Malakai remained alert. Aside from the countless hostile glances he caught as they walked, he had already read the crowd earlier.
He knew full well that many couldn’t accept what had happened, that he had defeated their youths.
His vita field was active, scanning everything as he moved. He was ready for anything.
Luna spoke as they walked.
"This place is the Thornspire Grounds. It’s where we hold any important events, like the Drah’Morr."
Malakai listened, but his focus was split, half on Luna’s words, half on his surroundings.
As they reached the main coven area, he saw the Gor’khai preparing for the day. Their hos were carved into the massive trees, with no doors to speak of. Malakai could see through them easily.
n and won changed without concern, and children were being dressed and herded off to begin their morning.
Luna showed him several more places across the coven. The Gor’khai were primal, that was the vibe Malakai had gotten since the beginning of the tour.
There wasn’t a shred of technology. They shat in pits. They bathed in the open.
No lifeguards. No structured buildings. Nothing to mark signs of modern civilization.
There was only nature.
Their major activities were simple: hunting, taming beasts, training, scouting, and occasional ceremonial events, just like Luna had said.
There were other things too, but Malakai had chosen to leave them out.
Eventually, the group reached the middle of the coven, a place Malakai had been trying to reach since the very beginning.
The four of them stopped several ters away from the largest tree in the coven.
"This is the Vael’Haran," Luna explained. "As the coven head, my mother resides here. It’s the source of all life in this forest. It’s what makes the forest special... what allows us to thrive as a coven."
She spoke with the tone of a devout discussing their faith. Her eyes were warm as they gazed at the tree, and a soft smile was on her lips. Grunde’s arms were wrapped around her waist, as they had been since the tour began.
Luna had said a lot of things, but Malakai had only heard one. ’The source of everything.’
’What could be there?’ he wondered. He needed answers, and right now, only they could give him clues. But he had to be careful as any misstep could raise suspicion.
"I noticed it the first ti I was brought here," he said casually. "The energy in the air is stronger around the tree."
"Yes..." Luna replied, but Malakai didn’t miss the faint flicker of hesitation that passed through her gaze. Still, she didn’t elaborate.
’She’s being careful,’ Malakai realized. And he could guess why. Orders from her mother, most likely.
Though they had welcod him as one of their own, it was obvious they still didn’t trust him.
He was just about to turn away when Lina finally spoke from behind.
"Will you be participating in the Korr’Vekkah?"
Malakai noted the glare Luna imdiately sent toward her sister before he turned.
Lina had been silently following them throughout the tour. She hadn’t said a single word, until now.
"What?" Malakai asked.
Lina nodded, her expression firm. She ignored Luna’s warning glare and spoke.
"It’s a rite of passage for young Gor’khai. A way to show the coven that we’re ready to take on more important responsibilities."
Malakai frowned. He understood what she said, but he didn’t see how it concerned him. Why would he want responsibilities in a coven that wasn’t his?
Lina’s brows furrowed. "You won’t?" she asked. There’d been a flicker of excitent in her eyes when she brought it up. But now, Malakai’s lack of interest was clearly disappointing her.
"The rite is for youths who want more responsibility in the coven, Lina," Luna said quickly from the side. "I don’t think Malakai would be interested in that."
Lina was about to nod in agreent when Malakai cut in.
"I an..." he said, "what does it entail? And is gaining more responsibilities the only reward?"
He glanced at Luna, studying her expression.
’She doesn’t want to know sothing,’ he thought. Luna was easy to read. He saw all the subtle glances she was throwing Lina’s way, all the silent gestures telling her to stop talking.
"It changes every ti," Lina said, ignoring Luna again. "But most people do it to get a chance to drink from the Fountain of Lif—"
"Lina!"
Luna’s sudden shout cut her off. Lina turned toward her sister, puzzled.
"What?"
"Mother wants to see you for sothing."
"Mother?"
"Yes. Mother." Luna repeated, her tone sharper than usual. "Go. Now."
Lina blinked, clearly surprised by the firmness. She gave Malakai a short nod before walking away.
"Sorry about her, Malakai," Luna said. "Don’t let her force you into doing any—"
"I want to participate."
Luna froze, gaping at him.
"How do I do that?" Malakai asked.
Even Grunde raised an eyebrow. "Little bro wants to participate?"
"Um, I don’t think that’s a good idea..." Luna muttered, almost cursing her sister for opening her mouth.
"Why?"
"It’s for the youths of the coven and—"
"I’m a youth," Malakai said. "And according to your coven head, I’m one of your people. So I qualify."
Luna bit her lip. She looked visibly troubled.
Malakai didn’t say anything more. He didn’t need to. She had been right, he had no business participating in sothing like this. But he’d just discovered two valuable pieces of information.
First, Fountain of Life.
It could an a lot of things, but Malakai had already narrowed it down to one.
’A fountain of Vitaeon.’
He shuddered at the thought. He’d only ever drunk a vial of it, and his power had skyrocketed. If he gained access to an actual fountain... he couldn’t even begin to imagine the boost.
Second, the fountain was a reward for the competition.
There was no way in hell he was missing that.
Luna finally seed to gather herself. "Vaelik will be participating. Are you sure you still want to join?" she asked, her tone hopeful that he might change his mind.
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