Kyle returned to the inn and went to his room. Jensen and Madge were still sleeping, and feeling drowsy himself, he soon fell back asleep.

After a few hours, he woke up to find the room empty. He headed to the dining area, where Jen and Madge were drinking coffee.

"What are you guys doing?" Kyle asked.

"Reading books," Madge replied with a stern face. "What does it look like?"

"Good morning," Jen said.

"What are you planning to do after that?" Jen asked Madge.

"Climb up the ranks," she replied.

"What are you guys talking about?" Kyle exclaimed.

"She said she's going to join the military."

"Why? Is that your ambition?" Kyle asked.

"No, but I could see my father if I join the army."

"How do you say you could see your father?" Kyle asked.

Madge's eyes glistened as she spoke, "My father... he was a history teacher, but more than that, he had deep knowledge in arcanes," she took a deep breath. "Defense Minister William Edward called him in for meetings for his expertise."

"William Edward?" Kyle remembered the stories he heard about him. "Is he the one who succeeded his father at a young age?"

"Well, I don't know about that, but I know that he introduced many changes in using arcanes."

"How do people get those, arcanes?" Kyle asked.

"People in the army need to undergo trials where they get physically tested and trained with weapons."

"For what?" Kyle's eyes widened as he sat in the chair with them.

Kyle's breath caught as she described, "Because they'll be sent to their death, a forest, a special one, they call it Astral Glade. The ones selected need to kill a celestial creature and inherit its power."

Jensen finished his coffee and placed the mug on the table.

"Kill them?" Jen asked.

"Yeah, that's how you get those arcanes. Those creatures can also kill these poor soldiers," she took a sip from her mug. "There'll be all kinds, from small to big, from feared to inducing fear. The greater the danger, the better the arcane you get."

"This is very problematic. Why do they want people to die to get powers? Can't they train normally?" Kyle questioned.

"They say they do this because every kingdom does it, to maintain a peaceful society."

"Do you think you can pass through that?" Kyle asked.

"I do, and I will."

"Good luck," Jen said.

Kyle shuddered, picturing the grueling trials Madge would face.

Madge stood, glancing at the mellow light streaming into the inn.

"I'll work in the morning today," she looked at the kitchen door, where Vincent was inside. "I'm going out to a place in the evening."

"Where are you headed?" Jen asked.

"To meet a person. A base general, a friend of my father."

"Where is he?"

"In the local base office, a twenty-minute walk from here."

"Can I come with you?" Jen asked with a small smile on his face.

"Why do you always want to come with me?"

"I want to see some places. That's all," Jen glanced at her.

"Then you'll have to ask Vincent to change your shift."

"I'll also join you guys," Kyle said. Both rushed to Vincent.

"It's not up to me, boys. You'll have to ask someone to change their shift to night. You just need one person to change. I'll adjust for one of you," Vincent replied.

Robert, whose face always looked like a block carved from rock, barked rather than spoke with people.

Both being reluctant, plodded towards him.

"Could you... could you change your shift to evening today, please?" Jen gleamed.

He turned his stone face towards Jen, "Why would I want to do that? I have some other work in the evening."

"I'm going to meet a base general today."

Robert's face brightened with interest. "What are you going to do meeting him?"

"It's not your business," Jen immediately replied.

"Then I won't change my shift."

"I'll give you money," Jen decided to negotiate with him.

"How much will you give?"

"How much do you want?"

"100 Delings."

"Deal. I'll pay you when I get my salary."

"You have to pay me now, or I won't," Robert said.

"I'll give you 150 Delings."

"Deal."

They went to work. It was a long day with a lot of customers. But they didn't mind any of that and soon got ready for the evening.

Wearing new clothes Vincent gave them, they headed out for their new journey.

"What is his name?" Kyle asked loudly.

"Frederick Charles."

"How did he become a friend of your father?" Jen asked.

"I think it's through those arcane meetings."

"Do you think William Edward is behind your father going missing?"

"I don't know, but this is my only chance," something rose in her mind. Then she turned towards Jen. "Why don't you tell us about you, Jen?"

"Me? I was just a normal boy," he smiled. "My mom used to work as a doctor before she entered poetry. My dad made glasses for domestic use. I usually don't go out of my house and rarely get to meet people."

"You've simplified your life very much," Madge said.

On reaching the marketplace, they took a left turn, kept on walking from there, and soon reached a place where Kyle noticed the building he went inside in the morning stood formidable amidst the bustling commercial street, constructed with reinforced concrete, giving it a sharp look with its glass windows. But what truly set it apart was the intricate carvings of magical creatures on the wall.

"Is this where we are going?" Kyle asked nervously.

"Yeah, how did you find it?" Madge asked eagerly.

"This seems different from other places here, with designs engraved on the wall."

Jensen looked at all sides of the wall, rotating his head like an owl. A particular inscription amused him.

"What is that— which animal has ten legs?"

Madge stared at it, widening her eyes to have a clear look.

"It's... it's— I think it's Albion. It has a lion face and yes, it has ten legs— it's one of those rare celestial creatures. I think there's only one now."

"Who all have acquired its power?" Jensen asked, his face brightened.

"I only know one who had its powers. It was Edmund Goodwin, the first commander of Eldwyn."

They ambled into the office, and there was a room at the right corner. As they walked towards it, Kyle's heart raced as he slowly started walking there.

"There's some problem here. They are hiding something big," he pondered, entering the room.

A man with eyes like rosewood, hair as black as a shadow, and a sharp jawline gave the children a heartwarming smile, being a light for their suffering.

"Madge, it's been a very long time. How are you, child?"

"Doing well. How are you doing?"

"I'm good. Did the boys come with you?"

"Yeah, they came with me."

Frederick got off his desk quickly, reached out to his wooden wardrobe to his left, picked something like a chain, and returned.

"When did you come here?" he asked, twisting the chain around his fingers. Kai noticed Frederick's thumb was cut in half.

"Three days back," she was staring at the pendant he had.

"How did you get to know these boys?"

"I met them in the camp they set for the refuge from the attack."

"Are they? How are you boys? Did you have any problems with the attack?" He asked softly.

"They killed both of my parents," Jen said. Even though his face didn't express sadness, his voice did.

"I have lost my mother," Kai added.

"I'm extremely sorry."

"My father's out there. I have given my name to the checklist. If my father comes for me, he'll surely find me."

"All the best."

"Did you find them?"

"The ones who attacked? The royal army is dealing with it now. But sadly, even they couldn't find them still. They attacked in four places around the same time."

"Are they very powerful?" Kai asked.

"It seems so— they are powerful as the royal army took more blows than them. The royal army is calling the attackers 'brambles.' But don't worry, our government will take necessary steps." Then he turned to Madge. "Are you ready for this?"

"Yes, I have faith that I'll do it."

"You'll just get ten seconds. Use it wisely."

Kyle and Jen stood there, not understanding anything about what they were speaking.

"You've got two months. Use that time and get familiar with this," Frederick said.

"Can I ask you something?" Jen asked, not looking at his face.

"Go on, boy," he encouraged.

"You're not from the royal army, right? So does that mean you don't have an arcane?"

"You're right for most of that, except that not all of us don't have an arcane. Some do have arcanes, but they are not powerful enough to join the royal army."

"Do you have one?" Jen asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"I do. It's a moon celestus. Its name is Bloodfang, a creature that looks like a dog and has red eyes."

As he said, a woman ran into the office, screaming with blood all over her blue gown.

"What happened?" Frederick asked. He stood up and looked around for his sword.

"Few men are attacking everyone around this street," she said with tears rolling from her eyes.

He took his sword.

Kyle and Jen backed and reached the end of the room. Madge stood with Frederick.

"What? Who?"

"I don't