Chapter 117
Chapter 117: Star Haven
Calix dreamed.
An endless darkness stretched before him. A space where no heartbeat or breath could be felt. He drifted through the void, surrendering himself to the flow of the vision.
Rumble.
A torrent of ashen waves surged violently around him. The particles gathered to form specific shapes, and through the gaps, a multitude of sounds came flooding in.
Sobbing cries, resigned sighs, the murmuring of a crowd. Then, without warning, the silhouette of a woman flickered before his eyes. Her blood-soaked robes billowed as she slowly crumpled to the ground.
What followed was a man's grief-stricken, anguished scream.
AAAAAAHHHHH!!
Calix shared in the other's emotions. A stinging pain spread through his fingertips, and a cold blade scraped against stone. He cut down knights and soldiers—every living thing in his path. Banners broke and snapped, and in the end, nothing remained by his side.
At the end of it all, the man became one with the darkness.
It was then.
[Calix.]
Without form, like a shadow—a low, cold whisper seeped into him.
It was the Draug.
[I have witnessed a human in the same circumstances as yourself. What became of that one in the end?]
True to its nature as a beast that commands nightmares, it had burrowed into Calix's dream.
[You are no different. You will corrupt, fall, and sink at last into shadow. You cannot linger forever between light and darkness.]
As the voice trailed off, 'his own death' unfolded before his eyes.
A jet-black blade pierced through his heart. Blood surged forth, and his core collapsed. Strength drained from his limbs and all sensation vanished.
Even so, the young man did not fall. Instead, he slowly raised both hands and gripped the sword that had run him through.
In the next moment, he wore a smile unlike any he had ever shown before. His expression was eerily serene.
The Draug's presence wavered ever so slightly.
[You…… why aren't you afraid? What you carry within you is chaos. It is the seed of conflict—a force that invites ruin.]
It was a question Calix could not answer himself. The unidentifiable emotion left behind only a faint yet distinct warmth.
But if there was one thing he knew for certain—
"Maybe so. But the possibility still lives within me. Which way it will go—nothing has been decided yet."
In that instant, the ashen world collapsed. Every silhouette receded, and the sensations that had weighed down his body began to unravel.
As the dream withdrew, only a long, lingering impression remained.
It was time to return to reality.
* * *
Calix's consciousness slowly returned. The first thing he perceived was a strange sensation in his chest. Light and darkness swirled and circled around the chaos energy at his core. They churned without fully merging or separating—two polar forces writhing as though each sought to devour the other.
One after another, as if demanding to know why he had only just woken—the Neural Accelerator's alert tones rang in his ears.
[Warning: Core is unstable.]
[Diagnosing…… Neural circuit reconstruction, 95% complete.]
[Internal mana pathway regeneration, 84% complete.]
A brief vibration spread through his entire body. Though he had not fully recovered, he soon became aware that his physical form had risen several levels.
The same sweeping transformation he had experienced in the mana stone mine.
His bones still ached, and pain radiated from various points along his arms and legs—but this was not a warning signal. It was a precursor to adaptation.
'This…… Is because the mana in my core has changed. I have to learn to command this power fully.'
And then, his eyes opened.
"……Calix? Calix!"
A familiar face filled his vision. Volga hurled himself forward with the frantic energy of a starved stray dog that had spotted a slab of meat.
"You idiot! You were seriously about to die this time! Do you remember anything from before? I heard you went flying like a goat had rammed into you! Are you okay now?"
"……"
"Huh? Why aren't you saying anything! Answer me, I said answer me!"
At the cry laced with near-screaming, the Mountain Rabbits began filing into the tent one by one.
Calix hunched his shoulders and forced a tired smile. The exaggerated fussing, oddly enough, breathed reality back into him. The Mountain Rabbits had survived.
That was what mattered.
More than anything, he felt a profound wave of relief at being able to see one man's face again.
"Calix."
"……Vice-captain."
Marik approached slowly, his entire body wrapped in bandages. He could barely move, yet his eyes were clearer and deeper than ever.
"We won, but it was a reckless fight. There is no shortage of things we must reflect on."
The two exchanged words in their own particular way.
"Me, or you?"
For a brief moment, a smile passed between them. By then, Ella had already launched into a scolding about how he needed more rest, and Gregor was pressed against the bedside, groaning away.
"Cook comrade, they say the plains are frozen solid. Apparently fruit and grain are none too easy to come by."
"The food must have been dreadful."
"That it was! That's exactly why I've been keeping my eyes peeled, waiting for the moment you'd wake up!"
The space that had been filled with nothing but silence transformed all at once into the most lively place imaginable. Zahira, Hadiya, and the others swapped jokes about Calix's condition back and forth.
But only for a moment.
"Actually, while you were fighting Midra, we were half-dead ourselves. We couldn't just stand around outside with our hands folded, could we? So we led the cavalry in a charge, and this thing—even bigger than a proper castle wall—…… ah, why?!"
"Quiet. He needs more rest."
Volga had been launching into a dramatic account of his battle exploits when Basim's iron grip caught him and dragged him out. Marik personally coaxed Gregor as well, guiding him outside.
"Do we really have to leave already?"
"You've only just come to. Give yourself a few more days."
Under the gentle persuasion, the old man who had lost his memories instinctively looked up at Marik's face. His skin had hardened and sealed over as though burned.
"Very well, I suppose I have no choice…… oh, Mother?"
"……"
The Mountain Rabbits acted as though they had heard nothing and hastily excused themselves. Calix had simply not known, but Gregor's moments of confusion were nothing new.
***
For the three days that followed, Calix spent his time looking inward.
His physical indicators rose across the board, and his bone density—the measure of skeletal strength—hit 99%. He wanted to test his acceleration ability, but held back, as his neural network and mana circuits had yet to finish recovering.
Yet one thing was certain.
'The Core has expanded to an extreme degree.'
This meant a change in his Bloodline Ability.
[Bloodline Ability: Ranita's Heart / Source of Mana [100%]]
[Sub-attributes — Divinity 52%, Darkness 71%, Chaos 8%]
The Neural Accelerator reported precise figures, but his senses perceived a far more complex oscillation than any number could convey.
The flow of divinity had grown clearer than ever before, while darkness had taken deep, fierce root. Chaos was still faint, but it asserted its presence with unmistakable certainty.
'What is the right path?'
Calix recalled the scene he had witnessed in the dream. The Draug had told him he carried a force that would invite ruin.
Perhaps it was true. Chaos was inherently unstable—it held the potential to spiral out of control at any moment.
Which direction to go, and how—the answer remained unclear.
'Yet I am already moving forward.'
Not something gained by following, but something gained along the way. Calix understood, with perfect clarity, that small yet enormous difference.
For now, that was enough.
In that moment, a familiar voice drifted in from outside the tent.
"Calix, may I come in?"
"Yes."
Commander Royce pulled back the flap and stepped inside. Behind him followed the commanders of the Alliance Forces as well—Barakh of Kalahim, and Serylion Belrnar of Viale.
When Calix moved to rise from his place, they waved their hands to stop him.
"Do not strain yourself, Kagracha."
"Your color has improved considerably."
After a brief exchange of greetings, the main subject was raised at once. Now that his condition had improved, it was time to begin discussing the political situation across the continent in earnest.
A short nod from him, and those who had been waiting outside filed in. The Elder of the Desert, Airien along with the Mountain Rabbits, and lastly Master Belmar Robertis took his place quietly.
Royce was the first to speak.
"According to reconnaissance, the monsters near the capital have retreated far to the east. The cold has eased as well, as if none of it had ever happened—but a problem has arisen with food procurement. The number of survivors within the inner walls is not small. There was plenty of wine and jewels in the storehouses, but grain was short."
Barakh added his thoughts with an exceptionally frank manner.
"Proof that the Astria noble trash threw every manner of tantrum imaginable."
"……Has it been resolved?"
"For now, we divided a portion of our own supplies. The western supply route hasn't been severed, so it was possible."
Calix nodded quietly. While he had remained unconscious, the Mountain Rabbits and the Alliance Forces had held firm behind him.
Soon after, the elf Serylion shared good news.
"Viale and Kalahim's main forces will be departing from the west shortly. Twenty thousand at the very least. We've essentially been given time to regroup."
"That's fortunate."
It was precisely at this point that they wished to hear Calix's thoughts. Barakh of Kalahim took hold of the initiative on everyone's behalf. He cleared his throat once before opening his mouth.
"So, here is what I think…… I believe we must enter the capital."
"By capital, you mean Star Haven?"
"Correct."
Calix could not easily understand.
"Don't we already control this area?"
"That we do—but not completely. There is someone holed up inside the inner walls."
"……?"
"I'm speaking of Duke Saitz."
Rather than answer too quickly, the young man studied the expressions of those seated around him. Not a trace of alarm or resistance could be found on any face.
Some of it made sense. Kalahim had always looked down upon the Astria Kingdom, and the Mountain Rabbits had been entangled with the man in bad blood long before any of this.
However, the fact that Serylion Belrnar had agreed was genuinely puzzling.
'Does Viale also have something against Duke Saitz?'
The man in question answered for himself.
"Nine legions of wicked forces are converging from different directions. Thanks to you, we defeated one—yet we lost nearly half our forces."
"……Is there any word from the other fronts?"
"There is. But hearing it is as good as not having heard it at all. As ever—pushed back, defeated, scrambling to retreat. Resistance has begun, yet nothing has been brought to an end."
A silence lingered for a time, and then Royce brought it to a close with an impassive expression—not a trace of emotion to be found on his face.
"Calix—that is precisely why we must establish a clear chain of command. We can no longer afford to move while watching the Duke Saitz or the Astrian royal family for their reactions."
"……"
"Given the geographic importance of the Astria Kingdom at the heart of the continent, that is all the more reason. We must enter the capital—there is no other way."
The leader of the Mountain Rabbits, the warrior of the desert, and the elf of the Viale mountain range all pointed in the same direction, as if they had never quarreled. They looked to Calix with burning eyes, seeking his sanction.
Yet even though he understood the necessity, he paused for a moment.
He had not forgotten the presence of Belmar Robertis, Master of Latia. Speaking plainly, this victory had been made possible by his arrival.
'It would be a problem if this ended up looking as though we were taking credit for his work.'
Having never exchanged words with the man directly, he could not reach a hasty decision. Just then, Belmar himself stepped forward.
"I agree. You must claim the victor's due—not for your own sake, but for the sake of those who fight alongside you."
In a low, resonant voice, he pressed Calix toward a decision.
"Without honor and glory, how will you push through all the hardships yet to come?"
He offered both justification and instruction in a single breath. The longer the hesitation stretched, the more uneasy everyone became. Calix decided to accept the role he had been given.
As it had always been—he would stand at the front.
* * *
Along the broad road connecting the outer and inner walls, a crowd had packed itself into the bitter morning air. Children and elders, even those clearly marked by illness—all had been called out.
A festival wrung from them by force. Not a single person had come of their own accord.
Closer to the inner walls, only the lesser nobility milled about. They exchanged glances and whispered in low voices.
"This much hospitality is surely sufficient."
"Quite right—to ask for more would be shameless. What is there to gain?"
The baskets the commoners held were filled with withered, dried petals and small scraps of cloth torn into pieces. That was the most they had been able to scrape together to scatter along the road.
Creak.
The city gates opened. From close by, mechanical cheers rang out. Joy without sincerity—half-hearted congratulations.
"Tori, get ready. When Mama says so…… throw it up, alright?"
A six-year-old child named Tori sat perched on his father's shoulders, taking it all in. But for some reason, the deafening clamor fell silent almost immediately.
Further ahead, the adults who had been forcing out sounds closed their mouths.
'When can I throw it? I want to throw it already.'
Tori reached into the basket his mother was holding. But not a single person scattered any petals.
It was strange.
And then, the procession that had been far in the distance drew near.
All at once, tens of thousands fell silent. A perfect stillness—the kind where even a single needle dropping to the ground would have rung out. Only the sound of hoofbeats from the figure at the lead echoed through the air.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
The sight was, without question, far removed from anything the child had imagined. The young man possessed fine features—yet he wore no gleaming armor fit for a storybook hero. Instead, his gear had been patched and cobbled together from broken pieces, and through the gaps, bandages were wound.
"Mama, can I throw it now?"
No answer came. Every adult was staring in one direction alone. Those who walked with a limp, those who had lost eyes and ears, even soldiers missing a hand at the wrist from frostbite. Their faces were different, but dented armor, faded clothing, and bandaged wounds were the same across all of them.
Even two months of time had not been enough to fully erase the marks of battle.
"Mountain Rabbits—it's the Mountain Rabbits!"
Tori called out with all his might, but nothing changed.
Basim the dwarf had broken fingers and a dislocated shoulder joint, his entire left arm bound in place. Zahira bore a deep gash along her right side. Hadiya had been stabbed in the calf by one of the Corrupted.
"What is…… that?"
This time, it was the adults who were the ones asking.
They had caught sight of Vice-captain Marik's burn scars—dozens of lines branching outward across his skin. The right sleeve of Adrian Deconti, Prince of Latia—who had fought desperately to protect them—fluttered in the wind.
Then, all eyes returned to the very front. Atop his warhorse Lunos, the young man rode forward with a composed expression. He neither demanded cheers nor betrayed a hint of displeasure.
All that could be felt was an exhaustion he had not quite managed to hide, and a serenity that was hard to place.
"That is Calix."
"The one who…… came to save us."
Each time he passed, children and women startled and clutched at their petals—yet none dared to throw them.
Something was wrong.
These people deserved better than this.
"……Oh?"
The child who had been riding on his father's shoulders was set down onto the ground. The basket filled with petals and scraps of cloth came down with him.
Tori watched as his father lowered himself to the ground. The child looked around uncertainly, then crouched down beside his parents. That single act spread outward like a wave.
No joy, no applause. No false petals, no forced smiles. They simply followed those who had gone before—pressing themselves to the stone ground to offer their reverence and gratitude.
Quiet, yet absolute praise.
In the silence, the prayers of those who had been delivered continued. The city was filled with nobles—yet there was only one who was truly worthy.
Because Calix was not their master, he was raised to an even greater height.
Star Haven—the place called 'the resting place of the stars'.
Moonlight descended upon it.