Chapter 37: The Mark of Entry

Evening came quietly, but not without meaning.
Kael closed her shop with the same calm precision she always had, her movements steady, unaffected by the subtle weight of what was about to change. The day had passed like any other—trades, conversations, glances—but this time, it ended differently.
This time, she wasn’t staying.

Lera arrived first.
She didn’t say much, just placed a small bundle on the counter—carefully wrapped, organized, and clearly prepared with intention.
“Medicines,” she said simply.

Kael glanced at it. “You’ve already given enough.”

Lera shrugged. “And you’ve already ignored that.”

Kael didn’t argue.
She took it.

Dain came next.

He carried a small case, placing it down with less confidence than usual. When he opened it, the contents spoke for him—two clean, well-balanced daggers, their edges sharp and their grip fitted for control rather than brute force.
“For you,” he said, not quite meeting her eyes.

Kael picked one up, testing its weight.
It was good.
Better than what she had used before.

“There’s also this,” Dain added, pulling out a simple but sturdy sword.

Aerin, who had just arrived, blinked in surprise. “For me?”

Dain nodded. “You’ll need something more reliable than whatever you’ve been using.”

Aerin took it carefully, almost awkwardly. “Thank you…”

Dain scratched the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable now. “I… didn’t know what that little girl uses,” he muttered, glancing briefly at Mira. “So I couldn’t make anything for her.”

Mira smirked slightly. “I’ll survive.”

Dain huffed, though his expression softened just a little.

He wasn’t used to this.
Not the giving.
Not the caring.

But he didn’t deny it either.

Kael closed the case and nodded once. “We’ll use them.”

That was enough.

They didn’t stay longer.

When Kael stepped out, Aerin and Mira were already waiting.

No hesitation.
No delay.

They walked to the guild together.

Inside, the atmosphere felt familiar—but this time, they weren’t just passing through.
They had a purpose.

The clerk noticed them immediately.
“You again,” he said, already understanding something had changed.

“We want to re-rank,” Kael said.

He didn’t question it.

Instead, he stood and motioned for them to follow.

They were led to the training grounds, where the examiners were already present—experienced climbers, each carrying the quiet authority of those who had climbed far beyond the lower floors.

The test began.

It wasn’t complicated.
But it was precise.

Strength.
Speed.
Control.

And restraint.

Kael made sure of that.

They didn’t show everything.
Didn’t push beyond what was necessary.

Aerin held back his strength, his strikes controlled rather than overwhelming. Mira restrained her speed, focusing on accuracy over aggression. Kael kept her movements measured, never revealing the full extent of her awareness.

They passed.

Easily.

“E rank,” one of the examiners confirmed.

The clerk nodded. “Now you’re eligible for the levels beyond.”

He handed their licenses back.

“One more step,” he added.

They were instructed to place a drop of blood on the surface of the license.

Aerin hesitated slightly, then followed through.
Mira did the same.

Kael went last.

The moment her blood touched the surface—
Something changed.

The license reacted.

A faint glow spread across its surface, then faded, leaving behind something new.

Information.

Visible.
Clear.

Not to everyone.
Only to them.

Numbers.
Stats.

Strength.
Health.
Endurance.

A system.

Connected.

Kael felt it immediately—the subtle link between the license and her body, her awareness, her state. It wasn’t intrusive, but it was constant. A quiet presence that tracked, recorded, and confirmed.

“This is how we monitor climbers,” the clerk explained. “Your condition, your progress… and your death.”

Mira stiffened slightly.
Aerin frowned.

“If a climber dies,” he continued, “the license reflects it.”

Kael’s gaze didn’t shift.

She already understood what that meant.

Riven.

No confirmation of death.
No change in status.

That meant—

He was still alive.

Somewhere.

They left the training ground without speaking much.

Because there was nothing to say.

The next step was already clear.

Before entering the Tower again, they made one last stop.

The shabby stall.

The old woman didn’t ask questions.
Didn’t need to.

She saw the change.

And went to the kitchen.

They sat.
Ate.
Prepared.

This time, the silence carried something heavier.

Not uncertainty.

But intent.

Kael’s hand brushed lightly against her pocket.

The shard rested there.
Whole.
Changed.

Guiding.

And now—
They were ready to follow it further.

End of Chapter 37