A portal opened up on an unknown planet and a woman in a white dress elegantly appeared from the purple portal. If Leo had been here, he would recognize this woman as none other than Liana whom he met while fighting the Guardian golem and securing his Saint’s Ring.

“Oh, you’re back already? How did it go?” A man in his 40s with broad shoulders in an elegant white armor asked.

“He passed.”

“Don’t feel so sad about it. This is a joyous occasion is it not? Haha.”

“I know it was Ekalius’ will, but isn’t this a bit too much? The Saints’ rings aren’t toys, you know? And you, shouldn’t you be outraged at him for gaining in hours what you spent your entire life to obtain?”

The man looked at Liana with a serious expression.

“Gaining the blessing of Ekalius is not something to be looked down upon. He chose the boy for a reason. Besides, I finally have an apprentice to look after! Haha!”

Liana gazed at the laughing man and let out a sigh. She had no right to question the Ankirs but she could not stay as carefree as Arnys. She believed the man had gone crazy from living too long.

“I just don’t understand. Why would Ekalius give his life for that boy? He has lived since the beginning of time yet chose to leave now. Why?”

“It is not for us to question the Ankirs.”

“I know, I know.”

The atmosphere turned solemn for a moment before Arnys broke the eerie silence.

“What of the other rings? How many have found their home?”

“Including the boy, one other found an owner.”

Arnys nodded approvingly. Two rings finding their owner so soon was indeed good news.

“I want you to lead the second trial as well.”

Liana frowned at Arnys’ command.

“Why must I go back to the False World? It’s creepy there. The people, the towns, scenery, everything is like here, yet it’s not real. This is the real world, why must I go and entertain the Immortal Wanderers in the False World?”

Liana hated the False World. The Immortal Wanderers walked the lands as if they owned it. They disrespected her fellow Descendants of Enkail by demanding ‘Quests’ and force them into the battlefields to fight.

She knows they are not real. She knows that her people are here in the real world, yet the False World was made by Ekalius himself. This world created by Enkail and given to Ekalius is the real world. She knows the False World has a purpose but she still hesitates every time she’s sent there.

Arnys stood up from his chair and looked at Liana with a stern expression.

“The wheels of fate have been turned. You know as well as I do that Ekalius is no more. The Saint Trials will hopefully commence for the final time. It is our duty to do whatever we can to ensure victory in the battle.”

Liana shivered from Arnys’ words. She held no trust in the Immortal Wanderers but there’s nothing she can do. The laws created by Enkail are final. They can only rely on the Wanderers to protect their world.

Liana felt sad whenever she thought about how powerless she truly is. Her people suffer yet she can’t do anything about it. She has always been told to never question Enkail’s laws but seeing the Immortal Wanderers break one law after another without consequences has clouded her judgment.

She could easily kill every single one of them yet she has to rely on them to defeat Ezaeh? How many millions of years has it not been yet Ezaeh still roams the world! The Descendants of Enkail live their life dreading the Saint Trials every time it begins.

It is the same every time. The Trials begin, Ezaeh defeats the Immortal Wanderers and Ekalius move the world to the next universe. The people grow old and die yet time loops in an infinite circle. Never moving forward, always repeating again and again and again.

Liana has witnessed the Saint Trials seven times already. She’s one of the youngest Saints yet she has seen enough despair to turn anyone into a mindless fool afraid of ever leaving their home.

She has witnessed the fall of Kingdoms by the hands of Immortal Wanderers. Ezaeh brings destruction and death but so do the Wanderers. Isn’t this just fighting fire with fire? Liana lost herself in thoughts but quickly came back to reality when a woman entered through the door.

Arnys looked at the woman and said: “Ferima, you’ve come at last”.

The woman standing in the doorway was none other than Saint Ferima the Bringer of Light. Even though she has lived longer than anyone dares say aloud, she’s still as young and beautiful as she was in her 20s.

“Hello Arnys, Liana. How fares the Wanderer?”

Ferima had a dignified voice making anyone feel the need to listen to her every word. A single word from her could start wars but it could also bring peace to the nine continents. She’s the closest to ascending into the heavens and becoming the first Descendant of Enkail to stand amongst the Gods and Goddesses of the world.

“He’s doing alright I would say. He found your ring. Not that it was well hidden, haha!” Arnys gave out a burst of hearty laughter while explaining the situation to Ferima.

“When have the Saints’ rings ever been difficult to find? The difficult part is to keep them” Ferima responded in a gentle voice.

“You’re right in that. Out of the 100 rings only 2 managed to find owners capable of getting past the first trial. If you could even call that a trial” Liana said.

Arnys moved his gaze from Ferima to Liana and said: “If 98 Wanderers failed, could you still say the trial was easy?”

Liana retorted with a sneer: “They failed because of greed and stupidity. Not because the trials were difficult!”

Arnys rubbed his beard and let out a long sigh. He had known Liana since she was just a baby and guided her towards the path of Blacksmiths. He could still remember when she made her first Celestial weapon and transcended from a Grandmaster Blacksmith into a Saint Blacksmith.

Arnys walked towards the window and gazed at the city below. He could see people walking around, laughing and enjoying life. He could not help but let out a smile at the scenery. His smile quickly faded as he turned towards Liana and said in a serious tone.

“I don’t care if you like the place or not. It’s your role to guide the Wanderers.”

Liana didn’t dare retort Arnys’ words. She could see that he was completely serious and any resistance would only serve to hurt her. She let out a sigh and said: “Fine I’ll continue the trials. But I don’t like it”.

Liana once more opened the portal to the False World and stepped inside. Arnys let out a sigh and turned his head towards Ferima.

“What am I to do with that child? All she wants to do is play around in her smithy all day.”

“Let her enjoy her youth. If I remember correctly, weren’t you the exact same when you earned the blessing of Ekalius and became a Creator?”

Ferima let out a soft laugh while teasing Arnys.

“I guess you’re right in that.”

Arnys looked towards the purple portal and smiled. He would visit Ekalius’ World soon enough himself. If he’s lucky, he might even meet his apprentice. Arnys let out a loud laugh at the thought of finally having an apprentice after all these years.