The early morning light filtered into the room, casting long shadows across the wooden floor. Eiran stood tall, his arms crossed as Reve tied the last of his travel wraps around his wrist.
"Your mission is simple," Eiran began, his voice calm yet commanding. "You're to explore the Forgaze City. Find someone—anyone—with the potential to walk the Path with us. We need strength. And more importantly, people we can trust."
Reve nodded, his eyes resolute.
"Return within a week," Eiran added. "And here—leave the scroll. I'll use it to help train Arel and Mina. They must reach the base aura stage soon."
Reve handed over the Apex Art scroll, the weight of it more than just parchment. It was the mark of change, of leadership. With a final nod to his siblings, he stepped into the sunlight and disappeared into the bustling heart of Forgaze City.
---
For hours, Reve wandered the outer regions of the city—the slums where vessel clans resided. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching for signs of hidden power or potential.
But nothing.
Until he stumbled upon a quiet riverbank, where two siblings trained with wooden swords. The girl looked to be his age, her movements sharp but fluid. Her brother, slightly older, displayed raw but fierce strength.
Reve watched from the shadows, curious.
Suddenly, a man in a black robe appeared, shouting at them with scorn. "Enough for today! Train harder—you'll be facing Kaizan's junior and senior disciples in two weeks. If you lose, don't bother showing your faces again!"
The siblings bowed slightly, their eyes burning with a fire that revealed their refusal to give up, even under pressure. Reve's interest sparked.
For three days, he returned to the same spot. Each day, the siblings trained relentlessly. And each day, the same robed man returned to berate them.
On the fourth day, Reve stepped out of the shadows.
"Hey," he called softly.
The girl whipped around, her eyes narrowing. The boy stepped in front of her protectively.
"Who are you?" he growled. "Back off!"
Before Reve could respond, the siblings lunged. Wooden swords clashed, aura flaring at their base levels. Though they hadn't broken into Ironpulse Stage yet, their synergy and raw determination forced Reve to stay on the defensive.
He didn't fight back hard—just enough to parry.
"I'm not here to hurt you! I've been watching for days—I want to talk!"
The girl hesitated. The boy held his stance. "Talk? Why should we trust you?"
Reve lowered his stance. "Because I'm just like you. And I think you two are stronger than you realize."
A long pause. The river behind the
m flowed quietly, as if awaiting their answer.