Chaosbound: Elarith Chronicles

The Weight of Secrets

Their journey continued, Luci now the undisputed navigator. Each sunrise brought a fresh wave of purpose to her stride, her eyes constantly scanning the unfurled parchment map she'd acquired. Her questions were direct and precise in every village and outpost they visited. Kirin, for his part, followed with unwavering trust, his admiration for her growing with each strategic decision. He'd often watch her, a look of awe on his face, as she effortlessly extracted information from tight-lipped merchants or charted efficient routes through dense forests.

"You're amazing, Luci," he'd said one evening, watching her mark a new potential lead on their map. "You're so smart and reliable. I wouldn't be able to do what you can do. My mind just doesn't work that way, always getting lost in the details. At this rate, we can definitely find Master!"

But with each step deeper into the territories bordering the Umbrafang, a chilling realization solidified in Luci's mind. Kirin, with his boundless kindness and genuine desire to help everyone they encountered, was simply too pure for the darkness he was unknowingly walking towards.

They encountered towns scarred by recent raids, where terrified villagers whispered of shadowy figures and brutal efficiency. They saw the aftermath of skirmishes—not just simple banditry, but calculated destruction, cold and merciless. One grim afternoon, they stumbled upon a desolate farmhouse, its inhabitants slaughtered, not for loot, but seemingly out of sheer, casual malice. Kirin stood there, his usual bright demeanor utterly shattered, a profound sadness clouding his eyes as he gently covered the victims with whatever tattered cloths he could find. Luci, hardened by years in the Luminaries, felt a tremor of revulsion herself, but Kirin's raw, unfiltered sorrow was like a beacon, highlighting the abyss.

This isn't his world, Luci thought, watching him, a tight knot forming in her stomach. He doesn't belong in the shadows Aurel inhabits. This path… it's too dark, too stained for someone as pure as Kirin. I can't let him walk into this abyss. The guilt of her deception, of using his innocence for her own hidden agenda, weighed heavily. She had to protect him, even from himself, even if it meant sacrificing her immediate goal.

That night, as Kirin went through his usual madman's training ritual—a blur of weird exercises and precise fighting katas—Luci watched him, an idea forming. He was relentless, driven by that desire to be strong for his master.

"Hey, Kirin," she called out, waiting for him to finish a particularly complex flourish. "Didn't you say you wanted to become stronger so that you wouldn't be bullied by those Umbrafang again?"

Kirin stopped, breathing heavily but his eyes alight. "Yes, I do! I want to become stronger!"

"You are strong, Kirin. Very strong, in fact," Luci conceded, walking closer. "I think you're stronger than a real warrior divinant. But I also think you have more potential that needs unlocking." She paused, gathering her thoughts, then continued, "There are stories… about the Nomad Healers."

Kirin's eyes widened, his posture shifting, intrigued. "Nomad Healers?"

"Yes," Luci affirmed. "I know this because I have access to records privy to the Luminaries. But what I'm about to tell you is supposed to be a great secret, one that even most of the higher-ups in the Luminaries don't know about." She decided this was the moment. She had to come clean, or at least, clean enough to be believable. "Before I tell you, though... there's something you need to know about me, Kirin."

Kirin blinked, sensing the shift in her tone. "What is it, Luci?"

She took a deep breath, her gaze unwavering, an almost painful honesty etched on her features. "I'm not exactly who you think I am. I mean, yes, I'm with the Luminaries, but I'm… different. My true purpose in finding Aurel isn't just because I heard about the battle at Tiriad Pass." She saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by curiosity. "I'm actually an Athenari."

Kirin stared, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. "An… Athenari? What's that?"

Luci watched his face, relieved that he didn't immediately turn hostile. Her voice dropped, almost a whisper, laden with the weight of centuries of hidden history. "The Athenari are… they're a force behind the Luminaries. They control them, manipulate them. And I believe there's an even darker force controlling the Athenari. I want to find Aurel because I believe he can help defeat them, help free the Luminaries. He's powerful, and he knows things. He's a key." She felt a surge of honesty, a desperate need for him to understand her motives, even as it made her vulnerable.

Kirin was silent for a long moment, processing. Then, slowly, he nodded. "Okay. That's... a lot. But you promise you won't hurt Master, right? You just want to... fix things?"

"Yes, Kirin. I promise," she said, her voice sincere. "I want to fix things. And I believe Aurel is the only one who truly can." This was the truth, unvarnished. "Now," she continued, pushing past the discomfort, "about those Nomad Healers. You're like an excited puppy, aren't you? Yes, please tell me. I'll do anything to become stronger so that I can find master."

"You remember Lord Aric telling you about a second awakening for your divinity?" Luci asked, seeing a spark of recognition in his eyes. "He said you'd need it to walk the dangerous path of your master, right?"

"Yes!" Kirin exclaimed, his excitement returning. "He said I need to have a second awakening... umm, but I'm not sure what that means."

Luci smiled wryly. "A second awakening, hmm? I'm not sure what that means either, not precisely." This part was mostly true. "But… do you know the reason how Nomad Healers come and appear after every catastrophe? Like how they appear magically out of nowhere? Records show that they have these secret pathways, a magical way of getting through it all." She leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "It is said that they have a secret place where they teach healers, a hidden sanctuary, and a place where one can have this 'awakening.' Perhaps that second awakening can be found there?"

She wasn't entirely lying. The legends were real. But her true intent was to give Kirin a compelling reason to pursue a different path, one that led him away from Aurel's dark world.

"Hmm," Kirin said, his excitement momentarily lost as he processed the implications. "But the reason why I want to become stronger is because I want to find Master…"

"I understand," Luci said, her voice gentle but firm. "But... what I'm telling you is a secret I found from a hidden vault, even the higher-ups don't know." She looked him in the eye. "You're a mysterious one, aren't you, Luci?" Kirin said, a hint of wonder in his voice. "But yes, please tell me. I need to become stronger, even if it delays my true purpose of finding Master. Yes, I need to become stronger so I can see Master."

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Luci nodded. "This secret place of the Nomad Healers, where they gather and train… maybe you can find that new strength in there, Kirin. Maybe that's where your second awakening awaits." She knew this was her best, perhaps only, chance to pull him back from the brink of a destiny too dark for his bright soul.

A Guardian's Unlikely Welcome

"The place where Nomad Healers appear is always after catastrophe, after wars, after dangers that result in widespread casualties," Luci explained, tracing a finger across a section of her map, now marked with ominous red Xs. "It's always in the wake of great suffering."

Kirin's eyes softened with recognition. "That's how the Nomad Healer came to my village when I was young," he mused, a distant look in his eyes. "After the blight swept through, he just… appeared. He helped so many, then disappeared without a trace."

"It's almost a myth, how they come and go," Luci conceded. "A true mystery shrouded in ancient texts. But if what the records say is true, we can find a way to let you join them, or at least convince them to learn. If your second awakening lies with them, it's worth the risk."

"Hmm, well, I'm not really a Nomad Healer," Kirin said, scratching his head. "But I'll do what it takes." His resolve was unwavering, even if his understanding was a bit hazy.

"Good," Luci affirmed, a determined glint in her eyes. "Now, here's the plan. We head south. This territory is notorious for its instability; there are countless places like that here. What we need to do is predict the likeliest spot for such a catastrophe to happen next. And I know just the place." Her voice lowered slightly. "But first, I need to find my guardian. He can help us."

"Your guardian?" Kirin asked, surprised. "Like… a bodyguard?"

"Yes, he's like my bodyguard," Luci confirmed, a rare, almost vulnerable smile touching her lips. "He's called Hans. I sent him ahead, scouting around to help us find your master initially." Her chest swelled slightly with a subtle pride. "Remember when I told you I'm an Athenari? Well, not technically one, but more like… I have their traits. He's been with me since I was very young, assigned by my true family." It was a huge admission, a secret she had never divulged to anyone.

Kirin blinked, then nodded slowly. "Athenari? Yeah, you told me that. Okay." He paused, then added, "I'm not sure what that is, but I'm sure it's a big deal."

Luci stared at him, genuinely shocked. What?! I just told him the biggest secret, something that could rewrite human history, and this guy isn't even shook? My mind reeled for a moment, the sheer innocence almost comical. She quickly composed herself, a small, wry smile returning. Oh well, I guess it's a good thing. Less drama, more progress.

"Okay," she said, shaking her head faintly. "We will find Hans, my bodyguard, and then he will lead us to this place we're supposed to be. Hopefully, he has some good information already."

They eventually tracked Hans to a dimly lit tavern on the outskirts of a bustling trade hub. The air inside was thick with the pungent aroma of stale ale and the murmur of low conversations, punctuated by the rhythmic clatter of tankards. Through the haze, Luci spotted a hulking figure at the bar, gulping down drinks with alarming speed and bellowing for another. He was an old man, his beard unkempt, his movements a bit clumsy. He seemed… senile, perhaps, and undeniably overprotective if his aggressive shushing of a nearby patron was any indication.

Kirin, standing a respectful distance behind Luci, watched with a mixture of disbelief and disappointment. "So, that's the guy?" he whispered, his voice a little deflated. "I thought he'd be… someone valiant. He looks more like he's about to fall off that stool."

Luci simply offered a tight-lipped smile. "He is reliable, Kirin. Trust me." Kirin still looked doubtful, but if Luci said he was reliable, then Hans must be reliable. Kirin had already seen enough of Luci's judgment to know she wouldn't lead him astray. He just hoped this "guardian" wouldn't slow them down too much.

The Stratagem Unfolds

As Luci stepped closer to the bar, the large man at the counter slammed his tankard down. His head swiveled, his cloudy eyes fixing on her. "My Lady? You've come." A wide, toothless grin split his grizzled face, revealing surprisingly strong teeth. His voice was a booming growl that cut through the tavern's din. "So this must be Kirin?" His gaze swept over Kirin, a surprising intensity in his watery eyes. "Hmm, he looks strong. Good posture, broad shoulders. The way your hands are calloused, you must be an unarmed warrior. Seen a lot of training, looks like. Trained like a madman, haven't you? And that aura… it hums with untapped energy. You don't just fight, lad, you feel the fight, every movement deliberate, almost like a dance of destruction. A brawler, yes, but with the precision of a master."

Luci sighed, a familiar weariness in her expression. "Pardon him, Kirin. This guy usually measures someone who is close to me. Don't get fooled by his appearance. He is strong, despite how he looks, he is reliable. He is Hans, my bodyguard, also my personal assistant, my informant, and all-around guy."

Kirin, slightly taken aback by Hans's sudden appraisal but still ever polite, bent forward at the waist. "Nice to meet you, Sir. My name is Kirin." His tone was sincere, a mark of his good nature.

Hans's grin widened. "Ah, My Lady is right about you. You have great manners. To business then. Come, let's not talk here." He gestured towards a dimly lit stairwell. "I reserved a room upstairs. We should talk there." As they started to follow, Hans leaned in towards Luci, his booming voice dropping to a loud whisper. "Are you sure you can tell him that you're an Athenari? My lady, you're not supposed to casually tell that to anyone, not even me, though of course, I already know. But Kirin is a different story."

Luci simply rolled her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Shhh," she whispered back, a playful firmness in her tone. "I already told him that before coming here."

Hans just grunted, shaking his head as he led them up the creaking stairs to a small, secluded room. It was stark, almost bare, and a bit dark, with only a single, flickering lantern providing light. Hans closed the heavy wooden door behind them, the sound echoing dully. "Don't worry, it's safe here. We can discuss anything here, and not even a single ant can hear us." He moved to a table where a crude map was spread out, already marked with a few circles and crosses.

"My Lady," Hans began, his demeanor shifting from senile drunk to sharp strategist. He pointed a thick finger at a specific spot on the map. "A skirmish between two tribes, the Handal and Burda, will happen in two days, right here." His finger jabbed the spot. "My money will be on Burda, so Handal will definitely have more casualties."

Kirin's eyes widened, his kindness immediately surfacing. "A battle? We should help them if Handal is on the losing side!"

Luci quickly stepped in, placing a hand on Kirin's arm. "Do you even know who they are, Kirin?"

Hans chuckled, a dry, raspy sound. "Ah, like you said, My Lady, this guy truly is good-hearted."

Luci leveled a steady look at Kirin. "They are bandits, Kirin. They kill people. Are you sure you want to help them?"

Kirin's face fell. "Oh. Right. But… if we can't help them, then we should at least help the injured after."

Hans gave a slow, approving nod, a flicker of genuine respect in his eyes for Kirin's unwavering compassion. "Indeed. This is a large-scale war of bandits, and I'm sure there will be heavy casualties. And yes, this will definitely attract the Nomad Healers from appearing, just as the legends say."

Kirin's eyes lit up again with renewed purpose. "I will help too, if needed!"

Luci, however, stepped between Kirin and the map, her expression firm. "We will not get involved in this, Kirin."

"But, but…" Kirin stammered, his earlier enthusiasm deflating.

"No 'buts'," Luci interrupted, her voice unyielding. "You said you would do what I said."

Kirin's shoulders slumped. "But… ahh… okay," he conceded, like a child reluctantly agreeing, kicking a loose pebble on the floor with his boot. "Okay, Hans. We will get there after their skirmish is over and wait for a miracle that Nomad Healers will appear."

Hans's grin returned. "I'm sure they will be appearing. You need to trust me on this." He seemed genuinely confident, leaving Kirin to wonder at the strange dynamics of Luci and her eccentric guardian.