Autodidact's Insanity

As the sun began to rise, warming the earth, a thin layer of fog settled over the vast expanse of Stillwater Meadows. Distant birdsong drifted through the air, soft and unhurried. The fog remained perfectly still, untouched by the wind, casting an ethereal, dreamlike veil over the landscape.

Kael picked up his belongings and draped his coat over his shoulders, making his final preparations before setting out for Velthoria. The early morning air was cool, and the camp remained quiet. The rest of the group was still sound asleep, except for Selene.

She sat comfortably on the boulder, her hands resting behind her for support. As the last guard of the night, she had kept watch to ensure nothing unexpected happened.

She didn't look at Kael, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon, watching the sun slowly rise.

In the stillness of the windless morning, her hair lay motionless, untouched by even the faintest breeze.

Kael could feel her gaze fall on him but he remained indifferent, calmly gathering his last few items, before heading away.

"Are you excited, Daire?"

Kael paused for a brief moment, glancing at her before continuing. It was an odd question, but he didn't particularly mind.

"No."

His answer was simple, without hesitation.

Selene watched him for a few moments with a puzzled expression, before turning her gaze back to the sunrise, falling into silence once more.

Kael picked up his cane, adjusted his coat, and without another word, started walking.

As he moved away, a soft voice reached him.

"Stay safe."

He barely paused, only flicking a glance back at her.

Selene remained seated, her posture relaxed but her gaze distant. The golden morning light touched her face, yet she didn't look at him, her eyes fixed on the horizon, lost in thought.

Without another look, he turned away and kept walking, his steps steady as he made his way toward Velthoria.

There was still a long walk ahead before he would reach the city. Torin had chosen to set up camp nearly a day's journey from Velthoria, ensuring they remained unnoticed and didn't raise any suspicion.

But this part of the journey was far more comfortable for Kael. For one, he was no longer under constant watch. Velthoria, like Farkath, had its own Luminaires, meaning, unless absolutely necessary Torin wouldn't risk using his motes to spy on him. That alone put Kael's mind at ease.

And secondly, he could finally travel on an actual road. There was no need to hide his arrival, he planned to move freely through the city anyway.

'Lets see what Velthoria has to offer.'

Kael rolled his shoulders before steeping onto a cobblestone road.

Months of travel had worn on him, not just physically, but mentally. The harsh conditions and unforgiving paths had been relentless. It was a welcome change to finally walk on something man-made, to feel the solid, even ground beneath his feet.

Hours passed, and at last, buildings began to appear along the road. Small red cottages lined the path, their neatly arranged facades giving the area a welcoming feel to it. Narrow dirt roads branched off from the main road, winding their way toward scattered houses, some nestled deeper into the landscape.

Velthoria was a coastal city, or almost. It bordered the largest lake on the western continent, a body of water stretching well over 10 million square kilometers. Technically a lake, but given its vastness, many simply referred to it as the ocean or the sea.

A significant part of the city's trade relied on fishing and copper mining. Copper, in particular, played a crucial role not just in industry but also in the city's appearance. It was commonly used to create paint, which was why so many of Velthoria's buildings were painted red.

Kael watched as the meadows gradually gave way to the outskirts of the city. Civilization was beginning to take shape around him. People moved about, carrying tools and supplies, while horse-drawn carriages rumbled along the roads, kicking up small clouds of dust. The once open landscape was now dotted with signs of daily life, the distant hum of activity growing louder with each step he took..

"It must be even more atmospheric in summer."Kael reached for a nearby tree, plucked one of its spring leaves, studied it for a moment, then let it slip through his fingers.

The outskirts quickly faded behind him as the charming city of Velthoria unfolded around him. The streets were alive with movement, the buildings tightly packed yet inviting. Along the way, Kael offered a few polite nods to passing strangers, blending in without drawing attention.

Kael paused briefly, observing his surroundings as he allowed himself a moment to adjust to the new city. He quickly sorted through his thoughts, reviewing the key tasks he wanted to achieve today. He had already decided not to seek out Syleena immediately; instead, he planned to first explore Velthoria, touring the streets and carefully noting the city's layout, landmarks, and important locations. It was better to familiarize himself with the city first, knowing its structure and having a clear mental map would undoubtedly serve him well later.

'This way.'

With no knowledge of the city's layout, Kael had chosen a road at random and decided to follow it.

He resumed his pace, heading deeper into the city. The streets grew livelier the further he went, lined with shops, stalls, and passersby caught up in their daily routines. Merchants called out to advertise their wares, the scent of freshly baked bread blending with the salty breeze drifting in from the nearby lake.

Kael walked steadily, his gaze drifting from one detail to the next without ever lingering too long.

He only stopped when a small building came into view.

It was painted in the same deep red as many of the others around it, blending almost seamlessly into the city's aesthetic. White-trimmed windows framed its front, offering a clean contrast to the wood. At the entrance stood two ceramic pots, one on either side of the door, overflowing with a cascade of bright, delicate flowers. Their petals shifted gently in the breeze, the colors soft yet striking against the red backdrop.

This was one of the places Syleena visited regularly. A small, unassuming café near the center of the city.

Kael paused outside for a moment before stepping in.

The instant he crossed the threshold, a wave of rich aromas met him, freshly brewed coffee, warm bread, sweet pastries, all blending into a single, welcoming scent.

Golden light filtered through the windows, casting a soft glow across the wooden interior. It touched the floor, the tabletops, the shelves lined with jars and books, warming the space with an almost nostalgic calm. The low hum of conversation drifted through the air, interspersed with the faint clink of ceramic cups and the soft turning of paper.

He moved to the counter, placed his orde, then made his way to a corner table near the window. A cup of dark coffee and a familiar pastry sat before him moments later.

Kael exhaled slowly, fingers curling around the warm ceramic. The heat sank into his skin, steadying him. He took a sip, bold, slightly bitter, exactly as he liked it. It was long overdue.

For a while, he simply sat there, letting the stillness wash over him. The world outside the glass moved on without him, people passing, voices fading, but within the café, time seemed to slow. The golden light, the quiet murmur, the warmth in his chest, it was a fragile peace, untouched by calculation or caution.

Moments like this were rare. And that's what made them dangerous

But moments like these could not last.

'I better get going.'

Setting the empty cup down, he let out a quiet sigh and rose to his feet. He adjusted his coat, gave one last glance around the café, and then stepped back out onto the bustling streets continuing his tour of the city.

As he wandered through Velthoria, he found himself passing by all kinds of places, intricate fountains where people gathered, old monuments that stood as reminders of the city's history, and open parks where the air felt fresher.

He strolled past bustling plazas filled with merchants shouting over one another. Street performers played instruments or juggled for coin, while kids darted between the crowd, laughing as they played. In quieter corners, people lounged on stone benches, lost in books or casual conversation.

Eventually, Kael reached the shoreline.

It wasn't a beach, only smooth cliffstone stretching as far as the eye could see.

'These stones must be as old as time itself, to be carved so cleanly by nature alone.'

He nudged a loose pebble with his boot, watching it bounce along the stone before rolling to a stop.

Stepping onto the cliff's edge, he continued along the coast.

He hadn't walked far before a lone bench came into view, perched on a ledge overlooking the lake.

He made his way over and sat down.

Before him, the lake stretched wide and endless, its surface glowing with the light of the setting sun. The water rippled softly, mirroring the sky in molten streaks of amber and gold.

'This is one of the places Syleena should visit everyday at a specific hour.'

Kael let his fingers glide across the worn wooden bench, as his thoughts drifted.

He lingered, letting the view etch itself into his memory, then rose from the bench and continued on.

He passed through a few more key locations, etching them into memory before finally turning toward an inn for the night. When he stepped inside, he placed a few gold coins on the counter, then made his way upstairs.

The room was small and unremarkable with no extra decorations or luxury, but it was clean, and more importantly, quiet. A single bed, a desk, and just enough space to breathe. He slipped off his coat, hanging it carefully on a lone wooden hook, and moved to the bathroom.

The faucet creaked as he turned it, and soon the tub began to fill. The steady stream of water echoed faintly in the stillness of the room.

'I'm getting tired.'

He sat on the edge of the bath, massaging his temples gently with his thumb and forefinger.

When Kael finally eased into the water, the heat hit him like a slow exhale. The tension in his shoulders began to slip away, dissolving into the rising steam. For once, he let his thoughts wander, not toward strategy or risk, just into whatever surfaced.

Time slipped by unnoticed, and Kael had to catch himself from drifting off entirely. Eventually, he forced his limbs to move, rising from the bath with slow, reluctant motions. After drying off, he walked into the bedroom and let gravity do the rest, falling onto the bed without resistance.

He turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling, eyes unfocused, mind empty.

But before he knew it, sleep had already taken him.