Kael sat on the bench, absentmindedly turning his knife between his fingers. The cool, crisp air of early morning brushing against his skin, and the sky was painted with the soft, warm hues of dawn as the sun slowly climbed above the horizon. A lone leaf detached from a branch above, twirling gently in the air, caught in a slow, hypnotic dance before settling on the ground. The first subtle hints of fall were beginning to make their presence known, the leaves just starting to trade their green for shades of amber and crimson, and the breeze carrying a faint, earthy chill.
He turned the knife one last time before sheathing it and rising from the bench, adjusting his coat slightly, and sighed.
"Morning always comes, whether you're ready or not."
He murmured to himself as he started walking.
It had been a week since he had refined the Stone Coffin mote. A week spent idle, lost in his own thoughts. Some things had become clearer, his understanding deepening, the subtle changes of his advancement revealing themselves. But even if he wanted to stay buried in reflection for another week, letting the fog of discovery fully clear, there was no time for that.
The world moved on. He needed to do the same.
'Things are pretty much like I speculated. I've advanced to rank two, and it must be because of the refinement. During the process, I must have grasped something fundamental, something I don't even fully know I understand yet.
But if advancing through refinement means I'm naturally a refinement pathway Luminaire... that doesn't sit right. Those are rare, almost unheard of. Or did I understand something else that didn't have to do with refinement at all? Maybe it was the laws of the ingredients... Then what would that make me? A rule pathway?'
He kicked a rock along the cobblestone path, watching it bounce and skitter, each impact ringing with a crisp sound. A faint crease appeared between Kael's brows. His own ignorance was becoming a thorn in his side.
After all, he wasn't a professional. His knowledge was barely more than that of a mortal with a burning passion for Luminaires. But there was no one to blame. He had no backing, no mentor, no library of ancient wisdom he could use. He was walking this path blind.
'But if I advance through understanding of refinement…' his thoughts drifted. 'Then the Obsidian Shard mote is exceptional. No, it's irreplaceable.'
His estimation of the mote had skyrocketed. If his pathway truly hinged on his understanding of refinement, then this mote was nothing short of a treasure. A mote that allowed him to perceive and guide the refinement process? To witness the dance of laws and will within the orb?
Such a thing was beyond value. No Luminaire would willingly let go of a mote with such potential, a tool that could elevate them further, deepen their understanding, and even force the heavens to take notice.
Kael slipped his hands into the pockets of his coat, his gaze drifting upward. A flock of birds traced dark silhouettes across the pale sky, their wings carving quiet paths through the air, a delicate dance of freedom. They moved with purpose yet without urgency, destined for warmer lands, untouched by the chaos of ambition.
'There's a beauty in living so simply, a quiet grace in a life unburdened by ambition or struggle.'
But as his gaze returned to the streets before him, his expression hardened, an icy edge settling in his eyes. Even if the world laid endless treasures at his feet, enough wealth to buy the quiet life that others might envy, he would not accept.
Peace was not his desire, and simplicity was nothing more than a gilded cage. A life without challenge, without the constant pressure to grow, was no life at all. For Kael, existence meant striving, struggling, and transcending his own limits. A world without the promise of self-improvement was a world already dead.
Kael's steps slowed as he reached a simple stone bridge arching over a lazy river. At a glance, it was nothing special, just an old crossing worn smooth by years of footsteps. But in Velthoria, this bridge meant something. It marked the line between two worlds.
Velthoria was split into three parts: the crowded streets of mortals, the bustling district of Luminaires, and the secluded estates of nobles. This bridge was the gatekeeper between the first two. Mortals weren't allowed past it. On the other side lay a world meant only for those who had awakened as Luminaires.
Kael hesitated for a moment, looking down at the water rippling beneath him. He hadn't planned to come here. Until recently, he had tried to keep a low profile, blending in with the mortal crowd. But after his advancement, he wasn't able to hide his Luminaire aura anymore. So hiding as a mortal was out of the question.
"Guess I'm going in," he murmured to himself, taking a step forward.
There were risks with entering this part, but Kael needed things the mortal world couldn't provide, so he made his decision.
As he walked, buildings began to rise around him, and soon he stepped into the Luminaire district of Velthoria. It looked similar at first, but the differences were clear. The streets were clean, windows unbroken, and the peoples clothes were finer. Even the air felt sharper.
Kael moved through the streets, giving friendly nods to those passing by.
Compared to mortals, Luminaires were as rare as oases in a desert. Yet the world was vast, and countless people meant countless Luminaires awakening every day. They might seem plentiful, like grains of sand scattered across the world. But as the ranks climbed higher, their numbers dwindled. Reaching rank five was a rare achievement, and those who did were few and far between.
Soon, a grand stone building came into view, towering over the rest of the Luminaire district. It was the largest structure in the area, and for good reason. This was where Luminaires could buy and sell motes, along with a vast array of ingredients for mote refinement.
Kael stepped inside, immediately greeted by the humid air and the constant murmur of countless voices blending into a single, steady hum. He walked through the vast hall lined with bustling stalls, occasionally sidestepping a passing figure. His gaze swept over the scene, taking in the array of goods and the steady stream of buyers and sellers negotiating with eager energy.
He stopped at one stall lined with glass jars, each containing a different mote. Small notes were tied to each jar, offering brief descriptions of the motes, their names, and their uses. Kael's eyes moved carefully over each jar, studying the motes within. He silently memorized the details, names, appearances, and functions, committing each to memory.
'There's one.'
Kael paused and reached for a jar, his gaze fixed on the creature inside. It was a golden beetle with long, sturdy horns protruding from its head. The insect crawled restlessly within the glass, occasionally opening its wings and attempting to fly, only to collide with the transparent walls.
'Golden Horned mote.'
He studied it carefully. Motes came in countless forms, each with its own unique properties, and this one was no exception. The Golden Horned mote was a rank two, a single-use mote known for its ability to grant a significant boost in physical strength permanently. According to the neatly written note tied to the jar, it could enhance the user's strength to match that of five wolves.
Kael stretched out the jar toward the seller.
"How much for this mote?"
The seller placed down another jar and looked up at Kael.
"250 mindstones, or a trade of equal value."
Kael almost swallowed his tongue.
'So expensive.'
He managed a nod, placing the jar back down carefully. He had never owned a mindstone, never even touched one, but he knew their value well.
Mindstones were the currency most Luminaires used in their dealings. Small, translucent stones that shimmered faintly with a silver glow. Each one held a trace of pure thoughts, and absorbing one would directly replenish a Luminaire's thoughts. But their true value wasn't just in replenishment. mindstones were distributed by the noble families overseeing each city, granted to Luminaires who completed tasks or missions displayed on the task board at the center of the Luminaire district.
They were a direct representation of the noble families' influence and control. By distributing Mindstones, they maintained a firm grip over the Luminaires beneath them, ensuring loyalty and service. Luminaires craved them, for they were both currency and power. And now, standing in front of the stall, Kael felt the weight of that reality.
'250 mindstones for a single mote...'
For Luminaires, they were a gateway to power, a means of cultivation. Those who sought to strengthen themselves could purchase motes, refinement ingredients, or even exchange them for rare techniques or knowledge. But there was another, perhaps even more significant use for them.
mindstones could be crushed, releasing their stored thoughts, which a Luminaire could directly absorb. Understanding one's pathway required immense mental strain, an endless cycle of study, meditation, and experimentation. Normally, such efforts would exhaust even the strongest of minds, forcing them to rest, losing precious time.
But with mindstones, one could study their pathway without ever growing tired, without the dull ache of fatigue clouding their focus. Thoughts would replenish endlessly, the mind could operate at peak performance for hours, even days, pushing the limits of understanding and refinement.
A Luminaire with enough mindstones could spend weeks in uninterrupted meditation, pushing their understanding to new heights. For this reason, they weren't just currency. They were a direct path to power.
'A single Mindstone can be bought for 1000 gold coins... that makes this single mote worth 250,000 gold coins.'
Kael did the quick calculation in his mind, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
'And I don't even have enough to reach a hundred right now.'
He let out a quiet, dry chuckle under his breath. The sheer absurdity of it all settled over him. The gap between what he needed and what he had was a chasm, a reminder of his own insignificance in a world where wealth was power and power was survival.