Prior day, on the Ganhurs Mountains.

“What...exactly was that...? I—aaaah!”

In a swift attempt at making my way down the mountain side from my previous vantage point, I ended up losing my footing due to a misstep. Catching myself against a wall, it seemed as if my legs were moving just as fast and clumsily as my thoughts. I was in need of a short break, a moment to calm myself down and figure out what had just happened.

“An army of Undead...defeated in only a handful of minutes—just like that? By a priest...? Someone that appeared to be human, coming from the Outer Region...”

It was difficult to think about and process. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that the one that had defeated the large group of Undead was indeed just a simple priest. The fact that they were even in the Outer Region alone was beyond abnormal.

Could someone that fights like that even be called a priest...?

There were no churches in Druhwood, but those who pilgrimage throughout the lands would often pass through our town. It didn’t seem correct to compare the two after what I had witnessed. Grandfather had also mentioned that the clergy of the Church of Evening were pacifists, and of neutral stance toward both people and monsters.

“But...”

A separate thought continued to gnaw at me far more than the current mystery behind the visitor from the Outer Region. I could vividly remember those glaring red eyes, locking me in place—instilling a chilling sense of dread throughout my entirety.

“If that person hadn’t arrived at that moment... I would have...”

My body shivered as I let my imagination wander. The Undead soldiers were one thing, but whatever that was, seemed as if it were on a whole different level. And despite that, the black-robed priest had not only dealt with it promptly, but had also called upon some sort of Spirit to assist.

“Grandpa once said it’s common knowledge that humans don’t live in the Outer Region, let alone risk even scouting or visiting that side... It’s a land of taboo. That means, was...that priest even human to begin with...?”

Aaaaa! Nothing will be answered if I just stand around here! I need to hurry back home, quickly...

I clutched at my knapsack, shuffling through its contents—the trinkets and ores. Grabbing a particular one with a purple-colored quartz attached, I double-checked in order to make sure it was the correct trinket. It was a bracelet that held half of a marked amethyst gemstone, while the other half remained at home back in Druhwood.

“I didn’t have any intention on using this unless I really needed to, but...I don’t want to take any more chances for today.”

Had that red-eyed entity attacked, I would have been forced to use it either way. And even with it gone now, that priest had still been an enigma in and of itself—potentially even more dangerous than the former being too. I wasn’t too eager about staying in the area for any longer than I already had. Thus, I held the bracelet to my chest, and prepared to begin my chant.

I was of the Spellbinder Class, holding the ability to affix certain spells into different kinds of things. In this case, it was my trinkets and gemstones. My magic wasn’t as fancy or as potent as the priest from earlier, but it made itself useful when it really mattered.

“Once luminous, then roosted, thus from your slumber to your dawn. May the echoed light be now guided to where it truly belongs: [Descry Aura].”

The amethyst bracelet slowly glimmered, beginning its attempt to locate its other half with a series of undetectable and invisible pulses. After a few seconds, the brightness increased, becoming a now constant glow—signaling that the connection was successful. As the bracelet sat at the top of my palm, I held my hand outward in front of me.

Keep your eyes closed and imagine the other half. Feel the other half. There! I see it. I feel it. Breathe in. Breathe out. Now...

“Unique SKILL: [Spatial Rift: Connecting Path].”

A large and widening tear formed in the space before me in response to my skill activation. Now truly connecting both halves of the amethyst now. I only had a few seconds before it would shut, knowing this, I quickly jumped into the portal without any hesitation. Fully making it through the portal, it closed behind me shortly after. I was now standing in my room, in the Mirth Oak Inn at Druhwood, right near the other half of the gemstone.

“It worked—!”

The sudden and combined sounds of two shatters in sync surprised me. Both gems had simultaneously fractured. Once the magic—the mana—stored within the gemstone was completely exhausted, this was their fate. Depending on the necessary amount of mana needed to initiate the spell embedded in the stone, most could be used a few times before breaking. Sadly, since these two halves had worked in tandem with my Unique SKILL, [Spatial Rift], the activation was a rather heavy strain on the gemstone despite it having such a simple spell inside.

“It’s a shame, but I had no other choice. Thank you for your help...”

Gathering the shattered pieces, I placed both of the remains of the two halves together into a small drawstring pouch. Putting that away, I headed outside the room and downstairs.

❖

“Settle down, youngin’. From what you’re saying, someone from the Outer Region wearing black priest-like garbs defeated an army of Undead by the mountain pass, is that it? And they did it all alone—no—alongside a large white Spirit?”

I nodded vigorously in response to his assessment of my explanation so far. Now sitting at the counter of the Mirth Oak Inn, I had divulged every bit of information about what I saw to my grandfather. A few guests and townsfolk were behind me, discussing a variety of different topics and seemingly paying no mind to my sudden outburst from earlier now.

“GRAAAAAAAAAAANDPA! There’s something you need to hear, immediately!!!”

“Quit your yammering, Eru! And—hm? When did you get back?!”

Rushing downstairs upon my arrival, grandfather was startled by my shouting and sudden appearance. Now, we were both at front counter, analyzing the details of what I had witnessed. If anyone were to believe me, it would definitely be him.

“Now, youngin'... Did you hit your head while climbing those damned mountains again? Haven’t I told you—time and time again—to be mindful of where you’re stepping?”

“Huh?! Why would you go and think that, Grandpa?! It really did happen! N-not the falling part, but the story about the priest! That’s why I rushed home by using my return trinket... You of all people know I wouldn’t use that unless it was a dire situation!”

My grandfather began stroking his beard, staring at me in silent thought.

“Hm, you have a point.”

If there was only a single person whom could give me an answer in Druhwood about the event at the mountain pass—it would be grandfather. It had only been tidbits, but no one here knew more about the Outer Region than he did. He simply never liked going into detail about it, bringing up the fact that it was taboo and all. With bated breath, my eyes remained on him while awaiting his response. He then released a long sigh after a short while and continued.

“If you’re speaking the truth, then it seems like we should be expecting a visitor soon then. Make sure one of the rooms is ready for em, you hear?”

“Is...that all...?! We’re talking about a human—if even that—coming from the Outer Region of all places, aren’t we? Shouldn’t we be way more cautious and questioning about their intentions?!”

I felt appalled by his reaction. He was the one always saying that I should be wary of the mountains and what was beyond them. His response was akin to that of simply welcoming someone from a nearby settlement now. The two were vastly different.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve gotten a visitor from the other side, youngin'. Yet, it has indeed been a very long time.”

“Wha—?”

“It was from before you were born. I’d say, possibly some twenty or so years ago. Anyways, if the lad or gal is out there defeating swarms of Undead—I won’t go thinking bad about anyone like that until I see em with my own eyes first.”

“Hold on! Not the first time...? You’ve never told me about someone coming from the other side before! Who were they?! What were they like?! Were they...actually human...?”

Grandfather paused on that note, once again lost in thought for several seconds as he continued to stroke the end of his beard. I didn’t like the idea of him pushing aside the priest as a simple visitor given what I had seen, but I was too curious about what he had just revealed. But he didn’t seem in the mood to humor me any further than one last strand of information.

“...He was a rather capable and talented man. His personality though, wasn’t to my liking. Not in the slightest. Tch. I’m certain that only the Goddess knows where that damned idiot ended up.”

The way grandfather had described him, made it seem as if he knew him personally. Someone beyond just that notion of a simple visitor. Walking away from our conversation after that, he quickly deflated any further attempt at learning more.

A visitor from long ago and a visitor now... Whoever that priest is, I wonder if they’re from the same place that's inside the Outer Region? If only I could have heard more from Grandpa...

“He’ll go out of his way to lecture me, but then completely dismisses my questions at times. How is that fair?! At least help ease my worries!”

Resting my arms and head on the counter, I realized all I could do now was to wait for that priest to arrive. It wasn’t until the moment the tension in my body completely settled itself that my exhaustion came in full force. Shutting my eyes for a few, I allowed the familiar background noise of the patrons chatting away to drift me toward a light sleep.

❖❖❖

The next day, around noon at the Mirth Oak Inn in Druhwood.

“Hm. Still nothing at all, huh?”

I was on the other side of counter, crouching down and hiding, with only eyes and above showing—remaining fixated on the doorway to our inn. Quite a few of the usual faces had stopped by to chat with grandfather about trivialities, and I could feel myself slightly jump at the sound of the door opening each time. We even apparently had a weird, wealthy merchant from the capital stop by—yet no sign of the priest from yesterday.

“A trip from the mountain pass to Druhwood only takes a few hours at most. Did they just completely avoid coming here, maybe? What if they decided to just turn back and return to the Outer Region instead of crossing the pass? Maybe they only headed to the pass to deal with the Undead army? Aaaaa! I lost sleep over this! Don’t tell me I was worrying all night for nothing?”

I was now slumped over the counter as I turned my head toward grandfather’s coffee apparatus. It was starting to run low due to all the morning traffic we normally had. At times, it really did feel as if the whole town visited just to snag a morning cup.

“Grandpa, you need to make another batch—?”

Looking around, I had forgotten about my grandfather’s absence. Neither of us really liked leaving it low or empty—so instead I decided to take up the task myself.

That’s right, he’s probably busy dealing with that merchant from earlier. I’ll whip up a fresh brew myself then!

Trained by the coffee perfectionist himself, my skills weren’t exactly at his level yet, but I still could almost match his quality on a good day. Sorting through everything, I started and finish the process—moving on instinct—as I knew it all like the back of my hand. It seemed like it was a good day as well. Inhaling the restored aroma that took hold over the inn’s interior, it sent a tingle down my spine.

“Mhm! Seems like it came out wonderfully. I might as well pour myself some too. Hm?”

Scanning the counter, I couldn’t find what I was expecting and thought was already there.

“Oh, that’s right. I left my mug upstairs from earlier.”

I decided to rush upstairs to fetch my usual mug, and after I did, I heard the bell sound of someone entering the inn as I began making my way back down.

See. I swear. The moment you make a fresh brew, it’s like all of a sudden everyone in town is somehow alerted! I bet it’s one of the nearby workers again.

Reaching the first floor, I was expecting the usual faces that worked near the inn. Instead, my eyes caught the figure of a person wearing a set of black-robes. Their focus was on the coffee apparatus on the counter of all things, completely ignoring my own or anyone else’s presence. It took me a few seconds of staring before I realized who it potentially was—my body immediately froze in turn.

I-I-I-I-I-IT'S THE PRIEST!?!? But... Why do they look so happy...?! Is it the coffee? Did I lure in the priest, to our inn, with coffee?! W-what do I do...? Do I talk to them...? Maybe if I just hand them a cup, they’ll leave on their own—like that would actually happen! Aaaaaa!

I was internally pulling at my own hair, as the person across from me was—without a doubt in my mind now—the same priest from yesterday. Seeing them this up close and personal though, they didn’t feel as intimidating as I thought they would. They even looked similar to that of a giddy child as their eyes remained fixated on the coffee apparatus on the counter.

Okay. I’ll just greet them normally. I mean, I have to, right? It is OUR inn after all. Aha.

“Y-you chose the wrong time to not be here, Grandpa...”

I murmured a complaint to myself as I finally decided to walk toward the priest. My mind was blank and my heart was trying to escape from my chest. The moment I reached them, I said the first thing that came to mind as a greeting, one I normally used for strangers—and it came out very ineptly at that.

“U-um... H-how can I assith—nng!”

“Hm?”

Ouch!! D-did I just BITE my tongue?! Oh, Goddess, why...? Why?!

The priest was now silently staring at me as my slip up had finally caught their attention. Holding my hand over my mouth in pain, I then took a short glance at them. My eyes met theirs and was immediately redirected to the ground. In that short moment, I had noticed that their brow was furrowed. I couldn’t tell if they were trying to figure out if they had seen me somewhere or if they were waiting on me to reattempt my greeting.

W-what am I supposed to do here...?

I truly couldn’t figure out what to do next as my eyes watered. Either way, we remained in that silence for what seemed like an entire day’s worth of time—crushed down and concentrated—into a single, agonizing minute.