Morning arrived quietly at Iron Root Sect.
The gray sky above the mountains slowly brightened as pale sunlight pushed through thin layers of cloud. The air still carried traces of ash from the recent storm, but the wind had calmed during the night.
From the high terraces of the sect, the surrounding mountains looked dry and silent.
Kael Orion stood near the edge of the training courtyard, looking toward the distant plains far below.
The Ashwind Plains stretched across the southern horizon like a vast gray ocean. Even from this distance, the land looked barren.
Five hundred years ago, that same region had been covered with grasslands and forests.
At least, according to the records in the sect library.
Kael rested his hands on the stone railing and thought about the maps he had studied yesterday.
Several ley line nodes had once existed in the Ashwind Plains.
Now the region was almost completely empty.
If the old records were correct, something must have changed underground.
"Thinking about going out there again?"
The voice came from behind him.
Kael turned slightly.
Ronan walked across the courtyard carrying a wooden practice sword over his shoulder.
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
Ronan stepped beside him and looked toward the distant plains.
"You really like that place."
Kael gave a small smile.
"I like exploring."
"That's true," Ronan said.
He leaned against the railing.
"But most people would rather explore somewhere with fewer ash storms."
Kael laughed quietly.
"That would be nice."
For a moment, both of them stood silently while looking out across the mountains.
The wind carried faint dust across the slopes below.
Ronan spoke again.
"So what are you hoping to find this time?"
Kael thought for a moment before answering.
"Old structures."
Ronan raised an eyebrow.
"You think there are still ruins left out there?"
"Maybe."
Kael reached into his bag and pulled out the folded map he had been studying.
He opened it across the stone railing.
"This area here," he said, pointing to a section of the plains.
Ronan leaned closer.
Kael had marked several curved ridges across the map with charcoal.
"These formations are strange," Kael explained.
"They run across the plains in long arcs."
Ronan studied the map for a moment.
"They could just be natural ridges."
Kael nodded.
"That's possible."
"But they match the direction of some ley lines shown in the old records."
Ronan looked up again.
"Ley lines?"
"Yes."
Kael tapped the map.
"According to the old scrolls, several ley nodes existed in this region."
Ronan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"If those nodes collapsed…"
He paused.
"That might explain why the plains became so barren."
Kael nodded.
"That's what I'm thinking."
If the ancient energy network had broken apart beneath the plains, it could have caused the entire region to lose spiritual energy.
Ronan straightened.
"Well, if you're going exploring again, you should bring supplies."
"I plan to."
Ronan glanced at the map once more before stepping away.
"Just don't wander too far," he said.
Kael smiled slightly.
"I won't."
Ronan headed toward the training platform to continue his practice.
Kael carefully folded the map and returned it to his bag.
If he was going to explore the Ashwind Plains again, he needed to prepare first.
---
The sect storage building stood near the back of the courtyard.
Kael entered the small stone structure and looked around.
Several wooden shelves lined the walls, holding simple tools and travel supplies used by the disciples.
Iron Root Sect had very limited resources now, but basic exploration equipment was still available.
Kael picked up a small leather water pouch and attached it to his belt.
Next he collected a short digging tool.
Many spirit herbs on Astra Minor grew beneath layers of ash and dry soil, so a digging tool was useful during exploration trips.
He also packed a few pieces of dried food.
As Kael prepared his supplies, another disciple entered the storage room.
It was Lira.
She noticed the equipment in Kael's hands and laughed softly.
"Going to the plains again?"
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
Lira crossed her arms.
"You really are the sect's explorer."
Kael smiled.
"Someone has to check the surrounding areas."
Lira walked over and leaned against one of the wooden shelves.
"You know," she said, "most people who explore ruins are hoping to find valuable artifacts."
Kael adjusted the strap on his bag.
"I'm not expecting anything like that."
Lira tilted her head.
"Then what are you hoping to find?"
Kael paused for a moment.
"The past."
Lira blinked.
"That sounds mysterious."
Kael shrugged.
"Astra Minor used to support powerful civilizations."
"But now almost everything is gone."
He tightened the strap on his bag.
"I want to understand what happened."
Lira looked thoughtful.
"That makes sense."
She stepped closer to the doorway and looked toward the distant mountains.
"My family used to live in one of the old cities on the eastern plains," she said.
Kael looked at her.
"I didn't know that."
Lira nodded.
"The city was abandoned long before I was born."
"Most of the buildings are ruins now."
She shrugged lightly.
"My parents moved to Iron Root Sect when the city finally ran out of resources."
Kael had heard similar stories from other disciples.
Many people on Astra Minor had migrated between settlements as the planet slowly declined.
Lira looked back at him.
"If you ever explore the eastern plains, you should tell me what the ruins look like now."
"I will," Kael said.
She smiled slightly.
"Well, try not to get buried under another ash storm."
Kael laughed.
"I'll be careful."
Lira waved before leaving the storage building.
Kael finished preparing his supplies.
Once everything was ready, he stepped outside again.
The afternoon sun hung low above the mountains.
From the edge of the sect terrace, the Ashwind Plains looked calm today.
The gray land stretched across the horizon, silent and empty.
Somewhere beneath that barren ground, the old ley line network had once flowed.
Kael looked toward the distant plains with quiet determination.
Tomorrow morning he would travel there again.
This time he would search more carefully.
The dying planet of Astra Minor still held many secrets.
And Kael intended to uncover them.