“Blightmire itself is a place of the dead. Many say that this town is a temporary home for lost travelers, but in reality, the curse prevents the sun from giving its warmth”

“Cursed? You said this was Twilight City, right?”

"If your interpretation is the place where the sun sets, then your perspective is wrong," answered the eccentric man, while tilting his head upwards. “Look and you will realize it"

"What did you say? At most—e-eh?”

The City of Twilight, Blightmire, is illuminated by sparkling stars, not the sun, creating an orange sky.

In this place, devoid of sunlight and any evidence of its existence, it was as if the sun had never visited.

Everything was pale, dark, and full of a gloomy aura.

It's true that the first glance can deceive, but if at the second glance the illusion still looks beautiful to the eye, then that person is not normal, that's what Randolf thought.

“The primary source of light in the sky is the stars and when the stars are dim. You don't want to be outside relying on that cave over there, that monument over there, or some other shelter. However, what we rely on is a tent and a campfire to stay awake while waiting for tomorrow to come.”

Adis was pensive for a while when he heard this.

“S-so you're saying that no one is safe in this place?”

Both sides of Randolf's mouth turned sour.

“Think of it like that, but differently.”

After that, he placed the chicken meat on the campfire using a stick pierced at an angle.

“All the mysteries are still unsolved. There are only aimless rumors and strange news that we travelers keep getting. However, of all the places in Astal, at least Blightmire was the only one that didn't eat us alive.”

All this time they were struggling just to survive? Even though what I saw was, they were laughing with each other and singing as if they had no burden, thought Adis.

“Maybe they look happy because that's the only entertainment they can get. By singing they can relieve their longing, by telling stories they bond with each other, by coming together they are like family. All the sights you see right now are nothing more than surrender.”

"I do not understand what you mean"

"They've stopped fighting and remain in this cursed place," Randolf said bitterly.

“T-then what about you?”

A chuckle escaped the eccentric man's mouth. While shrugging his shoulders as if to say, "I don't know", he added spices to the grilled chicken.

Adis didn't think that this place was a living cemetery. He also couldn't stop thinking about Randolf's words, which came out so calmly. Especially with all the craziness that occurs due to black snowdrops.

Now apart from finding a way to survive, Adis must face the dark puzzle of the Astal World. However, he simply did not have time to do so. Because currently his family is waiting for his return to Earth.

Blessing is his hope and to understand this astral phenomenon, he must study from the book that Kraun lent him.

At least that's what he thought before he finally realized something strange.

"Then how did you struggle before to get to this place?" Adis asked suddenly.

Randolf was quite surprised by Adis's question. The reason was that he didn't expect that a young man who still had a glimmer of hope in his eyes would ask something as commonplace as that.

"Of course we move around and defeat the monsters out there"

"Defeat? Weren't you unable to defeat The Tarnished People in my world before?”

“Hahahaha. You hit me that fast, eh? Young adult"

“Why are you even laughing?”

After that, Randolf took out a crystal in the shape of a pale yellow triangular prism from his backpack.

"Because of this"

"Crystal?"

“You can install this crystal, known as Luksimusht or Luks, as a magical protective shelter in any location. At that time, I didn't have enough energy and couldn't prepare Luks on time.”

“Is that an excuse?”

"Reason? Possible? But if you know the benefits of Luks, you can protect a place from attacks by monsters. For example, take the house. By sticking Luks into the ground, Kraun's house will be protected by the blessings of the Avesta and become a resting place for Diapthora, the Guide of Souls."

"What's more?"

Seeing Adis' surprised reaction, Randolf could only hold back his chuckle. As a lost traveler and a cartographer. He didn't have time to chat like now.

His job requires him to go to distant places so he can see the condition of an area and then map it as accurately as possible.

It's been a long time since I met someone like this young man. If only there were more people like Adis, maybe Astal would be a slightly brighter world, thought Randolf.

“Do you want to try it? I could give it to you for free, but unfortunately, this thing is the same as a second life for me."

“Then what should I do? Pay you something?”

"Ha ha ha ha. Can you afford to pay me, young man?” Randolf raised one eyebrow.

"What if I can do it? Can you still laugh like that?”

“Heh. Turns out you have of courage, eh?”

It's true. Talking with this young man makes my heart warm a little. Could it be that it's all because of The Child's blessing? thought Randolf.

“Calm down. I'm going to demonstrate it, so you just have to watch from there. Oh! And don't forget my grilled chicken."

Adis nodded and then his eyes followed Randolf, but occasionally he also peeked at the condition of the eccentric man's grilled chicken.

On the other hand, Randolf was standing while holding Luks in his right hand. His mouth moved quickly, pronouncing something that Adis didn't understand. After a while, the Luks broke apart, and fell to the ground.

Suddenly, a layer of light appeared around them like an aurora on the northern continent. It is warm yellow and sparks with spherical particles of light. No one could enter their place, as it seemed to be an isolated area.

“Now no one can enter this place. If anyone wants to enter this place, then they need to get permission from me.”

Not long after, a crack appeared next to Randolf. The black smoke slowly dispersed and the fireflies, with a flickering light on their tails, began to reveal an entity wearing a black cloak and hood.

His height almost exceeds Randolf's height. His hands were pale white and were kneeling on his stomach. When the figure appeared, Randolf realized that he was being summoned by the mysterious figure.

“Oh. Ehmmm... yes, I understand”

"What did he whisper?"

“In short, the Soul Usher wants to give you this for you.”

Randolf grabbed Adis' right hand and placed a crystal on it.

【Diapthora, the Messenger of the Soul】An intangible entity, whose figure will only be visible through one's manifestation, and projects itself into a physical form when the Aether and Luks are bound together. Born from the water of Avesta's virtue, its existence is a form of Avesta's uncertainty regarding all life. Tasked with delivering souls to the Mother and a guide for lost travelers who have fallen into darkness.

【You succeeded in attracting the attention of Diapthora, the Soul Deliverer. His interest in you has increased “A little”】

【Your whereabouts are now of particular concern to the other Soul Deliverers】

【Thanks to your blessings as Friend of the Starless Child, Diapthora, the Soul Deliverer began to be curious about you】

【Thanks to your blessings as a Friend of the Starless Child, information about the Lords' entities is starting to open up a bit】

【Thanks to your blessing as a Friend of the Starless Child, your chances of getting information about blessings and curses increase by “Slightly”】

Various heavy information immediately filled Adis' mind. He immediately crumpled his own head and fell like a struggling child.

On the other hand, Randolf was just silent and unmoving. Now right in front of him, Adis was writhing while holding his own head, but Randolf didn't help him at all.

A thin grin appeared on his face, and he would never forget that feeling.

Before his duties as Cartograhper began. Randolf accidentally broke an artifact that was in a ruin far away on the opposite continent. Thanks to his carelessness, he accidentally caught the attention of an invisible entity.

It was at that moment that he felt an unbearable throbbing in his head, exactly like what Adis was feeling right now.

【Diaphthora, the Messenger of Souls, is smiling at you】