Chapter 08: A Conversation with a Dear Friend

After a long day weighed down by unsettling emotions, Henry sought the quiet solace of the Estath Cathedral, hoping that sincere prayers might quell the gnawing unease that plagued his mind. The lingering sense of the horrors he had witnessed, the dark secrets unearthed, all conspired to rob him of any true peace.

Having just completed his morning patrol, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the bustling streets of Aerion, Henry strode towards the Estath Cathedral. But as he reached the gates, a familiar figure caught his eye.

It was a young man with a resolute face, his angular features etched with determination and strength. Short, neatly trimmed black hair framed a high forehead, and his sharp brown eyes gleamed with an intelligent and decisive light, like a carefully honed blade. Beneath gleaming metal armor that fit his lean yet wiry frame perfectly, he wasn't imposing in sheer size, but he exuded a potent aura of aether, a deep, powerful current flowing beneath the surface.

Haziel - Henry's first true friend since joining the Aerion military. During their initial two arduous and challenging years, they had endured every menial task the army could throw at them, simply to survive. From kitchen duty, washing mountains of dishes, and scrubbing mud-caked uniforms, to the more… unsavory tasks of mucking out stables and cleaning latrines. Those harsh days had forged an unbreakable bond between them, a deep and enduring friendship.

Then, as they both turned fourteen, the minimum age for reserve duty, Henry and Haziel had embarked on their first real missions together. They had shared gnawing hunger and thirst, splitting meager rations of dry bread on assignments far from home, and roared with laughter after foolish near-death experiences born of youthful curiosity and recklessness while provoking wild beasts in the forests. Those memories, though tinged with youthful folly, were the foundational stones upon which their friendship was built.

A year later, when they were both fifteen, Sophia joined the military and requested to be placed in Henry and Haziel's squad. The three fifteen-year-olds, brimming with youthful enthusiasm, tackled ridiculous F-rank missions - tasks that, even now, brought a smile to their faces at the memory of their clumsiness and the absurd situations they found themselves in. Getting lost in the woods while searching for a lost child, only to be chased by a Rank 1 beast all night. Setting a trap for a wolf that had been stealing villagers' sheep, only to discover it was part of a pack, leading to a near-fatal night-long pursuit from the forest to the town. But it was these "trivial" missions that etched unforgettable memories into their minds and nurtured their pure friendship.

When they all turned sixteen, they were officially inducted into the regular ranks. A significant turning point for all three. Henry's latent potential was confirmed to reach Rank 5 - a level high enough to make him a core asset to the military's future. Sophia, meanwhile, displayed extraordinary talent, projected to potentially reach Rank 6. The Church of the Radiant Angels had extended an invitation for her to undergo special training to become a Sacred Maiden, a position of high honor and power. However, Sophia had resolutely declined the enticing offer, her heart irrevocably bound to Henry.

Their mutual friend, Haziel, had become the subject of admiring whispers: "The Fifth Divine Monarch" It wasn't mere flattery but recognition of a rare talent, someone projected to reach the demigod level - a power threshold attainable by only one in a hundred million, with the potential to stand alongside Zephyros's supreme commanders. Immediately, Haziel had been placed on a comprehensive development track by the high-ranking officials in the Aerion capital, receiving specialized investment and nurturing.

Henry approached Haziel, a smile gracing his lips as he called out, "Didn't expect to see you here."

Haziel turned, recognizing his old friend, and a relaxed, radiant smile spread across his face. "Haha, I haven't been exiled to the border, you know. Just been on a lot of missions outside Aerion lately."

"So, mission-free now? Shouldn't hurt to grab a drink at the tavern and catch up, right?" Henry raised a teasing eyebrow.

Haziel laughed heartily, clapping Henry on the shoulder. "Of course! I'm free today, so drinks are on me. But you have to bring Sophia along. It's been too long since the three of us have been together."

A short while later, the three friends were gathered around a small, round table in a cozy corner of their familiar tavern. Before them lay steaming dishes, their fragrant aromas filling the air: spicy salt-and-pepper grilled fish, deboned chicken stuffed with roasted vegetables, a rich minced-meat egg pie, and a mouthwatering plate of oven-baked sweet and sour pork ribs.

Henry surveyed the laden table and chuckled. "Since when did you become so wealthy, Haziel?"

Sophia echoed his sentiment, her eyes wide with surprise. "I didn't think a captain's salary was this high. This meal could probably cover half our weekly wages."

Haziel waved a dismissive hand, feigning generosity. "Come on, I only get a chance to spend money when I'm with you two. As a regular officer, I'm either in the barracks or on missions; all my living expenses are covered by the military. My salary mostly just accumulates. I'll have a hefty gift for your wedding."

Sophia's face flushed crimson, while Henry burst into laughter. "Hahaha, looks like we're about to become rich!"

Haziel narrowed his eyes at Henry with a knowing smile. "Judging by that tone, it's getting close, isn't it? You rascal, hurry up; people aren't going to wait forever."

Henry shrugged, grinning. "Wait until I reach Rank 5, then maybe. Hahaha."

"It's not like anyone's agreed to marry you yet, so what's with the waiting?" Sophia retorted, a playful pout on her lips, though a tender light shone in her eyes.

"Sophia has no shortage of admirers. If you don't marry her soon, some wealthy noble will snatch her away, and then she'll come crying to me, and I'll punch him in the face for you." Haziel deliberately provoked, winking at Henry.

"Well, Rank 4 will do too. That way, I'll have enough money to support a battalion of Henry Juniors." Henry took Sophia's hand, looking at her with a ridiculously endearing smile, making her blush even deeper.

"You're being silly again. Every time you talk to the captain or Haziel at the tavern, you turn into a complete child. If I only heard the two of you talking, I'd think you were just a couple of overgrown kids." Sophia always found Henry's change in demeanor around his close friends amusing.

Haziel roared with laughter, slapping the table. "Hahaha, that's just how men are in the right company. When you're with people you're comfortable with, everyone wants to be themselves again."

The cheerful atmosphere and lighthearted banter helped to ease the tension Henry and Sophia had been carrying. But after a few drinks, as the idle chatter gradually subsided and the tavern grew quieter, the conversation between the three friends took a more serious turn.

Henry lowered his voice, his gaze meeting Haziel's directly. "Enough joking around. How have you been lately, Haziel?"

Haziel gently placed his mug on the table, his expression shifting from playful to sharp and serious.

"I'm fine. But as you probably know, the missions to investigate and eliminate those who have been killing civilians around Aerion have increased significantly lately. My team has been merged into a larger group, directly commanded by the Central Royal Guard. Each group has about thirty people, and there are already more than ten such groups formed. The leaders of these groups are all Rank 5. This is the largest deployment of personnel I've seen in the eight years since I joined the military."

"That makes sense." Sophia frowned, her voice thoughtful. "This time, the troublemakers have really committed terrible crimes. Not to mention, the possibility that they are preparing to advance to Rank 5 cannot be ruled out."

"No. They can't reach Rank 5 in such a short time." Haziel said with certainty, shaking his head.

Henry leaned forward, a questioning look on his face. "Why are you so sure?"

"To reach Rank 5, besides accumulating enough combat experience and the necessary amount of aether, they also have to undergo an extremely harsh and complex ascension ritual. Depending on the type of power they possess, each individual must perform a unique ascension ritual with different requirements and conditions." Haziel explained.

Sophia nodded, recalling something she had heard. "We've heard something about this as well."

Haziel took a sip of his drink and continued, "There have been historical records of individuals sacrificing humans to dark gods to gain power. To ascend to Rank 5, their ascension ritual must be performed in a solemn place, but at the same time, the surrounding space must be filled with extreme chaos and fear. These negative emotions will fuel the ritual. When the ritual reaches its final stage, the ascendant must plunge the surrounding space into complete madness and despair, then absorb all that chaotic energy into their body to complete the ascension process."

Henry frowned, considering this. "The conditions sound numerous, but in reality, they don't seem too difficult to fulfill. Just besieging and inciting a village could create enough chaos."

Haziel shook his head, dismissing Henry's suggestion. "It's not that simple. To gather enough energy for a Rank 5 ascension ritual, at least ten thousand lives must be extinguished. When completing the ritual, only about a thousand people need to be plunged into utter madness, but to create enough initial chaos on such a large scale, they have to target densely populated areas. A village only has a few hundred people, and an average town only has about four to seven thousand. That's still far too few to meet the ritual's requirements."

Sophia took a deep breath, a worried look clouding her eyes. "Then doesn't that mean that if they want to advance to Rank 5, they'd be forced to attack major cities?"