The mist… moved.
Dense.
Silent.
And false.
---
Remiel stood at the edge of the island.
His green eyes analyzed what lay before him.
A "sea".
But it wasn't water.
It was mist.
Thick enough to completely hide whatever existed below.
---
— …not natural…
---
Without hesitation—
He stepped forward.
---
His body passed through the mist.
---
For a moment—
Absolute silence.
---
Then—
Light.
---
Remiel emerged on the other side.
Another island.
Larger.
Alive.
---
Movement.
People.
Structures.
A world completely different from the forgotten island.
---
— So… this is how they hide that place…
---
— You… came out of there?
---
The voice came from the side.
Female.
Surprised.
---
Remiel turned his gaze.
---
She was there.
Long, deep-purple hair.
Golden eyes… with a faint violet hue.
Locked onto him.
---
But it wasn't just curiosity.
It was analysis.
---
— That island… — she said slowly — no one crosses the Sea of Mist.
---
Silence.
---
— I did.
---
A simple answer.
---
Laylah narrowed her eyes.
---
— How?
---
Remiel didn't answer.
---
— Did you use an ability? An artifact? A specific Path?
---
Silence.
---
— …
---
— Which Path do you follow?
---
Direct.
---
Remiel tilted his head slightly.
---
— Path?
---
For the first time—
Laylah looked genuinely surprised.
---
— You're kidding… right?
---
She stepped closer.
Now clearly interested.
---
— You cross the Sea of Mist… appear out of nowhere… and you don't know what a Path is?
---
Her eyes gleamed faintly.
---
— Who are you?
---
Silence.
---
— Remiel.
---
She let out a small laugh.
---
— That doesn't answer anything.
---
— It's enough.
---
Laylah crossed her arms, studying him from head to toe.
---
— Alright… Remiel…
---
A brief pause.
---
— My name is Laylah.
— I follow the Path of Space.
---
The air around her distorted slightly.
As if space itself bent.
---
Remiel observed.
No visible reaction.
---
— Now answer me.
---
She leaned forward slightly.
---
— How did you cross the Sea of Mist?
— What Path do you follow?
— And why don't you know basic things?
---
A direct sequence of questions.
---
Remiel remained silent for a few seconds.
---
— I don't know.
---
Laylah blinked.
---
— …you don't know?
---
— I don't remember.
---
The answer came calmly.
Without emotion.
---
Silence.
---
Laylah studied his face.
Trying to find any trace of a lie.
---
She found none.
---
— …this is getting interesting…
---
She relaxed slightly.
But her eyes stayed sharp.
---
— Alright. Let's start with the basics.
---
Remiel didn't interrupt.
---
— Where do you think you are?
---
— I don't know.
---
— Current year?
---
— I don't know.
---
This time—
she actually laughed.
---
— Okay… that explains a lot.
---
She took a breath.
---
— You're in the Aether Continent.
— Imperial City.
— The capital.
---
A brief pause.
---
— Year 32 of the Black Dragon Calendar.
---
Remiel stayed silent.
Processing.
---
— And what is this "Path"?
---
Laylah smiled faintly.
---
— Now we're talking.
---
She raised her hand.
---
— The Wheel of Divinity.
— It's the system that governs everything.
---
— System…
---
— It's divided into ten Sequences.
— From Sequence 10 to Sequence 1.
---
Another gesture.
---
— And each Sequence has three stages:
— Initial… Intermediate… Advanced.
---
Remiel listened without interrupting.
---
— There are ways to choose a Path.
---
She began counting on her fingers.
---
— First: potions.
— Each Path has its own formulas.
---
Another finger.
---
— Second: a blessing from a god.
---
Her tone became slightly more serious.
---
— Rare… and dangerous.
---
— Are there others?
---
— Rumors.
— Nothing confirmed.
---
Silence.
---
— And where do you learn this?
---
— The Academy of Destiny.
---
Without hesitation.
---
— If you really don't know anything…
— that's the best place to start.
---
She looked directly at him.
---
— The entrance exam is coming soon.
---
Remiel remained silent.
---
Slowly—
he began to understand.
---
Not his past.
---
But the present.
---
— Then let's go.
---
Laylah blinked.
---
— You decide fast.
---
— Time doesn't change what I need to do.
---
For a moment—
she just looked at him.
---
Curiosity.
Interest.
And a faint smile.
---
— Alright… Remiel.
---
She turned her back.
---
— But I'm not done investigating you yet.
---
The space around her distorted—
And she vanished.
---
Remiel watched.
---
— Path of Space…
---
Then—
he stepped forward.
---
And followed.