The path of lust—and now, every beautiful woman was more than a glance. They were temptation. They were power. They were prey.
Before his mind could spiral any further into those dangerous fantasies, they finally reached the town hall. Kael let out a slow, shaky breath, barely holding back the flush burning across his cheeks.
"Thank the gods," he muttered silently, the tension in his chest easing slightly.
But it wasn't quiet enough.
Tanya turned slightly, her soft green eyes narrowing with playful curiosity.
"Did you say something, Kael?" she asked, tilting her head just a little—just enough to make the curve of her neck visible.
Kael froze, his back straightening as if he had been caught red-handed.
"No, uh… no, Aunty. Nothing," he whispered awkwardly, eyes darting away from her face—and quickly not down her body again.
But her eyes lingered on him for a second too long. And that somehow made it worse.
Her lips shifted into a small smile before she turned back to the doors of the hall.
Kael's heart thudded in his chest.
Had she noticed?
Had she felt his eyes on her? The heat of his stare on her ass, her tits, her everything?
He clenched his jaw and followed inside, trying to bury the ache growing low in his gut. But now, even her voice stayed with him.
The atmosphere inside the town hall was buzzing with noise and movement. Parents stood beside their children, some chatting in low tones, others nervously eyeing the surroundings.
Youngsters lined up with anticipation in their eyes, each one waiting for their turn to step up and test their magical affinity. It felt like the whole village had gathered here.
Kael scanned the crowd until his eyes landed on a familiar figure.
Eva.
She stood out even among the crowd, dressed in a plain red gown that hugged her petite figure perfectly. Her hair was tied back, and she was smiling softly as she talked to the person next to her.
Kate.
Kael's mood dipped slightly.
Kate—Eva's older sister—was someone Kael never quite figured out how to deal with. Their conversations had always been short, cold, and mechanical. Not once had she shown even the barest hint of friendliness. And Kael had never pushed to change that, mainly because he could feel how uncomfortable she was whenever Eva was around him.
In fact, it was more than just discomfort. It was disapproval.
Kate made no effort to hide her disdain. Every time Eva so much as touched Kael's arm or leaned in to talk to him, Kate's expression would sour—her nose wrinkling slightly, her lips thinning as if the very sight offended her.
And that made things awkward. Eva was warm, cheerful, and full of life—one of Kael's few real friends. But in presence of Kate, Kael often kept his distance.
Still, today wasn't about dealing with Kate.
He gave Eva a small smile and a nod from afar, silently acknowledging her before returning his focus to the task at hand: his registration.
Ting ting—
A bell rang through the crowded hall, cutting all the conversations short. The chatter fell into complete silence and everyone's eyes turned toward the raised platform at the front.
"Cough, cough... Welcome, everyone."
An aged voice filled the room, and soon the speaker emerged from behind the curtains. An old man with few white hair, slightly hunched posture, and a face of wisdom stood in front of everyone.
Despite his appearance, he radiated a commanding presence. It was the kind of aura that made even the unruliest child fall silent without a word.
"Village Mayor," Kael whispered to himself, immediately recognizing the figure.
The old man stepped forward, and just behind him came another man—slightly younger, perhaps in his thirties. He was tall, dressed neatly in a fitted dress.
His features were sharp, and the way he carried himself screamed nobility, despite being born in a village.
Kael guessed this was the head's son—the one Alaric had mentioned earlier.
The village head took the center stage and raised a hand gently. The atmosphere quietened even further.
"Children," he began, his voice carrying across the room without any magical aid, "are the blessings given to us by the gods. Each of us here—be it sword or staff, man or woman—once walked in your shoes. Time passed, and we grew—some into fathers, mothers, warriors… and a few of us into men burdened with duty."
His eyes slowly scanned the crowd.