Chapter 40: The Veil That Watches
A few minutes had passed when Fate, Kyle, and Autumn entered the bathhouse after Isabelle, Chloe, and Lisa.
The bathhouse had a big circular pool that had a small white statue in the middle of it, resembling a woman holding a seashell, which was where the water comes out.
Fate was resting inside the pool with a towel on top of his head, while Kyle and Autumn were washing themselves.
Fate felt as if every bit of fatigue in his body was fading away the moment he got into the pool.
(Sigh… this is very relaxing…)
Fate began to submerge himself in the water, the feeling of every problem that he had before he transmigrated into this world completely disappearing as it took over him.
Suddenly—
His hand was pulled up by someone.
Fate was surprised, and when he saw who pulled him, he saw Kyle Ashensteel—and beside him was Autumn Greenwoods.
Fate was confused and asked,
"What do you think you doing…?"
Kyle then replied to him,
"What do I think I'm doing? I should be the one asking that."
Fate was confused by what Kyle said.
"Huh…? What do you mean?"
Kyle asked him as he let go of Fate.
"What were you doing, submerging yourself for like… I don't know… twenty minutes?"
Fate couldn't process what Kyle was saying.
"Twenty minutes…? But I'm sure that I just put myself under the water for ten seconds."
Autumn commented on what Fate said,
"You weren't answering for the entire twenty minutes, so we thought something happened to you…"
Fate then held his head with his hand and closed his eyes.
"I might not have noticed that I was under the water for that long due to my tiredness…"
Autumn then said with a concerned tone that they should get off the bath,
"I think it's best for us to get dressed now and go to our rooms."
Fate agreed with what Autumn suggested.
"Right…"
The three of them then got out of the bath and began to dry themselves using their towels before putting on their clothes.
While putting on his clothes, Fate tried to find the reason for his unusual condition.
(What's happening to me? I keep spacing out ever since me and the others completed the dungeon, The Hollow Bone Cemetery.)
Fate let out a heavy sigh as he finished dressing.
After a few moments, Fate and his friends ate dinner with Vale, Elizabeth, Emily, and Morgan.
While everyone was talking and chattering, Fate was beginning to space out again, his mind drifting elsewhere.
Then suddenly—
Someone poked Fate on the left side.
Fate didn't overreact—he was just startled.
Fate turned to his left and saw Chloe, who had a concerned expression.
Chloe whispered to Fate with worry,
"Hey… are you alright…?"
Fate didn't respond immediately, but after a second, he assured Chloe that he was fine.
"…Yeah… I'm just a bit tired…"
Even after Fate told Chloe that he was alright, Chloe was still concerned for him.
After dinner, Fate immediately went to his room and closed the door. Kyle, Isabelle, Chloe, Lisa, and Autumn were guided by a servant to the room that they will be staying at.
Fate sat on his bed and took out Aetherfall from his storage ring.
Fate held Aetherfall by its sheath and asked a question within his mind.
(Hey… I've been feeling very tired lately… do you have any idea why…?)
Aetherfall answered his wielder and explained the reason for Fate's condition.
(It is due to using my signature skill, Heavenly Reversal. In other words, this is the side effect of using my skill…)
Fate listened to Aetherfall and asked another question.
(Why didn't you tell me before I used it?)
Aetherfall tried to save himself and came up with an excuse.
(…I-it's because of… t-the situation… Yes! It's because of the situation that I couldn't tell you before…)
Fate grew suspicious and looked at Aetherfall intensely.
Aetherfall—even though he was physically just a blade—felt like he was sweating nervously.
Fate put Aetherfall aside and lay down on his bed.
He slept through the quiet night.
In the morning, Fate and his friends went to the Capital, and surprisingly, someone came with them.
It was a woman with a beautiful appearance—her hair was black as the night sky, her horns were blue like the ocean, and she sat in the carriage with her tall figure.
It was none other than Fate's aunt—
Morgan Kindspring.
Morgan kept looking at the road through the carriage window.
Fate was sitting on the opposite side of the carriage.
Isabelle tapped Fate's shoulder to get his attention and whispered.
"Fate… isn't that your aunt…?"
Fate confirmed quietly,
"Yes… why…?"
"Why is your aunt coming along with us…?" Isabelle asked softly.
Fate then closed his eyes and recalled a few hours earlier before they left for the Capital.
Fate was heading to Vale's office in order to inform him that he and his friends were going to the Capital.
He was about to knock on the door when it suddenly opened before his hand could even make contact.
Fate noticed and was slightly startled.
The one who opened the door was Vale, who noticed Fate standing in front of him.
Vale asked.
"Son? What are you doing here?"
Fate told Vale his reason.
"Father, I'm here to inform you that me and my friends would like to go to the Capital and buy some things."
Vale listened, and after Fate finished explaining, he spoke.
"Going to the Capital, huh…? Perfect timing. I have a favor to ask you."
"A favor?" Fate asked in confusion.
"Yes," Vale confirmed.
"I was wondering what to do with your aunt—my eldest sister—since she said she will be staying here for a while. I want you to bring her along with you to the Capital."
Fate wasn't so sure about bringing his aunt along, as they might attract too much attention.
But in the end—he accepted.
Fate opened his eyes after recalling everything and let out a sigh inside the carriage.
He answered Isabelle's earlier question,
"Let's just say… this is me getting to know my aunt more."
Isabelle, who was sitting beside him, didn't fully understand what he meant.
Suddenly—
The carriage stopped moving, and the door opened.
Isaac was the one driving the carriage—and the one who opened the door.
One by one, all of them got off the carriage and set foot on the busy Capital.
Fate looked at Kyle, and they met eyes—both of them nodded at each other.
Fate then called the attention of his friends and his aunt.
"Everyone, how about we split up?"
"Again?" Chloe said.
Fate explained his reasoning.
"If we all go in one group, it might take too much time. But if we split into smaller groups, it will be more efficient."
They all thought about it—and ultimately agreed.
They began to form groups.
When Lisa was about to go with Fate, he stopped her and said,
"Sorry, Lisa. Me and Kyle plan to go together."
Lisa looked down. From everyone's perspective, she looked like an abandoned cat.
Chloe then placed her hand on Lisa's shoulder and said.
"Alright then, me and Lisa will look around together."
Chloe smiled brightly at Lisa, who was still feeling down.
Isabelle and Autumn decided to explore together as well.
After finalizing everything—
Fate spoke to his aunt,
"Aunt Morgan, you should come with me and Kyle."
Morgan agreed cheerfully,
"Alright then, little ones. Show me the way…!"
Morgan was clearly in a joyful mood.
Fate, Kyle, and Morgan went to the weaponry shop where Fate got Aetherfall.
Fate led the way and entered the shop first.
The moment they entered, they were greeted by the same shop owner Fate had met before.
The shop owner noticed Fate and spoke.
"Oh! Aren't you the gentleman from before?"
Fate was surprised.
"You remembered me?"
The shop owner said that he remembers Fate clearly for a reason.
"Of course! How could I not remember you? You were the first one to buy one of my swords that no one paid attention to."
The shop owner greeted all of them.
"Nice to meet you, dear customers."
He then turned to Fate.
"What brings you here again? Do you need another weapon?"
Fate shook his head.
"We came here to buy a weapon—but not for me."
He pointed at Kyle.
"It's for my friend."
"I see… feel free to look around." Said by the shop owner.
Kyle began browsing.
Meanwhile—
Fate closed his eyes and focused all his senses, trying to find the same feeling he had when he sensed Aetherfall's presence.
But—
To no avail.
He found nothing.
They left the shop empty-handed.
Fate apologized while they left the weapon shop.
"I'm sorry for not finding anything…"
Kyle replied calmly,
"Don't worry about it. I still have my Vanguard."
As they walked, Morgan suddenly spoke,
"Little one… your name is Kyle, right?"
"Yes, ma'am," Kyle replied formally.
Morgan pointed toward a nearby stall.
"I seem to be sensing something from that stall. It might be useful for you."
They approached it.
An iron longsword.
Simple.
Ordinary.
Kyle spoke with the stall owner and decided to buy it.
While Kyle was buying the sword—
Something caught Fate's attention.
An ominous stall.
Fate looked at the items—and saw a black crow mask.
Matte black surface resembling a crow's beak. Slightly elongated and sharp, like a plague doctor mask. Subtle feather-like engravings across the surface. Thin, vein-like lines that glow dim violet when a powerful mana is in contact. Eye sockets emit a faint, ghostly shimmer.
Fate picked up the mask and activated his skill.
(Dragon Eyes.)
Nocturne Plagueveil
Rarity: Rare
– A sinister crow-shaped mask forged from shadow-infused materials. Its hollow eye sockets faintly glow when active, giving the wearer an unsettling presence—ironically while erasing their actual existence from perception.
Skill:
Veil of Unseen Omen
– The mask suppresses the wearer's presence across multiple layers.
Effects:
• Conceals mana signature completely (from most detection skills of equal or lower rank)
• Suppresses killing intent / malice
• Dulls emotional presence (fear, anger, hostility)
• Reduces spiritual footprint (harder to track by beasts or spirits)
Passive Effects:
• Diminished Awareness
• Reduces sound from movement
The stall owner noticed Fate and spoke,
"Young man… are you interested in that mask…?"
He continued,
"This mask is said to be crafted by a forgotten plague watcher—someone who walked battlefields unnoticed, observing death without being part of it. Crows, drawn to death, became its symbol—"
"…not as predators, but as silent witnesses."
After hearing the story, Fate decided.
"How much for this mask…?"
The store owner chuckled.
"How much do you think it's worth?"
Fate narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You're asking me to price it…? How unusual for a trader…"
He examined it again.
"How about one gold, three silver, and nine copper?"
The stall owner chuckled—and agreed.
Before Fate left, the owner warned him,
"Young man… before you go, I must say—I sell no ordinary items… only cursed objects."
Fate understood—and simply waved before leaving.
Fate regrouped with Morgan and Kyle.
They continued walking through the busy streets of the Capital.
Then—
The world stopped.
Everything froze.
Fate was the only one who could move.
(Huh?! Why is everyone not moving? No… more precisely… why did everything suddenly stop…?)
Fate was on high alert, glancing left and right.
Then—
A thread of light appeared out of nowhere.
Fate tensed and prepared himself.
He examined the thread carefully.
He didn't want to follow it—
But he had no other choice but to investigate the reason for the sudden stop of the time.
Realizing he has no option, Fate decided to follow the thread of pure light, slowly walking toward a dark alley.
The deeper he went—
The darker it became.
Until—
Only the thread remained visible.
Then—
A figure.
Wearing a white robe.
Standing still.
Fate slowly approached.
The closer he got—
The clearer the figure became.
Chapter 40 End