The forest around Kaleb shimmered as Floki snapped his fingers, the tension of their latest battle still lingering in the air. Kaleb, bruised and breathless, stood hunched over, his Chi barely flickering.
Floki leaned casually against an invisible wall, his expression unusually serious. "Alright, kid, enough's enough. You're not gonna break through to Medium Tier if you keep dodging death every five minutes."
Kaleb glanced up, his breathing heavy. "Not my fault everyone wants me dead."
Floki snorted, snapping his fingers again. The air around them rippled like water, swallowing the forest in an instant. Kaleb staggered, his balance thrown off by the sudden shift.
The ground beneath him was no longer dirt and leaves but a smooth, glowing surface. The sky above wasn't a sky at all—it was an endless expanse of swirling colors, vibrant and alive.
Kaleb's jaw dropped. "Where… what is this?"
"My place," Floki said with a dramatic wave of his arms. "Welcome to my pocket dimension. Cozy, huh?"
Kaleb blinked, trying to process what he was seeing. "You have… your own dimension?"
Floki grinned, clearly enjoying the reaction. "What, you didn't think I was just some run-of-the-mill god, did you? This is nothing. Anyone above Mystic Lord Realm can do this."
Kaleb's eyes widened. "Anyone? You mean… this is normal for people that strong?"
Floki clapped a hand on Kaleb's shoulder, his smirk widening. "Kid, you've got a long way to go. But don't worry—I'll make sure you don't die before you get there."
Kaleb's gaze drifted to the glowing landscape around him, awe replacing his fatigue. "I had no idea this was even possible."
"That's your problem," Floki said, leaning in with a teasing grin. "You don't know enough about basic shit. Time to fix that."
Floki gestured, and a series of floating platforms materialized in the air, each glowing with runes. "Training starts now. No interruptions, no assassins, no excuses. You break through to Medium Tier here, or you don't leave."
Kaleb straightened, the weight of Floki's words settling on him. His determination flared to life, matching the glow of the strange dimension. "Alright. Let's do this."
In the Tidecaller Clan's great library, Sonia sifted through ancient texts, her sapphire eyes scanning page after page. The dim light of spirit lanterns cast a soft glow, highlighting the determined set of her jaw.
On the desk before her lay the torn scrap of cloth from the rogue warriors. Its strange symbol seemed to pulse under her scrutiny, as if mocking her lack of understanding.
Sonia's brows furrowed as she leaned back in her chair, turning the cloth over in her hands. "This isn't Tideborn," she murmured to herself, the confidence in her voice unwavering. "It's something else."
Alina appeared in the doorway, her gaze steady. "You've been here all day. You should rest."
Sonia shook her head, not looking up. "I can't. Whoever these rogues are, they're tied to something bigger. I need to know what."
Alina stepped closer, her voice soft. "The symbol on that cloth… it's not from any clan I recognize. But it feels deliberate, almost ritualistic."
Sonia's fingers brushed the fabric again, her thoughts racing. "It's deliberate, alright. And it's new. Someone's moving pieces in the shadows."
Alina rested a hand on her shoulder, her expression calm but serious. "Whatever their motives, you need to tread carefully. If this isn't the Tideborn, then their connections could run deeper than we think."
Sonia's gaze hardened, her resolve sharpening like a blade. "If this has anything to do with Vorrick, I'll find out. Kaleb's exile wasn't random. It was planned."
The weight of her words hung in the air, the quiet resolve in her voice unshakable. She folded the cloth carefully, slipping it into her robe.
As she left the library, her eyes lingered on the distant waves crashing against the shore. The storm brewing in her heart mirrored the one she sensed in the world around her.
In the Bjorn Clan's territory, Vorrick Alsevar sat alone in his study.
The room was dark and quiet, lit only by flickering Chi lanterns. Shadows danced on the walls, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Vorrick's desk was covered in scrolls and maps, each one holding secrets of ancient power. He studied them with a sharp, focused gaze.
A loud knock broke the silence.
"Enter," Vorrick said, his tone cold and controlled.
The door creaked open, revealing the bandit leader. His face was pale, and his armor was scratched and dented.
"My lord," the bandit began, his voice shaking, "we failed. The boy defeated us."
Vorrick's eyes did not leave the map. He tapped his finger on the desk, the sound echoing in the room.
"Failed?" Vorrick said, his voice soft but cutting.
The bandit flinched. "Yes, my lord. He… he's grown stronger. And… Floki…"
Vorrick's gaze lifted sharply. "Floki?"
The bandit nodded quickly. "The god. He mocked us. He laughed as the boy destroyed my men."
Vorrick stood slowly, his hands clasped behind his back. "Floki taunted you while you failed to complete a simple task?"
The bandit swallowed hard, unable to meet Vorrick's eyes.
"You were sent to kill the boy," Vorrick continued, his voice steady. "Instead, you brought me excuses."
"My lord, we tried," the bandit stammered. "But his power… it's beyond anything we expected. He wields fire, wind, and lightning like a master."
Vorrick's lips curled into a cold smile. "And yet, he's just a boy."
The leader hesitated. "He showed signs of exhaustion. His strength has limits."
Vorrick's smile widened. "Good. Even gods can't protect forever."
From the shadows, a cloaked figure stepped forward. Its presence was unnatural, the air around it heavy.
"The boy grows stronger," the figure said, its voice low and hollow. "Floki trains him through chaos."
Vorrick turned to the figure. "What do you mean?"
The figure's shadowy form seemed to flicker. "Floki's chaos pushes the boy to grow. But chaos can be used against them both."
Vorrick's brows arched slightly. "Explain."
"Floki is unpredictable," the figure said. "We can exploit his nature. Plant doubt in the boy's mind. Make him question Floki's intentions."
Vorrick's smile returned. "Divide and conquer."
The figure nodded. "Exactly. Let the boy think Floki is using him. Distrust will break their bond."
Vorrick faced the bandit leader again. His gaze was cold and final. "You failed."
The bandit opened his mouth to plead but froze. The cloaked figure moved like a shadow. In an instant, the bandit fell lifeless.
The messengers near the door stiffened in fear, their faces pale.
"Spread the word," Vorrick commanded, his tone sharp. "Failure will not be forgiven. The boy must not be left to grow unchecked."
The messengers nodded and fled the room without a word.
Vorrick turned back to the cloaked figure. "Make the boy's trials endless. Let him grow tired. Let Floki's chaos wear him down."
The figure's form melted into the shadows, leaving Vorrick alone in the room.
Vorrick moved to the window, his gaze fixed on the dark expanse of Bjorn territory.
"Kaleb Bjorn," he said softly, his voice a quiet storm. "Even gods have limits. Your time will come."
The lanterns flickered, and the shadows deepened, hiding Vorrick's plans in darkness.