“It’s still weird not seeing the Moons,” Dallion said, looking up at the sky. “All the stars are there, but no moons.”

Eury said nothing. They had been waiting for over an hour now and there still was no sign of the dryads they were supposed to be training. No one knew whether they had gotten cold feet or something had happened to dissuade them.

Sitting on the ground a few steps away, Eury was carefully examining the map fragment. All the landmarks were where they were supposed to be, proving that it was real. Of greater interest, though, were the markings of cities, temples, and less significant settlements. Back when the map had been valid, the realm must have been quite prosperous, bustling with life. Now, not even ruins remained.

“Someone must have replaced the temples with stone circles,” Eury said. “It would explain the starting location.”

“We didn’t come across any others,” Dallion noted.

“That’s because we didn’t pass anywhere near. When we get the other part of the map, we’ll check the next location. That will let us know one way or the other.”

It was nice that she said “when,” although Dallion wasn’t too sure. Strictly speaking, neither the map nor the potential information that the dryads might provide was of vital importance. The pair could continue on just as they had before, relying on their own senses. Still, obtaining some knowledge was going to save them time and effort, and sometimes that was all one could hope for.

Another ten minutes passed without anyone showing up. Dallion was just about to call it a night when two dryads finally emerged. None of them were carrying any weapons.

“Everything okay?” Dallion asked the moment they got near. “I was afraid you weren’t going to show up.”

“We had to be careful,” the male dryad said. Without going into detail. “Did you decide to train us?”

“We’re here, right?” Dallion smirked. “But before that, I want to see you have the other part of the map.”

On cue, the female dryad took out a folded piece of parchment. Judging by the size, it was what was promised.

“We’ll give it to you on the training grounds.”

“In that case, lead the way.”

The next fifteen minutes were spent sprinting through forests and plains, occasionally changing directions for no reason. Despite Euryale’s insistence that no one was following them, the dryads were extremely paranoid, emanating fear all the way. It was only when they reached a small cave at the foot of the mountain that they calmed down.

“It’s there,” the male dryad said, as he broke a few branches from a nearby tree.

Dallion suspected that the branches would be made into torches, though not that the process wouldn’t involve fire. Each stick had a light crystal tied to it, which was then activated by a gentle tap.

“Were there dwarves in the realm?” Dallion asked as he was handed a torch.

“No.” The dryad looked at him, confused.

“Light crystals are usually mined by dwarves.”

“It’s a gift from the Star. They provide light inside the towers.”

“How come you got them, then?”

Reluctance emanated from the dryad. Without answering, he walked faster into the cave.

“His mother gave them to us,” the female dryad said. “Back when it was discovered, he was an awakened. She wanted a better life for him.”

There were a few moments of silence. One could imagine what it must have been like. In this realm, learning that your child wasn’t a cause for celebration—it meant having your child taken away, so it could ensure the city’s survival.

“When did he awaken?” Eury asked.

“When he was five. We awakened early, then are sent outside through the food baskets. Sometimes there’s only a few of us, sometimes we’re in groups.”

“He must miss his parents,” Dallion whispered.

The female dryad looked at him, sadness and gratitude filling her entire body like.

“We don’t remember our birth parents. After we leave the tower, we don’t get to see them again. The awakened are our family now.”

“And yet you want to run away from your family. Is there something else I should know about? If they were okay with you learning these types of attacks, we’d be teaching you outside the city walls. In any event, we’d be teaching more than you two.”

The dryad didn’t answer.

The group continued for a while longer until they reached a large chamber. There, the male dryad took all the torches and spread them out along the walls. The amount of light wasn’t much, but enough for an awakened to see everything.

“Seal the tunnel,” he told Dallion.

“Are you sure?” Dallion arched his brows. “You won’t be able to get out.”

“You have an idea where the cave is. You’ll be able to find it with a bit of effort and get here to get your map.”

“What about you? Your echoes won’t be able to tell you what you have learned.”

“We have our ways.” The dryad nodded in the direction of the entrance. “Block it up.”

With a sign Dallion turned around and did a line attack. It was a lot narrower than what he usually did, just enough to cut off some chunks from the entrance ceiling, creating the impression that the tunnel was blocked. He hoped that would be enough, but the dryad asked him to repeat the attack a few more times. Only then did he take out the remaining part of the map and hand it to Eury.

Wow, they really had it on them, Dallion thought.

You’re still too young to be this cynical, Nil said. I admit it’s a healthy way to live, but don’t take it too far.

It’s not by choice, Nil.

Dear boy, it’s never by choice.

The training was gradual, but fast. Eury took care of most of it, having Dallion assist with practical demonstrations. Even after being a teacher himself, he had to admit that the gorgon was far better in it, almost as if teaching was in her blood. The unfortunate thing was that Dallion knew firsthand how much Eury hated doing it. She had never given a reason, just brushed it away, saying that it wasn’t her thing. Judging by the speed at which all of her students learned things, Dallion disagreed.

“Be sure you’re committed before you try,” the gorgon said. “The first time is exhausting. It’s possible that you faint.”

“I won’t faint,” the dryad muttered.

“Then, go for it.”

Taking an audible breath, the male dryad adjusted his stance. Dallion could see all the mistakes he made when he first used the attack. Back then, he had expected the release of force to have a massive kick. Now he knew that there couldn’t be. Only a person familiar with the functioning of firearms would have such thoughts.

With a yell, the dryad slashed the air with his wooden sickle. Everyone leaned forward to see the line of destruction hit the opposing wall of the chamber. Sadly, one never materialized. Annoyed, the dryad tried again, then again. Each slash was weaker than the last, making it clear that the moment had gone.

“Stop,” Eury said.

“I can do it!” The dryad ignored her. “I just have to—”

“Stop!” she said sharply. This time, he opened. “It’s more than just strength. You need to be in the state of mind. What’s the level of your body trait at?”

“Seven.” The dryad looked away from her.

“Seven?” Dallion couldn’t believe his ears. Even common double-digit awakened had improved their traits beyond ten. There was no mistake that the dryads were in their thirties. “Why the heck do you have a seven?”

“Seven is a lot.” The female dryad came to her friend’s defense. “Most are at five.”

“This changes a few things.” Eury’s snakes stirred. “Your body needs to be close to twenty for you to manage that.”

“But you can still teach me?” the dryad asked in desperation.

“I’ve already taught you all there is to teach. Your own body won’t allow you to go through with the attack. What are your traits?”

As it turned out, the trait that the dryads predominantly improved was mind. It was the one needed to create echoes for hunting, thus regarded as the most important. Apparently, even getting an attack to seven had been done in secret. From a local point of view, the two dryads were twice as strong as capable as anyone else. In real terms, they were little more than children. That explained why they so much relied on projectile weapons—not because they were strong, but because they were weak. It was clear that the original plan of creating a society of the strong had backfired in the most spectacular way, though not without the help of the Star.

“You promised you’d teach us,” the dryad muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

“We’re not Moons. We can’t teach you beyond your limits.”

“Cursed Moons.” There was spite and hatred in the dryad’s voice.

“I can’t teach you line-attacks, but I can show you how to shatter rock,” Eury said. “Would that make up for it?”

Everyone, Dallion included, stared at her.

“You can do that?”

“It won’t be easy. Your body trait needs to be at ten to do it properly, but there’s a chance you can pull it off. It all depends on your will.”

“Teach us!”

“Alright. Just to warn you, you might break your hand if you fail at this. That means you’ll have to come up with a good explanation.”

The dryad said nothing.

“We know you aren’t echoes,” Dallion joined in. In truth, it was more of an educated guess than certainty. If Dallion was able to summon his kaleidervisto to this realm, there would be no doubt, but as things stood, he had to rely on deductive reasoning. The sudden blossoming of fear within both dryads confirmed his suspicions.

“So, do you want to go on with it?” the gorgon asked.

The male dryad hesitated.

“I will,” the female dryad said. “I’m a nine.” She glanced at her friend. “I’m a three at everything else, though. Everything except mind.”

“A nine is good. Come along.”

The ability wasn’t something Dallion knew, so he paid close attention as well. A few demonstrations were enough for him to grasp the concept, although the question why Eury hadn’t taught him this before lingered on.

The skill is useless for your way of fighting, Ariel said from Dallion’s realm. That’s why she didn’t teach you. You didn’t teach her advanced combat splitting, either.

Dallion knew that his echo was right, but still couldn’t get rid of the feeling. It wasn’t just that she hadn’t taught him a skill. Rather, it was the realization that even after so much time together, they remained two separate people. They continued to be close, but even when they were lovers, everyone kept things hidden from the other. Some would say that was a healthy thing, but maybe it was the reason that things could never fully work out between them.

“Now try it,” Eury said.

Standing in front of the blocked off tunnel entrance, the dryad punched the large rock in front of her. The moment her fist made contact with the hard surface, a spiderweb of cracks formed on it. The strength wasn’t enough to shatter it outright, but it was clearly visible that she was halfway there. Moments later the dryad’s arm fell down to her side.

“It’s okay,” Eury said. “Your arm will feel numb the first few times. Keep on practicing and you’ll get the hang of it. If you want to really do some damage, increase your body trait the next chance you get.”

The dryad nodded.

“Is that enough?” The gorgon turned to the male dryad.

He nodded.

“In that case, we’re done.” She went in front of the tunnel entrance and without warning did a point attack. The force released from her fist continued on, uncorking the tunnel with as little effort as if it was a wine bottle. “Good luck with whatever you’re planning to do. Let’s go, Dal.”

“Wait!” the female dryad shouted. “There’s something we haven’t told you.”

At those words, Dallion turned around. Euryale didn’t have to.

“One guardian remains,” the dryad went on. “The ruler says that most of them were killed, but that’s not true. After we are cast out of the tower for the first time, the older awakened take us on a trip. For two days, we walked through the forest until we reached a small grove that’s different from all the rest. Once there used to be a temple there, but now there’s nothing. The guardian, however, remains.”

A surprising turn of events, wouldn’t you say? Nil asked. Observing the development of world domains is really fascinating. The Academy tried to get their clutches on world items for years, but even they haven’t experienced a tenth of what you have. You should feel lucky, dear boy.

I should, should I? And yet, Dallion didn’t.

“He’s the one who helps us level up to the point that we can do so on our own.”

“And he’s not willing to teach you anything else?” Dallion asked.

“We asked him,” the male dryad replied. “But he keeps on saying that he doesn’t want to get involved with the world. Leveling up is all he lets us do. That and talk, but we were warned not to listen. He might be nice, but he’s still a Moon worshiper.”

That was an interesting view of things. In this realm, the Star was seen as good, so all Moon worshipers were viewed as dangerous cultists. It was an exact mirror image of the real world, something the Star would enjoy. Maybe that’s why he made it.

“Be careful when you see him. He’s dangerous and strong. Maybe stronger than you.”

“We’ll keep that in mind,” Dallion said. “Thanks.”

Then, he and Eury entered the tunnel. Similar to the dryads, they too were not echoes.