Morning light broke through the dense canopy above, spearing the forest floor in narrow shafts that danced with the shifting leaves. Four people sat gathered around a fire, the scent of grilled meat rising into the air as soft conversation flickered between them.
'All of them are from the Eireindaile family, it seems.'
Kael's gaze lifted from the fire, drifting slowly to the others seated around it.
Selene sat furthest to the left, her expression sour as she examined a frayed seam along the sleeve of her beige coat. The thread had begun to come undone, likely from long use. Just as her eyes started to lift, blue and clear, Kael turned his head away, shifting his attention elsewhere.
Opposite her, to the far right, sat Malric. He carved silently at a piece of wood. Out of the two, he was clearly the quieter one. Selene had made a few attempts to strike up conversation with Kael, light questions, small talk, but he hadn't offered much in return.
Both of them were Rank One, like Kael. However…
Kael turned his gaze to the man seated furthest to the right, his expression tightening as his focus narrowed.
Of the three, Torin was the one Kael found hardest to read. He was the only one directly tied to the Eireindaile bloodline. Likely in his late twenties, he wore a black coat, his dark hair cropped shorter than Kael's. His eyes rarely strayed from the notebook resting in his lap, revealing little of what went on behind them.
Kael scoffed inwardly.
What unsettled him most was the absence of any aura. Just like Kael, Torin had completely suppressed his Luminaire presence, making him indistinguishable from a mortal. Kael had no doubt he was a Luminaire, only someone well-trained could conceal themselves so thoroughly.
'He must've been taught directly by the Eireindaile family.'
Kael turned his attention back to the fire, adjusting one of the skewers.
The ability to suppress one's aura wasn't unique to him. In theory, any Luminaire could learn to do it. But in practice, few ever bothered. The technique required precision, patience, and above all, control. Traits many Luminaires lacked or dismissed. Most wore their power like a badge of honor, proud to let the world feel their presence. To hide it would feel like disgrace. Many would rather die than let their light be mistaken for weakness.
Kael let his eyes unfocus as his thoughts drifted.
When one awakened as a Luminaire, the body underwent a profound transformation, purging human impurities, refining physical traits, and enhancing natural attributes. Skin became smoother, features more striking. But more importantly, the three fundamental aspects of humanity were strengthened: the soul grew more potent, the will more unyielding, and the reserves of thought expanded.
As the soul strengthened, not only did it produce thought at a greater rate, it also broadened the mind's capacity to store and retain it.
In essence, the Luminaire aura Kael sensed from those around him was a reflection of their souls. Selene's aura, for instance, was warm and inviting, suggesting she was likely kind-hearted and open. Malric's, by contrast, was cold, but not without flickers of warmth, hints of a more layered personality beneath a quiet surface.
Still, only a fool would rely solely on aura to judge a person. After all, humans possessed both will and mind. They could act against their nature. No matter what an aura implied, a person's choices could always contradict it.
Kael adjusted his posture and turned the skewered meat once more.
And to suppress one's Luminaire aura was, in practice, to suppress one's soul. It was an unpleasant experience that required the Luminaire to constantly divide their attention, steadily draining their thoughts.
He stared into the fire, his gaze unwavering, but his thoughts were anything but still. His mind worked rapidly, piecing together observations, weighing possibilities, and building theories about Torin. There were too many unknowns, and that made him cautious.
A sudden clap broke the silence, the sharp snap of a notebook closing. Kael's attention shifted. He looked up just as Torin placed his hands on his knees and rose from the rock where he'd been sitting.
"Alright, Daire, time is of the essence. I need to explain your role in this mission."
Torin lifted a hand to his shoulder, massaging it slightly before shifting his gaze toward Kael.
Kael had yet to reveal his real name to the other members of this newly assembled team. He straightened his back, signaling that he was paying attention.
Noticing Kael's movement, Torin began speaking in his usual low yet commanding voice.
"Your role in this mission won't be dangerous. That's why we were able to post public notices, making it visible to everyone, not just Luminaires. You've made it this far without issue, so I don't doubt your capability. However, as a mortal, fending off beasts won't be easy. So don't concern yourself too much with the combat aspect. Any threats we encounter will be handled by Selene, Malric, and me."
Torin dropped his hand from his shoulder and crossed his arms.
"The time for you to act will come when we reach Velthoria. As you know, trust between noble families is scarce. That is why each family has stationed some of its members in various cities across the continent. This serves two purposes: to ensure that other noble families act accordingly and to relay trustworthy information back to their own.
Additionally, when a noble family has one of its bloodline members stationed in a city, no other members, nor anyone affiliated with that family are permitted to enter. This rule exists to prevent large groups from forming and potentially threatening the city's stability. It is an absolute, mutual agreement that must never be broken under any circumstances."
Torin paused briefly before continuing, careful not to overwhelm Kael.
"The time it takes for information to be relayed back to the family varies greatly, but this time is different. We have completely lost contact with our family member stationed there. We don't suspect anything serious has happened to her, but the possibility remains.
This is where you come in. We will set up camp a day's journey from Velthoria. From there, you'll need to proceed to the city alone. Once inside, your task is to find her and ensure everything is in order."
Kael gave a firm nod, prompting Torin to continue.
"This is also why someone cautious is more valuable than a powerful Luminaire in this situation. You deciphered the message and navigated the Titanwoods undetected as a mere mortal. That alone puts me at ease."
Kael was taken aback by the unexpected praise but remained silent.
Slowly but surely, the mission Kael had accepted began to unfold before him in greater detail. The family's desperation was justified, but not for the reason he had initially assumed. He had braced himself for a daring assignment, one that would take him across great distances, eliminating countless targets. But that was not the case.
In reality, only a single person was in danger. However, due to the strict constraints placed on noble families, they were unable to act directly. The reason they had arranged this meeting in such a desolate place was to avoid the watchful eyes of the noble representatives stationed in Farkath.
Even though Kael was certain that Torin could have reached this tree on his own, they had arrived as a trio, increasing the risk of being noticed by others since they moved as three members of the noble family.
Torin hadn't mentioned it, but Kael was sure they had chosen to travel in a group of three because they were uncertain of who would take on the mission. They had likely been prepared to escort whoever accepted it to the designated location if necessary. After all, there was still a long and even more dangerous journey ahead, he had only traveled a fifth of the distance between the two cities so far.
Torin watched in silence as Kael sank into deep thought. Having said everything he needed to, he turned away and began preparing for the journey ahead.
Kael had no idea how much time had passed. He'd been staring into the dancing flames, lost in thought, when a soft voice pulled him back into the present.
"You doing okay?"
Selene's warm eyes met his, a friendly smile playing on her lips.
Kael snapped out of his trance and turned toward her.
"Yeah, just planning ahead."
She tilted her head slightly, studying him.
"Don't worry too much about the beasts," she reassured him. "We might not look it, but Malric and I are capable fighters. And if things take a turn for the worse, Torin will step in without hesitation."
Kael held her gaze for a moment before offering a small smile. "Alright."
Satisfied, Selene gave a confident nod, her golden hair shifting with the movement. Then, without another word, she rose to her feet and began gathering her things.
Kael closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the fire wash over his face.
Selene's kindness might have seemed ordinary to a mundane person, but in fact, it was highly unusual. Luminaires rarely treated mortals as equals, let alone acknowledged them as anything more than tools. Yet, she did. It was a testament to her warmth, one that perfectly aligned with the nature of her Luminaire aura.
'I should get ready too.'
Kael rose, brushing the dust from his coat before quietly finishing his own preparations.