The grand dinner was over.
The echoes of cutlery and conversation had faded, replaced by the heavy silence of night. Throughout the sprawling palace, every resident had retreated to their chambers and surrendered to sleep.
Far from the tranquil walls of the Chenwongo estate, atop the highest and most jagged peak of the Obsidian Range, a lone figure disturbed the crystalline glow of the moonlight.
A beam of silver light fell upon a black silhouette seated atop a beast that defied ordinary classification.
It resembled a massive eagle, but only in the vaguest sense.
Its enormous talons gripped the granite peak with terrifying ease.
A single obsidian horn crowned its head, while vast leathery wings stretched from its body—wings powerful enough to generate storms with a single sweep.
From its mouth protruded long, curved fangs, each nearly the size of a mammoth's tusk. Drops of poison clung to their edges, shimmering faintly beneath the cold moonlight.
The cloaked figure stared toward the distant cluster of lights belonging to the Chenwongo estate.
Then a voice emerged from beneath the hood.
Low.
Resonant.
Completely devoid of warmth.
"The time is not yet."
The mountain wind carried the words across the peak.
"But when the time comes..."
The figure's gaze remained fixed upon the kingdom.
"...this kingdom will burn."
With a powerful thrust, the enormous beast launched itself into the sky.
Its wings caught the air with enough force to scatter loose stone from the mountain.
Within seconds, both rider and beast disappeared beyond the horizon.
The Obsidian Range returned to silence.
Morning came much more gently.
The first rays of sunlight slipped through the tall, arched windows of Jai's room and fell across his face.
He slowly opened his eyes.
For several seconds, Jai remained still.
Then he remembered.
Today was the day.
His journey would begin.
He climbed out of bed and walked toward the basin.
The water there did not come from an ordinary pitcher.
Instead, it flowed continuously from the mouth of a small blue artifact shaped like a sculpted sapphire fountain. The artifact kept the water naturally clean and chilled.
Jai gathered some in his hands and splashed the icy water across his face.
The cold instantly drove away the last traces of sleep.
After washing, he settled into his usual place: a high-backed cushioned chair on the small ornate balcony connected to his room.
For a while, he simply sat there.
Silence surrounded him.
A peaceful moment before everything changed.
Then came a quiet knock.
Jai turned his head.
"Who is it?"
The door opened.
Mable stepped inside.
She wore a pure white dress woven with delicate shimmering patterns. Her bracelets, earrings, and necklace were crafted from polished white stone, perfectly matching her clothing.
In her hands was a steaming cup.
She walked over and carefully placed the coffee on the table in front of Jai.
Then she looked at him.
Her usual brightness was missing.
"Are you nervous, dear?"
Jai said nothing.
"Did you sleep properly?"
She tried to smile.
"Today is a big day for you."
Instead of answering, Jai studied her face.
"Mom..."
Mable blinked.
"Did you sleep at all?"
Her expression stiffened.
Jai pointed toward her eyes.
"There are dark circles under them."
Mable let out a tired sigh.
"Of course I didn't sleep."
She sat down opposite him.
"How could I?"
Her voice softened.
"I'm worried about my son."
Jai remained quiet.
"Since the day you were born, I haven't spent even one full day away from you."
A strained smile appeared on her face.
"Sometimes it still feels like I gave birth to you only yesterday."
She looked at him for several seconds.
"And now my baby has grown up."
Her eyes became slightly wet.
"You're preparing to leave home and deal with things that may one day concern the entire world."
Jai reached across the table and gently patted her hand.
"Mom, don't worry."
He gave her the most reassuring smile he could manage.
"Miss Beatrice gave me the emergency bracelet, remember?"
Mable nodded reluctantly.
"If anything happens, I'll activate it immediately."
He paused.
"And I'll make sure I eat properly every day."
That finally earned him a faint smile.
"I know that's what you're really worried about."
Mable narrowed her eyes.
"Don't joke about that."
Jai laughed softly.
Then he stood and gently guided her toward the door.
"Now please go rest."
She looked at him.
"I still have to finish getting ready."
Mable gave him one final, lingering look.
Then she nodded and quietly left the room.
The door closed.
Jai's smile immediately faded.
The heaviness returned.
Part of it came from fear.
Not fear of one specific enemy, but fear of the enormous unknown world waiting beyond the safety of the Chenwongo Kingdom.
The rest came from pressure.
The promise he had made to Beatrice.
The legacy he had inherited.
The power of Emperor Dominatrix.
The Chenwongo name.
He needed to become stronger.
Much stronger.
Jai took a slow breath.
There was no point worrying now.
He finished preparing, tightened his traveling cloak around himself, and headed toward the great dining hall.
Breakfast felt completely different from normal.
Usually, Jai ate privately or with only a few members of the immediate family.
Today, however, several people sat around the enormous polished table.
Two of them immediately caught Jai's attention.
His uncle William.
And Rena, Beatrice's daughter—and Jai's aunt.
For years, neither had been truly welcomed into the main family gatherings.
The reason was simple.
Their spiritual cores had never fully awakened.
They possessed only basic magical capability, not enough to satisfy the family's old and deeply exclusionary standards of strength.
James, who was already seated at the table, looked toward them.
His face immediately twisted in confusion.
"What is this?"
Everyone turned toward him.
James pointed toward William and Rena.
"Why are outsiders sitting at the Chenwongo table?"
The room became silent.
Beatrice slowly turned her head.
Her gaze locked onto James.
Then...
pressure descended.
A wave of suppressed spiritual energy spread across the dining hall.
It wasn't even close to Beatrice's full strength.
But it was enough.
The maids immediately dropped to their knees.
Several servants bowed their heads, trembling under the oppressive weight.
Beatrice spoke.
Her voice was quiet.
But terrifying.
"My brother..."
James stiffened.
"Who created that disgraceful rule?"
No one answered.
"The rule that decided anyone without sufficient power could no longer be treated as a true member of the Chenwongo family."
She stood.
Her white dress shifted softly around her.
"That rule ends today."
James stared at her.
Beatrice looked across the entire table.
"As the current representative of the Chenwongo family head..."
Her voice became firmer.
"I am abolishing it."
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then emotion erupted.
William's parents immediately rushed toward him.
His mother wrapped both arms around him.
His father followed.
"Son..."
Their voices broke.
"We always loved you."
William stood frozen.
"But because of that terrible rule, we lost you."
His mother's tears soaked into his shoulder.
"We wanted to see you so many times."
His father's voice trembled.
"But that rule made us afraid even to approach you."
William's eyes filled with tears.
For years, he had believed that the separation would never end.
Now his parents stood before him.
Alive.
Holding him.
Accepting him.
"Mom..."
His voice cracked.
"Dad..."
He pulled them closer.
"I thought I was going to die separated from my own family."
His mother began crying harder.
William looked toward Beatrice.
"Thank you, Miss Beatrice."
His words came out between shaky breaths.
"Thank you for ending that rule."
Beatrice gave him a small nod.
Across the table, Jai watched the reunion.
Something inside him relaxed.
The fear and pressure that had followed him since waking faded slightly.
For the first time that morning, he smiled without forcing it.
After breakfast, preparations for the journey resumed.
Jai and James gathered their belongings and met their families near the grand marble-pillared entrance of the palace.
Mable and Edward approached Jai first.
Edward handed him a heavy pouch.
Jai opened it slightly.
Inside was currency.
"One hundred thousand Zuo," Edward said.
Jai looked up.
It was no small amount.
One Zuo was roughly equivalent to ten dollars.
This was enough money to travel comfortably for a long time.
"Use it wisely," Edward said.
Jai nodded.
"I will."
James's parents then approached their son.
They handed him an even larger pouch.
James opened it.
His eyes widened.
"One million Zuo?"
His father smiled.
"You'll probably waste half of it."
James grinned.
"No promises."
Mable then pulled Jai closer.
Her expression changed.
The warmth disappeared.
She became serious.
"Jai, listen carefully."
He nodded.
"After what happened during your Awakening Ceremony, your identity is no longer safe."
Jai's expression sharpened.
"Every major sect, kingdom, and organization may eventually hear about Emperor Dominatrix's power returning."
She lowered her voice.
"Some will want to recruit you."
"Others will want to control you."
"And some..."
She paused.
"...may decide that killing you now is safer than allowing you to become powerful later."
Jai remained silent.
Mable looked toward James.
"You too."
James raised an eyebrow.
"You cannot travel around openly as the second prince of Chenwongo."
Both cousins immediately understood.
Mable reached into a small pouch and removed two smooth, deep-green stones.
Each one possessed a faint internal glow.
She handed one to Jai and one to James.
"These are Tier 7 disguise artifacts."
Jai turned the stone in his palm.
"They're called Veridian Chrysalis."
James looked interested.
"What do they do?"
"They create an illusion around your entire appearance."
Mable pointed toward the green stone.
"To ordinary people, you will appear completely different."
Jai nodded.
"But there is a limitation, isn't there?"
Mable smiled faintly.
"Of course."
Her expression became serious again.
"Do not approach anyone above Tier 7 if you can avoid it."
James frowned.
"Why?"
"Their spiritual perception may be strong enough to see through the illusion."
Both cousins nodded.
There was one more advantage.
The artifacts had already been awakened and prepared by Mable beforehand.
That meant Jai and James did not need Tier 7 strength to activate them themselves.
Even with their Tier 10 cores, they could supply enough energy to maintain the illusion because the artifacts' primary awakening process had already been completed.
Jai activated his stone.
A faint glow spread around his body.
His appearance changed.
His hair became silver, while faint brown undertones appeared beneath it.
His clothing transformed into the appearance of a brown traveling coat over a white shirt, silver trousers, and black shoes.
His face changed as well.
Older.
More ordinary.
Forgettable.
Jai studied himself.
Then smiled.
"Arthur Berny."
James looked at him.
"What?"
"That's my name."
Jai adjusted the illusionary coat.
"Arthur Berny. A traveling teacher of Elemental Magic."
James laughed.
"Teacher?"
Jai ignored him.
Then James activated his own artifact.
His appearance shifted.
Brown hair.
Brown eyes.
A simple white shirt, black trousers, and brown traveling shoes.
He looked much more like an ordinary craftsman than royalty.
"Clement Berny," James announced.
Jai stared at him.
"Clement?"
"Arthur's younger brother."
James grinned.
"A traveling carpenter."
Jai sighed.
"Fine."
Their disguises were complete.
Arthur Berny and Clement Berny had officially replaced Jai and James Chenwongo.
At least to the outside world.
Their families gathered around them.
Mable hugged Jai tightly.
"Eat properly."
"I will."
"Sleep properly."
"I will."
"Don't fight everyone you meet."
Jai paused.
"I'll try."
She glared at him.
Jai smiled.
Edward placed one hand on Jai's shoulder.
"Come back stronger."
Jai nodded.
"I will."
James exchanged similar farewells with his parents.
Then both cousins turned away from the palace.
Without another word, they walked through the gates.
Their journey had officially begun.
The capital city was already alive.
Merchants shouted from stalls.
Carriages moved through the streets.
Travelers entered and left through the enormous city gates.
Jai—now Arthur Berny—looked toward the east.
"If we're going to the Dwarf Kingdom, we'll have to travel east."
James adjusted the pack on his shoulder.
"And?"
"We'll have to cross the Whispering Jungle."
James's smile faded slightly.
"The dangerous one?"
"The very dangerous one."
Jai nodded.
"The forest is filled with magical creatures."
James sighed.
"Of course it is."
Before leaving the city, however, Jai made one final detour.
They entered a cluttered artifact shop.
The smell inside was strange—a mixture of metal, old wood, herbs, and magical residue.
Artifacts of every shape and size covered the walls.
Jai approached the counter.
An elderly shopkeeper immediately looked up.
His eyes brightened at the sight of potential customers.
"What can I help you with?"
Jai leaned forward.
"Do you have an artifact capable of detecting creatures nearby?"
The shopkeeper smiled.
"Of course."
He bent beneath the counter.
A moment later, he produced a small silver object shaped like a beetle.
He placed it in Jai's hand.
Jai's eyes widened slightly.
"I know this."
The shopkeeper looked impressed.
"You do?"
Jai held it toward the light.
"A Tier 10 Noise Specter."
James moved closer.
"What does it do?"
"It detects movement through sound."
Jai turned the artifact over.
"We'll be able to hear the footsteps of enemies or creatures within approximately one kilometer."
James nodded.
"Useful."
"Very."
The shopkeeper smiled eagerly.
"Excellent craftsmanship."
Jai immediately looked suspicious.
"How much?"
The bargaining began.
The shopkeeper started with an absurdly high price.
Jai rejected it.
The shopkeeper lowered it.
Jai lowered it again.
Back and forth they went until the elderly merchant looked personally offended.
Finally, Jai purchased the Noise Specter for 300 Zuo.
James stared at him as they finished.
"You nearly made that man cry."
"He'll survive."
James approached the counter next.
"Do you have anything that helps advance Space elemental powers?"
The shopkeeper immediately shook his head.
"Unfortunately, sir, no Space artifacts at the moment."
James looked disappointed.
"But..."
The shopkeeper brightened.
"I do have an excellent Ice artifact."
"No."
James turned away instantly.
The shopkeeper blinked.
Jai followed his cousin outside.
Once they were back on the street, Jai asked, "Why didn't you ask about Air advancement artifacts?"
James adjusted the carpenter's pack hanging over his shoulder.
"I want to advance Space first."
Jai raised an eyebrow.
James continued.
"Space is my hardest element."
He looked ahead.
"If I can understand and advance it properly, improving my affinity and control over my other elements should become easier."
That logic made sense.
For people with more than one elemental affinity, advancement was complicated.
A cultivator could not recklessly push only one element far beyond the others.
Their elemental affinities needed to remain within the same general tier of development.
Otherwise, the imbalance could destabilize the core and damage the body when the next level of energy entered it.
For James, Space was the rarest and most difficult of his elements.
Mastering it first would make balancing the rest much easier.
Their conversation gradually faded as the city disappeared behind them.
Ahead stood the Whispering Jungle.
The forest stretched across the horizon like a living wall.
Towering trees blocked much of the sunlight.
Dense vines covered the earth.
The air near the forest boundary felt noticeably colder and heavier.
And somewhere far inside...
something howled.
James stopped.
"So this is it."
Jai removed the Noise Specter and slipped it into an inner pocket where he could easily reach it.
"Yes."
Both cousins stared into the darkness between the trees.
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Then Jai stepped forward.
James followed.
Together, they crossed the forest line.
Behind them stood the safety of the Chenwongo Kingdom.
Ahead waited monsters.
Enemies.
Unknown lands.
And perhaps answers to mysteries neither of them yet understood.
Their journey had begun.
Now the world would decide whether Arthur and Clement Berny would return as stronger men...
or disappear into the darkness like countless travelers before them.