CHAPTER 251: INTO THE CITY OF GRAYLIGHT.

(He saw me... but he’s ignoring it? Or he didn’t recognise me?) she thought.

He must have assumed she was just another passerby.

Either way, Cecelia was going to follow him.

She began walking again, staying close but careful.

Kael, meanwhile, had no idea that Cecelia was trailing him so persistently.

Kael walked through the last stretch of Elaris City.

The streets grew narrower, the lively chatter of merchants fading behind him. Lanterns flickered in the distance, and the smell of iron and smoke lingered faintly from the forges near the outskirts.

Kael’s boots scraped against the gravel road.

When he reached the final ridge overlooking the horizon, he stopped. There it was.

"The City of Graylight..." he murmured.

It had been months and months since he last set foot there.

"Looks like I’m back," he muttered.

"Let’s see if you still remember me."

The moment he stepped past the broken stone gate of Graylight, the atmosphere shifted.

"Still leading me, huh?" he whispered, tapping them gently.

"So this is where you went," Cecelia whispered.

She pulled her hood lower and quietly followed him through the gate.

The air was so silent that every step she took seemed too loud.

"What is this feeling?" Cecelia whispered.

Meanwhile, Back at the Academy

Inside the Mana Theory Hall, the afternoon class continued.

Professor Orwen was standing before a massive runic diagram, his chalk tracing slow arcs across the blackboard.

"Remember," he said, "the flow of mana depends entirely on your focus. If your mind wavers, so will your spell formation."

Students nodded diligently, though some were clearly daydreaming.

Suddenly—

Knock, knock.

Orwen turned toward the door. "Who is it?" he called.

The door creaked open slightly. A soft, refined voice answered, "May I take a small moment?"

Orwen blinked in surprise. "Ah... Professor Sylvia, please, come in."

The door opened wider, revealing Professor Sylvia.

"Apologies for interrupting your lesson, Orwen," Sylvia said, stepping into the room gracefully.

"But I came with an announcement from the Council of Clans."

Orwen stepped aside, gesturing politely.

"You’re most welcome, Professor. Please, go ahead."

Sylvia turned to face the students. Her calm eyes swept over the room.

"After reviewing recent reports, the Council has issued new orders. In one week’s time, all combat divisions—including the first- and second-year students—will be dispatched for another demon-clearing mission."

The room immediately buzzed with whispers.

"Another mission?"

"So soon?"

"I thought we’d rest for a while after the last one..."

Sylvia raised her hand slightly, and the room fell silent again.

"This order is not exclusive to our academy," she continued.

"Other academies across the region have been mobilized as well. The demon activity has grown stronger in the northern zones, and several hidden nests have been discovered near the ruins."

A faint chill settled over the class.

"The Council believes," Sylvia went on, "that these outbreaks may be connected. Your mission will not be as large-scale as the previous one, but it will be critical in ensuring that the demons do not regroup."

Her eyes softened a little as she smiled.

"At your last mission, everyone did outstanding work. The Council personally acknowledged your courage and cooperation."

The students straightened proudly.

"Thank you, Madam!" they said in unison.

Sylvia nodded approvingly. "Good. Continue to train hard. Your preparation this week will determine your success."

Her eyes glimmered slightly, though few noticed. "Especially the ones that survive."

She turned toward Orwen and bowed slightly. "Thank you for your time."

"The honor is mine," Orwen replied with a small smile.

As Sylvia left, the door closed softly behind her. The moment of silence lingered before the room broke into murmurs again.

Meanwhile at the city of graylight.

The air of the City of Graylight was thick, heavy, and filled with pale mist.

There, an old shop stood, the paint on its wooden sign long faded, the glass cracked.

He pushed the door open. Creeaak.

There an old half blind man turned towards Kael.

"So... you’ve returned," the man rasped.

Kael frowned. "Half-blind man?" he muttered, stepping closer.

The merchant chuckled softly. "I think I saw you a few years ago," he said, tilting his head as if trying to remember.

"You must be dreaming," Kael replied calmly.

(i came here a few months ago) Kael thought.

The merchant smiled faintly. "Dreams and memories often walk hand in hand here, young traveler."

Ignoring the words, Kael reached into his pocket and took out four ancient coins.

He placed them on the table with a soft clink.

The old man leaned forward. "Ancient coins... so you’ve found them."

Kael crossed his arms. "I was told they might be of value. What can they buy here? Any map?"

(the map)

The merchant’s grin widened. "Only one thing in Graylight is worth such coins — truth."

Kael’s eyes narrowed. "Truth?"

The merchant nodded. "Do you know there will be a war in the future? About three hundred years from now?"

(three hundred years?)

(oh.. I forgot the times run fast in here while slow outside) Kael thought.

"What kind of war and why?" Kael replied.

"The demon war.... Demon vs heroes".

"I want a map fragment. The fragment one." Kael said ignoring his words.

Meanwhile, Cecelia had entered the area. The moment she crossed the gates, she felt a strange heaviness in her chest.

Her normally stable and radiant mana began to drain slowly.

"What... is this place?" she muttered, holding her arm. The veins on her hand glowed faintly blue as she tried to stabilize her mana flow.

The mist grew thicker around her, and she started to see shapes in the fog — people walking, laughing, talking... but their faces were all blurry, shifting like illusions.

"Are those... people?" she whispered.

A child ran past her, giggling. But when Cecelia turned, there was no one there.

Her heart raced. Sweat rolled down her forehead. "This isn’t real," she said, clutching her pendant.

Then she saw Kael far ahead through the fog, walking toward the city’s edge.

"Kael!" she shouted, but her voice came out weak, muffled by the dense mist.

She tried running, but it felt heavy.

For a moment, she thought she saw herself reflected in the fog — another Cecelia staring back with empty eyes.

Her breathing quickened. "No... this isn’t real... focus!"

She bit her lip, forcing her mana to stabilize, creating a faint aura around her body. The illusions flickered, then vanished for a moment.

When she finally reached the end of the street, the shop Kael had entered stood before her.

The sign swung slowly in the cold wind.

Inside, the old man turned his head slightly, as if sensing her presence outside.

"Two threads of fate, tangled by chance..."

Kael looked up. "What did you say?"