"Kael," Victor said, his voice steady through the link. "Let's continue from when I was returning home."
"Okay, Grandpa," Kael replied quietly.
[Victor's Past]
As Victor and Jake walked toward the central area of the village, the familiar paths slowly guided them closer to Victor's home.
The stone roads were worn smooth by generations of footsteps. Wooden houses lined the way, their doors open, voices and laughter drifting out. Pylore was alive, as it always was.
Victor was the next head of the Aran family.
The son of Dominus P Aran and Lilandra P Aran.
His mother had died when he was still very young, lost in an accident far from home. He remembered little of her face, only fragments. A voice. A warmth. A presence that seemed to linger in the way the village breathed.
The unity of Pylore was not an accident.
The Aran clan had become its connecting pillar largely because of Lilandra's efforts and Dominus' unwavering support. Together, they had shaped a village where the four clans stood together rather than apart.
Victor's home reflected that unity.
It was not merely a house.
It was a massive castle, its stone walls rising above the surrounding buildings. Several vassal houses stood within its grounds, belonging to families of different clans. People moved freely inside, something rare in most villages where bloodlines stayed separate.
As they walked, Jake suddenly slowed.
Someone stood ahead.
Liora.
She was near her home, posture straight, long hair resting neatly over her shoulders. Her expression was calm, composed. Liora Voran, princess of the Voran clan.
"Good morning, Princess," Jake said easily, his tone playful as always.
Victor had no intention of stopping. His mind was already on his father and the new technique.
Still, he paused.
"Good morning," he said simply.
Liora turned to Jake first.
"Jake," she said softly, "I've already told you. Just call me Liora."
Then her gaze shifted to Victor.
Her tone changed.
"Hm," she said, studying him. "Victor. Still the same as always."
Victor stiffened slightly.
"At least call me something," Liora continued, a teasing edge in her voice. "All you do is train, fight, or sleep in that place of yours. How do you plan to handle a wife in the future?"
Victor blinked.
"Wife?" he repeated, then scoffed. "There's no way. I'm not getting married until I surpass my father."
He straightened, energy lighting his eyes.
"And Liora," he added, pointing at her, "just you wait. I'll beat you next time we fight, Soul Priestess. I'll be the strongest."
He chuckled, clearly proud of himself.
Liora crossed her arms.
"Beat me?" she said flatly. "Yes. You can beat me in your dreams."
Victor bristled immediately.
The two stared at each other, tension crackling in the air. This argument was nothing new. They had challenged each other for as long as Jake could remember.
"Enough," Jake said, stepping between them. "Both of you."
He looked at Victor.
"You want to learn the new technique, right? Then why are you wasting time arguing here?"
Then he turned to Liora.
"And you. Stop teasing him."
Victor clicked his tongue and turned away.
Liora smiled faintly.
"Learn what?" she asked, curiosity slipping through her calm. "Jake, what is it?"
"I don't know either," Jake admitted. "If you want to find out, come with us."
"Really?" Liora said, eyes lighting up. "I would."
"Jake, why—" Victor started.
"Let her come," Jake said. "We're all friends."
"Tch. Whatever," Victor muttered. "Just hurry up."
They soon reached Victor's home.
Dominus P Aran stood near the entrance, tall and broad-shouldered. His presence alone carried weight. His gaze was sharp, but his smile was warm.
"Welcome," Dominus said as he saw them approach. "I was expecting all three of you."
Victor frowned.
"Dad, I can understand knowing Jake and me would come. But how did you know Liora was coming too?"
Dominus chuckled softly.
"Come inside," he said. "I'll explain."
They sat on the woven mats inside the hall. Dominus remained standing before them.
"You're wondering how I knew Liora would come," he said, eyes on Victor.
"Yes," Victor replied.
"My Blood Art," Dominus said. "Advanced Vision."
Jake leaned forward slightly.
"I've heard of Blood Arts," he said.
"Of course you have," Dominus replied. "Your clan has relied on raw strength for generations."
Liora frowned.
"But how can anyone use Blood Arts?" she asked. "Aren't they exclusive to the Sanguis?"
"Good question," Dominus said. "The Sanguis possess exceptional physical strength and regeneration, which fulfills the blood requirement. But they are not the only ones."
He continued calmly.
"Blood Arts are techniques that borrow the will of a Blood Beast. They are living entities from the Beast World."
He turned to Liora.
"Tell me. How many worlds exist?"
She thought for a moment.
"Three," she said. "Our world. The Beast World. And the Soul World."
"Correct," Dominus said.
"Our world is guided by the Life Stone.
The Beast World is sustained by the Beast Stone.
The Soul World is protected by the Soul Stone."
He paused.
"The Voran worship the Soul King, who resides in the Soul World. This knowledge comes from history. From Kelma."
Jake's breath caught.
"The legendary warrior," Dominus continued. "He divided the original realm, separating the Soul World and the Beast World, and splitting the power of the Origin Stone."
"The Soul Stone still carries the greatest power," he added. "The original stone was the Origin Stone."
Silence followed.
Jake and Victor were both visibly excited.
"Uncle," Jake said eagerly, "please tell me more about Kelma."
"Dad," Victor said at the same time, "teach me Blood Art."
Dominus laughed softly.
"One at a time," he said. "Victor, I'll teach you."
He turned to Jake.
"And you'll have to forgive me. I don't know much more about Kelma than the legends."
"Uncle,Why did the legendary Warrior kelma divided the soul and Beast World?",asked Liora.
Dominus's expression grew serious.
"That was during the time when Souls and Blood Beasts were at war," he said.
"The Souls started it. They wanted more land. More influence."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"The World of Beasts was far larger than their numbers required, but it was still their land. So they fought back."
His voice lowered.
"The final stage of that war became so massive that even the Human World began to suffer its effects. The sky shifted. The land trembled. The balance that held reality together started to weaken."
Jake swallowed.
"That was when Sir Kelma acted," Dominus continued.
"He used the Origin Stone to teleport himself to their world. Alone."
Victor's eyes widened.
"With nothing but his sword and his own strength, he fought them. Not to rule them. Not to destroy them. But to stop the war."
Dominus's gaze hardened.
"When the fighting finally halted, Sir Kelma understood something important. If the worlds remained connected, conflict would return. It was only a matter of time."
He raised his hand slowly, as if drawing lines through the air.
"So he made a decision no one else could have made."
"With his sword, he cleaved the Soul World and the Beast World apart."
The room fell silent.
"But that was not enough," Dominus continued. "The Origin Stone itself was the cause of imbalance."
"So Sir Kelma divided it."
"The Life Stone and the Beast Stone were taken from it. The Soul Stone remained separate."
He looked at Victor.
"Kelma returned the Life Stone to the place where he had taken the Origin Stone from. He restored it to the Human World, ensuring that life would continue without direct interference from the other realms."
Jake leaned forward.
"But the Beast Stone," Dominus said quietly, "he did not leave behind."
"He took responsibility for it himself."
The weight of those words lingered.
"The Souls still desired power," Dominus continued. "Especially the High Souls. Kelma saw the truth. The High Souls enjoyed the war, while the lower Souls were forced to fight and die."
His voice carried restrained anger.
"So he split the Soul World once more."
"That is how it became three worlds."
Victor clenched his fist.
"The Soul Stone was entrusted to another," Dominus said. "The name has faded. Vin… something close to that."
He shook his head slowly.
"But that person became its guardian."
"And Sir Kelma," Dominus finished, "became the one who carried the burden of the Beast Stone."
"That is why history remembers him as the man who prevented The Great Calamity."
Liora exhaled softly.
"Then my father should know more about him," she said.
"They should have," Dominus replied. "But most of the records passed down through the Voran clan were lost over time."
He looked at the three of them.
"History fades."
"But the consequences of choices like Kelma's do not."
"Oh Got it uncle.",said Liora.