The Stellar Fortress was a great structure with a complex design, combining both military squares, ceremonial halls, training units, and practice areas for anyone to use, not to mention something as basic as rooms or dining halls.
One such hall now housed all one hundred new Keepers.
The elongated tables were covered with various food and drinks, allowing the youths to relax and enjoy their new status.
For some it was critical, since there were a fair amount of people here who just recently returned from the Astral Dimension like Kain.
Kain glanced around. Suspicion was evident in his gaze.
'No, this certainly can't be an accident. Lurra must have seated us like this on purpose. Or... Did Zoran do it?'
Sylvia was on his left at the very corner, to his right was the cheerful guy from Orlion Tower - Josh. His golden hair contrasted strongly with Vetra's silver locks - a girl with a cold stare.
At the end, directly across from Kain sat Morbia.
"Hey, what do you think of the expedition?" Josh whispered, afraid his words would attract too much attention.
Sylvia made an arrogant look. "Pffft! Do you think you'll be taken? Mr. Zoran said that they would depart in five days. They'll do a selection process. There won't be many places for the newcomer."
"And? I'm sure I can impress them! I have a cool ability, you'll see!"
"Hmm?" Verta glanced at him. "Didn't you collapse to the ground when the fortress head released his aura?"
Josh's expression froze.
"But...! I just wasn't ready for it."
Sylvia looked at Morbia with a smirk. "What about you, loser?"
Silence.
There was no reply even after Sylvia's endless attempts to hurt her. Moreover, it seemed Verta as well as Kain realized that Morbia wasn't chasing victory.
Thus ended their dinner, with no announcements or incidents.
Even if there were disagreements, no one dared start a skirmish on the first day, especially under Zoran's gaze, who sat at the head table sharing the evening with them.
Then, all the youths were dismissed. Each received a key with their room number from their caretaker. For Kain it was Lurra and Nr. 9.
Step. Step. Step.
Kain walked across the bridge overhanging between the blocks, the part where he could travel freely.
Despite the looming moon and the mysterious abyss, Kain's attention was drawn to the training area.
Dozens of military men in blue uniforms were doing their evening practice. One part was doing push-ups while the other was sparring under the commander's guidance.
'The military... I never thought about it, but what do they do? Can they fight against monsters? Although...' Kain recalled the incident in the village. 'If the monster is the weakest, it's quite possible.'
For a while, Kain watched as the commander fought. He did not take his gaze away, trying to discern his every movement and make comparisons.
A red gleam ran across his green eyes for a moment - another, more skillful silhouette overlapped with the commander.
Disappointment reflected on his face.
"No, that's not it..." Kain muttered.
His eyes returned to normal.
"Agh? What was that just now?" he blinked, stumped.
Then, Kain turned around, for some reason, he knew where to look.
A silhouette in the distance awaited him, though unaware of his impending arrival.
Streams of inhospitable wind ran from the abyss, trying to chase away the girl standing at the very edge. Unknown where her white robe was, she once again wore black clothes.
A slight rustle behind made Morbia turn around. Her ruby eyes shone like blood crystals in the darkness.
"What are you doing here?" she growled. "I've already told you everything. Go away."
Kain said nothing, instead he stepped toward her, close enough to drop her straight into the abyss with a single push.
"Why? It's not just about the Ascension Rune, is it?"
"Pffft, asking you the same thing twice won't change my answer."
"Yeah..." Kain sighed. "But I've had time to think about your last one. You were glad you could save me. It wasn't about me specifically, you were relieved for your life."
For the first time, a crack arose in Morbia's cold expression. She quickly tried to hide it.
"I just wanted to finally get out of the Astral Dimension! You just became my opportunity to do it. If it wasn't for you, I would have just waited for the next person my runes would react to. Unlike you, I would easily have survived even years in there!"
Kain glared serenely at her.
"Another lie... The Ascension Rune has no time limit, that much I know for sure. Still, you were in a hurry. You did it at the first opportunity. So your time was limited. Wasn't it?"
Step.
He stepped closer.
"I want to know if I should throw curses at you as you promised me or just say thank you since everything I said above is bullshit."
Eventually, Morbia gave in.
"Tsk. Fine, I'll show you."
She tugged at her sleeve, revealing her wrist - it was bare.
Morbia clenched her fist as the runes came together at one point revealing the mark - a sharp shield, at the base were five lines, one horizontal the other in a 'Y' shape. The lines represented dots, intersecting in the center with sharp edges running around the corners.
''You're not the only one who came to the Astral Dimension with unusual conditions. I, too, had an active Rune Brand, and it caused quite a few problems. That mark appeared in my first few seconds, burned into my skin with hellish pain, and disappeared. Twenty days later, the Corrupted Oath, my mark, showed up again.
"I couldn't figure out why. At first, I was excited thinking I would soon find the Ascension Rune, but... all I got was a countdown to my death. In short, I only had ten days to fulfill one simple requirement-"
Kain interrupted her, he knew the answer.
"You had to save the most unfortunate soul, and that was definitely me. Thus, I became the key to your power, I was your condition."
Morbia shrugged.
"Kind of. Don't ask more, what I told you is already out of line as it is. Furthermore, I did not deceive you that day." Her eyes turned cold. "I used you, and I have no regrets."
Kain shrugged. "Well, it's not like you had a choice, right?"
"So..."
Morbia lingered.
"What do you want? I doubt after everything you've heard, you'll just walk away."
"Yeah, there's one thing I'd like to ask of you. Consider it the price for me bringing your Ascension Rune to you."
She rolled her eyes.
"Go ahead."
Kain waved his hand, pointing to the Stellar Fortress.
"I want you to train me. All of the next five days until the expedition. That's all."