...now there was only the road.
In the curves of the dirt road, as the first rays of the morning slowly painted the sky, Kael and Orion walked in silence. Neither spoke, but the silence was not out of nervousness, but as a way of weighing, observing and accepting each other. For Kael, every companionship was a potential test. Orion, on the other hand, was thinking every step of the way, wondering where he would end up under the leadership of this strange man.
A light breeze passed through the trees at the side of the road, rustling the leaves. Kael glanced over his shoulder at Orion. The young man's steps were firm, his attention focused on his surroundings. So this wasn't just an outburst of anger. This fit the profile of the kind of comrade Kael was looking for.
"How long will it take?" Orion asked, the first to break the silence.
Kael took a short breath. "Two more days. If we are quick and careful."
Orion shook his head. "The capital... do you know what we'll face?"
"I don't know," Kael said. "But what I do know is that everyone there has a face, everyone has a purpose. So we have to be careful. Don't trust anyone easily."
"You mean you too?" Orion said with a wry smile.
Kael smiled this time. This smile was not as short as before.
"If you decide to trust me," Kael said, "at least I won't let you down."
Orion stopped for a moment. His eyes fixed on Kael's back. "Sometimes one is not afraid of being let down, but of realizing who one is walking with."
Kael paused at these words. Then he turned his head and looked at Orion. There was no surprise in his eyes. There was only quiet acceptance.
"That's why we proceed cautiously," he said.
They both fell silent again. But this silence was no longer as undefined as before. The first bond between them had been established. Not trust... but a potential understanding. And this was perhaps the most important prelude to Kael's next steps in the capital.
As the sky opened further, the end of the road ahead was not yet in sight. But Kael and Orion were no longer two strangers walking in the same direction, but two warriors stepping into the same shadow. And the capital was waiting for them - with its intricate games, masks and dark secrets.
Two days had passed. The fatigue of the journey had settled on their shoulders, but the capital was now visible on the horizon. As the city's high walls shimmered in the sun, a faint flicker of hope passed through them.
But hope was not enough. The last morsels of food that Kael and Orion had with them had been consumed the day before. There was not a single coin in their pockets, not a crumb in their bags. The rumbling in his stomach made Kael grimace.
"Can you hear me?" he grumbled, pressing a hand to his stomach. Orion shook his head with a tired smile. "Your stomach is louder than mine," he said, his voice weak but still mocking.
Kael frowned slightly. "I'm going to go into an inn and order some kıtabasa food, meaty, hot, lots of fat..."
Orion leaned his head back and looked at an imaginary table. "And warm bread with it. With butter." His eyes lit up for a moment, but then he quickly turned serious. "But first we need to find that inn. And... I hope they let us in. We have nothing left but the wind in our pockets."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "We'll wash dishes if we have to. But I'm going to eat that food."
As the outskirts of the capital slowly came into view, they moved forward with tired steps. As the dusty road turned into cobbled streets, the signs of inns began to come into view.
Kael pointed to one. "Let's go in there. There's a big chicken on the sign. That's a good sign."
Orion nodded. "And hopefully... no one will know we're hungry."
Kael grinned slightly. "Hunger is not hidden by smell, Orion."
When they reached the door, they exchanged a brief glance. Then Kael pushed it open and the smell of hot food wafted in, making them both dizzy.
Kael and Orion waited in silence after ordering the food they were going to eat. The hot kıtabasa that arrived on the table was steaming, accompanied by thin slices of warm bread and a thick broth. When they both took the first bite, their eyes closed slightly, as if for a few seconds the weight of the journey had been lifted from them.
They were halfway through their meal when Orion put down his fork and turned to Kael.
"By the way," he said quietly, "I never asked... why did you come to the capital?"
Kael finished chewing and looked at Orion out of the corner of his eye. "I was summoned by the emissary," he said succinctly.
Orion's eyebrow raised, surprise reflected in his voice. "Really? So... you left your town?"
A slight discomfort appeared on Kael's face, his voice hardened a little. "No, of course not, I just wanted to give my opinion on something, that's all."
Orion paused for a few seconds, then bowed his head and murmured: "Well... I hope we don't get into trouble."
Kael's brow furrowed, but he said nothing. They finished their meal in silence.
After a while they left the inn. The sun was close to setting; the sky was ablaze with orange and purple hues. They went to the stable next to the inn and left their horses. Kael explained the situation in a few words to the stable attendant and asked him to take good care of his horses.
Then they started walking together towards the entrance of the capital. The crowded streets were filled with the bells of the market carts and the shouts of the hawkers. In the distance, the great stone gates of the capital could be seen. The massive walls, with their towers soaring into the sky, whispered at once of the city's splendor and its danger.
Orion approached Kael and asked quietly:
"Are you really just offering ideas?"
Kael stopped, thought for a moment, then kept walking.
"We'll see."
As they made their way through the heart of the capital, Kael's eyes were drawn to the stone walls, the elegant towers and the busy streets that surrounded the city. There was activity around every corner, bustle on every street. Orion walked with an expressionless face as Kael's gaze wandered with curiosity; this place was familiar to him.His eyes scanned the familiar signs, the old inns and the streets where he had been stationed before, but he didn't even stop to look.
"I guess this is ordinary for you," Kael said, looking at Orion out of the corner of his eye.
Orion nodded. "I lived here for a while, it's nothing special," he said in a nonchalant tone. "But be careful. Everyone's got their eyes in everyone's pockets."
As he walked down the street, a group of apprentice hunters passed with broken gear on their backs. Some were injured, some tired. Kael looked at them and sighed. "So the dungeons are taking casualties here too," he muttered.
Orion nodded. "Yes. Things have gotten more complicated in the last month. It's no coincidence that the representative called you."
As they pushed through the crowds and reached the more orderly and wealthy neighborhoods, the federation building came into view. With its tall pillars, silvered coat of arms and armored guards standing in front of it, it was clearly no ordinary structure. Orion headed for the wide staircase in front of the federation.
"Here we are," he said, stopping and turning to Kael. "Be careful when you go in. Arthur can be rough sometimes, but he's not a bad guy."
Kael took a deep breath. "It's not like I have a choice anyway."
Together they climbed the stairs and stood in front of the large double doors. The doors of the Federation opened heavily, as if heralding the opening of a new curtain.
Kael and Orion had to adjust their eyes to the surroundings for a while as they entered through the large doors. The inside was more opulent than the outside; the high-ceilinged hall was surrounded by glass display cases filled with hunting trophies, paintings depicting the history of the federation and signs of hard work.
Just then, a woman with an elegant but authoritative bearing approached them. She was wearing a dark navy blue jacket bearing the emblem of the federation. Her eyes quickly scanned the pair and then she smiled politely.
"Good afternoon, how can I help you?" she asked.
Kael took a step forward. "I had a meeting with Arthur Lancer," he said shortly and clearly.
The woman paused for a moment, a vague look of surprise in her eyes. "Arthur Lancer?" she repeated, then recovered with a professional expression. "So... may I have your name?"
"Kael Virelion," Kael said, bowing his head slightly.
The expression on the woman's face suddenly changed. She recognized the name. "Of course, Mr. Virelion. Please come with me," she said and led the pair towards one of the inner corridors of the federation.
Orion walked silently behind Kael, watching the surroundings. Everything was familiar to him; the cold stone walls of the federation, the trained hunters passing by, the smell of disciplined order... But this time the atmosphere inside was much more tense.
After a short walk, the woman stopped, bowing slightly in front of a large oak door. "Arthur Lancer is waiting for you," she said and stepped back, opening the door.
When Kael entered, he found a large meeting room. At the long table in the center sat Arthur Lancer. He was a young but experienced man with a stern look. His black hair was combed back neatly and his dark armor, decorated with gold work, dazzled the eye. To his right, a man stood tall: a gray-haired, sharp-eyed figure with a face full of scars-Hunter Commander Leopold Frostvale.
There were two others at the table. One was Frederick Nightfall, a tall, coolly poised man with thin features and shadowed eyes, a silent menace. The other was Hugo Ironbane, burly, partially armored, leaning his thick arms on the table. His posture was more cordial, but at the same time serious and measured.
Arthur stared at Kael and spoke without rising from his seat.
"Welcome, Kael," he said. His voice was neither cold nor warm, but perfectly measured. "It's good to see you at last."
Kael took a step forward. As Orion stood silently by the door, the air in the room suddenly felt heavy. Everyone was staring at Kael.
Kael bowed his head slightly. "I am pleased to see you too, Lord Lancer."
Arthur smiled slightly. "Not lord, Arthur will do. But we have much to discuss today."
Arthur leaned back slightly in his chair, his eyes on Kael.
"I had hoped you would come earlier," he said, his voice serious but gentle. "I'm glad you made it, though."
Kael bowed his head expressionlessly. "We don't have wind horses like you," he said shortly.
Arthur placed a faint smile at the corner of his lips. This time his eyes shifted to the person next to Kael.
"I thought you were coming alone."
Kael shrugged slightly. "He's my comrade," she said. "I hope you'll be exposed."
Arthur smiled openly this time. "If he is your comrade, then that's fine. Please, have a seat."
Kael and Orion introduced themselves and sat down in the empty chairs at the table. The silence lasted only a few seconds. Soon after, Frederick Nightfall interjected. His voice was soft but questioning.
"Mr. Virelion," he said. "What happened in the dungeon?"
Kael took a short breath, then began to describe his experiences. In a clear voice, without embellishment... The creatures in the dungeon, the dark presence, the oppressive aura, the collapse of the dungeon... Every detail poured from his lips one by one.
Orion turned to Kael and stared in amazement. He was looking intently at his face as he told his story, frowning slightly at some parts, his eyes widening. Others were silent. They were listening intently to every word, studying Kael as if they just met him.
When Kael finished, a heavy silence fell over the room. Leopold Frostvale was the first to break it.
"A black silhouette closed the dungeon?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
Kael shook his head slowly from side to side. "I don't know," he said. "It was just there... and then the dungeon collapsed."
Hugo Ironbane leaned forward, his voice harsher. "In every dungeon that has ever closed, our hunters have died," he said. "But you... you witnessed a closure and survived. On top of that, that being realized you were strong and left without a fight. What are you? Some kind of chosen one?"
Kael responded, keeping his gaze fixed on her eyes.
"You asked, I told, nothing more."
This time Frederick interjected, his voice cautious.
"Mr. Virelion... I wonder what you have been upgraded to?"
Kael paused for a moment, his gaze darting around the room. Then he said calmly, as if giving a casual answer:
"Divine."
The room was suddenly silent. Everyone at the table became expressionless, their eyes locked on Kael. Even Orion looked at Kael for a moment, as if he wanted to hear what she had said again.
Arthur was the first to break the silence. He shook his head slightly and spoke in a voice close to laughter.
"You were clearly not normal," he said. "But this is... interesting."
Kael's eyes traveled from face to face as he realized the reason for the silence in the room. He could clearly see how everyone was looking at him, what they were feeling. It was as if what he had just said had been perceived as a threat, not admiration.
He spoke without frowning, his voice natural, but with an underlying sharpness:
"Really, why are you so surprised?" "I just had an increase as a normal person."
Leopold sighed slightly, then sat up straight and spoke.
"You are right in what you say, Mr. Virelion... but the fact remains that the divine kind... is a force that upsets the balance."
When he spoke, his voice was both instructive and warning. He continued without taking his eyes off Kael:
"As you know, species are both more powerful and rarer than elements at first. However, elemental users can surpass species with rigorous training. Each power relies on a steady use of mana, which allows one to create unique fighting techniques."
Kael listened to Leopold's speech without interruption. But it was not the words that echoed in his mind, but the intention between the words.
Leopold continued:
"But the divine... is such a power that not only is there no other power that can fully affect it... but it almost completely depletes the mana of the wielder in a few moves. It is difficult to wield... but its attacks are devastating in every sense of the word."
A brief silence fell over the room. The last sentence had made everyone's suspicions clear.
Leopold added, this time more directly:
"What we are surprised about, Mr. Virelion... How did you become so powerful so quickly... with such a complex and still poorly understood species... without any formal training... without even registering as a hunter?"
This sentence completely changed the mood in the room.
Kael suddenly felt cold inside. This was no longer an exchange of ideas, but an interrogation. The gaze was slowly changing from friendly interest to watchful suspicion. Kael realized that this was a trap. The expressions may have been soft, the words gentle, but at that moment everyone saw him as a threat. Like a criminal.
He felt the pressure on his shoulders, but he kept his posture. He turned his eyes to Arthur. The face that had once smiled was now scrutinizing him intently. Not a single person at the table seemed to be on Kael's side.
A thought crossed her mind:
"You summoned me... but when you heard the answers, you blamed me."
One by one, Kael surveyed the suspicion that had settled over everyone at the table. He took a deep breath. His tone had not hardened, but every word carried a measured and direct weight:
"As you say... every power allows its wielder to create unique techniques. My power gave me that opportunity. Only I... used it in the right way."
He locked his eyes with Leopold's, then turned to the members of the federation.
"Besides... you know you have more powerful hunters than me. So, it's not that surprising."
Kael's voice was neither defensive nor arrogant - somewhere in the middle. It carried a confidence that said what was necessary and no more.
Orion stared at Kael. He was puzzled. Was he surprised that Kael didn't have a license, or that he had survived alone in the dungeon, or maybe both? The fact that Kael spoke so clearly, calmly and confidently was in itself unusual in the capital.
The federation members at the table looked at each other. Hugo leaned forward slightly and began to speak:
"Mr. Virelion... frankly, we would like you to be our guest for a few days because-"
Kael interjected abruptly but not rudely.
"Of course... I would be happy to stay a few more days and help you solve the dungeon closure."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed. With Kael's words there seemed to be an invisible pressure in the air. The silence was no longer one of unease, but of uneasiness mixed with respect.
But Kael did not stop there.
His voice was still calm, but there was an icy certainty underneath:
"...But remember," he said, scanning the table once more with his gaze.
"I am not your guinea pig... nor am I a criminal you can corner with incriminating questions."
For a moment, only Kael's breathing could be heard in the room. Kael had reminded him who he was. And now there was not only suspicion in this room, but caution and caution.
Arthur smiled slightly.
"You are more prepared than I thought, Kael Virelion," he said. "What can I say... welcome."