A day later, Sadi found herself standing in line in the Skysworn training hall with the rest of the group. She tugged the neckpiece of her new Skysworn armour. It was one of the finest quality she had ever seen, but the leather padding scraped her skin raw. She was definitely going to buy one of those suits the other Skysworns wore underneath their armour to prevent chafing.

  Lindon stood to her side with the grim expression he always wore, reading the armour's manual like it was a sacred text from the heavens. She knew by now that that was just his resting face. It was not pleasant, but she thought Yerin was smitten by it. Speaking of Yerin, she stood on the other side of Lindon, her arms crossed, and her gold signs mimicked the same action on top of her shoulders.

  On Sadi's other side stood Whitehall. He wore a determined expression, and his foot tapped unconsciously. She has her own room now at the Skysworn headquarters, and although she does not mind Whitehall's and Meatball's company, she would not say no to her newfound privacy.

  Orthos, Little Blue, and Meatball were hanging out in the back. They were firing striker techniques at training constructs, competing on who could destroy the target with the least techniques. Although both were Truegolds, Orthos's Path of the Blackflame was much more suited than Meatball's venom for pure destruction. Despite this, Meatball did not seem to want to give up either. Little Blue cheered both of them on, singing bells and whistles reverberating through the almost empty hall.

  A few Skysworns stood by the far walls to watch them. She was pretty sure they were betting on Meatball's and Orthos's little competition. Other than Little Blue, the only one that seemed happy was Mercy. The Akura girl smiled brightly as Eithan walked, eyeing them one by one. He had been walking past them for a few minutes now, and Lindon had been oblivious to that fact, engrossed in his reading material. No one had informed the young Blackflame.

  It was only when Lindon closed the manual that Eithan finally spoke up. "Brilliant," Eithan clapped before Lindon, startling the boy. "You're the only one among us that actually read the manual from start to finish. You are a source of inspiration that all Skysworns should try to follow."

  Lindon did not hesitate to reply immediately. "It is actually very interesting," he said, recalling what he had read. "There are defensive constructs in the armour that protect the head, the neck and the back. A dream construct to deliver messages, a compartment with a Thousand-Mile Cloud, a triggered wind-barrier defence, a passive script that weakens hostile spiritual attacks and madra, and more additional options we can ask the Skysworn Soulsmiths to add."

  Sadi baulked at Lindon's words. She looked down at her armour with a new light. The armour would definitely be very expensive.

  Eithan smiled at Lindon like a proud father, seeing his child studying diligently. "And what are the drawbacks?" Eithan asked.

  "The armour powers the constructs," Lindon replied instantly. "It will only last for a few days before needing to be refilled or replaced. We can power the constructs ourselves, but then our madra must be compatible."

  "Umm, Eithan?" Sadi asked.

  The older man looked at her, his smile never shifting.

  "I don't think we'll be able to afford this," she continued, referring to Whitehall and herself.

  "Do not worry, my young Wasteland friends; your armour is sponsored directly by the Akura clan," he assured her. "They offered to include extra defensive and offensive constructs, but that would not be fair, wouldn't it?"

  Sadi shrugged, thinking that having extra constructs would be nice, but the armour was more than she had hoped. "I guess that's true."

  Then, Eithan shifted his attention to Lindon. "I am so very proud of you for keeping yourself informed."

  Lindon looked like he wanted to bow on the spot and had to hold himself back at the last moment.

  "Anyways," Eithan continued, "To finalise our rather large squad, the Skysworn requires us to take on a mission to register our team formally."

  Sadi cheered inwardly, and judging by Whitehall's reaction, she reckoned he felt the same. Whitehall had previously mentioned to her that he was tired of fighting, but ever since Ghostwater, that tiredness seemed to have disappeared like a puff of smoke. She knew whatever secret he was forced to swear to remain silent had something to do with his renewed drive.

  Eithan beamed. "I have found a terrific opportunity nearby that would suit us perfectly."

  The reactions of the others, however, were the total opposite. Lindon frowned. Yerin looked resigned, and even Mercy's bright smile faltered as she leaned against her staff.

  "Cheer up, my students," Eithan stood straight. "I shall not let my personal students back down against the Beast King's students," he gestured to Sadi and Whitehall.

  "They're Highgold," Yerin snorted, "and we fought a dozen Truegolds yesterday, in case you forgot."

  "I do remember that, my young Aurelius," Eithan replied. "And believe me when I say that rest is important. A weapon pushed too far will eventually break. But I am afraid I shall push you once again. Opportunity does not wait. And let it be known that I do not train my students softer than the Beast King," he declared, pointing accusingly at the sky.

  Sadi was not sure what Eithan meant by his soft treatment of the others; she had thought the Beast King had been very lenient with them. Sure, her master sent her to Gold Dragon territory as a Lowgold, but Sadi couldn't think of anything else.

  Eithan continued, spreading his hands, "In return, I am an open book. Ask me anything."

  Yerin spoke first, "Underlord."

  That got Sadi intrigued. Ziel had told them he could explain it to her, but he must not have known about the Beast King's new assignment. Since Eithan was also an Underlord, the man should be able to provide the right guidance. She only had one more advancement left before she could advance to Underlord. She knew it was still far, but it felt reachable.

  "That would not be fair to our Highgold and Lowgold friends, wouldn't it?" Eithan asked Yerin, gesturing to Sadi, Whitehall, and Mercy.

  Yerin replied by raising her sword arms.

  "Underlord it is!" Eithan raised his voice.

  Orthos's heavy footsteps approached them from behind, and Sadi felt eagerness in his steps. The footsteps halted before Orthos could reach them, and when she turned around, she saw Meatball whispering quietly straight to Orthos's ear. The turtle huffed a puff of black smoke and returned to his mini-competition with the bird.

  Eithan smiled as he answered Yerin's question, "The three steps to Underlord are simple." He raised his fingers one by one as he explained. "Mastering yourself, mastering the world," he paused when he raised a third finger. "And connecting to the world. This step is the most mysterious. It is a personal revelation that you must discover about yourself, which will cause the soulfire inside you to resonate with the aura around you, activating your advancement."

  Sadi saw Mercy shift slightly from the corner of her eyes. The others did not seem to have noticed, but Sadi thought Eithan's words might have affected the girl.

  Eithan clapped his hands as he looked at the ceiling, "It seems we have less time than I thought. Since we're all armoured up, I will give you all a choice!" His gaze drifted to Sadi and Whitehall. "Forgiveness, Sadi and Whitehall, but since you are only under my care temporarily as of now, I must prioritise my students and their desires."

  Sadi shrugged in response; she did not care, and Eithan's advancement description preoccupied her thoughts. A personal revelation about one's self that will cause the soulfire to resonate with the aura around you. What does that even mean? She had some ideas about Soulfire. Ziel had mentioned how Northstrider injected his Soulfire for Ghostwater. But other than that, she was not really sure.

  Eithan continued, returning his gaze to Yerin, Lindon, and Mercy, "We can go on missions that will bring great benefit to the Empire, or we can embark on the most efficient way I know to train you all to Underlord. It is up to you!"

  "The missions!" Mercy yelled, slamming down her staff, which hissed with purple smoke. Whitehall nodded in agreement.

  "Underlord!" Yerin and Lindon yelled.

  Eithan gasped. "What a remarkable coincidence because the most efficient way to train you would require funds I do not possess. And the most profitable prospect available to us-" He pulled a stack of papers from his pocket. "Is to complete missions for the Skysworn!"

  Sadi knew that what Eithan said was not exactly true. Judging by how much food Meatball had bought the previous night. However, Eithan did say the token he gave Meatball was connected to the royal treasury.

  Whitehall laughed. Yerin gave Eithan a flat stare. Mercy smiled. And Lindon glared.

  "What about from the Aurelius family?" Lindon asked.

  Eithan smiled as he shook his head.

  Lindon's eyes widened, and his expression hardened like a child's when someone threatened to steal his sweets. His voice came out hoarse and slow as he spoke next. "I have come across some good fortune in Ghostwater. They are not used for the sacred arts, but we can sell them if we need the funds." His words came out strained, as if he had to force every word to come out. He quickly added, "For me, Yerin, and Mercy, of course," giving Sadi and Whitehall an apologetic look. "You had your share."

  Sadi waved at him dismissively. What he said was fair regarding straight-up monetary value; she probably had the largest bounty from the Gold Dragon girl. She hoped he was not still sour from having to share the loot.

  Eithan wiped a fake tear, which reminded Sadi of her master. "Truly, the disciple's generosity knows no bounds. The disciple takes care of his master." He clapped Lindon on the back and handed him a sheet of paper. “But now you must get going! I'll need to get our new team members up to speed," he pointed a thumb at her and Whitehall.

  Eithan stood before his two new temporary disciples, hands clasped behind his back and a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. Ordinarily, he would have scoffed at the notion of taking over the training of someone with a still-living master—especially when that master was a Herald. Such interference bordered on rude, and Eithan did try to avoid being rude. Most of the time.

  But the two standing before him were so fascinating, so unique, that he simply couldn't resist. When he was finished with them, the Beast King would be impressed—and hopefully generous. Perhaps a priceless artefact? A rare treasure? He wasn't picky.

  "Now then!" Eithan clapped his hands together, his grin widening as he turned to Whitehall. "You, my dear Whitehall, need the most immediate attention. Let's begin with you, shall we?" He reached into his pocket with deliberate flair, pulling out a small bag of pills. "I had these prepared especially for you. The refiner who made them might've shed a few tears working through the night, but I rewarded him generously, so we'll call it character-building."

  Whitehall caught the bag as Eithan tossed it to him, his brow furrowing slightly as he peered inside. "What are these?"

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  "Ah, excellent question!" Eithan gestured dramatically as though unveiling a grand secret. "Those are pills commonly used by Scholars to keep their minds sharp during prolonged study sessions or bouts of research. You'll find them... invigorating."

  "Any side effects?" Whitehall asked, lifting one of the pills to examine it.

  "Ah, I'm so glad you asked!" Eithan exclaimed with a bright smile. "Let's see... mild dehydration, occasional headaches, and—oh yes—deterioration of mental health, raised blood pressure, heart attack, multiple organ failure, difficulty urinating, bowel failures, and nosebleeds. Among other minor inconveniences." He waved his hand dismissively. "But I'm confident someone on your path will figure out how to mitigate those. Consider it part of your training!"

  Sadi raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed. "So, you're saying you're giving him poison and calling it a learning experience?"

  Eithan turned to her with mock offence. "Poison is such an unkind word, although maybe it's perfect in this case. But I prefer to think of it as an investment in his potential." He gestured toward Whitehall with a flourish. "Besides, look at him. He's practically glowing with enthusiasm. Aren't you, Whitehall?"

  For a moment, Whitehall looked between Eithan and the pills, his expression inscrutable. Then, to Eithan's delight, the young man's lips quirked into a small smile, one that grew as he pocketed the bag. Ah, here was someone who appreciated opportunity over inconvenience. The very picture of a promising pupil.

  "They'll do," Whitehall muttered as he slipped the bag into his pocket.

  "Good, good!" Eithan said, clapping his hands. "You'll have time to cycle after our missions. Advance when you feel ready—I trust your judgment. I'd love to witness it myself, but alas, my primary focus must remain on my non-temporary disciples. A tragedy, truly, but such is the life of a genius in demand." He sighed dramatically, the weight of his obligations etched across his face.

  "Now, Sadi." He turned his attention to the other disciple, clapping his hands together. "Your turn! Let's see what delightful challenges we can cook up for you."

  Sadi folded her arms, eyeing him warily. "If this involves organ failure, I'm out."

  Eithan only grinned wider. "Oh, Sadi, I wouldn't dream of it! Your challenges will be much more... enlightening."

  She raised an eyebrow at his pun.

  "That's the spirit!" Eithan said with a clap. "What I was trying to say, my dear Sadi—is that you can advance right now !"

  Sadi blinked, momentarily startled. "Now?" she echoed hesitantly.

  Eithan nodded, his enthusiasm undimmed. "Why wait? Every moment not spent advancing is a moment wasted."

  After a brief pause, Sadi gave a reluctant nod. "Alright... How do I do it?"

  "Ah, that's the easy part!" Eithan replied, snapping his fingers. "Cycling position, if you please."

  Without hesitation, Sadi sat and began cycling, her breathing steady and measured. Eithan extended his perception, observing her cycling with keen interest. Her iron body absorbed both visible and invisible light aura, channelling and storing the light madra in her core. What truly caught Eithan's attention, however, was the way her iron body functioned as an extension of her core. Excess madra stored in her skin made her spirit almost unparalleled in capacity, like a secondary reservoir for her madra.

  His respect for the Beast King deepened. Only a master of unparalleled skill could have designed such a path. Who knew the Wasteland had such a renowned Master? His mind whirled as he thought of ways to help Sadi develop her path. Most of his ideas were from information he had gathered in the Abidan, which the Origin Shroud had not suppressed. He wondered momentarily if he was breaking any further rules by giving the woman more information. Well, it was best to do it now and ask for forgiveness later.

  Pausing her cycling, Eithan spoke. "Sadi, have you ever tried channelling invisible light madra?"

  "No," she answered, frowning slightly.

  "Ah, I suspected as much. Let me explain," Eithan nodded knowingly. "But first, what can you tell me of the difference between invisible and visible light?"

  Sadi opened her mouth, hesitated, then closed it again, shaking her head.

  Eithan grinned. "Don't worry, I'm here to help." He crouched down, moving his arm in the air in an exaggerated fluid, wave motions like the waves in a painting of a beach. "Picture this," he said, "this is visible light."

  Sadi's gaze remained fixed on his movements, though her expression showed clear puzzlement.

  "Here to here," Eithan added, using his other hand to trace an imaginary line between the waves of his motion. "This is the wavelength of light. Our eyes can detect it, and that's why we can see it."

  Sadi raised her hand, halting him mid-motion.

  "Yes, madam Sadi?" Eithan asked, straightening up and adopting an exaggerated teacher's stance, an invisible pointer appearing in his hand.

  "How do you know this?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

  Eithan placed a hand dramatically on his chest. "Well, aside from being the best janitor in the Empire, I was once a renowned scholar."

  Sadi frowned but nodded in acknowledgement.

  "As I was saying," Eithan continued, "Visible light has a wavelength we can see. When the wavelength is longer or shorter than that, our eyes can no longer perceive it, and it becomes invisible."

  He paused to see if she was following, and she nodded more eagerly now in understanding.

  "Most light paths involve visible light because it's easier to work with something you can actually see," he explained. "Now, if we adjust the wavelength—" He compressed his arm into a tighter oscillation, demonstrating shorter wavelengths. After he felt Sadi was beginning to comprehend, he stopped and oscillated his arms with a much greater length. "This is harder to perceive, just like trying to use a knife without limbs."

  Sadi's face shifted from curiosity to mild scepticism. "Let me guess," she sighed, "You've got a way for me to see invisible light."

  Eithan's eyes gleamed. He had to admit, he was getting excited. Lindon was like fresh clay ready to be moulded, Yerin was a blade sharpened over decades by a master blacksmith, and Mercy was a Monarch's heir going through a teenage life crisis and venturing abroad to find herself. On the other hand, Whitehall and Sadi were a unique pair. The young man is tired of fighting, yet he continues because he believes he must. Sadi... Eithan wasn't sure yet. But there was something intriguing about her. Whatever the Beast King saw in her, he took her in for a reason.

  When he watched her closely as she cycled, her focus and discipline were evident. What impressed him, however, was that her connection with the light aura was natural, almost effortless. Iron bodies designed to absorb light auras had existed for centuries, but iron bodies meant to absorb invisible light? That was unheard of. Sadi's body could absorb not only visible light but also light of all wavelengths, something he had never encountered before.

  "Even better," Eithan exclaimed with enthusiasm. "There are eyes and constructs out there that can extend the range of what you can see, but why settle for those when we can aim for perfection? I have a method to help you channel invisible light. It may not be perfected yet, but I'm making it up as I go along, so it's technically not a lie!" He chuckled at his own joke. "But first," he continued, "We need to get you to advance."

  Sadi blinked, as though momentarily forgetting her original purpose. "Oh, right," she said, catching herself. "Advancement."

  Eithan gave her a small nod. "Cycle as usual, but remember the madra beneath your skin. When advancing to Truegold, we usually fill our cores with madra, but your skin is an extension of your core. You'll need to break the spirit of the remnant inside there, too."

  Sadi followed his instructions, cycling through her madra, and Eithan observed with intense focus. The moment she began pushing the remnant to break, he noticed something troubling. Her skin being an extension of her core meant that the control required was far beyond what a typical Highgold would possess. Only someone with Soulfire could assist in this. Her path, Eithan realised, was not meant to be travelled alone. In fact, it was a perfect example of a path designed to require the help of others. So advanced was the degree of thought put into the path's final form that it required someone more powerful to help her along the journey. It was a lesson he learned only when he became a Judge. The most powerful paths are never travelled alone.

  "Sadi, I'll be injecting your spirit with my soulfire to help break the remnant," Eithan began. "Don't worry—I've done this before. Probably. "He paused before injecting his soulfire into her spirit. "Our madra types are not the same, so whatever leakage may cause a... minor 'uncomfortable reaction,' if you will." He flashed a reassuring smile. "But don't worry—my control is flawless."

  Sadi nodded, undeterred by the words.

  Eithan gathered pure madra in one hand, forming into a lance. Slowly, he reabsorbed and dispersed the pure madra, leaving only his Soulfire. The technique requires absolute perfection of control, which would have been easier if he was an Overlord. After refining the madra, he released it into her core. He had prepared several apparatuses and pills in his void key because such an advancement rarely goes well, but to his surprise, the remnant within Sadi's core accepted the Soulfire willingly, blending it with its own. At first, everything seemed to go better than expected. But then, just as quickly, Sadi collapsed, her body convulsing.

  Whitehall, who was observing in silence, was by her side immediately, "Shit," he swore. "It's happening again."

  "Again?" Eithan asked, perplexed. He quickly extended his perception to check on Sadi, finding nothing wrong.

  "This happened when she advanced to Highgold," Whitehall explained, retrieving water vials from his void key—water that Eithan reckoned was from Ghostwater.

  Whitehall quickly soaked a cloth with the water, placing it over Sadi's mouth.

  "May I have a taste?" Eithan asked, pointing at the empty vial. Whitehall handed it over without protest. Eithan sniffed the vial and placed a finger inside, gathering whatever water was left. Then, he put his finger in his mouth. It did not take him long to realise this was water from the Spirit Well.

  "I see," Eithan muttered, his understanding clicking into place. "The remnant left memories far more advanced than she can handle right now. The Spirit Well water must have helped prevent her Spirit from collapsing." He paused, raising the sleeve of his arm. "In that case, pure madra should do the trick." He shoved his hand forward, injecting the woman's spirit with pure madra.

  ----------

  Sadi's vision erupted in a kaleidoscope of memories too vast for her to fully grasp. Light burst in blinding flashes, powers clashed in a storm of energy, ancient forces colliding in an endless struggle that felt as though it had spanned aeons. Towering, indistinct figures battled against one another, their forms shifting in and out of focus as they were swallowed by a radiant maelstrom of golden and blue light and shadow. The voices that echoed in her mind were distorted, their language ancient, carried through the fabric of time like a whisper of forgotten legends. She couldn't understand them, but the weight of their presence crushed down on her, like the collective burden of untold lives, their histories and struggles pressing against her mind.

  In the centre of the chaos, one image stood out, burning through the confusion—a winged figure cloaked in golden light. The brilliance of their aura was overwhelming, yet it did not threaten her. The figure reached out to her with a hand, not in aggression, but in an urgent plea, as though calling her into something greater than herself.

  With a heart pounding in her chest, Sadi took the offered hand in desperation. Her fingers brushed against the golden hand, and the moment their skin touched, everything shifted. The world of light and shadow collapsed inward, twisting her into a vast, empty space where nothing existed but her and the figure before her. Then, as though a dam had broken, a flood of emotions and knowledge not her own surged through her.

  Pain, sharp and jagged, of betrayal long endured. A fire of defiance, burning bright and unyielding. The deep, soul-crushing sorrow of loss—of something precious torn away. The flood of feelings was overwhelming, and Sadi staggered beneath its weight, her mind reeling with the intensity of emotions that didn't belong to her. The figure's grip tightened, and through the emotional maelstrom, a voice, steady yet filled with sorrow and strength, broke through the storm.

  "You light the path."

  Before she could respond, the vision shattered like glass, and with a sharp gasp, she found herself on her knees, the overwhelming torrent of memories fading as she returned to the present. The shadows of Lindon and Eithan loomed over her, their figures a stark contrast to the chaos she'd just experienced. Strong hands gripped her shoulders, helping her to her feet.

  "Are you alright?" Whitehall's voice, familiar and reassuring, cut through her disorientation.

  "I'm fine," she breathed, though her head throbbed with the weight of the memories. She struggled to make sense of what she'd seen, but it all felt so distant now.

  Eithan's casual voice interjected, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

  Sadi paused for a moment, focusing on calming her mind. Once the dizziness subsided, she asked, "What happened?"

  "I suspect the remnant's memories were far too advanced for you," Eithan explained. "I wouldn't think too much about it right now. You'll understand it better once you advance further." He flashed a grin. "How does Truegold feel?"

  Sadi blinked, her mind struggling to catch up with the moment. The headache had completely overshadowed her advancement, and she flexed her hands, trying to sense any difference. Nothing immediately stood out.

  "Remember what I showed you about visible and invisible light?" Eithan prodded.

  "Yeah," she answered, recalling the lesson.

  "Good. Now, how about you try to shoot invisible light through your palms?" Eithan suggested, pointing toward a training target—a reinforced wooden dummy. "Just stretch your palm toward that target and do your best."

  Sadi raised her hand, gathering light madra in her palms, but she struggled to imagine how to translate Eithan's theory into action.

  "Now, imagine the light as waves," Eithan guided her.

  Sadi hesitated and then complied, picturing the light as waves rather than solid madra. She felt the light vibrate through her palms but found it difficult to grasp the concept fully. Eithan seemed to sense her uncertainty.

  "Imagine the light emitted by your madra as waves," he clarified. "Not the madra itself."

  She focused again, visualising the light as waves radiating from her palms. Slowly, she started to feel something stir—an unfamiliar sensation—but she struggled to control it. It felt like something was there, but she couldn't quite shape it. Eithan's voice broke the silence, gentle but firm.

  "I can tell you're sensing the invisible light. Now, try bending it. Increase the wavelength."

  Sadi focused, willing the light to bend and stretch to lower its frequency. It was challenging, but she felt a presence guiding her—a subtle yet supportive force that felt like the remnant of Sunda, helping her.

  "There," Eithan said, his voice filled with approval. "Maintain it, hold it there."

  Sadi concentrated, forcing the wavelength to stretch as directed. Her eyes remained focused on her outstretched hand, where, to her surprise, a small ball of golden light had formed the size of a marble. Yet, through her perception, she saw much more. Invisible to her eyes but clear through her senses, a beam of invisible light shot from her palm and struck the centre of the training dummy.

  "Stop for now," Eithan called out as he approached the dummy.

  Sadi halted the technique, her brows furrowing when she saw the dummy was unaffected by her efforts.

  "Brilliant!" "Eithan exclaimed, clapping his hands. "You did it!"

  Sadi was too puzzled to feel the same excitement. "But nothing's happened to the dummy."

  Eithan grinned. "Let's try something else." He pulled a glass jar filled with water from his pocket and set it on the floor. "Do it again, but aim at the jar."

  Sadi stretched out her hand, readying herself for another attempt. It was harder this time, but after some time, she finally succeeded in stretching the light's wavelength. At first, nothing appeared to happen, but as the seconds passed, the water inside the jar began to bubble. Slowly, it started to boil, the jar shaking from the force of the reaction. Before Sadi could stop, the glass cracked and shattered, spilling the boiling water across the floor.

  "Do you see it now?" Eithan asked, his voice triumphant.

  Sadi stared at the broken jar, wide-eyed. "Yes! But why did it work on the jar and not the dummy?"

  Eithan chuckled. "Water, my dear temporary disciple," he said. "That specific wavelength of light causes the water particles to react violently, generating heat in the process."

  "Thus the boiling," Sadi finished.

  "Thus the boiling," Eithan concurred. He allowed her to celebrate momentarily, but no longer than that. "Since time is a luxury we are quickly running out of." He tossed a mission paper similar to the one he gave Lindon to the young woman. "Here's a copy of the mission. Let's move out. Those sewer rats aren't going to take care of themselves."

  He turned to leave but stopped when Whitehall called out.

  "What about me?" Whitehall asked. "Shouldn't I be locked in a room somewhere studying poisons?"

  Eithan's first thought was he heard jealousy in the man's voice, but he quickly realised it was desperation. Eithan pitied the young man; he truly did. A path meant to kill those above their advancement was always a difficult path to walk on.

  "What better way to study your poisons than on those sewer rats!" he replied, continuing his walk.

  House of Blades

  Iteration Requested. Amalgam

  Date? Request Rejected

  Report Complete

  Dayang stood on the worn wooden steps of her tiny house, wringing her hands together. The early evening wind carried the scent of damp earth and rustling leaves, but she barely noticed. Her stomach churned with unease.

  Where were they?

  She had sent them off with firm instructions—Mang would keep Sangkuriang safe. He always had. But as the minutes stretched into an hour past sunset, her nerves burned hotter. She was about to start making dinner, and the grip she held on her wooden spoon tightened.

  Then, through the thinning mist of twilight, she saw movement.

  A small, frantic figure, running.

  “Sangkuriang?”

  The moment he came into view, her breath caught. His clothes were torn, his small hands scraped and bloody. His hair, usually tied neatly, had come loose, wild strands whipping in the wind. Tears streaked his dirt-smeared face.

  Without thinking, she ran to meet him, falling to her knees as he crashed into her arms. His little body trembled violently, his hands clinging to her as if he feared she’d vanish.

  “Sangkuriang, are you hurt?” she asked, her hands roaming over him, checking for wounds.

  He shook his head against her chest, his cries muffled in her tunic.

  “What happened?”

  “A… man.” His voice was small, broken between gasps for air. “He was wearing all black. Mang tried to stop me from going further, but I didn’t listen. Then the man attacked me.”

  Dayang’s heart pounded so hard she thought it might shatter. Cold fear seized her limbs, but she forced herself to stay still, to stay strong. Her fingers curled tightly around his shoulders.

  “Sangkuriang,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “I need you to take me there.”

  Her son only sobbed harder.

  Her pulse drummed faster. Something had happened. Something terrible. Mang… where was Mang?

  Her breath hitched.

  "Sangkuriang!" she barked, shaking his shoulders just enough to snap him out of his sobs. His wet eyes met hers, wide and scared.

  “Take me there,” she ordered, her voice trembling with barely restrained panic. "Now!"

  Sangkuriang flinched but nodded, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

  Without another word, Dayang gritted her teeth as she followed her son into the darkening forest.