The caravan rolled slowly onward beneath skies painted in shades of violet and gold, gently pushing away the last traces of morning fog. Trees thickened around us, casting dancing shadows across the dirt road as the soft rustling of leaves mixed with the creaking wheels of the carts.
I walked alongside Brynn, keeping pace with him and Leif. For a while, none of us spoke, content with the gentle rhythm of travel. But after several miles, Brynn finally glanced at me, a thoughtful crease forming between his eyebrows.
"Still thinking about Reslau?" he asked.
I nodded, shifting my gaze ahead. "Yeah. It feels like… everything depends on what I find there."
"More or less," Brynn agreed, his eyes fixed on the winding path. "But, Aleks, before you jump headfirst into a city full of prodigies and nobles, we need to address something important—your Essence control."
I sighed, glancing at my hand. The one that nearly burned me alive every time I used Holy Essence. "What exactly is Essence, anyway? I mean, besides some magical bullshit energy?"
Brynn chuckled softly. "It's simple, really. Think of Essence as money. Every person has their own natural supply—some people are born wealthy, others have to scrape by. Essence works the same way. Your body stores a certain amount, and you use it whenever you cast magic."
"Okay, that part makes sense," I said. "But why is mine so… chaotic?"
"Because you're doing things the wrong way," Brynn explained patiently. "You're throwing around Essence you can't afford. Essence has ranks, from common elements like fire and water, up to rare ones like darkness or Holy Essence. The higher the rank, the more Essence it consumes."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "Your Essence capacity, Aleks, from what I've seen, probably ranks around D or even E level."
I frowned. "That bad, huh?"
"It's not necessarily bad," Leif cut in. "It just means you should use Essence suited to your capacity. But you're using Holy Essence, and that's way beyond your means. It's like someone with a handful of copper coins trying to buy a fucking castle."
I grimaced. "And here I thought having Holy Essence made me special."
"Oh, you're special, all right," Brynn laughed. "In fact, I'd say you're one of the few people insane enough to survive using Holy Essence with such a small Essence pool. Usually, that sort of stunt kills you instantly."
Great. Just great.
"Look," Brynn continued, gently nudging my shoulder. "If you really want to survive in Reslau—hell, if you want to survive at all—you need to learn how to control it. Ideally, you'd choose a lower-ranked Essence type first or start developing your internal Essence."
"Internal Essence?" I asked, confused.
"Yeah, internal," Leif answered. "Unlike external Essence, which manifests into elements like fire or ice, internal Essence enhances your physical abilities—speed, strength, endurance. Most swordsmen or fighters focus on that."
"Which is why Leif can punch through walls," Brynn smirked.
Leif shrugged. "It's a gift."
"Is Holy Essence considered strong?" I asked, hesitating a bit.
Brynn and Leif exchanged glances. Brynn's voice lowered, becoming more serious. "Holy Essence isn't just strong—it's extremely powerful. It belongs to the S-rank category, along with Dark Essence. They're both highly rare and dangerous."
"Then what's above S rank?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"S+ rank," Brynn said solemnly. "Godly Essence. It's basically a legend. Nobody even thinks about trying to use it. There's only been one person alive who's ever managed it successfully."
I raised my eyebrows. "Who?"
"Arkan, The Shadowborn," Brynn replied, his tone filled with quiet awe. "He's the one who single-handedly defeated the dark invasion five years ago. Armies of monsters, swarming the continent, wiping out entire cities. Everyone thought it was the end."
"The end of the world?" I muttered, disbelieving.
"It certainly felt like it," Leif said grimly. "Elves, dwarves, humans, even the holy kingdom of Lydia… Everyone put aside centuries of hatred and fought together. And Arkan was the one who ended it all. Fought the leader of the invasion by himself—and killed it."
I let out a slow breath, my mind spinning. "Sounds like some hero straight out of a storybook."
"He is," Brynn agreed quietly. "He's a living legend. Even now, nobody's surpassed him—not even the former Rank 1, Lucian Solare, the golden paladin. Leader of the Golden Guild."
"Golden Guild?"
"The strongest guild in the world," Leif explained simply. "They're a guild of legends. Anyone who makes it in there instantly becomes a celebrity."
"So, they're ranked, too?" I asked.
"Everyone is," Brynn nodded. "Every adventurer registered officially with the guild gets ranked based on strength, accomplishments, Essence level, and tournament victories."
"And what about the Top 4?" I asked, recalling overheard conversations.
Brynn smiled faintly. "They're special cases. All four were students of the legendary Cealith at the Academy of Reslau. They revolutionized how we use Essence. Two of them still remain in the top fifteen of the world rankings. And one of them—Lady Seraphina—is taking over the Academy officially after this year's selection tournament."
My heartbeat quickened. Cealith was close. I was closer than ever before.
I glanced forward, squinting into the afternoon sunlight, and for the first time, my eyes caught the distant, hazy outlines of spires rising from the horizon.
"That's it," Leif said softly, noticing my expression. "Reslau. The biggest city in Lydia."
My breath caught in my chest.
The city emerged slowly from the haze, its silhouette majestic and surreal. Towers rose from buildings of white and gold, elegant bridges spanned rivers like veins through marble flesh. A vast, imposing hill stood at the city's heart, crowned by a massive structure of intricate stonework, delicate arches, and spiraling towers—a place of legend and wonder, built like something from the dreams of gods.
"The Academy of Reslau," Brynn murmured, awe in his voice. "Welcome to your destination, Aleks."
I swallowed hard, staring at the distant grandeur. My heart pounded.
As we drew closer, the city's breathtaking beauty became clearer—spires and towers rose majestically, silhouetted against a sky streaked with deep crimson and gold. The massive hill at its center was crowned by the legendary Academy of Reslau, towering above the city like something straight from a fairy tale. Even from here, I could see delicate bridges suspended gracefully in mid-air, sparkling fountains reflecting the setting sun, and walls carved with intricate runes and spiraling motifs.
My heart thumped against my chest. Damn, I thought I'd seen impressive places back home—but this…this was on an entirely different level.
"Holy shit," I breathed, my steps slowing involuntarily.
Leif chuckled beside me. "Welcome to Reslau. The jewel of the South."
Brynn looked at me with a quiet, understanding smile. "It never gets old, does it?"
I shook my head slowly, speechless.
We weren't alone. Around us, hundreds—no, thousands—of travelers walked toward the city gates. Caravans stretched endlessly, merchants shouted their wares, adventurers strode confidently forward, armor gleaming under the fading sunlight.
I'd never seen so many people gathered in one place, not even back on Earth. The entire scene felt unreal, as though I had stumbled into some epic movie or fantasy novel. Yet here I was, part of it all. A nobody, swept along by a current that dwarfed me completely.
My mind buzzed from the earlier conversation. Essence ranks, internal and external control, legendary heroes—damn, that was a lot to take in. Just when I thought I'd somehow become special, just when I thought Holy Essence had elevated me into some chosen protagonist, reality hit hard. Instead of wielding it, I'd barely been surviving it—using it carelessly, like some idiot playing with explosives.
"Move it, kid!" a gruff voice barked from behind, jolting me out of my thoughts. I hurried forward, sticking closer to Brynn and Leif, letting the river of travelers carry me toward the massive gate ahead.
"Finally," Brynn sighed, stretching his arms with a groan. "It's been way too long since I set foot here."
Leif smirked. "Only thing that'll make this better is a nice, cold drink and a warm bed."
Laughter rippled among our companions, relief brightening tired faces.
As we entered beneath the towering city gates—etched with golden symbols and glowing softly—I overheard snippets of excited conversation.
"Are you here for the tournament, too?""Did you hear? Royalty's participating this year.""And the grandchildren of the Top 4! This is history."
My heart sped up again. The tournament. The very reason I was here. If I wanted any chance of meeting Cealith, this was my only shot. But looking around, seeing countless confident, armed adventurers, my stomach twisted with anxiety.
"Hey, Aleks," Brynn said quietly, as if sensing my discomfort. "Relax. You made it here. Trust yourself."
I exhaled deeply, nodding with a weak smile. "Thanks. Guess I'm just... overwhelmed."
Brynn patted my shoulder firmly. "One step at a time, remember?"
We moved deeper into the city, walking down cobbled streets bustling with life. Vendors shouted about exotic goods, musicians played lively melodies, and the rich aroma of street food filled the air. Buildings rose around us in graceful designs, each more elaborate than the last, adorned with intricate carvings and glowing magical lanterns.
Suddenly, a voice rang out from nearby. "Aleks? Aleks, is that you?"
I turned, confused, to see a familiar face pushing through the crowd toward me—a girl with radiant green eyes, pointed ears, and a gentle, unmistakable smile.
Serenya.
"Oh my gods," she laughed, genuinely surprised. "It is you!"
I blinked, momentarily speechless. "Serenya…?"
She grinned brightly. "I can't believe you made it all the way here. Wait—what are you doing here, so far from Lunia?"
I glanced awkwardly at Brynn and Leif, who both looked intrigued. Serenya wasn't alone; the rest of her group stood nearby, watching curiously. Embarrassingly enough, I realized I couldn't recall any of their names—not a single one besides hers.
"Uh, long story," I said sheepishly, rubbing the back of my head. "Guess you could say I'm here for the tournament."
Serenya raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Really? Didn't know you were an adventurer now. You learn Essence control that fast?"
Leif coughed loudly. Brynn hid a grin behind his hand.
I blushed deeply. "Well…let's just say I'm still working on it."
Serenya laughed warmly. "Fair enough. We'll have to catch up sometime soon. Good luck in the tournament, Aleks. Maybe we'll see each other around."
"Yeah," I nodded awkwardly, smiling back. "Maybe."
As she walked off with her group, chatting cheerfully, Brynn leaned closer with a teasing smirk. "Making friends already, huh? Didn't peg you for the social type."
I groaned softly, shaking my head. "Trust me, it's not what it looks like."
Brynn chuckled. "Sure, kid."
I gazed up once more at the Academy towering high above, its spires piercing the dusk. My chest tightened. Seeing Serenya again made reality even stranger, even more unbelievable.
Could it be? Could I really have died back then, along with Daisuke, Amina, Carmen—or even back home when the meteors fell? What if none of this was real?
But then again, I thought, taking in the stunning view of the city bathed in twilight, this feeling—this was the most real thing I'd ever experienced.
I clenched my fists tightly, resolve flooding my chest. If this was real—if I'd truly been granted a chance in a fantasy world—then I wouldn't fucking waste it.