NOVEL WEB Chapter 40 – Vernara Village (6)
The morning sun slipped gently through the veil of mist that clung to Vernara's ridges.
Khael stirred awake, the warmth of the woven straw mat beneath him already fading as he sat up. The others were gone, he could hear the faint hum of Shinrei outside, echoing like a song being sung without words.
He stepped out of the guest house.
And immediately sighed.
Ceyla was locked in a fast-paced skirmish with Juno—dirt kicking up beneath their feet, crackles of storm energy flashing as Ceyla wielded twin daggers with sharp arcs of wind and lightning. Juno, ever grounded, held a defensive stance from the Taishin Path, his body shifting with controlled movements like stone flowing under pressure.
On a nearby log sat Lin, watching them with wide, curious eyes.
"Hey, hey… what's going on here?" Khael called, raising a brow.
Ceyla didn't even glance at him, her dagger grazing Juno's shoulder—though clearly pulled just before it could cut.
"Tsk. We didn't fight for no reason," she muttered.
Juno gave a sheepish smile, blocking her next strike with a flick of his forearm.
"Lin wanted to see how Veinwalkers fight." he said, breathing evenly.
Khael turned to Lin.
She simply nodded—mute, as always—but glowing Shinrei glyphs shimmered faintly above her hands, flickering like soft symbols in the air. A question mark. Then two.
Khael exhaled. "Of course she did…"
Lin's face remained calm. Curious. Not a single trace of fear. Just interest.
(Even after almost dying by an echo beast… she still seeks to understand it.)
"Where's Noah?" Khael asked, arms folded.
Juno paused. "Meeting with Elder Lao. About the ritual tonight."
Before Khael could respond, a new presence approached.
He felt her before he saw her.
Eliryn.
She stepped into the morning light with her usual grace, silver robes fluttering in the soft wind. Her expression was unreadable—always was—but the tone in her voice carried urgency.
"The guests…" she said quietly. "Elder Lao wishes to meet you three."
Khael blinked. "Right now?"
Eliryn nodded.
Ceyla sheathed her daggers, wiping a bead of sweat off her brow. "Hmph. Guess playtime's over."
Juno dusted off his robes and grinned. "Let's not keep the elder waiting."
Khael glanced at Lin again. She drew a glyph in the air—one that meant "be safe."
He gave her a soft nod in return.
Meanwhile…
Inside the Elder's chamber, thick with the scent of dried herbs and glowing glyph wards, the atmosphere crackled with tension.
Noah stood with clenched fists, his expression tight. He stared at the ancient wooden floor, as if afraid to meet the elder's eyes.
"This is insane…" he muttered.
"She's not ready… that girl—
Lin—she'll die if she…"
His voice faltered, caught between fear and fury.
Across the low ceremonial table, Elder Lao remained still, his wrinkled fingers clasped calmly over his staff. His ancient eyes, however, were sharp. Focused.
"What am I supposed to do?" Lao said slowly, voice like dry leaves in the wind.
"That girl's power… it's growing unstable. You've seen the signs. The Voidflare is showing too much, too often."
Noah's jaw clenched.
"But she's still a child!"
"And I need to protect the village."
Lao's tone never rose. But the gravity in his words was undeniable.
"If she loses control… this entire valley will vanish into nothingness"
"Do you heard heard what happened to the last vessel touched by the Voidflare."
"Yes"
"Do you want that again?"
Noah looked away, guilt pressing hard against his chest.
"...Does the one who gave you this mission," Lao continued, narrowing his eyes,
"—did they tell you to oppose me?"
A beat of silence.
Noah's fingers trembled.
"...No."
Lao leaned back.
"Exactly."
A faint knock echoed through the chamber door.
Then the soft voice of Eliryn:
"The three guests are here, Elder."
Elder Lao didn't respond at first. He simply stared at Noah—his expression unreadable, but firm as stone.
Then, without looking away, he said quietly:
"Don't tell them… Don't tell them what will happen during the ritual. Not a word."
Noah's eyes widened slightly. His voice caught in his throat.
"But—"
Lao's tone sharpened.
"For the sake of your clan's alliances. For the balance still holding this region together. You will stay silent."
The pressure in the room changed—the Shinrei glyphs along the walls shimmered briefly, as if responding to the elder's will.
Noah gulped, throat dry as dust, then lowered his gaze.
"…I understand."
He nodded, slowly. Reluctantly.
Just as the door creaked open…
Khael, Ceyla, and Juno stepped inside the quiet chamber. The air was still, thick with something unspoken. A light breeze from the open lattice window barely stirred the long hanging scrolls.
At the far end of the room stood Elder Lao, flanked by Noah Matsuda and Eliryn. All three turned to face the arriving guests.
Khael gave a small bow out of respect.
"Hello, Elder. Noah."
Noah tensed at his name. He gave a faint nod, eyes downcast unable to meet Khael's gaze.
Khael's brow furrowed slightly.
(Why is he avoiding eye contact? Noah isn't the type to act like this...)
A strange feeling crawled at the edge of his chest.
Ceyla crossed her arms, her eyes flicking between Noah and Eliryn with a suspicious scowl.
Juno, meanwhile, remained quiet but alert, sensing something off as well.
Elder Lao cleared his throat—a deliberate, firm sound.
"Ahem... I called you three here for a reason."
His voice was aged but steady. Measured. The kind of tone that carried the weight of old traditions.
"We have reason to believe that the Crimson Roots intend to interfere with tonight's sacred ritual."
"This cannot be allowed."
The silence deepened as those words sank in.
Then, in an unexpected gesture, Elder Lao lowered his head in a bow.
"I'm grateful you accepted our request.
Vernara's peace depends on this."
Khael blinked at the rare humility from a village elder.
Still, the unease from Noah's behavior lingered in the back of his mind.
He thought back to the details of the mission burned into his system briefing:
…
Mission Class: C
Objective: Escort Bloom Clan emissaries to Vernara, the Eternal Spring Village, to attend a sacred Ritual of Renewal.
Ensure safety. Prevent sabotage.
Monitor Voidflare activity near the forest perimeter.
Client: Bloom Elders Council
Location: Vernara, Southwood Sector
Duration: Three days
(But this feels bigger than a Class C mission...)
(Also why is Noah so nervous?)
Khael's gaze drifted to Eliryn for a moment her face was unreadable, but her posture was tense, arms behind her back, as if guarding her thoughts.
(And Eliryn... what are you hiding?)
Before he could speak further, Elder Lao straightened his spine and added gravely:
"Tonight's ritual is not only sacred—it is dangerous.
Voidflare activity has been increasing at an abnormal rate.
And if the Crimson Roots truly intend to interfere… it may be more than just tradition that's at risk."
The tension in the room thickened.
To be continue