"Alright, here I go," Kalem said, leaning back slightly as he prepared to recount his journey.
"You finally opening up?" Nara smirked.
"Let's not make a big deal out of it," Kalem replied, shaking his head.
"Too late," Jhaeros added with a faint grin.
Kalem exhaled. "Fine. I was born in the secluded village of Noram. My parents were blacksmiths, both masters of their craft, and they taught me everything about forging and metallurgy."
"A family of blacksmiths?" Garrick nodded approvingly. "Explains your knack for crafting."
"Sounds like a simple life," Isolde commented.
"It was, for a while." Kalem's gaze lowered slightly. "When I was fourteen, my parents left on a journey. They were searching for some rare material—something that could change blacksmithing forever. They never came back."
The mood shifted slightly, the weight of those words settling over the group.
"You left to search for them?" Lyra asked gently.
Kalem shook his head. "No. I left because I was inspired by them. They went out to chase knowledge, to uncover something new. I wanted to do the same."
Nara leaned forward. "And? Where did you go?"
"I followed rumors of rare metals into a cave system. Thought I'd find something valuable." Kalem let out a small chuckle. "Instead, I nearly got killed by something I couldn't even see."
Jhaeros raised an eyebrow. "An unknown creature?"
"Yeah. It was fast, silent, and lethal. I barely made it out alive."
"Well, that explains your caution," Isolde remarked.
"After that, I traveled to Maelon. The city had just gone through a culling, and half of it was in ruins. I saw the aftermath of battle up close."
"A culling?" Lyra frowned. "Those are dangerous."
"They are, and I learned a lot. I spent time in the forges there, helping repair weapons and armor, picking up new techniques."
"And after that?"
"I went to Velinia," Kalem continued. "Joined the Grand Tourney, thinking I was ready to test my skills."
"Oh, I know this part," Nara smirked. "You lost."
Kalem gave her a flat look. "Yes, I lost."
"To a warrior with a greatsword, right?" Isolde asked.
"Yeah. He was stronger, more experienced, and completely outmatched me." Kalem crossed his arms. "It was a hard lesson, but I learned from it."
"Did you challenge him again?" Garrick asked.
"No. I didn't need to. The loss wasn't something to undo—it was something to learn from."
Jhaeros nodded approvingly. "Smart."
Kalem continued, "After that, I went to Warsaw, worked as a miner for a while. Wanted to understand metal from the source."
"Mining?" Lyra tilted her head. "That sounds... exhausting."
"It was, but it was worth it. I learned a lot about raw materials, how they react under different conditions."
"And then the Garon?" Isolde prompted.
Kalem sighed. "Yeah. It was a tough fight, but I managed to bring it down. Unfortunately, that led to my exile."
"Unfortunate for them," Nara smirked.
"Maybe." Kalem exhaled. "After that, I went to the Peaks of Ash & Fire. That's where I met Tharic."
"The dwarf?" Jhaeros asked.
Kalem nodded. "Yeah. He didn't teach me anything directly, but he shaped the way I think. He and his friend, Vornar, helped me get a place in the valley."
"He changed your philosophy?" Garrick asked.
"In a way. He made me realize that power isn't just about strength—it's about mastery, understanding, and patience."
"That's... surprisingly deep," Isolde admitted.
"Tharic had a way with words," Kalem said with a small smile. "Anyway, I stayed in the valley for a while. I participated in the Season of Fire, fought Galgameths, lava worms—"
"Wait, wait, wait," Lyra interrupted. "You fought lava worms?"
Kalem nodded. "Big creatures, burrow through volcanic rock, feed on minerals."
"That sounds awful," Lyra muttered.
"It was. But it helped me sharpen my combat instincts."
"And after that?"
Kalem leaned back. "I helped stabilize a ruin network that had too much energy build-up. That was... complicated."
"Sounds like it," Jhaeros remarked.
"Eventually, after more training, I decided it was time for the next step. At eighteen, I left for Arcathis Academy."
There was a brief silence as the group absorbed everything he had said.
Chapter 322: A Life of Trials and Triumphs
"Well, that was something," Lyra said, leaning back with a thoughtful look.
"Yeah," Isolde nodded, still processing everything Kalem had shared.
Kalem simply shrugged. "Well, it was my life."
Nara grinned, leaning forward eagerly. "But I was right! Your life did have tons of adventure. You just don't like to admit it."
Kalem exhaled, shaking his head. "It's not about admission. I just never really thought about it that way."
Lyra tilted her head. "Really? You've fought in duels, traveled across dangerous lands, survived life-threatening encounters, and crafted weapons that most alchemists and blacksmiths would call impossible. If that's not adventure, then what is?"
Kalem tapped his fingers on the table absentmindedly. "For me, it was just... life. There wasn't a grand goal, just one thing leading to another. I did what I had to in order to keep moving."
Jhaeros crossed his arms. "That's what makes it interesting. You weren't seeking adventure, but it found you anyway."
Garrick, who had been listening with a serious expression, finally spoke. "I have to admit, I didn't expect your story to be this layered. I thought you were just another skilled wanderer with a few tricks up his sleeve. But surviving what you did, enduring exile, creating something that powerful... It's remarkable."
Kalem didn't respond immediately. He wasn't sure how to take their reactions. His life had been a mixture of misfortune, effort, and sheer will to survive. He never thought of it as something to boast about, but hearing them acknowledge it made him feel... seen.
Nara smirked. "So, what's next?"
Kalem arched a brow. "What do you mean?"
"Well, your past is full of insane moments. What about the future?"
Kalem thought for a moment, then gave a small, knowing smile. "I guess we'll just have to see where the road takes us."
The fire crackled in the background as the group sat in comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The night had been filled with stories of their pasts, but the future remained unwritten. And for the first time in a long while, Kalem wasn't walking it alone.