The dense forest began to thin as Kaelion and Lyria pressed onward. The horizon revealed jagged cliffs rising into the clouds—the foothills of the Seraphic Mountains, where Kaelion intended to continue his journey. The air here felt different, heavier, almost alive. Every breath seemed to hum with dormant energy, as though the land itself was steeped in ancient power.
Lyria walked a step ahead, her movements purposeful but guarded. She clutched the Shard of Aetherium close, her emerald eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger. Kaelion trailed behind her, his thoughts racing.
The hunter from earlier had shaken him—not just because of the man's skill, but because of what it implied. If such powerful people were chasing after Lyria, then staying with her meant stepping into a storm far bigger than himself. And yet, something about her resolve, her defiance, stirred something within him.
"Why are you helping me?" Lyria's voice broke the silence, startling him.
Kaelion shrugged, his hand resting on the hilt of his dagger. "Seemed like the right thing to do."
She stopped abruptly, turning to face him. "Don't give me that. You're not some wandering saint. There's more to it, isn't there?"
Kaelion met her gaze evenly. "You're right. I'm not a saint. But I know what it's like to be hunted, to feel like the world's stacked against you. I don't have all the answers, but I'm not about to let someone fight a battle like that alone."
Lyria studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she nodded and turned away. "Just don't expect me to start trusting you right away."
Kaelion smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."
---
The Road to the Mountains
The pair continued their journey in relative silence, the tension between them easing slightly as the hours passed. The forest gave way to rocky terrain, the air growing colder with each step.
Kaelion's system chimed softly in his mind.
> "Environmental scan complete: High-density spiritual energy detected. Area classified as a minor cultivation hotspot."
He glanced around, noticing the faint shimmer in the air, as though the world itself were vibrating with potential. "This place feels… different," he said aloud.
Lyria nodded. "The closer we get to the Seraphic Mountains, the stronger the spiritual energy becomes. It's why so many cultivators come here—to train, to seek enlightenment, or to die trying."
Kaelion raised an eyebrow. "Die trying?"
"This region isn't just rich in spiritual energy," Lyria explained. "It's also crawling with spirit beasts and other… dangers. If you're not prepared, the mountains will eat you alive."
Kaelion's grip on his dagger tightened. "Sounds like fun."
Lyria shot him a sideways glance. "You're insane."
He grinned. "Probably."
---
A Sudden Attack
As they reached a narrow pass between two cliffs, the system issued a warning.
> "Hostile entities detected. Incoming threat: Spirit Beast. Classification: Tier 3."
Kaelion's muscles tensed, his eyes scanning the rocky terrain. "We've got company."
Before Lyria could respond, a deafening roar echoed through the pass. From the shadows of the cliffs emerged a massive Ironhide Boar, its body covered in thick, metallic scales that glinted in the fading light. Its crimson eyes locked onto them, and it charged without hesitation.
"Move!" Kaelion shouted, shoving Lyria to the side as the beast barreled toward them.
The ground shook with the force of its charge, rocks crumbling from the cliffs above. Kaelion rolled to his feet, drawing his dagger.
> "Combat initiated: Activating Starfire Enhancement. Boosting agility and strength by 15%."
Kaelion dashed to the side as the boar turned to charge again, its speed surprising for its massive size. He slashed at its flank, but the blade barely left a scratch on its armored hide.
Lyria, meanwhile, had drawn her rune-etched daggers. She moved with startling grace, her strikes precise as she targeted the boar's legs. One of her daggers found a weak spot in the joint, eliciting a pained roar from the beast.
"It's tough," she said, her voice calm despite the chaos. "Aim for the joints or the eyes."
Kaelion nodded, circling the beast as it focused on Lyria. He noticed a faint glow emanating from its chest—a core of energy pulsing beneath the armor.
"Lyria!" he called out. "Distract it. I've got an idea."
She didn't question him, lunging at the boar and slashing at its face. The beast roared, rearing up on its hind legs to swipe at her.
Kaelion seized the moment, leaping onto its back. He drove his dagger into the gap between its scales, using it as a foothold to climb higher. The boar bucked wildly, but Kaelion held on, his focus locked on the glowing core.
"Come on," he muttered, channeling the Starfire energy into his dagger. The blade glowed with golden light as he plunged it into the core with all his strength.
The boar let out a final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing, its massive body hitting the ground with a thud.
---
The Aftermath
Kaelion slid off the beast, his chest heaving. "Well, that was exciting."
Lyria wiped blood from her cheek, her expression unreadable. "You're lucky that worked."
"Luck had nothing to do with it," he said with a grin.
Lyria rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Instead, she knelt by the boar's corpse, prying a small, glowing crystal from its chest. "Spirit Core," she explained, holding it up. "Worth a small fortune to the right buyer."
Kaelion nodded. "And useful for cultivation, right?"
"Depends on the technique," Lyria said, slipping the core into her satchel. "But yes, it can be refined into energy for breakthroughs."
Kaelion's system chimed again.
> "Battle experience gained: +10% progress toward next Starfire Core upgrade."
He smirked. "Looks like I'm making progress too."
---
A Glimpse of Vulnerability
As night fell, they set up camp near a small stream. The fire crackled softly, its light casting dancing shadows on the rocky cliffs around them.
Lyria sat across from Kaelion, her face illuminated by the warm glow. She seemed lost in thought, her usual guarded expression softened.
"What's your story?" Kaelion asked, breaking the silence.
She looked up, startled. "What do you mean?"
"You mentioned being on your own for years. Why? What happened?"
Lyria hesitated, her eyes flicking to the fire. "I… grew up in a small village. My parents were farmers. Simple people, kind. One day, a group of cultivators came through, claiming there was an ancient artifact buried nearby. They tore the village apart looking for it. When my parents tried to stop them…"
She trailed off, her voice breaking.
Kaelion's chest tightened. "I'm sorry."
Lyria shook her head, her jaw clenched. "After that, I swore I'd never let anyone take advantage of me again. I started scavenging ruins, learning to fight, doing whatever it took to survive."
Kaelion nodded, his respect for her growing. "You've been through a lot. But you're still standing. That's something."
She met his gaze, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. "Thanks. And… I guess I should thank you too. For helping me."
Kaelion smiled. "Don't mention it. We're in this together now, right?"
Lyria smirked faintly. "For now."
---