Chương 84: those who stand apart

Vale looked at Callum, his eyes slightly widened. He had already thought Callum seemed like a genuinely good person, but hearing him dismiss praise so casually, so sincerely, was something else entirely. It didn't feel rehearsed. There was no humility worn for show, no practiced modesty. Callum truly meant it. That, more than anything, unsettled Vale. What surprised him even more was realizing that Callum wasn't just heroic, he was known.

To earn a title, to be recognized across divisions and ranks, meant standing apart from thousands of others just as strong, just as determined. Vale let out a quiet chuckle to himself.

'Right…' he thought.

'Callum was never ordinary to begin with.' As his thoughts settled, Callum waved the guard off with a friendly nod. The man straightened, saluted once more, and quickly disappeared back into the flow of soldiers. Vale watched him go, studying him with a more analytical gaze. The guard was a Visorian, just like him. But the energy was different. If Vale had to estimate, the man sat comfortably within the third tier of power. A Pathforger.

The first rank where one was no longer dependent on others to carve their way forward. Those individuals didn't simply follow established routes through power, they created their own. Third-rank fractures were already rare. Fourth-rank Gates even more so. And full Rift formations beyond that required an absurd amount of energy to remain stable without tearing reality itself apart. The higher the rank, the rarer the battlefield. Vale exhaled slowly before turning back to Callum.

"Hey, Callum," he said, tilting his head slightly.

"When did you stop that Level Five Rift?" Callum hummed thoughtfully.

"About five years ago. Back when I was at the peak of being an Adept." Vale froze. His eyes widened. That shouldn't have been possible. From everything Vale had studied, only Great Elders and above were capable of matching the raw power output required to suppress a Level Five Rift. Adepts were an entire rank below that threshold. Vale frowned, confusion tightening his expression.

"What kind of team helped you?" Callum turned to him, clearly puzzled.

"Team?" He paused, then added calmly, "I work alone." Vale nearly shouted. He caught himself at the last second, clenching his jaw as he forced the reaction down. He cleared his throat, struggling to sound composed.

"I, sorry," Vale said carefully.

"But how did you manage that? Even at the absolute peak of Adept rank, you would've been nearly ten times weaker than the weakest Category Five Spawn." Callum stared at him for a moment. Then he laughed, open, loud, and utterly unbothered.

"Well," he said, still chuckling, "there was only one Spawn. So I managed." The laughter faded gradually, replaced by a quieter tone.

"I did break nearly every bone in my body stopping that lobster, though." He said it so casually, like he was commenting on an old injury from training. Vale said nothing. He stared at Callum, wide-eyed, trying to process what he had just heard. His fist tightened unconsciously as he looked down at the floor, his thoughts scrambling to realign. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. After a few seconds, Vale looked back up.

"So… why did that guard call you Shining Knight?" he asked, deliberately steering the conversation elsewhere. Callum blinked, then smiled faintly.

"Ah. Right. I suppose you wouldn't know if you've only studied the basics of planes so far." Vale raised a brow.

"Sorry?"

"Shining Knight is my Acknowledgement," Callum explained.

"An Acknowledgement is essentially an enigma recognizing someone and formally knighting them, granting an official title." Vale listened intently.

"I received mine after clearing my third Trial," Callum continued.

"The Trial was called Acceleration." Vale absorbed that silently.

"Acknowledgements are extremely rare," Callum added.

"Roughly one in a million. Some people believe they simply mark potential. Others believe they guide fate itself." Vale tilted his head.

"Do Acknowledgements have additional effects?" Callum considered the question.

"That depends. Some do. Some don't. Some people wish they didn't." Vale blinked.

"Wish they didn't?" Callum nodded slowly.

"Some do their jobs a little too well." Vale looked up, surprised.

"What do you mean?" Callum glanced ahead, then explained, "Take Brother Fe as an example. His Acknowledgement is called Force of Truth." Vale listened carefully.

"As long as his eyes are exposed, his power continuously increases. When his eyes are closed, he weakens." Vale frowned slightly.

"That sounds balanced. Our eyes are half-open most of the time, right?" Callum shook his head.

"No." His tone grew more serious.

"His power grew at such an alarming rate that the gravitational pressure he produced flattened mountains simply by standing near them. Entire landscapes collapsed under his presence." Vale's breath caught.

"As a result," Callum continued, "he now wears a blindfold permanently. He's afraid that if he doesn't, his power will grow beyond his control." Vale's eyes widened slowly.

"I see," he murmured. He glanced down, his mind already racing, trying to categorize, theorize, and understand the implications of such Acknowledgements. Before he could spiral further, Evelyn's voice cut in.

"Hey! Looks like our table's ready. Let's go." Callum turned toward her with a gentle smile.

"Of course, love." Vale nodded quietly and followed as they walked, his thoughts heavier than before. As a server escorted them through the dimly lit restaurant, Vale allowed his thoughts to drift, only for them to shift abruptly when they reached their destination. Or rather, their destinations. Evelyn had ordered two tables. One was clearly arranged for herself and Callum, positioned close together and partially shielded by a decorative divider.

The other, set just beside it, stood alone, unmistakably reserved for Vale. Though the tables were adjacent, the separation was obvious. Vale hesitated for half a second, the realization leaving a faint, unexpected sting. He hadn't expected to feel excluded, but he did. Evelyn noticed immediately.

"Nothing personal, Vale," she said, frowning slightly.

"I just want some semi-private time with Callum for now. He's done quite a bit without telling me." Vale exhaled softly. He nodded instead of responding and took his seat without complaint. As he settled into the chair, a waiter approached, an older man in his late thirties, sporting a neatly groomed curly mustache and an air of quiet professionalism.

"May I ask what you would like to drink, sir?" the waiter asked politely. Vale barely thought about it.

"Water, please." The waiter nodded and scribbled it down.

"As you wish, sir. Here is today's menu." Vale accepted the menu with a respectful nod as the waiter departed. He opened it and scanned the options carefully. Some dishes were familiar, others entirely foreign, bearing names he had never heard before. After a moment of consideration, he closed the menu just as the waiter returned with his water.

"Excuse me," Vale said quickly, stopping him.

"Would it be alright if I placed my order now?"

"Of course, sir." Relief flickered across Vale's expression.

"I'll have the lobster." The waiter nodded once, jotted it down, and disappeared again. Vale leaned back slightly and took a sip of his water. It was cool and refreshing, clean in a way that suggested it had been drawn straight from a natural spring rather than purified artificially. He didn't drink much. His mind wandered again, drifting between thoughts of Trials, Acknowledgements, and power. When his meal finally arrived, he accepted it with calm precision and began eating slowly. The lobster was excellent.

The flavors were complex, sweet, savory, rich, and subtly spiced. Vale found himself smiling faintly as he worked through the dish, carefully separating the meat with his silverware and savoring each bite. He finished the meal methodically, wiping his mouth clean once he was done. Leaning back in his chair, Vale glanced over at Evelyn and Callum. They were still eating, talking quietly, their expressions relaxed and warm. He looked away again and closed his eyes, extending his awareness throughout the restaurant.

For just a second. He was pleasantly surprised. Every person inside, clients, waiters, cooks, possessed power. Not all of it was strong, but it was unmistakably there. This wasn't just a place for soldiers. It was a place for people who lived on the edge of danger. Vale opened his eyes and looked down toward the corner of his table. Ember and the three small ravens were happily devouring the bits of lobster he had left behind. Their movements were clumsy but enthusiastic, clearly enjoying the meal. Vale blinked.

'I didn't think they'd be able to eat real meat yet,' he thought, watching them with quiet fascination. A small smile settled on his face as he continued observing them, waiting patiently for Evelyn and Callum to finish both their food and their discussion. Eventually, they did. Vale reached for his phone and checked the time. His jaw dropped slightly. It was eight in the evening. They had been eating for nearly three hours.