The next morning, after a night of restless meditation, I rose with a new sense of purpose. The gold coin still felt heavy in my pouch, a physical reminder of the mysteries and complexities of this new world. I knew I needed to visit the Golden Merchant Association, but something inside me urged caution. I decided to spend a little more time observing the city, to understand its rhythms and to learn more before diving into a place of such power and influence.
I walked the streets with a clearer mind, paying less attention to the sensory overload and more to the quiet details. I watched people's faces, listened to snippets of their conversations, and tried to understand the unwritten rules that governed this place. The city felt alive, a single breathing entity with a thousand hearts beating within it.
As I was passing a bustling square, where people were gathered around a town crier, my ears, trained by Elias to pick up the faintest of whispers, caught a fragment of a different conversation. Two merchants were speaking in low, excited tones.
"Did you hear?" one said, a man with a heavy beard and a bright red tunic. "About the competition that was going to held?"
The other, a wiry woman with a stack of scrolls under her arm, nodded eagerly. "Yes, they say Duke Valerius himself is hosting it. In his city, Althorian. A tournament of skill and magic."
"Ten days from now, isn't it?" the first man added. "They're calling it the 'Althorian Competition'. It's open to all. A chance for any commoner to prove themselves".
My heart began to pound in my chest. A competition. A place where skill, not just money or title, determined worth. A tournament where I could see others, perhaps even those my own age, use the powers I had only ever practiced alone in the Gloomwood. The thought of it, of seeing how others fought, how they channeled their own Aether or Umbra, was a thrilling and foreign concept. I had never faced anyone other than Elias. The idea of seeing a peer's strength was an intoxicating pull.
I spent the rest of the day with a new goal in mind. I wanted to learn more about this competition. I returned to the Roaring Lion as the sun began to set, the familiar warmth of the inn a comforting embrace after a day of deliberate observation. I took my seat in the corner and ordered my dinner, waiting for Bram.
He brought me a plate of roasted boar and a fresh tankard of ale. "You're back early tonight, Kael," he said, setting the food down. "Find what you were looking for out there?".
I nodded, taking a deep breath before speaking. "I heard a rumor today," I said, my voice filled with a genuine curiosity. "About a competition. In a city called Althorian. Hosted by a Duke Valerius?".
Bram's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise followed by a knowing look. "Ah, so the whispers have reached even a quiet lad like you," he said. He pulled up his stool and sat down, his usual jovial self replaced with a more serious demeanor. "Yes, the rumors are true. The 'Althorian Competition' they're calling it. Duke Valerius is a man who loves a good show of power and skill, and he's known for being a fair arbiter. The city of Althorian is a few days' journey to the west."
"Is it... a common thing?" I asked, trying to understand the scale of it. "A tournament?"
"Not a common thing at all," Bram replied, shaking his head. "This one's special. The whispers say that this is more than just a friendly competition. The prize is rumored to be a position in his own household as a knight, and the chance to train under the best masters in the land. And because of that, many rising prodigies from many different clans and schools are said to be attending. Children of powerful families, young mages, and gifted swordsmen. All looking for a chance to make a name for themselves."
My blood ran hot. Rising prodigies. People like me, in a way. People who were trained in power and magic from a young age. My heart hammered against my ribs, a thrilling, almost frightening beat. The silent, solitary life I had known suddenly seemed so small. I had only ever practiced my skills against the ghosts of shadows and the lessons of my grandfather. Now, there was a chance to test my strength, to see how I stacked up against others.
I pictured them in my mind—a mage from the Lumen Empire, a warrior from the Aeron Empire. How would they fight? Would they use the Aether to create shields of blinding light? Would they summon the Ignis to incinerate their opponents? Would they be able to sense the Umbra? The questions swirled in my head, a torrent of possibilities. This wasn't just a competition; it was an education, a chance to learn what I couldn't from ancient scrolls or a lone mentor. It was a chance to see how the powers of this world truly worked in the hands of others. I knew what I had to do.
My journey to Silvergate had been a destination, but now, a new one was calling to me. I would travel to Althorian and find out. The weight of the world was no longer a burden; it was an invitation.