"There's the north gate," Blake said as he pointed out the carriage window. It had broken through the forest line after driving for half an hour.

One glance was all it took to witness the enormous wall in its entirety. The brown metal gate was surrounded by guard checkpoints. The vines and foliage that crept up the stone walls. And at the top was one of those metallic lighthouses that radiated a bright light—a light pylon.

After a momentary pause to check the proper paperwork and carriage inspection, the final checkpoint allowed them to pass. Team Breeze and Cyrus soon disembarked and went on foot.

However, they abruptly paused before the towering metal gate.

"We're waiting," Dílis leaned in and whispered to Cyrus.

"Waiting?" Cyrus discreetly looked around. "For what?"

"My father and the others."

And so they did. It didn't take long until another carriage passed the checkpoint. Once the door opened, Lord Dílis stepped out with that friendly smile as if it hadn't been the same man who had overseen the executions earlier today. In tow were Leal Archer and Orionis, their gazes landing on Anari.

"Well, here I was, believing that you all had snuck away without so much as a goodbye," Lord Dílis teased, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

And with it, the two groups merged while the canaries played in the air.

"Remember to stay vigilant." Orionis laid a hand on Anari's shoulder, his expression solemn. "Don't forget to leave a notice at a cache site at least once a week. And only take the path you're sure of." He then placed a small but filled pouch in her hand. "For you. Make sure to use it only if you're in dire need."

The aged butler stood beside him, his smile carrying a hint of sentimentality as memories of a cheerful little girl flooded his mind.

"Listen to my son, Anari," he warmly said. "And don't think we won't notice. I'll be checking the department, and if I'm even a bit worried, I'll report to Lord Dílis before coming after you myself."

Anari's calm demeanor couldn't help but soften into a small blooming smile.

"Yes. I'll make sure to tread carefully," she quietly assured them.

Meanwhile, Cyrus was a bit separated from the group. He glanced at the trio. The family resemblance was evident among the three, with Anari's features being much fairer than the men's. Yet it was her bright, purple eyes that further set her apart.

"The same goes for you two." Lord Dílis also placed both hands on Blake and Lilie. "If there's any sign of trouble, I'll arrive within a day."

"Don't worry so much," Lilie said, embracing her father. "I'm not a little girl anymore."

Cosan took a deep breath and reached to ruffle her hair. "Yes, of course. My mistake."

As the warm-hearted scene played out among them, Cyrus felt rather awkward and out of place. Even more so when he witnessed the same man watch the beheading of people without so much as a blink, act so affectionately.

However, this held no significance in the grand scheme of things as long as Cyrus distanced himself from all that messiness. With this in mind, Cyrus calmed himself down and resolved himself, occasionally stealing glances at The Dúndraíocht.

"Wade." Anari's tepid voice drew his attention. She approached Cyrus, setting down her travel bag and rummaging through it in silence. "Take this gift."

A moment later, a black book landed in his hands.

"A book?" Cyrus held back his curiosity to smile at her. "Thank you. I'll make sure to read it."

Anari nodded, her expression ever placid. "Treat it as a reward for your attempt at joining The Wayfarers. You should study it as it's a guide to the local flora and fauna around Avalorn, along with some Wayfarer tips."

This was good news. Sure, Cyrus glanced through local geological books, but they would never compare to someone with on-the-ground experience. With this, Cyrus could fill in the gaps of his missing knowledge.

"Thank you!" He genuinely expressed joy, holding back from opening the book. "You have no idea what this means to me."

"It is no trouble. It will help you grow up as quickly as possible if you need help."

Meanwhile, Blake took note of this and approached the two.

"Yeah, sorry." He scratched his head, looking sheepish. "I didn't bring a gift. But we'll have a night out on the town once we're back."

Great... Cyrus strained a smile. "Looking forward to it."

Lilie broke her talk with her father and turned to him. "I'm eager to see how far you've come once we return." —Her voice turned into a low whisper— "And be careful outside, okay?"

Cyrus nodded. "That goes without saying."

With that, the group headed towards the wicket within the imposing gate. Dílis, Leal, and Blake veered off the group and approached the smaller door. After one last round of farewells, Leal pressed the door, and a gray light shimmered on the locks, unlocking the door. It then swung open.

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And waiting beyond was the fog.

It was both aimless and shapeless. And yet, a black smog of dread welled up on Cyrus' spine. Even when Bird perched on his shoulder and rubbed its head in affection did little in consolation. No, only the sight of the fog's oblivion when nearing the wicket brought comfort, small as it was.

But while Cyrus was stifled, Team Breeze's canaries were unafraid. They flew through the wicket first and played with each other, fluttering about in game of tag.

"Goodbye Father! Uncle and Grandpa!" Lilie waved at the waiting group. "And Cyrus, tell me all about your training when I come back!"

"We'll see you soon, My Lady," Butler Leal sighed, waving at the trio. "Take Care. You too, Master Blake, Everyone."

Lord Dílis' smile grew warm. He placed his hands behind his back and nodded. "Listen to your Orionis and Archer. Don't forget to send updates on the situation."

"Yes, Lord Dílis." Anari nodded and gesture Lilie and Blake to follow though the exit and into the outer world. And with that, Team Breeze was gone. The wicket closed behind them, and a gray light flickered, locking the door. And a long quiet settled between the men. That was until the oldest among them broke it.

"Son, take me to the top, please," Butler Leal sighed wistfully. "I want to keep watching them."

Orionis nodded and guided him through a nearby stairwell. And so Lord Dílis and Cyrus were left alone. The latter sighed softly. Cyrus avoided directly making eye contact with The Steward while wishing to sidestep any discussion of what had transpired earlier today.

"It's thoughtful of you and the Leals to come here and say goodbye," Cyrus began, taking the initiative to choose the topic. "And Orionis seems like a great father. Archer, too."

Lord Dílis smiled warmly despite keeping his gaze on the gate. "In Avalorn, there's a cherished tradition. Wayfarers and their family gather at the gate, offering luck and well wishes for a safe journey." —His gaze drifted momentarily towards the stairwell where the Leals had departed— "But you should know, Cyrus. Orionis isn't Anari's father but her uncle."

"Ah... Were Blake's and Anari's parents unable to make it?"

Lord Dílis shook his head. "If it were only so. In events like these, unless they were bed-stricken or heartless, nobody would ignore what could be the last time they saw their loved ones, even for a brief moment." He sighed tiredly. "And I'm certain both Morgan's and Anari's parents would have cherished this moment if given the chance."

At first, Cyrus had no idea what he meant. But it soon dawned on him once he glanced at those dark brown eyes.

"Oh," Cyrus said softly.

The two remained silent for some time, their gazes transfixed on the gate that safeguarded Avalorn from the outside world.

***

Days passed since the execution. In the meantime, Cyrus had immersed himself in long hours of studying and training with his mana. He soon fell into a rhythm and rarely allowed himself to take a break.

But there was an issue that Cyrus was vexed with: Lord Dílis. He felt somewhat awkward being around the man, as Cyrus wasn't particularly close with him in the first place. Moreover, the execution left a bad taste in Cyrus' mouth. That, on top of Cyrus' feeling he was freeloading off of them, he felt a sense of unease about this setup. Fortunately, Lord Dílis remained either unfazed by the tension or had not noticed it. He always offered to answer Cyrus' questions and dedicated his mornings to training him.

And soon, the day came for Cyrus' ascension to a fire apprentice.

That morning, Cyrus was in the back gardens as usual. But unlike yesterday, he found himself atop a large stone platform. It certainly wasn't there last evening. With gleaming brass buttons, he had donned a dark green trench coat with black sacks and a crisp brown suit shirt. On his cuffs and collars, the knot work art of a tree that was Avalorn's splendor bore. Indeed. it was the Wayfarer's uniform. Warm-fitted. And it felt like wearing a glove meant for someone else.

"Am I really supposed to wear and stand on this? It feels... like I'm lying." Cyrus approached the platform's edge and cast a quizzical glance at Lord Dílis before him. "I know that I'm supposed to emit an aura of warmth during the ascension, but isn't this a bit much?"

Lord Dílis chuckled. "Come now, Cyrus. On the first day of attempting to awaken your mana sense, you've barreled through it and created your runes without so much as a hiccup. And as if that weren't enough, casting flames took no effort from you." He shrugged. "You were obviously born with a strong affinity with fire. And while you don't know this, there have been records of strange happenings during ascensions." Lord Dílis smiled and knocked on the platform. "Think of this as a bit of... insurance."

"Right... That's a good idea, your Lordship. Better to be right than sorry," Cyrus said, rubbing his beard in contemplation. "Still, I have to ask: Was there anything unusual in my previous ascension?"

Lord Dílis' expression was the same as ever, smile and all. "There was nothing worthy of notice, as far as I sensed. But let's try this out just in case. I don't want my plants or house to catch on fire."

Cyrus nodded, but confusion creased his brow. "But what about these?" He gestured at his outfit. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to sound ungrateful, but shouldn't I wait until I'm an official?"

"Ah, but you seem to have forgotten something, Cyrus." Lord Dílis tugged on his vest. "What happened when you first used your flame runes?"

Ah... Indeed, clothes did catch on fire; who would have thought?

"So you're saying—"

"That's right. Down to your very delicates, the attire is enchanted to resist fire. So even if you light up in flames, these won't... unless you want them to."

Despite that sentence's rather foreboding latter part, Cyrus felt nothing but gratitude. And so he went to the center of the platform before sitting down. A moment later, Lord Dílis hopped over the edge and followed in pursuit.

"Have you absorbed the flame crystal yet?" He asked, his gaze fixed on Cyrus.

The latter nodded. "But why do it right before the transformation?"

"The answer is two-fold." Lord Dílis raised a finger. "The first is that there's a chance that combining the crystal with the transformation might give you a sudden burst of insight. You could gain a new ability effortlessly." He then raised a second finger. "Second, it's known to strengthen your foundations. You could be missing just that last bit without even knowing it."

"I see," Cyrus mumbled, then turned hesitant. "Should we ask Latriaen to watch over me?"

Lord Dílis cast a knowing look. "Do you expect him to say yes?"

The answer was obvious, and it made Cyrus sigh. "You're right. Then, let's get this over with."

"I wish you the best, Cyrus. And don't embarrass me by becoming the first mage who can't pass their apprentice rank," Lord Dílis teased before hopping off the platform.

Wait. Cyrus' gaze grew wide. Can that happen? Wait... come back!

And with that, it began. Shaking his head from all distractions, Cyrus directed his accumulated fire runes to his origin life rune. And with it followed his consciousness.

So there he was in the great void again.

Those four great spheres floated in an inconceivable distance. Timeless and majestic, Cyrus paused at the sight, compelled to briefly appreciate those flaming surfaces with dancing astral patterns beyond his understanding.

I wish I had my camera.

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