Recaps

Sylutia woke in an unfamiliar forest and survived an attack by a Dire Wolf, while strange knowledge about the world surfaced in her mind. She reached a medieval village at sunset and realized she was in a different world, far from home.

• Sylutia dodged a Red Wolf’s attack, then killed it by forcing a branch down its throat and pinning it until it stopped moving.
• Sylutia recognized the wolf as a creature touched by Blazing Sun Aspect Power, though she did not know why knowledge of the world was appearing in her mind.
• Sylutia left the wolf behind and continued through the forest, recalling her childhood visits to her grandparents’ mountain village and learning that her grandfather had died.
• Sylutia crossed the mountain until she saw cooking smoke and a village of stone and timber houses, fields, a windmill, and a beast-drawn carriage.
• Sylutia realized she was in another world and headed toward the village, wondering how far away her hometown was.

Sylutia, who had lost her memories, reached Linden Village and accepted shelter from Village Chief Ponder, giving her name as Tia. As Talia led her home, a cavalry patrol and a pack of supernatural wolves burst into the village, and the chapter ended as the battle began.

• Sylutia discovered her Fate Card, [Sleeping Maiden], and learned that the powers Radiant Moon and Emerald Nectar might awaken her lost past.
• Sylutia arrived in Linden Village, where Merchant Vandhi and Village Chief Ponder mistook her for a noblewoman.
• Sylutia asked for help and introduced herself as Tia; Village Chief Ponder offered her a room for the night and sent Talia to escort her.
• A cavalry patrol charged into the village and warned everyone to prepare for an attack as a pack of more than forty wolves approached.
• Sylutia recognized the leader as a mutated Forest Wolf empowered by Blazing Sun, while Talia pulled her toward shelter and a fighter struck at the giant wolf.

Sylutia and Talia sheltered from the wolf attack while the villagers used a Royal Authority School ritual array to weaken the crimson giant wolf. After the cavalry captain drove it away, Sylutia helped treat the wounded in Linden Village and grew closer to Talia.

• Talia led Sylutia into a defensive stone building, where they discussed the wind seasons and Talia suggested that Grandpa Heide might help Sylutia learn about the world.
• The village’s six-stone ritual array suppressed the crimson giant wolf’s Aspect Power, allowing Frien to wound it and drive it into the night before he and the villagers finished off the remaining Ti Wolves.
• The village chief learned that at least five or six people had died and that Frien’s cavalry had lost seven men during the journey and battle.
• Sylutia offered to treat the wounded, then cleaned and bandaged injuries and set broken bones with Talia’s help.
• Talia gave Sylutia a cotton cloth and praised her beauty as the two rested after working late into the night.

Sylutia explored Linden Village’s merchant caravan, learned about the surrounding region and Aspect Powers, and arranged to travel to Scorched Stone City with Vandhi’s help. Captain Frien taught her the Breathing Technique, which she began mastering unusually quickly, and offered to teach her weapon techniques as well.

• Sylutia ate breakfast, then Henry escorted her to the merchant caravan to look for something to cover her hair.
• Vandhi invited Sylutia into his carriage, offered her clothes and a place in his caravan to Scorched Stone City, and explained the region and its Aspect Powers.
• Captain Frien visited Sylutia, and she asked him to teach her the Breathing Technique; he agreed to train her while recovering in Linden Village.
• Sylutia helped care for the wounded cavalrymen and joined Frien’s lesson with Henry, Talia, and other village youths.
• Sylutia completed her first breathing cycle in half an hour, gaining 12 progress in the Breathing Technique.
• Frien demonstrated the technique’s combat value with a wooden sword and promised to teach Sylutia sword and spear techniques.

Sylutia trained in the Breathing Technique and swordsmanship in Linden Village, then prepared to leave for Scorched Stone City with Frien’s help. The chapter ended on the eve of her departure, with her equipped with a sword and introduction letter and ready to seek new opportunities.

• Sylutia practiced the Breathing Technique and swordsmanship, improving her perception, control, and skill progress.
• Sylutia trained Talia in Basic Swordsmanship, helping her improve and inspiring her to dream of becoming an adventurer.
• Frien announced that he would leave Linden Village and advised the trainees to seek him in Three Towers Town if they wished to join the patrol or cavalry.
• Frien gave Sylutia a refined iron sword and a letter of introduction to Miss Mailin at the Adventurer Guild in Scorched Stone City.
• Sylutia reviewed her newly mastered skills and Breathing Technique progress, then went to sleep before her planned journey to Scorched Stone City.

Sylutia traveled with Talia, Frien, and Vandhi’s caravan from Linden Village to River Stone Town, where the girls explored the market and spent the night at an inn. A thief broke into their room, but Sylutia defeated him and held him at swordpoint as the inn’s residents came to investigate.

• Frien borrowed two wagons from Old Ponder, who asked him to request bows and iron-jaw traps from Baron Holin in return.
• Sylutia and Talia left Linden Village with the cavalry and caravan, then reached River Stone Town in the afternoon.
• Sylutia and Talia browsed the market, bought local fruit, and returned to the inn after a young man watched them from a street corner.
• Sylutia read old guild notices while Talia explained the posted tasks, then both girls went to sleep.
• A thief picked the lock to Sylutia and Talia’s room and tried to steal Sylutia’s cloak, but Sylutia struck him with an Impact and confronted him with her sword.
• The thief fought back, but Sylutia disarmed him, pierced his shoulder, and forced him to kneel and beg for mercy.

After Sylutia and Talia caught a thief in their inn, Frien arranged to take him to Three Towers Town and explained the thief’s connection to Cold Mist Wine and Mist Shadow abilities. Sylutia continued toward Scorched Stone City with travel money and new knowledge about the Mist Shadow Aspect Power.

• Sylutia told Frien that the thief knew the Breathing Technique and a weak concealment ability, and Frien suspected he had learned them outside the Thieves' Guild.
• Sylutia persuaded Constable Mort to let Frien take the thief away by promising to praise Mort to Lord Xuefeng.
• Frien gave Sylutia a pouch of silver and showed her the thief’s diary and Cold Mist Wine, explaining how the wine could help someone learn Mist Shadow abilities.
• Sylutia declined to visit the hidden cave where the thief had found the items, then set out with Frien toward Scorched Stone City.
• At a crossroads, Sylutia parted from Frien and continued by carriage, studying the thief’s diary and learning how Mist Shadow related to the Radiant Moon.

Sylutia arrived in Scorched Stone City with Vandhi’s caravan and learned about the paths to gaining power in the Regas Kingdom. After settling into a house Vandhi provided, she experienced a strange sensation beneath the moon, which Talia said had briefly surrounded her with a veil of moonlight.

• Sylutia entered Scorched Stone City with Vandhi’s caravan and learned from Talia that adventurers took jobs from the local guild.
• Vandhi invited Sylutia to dinner, offered her an empty house, and explained how people could advance in Aspect Power through armies, guilds, and the Candlekeep School.
• Vandhi arranged for the house in the East District to be cleaned and furnished, and Sylutia settled in there with Talia.
• Sylutia gazed at the moon from the house’s yard and felt as if she could float toward it.
• Talia told Sylutia that she had briefly seen a veil of moonlight around her, and Sylutia wondered whether she had a strange connection to the moon.

Talia took Sylutia through Scorched Stone City’s East District while explaining local jobs and wages. At the Adventurers Guild, they learned that Jero’s party had returned with a First Order Red Wolf and dozens of Ti Wolf heads, leaving with their bounty and plans to celebrate.

• Talia told Sylutia about her sister Winnie’s work and the wages different jobs paid in Scorched Stone City.
• Sylutia noticed Jero, a muscular badge adventurer whose Blood Law Aspect Power and Brute Force abilities were visible to her.
• Jero and his companions brought several wolf heads, including a First Order Blazing Sun Red Wolf, into the Adventurers Guild.
• The guild paid Jero’s party sixty-four silver coins for the Red Wolf and thirty-one Ti Wolf heads, while Jero said someone had already reserved the pelt for eighty silver.
• Jero invited the receptionist for a drink, then led his companions to the Blood Pig Tavern to celebrate.

Talia brought Sylutia to visit her older sister Winnie, who discussed work and study options for both newcomers in Scorched Stone City. Ancher offered to ask Scholar Edson and advised Sylutia to study medicinal plants before seeking work at the Alchemist Guild.

• Talia introduced Sylutia to Winnie and her young son Randy at Winnie's home.
• Winnie explained that Sylutia's memory loss might involve a head injury or supernatural powers tied to the Moon Aspect, and suggested asking her teacher for more information.
• Winnie listed possible jobs for Talia, but explained that her lack of fitness and Breathing Technique limited her swordsmanship prospects.
• Sylutia asked about studying and finding work outside the public eye, then showed interest in jobs with the Alchemist Guild or Gardener Guild.
• Ancher offered to ask Scholar Edson about opportunities and recommended that Sylutia buy a medicinal-plant identification guide for about eight silver coins.
• After Talia and Sylutia left, Ancher and Winnie agreed to look for suitable work for Talia and discussed their family's future.

Sylutia enjoyed a peaceful afternoon before Talia returned with a melon, and the two shared the fruit. At dinner, Ancher told them about a courier job for Talia and a chance for Sylutia to study with the retired Scholar Heide next month, while Winnie arranged lessons for both girls starting the next morning.

• Sylutia bought a guide to identifying herbs and spent a quiet afternoon reading before falling asleep in the courtyard.
• Talia returned with a velvet leaf melon from Uncle Hook, and she and Sylutia shared it at home.
• At dinner, Ancher told Talia about a courier job that paid 2.4 silver coins and said Scholar Edson could not teach Sylutia.
• Ancher reported that Mr. Heide would probably begin teaching students next month, and Winnie offered to help Sylutia study until then.
• Winnie ordered Sylutia and Talia to come study every morning, and Talia reluctantly agreed.

Sylutia attended her first formal lesson with Winnie and demonstrated strong reading and arithmetic skills. While Winnie assessed Talia, Sylutia read about the founding of the Regas Kingdom and the Candlekeep School’s role in securing it.

• Winnie gave Sylutia a passage from The Rings of the Fir: The Past of the Mountain Kingdom to read aloud, and Sylutia read it clearly despite skipping a few unfamiliar local terms.
• Winnie praised Sylutia’s pronunciation and voice, giving her a score of 9.6 because she did not know some local expressions.
• Sylutia solved Winnie’s arithmetic worksheet in less than a minute, and Winnie found every answer correct.
• Winnie began assessing Talia while Sylutia read about Regard Buwelly’s conquest of the mountains and the founding of the Regas Kingdom.
• Sylutia learned how Candlekeep scholars had helped stabilize the kingdom and formed a favorable impression of their contribution.

After finishing her lessons with Winnie, Sylutia explored Scorched Stone City with Talia and visited the Adventurers Guild. There, she watched Jero's party accept a bounty to hunt mutated otters.

• Winnie taught Sylutia about currency, the Regas Kingdom, local trade, and everyday prices, then declared her lessons complete.
• Winnie sent Talia to accompany Sylutia on a walk through Scorched Stone City.
• Sylutia asked Talia about the Adventurers Guild, and the two went inside to inspect its bounty board.
• Jero explained the dangers of hunting mutated otters and led his party to accept the bounty, paying the required deposit.

Sylutia and Talia met Mailin at the Adventurers Guild, where she explained the challenges of becoming an alchemist and recommended gardening as a more practical temporary occupation. Sylutia decided to pursue gardening, and Mailin offered to help her get started.

• Sylutia observed the Adventurers Guild and reviewed her progress in Breathing Technique, swordsmanship, and spearmanship.
• Sylutia introduced herself to Mailin with Frien’s letter, and Mailin recognized Talia as Old Ponder’s granddaughter.
• Mailin explained why adventurers often left the profession and described the skills and training required to become an alchemist.
• Mailin recommended gardening because it would take less time and leave Sylutia room to learn other abilities.
• Sylutia chose to work as a gardener, and Mailin offered to find her a gardening book and connect her with Lady Falan.

Yero returned to Scorched Stone City after struggling to fit in while studying in Valley City, and Scholar Heide agreed to teach him again. Heide told him that his new classmate would be Iona, the imprisoned former Viscount Callen’s daughter, and framed learning to deal with her as a test of Yero’s readiness for the scholar’s path.

• Yero arrived at Scholar Heide’s residence and waited until Heide woke from his nap.
• Yero explained that he had been unhappy and out of place during two years of study in Valley City, and Heide welcomed him back.
• Heide revealed that Viscount Xuefeng had asked him to teach Iona, the seventeen-year-old daughter of the disgraced Viscount Callen.
• Heide explained Iona’s family history and told Yero that learning to deal with her would prepare him to work among nobles.
• Yero accepted Heide’s challenge and vowed to consider how he would get along with Iona.

Sylutia sought out Emerald Dew Water and began learning the Dew Prayer Technique so she could cultivate Swan Orchids and pursue gardening. After preparing her backyard and planting the seeds, she produced her first drop of dew, beginning the technique’s training.

• Sylutia received a gardening notebook and Swan Orchid seeds from Mailin and decided to learn the Dew Prayer Technique.
• Sylutia used five silver coins to order Emerald Dew Water from the Gardener Guild under the name Tia.
• Sylutia loosened the backyard soil, removed weeds, and planted the Swan Orchid seeds.
• Sylutia collected her Emerald Dew Water order and learned that the bottle held about thirty drops at ten-percent watering ratios.
• At dawn, Sylutia used the Emerald Dew Water as a guide and produced one drop of dew, raising her Dew Prayer Technique progress to 6/100.

Sylutia completed the basics of the Dew Prayer Technique and met Scholar Heide, who accepted her as his student and explained the challenges of studying the Radiant Moon Aspect to recover her memories. After dining with Heide and Talia, Sylutia prepared to begin lessons the following Monday.

• Sylutia mastered the Dew Prayer Technique after a week of practice and received a message from Winnie asking her to meet Scholar Heide.
• Talia accompanied Sylutia to Heide's home, where Heide welcomed her and said lessons would begin the following Monday without giving her a test.
• Heide explained that Mist Shadow or Nightmare might have caused Sylutia's memory loss, and that Radiant Moon could help restore her memories but was difficult to study.
• Sylutia told Heide she knew the Breathing Technique and Dew Prayer Technique, and Heide offered to lend her gardening books and guided her in their conversation.
• Heide invited Sylutia and Talia to dinner, and Sylutia left his home ready to prepare for her studies.

Mick helped Jero's adventurer team capture a giant otter, then Jero decided to find him a teacher so he could study. After Mailin revealed that Scholar Heide was accepting students, Jero took Mick to seek admission, leaving Mick nervous but hopeful.

• Mick drove the last giant otter into the team's net, and the adventurers killed it and calculated their bounty earnings.
• Jero praised Mick's work and urged him to learn reading and clerical skills, but Mick wanted to become a powerful adventurer.
• Jero and Mick sparred until Mick ran out of strength, then they returned to the village for a victory feast.
• The Mountain Beast Adventurer Team returned to Scorched Stone City and collected its bounty from Mailin.
• Jero asked Mailin for a teacher for Mick, and she told him that Scholar Heide was about to accept students.
• Jero took Mick away to pursue a place with Scholar Heide, and Mick grew excited at the prospect.

Sylutia disguised herself to avoid attention before beginning lessons with Scholar Heide. At the first gathering, she met the other students, including Yero, Mick, and the noble newcomer Iona, and Heide began the day's instruction.

• Sylutia dyed her silver hair black, dressed plainly, and wore glasses to conceal her appearance from powerful people in Scorched Stone City.
• A group of young people gathered at Scholar Heide's residence, where some mocked Yero for returning from Valley City.
• Mick arrived with his adventurer companions and joined the waiting students.
• Iona arrived from White Cliff City in a lavish carriage and drew everyone's attention.
• Scholar Heide greeted Iona, and she noticed Sylutia standing beside him without recognizing her.
• Scholar Heide gathered the students in the front hall and began the first lesson.

Scholar Heide taught his students about the world’s origins and its seasons, while Sylutia and the other students began getting to know one another during their afternoon break. Sylutia grew closer to Comia and Karen, while Iona’s questions about powerful Transcendents left Valenie flustered.

• Scholar Heide had Yero explain that the continents and Heavenly Courtyard formed from ancient great fish, and then taught the students about the continent’s four seasons.
• Comia introduced herself to Sylutia, and Karen joined them; the three commoner girls began chatting during the afternoon break.
• Baron tried to court Iona with a flower, but she dismissed him and asked Valenie about notable Transcendents in Scorched Stone City.
• Valenie praised her father, Knight Levin, but Iona refused to consider him and grew gloomy as she thought about her father and the Battle of the Windmill.
• Karen told Sylutia and Comia how her village helped her move to Scorched Stone City, where she worked at the market and an arrow-making workshop.
• Sylutia, Comia, and Karen continued talking and gradually became more familiar with one another.

At Viscount Xuefeng's training ground, Baron and Solin's sword match sparked a brawl between noble and commoner students. After the injured students received treatment, an instructor began assessing their fundamentals and correcting their techniques.

• Viscount Xuefeng and Scholar Heide watched Baron and Solin spar and discussed Solin's soldier father and the possibility of recruiting him as an instructor.
• Solin disarmed and knocked Baron down, and the insulted noble started a brawl that drew in students from both sides.
• Iona and Valenie watched, while Comia persuaded Karen to keep away from the fight and protect Tia.
• After the brawl ended, Sylutia treated Mick and the other injured students, revealing she had learned to tend wounds in her village.
• An instructor told the students to challenge him one by one so he could assess their swordsmanship and footwork.

At Scholar Heide’s training session, Sylutia learned by watching the students spar while Coach Burke tested their combat skills. Iona’s Golden Needle Sword Technique impressed the group, and Sylutia was spared from taking her turn when the training was interrupted.

• Solin showed crisp swordsmanship, while Baron’s and Ray’s rougher techniques drew criticism from Coach Burke.
• Sylutia gained Basic Swordsmanship and Military Swordsmanship proficiency as she studied the sparring.
• Coach Burke criticized Valenie’s poor sword skills, praised Karen’s bold spear attack, and ordered Comia to run ten laps because she lacked combat training.
• Iona fought Coach Burke with the Golden Needle Sword Technique, but he shattered her wooden sword with Steel Edge Sharp Blade.
• Sylutia wondered whether to fight while keeping a low profile, but someone interrupted the training before she had to take her turn.

Viscount Xuefeng encouraged the students to focus on their training by offering valuable prizes for the upcoming examination. As the students grew more diligent and familiar with one another, Comia told Tia about secret arts, powerful professionals, and Witches.

• Viscount Xuefeng praised the students and promised a Crimson-Dyed Cloak to the examination winner and Red Wolf Boots to the second- and third-place students.
• The students trained and studied with greater enthusiasm, and even the noble students stopped picking fights with Solin and the others.
• Solin invited Mick to spar while Comia, Tia, and Karen headed toward the archery range during their break.
• Comia explained to Tia that Scholar Heide knew secret arts and described how guilds, mentors, nobles, and powerful Witches were connected to advanced training.
• Karen joined the conversation and told Comia and Tia about hunting in the mountains with her father.

Scholar Heide explained how Royal Authority depended on population, strength, and economy, then revealed that he and Viscount Xuefeng could recommend students to the Secret Forest in the Regas Kingdom. The students became eager to compete for a place there, while Iona saw it as her chance to gain power and free her father.

• Scholar Heide described how high-ranking Transcendents could overwhelm ordinary forces and explained that different Aspect Powers had their own practitioners and secret schools.
• Heide revealed that Candlekeep was one such organization and that he and Viscount Xuefeng could each recommend a student to the Secret Forest every year.
• Heide warned that the Secret Forest offered paths beyond Fifth Order but stripped entrants of their identities and left them beyond the protection of ordinary law.
• Iona recalled that she had come to Scorched Stone City to pursue its recommendation and hoped to gain enough power to secure her father's release.
• Mick vowed to enter the Secret Forest, while Yero, Solin, and Sylutia each considered what the opportunity could mean for them.
• The students' enthusiasm returned as they resolved to pursue a chance at a greater future.

Scholar Heide taught Sylutia and the other students about the Covenant Era and the history of the world's ages. Later, Sylutia explained a difficult lesson about the Radiant Moon and Phantom Moon to Comia, who left feeling less clever than she had thought.

• Scholar Heide explained how the Fairy Monarch and the Hours established the Covenant and described the eras leading to the year 2145.
• Valenie borrowed Sylutia's notes and offered her clerical work in Wheatfield Town after graduation.
• Comia struggled with Scholar Heide's lesson while Karen said she only wanted to learn the subjects needed to become a hunter.
• Comia asked Sylutia about the Radiant Moon and Phantom Moon, and Sylutia explained how Mist Shadow and Nightmare depended on the Radiant Moon.
• Comia understood the explanation but felt stupid afterward.