Kai felt his surroundings shaking as he slowly came into being. His head pounded dully, and every part of his body felt weak, like he hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for a very long time. His throat was dry, and his limbs were heavy as stone. He frowned faintly, trying to remember what had happened, but there was only a blank space in his memory. Had he been hurt during the battle with the treant? That was the last thing he could recall, but even that memory was distant and unclear.

As he struggled to sit up, the rough fabric wall in front of him shifted. A flap opened, and an unfamiliar face peered inside. The young man wore a simple metal helmet and bore the crest of… Viscount Redmont.

Kai stiffened, his senses still dulled but his instincts sharp as ever. The soldier’s eyes widened in surprise at seeing him awake, and without saying a word, the man quickly closed the flap and disappeared.

For a while, the carriage kept moving, the familiar jerking and swaying continuing under him. Then it slowed, and the shaking finally stopped completely. Kai heard footsteps crunching softly on dirt outside before the flap opened again.

This time, a much more familiar figure stepped inside.

“Lord Arzan, you’re awake,” Killian said with obvious relief. His eyes softened as he stepped forward.

Kai groaned quietly and pushed himself upright with effort, leaning heavily against the cushion. His breathing was rough, and his muscles ached as he glanced around the cramped space.

“Yes… where are we? Is this a carriage?” he asked in a hoarse voice.

Killian nodded quickly. “Yes, Lord Arzan. We’ve been traveling back to Fort Aegis.”

Kai frowned slightly and shifted his position. “What happened?”

Killian looked at Kai for a second, and he could tell the man was contemplating something.

“Well?”

“You collapsed while advancing to the fourth circle. I was scared. I thought something had gone terribly wrong and that your body had been damaged beyond repair.” His eyes darkened at the thought. “But Magus Elias checked you and said you were only exhausted. He assured me you would wake up once your body recovered.”

Right… Killian’s words stirred something deep within him. His memories began to return and everything played right in front of him. The brutal fight with the treant. The overwhelming pressure of that battle. Their hard-won victory in the plague ridden land. And then the surge of mana as he built his fourth circle at last. The feeling had been overwhelming… and then the vision. The woman. Valkyrie. The same strange, distant figure and her cold embrace. It burnt deeply into his mind.

He exhaled slowly, steadying himself as the weight of what had happened settled on him.

In an instant, he closed his eyes immediately and slipped his senses inward, entering his astral realm.

The familiar space greeted him, but something new caught his attention. Right at the center floated an unfamiliar shape—a map, faintly glowing, its lines and symbols drawn with a delicate yet powerful hand. It showed what he instinctively knew to be the site of the inheritance.

He stared at it in silence. Doing something like this with just a soul fragment should have been nearly impossible. It would have required a high-circle soul spell and a great deal of effort. Kai could only guess that the fragment Valkyrie had left behind had used his own mana to make the map, draining him to the point of complete exhaustion.

Combined with the strain of forming his fourth circle, it was no wonder he had fallen into such a deep sleep.

Still, as a precaution, Kai ran a quick check over his heart and his four circles. He examined the state of his organs and the pathways where mana flowed. Everything was as it should be. Relieved, he let his senses withdraw and slowly opened his eyes again.

Killian was still there, standing stiff and tense, worry written all over his face.

“I’m okay,” Kai said at last. “Don’t worry about me. I reached the fourth circle. I just overdid it and passed out from exhaustion.”

Killian’s posture eased, and some of the tension left his face. Especially the frown–it was gone.

“That’s good to hear, Lord Arzan. We were worried. We’re a few days away from Fort Aegis. We’ve been traveling fast since the treant is gone. No more fiends or weavers have come after us, and Magus Elias has taken care of any random ones who thought we were an easy target.”

Kai nodded slightly, but his thoughts lingered on Magus Elias.

The old Magus had not returned to Vanderfall after the battle, even though the danger had passed. That could only mean one thing: the man still wanted something from him. Kai, too, had plans that involved speaking to the Magus.

Looking back at Killian, he asked, “Magus Elias didn’t intend to go back to Vanderfall right away, did he?”

Killian shook his head. “In his own words, only if you hadn’t woken up by the time we reached Aegis. He mentioned wanting to speak to you about the future of Vanderfall, and possibly to seek your help. I didn’t ask further.”

Kai gave a soft hum of understanding. “That’s about what I expected. At our next stop, I’ll go find him and hear him out.”

Killian straightened. “If you need anything, Lord Arzan, the sentries outside the carriage are at your disposal. The news of your waking will calm the soldiers. Morale has been low since your collapse.”

“Thank you.”

With that, Killian gave a respectful bow and slipped out of the carriage, leaving Kai alone once more.

Kai closed his eyes again, not to sleep, but to focus on the map in his astral realm. He had only glanced at it before. Now he studied it more closely. The image showed a towering structure that pierced the clouds, standing tall between jagged mountain peaks. There was land spreading out in every direction, but something about the scene nagged at him.

It didn’t look like any place he knew within the Sylvan Enclave. If a tower of that size existed, he would have seen or heard of it. That meant only one thing. The tower must be hidden—concealed by layers of enchantments and powerful arrays that kept it out of sight. Or it could simply be outside Lancephil itself.

Kai frowned, mind already racing through possibilities as the carriage rocked gently onward through civilization.

If it wasn't hidden, the tower would have already been found and ransacked long ago. Its concealment made locating it incredibly difficult. If Kai wanted any real chance of success, he first had to identify those mountain peaks.

Fortunately, he had already invested heavily into expanding the Watchers, his network of scouts and spies. Once he returned to Veralt, he could leave the search in their capable hands. Still, curiosity gnawed at him.

What did the inheritance contain? Was the medallion hidden there? The thought of it made him want to abandon the caravan and fly straight home to begin searching.

But that was only impatience talking. The feeling passed quickly. He needed time to stabilize his new fourth circle anyway, and by then they would be back at Fort Aegis. There was still time before the assembly. Time he could use to begin the hunt for the inheritance. King Sullivan had made his request clear: return with the medallion. Kai fully intended to honor that just to see what the king was playing at.

As if on cue, the wagon’s shaking slowly came to a halt.

Kai opened his eyes. It was time to find Magus Elias.

He pushed himself up and carefully stepped over stacked crates of mana cannon parts and destroyed drone frames. His body felt so much better, far strengthened than before.

Once outside, the cool breeze met him. Soldiers posted around the wagon immediately straightened and bowed. Kai nodded absently in return. He could feel eyes watching him, whispers of surprise and relief passing quietly between the ranks. He ignored them.

He walked steadily through the camp and soon spotted Magus Elias seated by himself, well away from the campfires where the rest of the soldiers gathered. The old magus was chewing slowly on a strip of dry jerky.

Kai approached and sat beside him without a word. Without looking up, Elias reached into his pouch and offered Kai a strip.

“You should eat,” Elias said gruffly. “Your body has been running on nothing but mana for days.”

He had a point.

Kai accepted the jerky and bit into it. The tough, leathery meat had no taste left to offer, and Kai chewed mechanically, already longing for a hot meal back at the fortress. Still, it did what it needed to.

After another bite, Kai glanced sideways at the Magus. “You’re not planning on coming with us to Fort Aegis, are you?”

Elias let out a short, amused snort. “No. I don’t plan on starting a war.” He shifted slightly and finally turned to meet Kai’s gaze. “And that’s actually part of why I wanted to speak with you. Avoiding war.”

Kai nodded slightly. “Killian mentioned something about the future of Vanderfall.”

“Yes. Even though the plague is finished, the land is ruined. The soil is poisoned, the rivers run foul. Nothing will grow there again. The royal family knows this. They’re preparing for a desperate war to claim new lands for the people of Vanderfall.”

Kai frowned, chewing slowly. “You can’t stop them.”

“I’ve tried,” Elias said quietly, shaking his head. “I’ve begged them to rebuild what little remains, to adapt and endure. But it’s not so simple. Most of the remaining healthy land is owned by the nobility and wealthy families. They have no intention of giving it up for the displaced commoners. So the king and his council are turning their eyes outward.”

Kai said nothing at first. He understood all too well how politics worked. Greed and pride had destroyed more kingdoms than any army ever had.

“That’s dumb,” Kai said flatly.

Elias sneered and gave a dry chuckle. “Obviously it is. The current royal family of Vanderfall isn’t what I’d call wise leadership. They’re heavily influenced—controlled, really—by a group of powerful nobles. The king himself… let’s just say he’s not someone I’m a fan of.”

“Then why do you still work for them?”

“A mana oath,” Elias said bitterly. “I bound myself to them to secure my future. I didn’t have much support when I was younger and I needed powerful backing. And who’s better than the royal family of Vanderfall?” He laughed coldly. “I was a bit delusional back then. I thought they weren’t as bad as the rumors said. Turns out, in recent years they’ve lost parts of their brain and forgotten where to look for them.”

Kai gave him a blank look. The joke fell flat, given the weight of the conversation.

“So you need my help?” Kai asked, steering the talk back to the point. “To do what? Restore the land? Make it livable again?”

Elias nodded, chewing slowly on another bite of jerky.

“I guess so. That’s the only real solution I see. The alternative is… well, killing off most of the commoners to reduce the need for land. But even the royal family won’t go that far. They still need people to serve and fight for them.”

Kai fell silent, his thoughts drifting momentarily to Amyra. His eyes swept over the dead, barren land around them, the taint of dead mana leaving nothing but withered soil and cracked stone.

“You do know,” Kai said at last, “that anyone capable of restoring this would be hunted. Mages from all corners would come to dissect their methods. They might even try to kill them to keep the knowledge for themselves.”

That made Magus Elias pause. He stared at the ground for a long moment and nodded. “I know. But I still have to ask. I’ve already searched every text in the royal library. Nothing. I plan to reach out to Mages I trust and bargain with those who I don't. I’m prepared to trade anything I have to find even the smallest clue. That’s why I decided to ask you as well.”

Kai raised an eyebrow. “Do you think we have that kind of relationship? Or are you going to offer me something to trade too?”

Elias chuckled softly. “I thought after standing side by side in a battle like that, we had a good enough relationship already.” His tone shifted, turning more serious as he studied Kai’s expression. “Unless…” he paused, narrowing his eyes, “you’re asking because you actually know something.”

Kai said nothing. His face remained impassive, but the slight tension in his posture was answer enough.

Elias froze, his expression shifting from cautious hope to outright shock. It was clear that, though he had dared to ask, the old Magus had fully expected a rejection. Now, the silent confirmation left him reeling.

But Kai couldn’t admit to it. Not yet.

The existence of Elder Tree stumps—the rare and ancient generators of mana—was something he could reveal in time. They would be noticed eventually. But Amyra? That was different. A part of him refused to risk her existence becoming known, even to Elias.

At the same time, he couldn’t simply let an entire country remain cursed and barren. Not when he knew Maleficia would eventually find ways to exploit dead mana lands. It wasn’t just about Vanderfall. It was about preventing something far worse. So the question became, could he trust Elias? Like, truly trust? Not just share a part of his plan, but trust him.

The old Magus had fought well beside him. There was respect between them, yes—but they were still only temporary allies.

Kai didn’t know how far that trust could stretch. But he did have one way to protect himself.

He stared at Elias for a long moment before finally speaking.

“If I’m going to help you,” Kai said slowly, “you’ll have to make a mana oath.”

Elias raised an eyebrow. “What kind of oath?”

“There’ll be more than just simple terms,” Kai replied calmly. “But the core of it is this: you cannot reveal the existence of my method, or anything or anyone involved with it, in any way. You cannot act with hostility toward it either. There will be some other protections added as well.”

Elias nodded slightly, waiting for him to finish.

“And one more thing,” Kai continued. “In exchange for my help, you’ll have to convince the royal family to formally agree to avoid any act of aggression toward Lancephil for the next fifty years. Not even a hint of it. And I would also need a favour out of them.”

Elias let out a low whistle and rubbed his gray beard thoughtfully. “I can understand the mana oath conditions. If your method works, that’s a small price. And even the non-aggression pact… well, I think I can persuade them. For all their flaws, they’ll listen when I tell them that a Lancephillian saved their kingdom.” He gave Kai a sharp look. “But why the favor? What do you want from the royal family?”

Kai hesitated for a moment. Then he shifted, the weight of his thoughts finally surfacing. “What do you know about the current political state of Lancephil?”

Elias snorted. “Three princes, all idiots vying for the throne. A king who’s alive but might as well be dead. A mess.”

Kai allowed himself a faint smile. “Accurate. But it’s even more complicated. I’ve been named Count, and that comes with… attention. I also killed my brother who launched a full out war to take my land. I’m walking straight into an assembly that will judge whether I keep my title or not. That’s what they claim, but it’s really about power. There are factions already moving behind the scenes.”

Elias folded his arms. “You’re in a big mess.”

“Not really,” Kai said with a shrug. “I’m confident I’ll win the assembly. But it’s what happens after that concerns me.”

Elias leaned back and frowned. “What comes after?”

“You’ll see. But I can already tell I may need another country’s cooperation at some point. Don’t worry, it won’t cost you much. Certainly far less than what you would’ve spent trying to destroy the treant without me.”

Elias chuckled dryly. “Fair enough. I’ll speak to the royal family… but I can’t promise anything.”

Kai’s expression hardened slightly. “I will need a guarantee.”

Elias sighed and gave him a sidelong look. “You’re stubborn, Arzan. Why not just ask a personal favor from me instead?”

Kai shook his head. “I think you’ll have your hands full in the coming years.”

Elias narrowed his eyes. “Why do you say that?”

Kai took a deep breath, his gaze drifting over the twisted, lifeless landscape around them. “I meant to speak to you about this before we faced the treant, but I never got the chance with the constant assaults.” He turned back to Elias, voice steady. “Why do you think the treant appeared there… and how it grew so large?”

That silenced the Magus enough for him to fall into deep thought. Kai waited patiently until he gathered his thoughts. “My guess? Some foolish noble ignored it. Maybe thought it was just some special magical tree. They let it root in their territory and by the time they realized the danger, its roots had spread too far and it had grown too big to deal with.”

Kai nodded slightly. “You’re not wrong. That’s how treants grow. Slowly, feeding off the land. But I believe this case is different. I believe it was placed there.”

Elias straightened, his eyes sharp. The frown deepened. “Planted? By who?”

Kai studied him for a long moment. He could already tell that Elias had considered the possibility, even if only in the back of his mind. But the Magus had never found any clues to act on.

Kai spoke the next words slowly, letting every syllable linger in the air. “There is a prophecy that governs this world and an organisation trying to fulfil it. I’ll tell you about it. It’s a long story.”

***

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