Velmora gradually faded behind them.
The towering stone walls, the crowded streets, and the constant hum of movement slowly disappeared as the road stretched forward once more. But unlike before, the journey no longer felt uncertain. There was no hesitation in their direction, no question about where the path would lead.
This time, it felt deliberate.
Purposeful.
Kael walked beside Aren and Seris in silence, his thoughts settling as the events of the past few days replayed quietly in his mind. The road beneath their feet had changed as well. It was wider, more structured, and clearly maintained, not for occasional travelers, but for heavy and frequent passage.
This was no longer a road meant for villages.
It was a road that connected cities.
"…We won't be walking much longer," Aren said casually.
Kael glanced at him.
"…Why?"
Aren lifted his hand and pointed ahead.
At first, nothing stood out. The road continued as it had before, stretching into the distance beneath the open sky. But as they moved closer, shapes began to form.
Large ones.
Structured.
Several carriages stood along the roadside, lined in an orderly manner. Each was drawn by powerful horses, their builds sturdy, their movements controlled even at rest. The carriages themselves were unlike anything Kael had seen before. Reinforced with metal along their edges and frames, their design was refined, clearly crafted for long-distance travel.
"This is where our journey changes," Seris said.
Kael slowed slightly, his gaze settling on the nearest carriage.
"…These belong to you?"
"Not personally," Aren replied with a faint smile. "But they belong to our house."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Your house."
Seris stepped forward, her tone calm but clear.
"House Valen."
The name carried quiet weight.
Not overwhelming.
But established enough to be recognized without explanation.
"A noble house under the Empire," she added.
Kael's gaze shifted from the carriage back to them.
"…So you planned this."
Aren didn't deny it.
"Of course. We're not walking all the way to the capital."
Kael remained silent for a moment.
Because it made sense.
The distance alone would have taken far too long to cross on foot.
"…You're heading to the capital first," he said.
Seris nodded.
"Yes. The teleportation circle connected to Aetherion is located there."
Kael's attention sharpened slightly.
"…Teleportation."
Aren glanced at him.
"You've never seen one."
It wasn't phrased as a question.
Kael didn't deny it.
"…No."
Aren's grin widened just a little.
"Then you're about to."
For a brief moment, silence settled between them again.
Kael looked at the carriage.
Then at the road ahead.
"…And you want me to come with you."
Aren shrugged.
"Same destination."
Seris added, her voice quieter but more direct.
"And you've already proven you can keep up."
Kael considered that.
Not for long.
There was no real reason to refuse.
"…Alright."
—
The shift in travel was immediate.
The carriage moved faster than Kael had expected, the horses maintaining a powerful, controlled pace as the road passed beneath them with steady rhythm. What once would have taken hours to cross on foot now disappeared in far less time, the scenery changing continuously outside the window.
Villages became brief glimpses.
Fields passed like fragments.
Distance lost its weight.
Inside, the carriage was quiet.
And comfortable.
Aren leaned back with ease, his posture relaxed as if this kind of journey was entirely familiar to him. Seris sat across from him, her back straight, her attention occasionally drifting toward the window as she observed the passing landscape.
Kael sat near the side, his gaze fixed outward.
Watching.
Learning.
"…You're thinking again," Aren said after a while.
Kael didn't deny it.
"…About the capital."
Aren let out a small chuckle.
"That's normal."
Seris spoke next, her tone steady.
"The capital is the center of the Empire. Everything leads to it."
Kael's gaze shifted slightly.
"…How large is it?"
Aren tilted his head, considering the question.
"Large enough that Velmora would feel like a single district inside it."
Kael fell silent.
That comparison alone—
Was enough.
"And Aetherion?" he asked.
Seris answered.
"It exists beyond even that."
Kael leaned back slightly, his thoughts deepening.
Everything continued to expand.
Every answer only made the world feel larger.
More distant.
More complex.
"…And the teleportation circle," he said. "Anyone can use it?"
Aren shook his head.
"No. It usually requires payment."
Seris continued where he left off.
"But not for entrance candidates."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Explain."
Seris met his gaze directly.
"Travel to Aetherion is free for anyone taking the entrance exam."
A brief pause followed.
"Return travel is also free," she added, "but only for two days."
Kael's attention sharpened further.
"…Only two days."
Aren nodded.
"After that, you pay."
Kael's voice lowered slightly.
"…How much?"
"Two gold coins."
The space inside the carriage fell quiet.
Kael didn't react outwardly.
But the meaning was clear.
Two gold coins—
For an ordinary person, that wasn't just expensive.
It was months of work.
Seris spoke again.
"For most people, that's nearly three months of earnings."
Kael looked ahead, his gaze steady.
So they give you a chance…
But not forever.
Aren stretched slightly, his tone lighter.
"Well, that just means we shouldn't fail."
Kael didn't hesitate.
"I won't."
The answer came naturally.
Without doubt.
Aren smiled faintly.
"…Yeah. That sounds about right."
The carriage continued forward, its movement steady as the road carried them deeper into unfamiliar lands.
And somewhere ahead—
Beyond distance.
Beyond everything Kael had known—
The capital awaited.
And beyond that—
Aetherion.