Chapter 6: Eryndral and Its Twelve Dominions

As dawn broke over Duskwither Forest, the mercenaries stirred from their slumber. The soft glow of morning light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the forest floor.

Alex and Edgar were already awake, packing up half of their supplies. Noticing their progress, the rest of the group joined in, dismantling what remained of their campsite.

Owen moved to take down the last tent when he hesitated.

A small figure was curled up inside.

Xhaelyn.

She lay still, her breathing slow and steady, as if lost in deep sleep. But Owen, with his sharp instincts, could tell—she wasn't completely at ease. Her posture remained subtly guarded, muscles faintly tensed even in slumber.

Carlo, noticing Owen lingering at the tent's entrance, approached. "Has Little Xhae woken up?"

"Not yet…" Owen murmured, eyes still on the sleeping girl.

Carlo peered inside and sighed softly. Xhaelyn looked exhausted, as if she hadn't had proper rest in a long time. A part of him hesitated—he didn't want to wake her when she finally seemed at peace.

But they had to move.

"I'll carry her," Carlo offered, stepping forward.

Just as he reached down—

Xhaelyn's eyes snapped open.

In an instant, she was on her feet, stance low, defensive. Her sharp gaze locked onto Carlo, assessing him with an intensity no ordinary child should possess.

Carlo froze, hands raised in surrender. "Whoa, easy there, Little Xhae." Then he sighed, followed by a quiet chuckle.

Little Xhae? Carlo is really soft-hearted when it comes to children. His daughter is lucky to have such a father.

A fleeting regret crossed her mind. Ironic... In both lives, my parents died when I was eleven. She pushed the thought away before it could settle.

Now, outwardly, her face showed nothing but neutral innocence. She straightened her posture.

"…We're leaving?" she asked, voice steady.

Carlo chuckled. "Yeah. Sorry for waking you like this."

Xhaelyn simply nodded. Then, after a brief hesitation, she added, "Sorry for my reaction. It's instinct." Without waiting for a response, she stepped past them.

Owen exchanged a glance with Carlo, who only sighed. They both had the same thought.

She must have had a tough life to develop such instincts.

"She's really something," Carlo muttered before turning to help the others.

As the mercenaries finished packing, Xhaelyn watched them move with practiced ease.

Alex approached her. "Let's go. If we don't run into trouble, we'll reach the forest's border in two hours."

She looked up at him. "After we leave the forest, are there towns?"

Alex raised an eyebrow, briefly amused. "Towns? We're in the Duskar Dominion. The closest settlement from here is City K, about a two-hour walk."

Duskar Dominion? Does he mean a country?

Something about his reaction made her pause. He seemed puzzled when I said 'town'… Does this dominion only have cities?

More questions swirled in her mind. Alex, taking her silence as disinterest, simply walked ahead.

"Little Xhae! Are you staying behind?" His teasing voice rang out as he strode forward without looking back.

She glanced at the mercenaries, already moving with their heavy packs. Without another thought, she hurried to catch up.

Walking beside Alex, Samuel smirked. "You seemed to have an interesting chat with Little Xhae. After talking to you, she zoned out again."

"Heh! You love gossiping too much," Alex retorted.

Samuel grinned. "It's called observation. Perks of Nocturnal Farsight—I see everything. Most useful at night, but even during the day, I can spot things from meters away."

"Yeah, yeah, we all know. Why waste your breath reminding me? You should use your brain more, Sam. Might save you some effort in the future." Alex scoffed.

"Haha! Coming from you? You forget things all the time."

Just as Alex was about to retort, Owen, who had been listening from the sidelines, interjected.

"Shut up, both of you. You're ruining the fresh air with your stinky mouths."

Samuel and Alex, the youngest of their group with only two years between them, exchanged a glance but held their tongues. Despite their sharp wit, neither dared to push their luck with Owen—not because he was the vice-captain, but because of his fierce nature. Unlike them, who relied on words, Owen had no problem settling things with his fists. Now in his late twenties, he had years of experience—and bruises—to back it up. In contrast, Samuel and Alex, both in their early twenties, often found themselves on the receiving end of his short temper.

Once the banter died down, Owen turned to Alex, asking the same question Samuel had earlier. Alex gave a straightforward response.

Their conversation wasn't exactly quiet, so most of the group overheard it.

Everyone except Xhaelyn, who was deep in thought.

Edgar slowed his pace, matching hers.

"Little Xhae." His deep voice pulled her from her thoughts.

She looked up. "Mr. Santiago?"

Edgar chuckled. "No need to be formal. We all call you Little Xhae, thanks to Carlo. You can call Jacob, Paulo, Carlo, and me 'Uncle.' The others… maybe 'big brother' or just 'brother.'"

So Carlo started that nickname. Well, as long as it doesn't bother me, they can call me whatever they want.

She nodded.

Edgar continued, "I overheard your conversation with Alex earlier. You don't seem to know much about this dominion. Do you want me to explain?"

Xhaelyn studied him. His tone held genuine eagerness.

So she didn't hold back. Putting on an innocent expression, she asked, "Mm. I'd like to learn more. I'm small and clueless. Please enlighten me, Uncle Edgar."

Edgar smiled at Xhaelyn's polite request. "Alright, Little Xhae. Since we're heading toward the city, I'll share what I know. But keep in mind, my knowledge is just from experience and what I've heard over the years."

Xhaelyn gave a small nod, her eyes focused.

Edgar adjusted the weight of his pack before beginning. "Eryndral is vast—divided into twelve dominions, each with its own governance, culture, and strengths. Some are powerful empires, some are ruled by merchants, and others are lands of lawless survival. Every dominion has its own way of life and produces different kinds of ability users."

He glanced down at Xhaelyn, gauging her interest. Seeing that she was fully attentive, he continued with his deep voice.

"First, there's the Velmoria Empire—the largest and most powerful of all. They're ruled by an absolute monarchy, where bloodline abilities are a big deal. Most of their people have elemental abilities, but it's their nobility who carry the strongest ones. If you meet someone from Velmoria, chances are they can burn, freeze, or strike you with lightning."

Xhaelyn absorbed the information. So, this empire has a structured hierarchy where only nobles wield the strongest elemental powers.

"Then we have the Kingdom of Aldrath—a knightdom, where warriors and honor matter most. They're ruled by a king who must prove himself through battle, and their people focus on strength, speed, and endurance. If you ever meet an Aldrathian knight, know that they won't back down from a fight."

Xhaelyn tilted her head. "They sound rigid."

Edgar chuckled. "They are. But they're also one of the few who can stand against Velmoria without bowing."

"Next is the Xendral Republic—a land of strategy and governance. Instead of a king, they have elected leaders who specialize in tactics and politics. People there train their abilities to outthink their opponents rather than just overpower them. It's a place where intelligence is valued over brute strength."

A strategic dominion? Xhaelyn's curiosity piqued. If people there use their abilities to outmaneuver rather than overpower, she might find it interesting.

"Then there's the Zyphir Sovereignty, a land without kings, only guilds. Power belongs to those who run the strongest guilds—whether it's mercenary bands, traders, or artifact forgers. Their cities are always shifting in influence, and alliances change as fast as the wind."

Xhaelyn noted this carefully. A dominion ruled by guilds instead of a monarchy? That must make it unpredictable.

"The Rahzein Dynasty is the most warlike dominion, where warriors rule with an iron fist. Their Supreme Leader is the strongest fighter, chosen through deadly combat trials. Everyone there is trained to fight from childhood, and their people are among the most fearsome warriors in Eryndral."

War-driven and brutal. Xhaelyn made a mental note never to provoke someone from Rahzein.

"Next is Ozyria, the merchant dominion. Wealth is power there. The richest control everything, and they don't fight wars with swords—they fight with gold. They create and sell some of the best magical artifacts and ability-enhancing items in the world."

Xhaelyn nodded slightly. This dominion sounded like a place where wealth determined status rather than strength.

"Then there's the Shadow Concord, a lawless dominion. A place where criminals, assassins, and rogues gather. No kings, no order—just power struggles in the shadows. If someone disappears, there's a good chance they ended up there."

That caught her interest. A place ruled by the strong, where the weak don't survive? It reminded her of her past life.

"Dregoran Highlands is another land without a king, but unlike the Shadow Concord, it's full of warring clans. They don't believe in one ruler—only warlords who fight for dominance. Betrayals, skirmishes, and tribal warfare are common there."

Xhaelyn listened quietly. This was different from the structured power struggles of other dominions.

"Then there's Verenholm Theocracy, a religious dominion where divine blessings hold power. It's the only place where healing abilities are common, and they protect their healers fiercely. If you ever see a healer, there's a good chance they're from Verenholm."

Healing abilities? That explained why they were so rare.

"The Isle of Myxathal is a seafaring dominion, ruled by those who control the oceans. Water and wind ability users dominate there, and their fleets are unmatched. If you cross them, you'll never make it to shore."

A dominion where water and wind abilities thrived? It must be difficult to invade.

"Naytor Freehold is known for its artificers and alchemists. They don't fight wars, but they create enchanted weapons and potions that can turn the tide of battle. If you want a powerful artifact, you go to Naytor."

A land of craftsmen rather than warriors? Xhaelyn committed that to memory.

"And finally, we have the Duskar Dominion—the land we're in now. There's no government here. It's a dominion ruled by mercenaries, survivalists, and those strong enough to carve out a place for themselves. Cities exist, but they don't follow any higher authority. If you survive, you belong. If you're weak, you don't last long."