Veyrath widened his eyes so much that it looked like they would fall from their sockets. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Are you insane?!" His voice exploded throughout the cave as he stared at Regaleon. "You want us to go hunting? In this cursed death field?!"

Spittle flew from his mouth as his voice thundered with utter disbelief. Meanwhile, the failed Knight himself remained calm...

His golden eyes was steady while his expression remained unreadable as he asked tentatively, "Is there something wrong with what I just said?"

Veyrath nearly choked. For one terrible moment, he truly wished he could slap that calmness straight off Regaleon’s face.

Unfortunately, he also vividly remembered Regaleon killing a Drake alone. So he chose to restrain himself. Instead, he laughed bitterly before asking.

"Have you forgotten what we’ve been through within moments of just arriving in the Nether Lands?"

At his question, the cave descended into silence. Even Aureleah lowered her gaze slightly as memories about yesterday came rushing into her mind...

Yesterday... Has been hell. They had only just arrived within the Nether Lands and within minutes, they were dragged straight into a nightmare...

There was the battlefield, the slaughter, the Wights, the twisted forests, the blood and the death. Then finally... There was this morning.

Even something they had thought sacred and beautiful actually harbored corruption within it. Just remembering that Drake caused chills to crawl through their spines once more.

That battle was bitter. Truly bitter. And yet despite the bitterness that lingered within veyrath’s tone, Regaleon merely nodded calmly.

"I know..." The group blinked as he continued. "...which is exactly why i said we need to hunt."

Veyrath stared at the silver-haired Knight blankly. He genuinely could not understand the thoughts of this youth anymore.

Because if Regaleon truly understood how dangerous this Lands is, then why does he want to push them towards danger?

Regaleon noticed the swirling mass of confusion within their eyes. Carefully adjusting his sitting position, he winced faintly from pain before continuing.

"We’ve all been through difficulties..." He began, his gaze moving slowly across the seven of them.

Then he continued. "But these difficulties would not have been dangerous..." He paused briefly, as his eyes sharpened slightly. "...if we were properly prepared."

Nobody interrupted him and even Veyrath had quieted now. The silver-haired Knight leaned against the cave wall as he addressed them...

"Have you all forgotten the next step after awakening your Soul Essences?" He asked.

The group blinked in confusion as they exchanged glances...

Then, Kaeloris eyes suddenly widened before he shouted. "I remember now..."

Everyone turned towards the failed Gnost immediately...

The timid youth adjusted his spectacles slightly before speaking carefully. "What Regaleon is talking about is actually the process every awakening must pass through before becoming certified awakeners..."

Then his voice grew steadier as he explained, "After awakening our Soul Essences, we are supposed to deepen our connect with them through the Soul Link.."

At this stage, the cave was quiet as the others listened intently. "...and after establishing the Soul Link, we can now awaken our Essence Runes."

Immediately he said that, a faint glow seem to be reflected in their eyes as realization struck. Veyrath was the first to react as the failed Alchemist slapped his thigh loudly.

"That’s right!" His eyes widened as he spoke. "We haven’t awakened our Essence Runes yet!"

Afterward, the atmosphere in the cave shifted because now, everyone remembered that crucial process after awakening a Soul Essence...

Forming a Soul Link to awaken an Essence Rune. Essence Runes were actually imnate abilities tied to awakened Soul Essences. They were special powers, unique skills and hidden strength buried within every Awakener.

But to awaken them, an Awakener first needed to establish true synchronization with the Soul Essences through the Soul Link.

Valmyr frowned thoughtfully. "I understand all of that..." Then the bulky youth scratched his head. "But what I don’t is what the Essence Runes have to do with the hunting you propose?"

This time, Aureleah answered. Her voice was cold as it echoed quietly through the cave. "It’s simple actually..."

Everyone turned toward the girl that still crouched by Regaleon’s side. Then Aureleah began explaining, her silver eyes reflecting the flames softly.

"Yesterday, we were able to survive against those monsters without our Essence Runes..."

She hadn’t even explained fully when the group got what she was trying to insinuate...

"...Now imagine what we could do after awakening the Runes?"

There was heavy silence in the cave as the group thought deeply. Aureleah was actually right with what she said. Yesterday might have been tough yes, but they were also incomplete.

And yet, even unprepared and incomplete, they survived. Now what if they were to become stronger?

What if their Essences truly awakened?

Then...

Seeing that the group understood, Regaleon nodded slightly. "Aureleah is right." He began, his voice still calm and composed.

Then his gaze drifted toward the cave entrance as he said seriously. "Without power... We will eventually die here."

And as if the Lands itself was agreeing, the wind outside howled softly through the twisted trees...

Then the failed Knight continued, "However with the Essence Runes..." His golden eyes narrowed faintly as he said with finality, "...we at least get a chance to fight for survival."

Nobody trokied immediately as the cave was silent once more. They all understood that he was correct.

Thia Lands would not added become kinder to them and the monsters would not suddenly disappear. If anything, the danger would only increase. And if they wished to survive... They needed strength. Real strength.

Vaelorin exhaled slowly as he looks towards the others. "So, we really are going through with this."

Valmyr grinned while tightening the grip around his Broadsword. "Hehehe... I think it sounds better than sitting around waiting to die."

Caelestra sighed softly as she agreed. "I suppose he has a point. We can’t keep sitting around without doing anything."

Then, Veyrath reluctantly folded his arms and spat disgruntling. "Fine!" Though he agreed verbally, his expression screamed that he still hated the idea. But no one looked at him.

Suddenly, Sylveris spoke up. "There is one problem though..."

Everyone turned to look at the fourteen-years-old who had been silent since they began conversing.

"Does any of you truly know how to awaken the Runes?"

The cave quieted again. The young girl really raised a good question...

Most of them were nobles cast aside before proper teachings could even begin. Some only received fragments of education while others received nothing at all...

Kaeloris lowered his gaze briefly. The quietly, he spoke. "My father once explained the process to me..."

There was a melancholic undertone hidden in his voice; a tone that contained both pain and bitterness. At this, the atmosphere softened slightly as the rest looked at him empathetically.

They all understood his feelings as everyone there had been and by someone. Whether family, friend... Or lover.

Kaeloris continued quietly. "He said the process is simple as we only need to meditate deeply enough to connect with our Soul Links."

The flames flickered softly as the group listened attentively...

"If successful, you begin hearing your Essence. And once the connection stabilizes... The Runes would awaken naturally." Kaeloris concluded.

Veyrath rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he replied, "That honestly sounds too easy."

Kaeloris shook his head quickly as he corrected. "It only sounds easy..." Then his expression became serious. "To establish a Soul Link, the mind must remain calm and focused."

Hearing that, Caelestra immediately frowned. "There lies the problem..." She said. Seeing the others turn towards her, she gestured toward the forest outside the cave and asked.

"How exactly are we supposed to meditate peacefully inside a forest that is actively trying to devour?"

Nobody answered her question because she was right. This was not some academy meditation chamber that they could relax and just clear their thoughts.

No. This was the Nether Lands; Lands where death lurked in every corner. A place where one moment of carelessness could cause them to vanish.

But then Regaleon spoke calmly. "We don’t need to go into meditation at once." Then he pointed toward the group methodically.

"Four people would meditate, while the remaining four would stand guard."

Understanding immediately dawned at his words...

Then he continued, "After some time, if the first four are through, we rotate."

The plan was simple, efficient and most of all... Safe.

Valmyr grinned immediately as he said. "Now THAT sounds like a proper plan."

Nobody disagreed as Vaelorin nodded slowly...

Caelestra looked thoughtful...

And even Veyrath had stopped complaining for once. Meanwhile, Aureleah merely close her eyes briefly to indicate her agreement...

Then, the cave gradually became quieter afterward. This time it wasn’t from fear or threat, but from anticipation. Because for the first time since arriving here... The group finally possessed direction, purpose and a path forward.

Regaleon slowly looked around the cave. He looked at the broken nobles, the discarded heirs and the abandoned children...

They were throw into this hell to die. Yet somehow, they still breathe. They still resist. They still fought...

His golden eyes sharpened faintly as he said, "We begin now!"

Immediately, the atmosphere shifted and the group moved...

Regaleon slowly closed his eyes afterward. The pain throughout his body remained unbearable. Yet beneath that pain... He could feel something else...

Deep within himself, his Soul Essences pulsed and the crimson traces hidden beneath rust called out to him.

And for the first time since awakening them, Regaleon truly reached inward. Towards the Soul Link...

And somewheres deep inside the darkness... Something answered.