Fifteen minutes had passed since Vani told them his real name.
In those fifteen minutes, not a single word was spoken. Not one.
Some of them stared at him with uncertain expressions, their eyes clouded with something he couldn't quite place… pity, doubt, maybe even suspicion. Others avoided his gaze entirely, as if unsure how to respond. The flickering bonfire cast shifting shadows across their faces, making it even harder to read their thoughts.
But what was certain was the silence. Thick. Unyielding. Pressing down on him like an unseen weight.
And then, at last, someone broke the silence.
Darius crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "Is that really your real name?"
Vani let out a small sigh.
"Yes, it's my real name. Is that so hard to believe?"
Darius shook his head.
"No, it's just… kind of a unique name."
"Is that so?" Vani tilted his head slightly. "No one in my village ever said anything about it being strange."
Darius raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"Yes. So, can we stop making such a big fuss about my name?"
Darius went quiet at that, but before he could respond, Tessa stepped forward. "Alright, give me your hand."
Vani blinked. "My hand?"
"Yes, your right hand. Give it to me."
"Why?"
Tessa sighed. "Darius noticed you have bandages on your forearm. That's why I sat here. I was waiting for things to settle before treating your wound. I wanted to make sure you didn't have any bad intentions first."
Darius frowned. "Wait, Tessa. We haven't confirmed anything yet."
Tessa cut him off. "Confirmed what? We're making such a big deal over his name. Even if he used a fake one, so what? We're all strangers here. Not telling us his real name wouldn't be that unusual."
Vani's voice was firm. "No, it is my real name. I'm not lying about it."
Tessa raised a brow. "Really? That's actually crazy."
Vani tensed, his expression darkening. "I feel like you're insulting my mother right now."
Tessa immediately waved her hands. "No, no! That's not what I meant. I don't have such intentions, I swear. Just… stop worrying about it and give me your hand."
Shit… can't you mind your own business? I can't let any of you see my hand.
Tessa crossed her arms, her patience wearing thin. "Come on, hurry up. Give me your hand."
Vani hesitated, pulling his arm slightly closer to his body. "It's fine. It's nothing you should be worried about."
That only made everyone more suspicious.
Tessa let out an exaggerated sigh. "Just give me your hand already. We don't have all the time in the world."
Vani exhaled slowly, choosing his words carefully. "It's fine," he insisted. "It's not a wound or anything dangerous. It's just… a scar. I don't like leaving it uncovered, so I…"
Elsera cut him off.
"It's fine Tessa, if he said he is not hurt then leave him be."
Thank you.
"But," she continued, "tell us about yourself, Vani."
"What do you want to know?" he asked.
"Anything. How did you get that scar? Why did you actually leave your village? Why are you heading to the capital and so on."
I guess I have no choice.
After giving them a partial version of the truth, carefully avoiding anything about the mark on his hand, Vani managed to gather some useful information.
They were heading to Blackmere City, moving at a steady pace toward the capital. Three months… that was how long they estimated it would take to get there. They weren't in a rush, but they weren't moving aimlessly either. The reason for their slow pace was something called the Heir Gathering.
Elsera explained that she didn't know much about the other marked individuals, only that their existence was public knowledge. Unlike Vani, she had never hidden her mark. Instead, she used it to build a reputation for herself, hoping to secure a stronger foothold before the gathering. Apparently, at this event, nobles from all over the kingdom would attend, offering their support to those they saw as valuable. Of course, their motives weren't pure… alliances were built on mutual benefit, not kindness.
Every marked person was required to attend the gathering. What happened if someone refused? No one knew for sure. Some rumors claimed that the kingdom would hunt them down and kill them. Others believed the punishment wasn't as severe, but no one had tested it yet.
Another major part of this gathering was the assignment of the Nine Scions. One by one, each of the nine would be paired with a marked heir. But none of them had made a choice yet… except Darius.
That made Vani wonder. Why did Darius pick Elsera before the gathering even began? What did he see in her that the others didn't? He wanted to ask, but something told him it wasn't the right time.
Beyond that, the only thing Elsera knew for certain was that after one year, the rules of the game would change. Only the king himself understood what would happen next. Would the marked be protected? Abandoned? Forced into conflict? No one knew. And that uncertainty bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
He didn't want any part of this battle for the throne.
Darius also took a moment to explain the Essentia Core ranks, something Vani had only heard bits and pieces about. The power system was structured as follows from lowest to highest.
Novarion
Idem
Verdan
Sypheris
Vaelstrum
Onirith
Zenorith
There were two more ranks beyond Zenorith, but Darius dismissed them as irrelevant. According to him, no human had ever reached those levels. Even among Zenoriths, there were only a handful in existence… so few that you could count them on one hand. Those final two ranks were meant for something else… mystic beasts and creatures beyond human understanding. And above even them? That was the realm of the gods.
The fact that they were surprised by how little he knew about the kingdom actually worked in his favor. The less he spoke, the more information they fed him.
He learned that the kingdom was called Solmire, ruled by King Edryon Solmire, a man in his fifties. He rarely intervened in the kingdom's affairs, preferring to let his appointed nobles handle things… unless a situation truly required his attention. His Essentia rank was Vaelstrum, meaning he was among the strongest people alive.
The kingdom was divided into four major territories, each governed by a noble:
The Western Territory, where Vani's village was located, was ruled by Lord Darius Evernigh. He was an enigmatic and dangerous ruler, known for controlling his lands directly rather than appointing mayors or chiefs. Verdan-ranked, just like Darius. Elsera warned him that crossing him would be a mistake.
The Eastern Territory belonged to Duchess Selene Valtara, a cunning noblewoman who thrived in political manipulation. Unlike the others, she preferred diplomacy over warfare, earning a reputation as a pacifist. But pacifist didn't mean harmless. Her Essentia rank was Idem… not particularly strong in battle, but strength wasn't the only weapon that mattered.
The Southern Territory was ruled by Marquis Alistair Cindren, a noble obsessed with honor, loyalty, and military strength. His forces were among the most disciplined in the kingdom. Like Lord Darius, he was Verdan-ranked.
And then there was Lord Alastair Valtore, ruler of the Northern Territory. Unlike the others, his power didn't come from land… it came from military dominance and unwavering loyalty to the crown. He was a man who cared little for politics and nobility, focusing solely on the kingdom's security. His Essentia rank was Sypheris, making him one of the strongest humans in Solmire.
Elsera also added an odd little remark.
"Oh, and… he's too tall, too handsome, and he never smiles."
The way these nobles ruled their territories differed as well. Duchess Selene and Marquis Alistair appointed Chiefs to manage their cities and villages. Lord Darius preferred direct control, which explained why Vani's village never had a leader. Lord Alastair barely governed at all, focusing entirely on warfare instead.
Beyond them, there were the Hexarchs… six high-ranking nobles who acted as the king's advisors, handling political and administrative matters.
Elsera admitted that she was doing everything she could to gain noble support, but it wasn't easy. Even with her mark, most nobles were hesitant to take a side.
Vani also ate real food while they were talking. Finally, after almost two months. He wanted more, but the pot was empty…
The biggest problem right now is that every heir is obligated to participate in this gathering. I don't wanna participate but I don't wanna be hunted down either.
"By the way, Elsera, is there no possibility where you can give up on the mark?"
"Lady Elsera," she replied.
"What?" Vani asked, confused.
"We are not buddies, so I won't allow you to call me Elsera."
…Crazy woman.
"Can you please answer my question, Lady Elsera?"
"No."
....
"You can take the mark, but you can't give it." Darius replied.
Vani frowned. "I heard you have to kill someone to take the mark. Is that true?"
Darius exchanged a glance with Elsera before answering. "Yes. As far as we know, killing is the only way to claim a mark."
So, they have no choice but to attend...
Darius shifted the conversation. "Since you awakened while training as a kid, how about a fight tomorrow? You've never had a real battle before, right? You can go up against Rowan."
That was one of the half-truths Vani had told them. He hadn't mentioned the deaths. He hadn't talked about his mother. Saying too much could lead to one terrifying realization… that he was the crazy orphan killer.
Across from him, Rowan crossed his arms. "Are you sure? He's still a kid."
Darius looked at Vani. "It'll help you improve."
Vani sighed. "I'll hear you out first before making a decision."
Darius laid out the conditions:
Leaving the designated area meant a loss.
Vani could choose any weapon they provided, but he had to return it afterward.
The fight would end when one of them landed a clean hit, but the witnesses would have to confirm it.
A practice fight.
Honestly, this works in their favor. Since Rowan has been training for a long time, it's not like he's leagues above them. The win condition is just landing a clean hit, so the gap between them isn't impossible to bridge. But still… they're at a disadvantage.
They don't want to use Shadowbolt. Not yet. It's their trump card. But judging by their expressions, they don't think they have much of a choice.
"Fine. I'll do it," Vani finally said.
Darius seemed pleased with the answer, but before the conversation could continue, Elsera crossed her arms and fixed at Vani with a sharp gaze. Her voice was cold.
"By the way, Vani, what did you hear when you awakened as a Novarion?"
Huh?
Is she talking about that voice?
Th3 voice that had spoken in my head... the one that had told me—Congratulations. You've awakened your energy core...
Rowan cut in before Vani could think further. "Oh, that's right! You didn't tell us. What did you hear?"
Vani frowned. "Are you asking about the voice that spoke when my energy core awakened?"
Elsera gave a slight nod.
So, he told them.
The room fell silent as his words lingered in the air.
"A path once closed to you has been unlocked."
Elsera murmured the words under her breath.
Vani narrowed his eyes. "Is that… something unique?"
She hesitated. "It's... different."
Apparently, when someone awakened, they heard a voice—something called the World Voice. It was an announcement, informing them that their Essentia Core had awakened and that they had become a Novarion. But what came after was always unique. Different for everyone.
Elsera's voice was thoughtful as she continued, "I heard, 'A flower will bloom.'"
Darius spoke next, his tone unreadable. "'A red rain will fall.'"
Rowan scratched the back of his head. "Mine was kinda weird. It just said, 'Avoid the dog.'"
Tessa, who had been quiet all this time, finally chimed in. "'Avoid the full moon.'"
Others had heard things like Work hard, Don't give up, and Keep moving forward.
But A path once closed to you has been unlocked?
No one had ever heard something like that before.
"Nobody knows where the voice comes from," Elsera continued. "You only hear it when you first awaken as a Novarion… and then once more when you reach Sypheris rank. But beyond that, no one has heard it again."
The voice either warned, congratulated, or motivated in some way. It was never more than a single phrase.
"For me," Elsera mused, "I think mine predicted my fate as a Marked One. The flower could have been a reference to the mark on my hand."
Rowan nodded.
"In my case, I was in a city once, and there was this illusion of a dog. It looked completely real. But if you tried to pet it… it exploded. If I hadn't remembered the voice's warning, I would have died right then and there."
Tessa shifted uncomfortably.
"For me, something terrible happened on a full moon. If I hadn't stayed inside that night, I wouldn't be here right now."
Vani turned to Darius, but his expression had darkened. His usual calm, unshakable presence wavered, just for a moment. Something haunted him.
Vani decided not to ask.
Whatever he had heard… it wasn't something he wanted to share.
A heavy silence settled over the group.
"...Do you think it's a bad sign?"
Elsera shook her head. "Not necessarily."
"Then what do you think it means?"
She hesitated.
"I don't know. We can only guess at the hints."
Vani frowned.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced. His mother's voice, whispering his real name.
She had told him something back then.
A path that even the gods cannot foresee.
Wait.
What does that… mean… they can't figure it out.
Just as they were all lost in thought, a voice broke the silence.
"It's kinda late, so I'm gonna sleep."
Another voice followed.
"Yeah, we should all get some rest. I'm heading to bed too."
Vani turned toward the speakers. Lioren and Garrik, most likely.
A brief silence passed before Elsera spoke up.
"Yeah, let's call it a night." Then, as if remembering something, she added, "Oh, right. We don't have a tent for you, Vani. Each tent is shared between two people, so you'll have to sleep with Darius and Rowan."
Vani frowned. "It's fine. I can just sleep outside. I don't want to bother them."
Neither Darius nor Rowan looked bothered in the slightest, but still… he had never shared a sleeping space with other men before. It felt strange.
Rowan waved off the concern. "Nah, don't worry about it. There's plenty of space."
Darius gave a small nod of confirmation.
With no other choice, Vani accepted.
And just like that, everyone quietly drifted off to sleep.