Bernaum and The Legacy of Grovenborn

The barren, hilly expanse of Torsgadden stretched nearly two hundred miles from the city of Torsgad. Amidst the vast, sun-scorched savannah, a small, isolated village shimmered on the edge of the horizon—a mere dot against the golden light of dusk. That was Bernaum, their destination.

"Is that… Bernaum?" Rene whispered in awe, his eyes sparkling as the twilight horizon danced before them.

"This world… it's so vast," Samael murmured, standing beside him. "I'm truly grateful to witness this. The view… the journey… it all feels like a dream."

Samael no longer went by his old name. He had chosen a new one: Hendo.

Felix, who had been training Hendo with unwavering patience, had decided to teach him archery. Given Hendo's limited magic and his vulnerability to direct sunlight, it was the most reasonable combat skill he could acquire.

With the help of an ancient book about legendary archers, Felix drilled him on every detail—from breathing techniques to focus and draw strength. Remarkably, in just three days, Hendo had become a proficient archer. He learned fast—perhaps too fast.

Together, they crafted a bow and arrows from the bones of a Grimfox, a savage beast they had slain in a fierce battle days earlier. The weapon wasn't perfect, but it was strong enough to take down wild mountain goats in the harsh hills they crossed.

Yet the journey was anything but easy. At midday, when the sun blazed overhead, Hendo often collapsed from exhaustion. His body simply couldn't withstand prolonged exposure to the light.

"Hendo," Lumina said, "during the day, we'll pull the wagon. You rest inside. Let us gather food. But once night falls, it's your turn to hunt and keep watch."

"Understood…" Hendo nodded quietly. "At least now I have a way to fight… even if it's from a distance."

Rene, who relied on water magic, found himself nearly useless in the dry savannah. Frustration soon gnawed at his spirit.

"Well… at least you're still good at driving the wagon," Lumina teased, laughing freely.

"Hmph! I thought I was more capable than this… but in a place this dry, my magic's completely worthless," Rene grumbled.

"If you're complaining," Lumina suddenly snapped, her eyes sharp, "then you're insulting my grandmother."

"I… I didn't mean to insult my mentor," Rene stammered, lowering his gaze. "I just… never asked."

Their conversation was interrupted by a squad of Torsgadden soldiers patrolling the area.

"Hey! You lot! We're searching this wagon. Don't try anything foolish," the squad captain barked, eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Tensions between the Black and White Empires are running high. We can't let any black mages slip through."

"Lumina," Rene hissed in panic, "aren't you the daughter of the ruler of Torsgadden? Can't you talk to them?"

"I told you—Celestian had me thrown out of the royal prison. If they recognize me... they'll drag me back to my mother," Lumina snapped.

"So… what now?" Hendo asked tensely.

"We disguise ourselves." Felix opened his pack. "Quick—change clothes."

"WHAT?! You mean—" Lumina's eyes widened.

"No questions. Just do it. They're getting closer," Rene warned, reins in hand.

"Distract them. Stall for time," Felix ordered.

As the soldiers approached, Felix handed a metal imperial sigil to Rene.

"Tell them you're from Zarthas. Traveling with your half-brother. Better yet… trash-talk your father."

"What?! Are you serious?!" Rene whispered, trembling.

"No time—he's right here!" Felix hissed.

The captain reached for the wagon, but Rene intercepted him, presenting the sigil with noble flair.

"Sir, I come from Zarthas. A prince. Surely you wouldn't search the carriage of a noble from the White Empire without cause?"

"Zarthas…?" The captain narrowed his eyes, then handed the sigil to one of his men for inspection.

"Regardless, we must check inside."

Rene had no choice but to nod.

Inside the wagon, Felix sat calmly. Lumina was dressed as a man—looking convincingly sharp. Hendo, on the other hand… was dressed as a woman. Unfortunately, his muscular build, prominent Adam's apple, and overall manly physique were impossible to hide.

"Sir," Felix said with a wide grin, "if you have a… particular taste, we can step outside and give you some privacy."

Hendo flashed a flirtatious smile. "Sir… I'm ready. I'm feeling… frisky…"

The captain jumped back from the wagon, face burning red.

"Sh-should we give you two some privacy?" Rene added mischievously.

"N-no need!" the commander blurted, flustered.

"Oh, don't be shy… maybe you've been lonely out here on patrol. You've heard the rumors about Zarthas nobility, haven't you?" Rene smirked devilishly.

"Enough! Enough! Just go! Where are you headed?" he barked, now clearly desperate to get rid of them.

"Bernaum, sir. Looking for… entertainment," Rene replied coolly.

"Hmph. That backwater? Full of weirdos and useless folk."

The captain's remark made Lumina grit her teeth in silent rage.

"Don't take the bait," Felix whispered.

At last, the soldiers let them pass.

Once they were far enough away, laughter erupted from the wagon. Hendo, drenched in nervous sweat, wiped his face with both hands.

"With skin that pale, anyone would be tempted!" Rene howled with laughter.

"Huh… I nearly fainted! Thank the stars he was still sane!" Hendo groaned.

"Honestly… you looked better in my clothes," Lumina added between laughs.

"You've got talent. All you need now is to learn how to flirt," Felix chimed in with a grin.

"Argh! You're all insane!" Hendo groaned, burying his face in shame and relief.

Five long days passed like a slow-moving dream. Time seemed reluctant to move forward as they crossed barren hills and sunbaked ridges, until at last, they stood atop a ridge overlooking the village of Bernaum.

And there it was—Bernaum.

Its wooden gates stood old and crooked, like a relic from a forgotten era.

From afar, Bernaum appeared like a small oasis in the heart of a barren savannah. But as they drew closer, the illusion shattered—harsher than the desert wind. The village was dying. Drought had struck hard. The houses were faded, the fields scorched black, and the air itself seemed to hum with the voiceless suffering of its people.

"That tree… it looked green from a distance," Rene murmured, "but up close, the leaves are all yellow."

"They're short on water," said Felix, scanning the surroundings.

"What? How can you be so sure already?" Hendo frowned.

"There are no shepherds nearby. They've probably taken the herds far away to find water. Look at those trees—wilted. The savannah doesn't normally look like this," Felix replied with a sigh.

"Anyone with eyes can tell this place is thirsty, Hendo," Lumina added dryly.

"Understandable," Rene whispered mockingly, "he's never had to feel it. Zaratugha's overflowing with water. Too fertile, even."

They had barely stepped through the village gate when a group of armed men rushed toward them, suspicious eyes and raised spears.

"Who are you?! What business do you have in Bernaum?!" one of them barked, his tone sharp and accusing.

Tension spread like wildfire. Villagers began gathering, their eyes filled with distrust and defiance.

"Leave this place!" shouted an old man from the crowd. "The last outsider who came here brought disaster! He sealed every water source we had—not just underground, but from the skies themselves!"

"He's right!" yelled a furious old woman. "The Empire doesn't care about us! They won't even set foot in this village unless it's to collect taxes or drag our sons off to war!"

Rene sighed. "We're not welcome here…"

No one spoke. Four sets of eyes glanced between each other in silence, stunned by the raw rejection—delivered without even knowing who they truly were.

Felix stepped forward. His voice was steady, but carried weight.

"I've only come to return Grovenborn to his homeland. If anyone here is his kin… I'll give you his remains."

The words struck like lightning. A heavy silence fell over the crowd. Their gazes shifted—less hostile now, but strained with tension.

"The skull of Grovenborn!" Felix called out louder. "I'm only repaying a debt of honor. Nothing more!"

No one responded. Then, slowly, a young man stepped forward. His walk was calm, but his eyes glistened with tears.

"Thank you… for bringing him home. I'll see to his burial," he whispered as he took the wooden box from Felix's hands.

Felix eyed him closely. Something was off.

His eyes… too soft. Too familiar.

Lumina placed a hand gently on Felix's shoulder—just a subtle touch, a silent message.

Felix gave a small nod. Now he understood.

The young man… was a girl.

"We'll come with you," Lumina said.

"You're welcome to. But I've no food or water for guests," the girl replied flatly.

"That's fine. We only wish to help bury him," said Felix.

They followed her out of Bernaum, their steps quiet over the dry earth. North of the village lay a distant hill, barely a speck on the horizon—like hope barely clinging to life.

The ground cracked and crumbled beneath their feet. Oases had dried into hollow basins. Starving animals wandered through a merciless season.

"How long has it been since the last rainfall?" Felix finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Almost a year… maybe more. I've lost track," the girl answered.

Felix looked to the sky, his face taut with concern.

"The sky… it's as if something's covering it. A vast, invisible shell. This dome—it only traps Bernaum, doesn't it? Beyond this region… there are still rivers and oases, right?"

The girl halted. Her eyes widened.

"You… how do you know that?" she asked, stunned.

"I saw it. Just before we entered the village. A strange shimmer in the sky, like a shell."

"My name is Relio," the girl said softly. "My father gave me that name. We shepherds must walk more than forty miles now just to find water. The last time, an old man came to our village with a black carriage—looked much like yours, though perhaps the trim was different. We offered him food and goat's milk. At first, he said he wanted to marry a village girl, but everyone refused. He grew furious. He said our food only tasted good when the rains fell. After that rejection… he cursed us. And the rain stopped from that day onward."

"No one knew who he was?" Felix asked, frowning.

"No one. He dressed plainly, though his carriage was fine. And… he had a donkey with him. After the curse, he vanished without a trace."

Felix exhaled deeply.

"He was… a sorcerer. A legendary one. Only a sky mage of that caliber could create an invisible dome and hold back the rain for this long."

Lumina clenched her fists.

"Magnus Belzore. That lunatic old man is still alive."

"Whaaat?" Rene shrieked. "A legendary sorcerer? Magnus Be—Belzore? What even is that?! And what do you mean by 'legendary' class?"

Lumina turned and looked at Rene like she couldn't believe the question.

"In the empire's ranks," she began quietly, "mages and knights are divided into twenty tiers. Levels 20 to 11 are senior officers—heads of military, governors of second-tier provinces. Levels 10 to 4—those are usually regional rulers. But the top three… levels 3, 2, and 1… those are the highest. Prime ministers. Emperors. Or sorcerers powerful enough to reshape history."

She paused.

"Mages like Magnus Belzore belong to that level. No one knows his exact rank, but every empire—light or dark—knows his name."

"Hold on," Rene said, narrowing her eyes at Lumina. "Do you even know how many empires are still standing in this world?"

Felix gently cut in, as though the question had long lingered in his own mind.

"By count, there are ten. But only nine are officially recorded—and even two of those remain cloaked in mystery."

He took a breath before continuing.

"There are five Light Empires: Dominion Valthorian, Celestian, Astranova, Zarthas… and Ardenta. Ardenta's a special case—they take no side. Neutral, if you can call it that. But still considered part of the light."

His gaze sharpened.

"The Dark Empires are: Dreadmourne, Noctharys, The Titan—though its existence is debated, as it lies hidden somewhere in the New World. Then there's the Beast Empire in the far east—a savage land no map dares depict. And the final one… the one lost in the mist of legends: Dravengard, Empire of the Black Dragon. They say it was destroyed by the great dragon Oragon himself."

Silence.

Lumina, Rene, Hendo, and Relio stood frozen.

The world suddenly felt far larger—and far more terrifying—than any of them had ever imagined.

"So... which empire are we from, exactly?" Rene asked softly. "Because Samael… he's clearly from Noctharys, the Black Empire. Lumina and I are from one of the white ones. But you? Is the prophecy true?"

Felix shrugged. "Me? I just read it in old books. But who cares? Maybe it's time we stopped letting color or class define who we are. I… just want to find out who I really am."

"I want to become a legendary sorcerer," Rene said, his voice trembling between conviction and longing. "Not just for Zarthas—but for the whole world."

"I... well, I like archery," Hendo chuckled. "I'm no good in open combat. Maybe I'm destined to be a legendary archer instead."

Felix smiled, then turned to Lumina. "And you, Princess of Light… Do you dream of being the greatest mage in Celestian?"

Lumina gently shook her head. "No. I just want this world to be okay. Without having to choose between black or white."

Rene laughed softly. "That… sounds perfect for someone like you, Your Highness."

Then his eyes shifted to the girl standing by the hillside. "Relio? What about you? Will you come with us?"

Relio looked uneasy. She glanced down at the ground, her lips unable to form words.

"It's okay," Lumina said gently. "If you're still in mourning, we understand."

"Look…" Relio raised her hand and pointed north. "We're here."

Before them lay a quiet hill. They left their carriage below and climbed the steep slope together. Step by step, they made their way to the top—until a small cave revealed itself, hidden behind a large boulder.

Using what strength they had left, the five of them pushed the stone aside. Inside, rows of skulls and bones were neatly arranged. Each stack bore a name—a family sigil. An unspoken legacy resting in silence.

"This one reads… the Gore family," Felix murmured, brushing his fingers over a faded inscription on the stone wall. "Is this your family?"

Relio's eyes widened. "You can read that?" she asked in disbelief. "That's… the old language of our village. Yes… we are the Gore family. My father's name was Relo Gore."

She paused, then began to speak as if unlocking a long-sealed chest of memories.

"My father once dreamed of becoming a soldier in the Celestian Empire. But every time there was a recruitment, he failed. Again and again. The frustration broke him. He gave up. He married my mother, and I was born. But he wanted a son… someone to carry on his dream."

Relio looked down, tears brimming in her eyes.

"I was born a girl. But he named me Relio anyway—a boy's name. He forced me to learn swordplay, as if trying to shape me into the son he never had. I tried… I really did. But it was never enough."

Her voice trembled. Lumina gently took her hand.

"Then… my mother died of illness. It was just the two of us after that. When I was eleven, the Empire announced emergency recruitment for the Torsgadden War. My father finally got to be a soldier. He gave himself a new name—Grovenborn. He left, promising he'd return every year."

She inhaled deeply. "But he… never came back."

No one spoke.

"I kept training on my own. For years. Herding livestock by day and training by night, just to meet the hope he'd placed in me. But maybe… I was never meant to be as strong as he dreamed."

Tears fell. Silence blanketed the hilltop.

They stood before the tomb and slowly laid Grovenborn's skull in its resting place. Then, with care, they sealed the cave once more.

"Relio," Felix said, bowing deeply. "I… I'm sorry. Your father died… protecting me."

Hendo stepped forward. "Your father died… because of my father. I'm sorry, too. From the bottom of my heart."

Lumina wiped her eyes. "Your father was my personal guard… He cared for me. But the one he should've been guarding… was you."

Relio shook her head slowly. Her voice was quiet, but steady. "It's all right. For years, I kept asking myself… where he had gone. Now I know. He's returned… And it was you who brought him back. Thank you."

She bowed her head, holding back the flood of tears that could no longer be hidden.

"Thank you… all of you."