The coming days went on like before. We rolled through tightly forested paths as we neared the end of the forest that surrounds Berkton. As the sun began to set on another day, we found another place to park and rest.

I began to explore the surrounding area to find firewood. The dark corners of the forest started to brighten with fireflies and the forest critters started to fall asleep.

As I bent down to pick up firewood, I felt something sharp touch my back.

"Drop what you’re holding and raise your hands" A deep, thick manly voice with a unique dialect said to me from the bush behind me.

I dropped the sticks I held on to and slowly raised my hands.

"Now who are ya, and where are ya going? You lot don’t seem like traders. No merchant emblem on ya wagon, so who are ya?" The mysterious voice asked.

"I am Adam, and as You say we are not merchants. We are simply passing by, on our way to the falling city." I say to the voice behind me.

"We?" The voice asked.

"The other person is my friend. his name is Sebastian." I tell the voice.

There was a moment of quiet before the voice again spoke.

"Are ya with Uranos?"

The question caused a chill to go up my spine. Were they with Uranos? Was he asking me to see if I'm a fellow member? Should I pretend like I am? No, there is no way I could pretend to be like them. And I already told him we were headed for the falling city where a lot of people are against Uranos.

"No. In fact, they are the reason we are leaving where we came from and heading to the falling city." I say.

I feel the sharp object behind me being pushed out more forcing me to take some steps forward. Eventually, we step out enough to where I can see a glimpse of who is behind me.

Holding a giant sharp claymore is a broad man clad fully in gray armor. From his helmet grew a mane of white hair flowing in the wind.

"Lower your sword Gottfrid." a lower more feminine voice told the knight.

As the second voice commanded the knight, I assume whose name was Gottfrid lowered his hulking sword.

"I can tell he has been touched by the grace of the moon. Am I right?" The delicate feminine voice asked as she stepped out of the bushes.

Out of the bushes came a woman in her early 20s dressed in blackish gray robes that intertwined with her dress. Embroider into the robes was the emblem of the speakers. She stood tall her blond hair tied up in a bun. However, something that was very interesting was the fact that she didn't wear a blindfold like the usual speaker. In fact, her hazel eyes stared at me intently.

"Yes. I was healed by some speakers in my hometown of Berkton not that long ago." I tell her.

I was about to speak again before I hear Sebastian shout.

"Adam!"

Sebastian then runs up to us. Putting his arm between me and the strangers.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Sebastian hissed at the two. Stretching out his other arm making himself ready to cast a spell.

The knight Gottfrid quickly raised his sword again ready for combat however the woman signaled Gottfrid to stand down and then raised her hands.

"I am Katla, a speaker apprentice on my pilgrimage." The speaker woman explained.

Hearing this Sebastian seemed to ease up.

"My apologies, it’s been hard to know who is friend or foe at times." Sebastian said, giving her breath bow.

"We could offer some shelter for the night if you would like." Sebastian then said.

hearing this, I drag Sebastian to the side and ask.

"Is that really a good idea?"

"Since you are still young, I will make this brief. When you spot a pilgrim while out traveling it is always good courtesy to be kind as well as it may bring you luck from the god of their belief." Sebastian whispers back to me.

"And I have some personal reasons too. I owe a lot to the speakers and Lunare." Sebastian continued, his expression turning into something that I would describe as guilt.

Looking back at the two I say.

"Sure, since it seems everything was just some misunderstanding it wouldn't hurt." I tell him.

Sebastian gives me a smile and says.

"And maybe that knight looking fellow could give you some tips in swordplay."

We then headed back to the wagon. Sebastian then started the process of setting up the barrier and while Sebastian focused on that I took the chance to ask.

"So Katla, could I ask what this pilgrimage you’re taking on is about?"

"Of course. Before I can take on the role as Speaker I must take on a pilgrimage to find my purpose to Lunare. On my journey I am given guard to protect me, chosen by Lunare." Katla explains while gesturing to Gottfrid.

As Sebastian finishes his preparation of the barrier, he comes up to the three of us.

"I wish to yet again apologize for my rudeness before. I thought you might have been associated with Uranos. Especially since they just attacked Berkton." Sebastian says.

"No, you have no need for apologies." Katla said.

"Hold on. Berkton was attacked by Uranos? What could they possibly have to gain from a place out in the middle of nowhere?" Gottfrid then asked.

Sebastian stood quiet for a minute before saying.

"They said something about a giant living in the woods of Berkton and how all of us who lived there were filth for living with one. So, in the panic of it all the kid got separated from his parents and so we left there hoping to meet them in the falling city." Sebastian explained twisting the truth about what actually happened.

"Wait, he is a kid?" Gottfrid asked pointing at me.

Even though his helmet covered his face, I could tell how Gottfrid was squinting with his eyes to make sense of what he now learned.

"Oh, by the gods I almost skewered a child. My sincerest apologies, by your stature I thought you might be around Katlas age." Gottfrid said to me bowing as low as his armor would allow.

"It alright. So Gottfrid are you a knight?"  I ask.

"Indeed. I'm Gottfrid a knight of a small brotherhood called the lambs of usher, back in Wintergrasp." Gottfrid told me.

"Wintergrasp? But that’s all the way over in Apeth. Have you been traveling all the way from Apeth? Across continents?" Sebastian asked.

"Only Gottfrid. I was born and raised here in Koporia but since Gottfrid was chosen as my guard he had started his journey to me a long time before me. However, I believe Lunare wants me east so we will have to travel back east, to Apeth." Katla told us.

"But enough about us. Sebastian, I noticed your stance before. Are you perhaps a magus?" Katla asks.

"Indeed I am." Sebastian says, picking up a piece of ham from the box of food.

"So did you perhaps study in Fardum?" Katla asks taking one of the ham slices Sebastian was giving everyone.

"Oh yes. A Fardum scholar in the flesh. hundreds of hours reading the same grimoires over and over." Sebastian said with a chuckle.

"Indeed it was." Katla laughs at his response.

"You studied at Fardum?" Sebastian asked.

"Yes. Some years before I began my journey to be a speaker, I spent some years at Fardum." Katla said.

"And how it was a waste of time. I feel like if they were not the only place to offer the principle sacrifice I would not have set foot there." Katla said taking a bite of the ham.

"The principle sacrifice?" I ask.

"It's when magus practicing the principle of Bertrum sacrifice the corresponding body part for magic." Gottfrid told me, as he opened his helm by just an inch to eat the ham slice given to him.

"Principle of Bertrum? Sacrificing? Sebastian what do they mean?" I ask.

"Oh eh. You remember my analogy of how arcana worked right?" Sebastian began.

I nod.

"So as said the ones who breath the water are magus whom can use arcana. But for them to breath the water they need to develop an organ to do that. So, in order to grow that organ a body part must be replaced. Do you understand?" Sebastian asks.

"S-so you sacrifice parts of your body for magic? W-why would you do that?" I ask.

"Because they have nothing left to risk. Mostly all who practice arcana do it because they are desperate to find something. And it is different for everyone." Katla says, her tone a bit sadder. Her eyes move towards Sebastian.

I grow quiet. Feeling how a tension hangs over the group.

"So, what was that Bertrum thing?" I ask wanting to change the subject.

"It’s another name for the first principle." Sebastian says starting to chew on his second slice of ham.

"But why Bertrum?" I ask.

"He is the one who wrote the first principle. Bertrum Spent ten years writing documents on documents on how arcana worked and how it could evolve. These documents were originally dubbed the principle of Bertrum." Katla told me.  

"Same with the other two principles. Selina, who was Bertrum's twin sister, was the one to discover burst and how it worked as well as how it could be used in weapons. Her documents became known as the principles of Selina. And lastly the stranger. Balthazar." 

"The one who appeared one day presented his research on pressure waves and left the next day. He caused a revolution in the world in day with what he presented and thus his work became the principle of Balthazar. Thus, the three principles were born." Katla explained.

Full of new knowledge I felt how the pressure around us lifted and we continued our talks. We sat around the fire into the late night. The two shared their stories of the world. On what types of environment they had seen and what types of people they had met.

"You said you were heading east correct? since we are heading to the falling city we will basically take the same road. So why don’t the two of you join us for as long as you need?" Sebastian asks.

"Oh, we couldn't ask that of you. We don’t want to burden you." Katla said.

"Don’t worry, it would only be fun with more people. Plus, I think your stories might have enamored the kid." Sebastian said chuckling, pointing to me with his thumb.

"Besides, I can’t just not aid a pilgrim on their voyage. I don’t want to be cursed by death herself." Sebastian joked, making Gottfrid laugh a bellied laugh.

"Then if it wouldn't be too much trouble we would love to join you." Katla said with a warm smile.