Aren's sleep was restless, haunted by nightmares dredged up from his past. Vivid images of his loved ones being murdered because of his recklessness, the bloody massacre he'd unleashed in revenge – he had buried these memories deep, but yesterday's events ripped them open, unleashing a torrent of pain and regret.

  He woke before dawn, the early hour offering no solace, only more time to dissect his actions. He sat on the edge of his bed, the soft mattress barely easing his discomfort, and wrestled with guilt over what had happened to Isla. Why did I agree to her foolish scheme? Was it because this new world still feels like some kind of game, or is it my own damn fault for chasing adventure and danger like a moth to a flame? He'd believed this world offered him a second chance, yet he was repeating the same self-destructive patterns that had made his past life a living hell.

  And then there was his alter ego, the dark side that had resurfaced with alarming ease. It wasn't some separate personality; it was him, the part he refused to acknowledge. Or maybe, he mused, this younger body, flooded with hormones, has weakened my control. It's easier to be at peace when you're sixty-five than when you're twenty. But that was no excuse. He had to accept that he couldn't rely on his composure in extreme situations and that this world was no game. People with families and friends could die, and he had to embrace his experience and wisdom to navigate this world as if it were his new home.

  A knock on the door interrupted his dark thoughts. The young maid, the same one who had brought him new clothes before, entered with her head slightly bowed. "Excuse me, Sir Aren, I have been instructed to bring you a map of the castle." She held out a small roll of paper.

  "Oh, thank you. Just leave it on the table."

  She placed the roll on the table, gave a quick curtsy, and hurried out of the room.

  This will come in handy. I'm tired of getting lost in here.

  After dressing, he headed for breakfast. The atmosphere was calm and unremarkable; everything appeared normal. Only Isla seemed subdued, still shaken from yesterday's ordeal. I need to talk to her, see what she's thinking. I hope she learned something valuable from all this.

  After breakfast, he and Leo went to their morning training session. Aren had planned to introduce new martial arts concepts, but his throbbing hands made it impossible. To avoid suspicion, he instructed Leo to continue practicing the stance while he focused on Ether meditation.

  Leo grumbled, eager to learn new techniques, but Valerian, ever the voice of reason, told him to follow Aren's instructions.

  Aren began his meditation. He had felt the Ether surge through him during the fight, but unfortunately, he had accessed it subconsciously and couldn't replicate the experience. Still, there was progress. Before, he had been blindly grasping at something he couldn't see or feel. Now, he knew what he was looking for, he felt the energy coursing through his body, yet it was like trying to pull an oily rope – elusive and difficult to grip. I really need to get that ring as soon as possible and come up with a good excuse for having it.

  During lunch, Aren asked Darius if he could explore the city. Darius, in his usual booming voice, replied, "Indeed, you're free to roam as you please! However, be mindful that your arrival has caused quite a stir in Stormia. As a new Stormborn noble, you might attract unwanted attention from those seeking to take advantage of your… unfamiliarity with our ways. Tread carefully; these are uncertain times."

  "Sure, I will be mindful," Aren said, speeding up his eating, eager to retrieve the ring from its hiding place in the forest.

  "Valerian likely has a city map you can borrow. And take this," Darius reached into his pocket, pulled out a pouch, and extracted some silver coins and a single gold coin. "It's hardly a fortune for a nobleman, but it should cover your necessities in Stormia, excluding, of course, any rare artifacts. Think of it as a small token of appreciation for training Leo."

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  Aren accepted the coins, though he felt a pang of guilt. Refusing might seem impolite. It was 1 gold and 20 silver coins, to be exact.

  After lunch, Aren found Isla alone in a corridor. "Isla, I wanted to check on you. Are you alright?"

  Isla avoided eye contact, clutching her arm. "Yeah, I'm alright. You know, I've been thinking a lot about what happened. It was a foolish idea to go in unprepared like that."

  Okay, she learned her lesson. What a relief.

  "I'm so sorry that you're now in debt because of me," she continued. "You saved me once again, and I was useless… Thank you."

  "Don't thank me. I was reckless for taking you with me to that hut. I'm just glad we're both okay. Don't worry about that Lycas guy; I'll deal with him eventually."

  Isla looked up, a spark of life returning to her eyes. "How did you handle those thugs? When I regained consciousness, Lycas mentioned they were Tier 2 Enhancers."

  So she didn't see me lose my shit, good. "When they kicked me in the head, something just clicked. I could tap into the Ether for a short burst. That, combined with catching them off guard, gave me the edge."

  "Ether? But you only started training four days ago! That's incredible!"

  "It was a fluke, a one-time thing. I can't access it at will yet," Aren admitted.

  "Still, acquiring Ether that quickly is unheard of. I wish I could do the same." Isla paused, lost in thought for a moment. "I want to become stronger too, so I'm never a burden to anyone ever again," she declared, her voice filled with newfound resolve.

  Damn, I was hoping she'd just settle into a peaceful life.

  "You are not going anywhere dangerous, period," Aren said, raising his voice slightly.

  "I'm not! I'll just join you and Leo during your training sessions. I promise I won't cause any trouble!" She looked at him hopefully, her spirit revived. She definitely came up with the idea just now.

  "Alright, but this time, promise me you won't ever do anything reckless," Aren said, crossing his arms and furrowing his brow.

  "I promise! I just don't want to be useless anymore! I won't go to the tournament or the Black Market; I just want to be capable of defending myself."

  "Very well, then join us this evening. I'm going to the forest and will be back soon. Don't worry; I'll just get that ring and check out the map Lycas gave us."

  "Do you want me to show you the way through the labyrinth? It's faster that way," Isla offered.

  "No, you stay here. A good walk won't hurt. Don't be late for training."

  "If you see that Ursai, tell him I said hi," Isla said with a smile as Aren turned to leave.

  How quickly her mood has changed. That's good.

  With that, Aren left. He found Valerian and obtained a city map, then retrieved the castle map from his room. He headed straight through the city. The main street ran directly from the castle gates to the outer city wall gates, so he quickly crossed it and entered the forest. He had worried he might get lost, but the memory of their previous trek was still fresh, and he easily found the secret castle entrance. He checked the boulders, relieved to find their stash undisturbed.

  First, he examined the map to the Black Market. He had expected a detailed city map with the entrance marked, but Stormia was only represented as a wall on the left side of the map. The other half depicted the area outside the walls. The marker was on the river behind a hill, which, if the proportions were accurate, would be quite a distance from the city. If I'm going there, I'll need supplies and a good excuse to be gone for a whole day. Maybe if I could move like Valerian, it would take less time, but I'm just a regular guy so far.

  Then, he took out the ring, examining it closely. It was simple yet beautiful, with no symbols or gems, just a solid ring. It felt like metal to the touch, yet it was translucent with a captivating blue color. He slipped it on, expecting an immediate effect, but nothing happened. Lycas said it helps direct Ether. I should try meditating.

  He sat down on the soft grass. The peaceful atmosphere of the forest was soothing, the sounds and scents a balm to his soul. He tried to access the Ether within him, trying to recapture the feeling he'd experienced during the fight. The anger he had felt was part of that sensation, and it was disrupting his meditative state. He tried to find a peaceful center, but it was like punching a waterfall; the anger kept surging back.

  Frustrated, Aren decided to embrace it, forcing all his traumatic memories to play in his head. That was it. As he became more agitated, he felt the energy pulsating within him, in sync with his heartbeat. All the anger and frustration of his past life intertwined with his very being, coursing through him like fire across scorched earth, consuming all peace. With each surge of this raw emotion, he felt the Ether thrumming within.

  He tried to control it, attempting to time the pulse with an effort to direct it somewhere, but just as Leo strained his muscle during meditation, Aren felt a sharp pain in his solar plexus, throwing him off balance. He crumpled to the ground, clutching his stomach.

  Fuck, that was painful!

  The pain was intense, but he also felt a surge of excitement from the breakthrough. He now knew how to access the Ether, and that made the pain almost pleasant.

  A familiar, cunning voice echoed from the branches of a nearby tree. "That's quite the progress you've made, kid. Good job!"

  Echoes of the Worlds!