The air felt unusually cold, and the tiled floor beneath Kael's boots felt harder than it should have.
His eyes cold, and his hands stayed tucked in his pockets, ready to snap his fingers at a moment's notice.
He didn't like the way she had reacted.
'A lot of people here today.'
Kael's gaze drifted across the room.
It was spacious, but the sheer number of Luminaires packed inside would've sent any mortal into shock.
'Guess they're all here for their rewards…'
His attention returned to the counter ahead, his expression unreadable.
This was one of many official Valthorne buildings scattered throughout Velthoria, but this one? It was probably the most well-known among Luminaires.
It served one purpose above all, to distribute rewards to those who completed missions from the task board. Just like Kael was doing now.
Time passed slowly, but eventually, a figure appeared in the doorway behind the counter.
A small-framed woman stepped through the doorway, barely reaching Kael's shoulders. Her gaze flicked back over her shoulder as she entered.
"Alright, no problem. Don't forget our meeting later today, alright?"
A friendly laugh slipped from her lips before she turned forward and made her way to the counter, her eyes meeting Kael's.
"Oh, you must be Kael, right? I'm Lauren, nice to meet you."
She extended her hand for him to shake.
"Yes, that's me. I'm here to claim my rewards."
Kael's tone was calm, his expression unreadable as he returned the handshake.
"Straight to the point, eh?" Lauren chuckled. "Nothing wrong with that."
But as she continued, the smile on her face wavered....
"There's nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but I do have to ask… You're here to collect for the King Wolf Tiger as well, aren't you?"
Kael gave a single nod in response.
"Then, where is Adam? I made sure he got this mission."
Her expression turned serious, a hint of confusion creeping in.
Kael only glanced at her, his eyes growing colder. He was just about to respond when Lauren broke the short silence.
"You see, we haven't gotten along that well these last few years, but he's still my foolish little brother. I can't help but worry about him now and then."
A genuine, if slightly awkward, smile played on her lips as she talked about her brother.
She was just about to scratch the back of her hand when Kael suddenly shot out his hand, grabbing hers and shaking it with both of his.
"Whoa, so you're the Lauren Austora? Adam's sister? I finally get to meet you!"
Kael shook her hand a little too enthusiastically, his voice filled with excitement.
Lauren was caught off guard by the gesture, momentarily even flabbergasted.
"You… you know me?"
Her voice was uncertain, as if the idea of someone knowing her was out of this world.
"Do I know you?"
Kael's mouth hung open in mock shock.
"How couldn't I?" He released her hand and began gesturing animatedly. "Not only am I the newest member of Adam's group, but , wow, I'd be insulted if I weren't so impressed."
She stared at him with wide eyes, unsure of how to respond.
Kael continued.
"Lauren Austora, Rank Four. The Hidden Guardian of Velthoria."
Kael spoke with a firm, almost ceremonial tone, as if delivering a speech rather than a statement.
This time, it was Lauren's turn to stand there with her mouth open. The moment Kael said the name aloud, she covered her face with both palms and turned away, trying to hide the blush rising across her cheeks.
"So that's what this is about..."
Her voice wavered as she spoke, clearly trying to keep it steady, but the tremble in her tone betrayed her.
"Precisely," Kael replied without pause, pressing forward before she had the chance to deflect or recover.
He continued, recounting her deeds with unwavering confidence.
Kael had read countless books, each one different and valuable. Among them were historical texts, and naturally, histories of Velthoria. Her name had appeared more than once, scattered across old records and near-forgotten tales.
There wasn't much written about her, she had always kept a low profile, but a few key acts had made their way into the public record: saving a harvest from drought using her soulbound motes, fending off beasts that threatened traveling merchants, and aiding border villages without ever seeking credit.
In truth, Kael hadn't given that name much thought when he first read it. But the moment she mentioned it herself, something clicked. It was a gamble, one he had to take. Her name, her age, her demeanor… it all aligned.
He had simply connected a few dots and taken a shot in the dark.
This time, it had paid off.
Kael continued to shower her with praise, his tone eager, until his well of historical knowledge finally began to run dry.
Flustered and unsure how to make him stop, Lauren suddenly slammed her fist onto the counter, not out of anger, but in a desperate attempt to interrupt him before he embarrassed her any further.
"Alright, alright, enough already, yes, that's me," she admitted, cheeks still tinged with red. But she composed herself quickly, drawing in a breath as she straightened her posture.
Kael stopped mid-motion and gave a small, apologetic smile.
"My apologies, Lauren. I'm a bit of a history enthusiast, you see. Once I get going, I find it hard to stop."
He gave a small wave of the hand.
"No worries," she said, letting out a small, awkward laugh. "You just caught me off guard, that's all."
She paused for a second, her expression shifting as something heavier settled behind her eyes.
"I guess you're here to claim the rewards then."
She hesitated again before continuing.
"I assume Adam sent you. So he wouldn't have to see me himself."
Her eyes dropped for a moment. The smile she wore earlier faded just slightly, replaced by something quieter, more tired. The kind of look you wear when you already know the answer but ask anyway.
Kael offered her a small, reassuring smile.
"Yes... I guess that's what he did." His eyes dropped to the desk in front of him, his voice carrying a note of sympathy. "But don't dwell on it too much. You know how Adam is, he acts first, thinks later. The few times he talked, he often mentioned you. Said a lot about when you two were younger."
Lauren's smile slowly returned.
"Ahaha, I'm glad to hear that. We had quite the childhood, after all."
Her gaze drifted slightly, eyes softening as memories pulled her backward. Kael stayed silent, not wanting to intrude.
"Ah, yes, the reward," she said after a pause, catching herself before she got too lost in the past.
Kael gave a light shrug, lifting both hands with an easy grin.
"That's why we do it, after all."
He let out a warm laugh, and Lauren responded with one of her own.
"Let's not waste any more time," she said, stepping out from behind the counter. "It's been a while since I've seen a King beast. I want to take a look."
She passed Kael with a nod, and he fell into step behind her as they moved through the hall.
As they walked, Kael couldn't help but notice how the people around them reacted to her presence. Faces paled. Conversations paused. Every single person stepped aside without needing to be told. Some even had to stop themselves from bowing outright as she passed.
'Rank four…'
Kael's gaze lingered on Lauren's back as she led the way, the quiet awe surrounding her leaving no room for doubt.
While Rank Two and Three were considered signs of talent in the Luminaire world, Rank Four marked the beginning of something else entirely, a different realm altogether.
It was true, of course, that advancing in rank made a Luminaire stronger. But to describe it that simply was to ignore the deeper reality behind the process. Rank was not just power, it was insight. To ascend, one had to gain a deeper understanding of their own pathway or attain clarity about a new one. And that understanding wasn't something that came easily.
In the early stages, awakening could happen seemingly by chance. A person might become a Rank One Luminaire without realizing what they had grasped, some sliver of comprehension that pushed them beyond the boundary of a mortal. Kael himself had awakened like that. But that kind of awakening didn't happen beyond Rank One.
Past that point, advancement required something more. Intent. Effort. Depth.
You couldn't stumble your way to Rank Two. At least, most couldn't.
Kael had seemed like an exception. One day, he had simply advanced, and many might have mistaken that for luck or some divine fluke. But the truth was far less dramatic, and far more brutal. He had stayed a Rank One for years, studying relentlessly, chasing insights that always felt just out of reach.
But it hadn't been wasted.
When the breakthrough came, it wasn't a miracle. It was the reward of unyielding effort. The countless hours Kael had spent studying, reading, and philosophizing had finally borne fruit. And when he used the Obsidian Shard mote to refine the stone coffin, all the scattered fragments of insight aligned in a single moment of clarity. That was when he advanced to Rank Two.
Kael reached out, placing a hand against the cold wood as he stepped over the threshold.
Just as one grew stronger with each new rank, the insight required to ascend grew with it, leaping like mountains. Rank Three was often called the "Burden of Dreams." The reason was simple to say, yet nearly impossible to grasp. The understanding needed to reach Rank Four was fundamentally different. It wasn't just a matter of going deeper, it was a shift in quality, something elusive, something that set apart those who knew from those who saw.
Kael couldn't fully explain it. No one could, except perhaps those who had already crossed that invisible line. But the simplest way to frame it was this: one had to reach such a complete understanding of their Path that it moved beyond conscious thought. It had to reach a point of intuitivity, where the understanding no longer required effort or awareness.
"Impressive… Not bad, Adam, Not bad…"
Lauren stood with her hands on her hips, eyes fixed on the King Wolf Tiger.
"I know right? Adam pretty much planned the entire attack, we just had to follow."
he responded with an easy, lighthearted tone.
Under normal circumstances, speaking so casually to a Rank Four Luminaire would be unthinkable. For most, it could mean a swift and painful end. But Kael had already gauged her nature well.
She preferred to stay out of the spotlight. She had blushed when he praised her achievements, and her bond with Adam was obviously personal. All of it pointed to someone who didn't care much for formalities, at least not in private.
She wouldn't mind him speaking like this. Not Kael.
Others might not be so lucky.
They talked for a while, recounting how they killed it and sharing details, before heading back inside, where Kael finally received his reward for the hunt and took his leave.
His boots tapped steadily against the cobblestone road as he walked. He loosened the rope of the small sack in his hand and peeked inside.
"…Ninety mindstones," he murmured. "Ninety-five, counting the five Lauren gave me for goodwill. First mission bonus, I guess."
He pulled the rope tight again, sealing the bag.
The reward wasn't bad, especially for a first mission, but it wasn't a surprise either. Technically, he had completed a five-man job on his own. The payout had to reflect that.
"Almost halfway," he thought, his gaze drifting down the street. "Just a little more, and I'll have enough for the Golden Horned mote."
He let out a quiet sigh.
The wind tugged gently at the edges of his coat as he moved forward, the city's low hum rising in the background.
And step by step, the path forward stopped feeling so far away.