Recap :

  She smiled and said “it's time to celebrate ”

  After a long time I felt something that I have earned

  I asked her “how are we supposed to ??? ”

  She wickedly smiled “oh William can't you wait for it ”

  Episode 8

  As we walked forward, I was really confused a bit about how she used her power without any symbols. Even though she might be good at controlling all 5 organs,

  Essence moved through five organs.

  The heart produced it.

  The lungs controlled it.

  The liver purified it.

  The kidneys stored the waste.

  And the brain kept everything in balance.

  This is what I can get from the old folks of the halls bar

  I concluded then that she had mastered her organs—but I couldn’t afford to stay numb.

  I must learn all things about Essence.

  I asked her “hey luna how did you use your power without any incantation? ”

  She smiled and replied “Incantation? I have always used symbols. ”

  “Howw while you lunged at him to save me you didn't even created any symbols ” while my eyes locked onto her eyes.

  She looked away and said “That's because I have already inscribed the symbols on my sword ”

  She continues “I have already Inscribed 3 different symbols, mercury, Venus, mars each inside a normal triangle which symbolizes fire. "

  I can't keep up what she says “hey wait a minute what does symbols look like? I can't understand ”

  She looked at me and said “there are 4 major symbols Triangle, Triangle with slash , inverted Triangle, Inverted Triangle with slash ”

  “You really are a nerd in Essence” I said. “Those sub symbols… Do they mean something specific like planets ?”

  “Those symbols are called Alchemical Symbols” she paused. “ I have no idea about planets, is it stars you're referring to? ”

  Maybe they haven't researched about planets “yea , I do have another doubt those inscribed symbols will last forever? ”

  She smirked “how can it be, it will go if we used”

  While I tried to ask another question.

  She stopped midway and looked at me.

  “That’s enough for today,” she said quietly.

  “Enough?” I replied

  She said while walking backwards “If you try to understand everything at once, Essence will break you before you break it.”

  Man I don't have that $h*t how will I break????

  I wanted to ask more, but the way she avoided my eyes told me this wasn’t something I was allowed to know yet.

  Our conversation carried us all the way to the doors of the building with a Guild flag .

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  She said “This is a theater, Every Friday Saturday and Sunday they put up some drama”

  “Sounds interesting, I can't wait to see it” I replied.

  She grabbed my hands and rushed to the hall “we should get the tickets fast ”

  She gave 1 gold coin to the counter and they gave her 2 leaves marked with some symbols.

  I see here people use symbols everywhere.

  As we entered the Hall it was fully loaded with bright big lights of Floating amber orbs hang in the air, motionless.

  They don’t flicker just like a modern light.

  Stone walls curve upward into shadows. No windows. No exits in sight.

  Many beautiful sculptures on stone walls but everyone wears a mask.

  Luna called me “put this ”

  She wears some white dragon head mask and she handed over me a red dragon head mask.

  Everyone wears a mask.

  Gold.

  White.

  Black.

  The drama starts

  I sit stiff beside Luna, trying not to move too much.

  It was so comfortable, maybe it's been a very long time since I sat on a cushion.

  The Hall is surrounded by nobles in embroidered robes and feathered masks, all facing the grand wooden stage.

  1 gold coin for 2 people on a first day, surely got the rich ones.

  The drunken man in the guild hall said that day that the 2nd and 3rd day for the drama fees will be doubled and tripled.

  The air smelled of incense and old parchment. A hush fell over the audience as the lights dimmed, and a single flute note pierced the silence.

  A masked figure in a crimson dragon helm stepped onto the stage, arms raised like he was about to summon a thunderstorm.

  The music swelled—harps, flutes, and something that sounded suspiciously like a goat sneezing in rhythm.

  Behind the curtain, a deep voice boomed:

  NARRATOR :- “Kael Isba, the Dragon God, descended upon the mortal realm, bearing the gift of Essence…”

  I leaned forward, intrigued. A god? Magic? This could be cool.

  The dragon-masked actor began to move in slow, exaggerated gestures, like he was underwater. He pointed to the sky. He knelt. He spun in a circle.

  Then he stood still for a full minute while the music turned into a slow dirge of violins.

  Okay… maybe he’s charging up?

  NARRATOR :- “He breathed life into the land, and from his breath came the Essence—pure, radiant, eternal.”

  Another actor entered, this one in a golden wolf mask. She mimed catching the air and cradling it like a baby.

  The music shifted to a lullaby. I blinked. Was this… was this the whole thing?

  I glanced around. Everyone else was rapt, eyes wide, some even tearing up.

  One guy clutched his chest like he’d just witnessed divine revelation. Meanwhile, I was trying not to yawn.

  NARRATOR :- “The House of Ladon, chosen by Kael, vowed to protect the gift and guide the people.”

  They moved in perfect unison, stepping, bowing, raising their hands. The music turned martial, drums pounding like a heartbeat.

  I checked my nonexistent watch. Had it been ten minutes? Twenty? An hour? Time was melting.

  The narrator droned on about the Ladon kings sacrificing their lives, their dreams, their very souls to protect the people.

  On stage, one actor dramatically fell to his knees, arms outstretched, while another mimed placing a crown on a child’s head.

  The music hit a crescendo, then dropped into silence.

  I perked up. Was it over?

  Nope. A new figure entered—this one in a black serpent mask. The music turned ominous.

  The narrator’s voice dropped an octave.

  NARRATOR :- “But from the shadows rose doubt. Greed. The hunger for Essence unearned.”

  The serpent slithered across the stage—literally. Belly to the floor.

  I stifled a laugh. Was this interpretive dance or a medieval TED Talk?

  I tried to focus. I really did. But my brain kept drifting.

  Back home, I could’ve finished an entire season before this man reached the end of the stage.

  The serpent was defeated by a phoenix-masked warrior in a flurry of pirouettes.

  The music soared.

  The narrator declared the triumph of virtue. The audience erupted in polite applause.

  I clapped too, mostly because I was afraid not to.

  As the lights rose and the actors bowed, I leaned toward the old man beside me. “So… was that the whole story?”

  He looked at me, eyes misty “A masterpiece,” paused “This is a True art.”

  I blinked. “Uh… yeah. TRUE ART. Very… moving.”

  He nodded solemnly. “You are lucky to witness such art.”

  I clenched my jaw and leaned BACK “Yea I was LUCKY”

  Okay… calm down.

  I told myself this wasn’t my world.

  Maybe this was art here.

  Maybe I was the problem.

  She blinked twice “How was it? Fabulous right?”

  I whispered “yea so fabulous, my world turned into hell ????”

  Her face turned gloomy and asked “is it not nice?”

  “You said this was a reward” I replied, my voice rising before I could stop it.

  “But this—this is torture.”

  As we are in the first row, the dramatist notices me.

  Luna whispered “keep your voice low ” after a pause “we can talk about this out”

  While we are silently moving toward the exit which is the way we entered.

  The dramatist stepped forward, sword half drawn “HOW DARE YOU SPEAK AGAINST LADON’S FAMILY”

  I swallowed hard “I’m really sorry. I’m new to this kingdom”

  He shouted at me “IGNORANCE is NOT INNOCENCE ”,

  “Ladon’s blood and their story is SACRED ”

  His voice gained the guards attention. After a moment they surrounded me.

  I finally understood something.

  In this kingdom, anything against the guild hall is a non-negotiable crime.

  To be continued