Rohit's eyes lit up at Raja's words.
"Same here," he said quickly, a grin breaking through his tension. "I'm also from Tamil Nadu—outside the Tower."
Raja gave a small nod, as if that explained more than words ever could.
The woman who had led Raja forward glanced between them, surprise flickering across her face. "I'm Emily," she said. "I didn't realize you were both Outlanders."
Rohit frowned slightly. "Outlanders?"
Before Emily could answer, Amy stepped in smoothly.
"Outlanders are people who do not originally belong to the Tower," she explained. "Those brought in from outside."
She paused, then added calmly, "After a certain period of time, they will be ejected from the Tower."
The words carried weight.
Rohit swallowed, but nodded. Raja did the same, his expression unchanged but thoughtful.
After a moment, Raja looked at Rohit again. "Do you also have a new, unrecorded class?"
"Yes," Rohit replied without hesitation. "Do you?"
Raja nodded. "My class is Ranger. Mid-range combat using firearms, and close-range combat with melee weapons."
Rohit's eyebrows rose in interest. "That's versatile." He hesitated, then said, "Mine's Gunslinger. Short-range gun combat, specialized and aggressive."
Raja hummed softly. "Then it's a good thing our classes are different."
Rohit let out a small laugh. "Yeah. Otherwise, we'd end up competing sooner or later."
For the first time, Raja smiled faintly.
As their conversation faded, the archway behind the guards suddenly shimmered. Colors flowed across its surface—blue, gold, violet—like liquid light.
The pressure in the corridor shifted.
The guards stepped aside in perfect unison.
"You may enter," one of them said, voice echoing unnaturally.
Rohit took a breath.
Emily said "Only you two are allowed to enter"
Rohit was confused and asked "Enter ? Where ?"
"It isn't polite to keep one's seniors waiting, young Outlanders."
The voice echoed directly inside Rohit's mind—deep, amused, ancient and carrying a weight that made his instincts scream danger.
Before either of them could react, a terrifying force surged from beyond the archway.
The world twisted.
Darkness swallowed everything.
"Ahhh—!"
Rohit screamed as his body was violently dragged forward. Beside him, Raja let out a sharp grunt as both of them were pulled into the void, their senses overwhelmed by the feeling of endless descent.
It felt like falling into a bottomless abyss—no ground, no direction, no control.
Time stretched.
The sensation lasted far longer than it should have.
Then—
The darkness shattered.
Blinding light flooded their vision.
Rohit gasped.
They were surrounded by clouds.
Below them spread a vast world—mountains like jagged teeth, rivers glimmering like silver threads, forests stretching endlessly to the horizon.
A system message appeared before both of them.
[You have discovered an Unknown Space]
"What the hell?!" Rohit shouted, panic rising. "Where are we?! What happened to the technique store?!"
Raja's expression remained controlled, but even his eyes tightened slightly as he looked around.
"This isn't an illusion," Raja said calmly. "According to the system we've been pulled into a separate space."
Rohit barely heard him.
They were still falling.
"I'm going to die!" Rohit yelled. "We're definitely going to die if we hit the ground from this height!"
"Hahaha… relax."
The voice came again—this time from right beside them.
Both of them turned.
An old man was falling alongside them, completely at ease. His long white hair and beard flowed gently as if untouched by wind. His eyes were clear, ancient, and sharp—eyes that had seen countless lives rise and fall.
Rohit froze.
Raja's pupils contracted slightly.
"You are…?" Rohit muttered.
Before either could say more, the old man casually waved his sleeve.
The falling sensation vanished instantly.
Gravity ceased to exist.
Both Rohit and Raja halted midair, their bodies suspended by an invisible force.
"Come," the old man said simply.
He turned and began moving through the clouds—not falling, not walking, but gliding.
Rohit and Raja were pulled along behind him, unable to resist.
A few minutes later, they descended onto a small floating island.
At its center stood a flawless jade table, accompanied by three jade chairs. The air itself felt heavy—calm, oppressive, and sacred all at once.
The old man landed first and took a seat as if this place belonged to him.
With a casual motion, he produced a teapot and three translucent teacups.
"Sit," he said kindly.
Rohit hesitated, then sat down quickly.
Raja followed more smoothly, his posture respectful but composed.
The old man poured a clear liquid into two cups and slid them across the table.
"Drink."
"T-Thank you…" Rohit said automatically.
Raja studied the cup for half a second longer before nodding. "Many thanks, Senior."
The liquid looked like nothing at all—perfectly transparent, barely visible except for faint ripples.
The old man lifted his cup and drank it in one motion.
Rohit and Raja followed.
The moment Rohit swallowed, his eyes widened.
"Woah—!"
A cool, refreshing sensation flowed down his throat, spreading into his mind—then it's like a fog always present in his mind cleared .
He could feel his thoughts becoming clear.
Raja's breath grew slightly heavier as well, though he quickly steadied himself.
System messages appeared before both of them.
[You have consumed Translucent Dew of Comprehension]
You have acquired a new Talent: Enhanced Comprehension]
[Enhanced Comprehension (F)]
Increases understanding speed of techniques, concepts, and others
Allows partial insight into complex or incomplete information
[This Talent can be upgraded]
Rohit and Raja were stunned.
A single cup of tea.
And yet—
They could both feel it clearly. Their thoughts were sharper, connections forming faster, ideas flowing with unnatural clarity. It wasn't just power; it was understanding. The kind of talent that would let them analyze, experiment, and create—exactly what they needed to carve their own paths and develop techniques that didn't yet exist.
Rohit's eyes widened. Raja clenched his fists slowly, breath unsteady.
"…From tea," Raja muttered in disbelief.
Without another word, both of them stood up at the same time and bowed deeply.
"Thank you," Rohit said sincerely.
"We will not forget this kindness," Raja added.
The old man only chuckled softly.
"Sit, sit," he said, waving his hand as if their gratitude embarrassed him. "There's no need for such formality."
They hesitated, then sat back down.
Only then did the old man straighten slightly, his presence settling—not oppressive, but vast, like a calm sky that had seen countless storms.
"I suppose an introduction is overdue," he said with a gentle smile.
"I am known as The Benevolent Sage."
Rohit blinked. Raja's eyes widened again.
"That isn't my real name," the old man continued lightly. "It's a title—one given to me by the Tower itself."
He lifted his teacup, the transparent liquid rippling faintly.
"A troublesome thing, titles," he said. "But if it helps people trust me a little more… then I suppose I'll keep it."
Rohit and Raja exchanged a glance.
They had just received guidance, a priceless talent, and the favor of a legend—
All from a cup of tea