Late at night, Rian woke up to find Jean already awake, studying the mask intently.

  Jean's eyes were fixed on the pattern and insignia as he held it in his hands.

  Jean sensed Rian's movement and glanced at him.

  Rian asked, "Am I supposed to say good morning that late in the night?"

  A chuckle escaped Jean's lips, the first one in a very long time. For the first time in a while, he actually laughed.

  "Can you tell me about this mask?" Rian asked.

  Jean looked absent-minded for a while, then shook his head. "I don't really know."

  Rian didn't act like a brick. He had some understanding of Jean after everything that happened the previous night.

  He let out a sigh unbefitting of his age and began narrating:

  "Do you remember what I told you about Teacher Aaron? That wasn't everything.

  "He was an eccentric man,"

  Rian continued. "He went around ignoring the strongest clans but turned the weakest into a major force.

  "He helped the poor but despised the rich.

  "He once said, 'People are products of circumstances. You think you're awesome, right? But you're not. You just took the most obvious route given everything you were born into. Don't overestimate yourself. I give those who didn't have your luck a chance to shape their own circumstances. I want to see. I also want you to look closely.'

  "The Skyborn... that clan was one of those he guided. The clan leader used to call him big brother, even though he was at least 30 years older than Teacher Aaron.

  "Everyone else, even the members of the Ecliptic Clan, wouldn't dare call him 'brother.' The Ecliptic King didn't show up during the calamity. He was known to be the strongest man we ever knew in history, with legendary feats that should have made him stronger than Teacher Aaron at the time. Yet, he never helped anyone.

  "Teacher stated that his absence wasn't due to a lack of strength—it was a choice. Despite his power, he refused to involve himself. He stayed away, leaving others to face the consequences of the calamity alone.

  "And the current lineage of the World Tree Guardians... my lineage. They were a group of lesser elves when Teacher Aaron first came here."

  Rian closed his eyes for a moment, narrating the words that he was told exactly as they were:

  "'When shit happens again, you can't expect me to wipe your ass. Make sure you do it yourself.'"

  Opening his eyes.

  Rian glanced at the mask in Jean's hands. He reached into his pocket and displayed a single pebble-like item. "That bead... it was a magical item. One of many useless items that form naturally around the Elven Forest. He took one, and now it's the artifact of the successor."

  Rian started at it, before putting it away.

  He looked back at Jean.

  But,

  He was lost in thought, processing everything.

  There was something in particular that kept echoing in his mind.

  He remembered his father's words again.

  'Teacher taught us... Teacher... he was the teacher father spoke of.' He thought.

  The faces of his family had grown vague in his memories, their voices mere echoes. He couldn't remember them that well anymore... only the pain and lessons they left behind...

  He could remember what they taught him.

  These were the only things he was ever taught.

  Now he understood. The movements of the phantom were similar to the formless arts. But they weren't just similar—they were the same.

  Rian added, "I always knew he was exceptionally close to the Skyborn clan. But I never expected to see this battle style or pattern of movements with my own eyes. I've always read about it in the records we had back in the forest."

  "The elders said it was chaotic, nonsensical even.

  "Like a group of madmen rushing to death, disregarding everything.

  "But, when you start to look, process everything... it was never chaos.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  "Instead, it was absolute order."

  Rian looked down at Jean's hands holding the mask. "But where did you get that mask? I thought it was impossible for us to produce a similar mask to that of the legion... one that's completely flat and doesn't have eye slots."

  Rian, he couldn't imagine that the mask was guiding him, never crossed his mind.

  On the other hand, Jean...

  Jean didn't know how to answer.

  After a while, he said, "The Swamp Forest Lord gave it to me."

  Rian's eyes widened, as if something clicked in his mind.

  But Jean spoke again, "Don't let anyone know about it. Promise?" Eyes intently looking, pleading.

  Rian snapped back.

  His restless eyes calming a little.

  He nodded. "I promise."

  He answered resolutely.

  The boys rested a bit longer, then found something to eat at dawn before getting ready to move again.

  Elder Quinlith took the three children in a scaledrake-drawn carriage, traveling toward the next region.

  The city belonged to the swamp region, known as Swamp City. It had been visited multiple times by Aaron.

  The Bright Night Inn was named after a phenomenon Aaron had spoken of, like a mythical tale.

  Originally, it had been an insignificant town, a place known for being filthy and dangerous. The people living there had no other choice. Back then, the swamp forest didn't have lords; it was overrun with different species of monsters.

  The people were gloomy, and death was a common occurrence—a norm. But that was in the past.

  Now, it was a magnificent commercial city. They didn't discard the "Swamp" from its name; instead, they embraced it.

  It became a free zone where anyone could come. Different races lived together, and the diversity was staggering. Trying to figure out who belonged to which race was meaningless—almost everyone looked different.

  The school wasn't far off—it was just a few hours' travel, one of the few places Aaron had stopped before disappearing along with his legion.

  The carriage stopped in front of the school, and Elder Quinlith was greeted at the gate by many people, before heading inside.

  Rian stayed in the cart, unbothered, and Nina did the same.

  Jean got out and looked at the gates of the school.

  He looked up at the signboard. He recognized the word School, at least.

  It was then he heard a voice next to him.

  "Badass... such a profound word..."

  Jean turned, spotting a boy bowing deeply.

  "As expected of the Great Teacher," the boy continued, "Every word he spoke is unparalleled wisdom. This young one pays his respects.

  "This insignificant, humble young one shall prove his worth across countless eons, and spread the revered Teacher's name across the lands! This lowly one shall carry the Teacher's wisdom to the farthest reaches, no matter the cost!"

  Jean looked at him, then hurriedly moved his eyes away. 'Another weird one...' he thought, not wanting to deal with another oddball after the edgy elf.

  He was already tired.

  But,

  The voice came again.

  "Hello, young hero. I recognize your exceptional devotion and choice of attire. I, the future ascender who shall join the Great Teacher on his path... recognize you. My name is Mojian of the Literary Clan. I'm ten this year. Nice to meet you."

  He extended his hand. "I shall greet you in the way of the Great Teacher... a legendary handshake."

  Jean's mouth hung open, and he felt like his ears might start bleeding.

  His face started to twitch, but he struggled.

  Pushing away his discomfort and trying to act decently, as he had been taught, he extended his hand and shook Mojian's. "Jean. I'm nine years old."

  Mojian's eyes widened in disbelief. He stepped back, bowed deeply, and said,

  "Young Hero Jean, you've taught this ignorant one a great lesson. I shall burn it deep inside my heart. From now on, I shall not mention the great name of my unparalleled clan, for a man forges his own worth against the heavens."