*3 days until the Culmination* 

"Xerxes!" A muffled voice called out to him, that was distant, yet close to him at the same time. The voice then called out again, but with more anger within her usual soft voice, "GET UP NOW!" 

A groan left Xerxes' mouth, as one eye opened, the other being rubbed by his forearm,. Before him stood Aya - his childhood friend. Her ash blonde hair was tied back, the way she had always done before going on missions, and her arms, laced in leather garments, were crossed in annoyance, her expression angered. She then pointed at Xerxes' face, "YOU PROMISED ME THAT YOU WOULD BE UP TODAY, WE NEED TO LEAVE FOR OUR MISSION!" 

Mission? Promised? Crap. As soon as those words left her mouth, Xerxes realised why Aya was berating him. Today was the day they were supposed to leave for their grand mission—to impress the entire guild and the kingdom of Layne for that matter. Originally, he thought she had been joking about this mission. After all, its contents were not suitable for 12-year-old adventurers who had only just become Tier 6 mages. 

"Oh you were serious about really taking this mission?" A nervous laugh came out of Xerxes' mouth. She then grabbed Xerxes by his ear lobe and roared. 

"How dare you imply that I was not. I am Aya the greatest of adventurers, looking to take on the greatest of quests, with my extremely wimpy and tardy friend Xerxes." 

"How dare you say that I was not! I am Aya, the greatest of adventurers, looking to take on the greatest of quests—with my extremely wimpy and tardy friend, Xerxes." 

Xerxes replied with sarcasm to her obnoxious attitude. "Wow, thanks for the reassurance, Aya. As your extremely wimpy and tardy friend, can I ask one last time for you to maybe not go through with this mission? I mean, even though we don't need to go into that place, we are still going to be very close to it, and I am kind of wary. You know what Lady Vanessa says about it." Aya took a moment to glance at Xerxes while he continued explaining why it wouldn't be a good idea. That was the sort of person Xerxes was—he deeply thought about risk before reward. Like Aya, he did want to become a great mage, renowned even, but this mission felt like biting off more than they could chew. 

"Doing a surveillance mission on the outskirts of the Fallen Kingdom, even if we are required to stay 15 miles away from the actual entry, feels wrong. C'mon, Aya, you know we only recently awakened our magic, and we're both at Tier 6. People who consider this kind of thing are at least Tier 4, aren't they? We have limited control over our elements. I admit you're pretty strong with your wind affinity, but I'm only good at creating fireballs and using my sword. I don't mind close combat but imagine if we run into one of those scary monsters from the Fallen Kingdom." Shivers quickly encompassed Xerxes' body as he thought about how frightening the Fallen Kingdom was. It was the place mothers often told their children they would be sent if they misbehaved. Even if you weren't going directly in, just being close was enough to frighten most people. 

"Seriously, Xerxes, there is not a single thread of worry that should make you scared. I've spent time in the Crossed Seas guild library, asking adventurers around here for information about the Fallen Kingdom. Do you want to know what every one of them says? They say the beasts that live there, for one, wouldn't even mind us because we are kind of weak, and for two, they never leave without good reason. For heaven's sake, the last time they decided to mobilise for some sort of attack was more than a decade ago. I promise you, Xerx, if anything even looks dangerous, we will be out of there like—hmm—like a hare fleeing hounds!" She was right. Everything Aya was saying was right because Xerxes had done his due diligence and researched it himself. To put the cherry on top, she even said "Xerx"—a nickname that was kind of crappy but the best she could manage, as making a nickname out of Xerxes was rather the challenge. 

Xerxes then took a deep breath, grabbing the handle of the sword from the side of his bed and, with unforeseen bravery, exclaimed, "To the Fallen Kingdom, m'lady!" 

Aya then laughed incredulously at Xerxes—not for his bravery but for something else. "You intend to go to the Fallen Kingdom in your underwear, oh brave knight of Layne, Xerxes." 

Xerxes then let out a sound of confusion. He looked at Aya, looked down, and continued this cycle for a few seconds, until all of his bravery drained from him. "Ah, shit." 

Following Xerxes' failed attempt at acting cool in front of Aya, they both managed to escape the Crossed Seas guild, where they had both grown up and been looked after by Vanessa Insigni, a 4th Tier adventurer. Vanessa had once held great power but had declined in progress over the years, deciding to focus more on taking care of Xerxes, Aya, and Dorian. Eventually, they reached the Horse's Hilt, a wagon service in the Layne Kingdom that had been operating for more than four generations, providing transport services all across the kingdom. 

The streets were always busy in the early parts of the morning, trade as lively as ever in the stalls of Layne. People negotiated prices, laughter filled the air, and there was nothing but joy. Aya made sure to look around at plenty of stalls—getting her hands on an artefact was her dream, but with Xerxes' and Aya's combined balance, that was nothing more than a fantasy. 

"Aya, I think that's the man we're looking for." She looked around, quite confused, as she had been distracted by pretty jewellery. 

"You've got the eye of an eagle, Xerxes. That is indeed Mr Hilt, owner of the transport business and the exact person we need!" Xerxes was surprised she hadn't noticed sooner because, as they approached him, his appearance was quite distinguished from others. His build was large, with no signs of muscle besides his forearms. He wore a white button-down shirt, wrapped by a leather overcoat. A cigarette rested in his right hand, and he adjusted his flat cap upon seeing them walk towards him. 

They finally came close to him, and Aya initiated the conversation. "Mr Hilt, we're looking to go nose-deep past Eshvir Forest, to the 15-mile point of the Fallen Kingdom, and as agreed, for not informing the guild, here's the pouch of money you asked for." Aya pulled out a pouch that seemed as heavy as the man himself and dropped it into his hands. He weighed it mentally and took a look inside, confirming that it was the requested amount. 

"Alright then, chaps. I hope ya' ready. And for the last time, I ain't liable if anything happens, ya hear me? I warned ya, girlfriend, enough times, so don't blame me—I was offered a pretty penny and accepted." Xerxes gave him a doubtful gaze, almost judging him through his eyes. "I'm a businessman. Half of it is honest work, half of it isn't. You'll get to know it, kid, if you have any family in the trade," he blurted out quite defensively. 

Mr Hilt then walked to a horse and carriage, patting the horse's back, before looking back at the kids. "Ya gonna get on? It's time to go." Aya then looked at Xerxes, ambition flaring from her being, as she grabbed onto Xerxes' wrist, a grin plastered on her face. 

"It's time to depart—to being great mages." She said it with cheer upon her face, raising a hand up as she got on the wagon, Xerxes following, not having the same excitement, but still enough to satisfy Aya. 

Through a wedge in the wagon, Mr Hilt confirmed that their journey to the outskirts of the Fallen Kingdom had begun. He rode for around four to five hours, discussing rough plans with Aya, reassuring Xerxes, and speaking about the gratitude they would receive from the guild. Growing tired of his own silence, Mr Hilt lit a cigar and decided to make small talk. 

"So, what's in it for you lot, testing the waters near the Fallen Kingdom?" he asked. 

Xerxes was quick to correct him, picking up on his phrasing. "We aren't exactly going into it," he said. "We're just heading to the outskirts for a scouting mission. I'm not sure about your business ethics, Mr Hilt, but you do realise it's forbidden in Layne to travel within a ten-mile range of that place, let alone offer transport services through it." 

Snapping back snarkily, Mr Hilt raised his voice. "Ah, coming after my business ethics now? Covering up your fear, are we? We call that deflecting." He chuckled, adding an extra shade of tease. 

"N-no, I am not scared! You're the one deflecting!" Xerxes exclaimed, slightly startled by the accuracy of Mr Hilt's response. Aya only added to his embarrassment, giggling like a maniac. After a brief pause, Xerxes carried on, calming himself. "But if you need to know, it's because Aya and I are going to become great mages. Dorian too—but we both need to catch up to him. Get this: he's a fierce swordsman, only a year older than me, but he already goes on missions with the more experienced guild members because of his rational thinking and battle prowess. The way he wields his sword is incredible, and he always gives us pointers. His magic isn't great—kind of like me—but when we need results, we deliver. Dorian is going to do amazing on his mission with Lady Vanessa, and Aya and I are going to excel on ours, narrowing the gap." 

Aya never missed a chance to hype herself up. "Totally right! As Xerxes said, even though he's quite scrawny, old man, he delivers a devastating strike when he gets riled up in battle. You must see it one day! But, of course, it's not complete without my glamour and expertise. I am an elegant wind mage who packs a punch with a wand!" She proudly raised her wand, showing it off to the man. He glanced at it for a few seconds, chuckling hoarsely before responding. 

"Ambition, dreams—all of it. You kids definitely have that sorted. Well, before I stop for a leak near Eshvir Forest, let me give you some advice. Never slow down once you start building momentum. Keep the wheels spinning, and before you know it, business is booming and you're the most successful transport service in Layne—" 

Before he could finish, disaster struck. 

Aya and Xerxes lurched forward, practically tumbling over each other, as Mr Hilt landed hard on the ground. The horses galloped in shock. "Crap, the wheel's busted," Mr Hilt muttered. 

Aya, after recollecting herself, immediately exploded with anger. "DID YOU NOT SAY YOU HAD THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TRANSPORT SERVICE?" she yelled, pressing Mr Hilt. 

The businessman groaned as he got up, quickly moving to assess the damage. The group stared at the broken wheel—snapped clean due to a small divot in the ground. 

Xerxes asked the obvious question. "How long until it's fixed, Mr Hilt?" 

Mr Hilt sighed, analysing the trees nearby and jotting down calculations in his notebook. His voice carried a note of regret. "Damn it... maybe a good sixteen to twenty hours. I don't even have a spare wheel on this thing. Best we can do is head to the small village near Eshvir Town, about a mile east. We'll get a replacement there, but nightfall is approaching, and just in case there are goblins about, I ain't looking to get attacked. First thing tomorrow, we'll sort this out. Since it's a business fault, I'll cover your stay at an inn for the night—free of charge." 

Xerxes sighed, looking at Aya. "Guess we don't have any other option, right?" 

Aya placed a hand on her forehead. "You're right. We'll delay our pursuit of greatness for a day, I suppose. It shouldn't be a problem, but I want reimbursement, Mr Hilt." 

With a dismissive wave, Mr Hilt responded half-heartedly while taking hold of the horse's reins and guiding it through the forest. "Sure, sure. Let's get moving. I know this route well—I usually deliver supplies to the Eshvir family out of courtesy. I respect them a lot." 

As they travelled eastwards, Xerxes turned to Mr Hilt. "I've heard about the Eshvir family, but I don't know much. They're not really talked about among us kids in Layne." 

Mr Hilt moved some branches and twigs aside as they trotted down a path covered in wet leaves. "That's because when you're young, you don't travel enough. Nor do you have the money to do so. Another life lesson for you—when you grow up to be great mages, travel becomes mandatory. The Eshvirs are a step above your conventional travel services. You want to know why? Simple." 

Xerxes and Aya waited, but Aya, growing impatient, pushed for an answer. "Go on." 

"As I was saying, when you kids collect money from quests—roughly five gold coins for a party—you can travel between kingdoms in an instant. Some places require trading or adventuring licences, but some don't. The Eshvirs have guarded this place for over five hundred and fifty years. Some of the coolest people come through here from time to time. This is what you kids would know as a Stargate." 

Then, before them, on the horizon, a breathtaking sight emerged—a Stargate. It was no mere construct; it was something beyond a tree, beyond nature itself. Its massive trunk pulsed with veins of luminous blue mana, coursing like rivers of ethereal light through its bark, casting an otherworldly glow across the clearing. 

Leaves shimmered with radiant beauty, the very air vibrating with energy, tingling against their skin and filling their lungs with something foreign yet exhilarating. At its vast, coiling roots lay an intricate platform of polished stone, etched with symbols that flickered like stars against the night sky. Mana-infused mist curled at its base, rising and falling as though the world itself breathed alongside it. 

Xerxes stood in awe—but what made his interest rise peak was something else, something concurring beyond the tree.