Gladius absorbed this information, a mix of pride and unease swirling in his chest. His power, born from his connection to another world and his relentless drive to understand this one, set him apart in ways he was only beginning to comprehend. It was both a shield and a beacon, protecting him from detection but potentially marking him as something unique – and dangerous – in the eyes of this world's powers.
"Still," Arianna added, her tone growing serious once more, "we can't afford to be careless. We may have an edge when it comes to magical detection, but there are other ways to attract unwanted attention. Let's keep our wits about us, shall we?"
Gladius nodded firmly. "Agreed. We've come too far to stumble now."
With renewed focus, they set about preparing for their journey back to Emberstar City. They gathered their spoils from the encounter with Starforge and his group, each item a potential key to unlocking greater power or knowledge.
