After completing the final arrangements at the inn, Corvus returned to the palace. This time, he was not alone; Zarqa was with him. The palace’s high stone walls and gilded golden gates shimmered with pale lights in the late hours of the day. Upon entering, they immediately noticed the echoing silence in the palace’s vast halls. Frankus’s trial had concluded. It seemed Belisarius’s intense pressure on the senate had worked. A death sentence had been issued for Frankus. However, the execution wouldn’t be carried out by an executioner’s axe, but through a method considered more noble: within a week, he would end his life by drinking poison with his own hands.

  Belisarius had not returned to the palace alone. With him were three fugitives, bearing the marks of the grueling interrogation at the senate. These three had testified before the senate exactly as Corvus had planned beforehand. Their testimonies had clearly revealed Frankus’s guilt and played a decisive role in the issuance of his death sentence. Each of Corvus’s moves was like a part of a grand game where every piece was falling perfectly into place.

  Once their business was concluded, Belisarius and Corvus stepped out to spend some time in the city. When they strolled through the stone streets of Rax, the peaceful evening crowd had already embraced the city. The coolness in the air mingled with the flickering lights of street lamps, spreading a heavy yet tranquil atmosphere across the streets. Meanwhile, Zarqa took the three fugitives and returned to the Red Rock Inn. These three fugitives from Rhazgord were to play significant roles in Corvus’s future plans.

  Upon returning to the palace once more, Corvus first bid farewell to King Justinianus. Their brief exchange was a silent expression of mutual respect. Then he checked if his warriors were ready. Even though they had spent the previous night drinking and celebrating, thanks to Baldrek’s strict discipline, they had all sobered up and completed their preparations for the journey. The troops lined up in the courtyard stood in quiet yet firm formation.

  Shortly afterward, Corvus also said goodbye to Belisarius. Their farewell concluded with a glance that required no words. Corvus mounted his horse and, with his warriors, passed through the palace gates and headed outside the city. He had come to Rax with fifty soldiers, but was now departing with only forty. The ones left behind were to remain in the city as part of the intelligence organization Corvus was establishing. Their mission was no longer limited to Rhazgord—now, they were to gather intelligence, track, and rule from the shadows in Rax as well.

  At the city’s edge, where the wind blew freely across the open terrain, Zarqa was waiting for them. Next to her stood several horse-drawn carts. These carts were carefully covered and arranged to appear like an ordinary caravan. They served two main purposes: the first was to create enough of a crowd to prevent anyone from noticing the soldiers Corvus had left behind in the city; the second was to transport goods purchased from the Adler, as instructed by Corvus. The person who had placed the order for these goods was Baral.

  The carts were not carrying precious stones or exotic spices. Their cargo consisted of supplies that would form the infrastructure of an approaching civilization. Equipment and tools needed for the academy and the large iron workshop built in the city of Bahoz were being transported in these carts. One cart in particular was filled to the brim with books. Bound in leather, some written in ancient languages, these volumes were portable representations of science and art. Since arriving in Rax, Zarqa and Baldrek had visited every shop and bookstore in the city, sticking closely to their lists and spending a substantial amount of money to acquire them.

  They continued on the same route they had used on their way to Rax. However, this time, they were moving much faster. Corvus had to return to Sorbaj and report to Sanguinar as soon as possible. Even so, rather than focusing on his surroundings, he was busy scribbling something in his notebook while on horseback. Occasionally, he would raise his head and drift into thought, then return to writing. Though it had seemed impossible at first, he was gradually becoming skilled at writing on horseback.

  As they neared the borders of the Drom Kingdom, Baldrek gave in to his curiosity. He rode his horse alongside Corvus and leaned in, his eyes fixed on the notebook.

  “Did you learn to write on horseback from Ilyada?” he asked with a mix of teasing and genuine curiosity.

  Corvus smiled.

  “You get used to it after a while.” he said in a relaxed tone.

  Baldrek’s curiosity hadn’t waned. He tried to see what was written in the notebook, but the rhythmic motion of the horse made it impossible to make out the letters.

  “Are you making plans, or writing a report?” he pressed further.

  Realizing that Baldrek wasn’t going to give up, Corvus folded the notebook and tucked it into his belt. He hadn’t been able to write for a while anyway, as his mind had begun to wander. He signaled to Baldrek with a nod, and they moved to the front of the convoy. After a few minutes, when they were far enough from the others, Corvus finally spoke.

  “After encountering the Black Masks, I discovered many new things about Lightstone energy.”

  Baldrek glanced at Corvus from the corner of his eye.

  “So that’s the reason behind the surge in your energy.” he said, as if finding the answer to a question that had long bothered him. Corvus wasn’t surprised that Baldrek had noticed it, even though he had been trying to conceal his energy. He knew Baldrek was not only skilled in matters of the Lightstone but also had exceptionally sharp instincts. He nodded slightly in confirmation.

  “While observing the Black Masks and combining what I learned with my discussions with Aspayages, an idea began to form in my mind,” he continued. “I’m trying to develop a method to use Lightstone energy more efficiently, to precisely identify and classify the energy within a warrior’s body.”

  Baldrek paused. He thought.

  Sensing whether someone possessed Lightstone energy was often possible. But determining its amount and density was much more difficult. Only someone with extremely sharp senses could do that, and usually only during combat or if the opponent actively released their energy into the surroundings. But if Corvus could truly create such a system… that would mean knowing how dangerous an enemy’s most powerful weapon was before the battle even began. And in war, that kind of information was worth its weight in gold.

  No scientific or systematic method like the one Corvus described had yet been developed. But that didn’t mean no one had tried. Many scholars and martial arts masters throughout the continent’s history had attempted to measure, classify, and identify patterns in Lightstone energy within bodies. However, each attempt encountered the same obstacle: uncertainty. Energy didn’t have a fixed shape or appearance. It could be sensed and felt, but not measured. Especially determining the amount of energy inside a warrior? That was nearly impossible.

  Over time, everyone had come to accept a single truth: Lightstone energy could not be measured. This uncertainty was part of its nature, and one had to live with it.

  But in Baldrek’s view, the real issue lay elsewhere — not in the quantity of energy, but in how it was used.

  According to widespread belief on the continent, how efficiently a person could use Lightstone depended on innate talent. Your lineage, where you were born, the blood you carried… these determined your fate. If you were talented enough, you could accomplish far more than others with the same amount of Lightstone. You absorbed it faster, directed it more effectively, and used it with less loss. But if you were born weak… no matter how hard you tried, you would eventually hit a wall.

  That’s why the number of Lightstone users across the continent had always been limited. Lightstone wasn’t infinite—especially pure Lightstone crystals were incredibly rare. So no kingdom or army wanted to waste their precious resources on ordinary warriors. Individuals with high potential were carefully selected, and resources were concentrated on them. The rest either accepted their fate… or were left outside the system.

  If Corvus could truly find a way to use Lightstone more effectively regardless of a person’s innate talent… it would not just be a technical advancement. It would signify the collapse of a centuries-old system, a power structure. Equal energy usage for all… even the thought was earth-shattering.

  Baldrek now fully grasped just how revolutionary Corvus’s idea was. But with that realization came an internal conflict. Because everything he had learned until now told him it was impossible. He had spent years on battlefields, in military camps, and among instructors who studied Lightstone energy. They all shared the same belief: using Lightstone energy was limited by one’s inborn talent and lineage. That belief had become deeply rooted in him, and now Corvus’s words were shaking it.

  This inner turmoil showed on his face. Corvus was watching him closely and immediately realized that his friend was navigating his thoughts, trying to reach a conclusion. Silently, he extended a hand to Baldrek.

  “Give me your wrist.” he said in a quiet but firm voice.

  Baldrek instinctively placed his wrist in Corvus’s hand. Corvus closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and focused his mind. Instantly, the Lightstone energy in his body began to vibrate. Then, an invisible current flowed from his palm to Baldrek’s wrist. With that touch, Baldrek felt a soft yet intense warmth rise in his wrist. As the warmth spread through his veins, its presence became even more pronounced. It was as if liquid energy was flowing through his veins, conquering his body from the inside.

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  Within seconds, Corvus opened his eyes and pulled his hand back. Then he pointed to a spot just below Baldrek’s right shoulder.

  “Try to concentrate all your Lightstone energy here,” he said in a calm tone.

  “Let’s see if you can feel it.”

  Baldrek closed his eyes. This was a completely new experience for him. Normally, Lightstone energy circulated freely within the body, instinctively moving to wherever it was needed. But now he was being asked to prevent that free flow and concentrate the energy in a specific point. Technically, this wasn’t easy. Especially while on horseback, the unstable terrain and constant motion made it hard to focus. But Baldrek was a skilled warrior; thanks to his superior concentration abilities, he cleared his mind quickly.

  As time passed, he began to channel the energy. The Lightstone energy flowing through his veins moved toward his shoulder like a quietly summoned river. When it reached the point Corvus had indicated, he noticed something strange. He suddenly opened his eyes, holding his breath in surprise.

  “There’s an emptiness…” he said. There was hesitation in his voice, but he quickly corrected his thought.

  “No, not emptiness. It’s more like a knot! My veins seem tangled here, like a ball of energy has formed.”

  Corvus nodded, lowering his head in approval. This was the core of his theory.

  These knots, which he called that ‘Power Nests’ or ‘Circles’. They could be used not only to channel or conceal Lightstone energy but also to store it. Corvus had first discovered this when he encountered the Black Masked. The Black Masked were hiding their energy within these ‘Power Nests’ so that it couldn’t be sensed from the outside. In this way, they managed to erase their traces and almost completely conceal their presence. But over time, he saw that these knots had far more complex and profound uses beyond camouflage.

  His long and intense discussions with Aspayages accelerated his understanding of this structure’s potential. The picture in his mind was now clear.

  Corvus had reached two essential conclusions through his own experience:

  First, these ‘Power Nests’ were not merely temporary energy storage points. They could function as a sort of energy reservoir for the body. Normally, storing Lightstone energy directly in the veins could harm the body over time. But thanks to these nests, the energy could accumulate in certain regions without creating blockage and could be released in a controlled way when needed. This was the fundamental reason behind Corvus’s rapid development and his transformation into a physically and energetically superior being.

  The second fact was that these ‘Power Nests’ were directly related to a person’s natural talent. The more ‘Power Nests’ one had, the more energy they could manage and the more potential they possessed. This was a born advantage; but now, for the first time, it could be turned into a conscious system.

  Corvus had confirmed these discoveries through hundreds of experiments on his own body. In every spare moment, he tested the movement of energy with his muscle activity, the responses of ‘Power Nests’ , and their storage capacities. His body was no longer just a weapon—it had become a laboratory. This intense experience had advanced his understanding of Lightstone to such an extent that his knowledge surpassed even that of many master warriors.

  The most important difference was this: Corvus had realized that not only the talented but even average people could be transformed through this system.

  Lack of talent was still an issue, yes. But now he knew how to overcome it. The real problem wasn’t the number of ‘Power Nests’ , but how easily the energy could flow within the body. If the energy struggled to move due to narrow vein structures, muscle knots, or misdirection, the accumulation period would lengthen; it wouldn’t reach the necessary points in time during battle. This led to the warrior slowing down, becoming vulnerable.

  But in Corvus’s system, if energy was stored in ‘Power Nests’ especially close to the limbs, the distance would shorten; thus, the energy would reach its target faster, reaction time would decrease, and effectiveness would increase.

  And more importantly, Corvus had discovered that even an average person’s body contained at least four ‘Power Nests’ . This meant that every human carried a hidden warrior potential within. With proper training and practice, even an ordinary person could be transformed into an extraordinary warrior. And if this system was applied by naturally talented individuals like Corvus or Baldrek… the resulting being wouldn’t be a warrior—it would be a natural disaster.

  That’s why Corvus’s system wasn’t just a technical advancement—it was a strategic revolution. Because now the average could become strong; and the strong could become legends.

  As Corvus explained the details of the system to Baldrek, only one name kept circling in Baldrek’s mind: Sakhaar Tiamat. Yes, it was possible to train thousands of warriors with this system, but in Baldrek’s eyes, one thought outweighed even that possibility. Corvus’s father… Sakhaar. He had been a natural disaster even without knowing this system. Baldrek had personally witnessed his power. He was a man who could change the tide of a battle not just with his sword, but with his very presence. But what if he learned these knowledge? What if he combined his power with this knowledge?

  Baldrek’s mind was clouded by the weight of this thought. He tried to imagine it, but every image that formed in his mind was crushed under the weight of reality. He couldn’t fathom a power beyond Sakhaar. But then his eyes drifted to Corvus… and for a moment, he was speechless. Corvus, even at this young age, was intelligent, determined, and talented enough to discover such a knowledge. He had already surpassed his peers, even outmatched the knowledge level of master warriors. It was an obvious truth that he held even greater potential than Sakhaar.

  So what would Corvus become with this system? In Baldrek’s eyes, his friend was no longer just a man; he was a legend in the making. A disaster growing within its shell, not yet fully realized. As Baldrek struggled with these thoughts, the rising sense of admiration within him silenced all his doubts.

  As the two continued their journey, they kept talking. As Corvus put into words the ideas that had matured in his mind for years, Baldrek’s comments and questions helped shape those ideas even further. Every sentence sparked a new fire in Corvus’s mind, opening new paths among his ever-branching thoughts.

  As they neared the borders of the Drom Kingdom, visible movement had begun. Some of Corvus’s warriors had already set out and informed the authorities of the convoy’s arrival. When they reached the border, about forty horsemen were waiting for them. Corvus recognized some of them. They were Yanthus Ivis’s men. He had previously encountered Yanthus on the Drom borders, which resulted in a brief tension. At that time, Yanthus had paid the price for his anger and arrogance. Now, however, his expression was much calmer and more respectful.

  But Corvus’s attention was not on Yanthus or his men—it was on another group silently waiting right behind them. This group of thirty warriors was clad entirely in black armor. Even their horses were covered in similar armor. They were silent as shadows. One of them was carrying a massive banner. And this banner… bore a symbol recognized across the entire continent: the banner of the Sizat Empire.

  Corvus examined the knights carefully. They radiated a dangerous aura, but there was no direct threat sensed. Still, his instincts were on alert. He rode forward and directly approached Yanthus. As Corvus neared, Yanthus dismounted and bowed deeply with respect.

  “We are here to accompany you to the Brihmond border, Lord Tiamat.” he said in a serious voice.

  Corvus didn’t dismount. He nodded slightly in approval. Then his eyes shifted to the black-armored warriors. Tilting his head slightly, he gestured toward them.

  “Why are Sizat knights here?” he asked, his voice calm but cautious.

  Yanthus glanced at the group from the corner of his eye and immediately answered:

  “My lord, these warriors were sent by the second prince of the Sizat Empire, the mighty Ibarum. They will escort you to Rhazgord. They’re here to ensure no issues arise while passing through Brihmond.”

  Corvus’s eyes moved over the knights without a flicker of emotion. He knew they hadn’t been sent by Ibarum. There was only one person who could have done this: Sardiun. He sighed silently. This was a significant gesture.

  “We’ll move quickly. Follow from a distance!” he said in a short tone.

  With those words, Corvus gripped his saddle and set the caravan in motion. The escorts began to follow at a distance. Regardless of the time, they only stopped briefly to let the horses rest, continuing on their way.

  When they reached the Brihmond border, movement appeared on the horizon. They drew closer, and soon over a hundred cavalrymen emerged. Corvus’s warriors were on high alert and took their positions. The black-armored Sizat knights remained silent, but it was clear they were ready to move at any moment. The Drom soldiers had already completed their duties and had withdrawn.

  The leader of the approaching cavalry gave the Sizat warriors a brief glance, then turned directly to Corvus. He didn’t dismount but spoke in an official tone:

  “I’m sorry, but you cannot pass beyond this point! The roads are filled with bandits, and we do not want you, Lord Tiamat, to be harmed within our country’s borders.”

  The words seemed polite and considerate, but it wasn’t hard to tell they were a lie. This wasn’t a simple warning—it was an attempt to block him. He was clearly trying to create difficulty for Corvus.

  Corvus was weighing his options. Should he tear the man apart? Or should he wait? Maybe he could solve it through words. Just as he made his decision, a horse neighed. The leader of the Sizat knights approached. He spoke without lifting the visor covering his face. His voice was muffled and deep:

  “Is there a problem, Lord Tiamat?”

  This was the first time Corvus heard this man’s voice. He decided to use the Sizat knight, the representative of Sizat, for his own plan. Tilting his head slightly, he spoke in a childish tone:

  “The Brihmond folks think that Sizat and Rhazgord warriors can’t deal with a few bandits. If we don’t wait here for a while, they say we’ll get into trouble…”

  He looked like a child taking refuge in his older brother.

  For the Sizat knight, this was an insult. His eyes gleamed with rage beneath his helmet. He turned to the leader of the Brihmond cavalry.

  “Are you belittling the Sizat Empire?! Do you think we can’t handle a few thugs?!” he roared. Lightstone energy vibrated in his voice. Corvus could feel that this man was at least as strong as Kaelyra.

  The Brihmond cavalry leader didn’t know what to do. Corvus had slightly twisted the truth, bringing Sizat and Brihmond into conflict in mere moments. The panicked leader raised his hands to explain the situation, but it was too late. The Sizat knight drew his sword:

  “Either step aside or draw your blade—show us where you got the audacity to insult the Black Knights of Sizat!”

  The Brihmond warrior had nothing left to do. He had been ordered to cause trouble for Corvus, but the presence of the Sizat knights had changed the equation. He couldn’t confront both Rhazgord and Sizat at the same time.

  After a brief signal, the path was cleared. Corvus advanced with a wide grin on his face, meant to provoke the Brihmond warriors. The Rhazgord warriors following him didn’t miss the chance to curse in their own language and make obscene gestures. Inwardly, Corvus thought, “Please attack, kill a few Sizat knights!” But of course, that didn’t happen.

  In the following days, the journey proceeded without incident. When they reached the borders of Rhazgord, the Sizat knights quietly saluted Corvus and set off toward their homeland. They had successfully completed their mission. Corvus, on the other hand, fixed his gaze on the horizon—toward the direction where Bahoz lay. Before heading to Sorbaj, this would be his first stop.