Consciousness returned to Ennet in waves, each bringing fragments of memory—the Tree Beast's attack, his mangled arm, Luma's transformation. His eyes fluttered open to a scene of devastation. Where the Tree Beast once stood, only blackened splinters remained, scattered across a clearing that hadn't existed before. The air felt heavy with residual karma, making each breath laborious.

  Through blurred vision, Ennet spotted Luma sitting motionless several yards away, back turned, the crimson robe now faded to nothing. The scythe was nowhere to be seen. Luma's shoulders rose and fell with each labored breath, his head bowed as if carrying an invisible weight.

  "Luma?" Ennet's voice emerged as a rasp. Pain shot through his chest—the bruised lung making itself known.

  Luma flinched at the sound but didn't turn. "Have you seen it?"

  Ennet, just by the question, knew that Luma wanted to keep it a secret, but his curiosity demanded answers. "Yes, but just a glimpse of it."

  When Luma finally turned to face Ennet, the transformation was shocking in its mundanity. Gone was the blood-soaked figure wielding death with casual ease. In its place sat a boy who looked utterly drained—skin ashen, eyes sunken, hands trembling slightly as he clutched the dagger now returned to its ordinary form.

  "Are you..." Ennet paused, unsure which question to ask first. "What was that?"

  "The 13th Chapter," Luma replied, his voice hollow. "One of many, a struggle to use." He attempted to stand but stumbled, catching himself against a tree trunk. "It takes more than it gives, requiring a huge amount of karmic energy."

  "So, is it like an ART... the 13th Chapter?" Ennet asked.

  "But how can you utilize such manifestation when I could not even sense any room from you?" Luma just stood in silence, tired and covered with pain, he just wanted to rest.

  It is known that to use karma you need a room and a conduit. Karma flows through a being's conduit and is stored within a room, located at the center of the body. Contrary to the belief that room is equivalent to the soul, a room is the combination of both a being's soul and the internalized karma.

  Being able to create a conduit and absorb external karma and turn it into internalized karma is just the beginning and it's called the Foundation/Foundation Phase.

  It does not mean that when a person has internalized karma, they can instantly create a room. The Introduction/Introductory Phase is the second part where the karma is introduced into the soul and is trained and tempered over time to create a room. Often times this phase forms a person's attributes.

  The third part is the Manifestation. When a person has now controlled and managed to combine the soul and the internalized Karma, meaning the person has now created a Room. A second formation during Manifestation is where a person's attribute, training, nature of karma, and life creates a core within the room called istoria. Istoria is the person's core identity, and this identity is what defines what ART they can create or bring out. An Istoria can be a person's past, present or even future, defined by their nature of fate and stories. An example of an Istoria is Ennet's Art of Weapon Transformation, turning his umbrella into a flower spear.

  But Luma is different based on Ennet's past observation. The reason is that he does not have any room—it is not there, so basically he's still in the Introduction. But what Ennet saw was not something that a person in the introductory phase can manifest; it is even greater, akin to a Finalization.

  As Ennet worked to bandage his own arm with strips torn from his undershirt, he studied Luma with new wariness. The boy who had seemed merely unusual now revealed himself as something else entirely.

  Ennet continued to ask, unable to manage his fervent curiosities. His what, why, and how echoed through the forest; even the soil heard every word he had said.

  A moment of pause caused the silence between them to stretch, filled with unasked questions and withheld truths. Finally, Luma sighed.

  "What I did there is the same as what you call ART. But instead of Art, it is called chapters. What I did there was borrow a chapter from a book containing different chapters. Every time I borrow a certain chapter, for example the 13th chapter what I used earlier, I can utilize other lower chapters. The Chapters of this book have different forms but their nature is the same: hemokinesis." He glanced at the dagger at his hip. "I was taught to use them only when necessary, because I still need to increase my karmic capacity. The 13th requires a large amount of Karma, at least 30,000."

  "Huh," Ennet was stunned by what Luma said.

  "What do you mean by 30,000 karmic energy... but based on your Karmic output you should only be able to handle 8,000 karmic energy."

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  "That means... Abstraction... for you to use it."

  Luma just nodded.

  Ennet wanted to press further, but the pallor of Luma's skin and the way he swayed slightly warned against it. Whatever power he had channeled had taken a severe toll. For now, survival needed to take precedence over curiosity.

  "We need to leave this forest," Ennet said finally. "Can you walk?"

  They had barely covered half a mile when Ennet sensed it—a disturbance in the forest's karma flow, moving with purpose toward them. He signaled Luma to stop, cursing his injured arm that made his Art difficult to wield.

  "Something's coming," he whispered. "Multiple presences."

  Luma tensed. "Corrupted?"

  "No," Ennet replied.

  They emerged from the jade-green foliage like shadows taking form—three figures in deep green robes trimmed with gold, their faces partially obscured by hoods. Each carried a staff topped with a small jade carving. Forest Guardians—the protectors who served the divine being of Parea.

  The central figure stepped forward, lowering her hood to reveal a stern face marked with intricate tattoos that followed her karma pathways.

  "The forest speaks of blood and death," she said, her voice carrying the weight of authority. "A Tree Beast destroyed, and karma unleashed in quantities that disturbed the divine one's sleep." Her gaze shifted between them, lingering on Luma. "Explain yourselves, travelers."

  Ennet stepped forward despite his injuries. "We were attacked. We defended ourselves."

  The guardian's eyes narrowed. "The forest tells a different story. It speaks of a dark ancient karma awakened, of words spoken that should remain silent." Her attention fixed fully on Luma now.

  A flicker of disbelief crossed the guardian's face. "The divine one demands an audience with the wielder of the crimson karma."

  "That's not possible," Luma said, his voice suddenly stronger. "We have urgent business in Ver."

  The guardian's expression hardened. "It wasn't a request."

  Ennet moved closer to Luma, his good hand resting on his umbrella. "My companion is injured, as am I. Whatever your divine one wishes to discuss can wait until we've received proper care."

  For a tense moment, conflict seemed inevitable. Then the guardian tilted her head, as if listening to an unheard voice. Her expression shifted subtly.

  "The divine one offers healing in exchange for truth," she said finally. "A fair exchange, wouldn't you agree?"

  Before Ennet could protest, Luma stepped forward. "I'll speak with your divine one, but my friend comes with me. And we continue to Ver afterward."

  The guardian studied him, then nodded once. "Follow us."

  As they were led deeper into the forest, Ennet leaned close to Luma. "Are you sure about this?"

  "And if it's a trap?"

  A ghost of a smile touched Luma's lips—it was not confidence nor senseless bravery.

  The guardians led them to a small clearing where crystalline water bubbled from a natural spring. The tallest trees Ennet had ever seen surrounded the area, their jade leaves forming a cathedral-like canopy above. The air hummed with concentrated karma.

  "Drink," the female guardian instructed. "The divine one's blessing flows through these waters."

  Ennet hesitated, but Luma moved forward without fear, cupping his hands in the spring. As he drank, color returned to his face, the exhaustion lifting visibly. After a moment's hesitation, Ennet followed suit. The water tasted of nothing and everything at once, and he felt his injuries begin to mend almost immediately.

  "The divine one will speak through me," the guardian announced, closing her eyes. When they reopened, they glowed with inner light. Her voice changed, becoming layered with multiple tones.

  "You carry dangerous power, child of the *****," the divine voice said through the guardian.

  "Remember child, intent matters less than consequence." The glowing eyes studied him. "The Books you access were sealed for good reason. Their Stories reshape reality at too great a cost."

  Ennet watched Luma carefully, noting how still he had become.

  "You know about the Books," Luma said softly.

  "As I can see through you, yes."

  The guardian's head tilted. "You seek your parent in Ver, while your companion seeks his mentor. Both journeys intertwine with greater purposes than you understand."

  Luma and Ennet exchanged surprised glances.

  "We will permit your passage," the divine voice continued. "But heed this warning: the Stories you carry draw attention from forces beyond this forest. Forces that would use you as a weapon." The glowing eyes dimmed slightly. "Choose your Stories carefully, Old One. Some endings cannot be rewritten."

  With those words, the light faded from the guardian's eyes, and she swayed momentarily before regaining her composure.

  "The divine one has spoken," she said in her normal voice. "You will be escorted to the forest's edge. From there, the path to Ver is clear."

  As dusk fell, Luma and Ennet stood at the edge of the Jade Forest, looking out over rolling hills that eventually gave way to distant city lights—the outskirts of Ver. Behind them, the forest guardians had already melted back into the trees, their duty fulfilled.

  "You didn't tell me everything about these Stories," Ennet said, testing his healed arm. "Or about who you really are."

  Luma gazed toward the distant city. "No. And you haven't told me everything about why you're seeking your mentor so desperately." He turned to Ennet. "We all have our secrets."

  Ennet couldn't argue with that. "The divine one knew our purposes."

  "And warned us about forces beyond the forest." Luma's hand drifted to the dagger at his hip. "I think we'll find more than we're looking for in Ver."

  As they began walking toward the city lights, Ennet studied his companion with new eyes. The boy who had seemed like an ordinary, if determined, traveler now represented a mystery as deep as any he'd encountered in his training.

  "Luma," Ennet said carefully, "when we reach Ver—if we face danger again—will I see another Chapter?"

  Luma's eyes reflected the distant city lights as he considered the question. "Let's hope not," he said finally. "But if we do..." He left the thought unfinished, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the Jade Kingdom's greatest city awaited them, along with answers neither of them might be prepared to find.

  Behind them, unseen in the deepening shadows of the Jade Forest, a figure watched their departure. It raised a hand to its ear, casting a communication skill, whispering words that traveled across vast distances: "The survivor is now moving toward Ver. Shall we intercept?"