Kaader had never been a very sociable person. Silent and discreet, he watched the world with piercing eyes, analyzing every detail without ever mingling with others. Yet, behind this mask of coldness, he hid an extraordinary intelligence, a brilliant mind capable of solving complex riddles in an instant. Unfortunately, his intelligence did not bring him success. He lived a banal life, chaining monotonous days in a small company where he held an insignificant position. His salary was miserable, barely enough to cover his needs. He watched his colleagues progress while he remained stuck in this hopeless routine. Few people noticed his potential, and he contented himself with observing the world without ever truly participating in it. One evening, as he returned exhausted from a long day at work, he sank into his thoughts, searching for a way to escape this dull existence. Lost in his reflections, he did not notice the gas leak that had spread in his small apartment. Distracted, he lit a lamp, triggering a sudden explosion. The explosion was instantaneous. Flames devoured everything in their path. Kaader didn’t even have time to react. A blinding light filled his vision, unbearable heat engulfed his body… then there was nothingness. But barely had he understood what was happening when a sensation of falling seized him. He abruptly opened his eyes and realized he was lying on a cold, hard ground. His body was naked, exposed to the horrified stares of passersby. Around him, rough stone buildings and dirt roads gave the impression of having gone back several centuries. There were no cars, no phones, only peasants and merchants dressed in rags or simple clothes. Cries erupted at once. “An escaped slave!” “A madman!” Kaader, lost and disoriented, tried to speak, but he didn’t even know which language to use. Before he could react, several strong men rushed at him. Fists rained down on his weakened body, and he felt a searing pain. Instinctively, he managed to break free and ran, his heart pounding in his ears. He slipped into a narrow, dark alley, trembling from the shock. There, among trash and cold stones, he found an old scrap of cloth that he wrapped around his waist to hide his nudity. His breath was short, his mind racing. Not knowing where to go, he forced himself to explore the city. Everywhere he passed, suspicious stares and whispers followed his steps. He found neither food nor shelter, and as night fell, his empty stomach ached painfully. Eventually, he found a secluded corner where several homeless people slept on the ground. Exhausted and hungry, he settled down quietly, hoping simply to survive this first night. But his ordeal was only beginning. The other vagrants, wary and hostile, quickly took him for an intruder. Insults burst out, and before he could react, a blow sent him crashing to the ground. “You bastard, get out!” A new rain of blows fell upon him, and Kaader, unable to defend himself, had to flee once again, seeking refuge in the cold shadows of the unknown city. Trembling and wounded, he then understood something essential: this world would give him no gifts. If he wanted to survive, he would have to fight. The next morning, rain fell. Frozen to the bone, Kaader took refuge in an almost empty alley. He raised his head and drank the rainwater directly from the sky, his body trembling under the biting cold. Hungry, he began rummaging through trash cans in search of the slightest crumb. Over the following days, he listened to passersby and gradually began to understand their language. He learned in silence, memorizing every word, every phrase, turning his survival into a constant lesson. But one day, while searching yet another garbage bin, a mounted officer of the local guard noticed him. With a hard look, he approached. “You! Runaway slave?” Kaader didn’t understand everything, but the tone of the rider was clear. Before he could react, the man dismounted and tried to seize him. Kaader struggled. He had anticipated such a moment. With the few resources he had found, he had made a rudimentary knife: a sharpened stone tied to a stick with a strip of cloth. He struck. The makeshift blade sank slightly into the rider’s arm, who recoiled in surprise and pain. But Kaader too was injured in the struggle. Blood ran down his arm, but he held on. The furious rider cursed, remounted his horse, and rode off to alert the authorities. Kaader immediately realized the gravity of his act. He had just attacked a member of the local forces. He was now wanted. Still homeless, still without resources, but now hunted, his existence sank even deeper into despair. He ran out of the city and found shelter in an abandoned place. From then on, he lived hidden, always pursued. One day, he saw a wealthy little girl accompanied by her mother. Suddenly, a silver coin fell from the child’s pocket. A wild hope seized him. He slipped closer and, when the opportunity arose, snatched the coin and fled back to his hideout. Seated in the shadows, he stared at the coin for hours, unable to believe he finally possessed something of value. If he could exchange it, he could obtain twenty bronze coins. But in his current state, he could not enter any exchange hall. He went to a lake and plunged into the icy water to rid himself of his stench and filth. Then he returned to the poor quarter, this time with a plan in mind: to recover clothes worthy of a citizen. He spotted one of the men who had attacked him before. Without hesitation, he assaulted him, using a swift technique to bring him down. He beat him with uncontrollable rage until the man stopped moving. He had just killed for the first time. He stole his clothes but found neither coins nor jewels. Still miserable, still hunted, Kaader was sinking ever deeper into darkness. He fashioned a veil like the Tuaregs to hide his identity and walked to the exchange hall. On the way, he briefly crossed paths with the wounded rider but continued without stopping. Arriving at the hall, he saw a wanted poster with his portrait hanging on the wall: “WANTED.” His heart raced, but he entered anyway. Security was lax, and he managed to exchange his coin without incident. With his new resources, he went for the first time to the market and bought bread, apples, water, and jars. He then overheard two women discussing the shortage of salt. Remembering that salt could be obtained from seawater, an idea sprouted in his mind. He bought a map, studied the routes, and set off toward the city borders, ready to begin a new plan to survive and prosper. Kaader reached the city’s borders. Dozens of carriages came and went. He wanted to reach a coastal city named Vijil to produce salt and sell it. After several failed attempts at hitchhiking, he decided to leave on foot. As night fell, an old carriage driver stopped near him. “What are you doing out here, young man?” Kaader explained his goal. The man smiled and offered him a deal: he too was heading to Vijil and needed a protector against bandits along the way. In exchange for his protection, Kaader would receive two silver coins at the end of the journey. Kaader accepted without hesitation. Kaader: “Thank you for taking me with you. I’m looking to settle down and earn a living. Do you know where I could find work?” Old man (smiling while holding the reins of his carriage): “Ah, young man, there’s no shortage of work, but it all depends on your skills. In Vijil, fishermen and salt merchants are always in need of hands. If you’re strong, the warehouses also hire laborers to load and unload goods. But if you’re clever, merchants always like to have accountants or negotiators.” Kaader (thinking): “And for lodging? I don’t have a home, and I can’t sleep outside forever…” Old man (nodding): “That is more complicated. Inns are expensive. But if you’re not afraid of hard work, some shops offer a bed in exchange for services. Otherwise, there are always the temples: priests sometimes agree to shelter those who seek to rebuild their lives… as long as you don’t cause trouble.” Kaader: “I see… and this kingdom, what is it called?” Old man (amused by the question): “Hah! You truly come from far away not to even know where you are, eh? We are in the kingdom of Velmara, a vast and prosperous land. Vijil is just one port city among many. But if you seek the most important place, it’s the capital: Eldoria. That’s where everything happens.” Kaader (curious): “Eldoria… and who rules this kingdom?” Old man (his face growing grave): “King Edmond IV. A powerful and feared man. Some see him as a just sovereign, others as a tyrant. What’s certain is that he tolerates neither traitors nor criminals. If you want to survive here, remember this well: stay discreet and trust only those who deserve it.” Kaader (nodding): “Thank you for the advice…” Old man (smiling as he gazes at the horizon): “Don’t thank me yet, the journey is long, and dangers are many. Keep your knife close at hand, one can never be too careful on these roads.” The carriage rolled slowly along a dirt path. The sky began to darken, heralding nightfall. Sitting beside the old man, Kaader watched the horizon. Old man (casting a curious glance at Kaader): “You are very quiet, boy. Tell me, what is your name?” Kaader (hesitating before replying): “Kaader… and you?” Old man (smiling faintly): “They call me Garren. Just an old traveler making his living on the roads.” Kaader (curious): “Do you transport goods?” Garren (nodding): “Yes, I trade between cities. Sometimes spices, sometimes cloth… it all depends on demand. But I’m no great merchant. I only have one carriage, and my business is modest. And you, Kaader? What is your past?” Kaader (thinking before answering vaguely): “Let’s just say my life before… wasn’t very interesting. I lost everything, so I’m trying to start over from scratch. That’s why I’m heading to Vijil.” Garren (raising an eyebrow, intrigued): “Starting over, eh? That’s not easy in this world, but it’s possible… if one has a good idea and courage.” Kaader (smiling faintly): “In fact, I have an idea. In Vijil, I will produce salt. A lot of salt. The sea is full of it, and if I find a good way to exploit it, I could make a fortune.” Garren (interested): “Hmm… salt, eh? That’s an essential commodity. Everyone needs it. But to sell it, you must transport it.” Kaader (nodding, looking at Garren intently): “That’s where you come in. You are a traveler, you know the roads and the markets. If you agree to transport my salt to other cities, I’ll give you a share of the profits. We could both benefit.” Garren (stroking his beard, reflecting): “Hah! A young man already thinking of trade, I like that! But tell me, how do you intend to produce this salt? It’s not as simple as scooping up sand.” Kaader (confident, yet secretive): “I know a method… It only takes exploiting salt marshes and using the heat of the sun to evaporate seawater. With some organization, I can produce kilos of salt every week.” Garren (impressed): “That’s an interesting idea… But you’ll need to be clever. The salt trade is often controlled by great families or even local authorities. If you grow too ambitious, you may attract trouble.” Kaader (smiling slightly): “I’ve thought of that. I’ll start small, without attracting attention. Then, I’ll find ways to expand my business without being too noticeable.” Garren (fixing him a moment, then laughing): “Hah! You’ve got guts, boy. Very well, I’m curious to see where this leads. If you keep your word and your salt is of good quality, I’ll help you transport and sell it.” Kaader (shaking Garren’s hand firmly): “Then we have a deal.” Garren (shaking back, smiling): “A deal indeed. But remember, Kaader… trade is like a journey. Sometimes the road is straight and easy, sometimes it is full of pitfalls. One must always be ready.” (The carriage continued toward Vijil, carrying with it two men bound by an ambitious pact, each staking their future.) Night fell slowly on the dusty road to Vijil. Kaader and Garren moved cautiously, the carriage jolting along the rugged track. The heavy silence of nature was broken by the sinister rustling of bushes. Garren (worried, tightening the reins): “Bad sign… We are not alone.” Suddenly, four men emerged from the shadows, armed with rusty blades and iron-bound clubs. The tallest of them, a scar slashing across his face, stepped forward with a predator’s grin. Bandit leader (snickering): “So, old men and boys travel alone now? Bad idea… Hand over your goods and maybe we’ll let you live.” Kaader (sharply to Garren): “Drive!” Garren snapped the reins, urging the horses forward, but the road, full of holes and stones, betrayed the carriage. A wheel sank violently into a rut, and the vehicle stopped dead. Garren (cursing): “Damn!” Kaader clenched his fists. No choice. He drew his makeshift knife and prepared for battle. The bandits attacked at once. Kaader dodged a first blade by a hair, counterattacked by striking his opponent’s stomach with the hilt of his knife, then drove the blade into another’s thigh. But there were four of them. One, quicker, landed a brutal blow on his back with a club. Kaader staggered, grimacing. He parried another strike just in time, but he was in trouble. The bandit chief took advantage of his imbalance and raised his sword to finish him. Kaader (breathless, seeing death closing in): “Damn…” A sudden roar split the air. Garren (brandishing an old, worn axe): “NOT SO FAST, BASTARD!” Garren struck with all his strength… but missed. The momentum unbalanced him, and his axe fell at Kaader’s feet. Without a second’s hesitation, Kaader seized the weapon and, in a swift and precise motion, cleanly severed the bandit chief’s head. The body collapsed brutally to the ground, lifeless. The other two bandits, seeing their leader decapitated, fled in terror. The last, wounded in the leg by Kaader, tried to crawl away. Garren (panting, catching his breath): “Not so fast, you…” They bound him tightly with the carriage ropes. He groaned and struggled, but he was too weak to resist. Kaader (looking at the corpse of the chief, wiping the sweat from his brow): “Let’s see what he had on him…” He quickly searched the body and found a few bronze coins, an old compass, and a silver trinket. Not much, but better than nothing. Garren (patting Kaader’s shoulder, proud): “Well done, boy. You’re more dangerous than you look.” Kaader did not answer, staring at his bloodstained hands. This world left him no choice. He had to kill… or be killed. They climbed back into the carriage, taking the captive bandit with them. In Vijil, surely they would find guards willing to pay a reward for his capture. The journey resumed, more perilous than ever. Morning came, bathing the road in golden light. Kaader, exhausted but still alert, opened his eyes and smelled the salty air tickling his nose. In the distance, a magnificent sight unfolded. The horizon opened onto a vast expanse of blue: the sea. It shimmered beneath the first rays of the sun, calm and imposing. All around, fertile plains stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with farms and green fields. One could see peasants at work, their silhouettes moving slowly in the morning light. And there, straight ahead… Vijil. The coastal city rose proudly in the distance, its white walls dominating the landscape. Red-tiled roofs piled up over several levels, while thin columns of smoke drifted from chimneys, heralding a busy day. Closer to the shore, the bustling port came into view, where ships of all sizes came and went. Garren (smiling as he looked at the horizon): “There is Vijil… Our journey comes to an end.” Kaader (fixing his gaze on the city, a determined spark in his eyes): “No… this is only the beginning.” The carriage rolled on, drawing closer to the city and the new life awaiting Kaader and Garren. An uncertain future, yet full of possibilities.