Vale glanced down at his right arm, the metallic surface catching faint reflections from the dim light above. He then looked up at Ember, who was perched on his shoulder. He hadn't truly doubted that the small wyvern would travel with them, but seeing it still there brought him a quiet sense of relief. Ember, however, was already fast asleep again, curled comfortably against his neck. Vale sighed softly and returned his attention forward.
At some point between the teleportation and now, the documents and book Evelyn had been carrying had vanished.
'She probably hid them in a shadow,' Vale thought.
The long, dark hallway finally began to thin out, and he could see its end ahead. Two massive doors stood there, imposing and ancient-looking. As they approached, a question that had been lingering in his mind finally surfaced.
"Um… Miss Evelyn," Vale said carefully, his tone both curious and cautious. "Where exactly are we?"
Evelyn glanced at him as she walked. "The center of our Earth."
Vale blinked. "What do you mean?"
"The equipment housed here is dangerous, and rare," she explained evenly. "To preserve it, we drilled down to the planet's core and established our primary trade hub for spawn-based weaponry and high-ranking technology."
Vale processed that in silence for a moment before another question formed. "Then how is all of this maintained?" he asked. "I imagine something like this requires enormous resources."
Evelyn nodded once. As she did, the massive doors before them began to part. "This is a neutral zone. Governments from across the world contribute funds and materials. In return, every member of the G.V.O. assists their nations when rifts or fractures appear, and we supply their armies with limited spawn-based weapons."
The doors fully opened.
Beyond them lay a vast underground market, sprawling and alive with motion. Countless stalls and storefronts stretched across the stone floor, illuminated by arcane lighting and humming machinery. Vale could already see vendors selling armor, weapons, clothing, tools, and countless items whose purposes he couldn't even guess.
Everything clicked.
Wide-eyed, Vale stared at the market, momentarily forgetting to speak.
Evelyn stepped onto the cold stone floor and continued forward. "So," she said casually, "is there anything you want?"
Vale shook his head absently, still overwhelmed. As he did, he noticed something else, the merchants were staring at them. Or rather, staring at her. Whispers rippled through the crowd as eyes followed Evelyn's movements.
'She really is a figure here,' Vale thought, feeling suddenly small beside her.
Before he could dwell on it, a short, elderly man approached them with an easy, cheerful stride. He leaned on a worn wooden cane, clearly inexpensive, and wore simple clothes made from rough, unremarkable fabric. Despite that, his presence was incredible.
He had a long white beard, a bald head, and a smile that radiated warmth.
"Evelyn, my dear!" he called out. "How have you been?"
His voice was aged, but lively, full of genuine joy.
"I've been well, Lucas," Evelyn replied, bowing slightly.
She straightened quickly, as if remembering something important. "Ah, yes. This is my new student. His name is Vale. I'll be teaching him about the world, since his curse erased all of his previous memories."
There was a hint of unease in her voice.
She turned to Vale. "Vale, this is the Great Paragon Lucas, the current head of the Dark Dynasty."
Her gaze flicked between the two of them, prompting him to respond.
Vale hesitated for only a moment before extending his hand. "Good day, Sir Lucas. It's an honor to meet you."
Lucas chuckled warmly and shook his hand. "I've heard of you already," he said. "Rose mentioned you. Quite a figure you are, aren't you?"
Vale nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Sir. If you don't mind me asking… why did Miss Rose speak to you about me?"
Lucas scratched the back of his head, looking faintly embarrassed. "Well, I'm rather close to Rose. I used to be her boyfriend, actually."
Vale blinked.
"And," Lucas continued with a grin, "you should take Evelyn seriously. She's a Great Paragon too, you know, the youngest ever to reach the rank. She deserves every bit of respect she gets."
Vale's expression shifted to one of genuine astonishment. He didn't fully understand what a Great Paragon was yet, but the way Lucas spoke made its importance obvious.
Curiosity quickly overpowered his restraint.
"I'm sorry," Vale said cautiously, "but what exactly is a Great Paragon?"
To his surprise, Lucas burst into laughter.
"You really have lost your memories if you don't know that much," he said between chuckles. He paused, noticing Evelyn's growing discomfort, then continued.
"A Great Paragon is a rank within our power hierarchy," Lucas explained. "The second highest there is."
Vale nearly stumbled back.
The words struck him harder than expected. He hadn't known what the title meant moments ago, but now he did.
A Great Paragon wasn't just a rank.
It was a title reserved for those who wielded overwhelming power.
Vale studied the old man for a few moments before his gaze drifted to Ember, still fast asleep on his shoulder. The small wyvern shifted slightly, breathing slow and steady. Vale smiled faintly, but before his attention fully settled there, one last question pressed its way forward.
"So, Sir Lucas," Vale asked carefully, "does that mean you and Evelyn are equal in power?"
Evelyn reacted instantly.
"Vale, don't disrespect-"
She was cut off.
Lucas raised his cane calmly, then brought it down against the stone floor with a sharp crack. The sound echoed through the market. Instantly, the gray stone beneath them darkened, turning pitch-black as though swallowed by shadow itself. Several nearby merchants froze.
"The boy is merely curious, Evelyn," Lucas said, his voice suddenly heavy with authority. "And curiosity is a right shared by all."
He turned to Vale, the warmth returning to his expression. "To answer your question, no. Evelyn is far more powerful than I ever was. She is a prodigy of immeasurable talent and skill."
Lucas then shifted his gaze back to Evelyn, his tone lowering, almost somber. "Which is precisely why I wish to speak with you now. Privately."
Evelyn pressed her lips together and glanced at Vale. After a moment, she exhaled sharply.
"Vale," she said, "go explore the market for now. I'll be able to find you later. Buy anything you want or need, just show them this."
She tossed him a golden insignia. Vale caught it instinctively. Etched into the metal was the image of a woman crowned in shadow, beneath the engraved words:
Queen of the Dark
Vale examined it briefly, then looked up,
but Evelyn was already gone, dissolving into the shadow Lucas had cast moments earlier. Lucas himself vanished just as silently.
Vale let out a quiet sigh and looked around. The market had resumed its rhythm as if nothing had happened. Merchants returned to their work, voices rising again in cautious murmurs.
After a moment, Vale began to wander.
The market was vast. Some stalls looked futuristic, sleek metal frames, holographic displays, and humming machinery selling high-grade technology. Others were more conventional, offering weapons, armor, and tools. There were older shops as well, their shelves lined with glass vials and ancient tomes, potions, enchantments, and relics.
Vale visited several bookstores, requesting texts on the world's structure, power hierarchies, planes, Enigmas, spawn phenomena, everything he could think of. He also stopped by a few clothing shops, commissioning specialized outfits tailored to his needs.
Yet despite all that, one thing eluded him.
A weapon.
No matter how many weapon stores he visited, none of them felt right. The blades were too ornate, too heavy, too loud in presence. He couldn't explain it, only that none of them spoke to him.
Eventually, his frustration crept in.
He was about to give up when he noticed another shop tucked away at the edge of the market.
It was different.
Old, worn. A forge.
The structure looked ancient compared to the others, stone walls darkened by soot, iron beams exposed, heat shimmering faintly in the air. The place felt… honest.
'I guess it's worth a look,' Vale thought.
As he stepped inside, a small bell rang above the door.
"Welcome, dear customer, to Ali's Weapon Forge!" a loud, lively voice called out. "What can I do for you!"
Vale followed the sound and spotted its source, a young man with dark hair, tanned skin, and deep brown eyes. He wore a leather apron stained with soot and oil, and his smile was wide and genuine.
Vale greeted him briefly before his attention was pulled upward.
The weapons.
They were magnificent, crafted with precision and restraint. No unnecessary flair, no excessive ornamentation. Just clean, purposeful designs radiating quality. Vale could tell immediately: these were high-grade weapons.
And that restraint? He liked that.
He turned back to the man. "Hi. Could I request a weapon?"
The man grinned. "Of course! Name's Ali. Nice to meet you."
"Vale," he replied. "My name is Vale."
Ali nodded enthusiastically. "Alright, Vale, what kind of weapon are you looking for?"
Vale paused.
What kind of weapon did he want?
He searched himself for the answer, turning the thought over carefully. After a moment, clarity finally surfaced.
"I want two weapons," Vale said. "Short swords, if possible. And I'd like them specialized, designed to work together."
Ali's grin widened. "Understood!" he said loudly. "I'll get right to work."
He turned toward the forge, then paused and glanced back over his shoulder. "By the way, Vale, would you mind if I told you a story while I forge them?"
Vale raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"A story?"