As Kalen continued to navigate the tunnels, he studied Sarah's memories, fascinated. 

She showed him the palace in which she grew up. Its grand scale far superseded the image of such buildings which he had previously imagined, prompting Kalen to wonder if the palace in Tirel was also that impressive. There was nothing even remotely close to that in Iroyama — or the other towns in Athrea's southwest shores.

The teenage version of his new teacher was nothing like he would have guessed though. In contrast to the refinement he saw when she first appeared in his mind, that girl was carefree and spirited, almost boyishly so. Her poise, however, was clearly already there. He saw the first time she managed to sense Gaea, the first insight she gained, and the training she went through.

He had thought Ryuji was a harsh teacher. He was wrong.

Sarah's mother pushed her to limits Kalen was glad he never had to experience. Day and night, little to no break at all, Sarah only stopped to sleep and eat. Her life was wielding anima. By the time she was Kalen's age she already had an arsenal of manifestations at her disposal, and it didn't take long for her name to be feared all across Novarus.

She had been groomed to follow on the footsteps of every Silverblaze before her, to act as one of the pillars that supported the society of Novarus and rule according to the gods' wishes. Except, she refused.

After declining a position under her mother — one of the high officials of the Novarus Council —, Sarah chose to pursue her own idyllic wishes. She wanted to help the people of the continent in meaningful ways, not just sit behind a chair giving orders. So she left her hometown and sought the remote regions of Novarus, lending her strength and abilities to those that struggled every day to put food on their tables.

Kalen's trip through Sarah's past provided him with two important discoveries. First, when compared to Athrea, Novarus seemed to be a continent much more evolved regarding social mobility. It still had issues — hence Sarah's desire to help — but what he saw was easily a better picture than the oppressive rule of the Emperor.

The southwest shores where he grew up was mostly self-sufficient, but exorbitant taxes made it impossible for the region to prosper. Not only that, by blocking the flow of information and knowledge no alternative could be found either. No wonder his entire life he had only heard shallow rumors about wielders.

The Emperor kept the main hubs of Athrea in control of the entire continent by way of military and technological supremacy. Contrasting to that, Novarus had built a society where wielding anima had become the cornerstone for its development in all directions of the land. The less favored had many hurdles to overcome there as well, but leastwise the gods themselves weren't one of them.

Understanding a little of the continent in which he would have to survive going forward was invaluable to him. But the second discovery was arguarbly the more relevant one. The person Sarah had been, was someone he would be proud to help.

Since learning the truth from her, Kalen had many doubts over what he would have to do to find a way back to Shiori and his parents. The biggest one, however, was helping Sarah. His initial impression of who she was had been positive, but Kalen knew well enough how that could be deceiving. He had reached the conclusion there was no alternative other than relying on her — at least while he learned how to wield anima — but there was a line he wasn't willing to cross for that.

What was Sarah's connection with the man that attacked him? What were the circumstances of her death? Those were answers he still needed. But so far, he found himself admiring her.

Kalen sighed. 'After what I just saw, I'll always consider your comments about my abilities to be sarcasm.'

Sarah chuckled. 'I appreciate the hidden compliment. But it was different for me. Anima is part of our lives in Novarus. You just discovered its existence. Being able to sift through the memories I showed you with such ease is proof enough I am honest in my comments. I was left mentally drained the first time I tried it.'

'Even still,' Kalen said. 'I can't avoid slightly fearing you from now on.'

Sarah let out an evil laugh. 'As you should! Or I'll torment you in your sleep — quite literally.'

Kalen rolled his eyes. 'I take that back. You're just an interloper soul after all.'

Soft laughter interposed between Kalen and Sarah's enjoyment in his mind as the first few faint rays of natural light appeared at the far end of the cave tunnel. The circumstances which had brought them together were drastic — to say the least — but in a odd way, Kalen was glad.

A sense of camaraderie was growing inside him. Seeing Sarah's memories had played a big part in that, he knew. Still, he was certain they would have become good friends had they met while she was still alive. Or did it still count as friendship to share his body with her soul? He didn't know how to answer. Kalen presumed it would take some time truly understanding the surreal experience he now found himself in.

Reaching a wide chamber, he was met with several rocks creating a stairwell-like formation leading to the cave entrance near the ceiling. The opening had about three meters in height and its width seemed to allow one person to pass.

A current of air whistled as it entered the room and Kalen leaned his body against the hard wall, acknowledging his body's exhaustion. With his first lesson deepening his links with both Gaea and Sarah, and beyond the exit of the cave a forest where he could find food, there was only one more subject in his mind.

'Sarah,' Kalen said.

'Yes?'

'I think it's time we talk about your death.'