Hours passed, and the sun began setting over the city. On a second hill, a bit farther than the first, rose a great wooden tower, the grand library of Bhavalia.
Windows glowed as candles flickered to life within the houses, while the city slowly drifted toward slumber. Yet the library had already begun to darken. Students and researchers poured out of the structure, stretching their aching backs in exhaustion. Some wore troubled expressions, mumbling to themselves in quiet doubt as they descended the hill.
Then, from the darkness beyond the giant doorway, emerged a girl with hair like polished obsidian. Reema stepped out among the crowd after a full afternoon of study, the dim light of the evening catching briefly across her weary face.
Her gaze was drawn to the white line. Just like before, she still wondered what it was and what had caused it to appear.
Finding no answers from books, nor getting a divine speech, she accepted the fact that it was neighter the place, nor the time to unveil the truth behind. With a brief glance at the sun, she decided that it was time to get her home, the sanctuary.
Following a rope anchored not far from the library's exit, she descended the sharp hill.
The path was rocky but clear. Shadows stretched longer with each step, slowly wrapping around her like living things. The white city had already fallen into darkness.
The best route from the library to the sanctuary would have been the dirt path outside the walls, but after a brief glance toward the perimeter, Reema instead chose to venture into the city.
Merchants were closing their stalls as she entered, wrapping their goods in large chests or long sheets of fabric before loading them onto their carriages. The streets, once lit by sunlight, were now replaced by torchlight and candles, casting a warmer glow across Bhavalia.
Further into the streets, a familiar scent drifted through the air, drawing Reema's attention. It came from a stall where she used to eat when she was younger, serving Roheline meat stew with buttered toasted bread seasoned with pepper and salt.
Roheline meat carried a deep, wild flavor, rich and earthy, yet strangely refined. The tender cuts seemed to melt on the tongue, leaving behind a warmth of pepper, butter, and slow-cooked herbs.
It almost felt as if the scent was calling her.
Reema tried to resist the temptation, but gave in anyway.
Within seconds, she slipped into an empty spot at the counter and looked at the old chef.
«One portion of "Slowfire Roheline", please! » - she said excitedly, raising her right hand straight so she would be noticed more easily.
The dark-skinned man at the cooking station kept his gaze fixed on the bread on the cutting board. His white apron stood out against the yellowish walls.
The structure wasn't large; there were only four chairs in front of the counter. To the left hung a poster, an illustration of a man bound in ropes, hands raised toward the sky, while a dragon loomed behind him, breathing fire. On the right was the kitchen: a large pot over an open flame where the stew simmered, a cutting board, and sacks of raw meat. The bread was prepared in advance and kept warm using Xer energy.
The old, thin man looked at her and greeted her with words she had heard countless times before.
«Sure, coming right up!» - he said with a smile - «Knew you'd come back eventually,» the old man added, chuckling.
Leaning forward and narrowing her eyes slightly, she replied:
«Yeah, sure, as if!» - she said, pointing at the back of the man as he turned away.
«Always wondered what happened to that small, chaotic kid who beat up the people in line just to be the first one to sit down,» he said with a chuckle.
Reema's cheeks turned red.
«That was a one-time thing! I was really hungry that day!»
«I'm glad they lifted your ban from the place.»
Reema rolled her eyes away and leaned back in her chair.
«Well...»
«Don't tell me...» - the old man turned back and looked at her with a worried expression.
Reema jolted from her chair and slammed the counter.
«Hey! It's not my fault! You were the one who tempted me while I was walking by with your classic dish!»
«Well, I'm just doing my job—and a good deed, too. After all, my cuisine should be a national treasure!»
«Well, I… I…» - Reema hesitated. - «Yeah, I do agree, your food is actually delicious, but just because you cook well doesn't mean it's a good deed!»
«Oh yeah? It should be, and I was just making something to eat for that hungry boy!» - he said, pointing to his left.
«Who?» - Reema snapped, turning to the right, then freezing as she noticed a familiar face.
The boy was smiling, waving with his left hand, eyes closed as he greeted her.
Reema breathed calmly and sat down, crossing her legs and folding her arms. She closed her eyes.
«What are you doing outside your house at this time?» - she said to the boy.
«Same as you. Passing by.» - he replied, glancing briefly at her before looking away again.
«Hm, don't compare your reason with mine. Mine is different.» - she looked down at him.
«Pff. Sure.» - he said quietly. «You just ended up here because of the smell again.»
«Gah, that's not true! I'm here to eat a national treasure-level dish!» - she snapped.
He let out a small, almost silent breath that wasn't quite a laugh.
«Yeah.» - he said. «That sounds like you.»
«What did you say?» - she asked curiously.
He paused for a moment, eyes on the counter.
«Nothing important.» - he replied.
A short silence passed as he leaned back slightly, hands resting on the edge of the counter.
«Food's ready.» - he added.
«That's right, Henry.» - the old Wei placed a tray in front of each of them, both containing cutlery, a bowl of stew, and slices of spiced bread on the side. - «Eat up before it gets cold.»
«Thanks.» - Henry said simply before taking his spoon and starting to eat.
Reema immediately focused on her plate.
Henry didn't look at her again for a while. He just ate, occasionally glancing at the steam rising from the bowl, as if thinking about something unrelated.
After the meal, Reema got up and paid, walking away from the two.
She passed through the southern gate and followed a dirt path carved across the vast green fields, illuminated by lanterns powered by simple circuits. Darkness slowly cloaked the landscape as the sun sank lower beneath the horizon. It was getting late.
She continued along the path, passing a few merchants arriving early to prepare for the next day's market. After around fifteen minutes, she reached its end.
Wide white stone slabs replaced the dirt road. Tall columns lined the sides, with rectangular flowerbeds stretching between them, filled with blossoms of many colors.
Straight ahead lay a small body of water. At its center stood a large tree. Pale blue light flowed from its trunk, branches, and leaves alike, casting a faint glow across the surrounding darkness.
A voice suddenly emerged from the dark.
«Found you.»
Reema turned sharply, immediately sensing a familiar disturbance in the flow of Xer energy.
Ahjer stood a few meters away, bent forward with her hands on her knees. Her breath was uneven, as if she had run for a long time. Her long hair fell forward, partially hiding her face.
«What happened?» - Reema asked, already stepping closer.
Before Ahjer could answer, the air beside her rippled.
A large glowing blue wolf materialized from thin air. It lowered its body immediately, steadying Ahjer before she collapsed further. Her weight shifted onto it, and the beast held firm without resistance.
«…Thanks, Hero.» - Ahjer muttered, still catching her breath.
Reema's gaze shifted briefly to the summon, then back to Ahjer.
The wolf remained still, its glow soft and constant, like flowing water given shape.
Ahjer exhaled slowly, forcing herself upright just enough to speak.
«The council…» - Her voice broke slightly. She stopped, inhaled again. - «…reached a conclusion.»
The glow of the tree reflected in the still water, trembling slightly with the night wind.
Reema crouched down in front of her, steady and unmoving. - «Tell me.»
Ahjer closed her eyes, and took a deeper breath. She was gathering energy and thoughts.
«They got a conclusion.» - Her fingers tightened slightly against the wolf's fur.
«Rest first.» - she said calmly, glancing at the wolf. - «Hero, bring her inside.»
The wolf lowered itself further, allowing Ahjer to shift her weight properly.
Reema stood up.
Without waiting for a response, she turned and began walking toward the sanctuary.
Behind her, Ahjer remained seated against the glowing beast, the blue light of the tree and the summon blending into one cold, distant shimmer.
«... Maybe... I also should train my body... Maybe just a bit...» - Said Ahjer, with her gaze fixed on the nocturnal sky. A moment later, her eyes shifted to Reema's back.
Ahjer watched her disappear up the path.
The silence lingered long after her footsteps faded.
Wide rectangular white slabs marked the way forward, interrupted near the end by a short flight of steps leading to the sanctuary entrance.
Reema slowed as she approached the door, which resembled more a massive wooden gate than a conventional entrance.
With each step forward, the air grew lighter.
Not empty, just less heavy, as if the world's weight on her body was slowly being redistributed elsewhere.
Her boots echoed in the stillness, shadows wrapped her for a second.
She raised her hand and pressed it against a clear crystal embedded in the door.
The crystal shifted.
Its light deepened, collapsing into a black sphere at its center.
A faint golden glow seeped through the cracks of the gate, spilling outward and illuminating Reema's face.
As she pushed the door open, a creaking sound echoed within. Each step she took sent a golden wave rippling beneath her feet, like a drop of water striking the surface of a pond.