When Vani woke up, morning had already arrived. He had slept for a long time—longer than expected. It felt as if all the exhaustion that had built up in his body over the past days had finally drained away, leaving him feeling lighter, more refreshed. As he opened his eyes, he noticed that Rowan and Darius were already gone. Their presence in the tent was nowhere to be found.
Pushing himself up, he stepped outside, his breath visible in the cold air. The campsite had changed. Where the bonfire had once burned, a wooden wagon now stood—a sturdy thing, covered by a gray canvas stretched over its frame. The fabric bore signs of wear, its wrinkles and creases speaking of past journeys. The wagon bed, built of strong planks, had softened edges, smoothed over time and use.
A brown horse stood at the front, tethered loosely to the wooden shafts, its coat gleaming faintly under the morning light. It flicked its ears, occasionally shifting at the distant sounds of the forest. Next to it, everyone was gathered, waiting for something.
As Vani walked toward them, the snow beneath his boots crunched with every step. The sound was sharp in the quiet morning air. Garrik was the first to notice him. Without a word, he passed by, heading toward the tent Vani had just left. That was when realization struck—there were no other tents left. Everything had already been packed.
They had been waiting for him to wake up.
He made his way toward Tessa first. She wore her usual simple black tunic beneath an off-white linen cloak, paired with dark trousers and scuffed leather boots. He was hoping she might offer him another cup of tea, like yesterday's. It had been delicious.
"Good morning," he greeted.
She gave him an unimpressed look.
"When someone tells you that we're leaving early, you're supposed to wake up early," she said flatly. "Not make people wait for you."
He hesitated.
Had I really caused trouble by sleeping too much?
Before he could respond, Elsera and Rowan approached. Her voice was calm as she said, "It's fine, Tessa. He was exhausted. Let it go for today, we're not in a hurry anyway."
Tessa didn't seem pleased with that answer, but she let the matter drop, turning away with an irritated sigh.
Elsera shifted her attention back to Vani, her gaze scanning over his appearance before a small, amused smile tugged at her lips.
"By the way, you look better in these clothes," she said thoughtfully. "Now that I'm really looking at you… you're kind of handsome."
Vani wasn't sure how to respond to that, so he simply nodded.
"Thanks."
The clothes he wore were the ones he had borrowed from Rowan—a crisp white shirt, its sleeves rolled just past his elbows, neatly tucked into dark gray trousers that fit comfortably. Over it, a snug brown vest, buttoned all the way up, provided an extra layer against the cold. A sturdy leather belt secured his waist, a small pouch and a sheathed dagger attached to it. The black leather boots had reinforced soles, clearly made for long travel.
"I'll return them once we get to Blackmere," he told Rowan. "I'll buy new ones there."
Rowan only shrugged.
"Do whatever you want."
Once Garrik finished packing the last of the gear, Elsera announced that they would be leaving in five minutes. That was when she explained the reason for the carriage.
"The path to Blackmere isn't safe," she said. "We can't take the King's Road the entire way, so we'll be following common roads. Bandits might attack us, and there could be other dangers as well."
That made sense. Even though she didn't go out of her way to hide her mark, it wasn't something she could just walk around displaying in broad daylight. This way, she could stay covered. It was a wise decision.
Five minutes later, everyone climbed into the carriage, except for Lioren, who took the reins. With a flick of his hands, the horse stirred, and the wagon slowly began to move.
As they moved forward, Tessa handed Vani a small wooden cup. Steam rose from its surface, carrying a rich, bitter scent.
"Here," she said. "Drink."
He took it, feeling the warmth seep into his fingers. It was coffee. Strong, dark, and slightly earthy. A hint of sweetness lingered beneath the bitterness, probably from the honey she had mixed in.
Vani took a sip, the heat spreading through his chest, waking him up properly.
And just like that, the journey to Blackmere City began.
He turned to Elsera and asked, "How long will it take until we arrive at Blackmere?"
She glanced at him before answering, "Around two weeks."
That was longer than he expected. He shifted in his seat, watching the trees pass by as the wagon rolled forward. After a moment, he asked another question.
"How long are you planning for us to stay there?"
Elsera rested an elbow on her knee, fingers tapping idly against her arm as she considered her answer.
"We'll stay for about a month. I plan to meet with Lord Darius Evernigh. I don't know if it's possible, but I'm going to try to win him over to my side."
Lord Darius Evernigh… I don't know much about him besides the fact that she told me he's dangerous, but if Elsera is trying to gain his support, she might have a plan.
"Do you have other nobles backing you?" he asked.
At this, her expression darkened slightly. She crossed her legs, adjusting her cloak around her shoulders before replying.
Aside from her father and a few minor nobles who owed him favors, Elsera had no other allies. That was why she needed someone as influential as Lord Darius.
That didn't sound good. If she had so few allies, that means others likely had more support.
Vani's gaze remained steady as he asked, "Do the other heirs have powerful families behind them?"
Elsera's expression turned distant. "I don't know… No, actually, it's more accurate to say I don't know who the other ones are. In the beginning, I knew of two other heirs—both of them publicly revealed their marks. But after I left the capital, I heard they died."
Vani frowned. "They died? Just like that?"
She nodded. "That's why I don't know how many heirs exist or who they are. For example, if someone with a mark dies, whether by natural causes or by taking their own life, their mark is randomly transferred to another person."
That made him pause.
Does that mean the reason I received a mark was because someone else died? Either by accident, illness, or… by choice?
The thought was unsettling. But it wasn't something he could ask outright.
Instead, he asked, "Are there any conditions for a person to receive a mark? Or is it completely random?"
Elsera exhaled, leaning back against the wooden side of the wagon. "From what I've heard, there are no specific conditions. Even being awakened doesn't matter. The mark chooses the person, which is why not everyone receives one at the same time."
So that means it wasn't necessarily because someone died. The mark could have just… chosen me. But why?
Vani shifted his focus to another question. "What about its powers?"
She hesitated for a second before replying.
"I'm not sure. There are a lot of rumors, but nothing is certain. Some say it increases the size of your energy core, allowing you to wield more Essentia. Others claim it helps you break through ranks more easily. There's even a theory that it grants eternal youth."
She gave a small shrug. "No one knows for sure. The records about the marks were lost a long time ago. If anyone has answers, it would be the king himself. But right now, nothing is certain."
Her gaze met his, and she tilted her head slightly before continuing. "You sure ask a lot of questions, Vani. Tell me, what is your goal?"
He blinked. "My goal?"
"Yes," she said, watching him closely. "What is it that you want?"
The question sent a sharp, almost painful feeling through him. Like he had forgotten something important.
A goal? What goal could I possibly have?
Before… before my mother died, it was simple. Protect her. Work, survive, and build a better life for the both of us.
But now?
Now, I had nothing. No family. No friends. No home to return to.
Revenge? He had already taken it. He killed the ones responsible for his mother's death. He even killed the ones who had beaten him, the ones who made his life miserable.
So what was left? What goal could I possibly have now?
Why… Why am I feeling so empty…
Vani crouched down, wrapping his arms tightly around himself. His body trembled, though whether from the cold or something deeper, even he couldn't tell. A hollow feeling settled in his chest, one that refused to fade.
Elsera observed him in silence. Her expression was unreadable, but there was no mockery in her gaze, only something that resembled understanding. After a moment, she finally spoke.
"You don't have to answer right away. And if you don't have a goal… then you need to decide what it is that you want."
No one spoke after that. The carriage continued forward, its wooden frame creaking softly as the horse's hooves pressed into the snow-covered ground.
The thick forest around them was beginning to thin. Bare branches stretched toward the sky, stripped of their leaves by the winter chill. Patches of untouched white blanketed the landscape, interrupted only by the occasional frozen stream or the jagged remains of fallen trees.
As they traveled further, the dense trees gave way to open plains, the horizon stretching endlessly before them. The wind howled across the land, carrying a biting cold that seeped through even the thickest of cloaks. The sun was already beginning to dip lower in the sky, casting long, golden shadows over the snow.
After what felt like hours of silent travel, Darius finally spoke. "We'll stop here for the night. Set up camp."
As soon as Darius made the call, everyone moved with practiced efficiency. The sky had deepened into a dusky blue, and the last light of day cast a faint glow over the snow-covered ground.
Garrik and Rowan began unpacking the supplies, laying out thick blankets and securing the wagon in place. Lioren focused on gathering firewood, his boots crunching against the frost as he disappeared into the trees. Meanwhile, Elsera used her Essentia to clear a patch of snow, making space for the fire.
Tessa took charge of cooking, setting up a small pot over the newly lit flames. The scent of roasting meat and simmering broth soon filled the crisp evening air, a welcome warmth against the cold.
Vani, though still lost in thought, helped where he could. He fastened the tent poles, his hands numb from the icy wind, but the movement kept his mind from spiraling further.
By the time everything was set, darkness had fully settled over the land. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the gathered group. They were ready for the night.
Vani excused himself from the group and stepped away from the warmth of the fire.
"Where are you going?" Darius asked, his tone neutral but watchful.
"I'm going for a walk," Vani replied.
Darius gave a small nod. "Don't go too far."
Without another word, Vani turned and walked toward a small cluster of trees. They weren't dense enough to be considered a forest, but they provided some cover from the open road. His boots pressed into the snow with every step, the cold air biting at his skin as he moved further away from the camp.
His thoughts were still tangled with Elsera's question. A goal. What was his goal? He couldn't answer that, no matter how much he tried to push through the emptiness inside him.
As he walked, a faint noise caught his attention. Voices.
Vani stopped in his tracks, his body tensing. He wasn't alone.
Carefully, he moved toward the sound, placing each step with practiced caution. He pressed himself against the rough bark of a tree, peering around it to get a glimpse of who was speaking.
At first, he thought it was just some travelers or bandits lingering nearby, but as his eyes adjusted, he recognized the figures.
Sylas and Varik.
They were talking in secret.