The walk away from Iridius was a quiet one. The lush forests of Western Eudora offered Abell a sense of peace, but his mind was elsewhere, weighed down by the people he was leaving behind—potentially for a long time.
"So, how's your first step away from home?" Hugo asked, his voice tinged with mischief.
"Feels strange, but I'll manage," Abell replied, his tone sharp. "So, which way to the academy?"
Hugo's grin faded slightly. "Hmm, we've got two weeks until the entrance exam. So, we'll be taking a detour."
Abell's brows furrowed. "A detour?"
"Yeah, a detour," Hugo expressed, a bit meekly.
Abell sighed. "What for? Let's just fight Malignants for 2 weeks." He said with a devilish smile.
Hugo shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "The academy's still going to be there when we get there," he said, his tone easy, but there was a glint of something more in his eyes. "Fighting's not always the answer, kid. You'll learn that soon enough."
Abell looked at him, a bit confused. "What are you talking about?"
Hugo shrugged casually, his gaze wandering ahead. "Sometimes you have to understand what's happening around you before you can figure out what needs to be done. It's not all about swinging a sword."
Abell smirked. "Sounds boring."
"Maybe," Hugo replied with a chuckle.
As they walked, a rustle in the underbrush caught Abell's attention. Before he could react, two Incoherents—twisted, disfigured creatures with hollow skin glowing faintly—emerged from the trees. Abell froze, wide-eyed. He'd never seen anything like this. These weren't the usual Malignants he'd heard about—these were far more brutal.
Hugo moved instantly, his hand glowing with luminous energy. He thrust it forward, sending a concentrated blast of energy at the nearest creature. The Incoherent screeched as the blast hit, its body crumpling to the ground, the orb flickering out. Abell barely had time to react before the second Incoherent lunged at him, its claws raking across his armor and sending a sharp pain through his side.
"Focus!" Hugo shouted, his voice firm.
Abell steadied himself and swung his sword at the charging creature, barely managing to dodge its claws. With a deep breath, he found his mark, striking it down. The Incoherent staggered, its orb flickering wildly before going dark. Silence fell over the forest.
Abell stood over the fallen Malignant, his chest heaving. "I've never seen Malignants like that before," he muttered, still processing the fight.
Hugo wiped his hand clean, his expression calm. "The world's full of things like that. Stay sharp."
Eventually, they reached a small village. Abell froze. The air was thick with the stench of blood and death. The people were weak, barely hanging on to life. The village was in tatters—bloodstains on the dirt, Malignant corpses littering the ground, and bodies of villagers who hadn't survived the attacks.
Abell stood there, wide-eyed. He'd never seen anything like this. Iridius had always been safe, well-protected, even without the aid of Luminaries. But this? This was something entirely different.
A little girl stepped forward cautiously, her eyes full of hope. "Are you Luminaries?"
Before anyone could answer, her mother snapped at her. "Don't talk to strangers, child. And if they are Luminaries, we don't need their help." She hurriedly pulled the girl away.
Abell frowned. "What's her problem?"
"It's alright, Abell. Don't take it personally," Hugo said quietly. "This is their reality. Our reality. Villages like these don't get help. There's no trust in Luminaries here."
They continued walking through the village, but it wasn't long before an old man approached them. His eyes were sharp with suspicion, his body frail but his posture rigid. "Who are you? Here to take what little we have left, just like the rest?" His voice was laced with bitterness. "I'm the village chief. What do you want?"
"We're just passing through, old man," Abell said, trying to ease the tension. "No trouble."
The old man's eyes narrowed, scanning them carefully. "Judging from the looks of you, you've gotta be Luminaries. You can't get this far without encountering Malignants. And we all know—you're only here when there's money involved. Helping the people? Don't make me laugh."
Abell shifted uncomfortably, but Hugo stepped forward with a serious expression. "We're not here for any trouble. But I'd send the help if I could. This country's more complicated than it looks."
The old man scoffed, his voice growing louder. "Tell your boss—Alsaint, right? That we don't need him or his rules. This country's gone to hell. We used to care about the people here, but now? We're all on our own."
Abell stood silently, taking in the exchange. He didn't know much about the political tensions between the people and the government—Iridius had always been so isolated from it. This glimpse of the reality beyond the town was unsettling.
"My apologies," Hugo said again, his voice calm but firm. He nudged Abell to follow, signaling that it was time to move on. The old man continued muttering angrily, but they ignored him, walking further away from the village.
The walk through the village felt heavy, the air thick with a sense of despair. Abell noticed people mourning their loved ones, their faces etched with sorrow. Some cursed the government for its lack of aid, their voices low and bitter. In the distance, he could hear whispers about bandits raiding nearby homes. The situation felt worse than he had imagined, especially for a town just a few hours away from Iridius.
"Hey, Hugo, why is Iridius so safe?" Abell asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
Hugo glanced over at him, unfazed by the grim atmosphere. "Can't you tell? It's because of your mother."
"Eh, the old lady?" Abell said, surprised.
"Yeah," Hugo said, his tone more serious now. "One reason I came to Western Eudora was to see how Iridius was the second safest town in this region. After seeing her, it makes sense. She's a top-tier Luminary, even with her injuries, she can go one-on-one with a nightmare-grade Malignant."
Abell blinked in surprise, taken aback by Hugo's words. "Her presence alone keeps weaker Malignants and low-level bandits away. But people like the elder, Freed the blacksmith, his wife Mary, and Ream the merchant all help keep Iridius safe."
Abell felt a surge of pride. He never expected his mother to be that strong. "Is she stronger than you, Hugo?"
"Hahaha," Hugo chuckled. "Let's keep moving, kid. We've got a long way to go."
They continued walking, and Abell's eyes were drawn to a large estate in the distance, surrounded by a tall gate. Two guards stood at attention in front of it, giving the whole place an air of isolation. It stood in sharp contrast to the simple homes around it.
"Who lives there?" Abell asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Some wealthy landowner, who knows these days," Hugo replied with a shrug. "This region's full of landowners and business folk."
Abell frowned, staring at the estate. It felt out of place, like a world apart from the struggles of the villagers. The divide between the wealthy and the rest of the population was clearer than ever. It seemed almost untouched by the troubles of the village, its high walls keeping whatever was inside at a distance. He couldn't help but wonder about the people who lived there, and whether they'd ever have to face the same struggles as those in the town.
The trudge through the village was tough for Abell. As a 15-year-old who had known a relatively comfortable life, seeing the horrors of suffering and inequality was hard to comprehend. It seemed like that was Hugo's goal—to expose him to a reality far different from the one he had known. Abell couldn't help but feel overwhelmed, but he also realized that Hugo wasn't as carefree as he seemed. There was more to him than his laid-back attitude. "He's an interesting guy," Abell thought, mulling over the complexity of his mentor.
As they exited the village, Hugo glanced at the sky, noting that nightfall was approaching. He suggested they set up camp nearby.
As the hours passed, Hugo showed Abell how to set up a camp—how to pitch tents, build a fire, and hunt food. He also taught him where to position the camp to avoid attracting Malignants. Abell felt clumsy at first, but slowly he began to understand. It was hard, exhausting work, and Hugo's calm guidance was the only thing that kept him from getting frustrated.
"Day 1 complete. How do you feel, kid?" Hugo asked, a teasing smile on his face.
"I'm good. I just wish there was more action," Abell replied. "I came to get stronger, not talk to people all day."
Hugo chuckled. "A Luminary's greatest asset is their mind. Don't forget that—that's what my master told me. I was just like you, you know, a stupid, dumb kid."
Abell shot him a glare. "Hey, what was that? I'm not dumb!"
Hugo laughed even harder. "Heh, it's just a joke, kid. Get some rest. We've got a long trek tomorrow. We're heading to Halion—the capital city of the western region."
"Why are we going there?" Abell asked, but Hugo just waved him off with a grin.
"You'll see. Now, sleep."
Abell lay back, still restless. The weight of the day hung heavily on his mind, and though he didn't fully understand Hugo's intentions, something about the journey to Halion made him uneasy. What awaited them there? And why did Hugo seem so cryptic about it?