The distance between the Tower and the Academy was almost the same as the distance between the Tower and the Capital.

They were positioned like the three points of a triangle—

With the Tower to the north of the Academy, and the Capital to the east.

Now, they were heading toward the fourth point—

a place to the west of the Academy, known as the Barren Lands.

Every planet under the rule of the Immortal Ones had certain regions that were deeply scarred during the war against the Darkness.

The areas that were hit the hardest had lost the ability to support life. The soil had turned dry and lifeless—no fertility, nothing could grow there.

Even worse, some of these lands had once been home to ancient beings who fought alongside the Darkness.

People believe that those ancient ones still live there.

Because of that, the Barren Lands were completely off-limits to the general public.

Anything can happen beyond the borders, but since the Tower was involved, there was a guarantee of top-notch security.

After all, most of the strong wardens work for the tower.

Currently, Adrian and Albec were the only ones inside the carriage as it rolled steadily from the nearest teleportation center toward the Barren Lands.

Adrian was flipping through his notes on the fourth thread, while Albec appeared focused on a report in his hands.

'If my calculations are correct, this thread will take about an hour—assuming I don't pause more than once during tuning.'

The fourth thread was proving to be the most demanding so far—more draining than any of the ones before.

And the fifth thread?

That one was on a different level entirely—comparable to brain surgery, albeit with a slightly better chance of success.

For now, Adrian wasn't concerned about the fifth. His attention remained fixed on mastering the fourth thread. Only then would he receive the clue to his origin.

He was scanning the earlier pages of his notes when a voice from the other side broke the silence.

"I heard Miss Annabelle was investigating the matter?"

Adrian gently shut the diary and gave a small nod.

"Yes. She visited the academy with Miss Ruby. After learning about the anomaly that carried out the ambush, she decided to handle the investigation herself."

Albec raised an eyebrow. "It seems you share a good connection with Lady Annabelle."

Adrian gave a slight shake of his head. "Not with her. Miss Ruby is the one I'm close to."

They could be called friends—more than that, perhaps. After what Ruby had done for him in the Capital, she'd become a significant presence in his life.

"Oh yes, I've heard," Albec replied with a curt nod, before falling quiet again.

Adrian tried to return to his notes, but the earlier rhythm was gone. His eyes skimmed the pages, yet nothing seemed worth lingering on.

With a sigh, he switched focus and opened the group chat.

[Three online]

[Raven: What are you doing in a forest?]

[Idiot: Investigating something. Ah~hello, darling.]

[Raven: Hello, dear~]

Adrian chuckled quietly and replied, 'Good evening, everyone.'

A moment later, he added, 'Valor, thank you. I tried that relic, and… I was stunned.'

[Valor: It worked, right? I'm so glad I could help.]

'Yes… my body just followed the movements. The results weren't as perfect as the projection showed, but I still managed to land a devastating blow.'

[Valor: Ahah~ You'll get there. Keep practicing the stance. And when it feels like you've lost the rhythm or something's missing, use the relic again.]

A follow-up message came quickly.

[Valor: But don't use it in an actual fight—the projection might cloud your senses, and your opponent could take advantage of that.]

'Got it. Thanks again.'

Idiot: [Why is Darling only talking to him? Is it because he gave you something useful?]

As expected—an idiotic perspective, true to her name.

Adrian let out a sigh. 'Thanking someone for their kindness is basic courtesy.'

Idiot: [So... if I give you something, will you talk to me more too?]

'....'

Adrian chose silence. There was no point in reasoning with her anymore.

Raven: [Why even bother explaining anything to her, dear? She's just a child. I, on the other hand, am mature~ When you're with me, we won't waste time talking~]

A shiver ran down his spine.

Just texting her made him feel like he was cheating on Ariana.

Idiot: [Bitch, can you keep your dirty paws off him?]

Raven: [Why~? Don't act like Darling belongs only to you.]

Idiot: [You're a whole world away. Stop dreaming already—]

Adrian closed the chat.

Not only because he didn't want to witness another pointless quarrel between the two of them, but also because the carriage had just arrived at their destination.

Adrian stepped out of the carriage, and in an instant, a sharp sense of unease settled over him.

This place wasn't safe.

The ground beneath his boots was brittle and fractured, the cracked earth stretched like a web of scars left behind by a forgotten catastrophe. Each step crunched dryly underfoot, sending little flakes of dust into the air.

The sky above was choked with dense, sandy clouds—like a canvas smudged by smoke and ash—casting an eerie sepia tone over the land. There was no sign of birds, no sound of insects. The very air felt... wrong.

The wind, though gentle, carried the sting of heat, brushing against his skin like parchment and leaving behind a strange, static-like sensation. The humidity pressed heavily on his back, but oddly enough, the moisture in the air didn't bring relief—it only made breathing feel slightly strained, as if the atmosphere itself was resisting life.

And then there was the mana.

It was thick. Heavy. Restless.

Adrian narrowed his eyes. The mana here didn't just linger—it pulsed.

'Ever since I began using sorcery, my perception's been sharper…' he mused.

In the distance, several makeshift camps had been erected—tents arranged in semi-circles with thick ropes and reinforced stakes anchoring them into the dry ground.

Metal poles lined the area, connected by glowing threads of enchanted wire, forming a visible perimeter around a large crater near the heart of the field. Spell totems stood at regular intervals, softly humming with containment magic, while guards patrolled with vigilant eyes and weapons drawn.

Adrian's gaze locked onto the crater.

'The relic must be there…' he thought, his eyes narrowing.

However, before they could have advanced forward an officer rushed towards them and stopped before Albec

He said something in a hushed voice which Adrian also heard,

"People from the Twilight Vault are here."

Adrian frowned...why is Grimvale suddenly interfering in this?

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.