Chapter 37: Beneath the Crest of Caelum

Far from the Outlands where Arden and his group trekked through, deep within the heart of Caelum City, the lord’s castle stood silent but tense. Inside, voices rose and fell behind thick stone walls, bouncing off polished floors and long-forgotten banners. The ruling chamber was full, with elders seated in a semi-circle around the city lord, their faces lined not just with age but pride that had been bruised. "He mocked us," one barked, slamming his hand against the wooden armrest. "A foreigner... taunting our blood, right under our sky." "Not just any foreigner," another chimed in, "a masked boy, barely older than our younglings. And he dared walk away from the ruin, and left it like it was some empty cave." "Because our own couldn’t hold it," a third snapped. "Don’t forget that." The name came up quickly. Veryon. A few of the elders muttered. He was supposed to be the best of the younger generation, he even was at the peak of Vein Surge, groomed for greatness. And yet, he’d been forced to retreat with the rest. "We should’ve sent someone stronger." "We couldn’t. You know the rules of the Trial." "But we could’ve watched better. Intervened when necessary." "That’s not how it works." The lord of Caelum, seated quietly all this while, finally raised a hand. And the room stilled. His voice came even and cold. "We all know who lost the ruin. There’s no point dragging Veryon’s name through mud. He did what he could." He paused. "But the outsider..." They waited. "He has no ties. No backing. No bloodline we know of. That means opportunity." A few exchanged glances. The meaning was clear. "Offer him a title," the lord continued, eyes glinting. "Make him a noble of Caelum. Once he accepts, he’s tied to us. His ruin becomes our concern." A small smile crept into his tone. "And if he rises further, we rise with him." One of the elder women chuckled. "A puppet crowned in our court." "He’ll be smart enough to know we’re using him," another warned. "Let him know," the lord said. "As long as the benefits look good enough, he’ll play along. We don’t need to own him. Just share in what’s his." They all nodded, the tension slipping into something more calculated. "But we move quickly," another elder added. "The other clans won’t stay quiet for long." The lord gave a firm nod. "Send word to those near the ruin. If he appears, make the offer. And make it sound generous." The meeting ended there, not with ceremony but silent understanding. A few elders rose and left the hall swiftly, ready to wait in the wilds for the masked outsider. And in the cold quiet that followed, the lord of Caelum leaned back on his chair and exhaled, eyes trailing the banners above. His first son, coincidentally bearing the same name with the outsider, but of his noble blood, couldn’t even touch what this outsider now held. He didn’t say it aloud, but the thought lingered. Let the outsider rise. Let him burn so bright even Caelum has no choice but to claim him. In the Outlands, things had begun to look different. Not because the terrain had changed much, but because Arden’s group moved with sharper steps now. Their rhythm was faster, their confidence steady. Every skirmish against wild beasts felt less like survival and more like purpose. Rael stood over the collapsed body of a Moltenhide Graver, chest rising hard, with Arden’s sword loose in his hand. The creature was larger than the one he had faced days ago, even tougher, but this time, it had fallen to him. The fight hadn’t been clean. His strikes had faltered at the start, his control shaky when panic slipped through. But Arden had been close, and that strange warmth had once again settled into his core, steadying the chaos. Rael had found his footing after that. He switched between his affinities better, weaving sparks and frost with surprising instinct. He even used the beast’s size against it, dancing around its sluggish turns, staying just out of reach until the right moment came, and he struck, not with fear but with focus. Arden approached as Rael knelt by the beast’s side, catching his breath. "You’re getting the hang of it," Arden said, crouching beside him, palm resting briefly on Rael’s back as he channeled a quiet pulse of life energy. "You had even better balance, and your timing was sharp." Rael let out a rough chuckle between breaths. "Thought it’d never go down." "It did. Because you kept your head." Nyra stepped closer, arms crossed, her gaze calm. "Not bad," she muttered, though the faint nod she gave him said more than her words. Rael turned his face slightly away, trying to hide the smile. He’d fought hard, but that wasn’t the only reason he felt light. He didn’t say it, but Arden could sense it, he felt like he belonged. And Arden didn’t need words to understand that. The bond had already spoken. A flicker blinked into his view, and Arden paused. Corebind Resonance Link Formed Effect: A living life energy circuit has been established. Formed through genuine trust, its strength increases the closer the bonded individuals are in both distance and emotion. Grants steady core stability to the bonded target and enhances synergy in combat or training. The link grows over time. Arden’s lips curved, just slightly. "Finally," he muttered. Rael glanced up, confused. "What?" "Nothing. You’ve just officially become part of the madness." Rael let out a tired laugh and slumped to the ground, staring up at the pale sky. "Guess I’ll take that as a compliment." "It was," Arden said, then stood. His gaze lingered on Rael for a second. The bond was weaker than the one he had with Nyra, but it was real. And it would grow. Nyra tilted her head at both of them. "You two done?" Arden gave her a short nod. "Yeah. Let’s move." With that, they set off again, the ruin still far, but the road ahead a little more certain. Rael walked a few steps behind, still smiling, not because of the kill, but because for once, he didn’t feel like he was chasing something out of reach. He was already part of something worth following. A/N: Please Send Powerstones, Tickets and Gifts to Inspire my Creation. Also, Engage by leaving Comments and Reviews Thank You for the Support.