Tom settled back into his high-backed chair, the relief of seeing a familiar face like Jade's tempered by the strange, unexpected modification to his status window. He filed the thought away for later research, focusing on the four remaining figures at the elegant pine table. Tom wondered how much information each person was going to give; he himself had only provided the minimum amount needed, due to the fact that he didn't know if they were going to be friend or foe.
Lillia, still beaming, pointed to the woman sitting directly across from Tom, who was already offering him a warm, knowing smile.
"Jade, you're up!"
The woman stood up, her movements stiff but confident. "H-hello, everyone," she greeted, her voice possessing a clear, steady quality that suggested control, though her fingers were nervously twisting the material of her dress. "My name is Jade Chen. Back on Earth, I worked in logistics—I ensured everyone got what they needed, when they needed it. My Essence Ability is Sentinel King." She paused, quickly glancing at Lillia before continuing, a slight tremor in her voice. "I can summon one knight for every rank I ascend, and since I'm Awakened, that means I currently have one Sentinel Knight at my disposal." Her heart was pounding, but she managed to finish without any noticeable stutter. She gave a quick, stiff nod and sank back into her seat.
Lillia's gaze then moved down the table to a woman whose dark skin and soft, short, curly pink hair instantly set her apart, contrasting beautifully with the vibrant blossoms behind them. This was Scarlett.
Standing up, Scarlett offered a smile that was genuinely warm, yet possessed a distinctly captivating, flirty essence. Her voice, when she spoke, was surprisingly soft. "Good day, everyone. My name is Scarlett, and I used to be an office worker in Norway—boring, I know! But the First Realm had other plans for me. My ability is called Dragon Queen. It allows me to summon a dragon companion whose strength is based on my rank. I look forward to working with you."
Tom watched her closely, remembering Lillia's earlier comment about Kage being Dragonkin. A Dragon Queen ability... fascinating, he mused.
The next person to stand up and introduce himself was a young man with messy, blue-grey hair and glasses. He looked entirely out of place among the armored seats and exotic surroundings—more suited to a computer screen than a sword. He stood slowly, his kind eyes scanning the group with a touch of uncertainty.
"H-hello," he began, his voice soft and slightly nervous. "I'm Elliot. I'm from Russia. I was just starting university when... well, you know. I was a gamer. My Core Rank is Fractured, and I don't have an ability yet, but I'm hoping to catch up soon." He sat down quickly, already seeming slightly embarrassed by the attention.
Finally, Lillia turned to the last woman—a striking figure whose dark gothic aesthetic was startling against the cheerful pinks and oranges of the garden. Despite her appearance, her smile was wide and seemingly authentic, though laced with a hint of mischief.
"And last but certainly not least, Anya!" Lillia announced.
Anya stood, her red eyes sparkling as she looked over the group, a natural teaser. "Hello, dears. I'm Anya—nice to meet you all! I'm from Russia. I'm twenty-six, and I love a good joke, so don't take anything I say too seriously." She gave a playful wink. "My ability is Blood Blades. I can summon two sharp, crimson blades using my own blood. Let's just say it's a killer skill." She finished with a bright, cheerful laugh before sitting down.
Lillia clapped her hands again, pleased. "Excellent! Now we all know each other. Before we begin training, there's one vital piece of information about this place. The time within the Artificial Domain is twice as slow as the outside world. That's why the setting sun appears fixed in the sky—it takes twice as long to move! This gives you more time to train without the pressure of the external clock, which is a huge advantage, and more time to sleep if you need it."
Lillia took a deep breath, her expression shifting from bright instructor to serious commander. "Alright, my new arrivals, that's all the orientation for now. I need to leave immediately. I have a critical meeting with the other commanders in the Fortress of Avalon. I expect to be back early tomorrow, which, for you, will be midday tomorrow." She gestured toward the far end of the clearing. "For the rest of the day, you are free to explore. Follow the main path. You will find living quarters, sustenance, and facilities there. Enjoy the break; tomorrow, the real work begins!"
"Also, some of the items and equipment may resemble things from your home. There are clothing items in each room; they may be in an equipment form, so they will auto-adjust to your size."
With a swift, practiced movement, Lillia turned and sprinted down the gentle slope and into the lush forest, disappearing among the trees in seconds.
The five new arrivals looked at each other, the silence broken only by the chirping of unseen insects.
"Well," Jade said, standing up and stretching her arms above her head. "A guided tour of a Master Smith's custom-made pocket dimension sounds like a much better plan than sitting here waiting."
"Agreed," Tom said, his researcher's curiosity overpowering his exhaustion. "If Kage made all of this, there's likely an incredible amount of information to be found."
Elliot hesitated, but Anya quickly rose, grabbing his arm with a playful, yet firm grip. "Come on, softy! Time to see what kind of loot this world drops!"
The five of them followed the main path, their footsteps soft on the earthen trail. The path wound through groves of ancient-looking trees before opening into a large, sun-drenched clearing filled with large ponds and waterfalls in the hills.
In the center of the clearing stood a vast dining area, covered by an arched, open-air pavilion. Long, sturdy wooden tables were laden with bread, fresh fruit, meats, and steaming bowls of savory stew, all kept warm by glowing Essence runes carved into the wood.
Adjacent to the dining area was a meticulously kept farm. Rows of unique, brightly colored crops stretched out, overflowing with energy, and beyond them were several well-built animal pens housing strange, docile creatures that looked vaguely like scaled deer and fluffy, oversized sheep.
"He made all of this?" Elliot murmured, awestruck. "It's like a survival game base, but real."
"And all infused with Essence, no doubt," Tom replied, already examining a strange, glowing squash. "The nutritional value must be immense."
Following a clear, babbling stream that fed the farm, they found the next remarkable feature: a massive hot spring. Steam rose gently from the crystalline water, which was surrounded by smooth, dark stones and tropical ferns. The air around it felt even more concentrated with ambient Essence, making their fatigue melt away instantly.
"A bath house fit for a king," Anya chirped, already tapping her chin thoughtfully. "We should definitely visit this later."
The final path led them past the hot spring to a small cluster of structures. Five identical, beautifully crafted pine-wood houses stood nestled beneath a canopy of vibrant, blooming trees. Each house had a small porch, a single chimney, and a door marked only with a simple brass plaque.
"Looks like Kage planned ahead," Jade commented. She approached the first door, which bore no plaque.
"I suppose we just pick one," Tom said, feeling the weight of the long, eventful day finally settling on him. He knew he needed to study his Lightbringer ability, but sleep came first.
The five friends said their goodnights, each taking one of the empty houses. As Tom closed the door to his temporary home, the last rays of the incredibly slow-moving sun filtered through the window. He was safe, he was in a powerful domain, and he had an ability. He fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow, ready for the training that would come with the slow-moving midday sun.