Chapter 42: Into the Graylight City.

Chapter 42: Into the Graylight City.Kael stepped into the terminal once more. He didn’t speak. He didn’t react to the whispers or shadows. But he again spoke accidentally and again he was sent back to the terminal. Kael stepped back into the hidden path for the third time. The shadows whispered. Faint, broken voices echoed around him, just like before— "Help me..." "I want to leave..." "Don’t forget me..." He kept his hood low and walked straight ahead, ignoring the illusions. His heart pounded, but he stayed silent. This time, he was prepared. (Don’t speak. No matter what happens—don’t respond.) He moved through the ghostly forms like wind through smoke. Minutes passed. Or maybe hours. Time twisted strangely here. His watch spun faster again, reminding him that he was in a realm where logic bent and reality frayed. Then it happened— A voice. It didn’t whisper like the others. It spoke clearly. Firmly. And it sounded exactly like his own. "You know this will never work, right?" Kael stopped. His breath caught. It was himself again. The mirrored version of Kael stood in the mist, arms folded, watching with a cold, knowing gaze. Kael clenched his jaw. (It’s not real. It’s just a test.) He took a step forward, about to push past the illusion. But then, by instinct, he spoke. Just two words. "Not true." And instantly— BOOM. A heavy force struck his mind like thunder. His vision blurred. His body felt weightless—like it was being yanked through time and space. In the blink of an eye— FLASH. He was back. Standing once again in front of the faded green signboard, breath ragged, forehead dripping with sweat. "Damn it..." he muttered, frustrated. He had failed. Again. But he didn’t give up. Kael sat at the nearby bench for a few minutes, calming his racing heart. Then, quietly, he stood up—and went back in. And again. And again. Each time he walked deeper into the strange realm, the spirits would come. The illusions would try to speak. And no matter how much he prepared... somehow, he always slipped up. A small word. A reaction. Even a breath of doubt. And every time he responded—he was thrown out. Back to the terminal. Back to the beginning. But Kael didn’t stop. He failed. But he returned. He failed again. But he went even further the next time. Each failure taught him more. He began learning the pattern—where the illusions stood, how long they lingered, what triggered the visions. He adjusted his breathing, his walking pace, even his thoughts. He trained not just his body—but his will. Because this wasn’t a trial of strength. This was a trial of control. And Kael knew... (If I want to uncover what lies ahead—I have to master this realm.) No matter how many times he failed, he kept walking forward. One step at a time. Once again he walked again. He just walked silently—deeper and deeper into the same mysterious path as before. The surroundings grew darker again. The air turned colder. The light from above faded slowly, and the strange fog returned. But Kael kept going. Step by step. Quietly. Then finally, he saw it. A worn wooden sign in the distance, glowing faintly through the mist. The letters carved into it were old, but still clear: "Graylight" His heart raced. "I made it..." he thought. He stopped for a moment and pulled out his notebook. Flipping to a page filled with notes and scribbles, he looked at the checklist he had written earlier. Step One: Find the merchant’s location. Kael’s eyes were full with determination. As Kael entered the fog-covered city of Graylight, he didn’t rush or draw attention. He kept his cloak pulled low, hiding his face, and quietly moved through the narrow stone streets. The city was confusing. (is this city of Graylight?) Buildings leaned at strange angles. Ivy hung from rooftops like curtains. The whole place felt old—like time had forgotten it. Names on the streets vanish as he reads them. It feels like a memory. Everywhere, people whispered instead of shouting. Smoke rose from small food stalls, but even the fires seemed dimmer in the mist. Kael walked slowly and watched carefully. He noticed the areas in the city: Vendors sold simple goods—fruit, meat, tools, old boots, scrolls. Most people here were travelers and forgotten heroes. Kael thought: "Too public. The hidden merchant would be somewhere." There were some parts where it was very quiet. The buildings looked ruined and ancient. Even the signs above the doors had no names—just faded symbols or numbers. Some alleyways twisted unnaturally, like they didn’t belong. Kael’s eyes narrowed. He could feel it—something was different here. He watched how people behaved. In the outer districts, people laughed and traded freely. In the inner district, they walked quickly, heads down, never looking into the alleys. Kael followed one of those narrow alleys. It was small—just enough space for one person to walk. And above it hung three old red lanterns, dusty and unlit. He stopped, heart beating a little faster. "This place... . and the three red lanterns. This must be it." Kael didn’t rush in. He knew the merchant was hidden and wouldn’t appear without a reason. But now he knew the location. He pulled out his notebook, turned to a clean page, and wrote down: — Merchant’s location Found. — Inner District, Three Red Lanterns. ================================================== Kael went inside! Inside a dimly lit shop in the heart of Graylight City. Shelves are packed with many gems, dusty scrolls, and glowing stones. An old merchant sits behind the counter.] Merchant: Merchant saw Kael enters the shop, he looked carefully at him. "You... not from around here." Kael: (low voice, hood still on) "I came for a trade. I need the map fragments." Merchant, "Map fragments? You mean those?" "Not for free. I only trade for Ancient Coins." Kael: (frowns) "I don’t have any Ancient Coins. But... where can I find them? What do they look like? Do you have any clue.? Merchant took a slow breath ...