The first attempt was a failure for the last human… but failure did not mean the end. At least, he still had three more attempts.
Weeks passed after the test. Kael continued his training, leaving behind the bitterness of his previous failure.
He learned from his mistakes, sharpening his swordsmanship with Nylum and Liraen, strengthening his physical abilities, and training in Tan'Mara, Grak'Mar, and Nibsken.
And as usual, during the night Kael spent his Tawan training time with Reyvik and Brasskert, finishing his vehicle machine while also trying to open more pages from the X, Y, and Z books.
So far… none of the pages had opened….
TANG!
"Fuhh… that's it for tonight, guys. I think I'll continue tomorrow…"
Kael wiped the sweat from his forehead after hammering the metal plates onto the vehicle machine. Another small step had been completed for his invention.
Kael took a seat on the wooden chair while Reyvik and Brasskert joined him nearby.
He grabbed the three books once again and tried opening them.
"I Don't know why is it so hard to open…? I mean, there are so many pages, but none of them can be opened…"
So far, he had only managed to unlock the bomb blueprint from the Y Book and the energy drink formula from the Z Book.
Kael picked up the tiny bomb ball and the energy drink, placing them beside their respective blueprint books.
"Hmmm…"
He fell into thought silently while his hand still on the books.
"Kael, here's the caged sphere."
Suddenly Reyvik handed the caged sphere over to Kael.
"Oh, Thanks, Reyv. Put it on the table."
The caged sphere Kael found inside the black box, the same sphere that once he use as a shield to protect him during the test, The white small crystal inside it continued to float quietly while emitting a faint, dim light.
Kael tried opening the books once again. But this time, instead of forcing them open, he carefully reread the blueprints, wondering if there was something he had missed while creating the inventions.
As he studied the blueprints, his fingers slowly rubbed against the edges of the pages, attempting to open them little by little under the faint glow of the caged sphere, which served as his secondary light source.
Almost an hour has already passed… nothing happens.
Eventually, Kael told. Brasskert and Reyvik that he was heading to bed. The two nodded before taking their leave.
Now alone in the backyard, Kael began arranging all the scattered tools and materials from his project.
His eyes still carried frustration whenever they glanced toward the books. Why couldn't they be opened?
After finishing cleaning the mess, one that could easily make Elvareth transform into a life-threatening female elf if she saw it, Kael turned toward stairs heading towards the back door of his room.
Only then did he notice it.
All fifteen moons had already appeared in the night sky. Kael turn back his head from looking to the moons, knowing that he have a lot to do train tommorow but fate took a different turn.
"It's okay… I'll figure it out tomorrow, I gue—"
"WOO!"
Kael jolted in shock as an upside-down pale face suddenly appeared right in front of him glowing noble crimson eyes, two sharps fangs, and a grin stretching across its face.
"HAHAHAHA! Relax, Kael, it's me. Remember?"
The figure spun himself upright before landing properly.
"Huh…? Who are— Wait… CC Yeill?!"
Kael stared in surprise as the Commander Candidate of the Realm Protector stood before him.
"Yes, Kael, you guessed right!" the vampire said with a smile.
He wore his familiar deep maroon-colored metal armor with a weird red vein like strip along with a sash striped in green, red, and blue hanging across his left shoulder.
Kael slowly nodded.
"Wait… what are you doing here, CC Yeill? Don't you have somewhere to patrol tonight? The Noctamarket or somewhere else?"
CC Yeill simply tapped Kael's shoulder with a grin.
"It's not that serious, Kael…" he said with a bored expression.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Sigh… Do you really think that in this vast Fatamorgana Realm, with thousands of Night Realm Protectors, I'm the only one responsible for Kallidoora?"
"Yeah… you're right, CC Yeill…" Kael replied awkwardly.
"And quit with your CC Yeill. Just call me El."
Kael blinked in confusion. Was this really the same CC Yeill he met back then? During duty, this vampire had always acted noble and calm.
"Wait… are you really the CC Yeill I met before? Or are you some kind of Might ability… or something?"
"Huh? What are you talking about? This is me! CC Yeill Vladz Elli!"
"Nah, you're lying to me, vampire! Why are you possessing CC Yeill's body, spirit?"
TANG!
"Ouch! Hey!"
CC Yeill smacked Kael on the head.
"Alright, alright CC Yeill… eh, El! I get it…"
"Good."
The vampire crossed his arms before glancing toward him.
"So… how was your test with Commander Aeronis?"
"Well— wait… how do you know about our test?"
"HAHAHA! I heard it from the other Realm Protectors!"
Yeill laughed before finally standing properly.
"If that's the case… then you already know I lost, right? What else do you want to know about the test?" Kael asked while carrying his things.
He was about to head upstairs, but instead he sat on the outer staircase leading to the second floor.
"Yeah… I want to know what made you lose," CC Yeill replied.
"Obviously the power gap. What else could it be, El?"
"Haaa… if that's your answer, even this silent backyard could've said the same thing to me."
"I don't know, El… I just know I need to train harder to close that power gap."
Kael's voice carried frustration.
"Close the power gap? Between you and Commander Aeronis?" Yeill let out a laugh. "Don't tell me a joke. No amount of training could possibly close the gap between you and him."
Kael remained silent.
"Kael… I will make you realize one thing. He's the Commander of the East, ranked third out of the sixteen commanders. A High Elf noble. He's the typical blessed, noble, hardworking monster you'd find in every fantasy story."
Yeill looked directly at him.
"What could you possibly train hard enough to even touch someone like him?"
"Yeah… you're right, El…" Kael lowered his head. "Then how am I supposed to defeat him?"
"I don't know." CC Yeill shrugged. "Maybe use that 'inventor brain' of yours."
Kael fell silent, thinking about what he could possibly do against Aeronis while CC Yeill simply stood there beneath the glow of the fifteen moons.
Noble… High Elf… Commander…
Kael quietly connected the dots in his mind before glancing toward CC Yeill a completely different race from Aeronis.
Then suddenly—
Flick!
"Aha!"
Kael abruptly stood up.
"Yo, El! Does every race in this realm have weaknesses?"
"Hm? Weaknesses?" CC Yeill looked confused.
"I mean, look at you. You can't walk under the sun, right?" Kael said confidently.
"Well… I can but not for long. It still weakens me," Yeill admitted.
"Then what about elves?"
"Elf, huh…" Yeill crossed his arms. "I don't know specifically about elves, but for Etherians as a whole… I think I know a little."
"Then tell me!"
Kael immediately leaned forward with excitement.
"Alright, relax… I'll tell you what I know about them."
CC Yeill leaned against the railing before continuing.
"The Etherians, elves, dwarves, gnomes, pixies, fairies are races of control, precision, preparation and prediction. Just like you, they also invent tools far more advanced than most other races."
His eyes shifted toward Kael's hydraulic shoes.
"Of course… not as ridiculous as yours."
Kael smirked slightly.
"So basically, Etherians are races built around control, preparation, precision, and decision-making."
Yeill raised a finger.
"They become dominant almost unbeatable whenever the situation is under their control. Whenever everything goes according to their plans."
Kael slowly nodded.
"Hmmm… then what if the situation isn't on their side?"
"Well…" Yeill crossed his arms. "That's where they start struggling."
"Etherians are known for strategy and technique. Chaotic environments make it harder for them to function properly."
"I see…"
Kael suddenly snapped his fingers.
"That's why Old Elf always panics or even scolds me whenever I make a mess!"
A grin slowly appeared on his face.
"I think I know how to play this now… but it'll take time to prepare."
"Tch… I ended up giving you the answer." CC Yeill looked slightly annoyed. "That wasn't even my intention."
"HAHAHA! Thanks, El! Now I finally know the answer. Time to start preparing… heheh…"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever, human."
As the two continued talking beneath the moonlight, Kael's eyes slowly drifted toward something hanging from CC Yeill's waist.
Something he had been curious about for a long time.
Yo, El… what's that?"
Kael pointed toward the black star-shaped object hanging from CC Yeill's waist. Strange patterns were carved across its surface, connected by chains of dark metal.
"Oh, this?" CC Yeill grabbed it.
"Well, I'm surprised you don't know this, Kael."
He lifted the object slightly.
"This is an Ansal Star. Every year, all races across the Fatamorgana Realm celebrate the Ansalar Honor Festival."
Kael still looked confused.
"Sigh… look up."
CC Yeill pointed toward the sky.
"See the fifteen moons and the stars surrounding them?"
"Yeah…"
"And you see how every moon and star has a different color tonight? Beautiful, isn't it…"
For a moment, Yeill seemed completely lost in the scenery above.
"Ahem."
He cleared his throat before continuing.
"Well, once every year, all fifteen moons synchronize into a single color. If one moon becomes blue… then every moon turns blue."
"Okay… so the moons just change color? I saw it every year. That's basic Astronomy…"
CC Yeill stared at him in disappointment.
How boring can this human be…
"Listen here, brain-user. When the moons turn into a specific color, they grant everyone a Belan Blessing."
His red eyes lit up with excitement while holding top of Kael's head.
"For example, if all the moons turn blue, the realm receives the Blessing of Calmness and Control."
Yeill explained enthusiastically, his eyes burning with hope as if he himself was waiting for that blessing.
"Sigh… I guess beliefs like that exist in this vast world…"
"So? What's the function of the Ansal Star during the festival?"
"Glad you asked!"
CC Yeill raised the Ansal Star before pointing it toward one of the moons, the red one.
Immediately, the star-shaped object began glowing crimson, matching the moon's color. The light grew brighter and brighter until it almost felt as if the moon itself had descended in front of them.
"Whoa… that's actually fascinating. I thought it was just reflecting light."
"Of course it's not!" CC Yeill protested proudly.
"This is just one of the moons. Imagine if all the moon became red and you pointed the star at them, It'll be brighter! The brighter your Ansalar Star the stronger your belan blessing for that year will become!
"This is an annual festival, Kael! I think only a month left before all the moon becomes the same colour! I hope it turns gold this time! You should get one too. Commander Aeronis and the other Realm Protectors celebrate it as well!"
"Nah, I'm good." Kael calmly shook his head. "I already have my own beliefs when it comes to blessings."
"Tch… whatever." CC Yeill mocked him.
Kael laughed lightly.
CC Yiell looked at Kael with a bit of a relief.
"You're quite lucky, Kael…"
The atmosphere shifted.
CC Yeill's tone became heavier, quieter than before.
"Hm?" Kael looked at him. "What do you mean, El?"
"You became one of Aeronis' students. It may sound like a normal thing since every Realm Protector Commander has their own students… but for Aeronis, it's different."
CC Yeill's expression became more serious.
"It's hard for him to recruit new ones. Not after the Mishanter Incident at the Third Castle of the Etherians…"
Kael stayed silent as he listened.
"But against all odds… he chose you, Kael. So be grateful… and don't disappoint him."
Kael nodded slowly.
"Yeah, El… I won't disappoint any of you."
CC Yeill smiled faintly.
"Oh, one more thing…"
He reached into his pocket before handing Kael a red bracelet.
"Here. Wear this."
Kael looked at it curiously.
"What's this, El?"
"One of the Elemarit communication tools. Basically, it's a one-way communication tool used by my race."
Yeill crossed his arms proudly.
"This one was made from my own blood."
"Egh… gross."
Kael looked slightly disgusted.
"Whatever… You can use it to call me whenever you need me, Kael. If I can come… I will." He explained.
"Alright… So how can I call you using this?" Kael asked.
"Simple. Just put a drop of your blood on it. Then the bracelet will send me a signal whenever you need me."
Kael nodded slowly.
"Alright El…. Thanks."
CC Yeill smiled faintly, satisfied that he had at least helped this human and become a small part of his journey.
Suddenly, a female voice echoed from outside.
"CC Yeill! Where are you?! We need to patrol Nocta Market again tonight!"
Kael froze.
"Wait… isn't that—?" He frowned. "That voice sounds familiar…"
"Yeah… here we go again… work…"
CC Yeill sighed and patted Kael's head.
His playful expression faded. In its place returned the noble, rigid aura of a Realm Protector.
"Alright, Kael. As you heard, I need to go patrolling."
Kael blinked slightly, confused by the sudden shift in his personality.
"Well… Kael," CC Yeill continued, already stepping back, "if you ever need me… just use that bracelet. And make sure you train hard."
He turned back and glanced over his shoulder.
"I'll meet you again… some night." he smile and fastly-
SWOOOOSH!
CC Yeill vanished into the dark sky, disappearing toward the direction of the voice as the call outside abruptly stopped.
Kael didn't waste time.
He quickly gathered his things and returned to his room, careful not to make any noise worried he might trigger Elvareth's wrath again.
Tonight, there was no rest in his mind.
But for the second time, he had something clear to focus on for tomorrow.