyes, voice cold.
"This is not the time for sentiment. Listen carefully to what I say."
Noa could not comprehend where he was, how he could see, or what this place was. But none of that mattered now. Only one question spun in his mind.
"Father… they said you were dead… What about Mother? Is she here too? Where is she…?"
Zagn did not hesitate for a moment.
Slap!
He struck Noa across the face.
"You are no longer a child. Compose yourself. Both your mother and I are dead. Accept it. I am speaking to you through the seal your mother placed on you. Take my words seriously."
Noa clutched his cheek, silent. His eyes trembled, but he said nothing.
Zagn continued.
"Good. Now listen. Your lack of talent, the humiliation you endured, your loneliness… your mother and I are to blame for all of it. As parents, we committed many things we are ashamed of."
He paused briefly.
"But now… you have fully accepted yourself."
Zagn placed two fingers on Noa's forehead. The tips began glowing with black energy.
A complex, living pattern—a circle—suddenly formed in Noa's mind, intricate and pulsing.
Zagn spoke in a deep tone.
"This circle is the technique for creating a Soul Chain. It is one of the arts erased from the world long ago. Through my own research and ancient sources, I succeeded in recreating it."
"Now, this technique exists only in you. You can activate this circle only once. If you fail, you will lose it forever."
He closed his eyes briefly, then continued.
"I do not know if it is right for a father to say this. But this chain is forged at the cost of others' lives. It may be evil. Yet the world has never been just."
"Therefore, Noa… whether you become evil or good makes no difference. Just… survive."
Zagn pulled Noa into an embrace.
"Please… live, my son. This was the best I could do. Forgive me for not being able to do more."
The moment Noa returned the embrace, his father vanished.
Noa felt himself lying on the ground. He rose slowly and looked around—his eyes were still blindfolded; he saw nothing.
"What was that…?" he asked urgently. "X… did you see it too?"
X responded with concern.
"What happened to you? After black energy poured from the seal on your hand, you lost consciousness."
Zaber clutched his head, deep in thought.
"You… didn't see it…?"
X grew slightly agitated.
"What was I supposed to see?!"
Zaber recalled the five circles in his mind.
X's eyes widened.
"Zaber… what are these circles? Such patterns did not exist in our memories before."
Zaber's lips curved into a dark smile.
"This… is our path."
Beside Zaber, a black silhouette descended with a faint breeze and landed before him.
"Master," Kargal said calmly, pride hidden in his tone. "It is done. I have gathered the adventurers' equipment as well."
Zaber looked at him with mild surprise, curiosity mixed with suspicion on his face.
"You finished that quickly, Kargal?"
Kargal paused, scanning the surroundings, then looked to the sky.
"Master… dawn has already broken."
The words struck Zaber like cold water. He leaped to his feet.
"What?! Really?!"
Kargal regarded him carefully. Zaber's clothes were completely soaked from the rain; droplets fell from his hair to the ground.
"Master," he said with slight bewilderment. "You are drenched. How did you sleep through the rain?"
Zaber fell silent for a moment. Fragments of memory flashed through his mind—the darkness, the voices, his father's gaze…
"Seriously…" he murmured softly.
He exhaled deeply, his expression turning cold once more.
"Fine. Whatever it was, it's time to leave."
He turned to Kargal.
"Don't rush… have you grown taller, Kargal?"
Kargal's eyes gleamed. Unable to hide his joy,
"You finally noticed, Master! I am now half a meter tall!"
Zaber raised his hand and gently stroked Kargal's skull.
"Good work."
Then his tone grew serious.
"Next… who exactly were those adventurers? You called them that before."
Kargal glanced at Zaber sideways, as though the question surprised him.
"Master, don't you know?"
Zaber frowned.
"Would I ask if I did?"
Kargal pondered briefly, then explained.
"Very well, Master. Adventurers are mercenary soldiers registered with a guild. They complete missions for payment. Missions are issued by city residents or the state. They usually operate in groups of five—to maximize earnings and efficiency."
Zaber nodded.
"Understood. Good. Now let's examine their equipment. Where did you put it?"
Kargal gestured ahead.
"I piled it this way. Also, Master, they must have had tents. If we find them, there may be more."
A cold smile touched Zaber's lips.
"It seems we have good loot."
They walked together. After a short distance, they reached the neatly stacked clothing and gear of the adventurers.
Zaber bent down and picked up the first sword. He examined it closely, testing its weight.
"Not a bad sword…" he said quietly. "This was Bren's."
He set it aside.
Next, he took the two staffs. Mana stones gleamed at their tips. He sensed the flow of mana.
"Mana stones… they amplify magic. Two of them. Useful."
He placed them carefully beside the sword.
Then he took the clothing—belonging to the two women.
"Useless trash," he said coldly, tossing them aside.
He did not even touch the large shield. The longsword beside it drew no interest.
Finally, he lifted the bow and drew the string to test it.
"A good weapon. But inconvenient for me. It will serve later."
He set it with the others.
Lastly, he took Bren's armor and clothing. Standing, he held them against himself.
"A bit large. If I recall, my height was one hundred sixty-three… well, it will do."
He turned to Kargal.
"Where is that goblin?"
Kargal glanced around.
"He went into the central hut. During the rain."
Zaber's voice was cold.
"If I remember, his name was Gobuto. Tell him: take these two staffs, this sword, and the bow. We will search for the adventurers' tents. Let's see what else they have."
Kargal extended his hand.
"Master, I found this pouch on their clothing. Inside are thirty-six gold coins and twelve silver."
Zaber took the pouch and felt its weight.
"Money is always useful. What is the currency here?"
Kargal shrugged, looking down.
"I don't know, Master."
Zaber tied the pouch to his belt.
"No matter. There is a city a few days' travel from here. We'll find out there."
Kargal leaped excitedly.
"Yes, Master! I will prepare to leave!"
What do you think, Noah has started his journey? Leave your thoughts in the comments and don't forget to save it to your power stone and library.