The cool mountain air brushed against my face as I walked through the stone passageway connecting the training grounds to the dormitory. The sun had risen fully now, casting a golden hue over Fort Aetherhold. My muscles still ached faintly from the evaluation, but it wasn't unpleasant. If anything, it felt like proof—of growth, of new strength.
I headed inside the hollow mountain dormitory, when I notice damon inside the garden sitting where previously lira was standing beneath the tree.
"Yo," Damon called out, waving lazily.
"Hey," I replied, slowing as I approached.
He pushed off the ground, falling into step beside me. "How's the body holding up?"
"Sore. But manageable."
He chuckled. "You should be proud. Not many rookies could bench press what you did without snapping a tendon. Hell, most Divine Order {I} hunters would be crawling to medical."
I glanced at him. "About that... It felt too easy. I mean, I was only in the World of Despair for a few days, Something feels off does everybody, Get this much power up?"
Damon nodded slowly. "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."
We began walking around the garden while looking at the giant tree which reached atleast around 50 meters.
"You probably don't realize how strange your case is," Damon said. "Most Chosen spend weeks in the World of Despair. Twenty to thirty days at minimum. They fight for every scrap of experience, every inch of progress. It's a meat grinder. Constant fear, pain, and the looming threat of madness, they always come out different. But you... you walked out after three, maybe five days? And already reached level ten?"
He looked at me, and I met his gaze.
"That's not normal. Not even close."
I didn't say anything at first. I knew why—at least partially. [Reward Enhancement], the passive skill I'd received from the Arcane Codex, had multiplied everything I gained. Experience, loot, power. But I wasn't ready to share that. Not yet. Damon seemed trustworthy, but some instincts you just don't ignore.
So I just nodded slowly. "I did wonder. It never felt... overwhelming. There were tough fights, but I never felt truly desperate.it didn't quite fit the name like world of despair."
"Exactly," he said, folding his arms. "Which brings us to the next point. Commander Lira and I agreed—you need someone to guide you, someone to make sure this meteoric rise doesn't lead you off a cliff."
He grinned. "Starting tomorrow, I'm officially your mentor."
I blinked. "You?"
"Surprised?"
"A little."
He laughed. "Fair. But I'm one of the few here who can handle your level of power progress –ion and knows about your circumstances. Besides, you'll need someone who knows how this world really works. Speaking of which... you asked me earlier about the High Council, in the shuttle remember?"
I nodded. "Yeah. What do you know about them?"
Damon paused again, voice dropping slightly.
"The High Council is... complicated. They run Pandora from the shadows. No public addresses. No press conferences. Not even a name list. Just whispers, directives, and sealed messages."
He looked over at me. "Even among Demon Hunters, most don't know they exist. Only Commanders and those in high positions get briefed. I only know what I do because of how long I've served. Even then, it's scraps. The Council formed after the first rift opened. Some say they're not even all human."
I frowned. "Not human?"
"Rumors," Damon said with a shrug. "But in our line of work, you shouldn't don't dismiss anything. They fund the Hunter Organization, assign territories, and even pick which rifts get priority. They're the hand behind the curtain."
The wind picked up slightly, rustling through the leaves above us.
After a moment, I looked at Damon again. "Hey, I just remembered... I might need some supplies. Food, clothes, maybe a few daily-use items. But I don't exactly have money."
He laughed. "Ah,wallet problem. But don't worry about such problems, you will have your monthly salary from tomorrow, afterall in Essence you are government employee."
I scratched the back of my neck. "Also, I saw how much a skill book costs on the Hunter Skill Store. A common healing skill was going for a million dollars. I thought it was a glitch."
"Not a glitch," Damon said, grinning. "That's the real price. Those books are extremely rare. Only Chosen can obtain them from within the World of Despair or high-tier rift events. Supply's low, demand's insane."
"So... what if I sold one? I got a couple of skill books I'm not using."
Damon blinked, then looked at me with surprise. "You want to sell one?"
I nodded. "yeah."
He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Honestly, it's smart. Just don't sell something you might regret later. A lot of hunters hoard those books for years until they find the right synergy. But if you're sure... head to the convenience store in the dormitory. Ask for a woman named Faen. She handles private trades for the organization."
"Got it. Thanks."
"Don't mention it," he said, then clapped me on the shoulder. "Rest up. Tomorrow we start real training."
He walked off with that signature lazy swagger, disappearing around the bend.
I exhaled, and moved towards the convience store. The weight of what he told me—the truth of my growth, the grim reality behind the World of Despair, and the mysterious High Council—clung to my mind like a shadow.
Eventually, I found myself standing in front of a door with a metal plaque that simply read: "General Store."
The automatic door slid open with a soft chime, and I stepped inside.
At first glance, it looked just like any convenience store. Neatly arranged shelves lined the walls, filled with everything from instant rations to medical kits, clothing, and even glowing trinkets sealed behind locked glass panels. The scent of sterilized air mixed with faint traces of leather and dried herbs. It was compact, efficient—but unremarkable.
At least, until I looked toward the counter.
A woman stood there, casually flipping through a thick, holographic ledger. Her hair was a pale silvery-blue, falling in long braids over one shoulder. Her skin had the faint shimmer of someone who'd been touched by Aether. Her nameplate simply read "Faen."
She looked up, her golden eyes flicking toward me with vague curiosity. "You're the new one," she said. "Kade Voss, right?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Damon sent me. He said I could sell a skill book here."
At that, Faen tilted her head and gave me a once-over, as if reevaluating my existence entirely. Her gaze lingered for a second longer than I liked before she tapped on the screen beside her.
"Alright, let's see it," she said, sliding a sleek, black tablet across the counter. "Fill in the skill's details—name, type, rarity, and origin. If it's Rift-bound, mark that too."
I pulled the [Skill Book: danger sense] from my inventory and placed it on the counter. Faen raised an eyebrow.
"Huh. Rare to see a support skill from that world… That's worth something."
I took the tablet and quickly filled in the information. When I handed it back, Faen skimmed the form, her fingers moving rapidly over the surface to log it into the internal network.
"I'll upload the listing," she said. "If a buyer comes through, we'll notify you immediately. Payment—if accepted—will go directly to your account linked to the organization."
"Thanks," I replied.
Faen turned around, rummaged beneath the counter for a moment, then came back with a small, rectangular package wrapped in reinforced cloth. She placed it gently in front of me.
"Damon left this for you. Didn't say what's inside—just told me to make sure you got it today."
I picked it up, its weight solid in my hands. For now, I didn't unwrap it.
"Appreciate it."
She nodded. "You're welcome, Kade. And… welcome to the team."