Sky Sword strode past the entrance and stopped before the dining hall, drenched in sweat. All eyes immediately turned toward him. He didn't utter a word or make a move; he simply stood there for a moment, a smile spreading across his face.
Everyone present, including Raven and his daughter Maya, was astonished. Maya didn't know why he was there or what he intended to do, yet she stood in wonder at how "Sky Sword" had returned to his usual self. The silvery gleam of life and the long-lost smile had both come back to him.
Then Raven spoke: "What are you doing here? You're standing there completely still." At that moment, someone stepped out from just behind him—handsome yet shy, with milky-white hair and extremely pale skin that gave him a pleasing, agreeable appearance. It was none other than Zain.
He was still carrying his equipment, but this time slung across both shoulders by straps rather than clutched in his hand. He scratched the back of his head in signs of tension and bashfulness. The onlookers showed no expression of surprise; it was as if nothing had happened or changed.
Raven asked, "Is he your friend?" Sky Sword's reply had completely shifted the atmosphere, leaving everyone in shock as the realization struck.
"Yes," Sky Sword said. "He's my friend; I met him the moment I left this place. But this friend will change the fate of all humanity."
In the stunned silence, Raven could only ask, "Change fate? What do you mean by that?"
Sky Sword smiled broadly and answered, "If you can help us gather some of that demonic blood, my friend Zain might be able to forge a weapon capable of cleansing these demonic creatures."
Shock after shock, their expressions constantly shifting—so much so that some of those eating even snorted food from their noses in disbelief and excitement. Raven braced himself on the table with both hands, overwhelmed by the force of those words, before saying, "Are you sure of what you're saying?"
"Yes, I am," Sky Sword replied calmly. Then Raven's thoughts raced, and after a moment's pause he turned away and said, "Come on, follow me. We'll have a long talk. You too, Maya."
The three of them fell in behind him, while he led the way. He didn't utter a single word or glance back; he simply walked toward the unknown until he stopped before a sealed corridor, facing a gray wall. The others couldn't grasp what he intended or aimed to do, but they nonetheless kept silent.
Raven placed his hand on one of the gray bricks—and a hidden doorway swung open before them, leaving them all astonished. Even Raven's daughter shared their wonder; it seemed she too had been unaware of the secret entrance. Raven glanced left and right, surveying the horizon, then said, "Come on in; we'll discuss this here."
After ensuring no one had followed, Raven ordered Sky Sword and the others to enter, then closed the entrance behind them. Inside was a long passageway lined on both sides with dragon heads, each holding a small flame that lit the way. After walking for a long time, they finally reached its end, where they found an enormous chamber.
It was simultaneously grand, lavish, and beautiful. Along its walls, small gray bricks were set piece by piece into red clay mixed with golden sand, giving the walls a reflective gleam. The others could only gape in astonishment. Zain's eyes shone with excitement at the sight of such craftsmanship, but he ultimately chose to remain silent.
Numerous paintings from the Middle Ages adorned the walls, all rendered in vivid colors on treated goat leather. Directly to the right stood a fine wooden desk, in front of which were two wooden chairs. Atop the desk were ink, an inkwell, and a peacock-feather quill.
Raven approached the chair by the desk, then ordered Sky Sword and Zain to sit in the two seats before him, while instructing Maya to go prepare tea so they could begin their conversation. To the left was a small turn leading to the kitchen, and Maya made her way there.
The kitchen was medium-sized, perhaps a little small. Above, wooden shelves with glass doors held cooking utensils and ingredients. Below, there was a sink, beside which stood a wood-fired oven; its wood supply was stored beneath the sink in a special recessed area surrounded by brick.
The oven was built into the end of the wall, and to its left was a long, wide, expertly polished stone slab attached to the wall—flat as a carpet on the floor—to prepare and set down dishes. Maya opened one of the cupboards holding spices and cooking ingredients. She reached for a jar of tea leaves, lit the oven fire, and set water to boil. She sifted through the leaves, selecting the best ones and placing them in wooden cups while discarding the unusable bits.
Her ears tuned to the sounds behind her, hoping to catch the start of their conversation, though she didn't yet know that they hadn't begun speaking and were waiting for her tea. She carried the filled cups on a wooden tray and hurried back to them, only to find them lost in thought and doing nothing. She offered the cups one by one, then stood before them, arms relaxed at her sides, still holding the tray.
Raven instructed her to bring a chair and join them. She moved to the dining table in front of the kitchen, set the chair in place, and sat between Sky Sword and Zain. Raven said, "All right—tell me what you know and how this young man can forge powers that slaughter these creatures."
Sky Sword remained silent; he stood, walked behind Zain, and began rummaging in his pack. He finally produced a metal sword, dark with copper and silver hues, its blade honed razor-sharp. Raven did not understand what Sky Sword intended; he did not intervene but watched expectantly.
Sky Sword stepped back and declared, "I will not speak—I will let you see for yourselves."
He drew the sword from its scabbard in a dramatic flourish, then brandished the blazing blade before them. Their mouths and eyes flew open in astonishment, so much so that Raven rose from his seat, stunned by what he beheld. Yet as soon as Zain gazed upon it with a smile, he calmed, placed a hand over his mouth, and sat back down, saying, "Ah—well, go ahead and say what you have to say."
Sky Sword returned the sword to its scabbard, extinguishing the flame, and sat in his seat once more. Then Zain spoke: "I managed to forge this sword from a metal that lies deep in the Western Desert—a metal that ignites when subjected to friction. That's exactly what happened just now: I smelted and polished this metal into a blade so that when it rubs against the scabbard it bursts into flames, which then vanish as soon as the blade is sheathed."
But before Sky Sword could continue, Zain leapt up and exclaimed, "Magnesium—that is the metal's name! I've decided to call it that, since I'm its discoverer." His excitement was clear on his face, but the moment he noticed everyone staring at him oddly, he hung his head in bashful apology: "I'm sorry—I got carried away."
His childlike manner made him seem foolish, as though he understood nothing. Yet quite the opposite: he had mapped three regions in their entirety and explored each one to its farthest reaches—something only a person with indomitable will and determination could achieve. Whenever he found himself in an awkward situation or received praise, he would place a hand
behind his head and scratch it in embarrassment.