"Look who it is! The cockroach is skirting around the city again!" Said one of the younger gang members and the others snickers.

  Erik just kept quiet, he almost remained impassive, aside from his jaw tightening.

  Freya sighed. “You guys go ahead with the pn. I’ll catch up.”

  "You sure about that, Fee? Leaving ya with this one might be trouble."

  “I said I’ll catch up. Now go!” She said with slight annoyance.

  The gang members grumbled but made their way into the market. They didn't fet to throw Erik dirty looks and some even spat on the ground. Still, he kept his face expressionless as he watched them go.

  When it was just the two of them, he and Freya exged a gnce before heading toward a side street for a bit of privacy.

  When they were alone, both rexed a little and shared a hug.

  “I am sorry I couldn't stay to see you yesterday... what Grade Talent did you Awaken?” she asked, excitement brightening her expression.

  Seeing her rea, a bitter taste rose in Erik’s mouth.

  Yet, he also felt a bit touched that it hadn’t even crossed her mind that he might not Awaken a Talent.

  “That's alright," he said, then forced a smile and added, "I got a Promialent.”

  Erik roud of himself for keeping his turmoil hidden. Lying to her wasn’t easy, but it only strengthened his resolve. He his lie to eventually bee the truth.

  He’d thought about asking Freya for help as well, but things were even more plicated with her than with Taron, so he decided against it. For now, it was best to keep her in the dark and uake this alone.

  “Yes! I k!” She smiled radiantly and hugged him tightly.

  “What about you, Fee?” he asked, hoping to steer the versation away from himself.

  She frowned slightly, but then smirked and said proudly, “A Promialent as well.”

  “Wow! I’m so happy for you, Fee.” Despite his own situation, he couldn’t help but smile. They had grown up together, and sidering everything she had been through, she deserved something good. She deserved to be in trol of her life. Aing a Talent with a good Grade would definitely increase her ce to do so.

  There were Eight Grades: starting with Ordinary, then Unon, Refined, Promi, Great, Exceptional, Superior and finally Peerless. And if a person actually wao achieve something in their life they least a Refined one. With the true elites and those at the top having Promi reat ones.

  They didn't ask the specifics of their Talents as in normal circumsta would take eaew Rune Bearer, a while to get acquainted with it and actually know what they could do.

  “Thank you,” she replied with a somewhat forced smile.

  “Erik… let me speak with the others. It might be tough, but I’m sure they’ll e around.” She added this with a hopeful look in her eyes. They had already discussed this... but that was only if Erik had Awakened, as he had hoped.

  Bitterness crept back up in him.

  “No. I’ve thought about it, but they ’t have their faith in you shaken. They rely on you, and even more so now.” He said this firmly, sounding ving because he believed it, even if it wasn’t the main reason he refused.

  Freya opened her mouth a few times, wearing a troubled expression, but eventually, she said nothing. The sileretched between them for a moment.

  “It’s alright, Fee. Maybe one day we’ll tell them what happened, but it’s not the time yet.”

  “Ugh… I just wish they didn’t treat you like this. If they knew what you did for them… what you did for me…” she said bitterly, her voice was full of guilt.

  “It’s fi doesn’t bother me,” Erik said as lips pursed.

  She didn’t seem vinced but pyed along with it. “So, what now? Are you going straight to the Ulednar? Maybe we travel together?”

  “No, I’m joining the expluild first. I he training before I try for the Ulednar. I only have one shot at it. And I’d rather gh the guild, even if that means I’ll have no bag. At least I’ll keep my freedom," he said.

  Which was what he had decided on... if everything had gone well.

  Then his brain caught up with her st question, "wait... travel together? Where are you going?”

  “We’re pnning to head to the capital to try our luck. There’s a lot more opportunity there than here.”

  “Oh…” They both realized they would likely part ways for a long time.

  “When are you leaving?”

  “There's a caravan that will be arriving iy soon and it will leave in a fht. We will go with them. I was actually going to see you tonight and ask if you wao join us.”

  “Right…”

  "That reminds me. Word has reached me that a noble s from one of the major s has e to the city. Make sure you stay clear of him, you know how they are..." Freya said.

  The imagine of the one Erik entered fshed through his mind.

  A noble s? So he isn't a Rune Bearer, yet.

  "By any ce is it the with a blue crest with a snow fox?"

  "Yes, why? Have you already gotten in trouble with them?" Her voice raised slightly in arm.

  "N-no! Just caught a glimpse of them iy."

  "Oh, alright... my tacts told me that the s is on some sort of mission that has to do with a Whisper in the area. They scoured the expluild and the library apparently looking for any information about it and also anything to do with the founder of Skulheim."

  "Do you know why they were looking into it?"

  "No idea..." Freya shook her head.

  I should probably ask her about Awakenings inside Whispers? She is the person I know that knows the most about them.

  "Maybe he is looking to enter one for a Talent?"

  "Are you mog me? You never believe in those legends before."

  She then pyfully punched him on the shoulder.

  "No-no I would never! But it is strahat a s will e all the way here looking for some Whisper, maybe there is some truth to it. Have you e across anything about how it happens?"

  Freya seemed a little skeptical about his sudden ge of mind, but answered heless.

  "Hmm... I never mao find out what triggers the process and many of the details are obscure." She said with a frown, but then ahusiastic spark das way into her eyes.

  "However all the ats say that it begins immediately upory. Then there is period where the Talent runes gather essend slowly take full form. But to plete the process a person has to actually leave the Whisper." She pursed her lips and her face became thoughtful. "Aside from this I couldn't find anything else about what happens. The rest just seems like plete hearsay."

  I hope it's not an issue that I am doing it alone. If it's the entry point of a Whisper, it should be safe.

  "Maybe the noble knows more about it, but it still seems crazy to me. Why would anyone do it?" he said, trying to mask his newfound curiosity.

  She rolled her eyes, "I told you before. This is the way to Awaken the best Talents."

  "Then maybe you should have attempted it," Erik joked with her.

  "Y-yeah..." Freya shifted unfortably.

  Then an awkward sileretched oween them.

  She sighed, then added with a smile, “Well, I know you, and I know you won’t stay here for long. So when you make it to the capital, promise me you’ll e find me before you get into trouble.”

  “Of course. Don’t get into trouble, Fee.”

  She ughed. “’t make that promise.”

  She looked like she wao say more but hesitated.

  Erik wasn’t sure what it was, but he told himself that if he survived, he would ask her about it. For now, he had to go—he o get some rest because tomorrow would be a long day.

  “I have to go. I still haven’t seen the old man, and I promised to give him the good news as soon as I could,” he said, making up a fake reason to leave, already feeling pressed for time.

  “Sure, take care, Erik.”

  “You too, Fee.”

  They hugged once more before parting ways.

  Although he wasn't pnning on it, surprisingly Erik was gd that he saw Freya. This might have been his st time to do so...

  He headed straight home to pack the rest of his provisions and anything else he might need. By the time he fihe sun had set. His headache had been intensifying throughout the day, but rushing in the middle of the night was not a good idea. He decided he would ehe Whisper first thing in the m.

  Si was still early, he decided to actually visit old man Dvalin, and made his way to his house in the graveyard. A gentle night breeze cooled his skin, and moonlight illuminated his path as he wove between the graves along the familiar route.

  Erik arrived at a log that looked as though it might fall apart any day, yet it had far more runes on it than any other building iy, maybe just as many as the expluild. And inse burners hung from every support beam of the roof.

  The young man always thought it had more character than any other pce. It also gave him a sense of security. The old man had takeensive measures to keep his pce safe.

  Erik knocked on the door, and waited quite a while before Dvalin finally appeared. He was taken aback by how tired and disheveled the old man looked, even more so than usual. His long grey beard and hair were u, dark circles hung under his eyes, and his clothes were dirty, carrying a noticeable smell.

  “Hey, old man. I came by to che you a you know that I got a Promialent… are you alright?”

  Dvalin stared at Erik, as if trying to pierce his very soul. He looked both very surprised and oddly angry?

  Probably annoyed I didn’t e by yesterday, Erik thought.

  “Yes, my boy… all good. gratutions.” The old man's voice was calm, he paused before adding, “Do you want to e in?”

  “Thank you, but I 't tonight… I’m actually really tired, and I have a lot of training to start with tomorrow. I am going to be spending the few days in the guild.”

  Siletled between them, stretg a bit lohan usual. It made Erik unfortable for some reason. But he assumed the fault y with him, and that his ordeals had put him on edge.

  I hope he doesn't notice...

  The old man just stared at Erik, as if wrestling with some decision. This unnerved him even more, since he’d never seen Dvalin in such a state. Although the old man was usually etric, this was a bit much even for him.

  “Are you sure everything is alright?” Erik asked again.

  Dvalin waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t overwork yourself. That would be a rookie mistake... are you sure you don’t want to e in? I made loa bird stew.”

  Erik felt his vulture rune pulse slightly, and pulled his sleeve down. “No, thank you. But I’ll e back the first ce I get.”

  The old man's expression then eased and bee impassive, "alright... make sure that you do. Don't fet me d."

  Turning to leave, Erik waved goodbye, his steps a little hurried. Dvalin stood in the doorway, watg until the young man was out of sight.

  The trip back to the was quick.

  As soon as Erik crossed the threshold of his own doorway, he fell to his knees, overtaken by an intense headache apanied by a stabbing pain in his chest. Then a ringing in his ears making him pletely oblivious to his surroundings. It was as if someone had spped him over the ears.

  By the time it subsided, he was wheezing hard, and sweat dripped into his eyes. Even as the pain dulled, it remairohan before.

  I’m running out of time.

  His sense ency grew, but he hesitated, a small part of him feeliant as to what he had to do tomorrow. Despite his exhaustion and desperation to ehe Whisper, a part of him g to the day. He didn't want it to end. Dreading the moment he’d actually have to do embark on this endeavor.

  Sighing, he looked up and saw that he had subsciously materialized the little vulture. It erched on the headboard of his bed, watg him. It cawed quietly, as if encing him.

  He had avoided his parent's figurines because he did not want to face them yet. Not without a Talent. So he focused entirely on his bed.

  With effort, Erik crawled to it and colpsed, falling into a dreamless sleep with his cloths on.