Kael walked slowly through the vibrant streets of Arvalen, his new sword strapped to his back, wrapped in a makeshift cloth. The weight of the weapon was comforting—not only because of the familiar feeling of being armed, but because, at least, it was his. A small step toward some stability.

The city was a whirlwind of magic, noise, and movement. Floating carriages passed over enchanted waterways, driven by enchanted golems and accompanied by small messenger dracos that delivered packages with precision. Wizards in robes of all styles traded mana crystals on street corners, while adventurers laughed loudly in front of taverns, proudly displaying their scars and trophies.

Arvalen was not just a city. It was a living arena, a pulsating center where magic and steel met with promises of glory — or death.

Kael crossed a narrow bridge made of arcane glass, watching below as a group of students practiced basic spells on the surface of an enchanted lake. He felt a tightness in his chest.

"Two years, huh...?" he thought, kicking a crystalline pebble off the sidewalk. "Two years to become someone my mother doesn't think is disposable."

He heard snippets of conversation as he walked, not paying much attention, until one sentence caught his ear:

"...and they say Aerlin's Dungeon is reopening tomorrow! First time in twenty years. Level 1 to 20, free entry for bronze-ranked adventurers."

"Really? The one with the living statues and the sunken temple?"

"That's the one! A group of five is already forming. They're recruiting at the Broken Leaf Inn. If you have any talent, it's a good chance to make a name for yourself!"

Kael paused for a moment and watched the two men talking animatedly. Young, probably no older than he appeared to be. They wore light leather armor, had small shields on their backs, and the kind of sparkle in their eyes typical of those who have never faced anything truly deadly. They were excited about the idea of "adventure," and that made him smile dryly.

"Aerlin's Dungeon... could be useful," he thought. "Experience, some gold, and maybe... some souls."

The system had been inactive for a while, since he stopped evolving. So he needed to go back to killing more and more monsters to absorb their souls. He needed the System back, so it would be very useful to go to that place.

But the problem was: where to start?

Kael continued walking aimlessly, while the city seemed to expand around him. In one corner, an orchestra of bards played a hymn about the last hero who defeated a dragon from the depths. In another, a priestess sold blessings in exchange for coins or kisses on the hand. The smell of baked bread, incense, and heated metal oil competed for his attention.

And even with all that... Kael felt alone.

"Maybe it's better this way," he thought. "Fewer people to worry about... fewer people to lose."

That's when his feet stopped in front of a narrow, dark alley that shouldn't have been there. He recognized it. The same alley Raven had taken him through last night—where it all began.

He stood there for a moment. He looked at the shadow stretching out, like a veil pulling him in. He felt the familiar chill at the back of his neck. That feeling that something was watching him.

"She told me to come back alone, didn't she?"

Kael crossed the alley again, the muffled sound of Arvalen's vibrant streets falling behind him as if he were crossing an invisible threshold. The dense mist rose again, whispering promises and ancient secrets. He didn't hesitate this time. The silhouette of the dark wooden building loomed before him like a stubborn memory—Raven's bar.

The door creaked as he pushed it open. And then, just like before, time seemed to stand still.

All eyes turned to him.

The sound ceased. Glasses were paused midway to mouths. A bard stopped playing his lyre, and even a dwarf's drunken laughter hung suspended in the air.

Kael looked at everyone for a moment. His face showed no surprise. Only a long, tired, deep sigh escaped his lips.

"Again... seriously?"

Unperturbed, he walked straight to the counter, his footsteps echoing like hammer blows in a silent forge. The familiar smell of burnt wood, exotic spices, and ancient magic enveloped the room.

Raven had his back to him, calmly stirring bottles and ingredients that didn't seem to belong to the same plane of existence. His fingers danced in strange patterns, pouring liquids that changed color as they touched the glass.

She turned around.

Her red eyes glowed slightly under her black hood.

"She left you here, didn't she?" she asked without preamble, as if she were merely commenting on the weather.

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Are you psychic, by any chance?"

Raven chuckled softly, the sound of someone who had seen too much misery to be impressed by one more. "No. I just know your mother. And she's a crazy psychopath with a special gift for drama."

Kael leaned back against the counter. "And what's the purpose of all this nonsense, huh?"

She picked up a cloth and began cleaning a glass that was already clean. It was more of an automatic gesture than a necessity. "Experience," she said with a smile. "She must have left you here to grow up. To learn how to fall... and get up on your own. That's her style. Cruel, functional, and... effective, sometimes."

Kael stared at her. The truth throbbed inside him like a freshly opened wound. "You talk like you've known this for a long time."

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"I did," she replied simply. "Elion warned me he'd be leaving you here soon. He asked me to... watch you from afar. Only if things got too out of hand."

"So I'm like a community project now?"

"More like a survival experiment," Raven said, turning to grab an amber bottle and pouring something thick into a short glass. "Do you want a drink?"

Kael grimaced. "Do I look like someone who wants to die of poisoning on their first day?"

Raven shrugged. "It's ghost root liqueur. It burns like fire and clears even bad memories. But that's okay. More for me."

She downed the glass in one gulp and sighed with satisfaction.

"Welcome to Arvalen, Kael Scarlet," she said afterward. "The beating heart of adventurers from across the continent. You are, without a doubt, in the most dangerous, chaotic, and rewarding place in the entire region."

"Is that to scare me or convince me to stay?"

"It works both ways." — Raven smiled. "The city is divided into sectors. North is where the mages gather—schools, laboratories, and floating libraries. To the south are the adventurers' guilds. West is more... underground. Literally. And to the east, we have the black market, the weapon workshops, and some areas of unstable mana. And, of course, the center... where everything mixes."

Kael absorbed the information with a slow nod.

"And this place here?"

"Neutral zone. One of the few bars that doesn't answer directly to any guild. Ideal for people who want to hide... or observe."

He looked around. Some people had resumed their conversations, but curious glances still lingered on him.

"Do they think I'm a threat?"

"They think you're important enough to make the music stop when you walk through that door. That's rare around here."

Kael sighed, running his hand through his hair. "I need a place to stay."

Raven pointed his chin toward the ceiling. "I have a spare room upstairs. Small, but clean. It'll do for you until you decide whether to stay here or run for the hills."

"Any catch?"

"You wash your own sheets and don't complain about the smell of sulfur that sometimes comes from the basement."

"Deal."

She nodded. "I also recommend that you get an adventurer's license. Bronze, at least. You'll need it to enter certain areas of the city—and, more importantly, the dungeons. Some are sealed and only grant access to those with a valid insignia."

Kael crossed his arms. "How long does it take to get that?"

"With your current level? A quick test at the South Adventurers' Guild. They analyze your gauge, basic skills, and register you. It's bureaucratic, but simple."

"What if I don't pass?"

"Then you really have a problem."

Raven turned away again, as if the conversation was over, but before walking away completely, she stopped and looked over her shoulder.

"Kael... your mother may be a demon disguised as a sorceress, but she knows what she's doing. You're here for a reason."

"Do you also think I have hidden potential and need to find my inner path?"

"No," she replied with an enigmatic smile. "I think you're a complete emotional mess and will fall flat on your face several times before making any progress. But... still, there's something there. And I'm good at recognizing raw material."

Kael snorted, shaking his head. "You know how to cheer up a lost soul, huh?"

"It's a talent." — she winked. "Now go upstairs, put down that sword, and try to sleep before the world starts punching you tomorrow."

Kael nodded, picking up the key Raven slid across the counter.

As he climbed the narrow stairs with weary steps, he heard the music from the bar start up again below. The conversation resumed. The city pulsed even within that small corner hidden from reality.

When he opened the bedroom door, he found a simple but comfortable space. A bed, a dresser, a small window overlooking nothing, and a protective circle drawn under the rug—just in case, of course.

He dropped his sword against the wall and sat on the edge of the bed.

For a moment, silence took over. No voices, no presence, not even the usual feeling of the system talking to him.

He looked up at the ceiling and whispered:

"Two years..."

He closed his eyes.