Chapter 67: Sanctuary
A few hours passed before exhaustion finally claimed the frontier. The barracks gradually fell quiet as everyone surrendered to sleep. After everything they had endured, even the uncomfortable beds felt luxurious. Ethan and Adrian found Davis and Miller inside the barracks, and before long the four had fallen into the familiar rhythm of comparing what they had accomplished since their last meeting.
"So," Ethan said, leaning back against the wall, "how far did everyone get?"
Miller immediately raised a hand. "I mastered Sage Breathing."
Ethan looked at him. "That's it?"
Miller's face brightened. "That's a big deal."
"It is," Adrian smiled. "When did you manage that?"
"Yesterday," Miller sat a little straighter. "It was the first night I managed to keep Sage Breathing active while sleeping. I woke up and realized I'd been doing it the entire night."
Davis nodded approvingly. "That's good progress."
"What about you?" Adrian asked.
Davis sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sage Guidance."
"Mastered?"
"Not exactly. I can make it work, just not consistently."
Ethan nodded. "I guess I would've still been there if I hadn't copied Leon."
Davis rolled his eyes. "Of course."
Ethan grinned. "I have a talent for stealing good ideas."
Adrian laughed. "So Maya and I finally caught up to you. We have both mastered Sage Guidance and filled our meridians once now."
Davis looked surprised. "Already?"
"Yeah. The journey helped." Adrian glanced toward the beds. "We didn't practice Sage Eyes much yet. We were too exhausted, and neither of us has really had the chance to practice it properly."
Miller looked toward Ethan. "What about you?"
"I'm stuck," Ethan sighed. "Sage Eyes isn't cooperating."
Davis laughed quietly. "Someone can't do much without Leon."
"Give me a little more time," Ethan folded his arms. "I'll get there."
The conversation continued for a while as they compared their progress, exchanged observations, and discussed what they had learned from the journey. For all the differences between them, the four were now moving along the same path. Maya and Adrian had filled their meridians for the first time, mastering Sage Guidance and beginning work toward Sage Eyes. Ethan had reached the same point after having a head start. Davis was struggling to stabilize Sage Guidance, while Miller had finally mastered Sage Breathing and was attempting Sage Guidance for the first time. The journey had accomplished the fake goal Leon had used as an excuse; they were progressing faster.
Eventually, one by one, everyone went to sleep. Everyone except Maya. She tossed beneath the blanket, then turned onto her other side, then back again. Her body was exhausted, but her mind refused to cooperate. After several more minutes, Maya sat up and went to the men's sleeping area. Ethan was asleep, Adrian was asleep, Davis and Miller were asleep, but Leon was nowhere to be seen.
Maya stared at the empty space for a moment. "Of course."
She got up, walked over to Ethan, and shook his shoulder. "Ethan."
He groaned. "What?"
"Where's Leon?"
Ethan barely opened his eyes. "Library."
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"Thanks." She left.
---
The frontier library was still illuminated. Maya stepped through the entrance and stopped. Leon sat at one of the long wooden tables surrounded by books, flipping through them at a ridiculous speed. One page, another, another—his fingers moved so quickly that Maya couldn't believe it.
She stared. "Is he reading a picture book?"
Maya squinted. "I would take longer if I wanted to flip through pictures."
Then she noticed his eyes: Sage Eyes. A faint talisman formation had also been laid across the floor beneath the table. Maya looked between the formation and Leon. "So that's how."
She didn't bother asking. She simply walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat beside him. Without saying another word, she lowered her head onto the table.
Leon continued reading, page after page. His eyes scanned the text with impossible speed, barely spending more than a second on each page. Every so often, however, he stopped, his expression changing with sudden surprise, concentration, or genuine interest.
"Wow." Several pages later. "Hmm." Another book. "That's useful."
Maya barely noticed anymore; she fell asleep. The night passed.
---
When Maya opened her eyes again, something was wrong. She lifted her head and stared. The library looked like a hurricane had passed through it. Books were scattered across the floor in heaps, several piles covered the tables, and others had been stacked against shelves.
Leon was sitting on the ground with his back against one of the bookshelves, his hair completely disheveled. He looked like he hadn't moved from that position in hours.
Maya slowly looked around. "What happened?"
Leon glanced at her. "You're awake."
"What did you do?"
"Read."
Maya looked at the mountains of books surrounding them. "You call this reading?"
Leon ignored the question. "Go get the others."
Maya frowned. "Why?"
"We have a lot to discuss."
She stared at him for another moment before standing. "You're insane."
"I know."
Maya left to find the others, and Leon began looking through another book.
A few minutes later, the Soul Observer entered the library and stopped dead, his eyes widening. "What have you done?"
Leon looked up. The Soul Observer stared at the scattered books. "This library is my sanctuary—"
"You are exactly who I needed." Leon stood. "Everyone seems to have a different opinion on the Night Guest. It's documented in the official records of this kingdom as a curse from heaven. Yet another print from the Empire documents it as a fate mechanism to correct the world." He looked toward another section. "Other time periods and kingdoms each have their own official statements too."
The Soul Observer remained silent.
"The problem is that I can't even read too deeply around the topic," Leon pointed toward the relevant aisle. "The section about the Night Guest isn't actually books about the Night Guest. It's books that mention it in any way or form in passing. I'm interested in what you think the Night Guest is."
The Soul Observer slowly looked toward the lights illuminating the library, his expression becoming wary. "Don't ask."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"It listens," the Soul Observer lowered his voice. "Just stay in well-lit places and don't cut your life short." He looked directly at Leon. "Those who don't fear the night and try to investigate it sever their fate."
Leon considered his words. "Actually, I believe there is one book that is about the Night Guest."
The Soul Observer's eyes narrowed.
"The only one in the library," Leon continued. "It's titled *Fear the Night Guest*."
The Soul Observer said nothing.
"I looked at the registry. This book should be here, but it's not," Leon smiled faintly, pointing toward the man. "I made a divination and I discovered you hid it."
The Soul Observer's expression tightened. Leon held his gaze. "I want to see that book."
The Soul Observer stared at him for several seconds, then he shook his head. "Tell the commander of the frontier, then. I will give you the book if she orders me to." He glanced back, walking toward the exit. "I have no reason to listen to your words. I'll leave now." He pointed at the books scattered across the floor. "Clean your mess." Then he left.
Leon stared at the doorway. "Interesting." He sighed, then he crouched down and began picking up the books.
---
The stone-skinned challengers finally saw the frontier.
After days of fighting through the Frost Expanse, the sight of its massive walls nearly brought relief to the exhausted group. Their stone-like armor was cracked, several carried deep wounds that had yet to fully heal, and their mounts stumbled beneath them with every step.
They had followed the relatively safer route Lyra had carved through the wilderness, but even that path had been anything but safe. The beasts along the way had been relentless, drawn by the strange changes in the zone.
One of the challengers stared at the distant walls, squinting through the red haze. "We made it."
Another looked behind them at the crimson wasteland, checking the horizon for any trailing anomalies. "Don't celebrate yet."
The group continued forward. They were battered, injured, and barely holding together, but the frontier was finally within reach. And somewhere ahead, the people who had created that path were already waiting inside.
---
By the time Maya returned, Leon was already putting the last few books back onto their shelves. Ethan, Adrian, Davis, and Miller followed her into the library, and Lyra came with them.
Leon looked up. "I didn't mean you too."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"I was going to tell them basic facts about this world, which you probably already know."
"It's fine."
Leon nodded. "Okay."
He looked at the group, his expression completely level as he leveled his gaze across the tables. "So I figured out a lot of stuff." He paused, letting his words anchor in the quiet room. "The most interesting thing for you would be the fact that I know how to return to Earth."