《Mythshaper [Reincarnation, Litrpg Adventure]》 Chapter 01: Life, Death, Rebirth, and Other Unusual Magic Chapter 01: Life, Dead, and Other Unusual Magic I wailed in a gut-wrenching scream, snatching another chance at life from the clutches of Death. Pain ripped through my core as my eyes snapped open. A bright, glaring light blinded me, followed by an overflow of tears. I had to squint to keep my eyes from wavering, but even that proved to be hopeless. The light receded and dimmed, and in its place, a huge, radiant head loomed closer, staring at me unblinkingly. Startled, I cried, exerting every ounce of my will to break free from the giant¡¯s grip. But my efforts were futile. I couldn¡¯t muster up the barest minimum of strength. All my energy was wasted on wailing. No matter how much effort I put into speaking, all I managed was incoherent wailing. The giant held me close, as though afraid to let go. Then through blurry eyes, I noticed the bright auburn locks cascading over her shoulders, her exterior pale and feminine. She was staring at me kindly, tears in her eyes, a deluge of raw emotions playing across her luminescent face. Finally, I apprehended the ultimate conundrum of my predicament. The woman wasn¡¯t a giant. She was likely as normal as a human could be. It was I who had shrunk, nestled in the protective custody of her arms as if I were a baby to be pampered. In fact, I was a baby¡ªa newborn, at that. The woman cradled me and passed her other palm over my chest. She whispered soothing words into my ears¡ªwords I was hopeless to comprehend¡ªyet they calmed my restless heart. A dim, golden string of light spilled from her palm and disappeared into my skin as she rubbed my chest. Something inside me resonated with the light. My chest grew warm as the combined effort of the light and her soothing voice drove the pain away. Relieved, I tried to contemplate the sheer absurdity of my situation. This could have been a feverish dream for all I knew, a figment of my imagination. Not for a second did I believe that events such as reincarnation or rebirth were normal¡­ At least, not with my memories intact¡­ Wait, who was I? My memories failed me. Only an image remained in my mind¡­ I was dying¡­ somewhere chilly and dark¡­ with an icy knife in my chest¡­ The thought of my father¡ªwith whom I had a love-hate relationship¡ªcrossed my mind, yet no mental image of him appeared. Only a vague silhouette. I forgot him first. Utter terror gripped me as I lost more and more about myself. The most emotion-laden memories went first: my friends, companions, and family¡ªpeople I could trust with my life. The memories drifted off like wisps of river fog threading their way up in the sunlight. Despite all my efforts to cling to the fog, it slipped from my grasp. All that was left of me was the vague impression of my education. Without a second thought, I tried to put it to the test¡­ The best I could muster with my current mental faculties was to count to thirteen before I felt a strain in my mind. I turned my attention back to the woman. The incandescent feature of her skin had dimmed while I dealt with my inner turmoil. Under her care, my pain vanished too, though the powerlessness lingered. Well, I was a baby, for God¡¯s sake. My fragile brain turned to mush just thinking about the mysteries of such an event. I had no choice but to sleep on the problem... Several hours later, I awoke again, properly cleaned and swaddled in a cotton cloth, still within the protective custody of the woman¡­ My mother? I tried to commit her face to memory. It was a demanding job with my terrible baby eyes. At least she didn¡¯t glow like a lightbulb anymore¡ªI wondered what that was about. She appeared to be in her early thirties, fair-skinned, her face symmetrical and pale. A little sickly, perhaps, as if she had been through a great battle recently. Maybe she hadn¡¯t fared well in labour, yet she could still stand with a baby in her arms. Sometime later, the door of the hovel opened, and a man came in. Tall, dark, and bald, he was swathed in black attire and looked somewhat frightening to be my father. Then his eyes found me, and the look in them changed. Tears streamed down from those bloodshot eyes as he picked me up into his arms. The man was large, built like a boulder, and his arms were¡­ not particularly gentle. He kissed me on the cheek, once, twice, thrice, and wiped his tears. I contemplated another bout of cries. Thankfully, the man returned me to the more responsible person. Kissing her on the head, he led us to sit on a bedroll, and finally uttered some words into my ears. Obviously, my feeble brain failed to grasp the words. But then a sharp pain stung my left palm, jolting me awake. I wailed once more, eliciting her to cradle me on her lap. The pain washed away, soon followed by a voice. I looked between them to find that neither of the two had uttered the words. Furthermore, the voice was clearer, younger, and comprehensible, and it rang in my mind. [You have been Named.] [Arilyn Arcis O¡¯Ryon, welcome to the paths. The Spell understands your unique circumstances. The Paths are partially open for you.] What in the world? I was flabbergasted. Who are you? No ideas of what it could be came to mind. All I could do was listen to the words until they finished their commentary with a presentation of a lustrous green box with text written in it. [Profile] Arilyn Arcis O¡¯RyonUnauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Path: ¡ª Attributes: Gift: [Fractal Soul] I ran the words in my mind dumbly. It seemed to be something only I heard and saw, as my mother betrayed no sudden reaction to suggest otherwise. I inclined my mind to understand¡­ this spell. This was the second, no, third startling revelation after my reincarnation. I had to account for the glowing spell as well. Well, compared to rebirth and magic, this voice¡ªwho called themselves the Spell¡ªfelt rather tame. Still, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder how it was possible to transfer one¡¯s voice into another¡¯s mind. Some trick with vibration? Mind magic? I wondered if it was anyone related to my rebirth. That reminded me, my mother had magical power? In my earlier restlessness, I had failed to see the implication behind that. Was she a healer? Considering her spell drove away my pain. Could she teach magic to me? Was it possible? Did I inherit the power from her? Dozens of such questions crawled up in my mind with little to no explanations or answers to them. I would be lying if I said I didn¡¯t consider all of it to be a drunken dream. Mother always thought I had a knack for creativity¡­ Mother¡­ Mother who looked after everyone... worked tirelessly, and didn¡¯t receive all that she deserved... I sighed as I remembered one last fact. My mind lingered on my name. Arilyn was countless times better than Paul, or whatever I was called in my previous life. Now, what did it mean by Fractal Soul? On that topic, what was a soul? Was it something that reincarnated you? What about attributes? Cognition? Was it what I thought it was? Brainpower? The stinging sensation returned to my left palm, but it was reduced to a tenth of its strength, insufficient to make me uncomfortable. As if on cue, the voice followed up. [A new Way is accessible: Words I (1/100).] Hmm, what do you mean? I repeated the sentence many times in my mind, but that only made my head hurt. All this thinking was still beyond me. It looked like the Spell wasn¡¯t all that interactive with babies. Or it couldn¡¯t read minds. Time flew by. My early days were peacefully boring, with little to do beyond contemplating life, death, and reincarnation. There had to be a reason, a purpose for my rebirth. Just as gravity operated, there must be laws governing life and death. The topic was so nerve-wracking that I had to spend equal amounts of time staring at the monotonous, inclined roof to recalibrate my feeble brain. Imprisoned by the weight of my own head, my daily life was filled with immaculate tasks like drinking, sleeping, peeing, and defecating. Only one of these could I manage on my own. The worst part was my occasional inability to control my bowels. I was fairly capable of managing them while awake, but on many occasions, I¡¯d wake to the smell of my own piss. And then cry. Infantile amnesia, please erase those embarrassing memories first! I prayed, clasping my palms together. Only when my mother came to change my clothes and sing me to sleep did I find relief. She was an angel like that. I hadn¡¯t seen my father since the week after my birth. I feared I couldn¡¯t recognise his face again. All I remembered were his features: tall, gloomy, and bald. And callous hands, terrible at holding babies. We had moved from the hovel where I was born to somewhere better in the countryside, perhaps. The wooden house did not speak of wealth¡ªI guessed I missed out on that lottery¡ªbut it had four separate rooms, nice furnishing, and most importantly, it was warm and cosy. On top of that, I suspected I was abandoned by my father. But then I remembered the only memory of my father¡ªnaming me, the sheer joy on his face. I sighed and decided not to jump to conclusions just yet. Instead, I devoted the few measly waking hours to something useful. With focused thought, I summoned the Spell to express my [Profile]. It didn¡¯t take long to learn after I found the small runic star circle mark on my left palm. All I had to do was stare at the mark and wish, and the Spell would reveal its magic in my mind. I did not want to theorise on assumptions, but it felt like the Spell was doing its magic through the mark. The slight stings before the messages only gave evidence to it. My [Profile] remained mostly unchanged, with some progress in the Way. [Words I (92/100)] Just eight more words to go, I mused. It had taken me some time to figure out what the Way was. It turned out it was exactly as it sounded¡ªjust magic tracking the number of new words I learned. Aside from those immaculate tasks I¡¯d rather not discuss, I dedicated all my effort to learning unfamiliar words every waking moment of my new life, going as far as to rumble them like a mantra in my mind. I was bored, and there was nothing worthwhile to do. The Spell kept track of all that in the [Profile]. With each new word I learned, the anticipation of what would occur when I learned my hundredth word grew. I was awake in my cradle when my mother came to check on me. Her lips curled into a smile upon seeing me reach out my arms towards her. Yes, that was all I could manage, along with some jumbled mumbling. Although I had learned many words since my birth, my vocal cords were not yet developed enough to articulate any of them. For instance, if I wanted to say mama, it came out as ¡°Yaya¡± at best. My mother would always adopt a childish voice to call my name when speaking to me. This occasion was no different. I showed my appreciation with giggles, which brought a radiant smile to her face like spring sunshine. She lifted me, ensuring my clothes were dry. It was the Afternoon Stroll Time, arguably my favourite part of the day. Every day, she carried me around the neighbourhood, past the same houses and wheat fields, as a few people came to talk with her. My attention, however, drifted everywhere. Today, it was skyward, where flocks of cloud folded together to create a spiral pattern which only the sun could pierce. I knew my eyes weren¡¯t perfect¡ªfar from it. I struggled to track moving objects. Perks of being a couple of months-old baby. Yet, I didn¡¯t believe there was nothing magical about the pattern. As though prompted by my thinking, those magical threads of light high within the clouds revealed themselves to me. [A new Way is accessible: Fractal Sight (1/10)] I blinked, feeling a trace of weakness in the back of my mind. Well, that proved there was something mystical about the spiralling clouds, though it failed to explain anything more, much like my own existence. By the end of our stroll, mother cast the same spell on me, regardless of my state. I suspected she could somehow read my exhaustion by looking at my face. Golden light spilled from her fingers in a string of chains and disappeared into my skin. The mystical power washed away most of my weariness. I had formed a distinct mental image of the light threading in eight separate ways through my body in a clear, symmetrical form. Naively, I entertained the notion that if I could latch onto this warm power and somehow tame it, I might become a sorcerer or healer one day. The familiar sensation stirred in my left palm, and the Spell¡¯s voice manifested to quash my childish fantasies. [A new Way is accessible: Meditation I (1/10).] Of course, I thought, how could I forget that visualisation was a crucial part of meditation? And that was precisely what I had been practising since day one. At least, there was another Way to keep me invested. Chapter 02: Ways Chapter 02: Ways Weeks flew by, and my days remained the same: boring, repetitive, and forgettable. Well, aside from the occasional messages from the Spell like this one: [Congratulations! You have completed the Way of Words I (100/100)] [+1 Cognition.] [The Way of Words II (100/1000) is now accessible.] The glittering texts of the Spell greeted my sight, followed by a narration of their meaning. I blinked twice and stared suspiciously, wondering if doubling my Cognition would make me twice as smart. This line of thought led nowhere. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t merely the words that I had begun to figure out. The mystical power still eluded me, but I was only a little boy. It was natural that magic was largely beyond my grasp. Imagine the atrocities a thoughtless baby would wreak just because their milk was not at the right temperature. Still, I hoped Way of Meditation could help me with it. I wasn¡¯t entirely convinced, but seeing my mother meditate as part of her morning ritual was a great incentive to keep my hopes up. I had been trying since I gained the Way, yet barely seemed to have gotten the hang of it. It didn¡¯t help that Meditation was exceedingly more difficult than Words, nor that the progress counted differently. Whereas the Way of Words measured the number of words I learned, the Way of Meditation likely measured the hours I spent meditating. It seemed to count only the time I spent in a completely thoughtless state. Being passed out or asleep didn¡¯t count. On another note, my mum wasn¡¯t a healer. Probably not a mage, either. She was still paranoid about my health and cast the light spell on me three or four times a day. She did the same for other babies occasionally, when their mothers brought them to the house with colds or other minor ailments. I supposed that made her a healer, but nothing revolutionary. Just the other day, she sent a man with a broken arm away, since healing broken bones was beyond her abilities. She was some kind of magic crafter, and her work wasn¡¯t limited to smithing metals into tools and weapons. She worked with leather, cotton, and wood as well. I had even seen her fix light constructs¡ªblobs of magical devices that emitted warm light when triggered. Villagers came to her for repairs on those and many other tools. She would scribble a peculiar symmetrical geometrical pattern with runes on them with a sharp pen, check their utility, and hand them back. When the villagers pressed her to accept coins for her effort, she always refused, telling them the little repair didn¡¯t warrant payment. After rubbing some smelly oil all over me, she had left me in the open for sunbathing, as I watched her carry huge chunks of stone from one corner of the yard to another. Sheesh! That stone was enough to squish any normal person to a bloody pulp, but she moved as if she was taking a stroll in the park. She didn¡¯t even break a sweat. Her figure didn¡¯t suggest any inhuman build either, though she did cut a tall, lean figure with long auburn hair bound in a braid. I watched her carrying stones and gathering them near our house¡ªwhich she was rebuilding. Single-handedly. Every time she passed after dropping a small boulder, she checked on me, a smile playing on her lips. My mother worked like a machine. She was relentless once she started, which was every morning. I didn¡¯t think we were so poor that she had to put in half her waking hours doing heavy work, but I couldn¡¯t be sure¡ªlike most things. The uncertainty of my life was killing me, but all I could do was not make things extra hard for her. Slowly and unwittingly, mum had become my earliest inspiration, rooting deep into my memory. Watching her work so tirelessly motivated me to do the same. I wanted to learn the language as soon as I could, to learn new things, to understand her better, and to understand the world. Since she took care of all of my needs, I devoted half my waking hours to meditation. At first, it had been largely draining, but one day, I felt rejuvenated after a meditation session. And it wasn¡¯t simply because I completed the first tier of the Way. [Congratulations! You have completed the Way of Meditation I (10/10)] [Attribute Gained: Focus (Elementary).] [+1 Focus.] [+1 Cognition.] [The Way of Meditation II (10/25) is now accessible.] So completing the Way could grant new attributes, too. Now, with two mind-based attributes, my mind wasn¡¯t as feeble. Hopefully, they would help me make more of my time. Focus should make it easier to concentrate. Like, I wouldn¡¯t be distracted by hunger or my bowel movements, right? My progress in meditation skyrocketed from there. At first, I had barely gained a point every two or three days. Now, it was quite the opposite. With nothing else to tire myself with, I clocked about fifteen unfamiliar words and a couple of points in meditation each day from then on. My hard work bore fruit. Within the next week, I completed the Way of Meditation II. The rewards didn¡¯t disappoint me at all. [Congratulations! You have completed the Way of Meditation II (25/25)] [+1 Focus.] [+1 Cognition.] [The Way of Meditation III (25/50) is now accessible.] The improvement was staggering, and I wasn¡¯t slowing down at all. But there were still more things I could try. Days passed as they should. It was still autumn, the weather lovely, save for the occasional ashen dust storms when we had to spend entire weeks confined within the bounds of our house. My mother had stopped casting the golden light on me after I learned to crawl. I guessed her paranoia had eased as I grew fast and strong. Still, she made sure to give me the rejuvenation light once or twice every week. Those spells had helped me in more ways than she probably realised. Visualising the golden energy threading its way into my body had led me to the Way of Meditation, but it didn¡¯t end there. After sensing the familiar energy hundreds of times, I received another Way. [A new Way is accessible: Essence Sense I (1/10).] That wasn¡¯t all. [A new Way is accessible: Motor Skills (1/100).] This had been a long time coming. Crawling was still difficult. I had bumped my head on the ground more times than I could remember. Oftentimes, it hurt like a bitch¡­ and I cried like one too, wailing at the top of my lungs, even though I did everything to muffle my cries. Some things just weren¡¯t in my control.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Mum usually bolted from whatever she was doing to heal me. Unfortunately, she decided crawling was too much of a strenuous job for a barely 105-day-old infant. She wouldn¡¯t leave me alone long enough to finish the Way of Motor Skills. The little practice she allowed would barely get me through it in about a year. Thankfully, she relented whenever I made a pouting face. I was glad to learn she wasn¡¯t impervious to cute baby faces. I only got to practise for about an hour, and that too under her direct supervision. Her cheers and encouragement for my feeble attempts were a pleasant addition, however. Winter came with a sudden blizzard and snow. It was an atrocity, of far less competency than the ash storms, but the terrible cold, the chilly wind, and the measly six hours of sunlight made it just as detestable and confining as the ashen storms. Thankfully, snowstorms were rarer and hardly ever longer than a couple of days. [Congratulations! You have completed the Way of Motor Skills (100/100)] [Attribute Gained: Alacrity (Elementary).] [+1 Alacrity.] Finally, an attribute to cast aside the frailty of my fragile form! I cheered. Sadly, Motor Skills seemed to end there, though I didn¡¯t have to be disappointed as more Ways were waiting for me to unlock. [Congratulations! You have completed the Way of Meditation III (50/50)] [+2 Focus.] [+1 Cognition.] [The Way of Meditation IV (50/100) is now accessible.] [A new Way is accessible: Balance I (1/100).] [A new Way is accessible: Mobility I (1/100).] ... [Congratulations! You have completed the Way of Meditation IV (100/100)] [+3 Focus.] [+1 Cognition.] [The Way of Meditation V (100/250) is now accessible.] [A new Way is accessible: Perseverance I (1/5).] Great, more physical-based Ways. I was going to be buff in no time. Magically speaking, it would take months¡ªyears even¡ªbut I was too moved to care. **** ¡°Can you say it again, Pumpkin?¡± Mum asked, lifting me up with her hands under my arms. ¡°Mama,¡± I obliged. She pulled me close, kissing my cheeks, a twinkle of tears in her eyes. It was difficult for me to comprehend the kind of joy my mere existence brought her, and I likely wouldn¡¯t be able to understand it for a long time. It had taken me longer to speak my first words than it had to do most things. I guessed it was mostly because I was a silent child. My vocal cords and voice probably hadn¡¯t developed enough. Who knew not crying at every little discomfort would come back to bite me like this? My mother had been worried sick for a couple of months, since all the other infants my age were babbling incoherent sounds. She had even brought me to a local healer a few weeks ago. ¡°Mama,¡± I called again and pointed towards the bookshelf. It was story time, and I¡¯d even miss my meditation session for it. ¡°Sorry, sweetheart,¡± she whispered into my ear. ¡°I have some errands to run.¡± My expression fell, but she knew how to coddle me. ¡°I promise to read you one at bedtime. One you haven¡¯t heard yet, about the First Knight.¡± I beamed. She asked if I wanted to come with her, but I declined, shaking my head. Just after she left, I jumped to my feet and dragged a stool over to the bookshelf. I couldn¡¯t read, but some books had beautiful pictures in them. I enjoyed them as much as the tales bound within the pages. Although, I couldn¡¯t deny that a tiny part of me hoped to gain a Way¡ªperhaps something related to reading¡ªout of it. Not all the books had pictures in them. In fact, only a few did. The rest were large leather-bound volumes. Who knew what kind of gospel they held? Mum rarely read those, as she barely had any spare time. After a few minutes of scuffling around, I found a picture book. Well, it was more like an encyclopaedia of rare plants and exotic animals. But to my infant mind, all that mattered was that it had pretty pictures. The book was thick, and the number printed on its cover suggested it was the third volume in the series. I searched for its predecessors but couldn¡¯t find them. Well, it wasn¡¯t like I could read... A thought crossed my mind, and I immediately summoned my full profile, turning my attention to the tiny wheel mark on my palm. [Profile] Arylin Acris O¡¯Ryon Path: U/A Honours: U/A Attributes: Gift: [Fractal Soul] Ways: In progress: Meditation VI (479/500) | Essence Sense III (35/50) | Balance II (294/1000) | Mobility (75/100) | Swimming (2/100) | Perseverance I (2/5) | Words III (2593/10000) Completed: Meditation V (250/250) | Balance I (100/100) | Words II (1000/1000) | Motor Skills (100/100) My [Profile] looked a little more impressive since the first time it revealed itself. Meditation remained my most accomplished Way, while I had found some success in Essence Sense. I had failed to complete most of the physical Ways. Mobility required movement, and Mum wasn¡¯t keen on letting me practice. Swimming was completely under her supervision, and I was glad for that. As a baby, I had limited freedom. Balance was the only one I had succeeded in, and it helped me gain Body Coordination (Elementary). Yeahhh! No more (less) falling on my head from now on. I had pushed Meditation and Essence Sense the farthest because I could do both while confined to my cradle and the house. More attributes helped, but I was still very much within mortal limits. Engaging in Essence Sense for extended periods inflicted piercing pain on my mind, and only Meditation could save me from the headaches. Right now, my focus wasn¡¯t on my growth. What mattered was the fact that I could read profile texts. Why? The Spell had narrated them so many times that my mind had memorised them, but even before that I could still somehow interpret them. What intrigued me was the possibility of learning to read from this. Grabbing a notebook and a pen, I sat down on the floor and started scribbling all the unique letters from the profile. I counted thirty-three of them. Then I went back to the thick volume and wrote down the missing letters. There were nine more, but thankfully, most of those seemed to be rarely used. Next, I began noting down words that only used the thirty-three known letters from the encyclopaedia. I pronounced them aloud, or at least tried, hoping they¡¯d be among the 2593 words I already knew. The total wasn¡¯t that large, despite being enough to understand most of what my mother or other people uttered on a daily basis. The results were depressing. Out of the couple dozen words I noted down, I barely recognised a fraction. While I could make guesses for the rest, they¡¯d just be that¡ªguesses. Simply asking Mum to teach me would be so much easier¡­ Learning the numbers was easier. It ran on a decimal system, which I picked up from the page numbers in the book. Oh, I remember what a decimal system is¡­ Clicking my tongue, I trudged along the path of literacy. It was a dark, depressing road full of guesswork, but I persevered. Here¡¯s what I managed to learn about a certain plant: So?egir Grass: A highly ¡ª grass, grows on ¡ª. It does not demand (require?) earth to grow, ¡ª water grows like ¡ª Hardly readable. But I didn¡¯t give up easily. After all, I had all the encouragement I needed. [A new Way is accessible: Education I (1/100)] ¡°Great!¡± I jumped to my feet in triumph. ¡°Thank you, Spell¡­ I¡¯ve been waiting to hear your voice all week¡­¡± I had likely been scribbling for over an hour, prompting the Spell to grant me this new Way. Most Ways were time-based, so it was reasonable to make the conjecture. Chapter 03: Advanced Attribute Chapter 03: Advanced Attribute It barely took me any time to complete my homework, but I spent about half an hour on other studies before I ran to find Mum. A month had passed since I picked up running, and I hadn¡¯t grown bored with it yet. Learning to run had stretched my world vastly wider than it used to be. I didn¡¯t believe I would ever grow tired of it. Mum was cooking our supper in the kitchenette, humming some familiar tunes soothing to ears. ¡°Move carefully within the house, pumpkin.¡± ¡°I¡¯m done,¡± I called, sniffing the aroma wafting from the pan. ¡°Spinach, yuck!¡± ¡°Already?¡± Mum turned to face me, completely overlooking my dissatisfaction with the food. She took the notebook from me and turned page after page, her eyes scanning over my messy handwriting. ¡°Wow, pumpkin, you aren¡¯t lying when you said you¡¯ve learned all the letters.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not all...¡± She flipped to another page, where I had tried to arrange letters into words and sentences. Her brows furrowed as she examined the page. It¡¯s normal for infants to do at least this much, right? I thought as she returned her gaze to me. ¡°Ari, how did you learn all this?¡± I shrugged. ¡°I read your books... I mean, I tried to read them and imitated...¡± ¡°You imitated,¡± she mumbled, her impressed tone fading. ¡°The sentences are clumsy, but for you to learn all this by yourself... Which books did you read?¡± ¡°It was a record of exotic creatures. It has a lot of beautiful pictures. Let me bring it to you.¡± Wasting no time, I hurried to the study room and climbed onto the stool to pick up the leather-bound book, already set apart from the rest. I returned with the same enthusiasm, clutching the huge encyclopaedia to my chest, when my foot bumped into something. Unable to balance myself in time, I fell, my head knocking against the hardwood floor. It was only during summer Mum had removed all the cushioning after I had learned to walk properly. Without it, I felt the full brunt of the blow. A yelp escaped my lips, causing Mum to leave everything behind to come to my rescue. ¡°My boy,¡± she cried, swooping down to take me into her arms. ¡°Are you alright? I told you not to rush within the house. Now look at yourself.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine¡ª¡± She shushed me, drawing her palm over the slight bump on my forehead. Golden light spilled out of her hand and soothed the pain instantaneously, while the power rejuvenated any kind of exhaustion or weakness I hadn¡¯t even realised I had. It barely took a fraction of the golden light to heal the bump, while the rest spread throughout my body slowly¡ªI could almost envision it in my mind¡¯s eye. She has gotten better at this. [Congratulations! You have completed the Way of Essence Sense IV (100/100)] [Way of Essence Sense V (100/250) is available.] [You have met both requirements for an Advanced Attribute.] [Please choose between the two options: Magic Sensitivity | Essence Acuity.] ¡°Wow!¡± I mumbled unwittingly before the spell could finish. I didn¡¯t know what the other requirement had been, but for the first time, I was given a choice for my reward. ¡°Ari, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Arcane Acuity or Essence Sensitivity... Why do both sound so impressive? I thought hard, as both options seemed like they could push me closer to wielding magic. One literally had the word ¡°Arcane¡± in it, while the other, ¡°essence,¡± basically meant the fuel of magic. My joy knew no bounds. It was only when Mum nudged me, pulling me up to her eye level, that I came out of my stupor. ¡°Pumpkin, are you feeling alright?¡± Worry tinged her voice. ¡°If you feel any discomfort, I can take you to the healer, and¡ª¡± ¡°Mum, which one is better?¡± I asked, excited enough to fumble the question. ¡°Arcane Essence or Essence Acuity?¡± Mum blinked, then her eyes narrowed sharply. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Oh, I said it wrong,¡± I admitted, realising my mistake. ¡°It¡¯s Essence Sensitivity and Arcane Acuity. Quick, tell me which will make me a magus...¡± My voice slowed as I realised Mum didn¡¯t share my enthusiasm. ¡°Sweetheart, where did you learn all this?¡± she said, a line forming between her brows. ¡°The spell told me.¡± I noticed she was holding her breath. ¡°The spell always rewards me whenever I complete the Way, and this time...¡± Mum rubbed her forehead. Did I do something wrong? ¡°... it gave a choice between the two options.¡± Her expression only grew grimmer as she began examining me. Her eyes squinted, spilling deep golden light. Those unusual eyes bore down me as if searching to find something wrong with me. ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± My voice came out hesitant, perhaps even frightened. As though realising her reaction wasn¡¯t appropriate, Mum¡¯s eyes returned to normal, and she hugged me tightly. ¡°No, pumpkin, you did nothing wrong,¡± she said, soothingly stroking my head. ¡°Are you not angry at me?¡± ¡°I can never be angry at my sweet boy,¡± she said. ¡°No matter what you do.¡± ¡°Even if I don¡¯t eat spinach?¡± ¡°Even if you don¡¯t eat spinach, broccoli, fish, or any of the vegetables,¡± she said, cradling me quietly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ari. Mum didn¡¯t want to scare you...¡± ¡°Mum is never scary.¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. She kissed me on the cheek, her eyes turning teary. ¡°Alright, can you tell Mum what this is about?¡± I had learned a general idea about the Spell from all the stories she narrates me to sleep. Of course, there were still many holes in my knowledge, as Mum deemed some stories were too convoluted and sensitive for a child¡¯s mind. Essentially, an Entity named the Oracle had devised the Spell to fight against dark forces that had threatened to engulf the entire realm. And it had worked. It had been centuries since the world had experienced any calamity. Civilisation was thriving. With the support of the Spell, the number of awakened was multiplying in each generation. Apparently, only one in thirty was born with a mark like the one on my palm, and the Spell helped them cultivate their powers. Of course, my curiosity had only piqued from there, and Mum had to narrate stories about the Oracle and the First Knight to appease my thirst. Nobody knew how much of the story was the truth and how much of it was pure fiction, but the presence of the Spell proved there was at least some authenticity to the tales. I explained about the Way of Essence Sense, from where it all began. Mum listened in silence, her face was a mask of solemnity. Eventually, she rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache building. ¡°To awaken a perception-based attribute of Advanced rank, one must complete the seventh step of meditation,¡± she said to herself and turned to me. ¡°How did you even learn Meditation, much less complete seven whole steps of it? You¡¯ve not even seen two winters.¡± ¡°Watching you do it every morning...¡± I said, as though it was only natural. She seemed like she wanted to object, but suppressed it. ¡°Oh, it was an accident. Whenever you healed me, I could see the golden threads spreading all over¡­ then the Spell said it was meditation...¡± ¡°More like visualisation, which is a big part of meditation...¡± Mum explained, and then her eyes widened once more. ¡°Wait, did you say you glimpsed the golden threads of light?¡± I tilted my head in confusion and nodded slowly. Is this something to be surprised about? Exhaling sharply, she stooped down to my level. ¡°Can you describe it to me, what you see when I cast the spell on you?¡± I told her about the golden shimmering threads, weaving their way inside me in a symmetrical form. How the power resonated with me and became a part of my being. By the time I finished, her expression couldn¡¯t have been more astounded. ¡°There¡¯s no mistaking it,¡± she muttered to herself, ¡°my son can really see the aether. I don¡¯t think Jinn had that gift...¡± ¡°Mum?¡± The smell of burned vegetables drifted to our noses, causing her expression to stiffen. She carried me back to the kitchenette to stir the pan. ¡°Pumpkin, do not choose your rewards now, alright?¡± she said, turning the stove down. ¡°Mum will check if it¡¯s safe for you to gain those attributes at your age.¡± I could only agree and stayed in her arms while she finished cooking. She didn¡¯t seem to trust me enough to leave me out of her sight, while the promise of magical power lingered in my mind. After serving me my supper, she crept to the study room and unfolded dozens of thick leather-bound books that were filled with small-lettered words. She even put on her glasses at some point, which she always avoided unless she was drawing geometrical figures and runes on things. She flipped through one book after another, noting down things in my notebook, which went completely over my head. I gave up on understanding an hour ago and instead concentrated on solving the puzzle piece Mum had made for me. There were some complex rules in it that my feeble kid brain barely comprehended, but it was fun to play with. Not to mention, my time spent solving the puzzle counted towards the Way of Education. ¡°Arilyn, can you summon your [Profile]?¡± she asked, resting the tomes. I nodded again, eyeing the mark on my palm. ¡°Reiterate everything you see,¡± she said, her tone unusually serious. ¡°Don¡¯t leave anything out.¡± As I listed my attributes and the points in them, she nodded along, though her expression twitched momentarily once or twice. Surely, my attributes explained why I was so smart for my age. Her lips parted slightly when she heard about my gift. ¡°[Fractal Soul]?¡± she repeated after me, her expression growing contemplative. ¡°This is likely what enables you to see essence threads and aether.¡± ¡°Is that a good thing?¡± I asked. She stared at me for an extended moment before giving a nod. ¡°It¡¯s a very... good thing.¡± I considered her words and expression and felt she wasn¡¯t painting me the entire picture. But she was my mum. It was likely for my own good. ¡°Alright, Ari, you¡¯ve given me a great scare today,¡± she said. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to educate you a little about the Spell and the attributes... I¡¯m not sure I can make it clear enough for you to understand, so if you don¡¯t get something, ask me questions, alright?¡± I nodded eagerly. ¡°Foremost, you need to understand that you¡¯re special,¡± she said. I raised an eyebrow, urging her to elaborate. ¡°There are two types of people in the world. First, those who are blessed by the Aether and born with the spark of magic, and those to whom the Spell grants magic.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the first kind?¡± I asked, unable to keep my hope from spilling into my voice. ¡°Maybe.¡± The corner of her lips curved slightly upward. ¡°Magic comes easier to the first group, but that also makes their path more... arduous. I won¡¯t go into unnecessary details. It¡¯ll only confuse you right now. You just need to make sure you keep your gift a secret until it¡¯s time.¡± ¡°Why?¡± She explained that people blessed by Aether received unwanted attention from various groups, both good and bad. Some simply wanted to study unique gifts, while others sought to use them for their own designs. The empire had a protection law in place that allowed them to take anyone blessed into custody, where they would be trained through all the hoops. While it didn¡¯t sound bad to my ears, Mum seemed highly against it, so I promised her to keep it all a secret. ¡°Now that¡¯s out of the way, it¡¯s time to decide about the attributes,¡± Mum said. ¡°Even with all its limits and constraints, the Spell is a force of goodwill and...¡± She still seemed worried and hesitant to go forward with this. ¡°Mum, as soon as I learn magic, I¡¯ll help you with your work,¡± I said, clasping my palms into fists. ¡°My sweet boy, you don¡¯t need to worry about that. But if you really want to learn magic, I suppose I can¡¯t stop you. Be aware, however, for the path of a shaper is not easy to trudge through.¡± With my enthusiasm returning, I didn¡¯t even hear the last part. ¡°Which one should I take? Essence Sensitivity or Arcane Acuity?¡± ¡°It depends,¡± she said, pausing to think of an explanation. ¡°As the name suggests, Essence Sensitivity sharpens your senses toward various essences, while Arcane Acuity is a more specialised attribute that enables a shaper to some specific fields of study. I¡¯d advise any novice not too keen about studying to take the first option, whereas Arcane Acuity needs immense hard work for it to come to fruition.¡± ¡°Then which one should I take?¡± ¡°There is no wrong choice,¡± she said with a smile. Fearing I did not understand her explanation properly, she decided to provide easier examples. ¡°Think Essence Sensitivity as a magical nose, whereas Arcane Acuity is a magic wand which will only be useful if you know your way around it.¡± I hummed, considering. ¡°Hmm, if I cannot use the magic wand in the end, is it not better to have a magical nose?¡± Hopefully, it actually doesn¡¯t grow a second nose, or I might lose it. ¡°Like the answer to most questions involving magic, it depends,¡± she sighed. ¡°But you can already see essence threads. There¡¯s no point in taking Essence Sensitivity. It would hardly add anything that your eyes will fail to perceive.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I agreed, though I didn¡¯t understand half of it. ¡°The process may give you a headache,¡± she said, ¡°but I¡¯ll be with you throughout to help. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± She clutched my shoulder, her golden essence at the ready. ¡°You can begin now.¡± I sucked in a deep breath. With her approval, I wasted no more time summoning my [Profile]. The Spell presented the options once more, and I focused on the tab for Arcane Acuity. [Please confirm your choice: Accept | Decline.] [You have chosen Arcane Acuity (Advanced). However, since your body and mind are not fully developed, as a safety protocol, the Advanced Rank Attribute may take a few hours to take effect.] [The Spell hopes you understand their plight.] Huh, I guess most of Mum¡¯s worry was unfounded after all. In the end, the process took all night. I didn¡¯t feel anything out of the ordinary and slept through it, while Mum stayed awake the entire night to ensure nothing went wrong. Chapter 04: Friends And Family Chapter 04: Friends And Family The name of the game suggested a novel recreation, which Serenade Circle decidedly was not, but that didn¡¯t make it any less enjoyable. Its complexity was perhaps too challenging for kids, but all of us had watched it played so many times that it was practically unreasonable to not play. At least, we had kept most rules intact. It was a regional favourite. There were even Serenade Circle contests during the Solstice festival. I had barely glimpsed the real, seasoned players play out the game. The competition was held at night, and Mum was unreasonably strict about my bedtime habits. However, if I knew one thing, it was that playing the game far surpassed the enjoyment one gets from spectating others. Ignoring the fact that Serenade Circle particularly honed one¡¯s Way of Balance, which I was on the verge of completing. ¡°Arilyn, it¡¯s your turn,¡± said Eran, our proxy leader for this round. He was three seasons older than me, already half a head taller, and maybe a full head above most of the kids. ¡°Remember, even if you can¡¯t eliminate anyone, don¡¯t let them move another step. They¡¯re already halfway across.¡± His advice essentially translated to don¡¯t mess up, which I didn¡¯t intend to do. I inhaled deeply, set my sights on the opponent¡¯s circle, and left ours, humming the most generic tune of the game. My spell would hold only as long as the melody. Keeping my rhythm, I rushed towards their territory. They had five players left in the game, to our three. I skirted at the edge of their circle, stretching my arm as far as I could to touch my opponents without stepping into the bounds of the circle. A simple touch would eliminate that player, but if I were to slip into their domain and they touch me, I would be eliminated instead. The complications didn¡¯t end there. For example, with each player eliminated, the radius of the circle would shrink so it wouldn¡¯t become impossible to reach the remaining players. Currently, the circle was large enough to leave most of them safe. While I darted along one side of the circle, my opponents retreated to the other. When I rushed to the opposite side, they fell back, all the while shielding their leader, Priam, out of my reach at the centre. Our team was at a disadvantage, cut down to three members, which only meant winning would feel twice as sweet. Although I wasn¡¯t the opener, I could sustain my rhythm the longest, benefitting from meditation and breathing control, and a little help from Alacrity. Little because half of the kids possessed the attribute. A couple with more points in it than myself. Being the youngest doesn¡¯t help. I moved back and forth several times, my throat beginning to strain. The kids mirrored my tempo, advancing and retreating with each shift of my gait. After half a dozen repetitions, they had decidedly memorised my rhythm. That was where they made the mistake. Once the opponent players grew used to my movements¡ªand weary from the repetition¡ªI suddenly cut my motion short and feinted to the opposite side where they had fallen back. My fingertips failed to touch anyone, but the little discordant in the tempo left their whole coordination at shamble. Other than Priam, who remained safe in the centre, the rest faltered. I set my sights on the weakest member of the group. Diana was the youngest after me. She was frail and mostly mimicked others¡¯ movements. Unable to keep up with the sudden change in pace, she stumbled over when my fingertips brushed her shoulder. As she banged against a portly teammate, I tagged him too, felling two birds with one stone. Cheers erupted from my team as I retreated, breaking the hum. ¡°That was so great, Arilyn!¡± Eran praised, patting my shoulder. I flashed a triumphant grin, gasps escaping my lips. ¡°The game¡¯s ours now¡­¡± cheered the other kid. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and sat down. My spell brought the game to even. It was all on them now. On the other side, the little girl I had eliminated looked as if she were about to cry. It didn¡¯t help that she was the smallest of the bunch and was always among the first two players eliminated. To make matters worse, Priam berated her for costing them a second player. Guilt prickled under my skin as I looked away. All I could do was urge Eran to start his spell quickly, so Priam and the others would stop scolding her. We won the round rather easily. Though they eliminated one of our members, their circle diminished to such a degree, that the last round became merely a custom where Eran walked to Priam and eliminated him. We rotated our leader next round. The tactic didn¡¯t work well, especially if the new leader was rash. We might have lost fewer rounds if Eran or I remained as the leader. Then it wouldn¡¯t even be a competition. What''s fun in that? ¡°No, you can¡¯t lead!¡± Priam yelled. ¡°It¡¯s already 4¨C3. If we lose another round, we¡¯ll lose the game.¡± ¡°But they switch leaders every round,¡± Diana said timidly. ¡°That¡¯s because they¡¯re winning,¡± Priam retorted. ¡°If I¡¯m the captain, I can¡ª¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°You want to be the leader every day,¡± retorted Tullus, the chubby boy she crashed onto during the game. ¡°No, I don¡¯t!¡± ¡°You do!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Diana made a fist. ¡°The last time I led was three, no, four days ago.¡± ¡°And we lost because of you,¡± Tullus accused. ¡°We¡¯ll lose on the very first spell if you¡¯re the leader like the last time,¡± the others agreed with a crackle of laughter. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t!¡± ¡°We most definitely would!¡± Priam shook his head, coming forward. ¡°If you want to become a leader,¡± he snorted, ¡°why don¡¯t you join their team instead?¡± To her fault, she actually turned to us, her eyes glistening. ¡°Can I?¡± she asked, her voice trembling as tears threatened to spill. ¡°Can I join your circle? I¡¯ll do anything you ask...¡± Her plea left Eran in a tight spot. Though we rotated our leaders, he was our spiritual leader. He keeps everyone motivated and steady, and others listen to him. ¡°Please...¡± Diana pleaded. It wasn¡¯t simply a matter of taking another member, since her inclusion would make the team unequal. Eran glanced around, clearly reluctant to deny her, but equally unwilling to swap anyone from our group. He seemed to hope someone would volunteer themselves. Regrettably, none wanted to join the losing team. Ultimately, it fell to me. Honestly, I had no desire to join the losers, either. But Mum always taught me to be gracious. It was much more so of her dedicating herself, rather than simply telling me I need to be kinder. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll swap with you,¡± I said, exhaling slowly. ¡°Really?¡± Diana¡¯s eyes sparkled. My teammates protested, but I made up my mind. My new team seemed more excited about her exclusion than my inclusion. Priam welcomed me, graciously assigning me the opening spell. That hardly changed much. While Diana played the role of leader lead, Eran maintained everything. I eliminated two players in my three spells, but we lost the game, anyway. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I bolted home before the others began chanting their taunts. Because it simply wasn¡¯t enough to win; you also had to annoy those you defeated. That was the true spirit of the game. Solas, I hope they grow up soon. Of course, Eran didn¡¯t join in their taunting, nor did Diana, who was simply content with her small victory. [Congratulations! You have completed the Way of Running I (100/100)] [Congratulations! You have awakened the attribute: Agility (Elementary).] [+1 Agility.] ¡°Finally,¡± I muttered, stumbling mid-stride. Mum didn¡¯t let me train actively, so it had taken me longer to complete this Way. Oddly enough, she didn¡¯t allow me to sprint like the older kids in the mornings or evenings, but she didn¡¯t mind me playing for hours. Weird rules adults make. ¡°Arilyn, wait!¡± Eran called, running to catch up with the blonde girl in tow. ¡°Why do you always run home?¡± ¡°Running is fun,¡± I replied simply. I understood why he was here¡ªhis house was on the same path, the closest to ours¡ªbut Diana¡¯s home was in the centre of town. Why was she out this late? ¡°I heard tomorrow¡¯s your birthday,¡± Eran said. I turned to face him. ¡°Who told you that?¡± I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice. Does he want me to invite him? But there¡¯s no celebration though... Unlike many patricians, Mum detested pandering to every little thing that was worth celebrating. ¡°Your ma came to get fresh eggs and milk this morning,¡± Eran explained. ¡°She mentioned it to ma.¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting a birthday cake!¡± Diana chirped. Now I was excited too. ¡°I¡¯ll wish you a happy birthday tomorrow,¡± Eran said. ¡°Me too!¡± Diana chimed in. ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll thank you both tomorrow,¡± I chuckled. Eran¡¯s house was further down the road, divided by sprawling wheat fields, all owned by his family. He bid goodbye and veered onto another path, but Diana didn¡¯t follow him. As I neared my home, I noticed she was still trailing me. I turned to give her a curious look. The spring evenings weren¡¯t as brief as those in winter, but it was already getting dark. ¡°Mum, I¡¯m home!¡± I shouted upon arriving. Diana hovered at the doorstep. Finally, unable to ignore her any longer, I asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to go home?¡± Diana nodded urgently. ¡°Mama asked me to invite your mama to fix the water at our inn.¡± ¡°Fix the water?¡± I arched my eyebrows. ¡°I don¡¯t think Mum does that. Wait, you mean, repair the runes in the water system?¡± Diana seemed unsure, but nodded anyway. ¡°Is the water not heating?¡± I asked, while heading to clean myself. ¡°Not purifying?¡± ¡°There is no water.¡± ¡°That she can fix, probably,¡± I assured her. ¡°Mum!¡± She appeared instantly, wearing her apron. ¡°Welcome back. Oh, did you bring a friend home?¡± ¡°No, she came for you.¡± ¡°Good evening,¡± Diana greeted quietly. ¡°Their inn¡¯s water system is broken.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Mum said, turning to the girl. ¡°Anything more I should know to fix?¡± The little girl looked out of her depth. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she admitted. ¡°Mama asked me to bring you.¡± ¡°She let you wander alone this late?¡± Mum frowned. ¡°What if you didn¡¯t know the way? Can you even navigate back in the dark?¡± Diana hesitated, finally realising how dim it had become. ¡°I... Mama asked me to call you in the afternoon, but I went to play and forgot.¡± Mum rubbed her temple and crouched to Diana¡¯s height. ¡°I¡¯ll have come to fix the problem in the morning, but I can¡¯t let you wander back alone now, can I?¡± Diana looked relieved. ¡°I¡¯ll go grab my gear,¡± Mum said, standing up. ¡°Ari, do you want to come along?¡± I considered it briefly and shook my head. Repairs might not take long, but Mum tended to dive into small talk with other women afterwards. And let me tell you, they were hardly ever small. She prepared quickly, slinging a leather satchel over her shoulder. Before leaving with Diana, she crouched beside me. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± she said. ¡°Do you remember the house rules?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t wander at night,¡± I recited, ¡°and don¡¯t let strangers in.¡± She kissed my forehead and vanished down the path with the blonde little girl. I watched their figure fade into the darkness before stepping inside. Now that I had the entire house to myself, I wondered what I should do. Then I remembered, tomorrow was my birthday! Mum probably had my gift hidden somewhere. My eyes lit up with excitement. But before I could begin my search, someone knocked at the gate. ¡°Who is it?¡± I called, scurrying to the entrance. Then I remembered the rules and decided against opening it immediately. ¡°Is this Ashlyn¡¯s house?¡± replied a feminine voice. I crept to the side window to get a look at the visitors. The voice was unfamiliar, and the figures outside were strangers too. In the dim light, I made out two people: a woman and a young girl, both swathed in thick coats and carrying bags. The younger girl noticed me peeking and moved closer to the glass window. She stared at me, opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately said nothing. ¡°Oh, my, are you Arilyn?¡± the older woman asked, her eyes lighting up as she spotted me. ¡°You have Ash¡¯s eyes.¡± I frowned. ¡°Mum¡¯s not home. She¡¯s out, working. Will be back soon. Can you wait until she returns?¡± The woman smiled warmly, but the younger girl stared at me with frosty eyes. ¡°We certainly can. After all, we came a long way to meet you. What¡¯s a little more waiting?¡± ¡°To meet me?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I thought you were here for Mum.¡± ¡°That too,¡± the woman said with a mysterious smile that felt so much familiar. ¡°You may not recognise us, but we¡¯re actually family.¡± ¡°We¡¯re your aunts!¡± announced the haughty girl. Chapter 05: Aunts Chapter 05: Aunts My frown deepened at the unabashed declaration. The older woman looked close to Mum¡¯s age, with a clear facial resemblance, softened only by a brighter shade of red hair. The younger girl, on the other hand, had muddy brown locks, braided boldly on one side, with an imperious adolescent face. If you ask me, she looked nothing like the older woman or my mum. ¡°You¡¯re my aunts?¡± I asked, trying to mask my eagerness with scepticism. ¡°So I¡¯m supposed to invite you in and serve tea now, is that it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t drink tea,¡± said the haughty girl. I ignored her. ¡°If you¡¯re my aunts,¡± I pressed, ¡°why have I never even heard your names?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you existed a couple of weeks ago, either,¡± she sputtered. The older woman shot her a pointed look, silencing her before she could say more. How exciting, I thought. Two strangers showed up claiming to be my aunts and expecting me to open the door for them. No, I hadn¡¯t ruled out the possibility that they could be my mother¡¯s sisters, but the rules of the house needed to be taken seriously. I didn¡¯t know them as my aunts, but I did know them as strangers¡ªand this house did not welcome strangers. At least when Mum was out. ¡°Why are you smiling like a dolt?¡± asked the girl. ¡°Open the damn door! Do you have any idea how far we travelled to this mud-splattered village?¡± ¡°I wonder how far that is,¡± I said, tilting my head. ¡°Perhaps from the spirit realm?¡± The supposed aunts¡ªor perhaps fae¡ªexchanged another look. The younger one bristled, and the older one bit back a grin. My expression hardened. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this,¡± fumed the brown-haired girl, wagging her finger at me. ¡°You think we¡¯re fae from the spirit realm, here to kidnap village children?¡± Karmel is a town, you snotty little brat! I suppressed the retort. One simply does not reprimand a faerie lightly. Even if they were inconsiderate little brats. ¡°Mum told me not to let strangers into the house,¡± I replied, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. After all, it was common knowledge to show caution around the fae, even if you didn¡¯t want them in your house. Mum had recounted three entire stories about the wrath of the fae¡ªenough to ensure I wouldn¡¯t make such a mistake. ¡°For Solas¡¯s light, there hasn¡¯t been a faerie sighting for centuries,¡± she swore, turning to her elder sister as though asking, Can you believe this? ¡°I don¡¯t know, Rose. It seems like sound reasoning,¡± the redhead woman said, flashing her teeth. ¡°Fine,¡± huffed Rose, her cheeks flushing a faint red. ¡°I¡¯ll prove we¡¯re not fae.¡± She marched to the door. ¡°If I am a faerie, will I be able to enter without an invitation?¡± A loud thump against the doorframe followed her declaration. And they continued, growing more forceful with each failed attempt. ¡°I¡¯ll break this stupid door open,¡± Rose roared, ¡°and make you eat your words!¡± The door held firm, but my breath hitched with every crash. No one had ever threatened to break into our home before, and the thought was terrifying. ¡°You¡¯re only going to hurt yourself, Rose,¡± the older woman pointed out. ¡°Did you forget your elder sister¡¯s vocation?¡± Rose relented at her words, though her face burned with anger. ¡°The door is reinforced,¡± she observed begrudgingly. ¡°I fear the whole house is,¡± the older woman observed. ¡°Every beam and nail here is warded.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to tell Mum about this!¡± I cried, my voice higher than I meant it to be. ¡°Look what you¡¯ve done,¡± said the woman, shooting Rose a pointed look. ¡°You¡¯ve frightened your little nephew on your first meeting.¡± ¡°I did not!¡± Rose glared at me. ¡°If you¡¯d just opened the door without making a fuss¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never open the door for you,¡± I said stubbornly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Little Rose¡¯s behaviour,¡± the older sister said. ¡°Let me apologise on her behalf. I¡¯ll make sure she never frightens a child again.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°I¡¯m not frightened!¡± ¡°Of course, you¡¯re not,¡± she said with a soft smile. ¡°Arilyn has the blood of Amadeus... Either way, you don¡¯t have to open the door until Ashlyn arrives. We can wait outside till then.¡± Unlike Rose, she was genuinely convincing at being my aunt. ¡°If you¡¯re really my aunts,¡± I ventured cautiously, ¡°why haven¡¯t I seen you before?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you live in a backwater fringe,¡± Rose said with a huff. ¡°It had taken two whole days to find the way here, can you believe it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind her,¡± the older sister interjected. ¡°But yes, we¡¯ve come a loooong way!¡± Someone knows how to talk to kids. ¡°Where do you live?¡± ¡°Our family¡¯s from Vashar. Ash never mentioned it, has she?¡± It wasn¡¯t a question. ¡°I¡¯ve read about Vashar in maps and picture books,¡± I said proudly. ¡°It¡¯s full of mountains and snow, where white Sabretooth Tigers and Winterheart Deer roam...¡± The older woman¡¯s smile mirrored Mum¡¯s. ¡°I have seen a Winterheart Deer when I was young,¡± she said. ¡°Your mum did too... They¡¯re so rare now.¡± ¡°You saw one?¡± My eyes sparkled. ¡°How was it? Was it three metres tall, like the books say? How big were its antlers?¡± ¡°It was huuuuge!¡± She stretched her arms wide. ¡°Ash almost shot an arrow at it. Thankfully, the saint beast didn¡¯t take offence.¡± I gasped. ¡°Mum would never do that!¡± ¡°She did though,¡± she chuckled. ¡°It was foggy and terribly cold. She mistook it for a common Frostbloom Elk...¡± I nodded slowly, finding that to be reasonable, though I could not picture Mum in that terrifying pose.¡°So Mum¡¯s a magic craftswoman. What about you?¡± ¡°Is that what she told you?¡± Rose perked up, still standing on her high horse even after attempting to break in. ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you,¡± I said, ignoring her completely to face the older woman, who might actually be my aunt. ¡°Wait, you haven¡¯t introduced yourself yet, and you already know my name...¡± ¡°How rude of me,¡± the provisional good aunt said. ¡°Let me rectify that.¡± She pointed at the teenager. ¡°This is your little aunt, Rosalyn. She had gone through her Calling last winter and hadn¡¯t gotten many chances outside the confines of the training halls. Usually, she¡¯s not so¡­ skittish.¡± The brat snorted at the introduction. ¡°I¡¯m your Aunt Emelyn,¡± she said, smiling brightly. ¡°As for my Calling... I¡¯m a Shaper. I¡¯m what you¡¯d call a Magus.¡± My eyes lit up. ¡°A real Magus?¡± I almost asked her to cast a spell right then and there, but stopped myself, noting something important. Mum said not to let strangers in, but... we all have rhyming names. That had to mean something, right? ¡°I¡¯m sorry we haven¡¯t come sooner,¡± Aunt Emelyn said apologetically. ¡°Praise Solas that we arrived just in time for your birthday.¡± Should I open the door? I wondered. It¡¯s bad manners to keep guests waiting outside too... ¡°Who¡¯s out there?¡± Mum¡¯s voice echoed abruptly. I found her figure joining on the rear of them. ¡°Emi? Rose?¡± Mum dropped her bag as a couple of potatoes rolled out. Paying no attention to it, she rushed forward to embrace both of them. ¡°You actually came,¡± she breathed into Emelyn¡¯s shoulder, her voice brimming with joy. ¡°How could we not, when you tell us you¡¯re hiding such a cute nephew?¡± said Aunt Emelyn. I¡¯m sure of it now. That made the whole thing doubly embarrassing. ¡°Does Mother¡­¡± Mum stiffened. ¡°If you sent her a letter,¡± Emelyn sighed, ¡°do you think she¡¯d discuss it with me?¡± More family coming? Well, the more the merrier. Mum shook her head and focused on the ones present. ¡°Little goblin, you¡¯ve grown so tall!¡± she exclaimed, moving to the teenager. She cupped Rose¡¯s cheeks and kissed her on the head. ¡°You look old¡ªer,¡± the brat said, her cheeks flushed, though this time not in anger. The gall of this brat! I¡¯ll show her who¡¯s old! But for now, I opened the door wide to let them in. ¡°Why are you waiting outside? Come in! I have so much to catch up on with you.¡± Mum practically herded them inside. ¡°We were just chatting with our little nephew,¡± Aunt Emelyn said with a chuckle. ¡°Did anyone tell you how smart he is?¡± ¡°He thought we were fae here to steal him,¡± Rose sputtered, flopping onto the couch. Mum laughed. ¡°Can¡¯t help with that; he loves those old tales too much...¡± As Mum went to bring water and beverages, I endured a very thorough session of cheek-pulling courtesy of Aunt Emelyn. Rose wisely kept her distance, as she should. There was no way I¡¯d let her touch my cheeks, much less pull them. Later, as Mum cooked and caught up with Emelyn, Rose hooked two fingers in my collar and dragged me toward the study. My protest only seemed to bolster her resolve. ¡°What do you want?¡± I asked, batting her hand away. She let out a heavy sigh, opened her bag, and pulled out a flute. A metal flute with fine carvings on its surface. ¡°This is for you,¡± she said, thrusting it into my palms. I stared at it blankly. ¡°Take it,¡± she insisted. ¡°It¡¯s yours.¡± ¡°Why?¡± I asked, still not grasping it. ¡°I can¡¯t play the flute... I cannot even whistle.¡± More importantly, I didn¡¯t understand why she was giving it to me. Rose pinched her braid, exasperated. ¡°I should have guessed,¡± she muttered, as if it were my fault. ¡°Well, you can learn to play it...¡± ¡°Thank you, but I like violins more,¡± I said as politely as I could. ¡°Or a harp. If I were to learn an instrument, those would be my first choices.¡± She made a strange choking noise that sounded remarkably contagious. ¡°Gosh, tell me about being demanding!¡± She shook her head before digging through her bag again. This time, she produced a metal device. I immediately recognised it. Mum had one, though hers was much larger. ¡°A recorder,¡± I murmured. ¡°This is too good a gift for you,¡± Rose said reluctantly. ¡°It has twenty-three whole songs recorded on it. Do you fancy this?¡± I nodded dumbly. She gave the device one last look and sighed. ¡°This is yours...¡± I reached out to take it, but she didn¡¯t let go, clutching it tightly. ¡°This is yours,¡± she repeated in a slow, deliberate tone, ¡°only if you promise not to tell Eldest Sister about my... earlier actions.¡± So that was the price. I nodded knowingly. Rose didn¡¯t want me to snitch on her. I do want to see her get scolded by Mum... but twenty-three songs! My eyes darted to the device. Mum¡¯s recorder only had a dozen songs, and I didn¡¯t even like half of them. I guess I can be kinder more than once a day. Finally, Rose let go. ¡°So, do we have a deal?¡± I nodded. ¡°Should we shake on it?¡± Chapter 06: Birthday Chapter 06: Birthday [The Spell wishes you a happy birthday. May you prosper in life and be a blessing to others.] [The Way of Self-Mastery I (4/10) is now available.] The messages from the Spell filled my mind the moment I woke up. "Thanks..." I whispered, yawning. "Is the Way a gift for my birthday?" Silence answered me. Might just be a coincidence, I thought, making a mental note to ask Mum how common birthday wishes from the Spell were. Even after all this time, the Spell was still as mysterious as the day it revealed itself to me. It (or she? they?) usually popped into my mind when needed, offering little to no instructions. Mum had explained that the Spell was designed to make magic more viable and to guide those born with it. Normally, it was only after one¡¯s awakening during their sixteenth season that one gained full access to its benefits. Or four years, according to the new calendar. I was merely two today¡ªeight seasons tough¡ªand had eight more long seasons to overcome before my awakening. I could not wait to see what else there was to learn. So much so that I had begun counting my days. 1487 days to go. It would have been over a hundred days less if I could have gone through it right after my fourth birthday. Unfortunately, the sacrarium did not have enough manpower to awaken everyone immediately after their birthday. They gathered all the unawakened children above four during the two solstices and performed a mass awakening ritual. I had yet to witness it myself to know how they went about it. All I knew was that the process rooted an essence seed into a child''s body, along with awakening any latent talents. After a couple of hours of meditation, I left my room with a big smile plastered to my face. "Happy Birthday!" Mum and my aunts cheered in unison the moment they saw me. Clearly rehearsed. Though not a complete surprise, I giggled and thanked them, my eyes scanning for presents. None in sight. Before I could ask, Mum swooped me up and herded me off to get ready. She trimmed my hair with practised ease, as if she had done this a hundred times before, then shooed me off for a bath. There, she scrubbed me down as if washing away a year¡¯s worth of grime. Once I was clean, dressed in new clothes, and my hair neatly combed, I was marched against the wall in the study room. "Stop looking up and hold still while I measure," Mum said, steadying my head. She placed a ruler on top of my head and scratched a line onto the hardwood with her nail. The wall had been my growth chart since I could stand. "Alright, now you can look." She aligned a measuring strip along the markings. "99.3 centimetres. You¡¯ve grown a whole eighteen centimetres this cycle." I''m practically half a man now! Just a few more years to go, I thought, clenching my fist. "He¡¯s going to tower over me," Aunt Emilyn commented, ruffling my hair. That much was obvious. Mum was just under six feet tall, and what little I remembered of my father hinted at a brooding, towering figure. "Alright, it''s time for the gifts!" Mum clapped her hands. "We also have a cake." Mum set up a recorder on the table to capture the moments as we cut the cake and devoured it with utmost gusto. I ended up with a creamy moustache on my upper lip. Then, it was time to unwrap the presents. Mum helped me unwrap a small gift box. "Your aunt must have picked something truly special for you, Pumpkin." I held my breath in anticipation, hoping for something magical. After all, Aunt Emelyn was a Magus. Maybe a magical trinket! But when the wrapping fell away, I found a silver chain with a phoenix pendant. It was pretty, but I couldn¡¯t help feeling a little disappointed. However, Mum¡¯s expression changed when she saw the pendant, and she glanced at Aunt Emelyn. "Emi, you didn¡¯t!" "It wasn¡¯t easy finding the right gift for a two-year-old nephew," Aunt Emelyn said, holding up the chain. "Rose kept suggesting silly things like wands, scrolls, essence strips, even aether droplets..." And you didn¡¯t think a kid might have a better idea of what a younger kid would like? "In the end, I chose this. He¡¯s an Amadeus, after all." I stared at the pendant, suppressing any disappointment I bore in my heart. "It¡¯s beautiful," I said quickly. It wasn¡¯t a lie. The phoenix pendant was stunning and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. One could not mistake it for an ornament for girls. When Mum fastened it around my neck, I noticed that the small phoenix wasn¡¯t silver¡ªit was some kind of silvery gem, and it felt heavier than it looked. With one gift down, I eyed Rosalyn. Noticing my gaze, she turned to me, baffled. "What?" she said. "I already gave you a gift, remember? Or have you suddenly taken a liking to the flute?" "I was looking at your pendant," I said, quickly holding up my phoenix pendant. "It looks like mine." The only difference was that hers was sapphire, while mine was silvery. "Of course it does," Rosalyn said curtly. "We all have one." I had never seen Mum wear one. I looked at Aunt Emi, who smiled, showing me a ring on her index finger with the same phoenix emblem. Hers was sapphire too. Now there was only one person left. I turned to Mum. "I lost mine ages ago," she said, crouching down to my level. "And your grandmother would kill me if I asked for another." Before I could ask any more questions, Mum pulled another gift box from behind her. "This one¡¯s from me, Pumpkin." This time, I got to open it on my own. Everyone waited to see what was inside. "Is that what I think it is?" Rosalyn leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. Aunt Emelyn shot a very measured look at Mum. "Really?" "What is this?" I asked, pulling out a crystal cube covered in familiar and unfamiliar letters. "Another puzzle?"Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Mum had given me a wooden puzzle cube for my first birthday, but this one looked far more impressive, shimmering with complexity. "Did you craft this, Ash?" Rosalyn asked. "Wait, isn¡¯t he a little young for something like this?" "You should''ve thought of that before suggesting wands and scrolls," Aunt Emelyn said with a laugh. "Don''t worry, little goblin, I made one for you too," Mum said, stroking Rosalyn¡¯s hair. "I was planning to send it to you when you go to the academy." "Can I have it now?" Rose asked, her eyes lighting up. "Only on one condition." Mum pulled another box out of nowhere. How did she do that? Is Mum a Magus too? "You can¡¯t get help from anyone to solve it." "Obviously. I''m not a blighted fool." Why did you look at me when you said that? I glowered at her, but the brat had already moved on. She snatched the box from Mum¡¯s hands and ripped the wrapping off to reveal a crystal cube similar to mine¡ªbut hers had no runes or letters on its surfaces. I couldn¡¯t help but grin, glancing between the two cubes. "What?" Rosalyn caught my expression. "Yours is smaller," I teased, smirking. "So?" the brat snorted. She held her cube up to my face as it came to life with dozens of shimmering blue spirals. "See this? This proves my cube is magical, compared to yours, which is simply a bigger one." I frowned, glancing between the two cubes before turning to Mum for clarification. "You¡¯re not allowed to get help with yours either, Pumpkin," Mum said, planting a kiss on my forehead. "As for magic, I¡¯ve told you before¡ªyou¡¯re still too young." I sighed, letting Rosalyn have her little victory. Gloat all you like, brat. I¡¯ll catch up soon enough, and I won¡¯t even have to brag about it. "What is it, though?" I asked after a tentative study of the cube. "Stupid, it¡¯s a Spell Template," Rosalyn said. "Well, mine definitely is a Spell Template. Don¡¯t know about yours." Thanks for no help, then. I returned to Mum. "That is the common term for it," she said. "The rest is for you to figure out." "I¡¯ll give you a hint," Aunt Emelyn added. "Once you solve the cube, you can begin to learn spellcraft, maybe even some runes... Right, Ash?" Mum shot her a sharp look. "Will you stop raising his expectations?" she groaned. "I don¡¯t want him growing up like we did. I want him to be himself, to do what he loves, not what we expect of him." But I want magic. Who wouldn¡¯t want a little magic in their life? Rosalyn looked up from her cube, silently observing her sisters. Mum placed her hands on my shoulders. "You¡¯re still little, Pumpkin," she said softly. "Too young to grasp what it takes to practise spellcraft." I tilted my head in confusion. "Do you know it takes years of mental training and discipline before you can even attempt it?" I blinked in surprise. This was the first time I had heard of it. "It took me eleven seasons," Aunt Emelyn added helpfully. "Only nine and a half for me," Rosalyn boasted. I looked at her in shock. This brat already knows magic? "Truly?" Mum said, amused. "Who knew our little goblin was such a prodigy?" Rosalyn¡¯s cheeks flushed at the compliment. "It¡¯s nothing. Just hours of tedious work." A small breath of relief escaped me. I¡¯d been worried she meant it would take a decade to prepare. Nine seasons didn¡¯t seem so bad by comparison. The important question here was¡ªwhen could I start? Rosalyn looks about six and a half. If it took her nine seasons, she must have started around when she was four at the latest. I can¡¯t wait that long... "Ari, you need to remember that these mental exercises can be very dangerous for young minds," Mum said. "I¡¯ll teach you when you¡¯re older, but you must promise me you won¡¯t try anything on your own." "I won¡¯t..." I promised, though part of me still wished I could start sooner. Well, it wasn¡¯t like I had nothing else to practise. There were still so many Ways I needed to complete and so many more to gain access to. "Good boy!"
**** "Where are we going, Pumpkin?" Rose asked, smirking. She seemed to find my nickname funny, and hers was Goblin. Rosalyn spent the entire morning absorbed in her cube. Eventually, Mum and Aunt Emelyn got fed up with her lounging on the couch and sent us both outside to play. Of course, the girl didn¡¯t forget to bring the cube with her. It remained in its active state, glowing in spirals of blue light, manipulated by her threads of essence. "Is it really that fun?" I asked, watching her. "Hmm," she hummed distractedly. "We¡¯re going to the playground." "Hmm." Only Eran and Diana knew about my birthday, but when I got to the playground, it turned out everyone did. Soon, I was surrounded by my friends. Under Eran¡¯s lead, they sang a stupid folk song, wishing me a long life while circling around me in floppy steps. Even Rosalyn looked up from her cube to see what was happening, though she stayed a dozen paces away, watching with amusement. I guessed this was a birthday ritual among playmates. I vowed to make every one of them embarrassed when it was their turn. Once the singing and dancing finished, the kids split into two teams for Serenade Circle. I was made leader, probably due to it being my special day. "Hey, Ari, who¡¯s that?" Eran whispered, nodding toward Rosalyn. A snotty little brat, that¡¯s what she is. Unfortunately, I had the misfortune of being her nephew. That¡¯s what I wanted to say, but instead, I managed with, "My unpleasant aunt." Eran exchanged a look between us. "Should we ask her to play?" he asked hesitantly. "She¡¯s standing there all by herself." "You can try," I said, though I doubted she¡¯d want to. The brat probably thought she was too good to play with little kids. Eran was unsure, but a group of adolescents arrived and headed straight for her, sparing him the awkwardness. Not that she looked any more interested in talking to them either. We had just started the second round when the kids spotted something far more exciting than our little game. And what could be more interesting than Serenade Circle, other than the presence of a Shaper? "Look, it¡¯s Ulric!" one of the kids shouted, and the group scattered to join the teenagers. "He¡¯s going to show us magic spells!" In the end, only Eran, Diana, and I remained behind in the circle. My friends cast their glances over at the commotion. "Who¡¯s Ulric?" I asked. "You don¡¯t know Ulric?" Eran gasped, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "He¡¯s the son of Master Luna¡­" "Who¡¯s Master Luna?" I asked, still confused. Both Eran and Diana stared at me, dumbfounded. "Never mind," Eran said. "Didn¡¯t you hear that Ulric awakened the Shaper path last year? Come on, let¡¯s go watch!" I hadn¡¯t, but I followed them anyway. The term Shaper intrigued me. Shapers were among the rarest and most sought-after paths. They were the foundation pathways towards magi and knights. They came in all kinds of elements: Shaper of Fire, Shaper of Life, Shaper of Water, and so on. Ulric was about Rose¡¯s age and seemed a bit out of his depth, surrounded by eager onlookers. He looked uncomfortable in the spotlight, enough to give him stage fright. It looked like he was playing with mud, but there was something more to it. I inched closer to Rosalyn, trying to get a better view. My Arcane Acuity tingled. It took me a moment, but I realised Ulric wasn¡¯t just playing with mud. Thin, mud-green threads of essence weaved through the soil as he lifted his hands. The mud began to shift. Under everyone¡¯s riveted gaze, the muddy soil rose into a small wall, the essence binding it together. The crowd erupted in cheers, but Ulric wasn¡¯t finished. With a gesture, the wall lifted off the ground and began to float in a slow circle. Claps broke out among the kids. The mud changed shapes in the air for several minutes as the young Shaper began to sweat, despite the cool weather. "Alright, that¡¯s enough for today," he said, wiping his forehead. The kids groaned in disappointment. His eyes briefly flickered towards Rosalyn. "I need to practise more, or I¡¯ll be stuck playing with mud forever." "You didn¡¯t have much training before awakening your path, did you?" Rosalyn asked, cutting through the chatter. "I¡­" Ulric flushed, unsure how to respond. "All he does is train, train, and train," another boy said, coming to his defence. "Either with his father or his mentor." "There¡¯s a difference between regular training and Shaper training," Ulric said with a sheepish smile. "I never expected to awaken as a Shaper, let alone train for it." Rosalyn nodded, as if she had already known. "Are you a Shaper too?" Rosalyn frowned at him, then glanced at me, noticing my curiosity. "Yes," she admitted. "Can you shape earth like Ulric?" Diana asked, a sparkle in her eyes. "Earth is not my element," my aunt said. Diana and the other kids looked visibly disappointed. "But I can do this." She raised her hand. Wisps of mist and wind curled off her palm and rose into the air. Most of the kids looked puzzled, finding nothing unusual, but I could see the blue threads of essence spiralling from her fingertips, binding the mist and wind together. So could Ulric, who sniffed the air, sensing something mystical. I watched closely, but I couldn¡¯t figure out what she was doing. The others lost interest and began to leave, but I stayed. Then, the first flake of snow landed on Diana¡¯s shoulder. She looked up in surprise. "Snowfall?" More snowflakes followed, drifting lazily through the air. The kids cheered again, lunging to catch them on their tongues. I caught a few myself, watching them melt in my palm. Finally, I realised how she did it, though I was hopeless to replicate it. It didn¡¯t take long for everyone to figure out where the snow was coming from. "Arilyn, you didn¡¯t say your aunt was a Shaper?" Eran asked, wide-eyed. "This is amazing!" I had to admit, it was. Rosalyn¡¯s face was a mask of satisfaction when she noticed me watching. We played for another hour before it was time to go home. After saying goodbye to Eran, I walked beside Rosalyn in silence. Intrusive questions built up inside me as I stole glances at her. "You drew the heat from the moist air to make snowflakes, didn¡¯t you?" I finally asked. Rosalyn faltered, shooting me a surprised look. Her expression told me I¡¯d guessed right. "How long will it take me to learn that?" "Weeks, maybe months," she said. "Or perhaps never." "When did you start training?" "Since I was three," she answered, frowning. "Why are you asking?" I didn¡¯t reply, clenching my fists. Four more seasons to go. Interlude I

Ashlyn ¡°Now if I can get some wine,¡± Emi said, wiping her arms with a towel before sinking onto the couch. ¡°I won¡¯t even say no to some cheap ale.¡± ¡°I have a house rule against alcohol,¡± Ashlyn stifled a laugh. ¡°And smoking.¡± Emi snorted. ¡°Mighty noble of you to make up some rules like that, since you do neither.¡± Ashlyn smiled, and for a moment, it felt like she was back in the old days when the two of them could talk without any reservations. ¡°I would have given you a pass, but there¡¯s nothing unfortunate to drink in the house.¡± ¡°How you spend out here alone like this, I¡¯d never know,¡± her younger sister said, shaking her head. Arilyn and Rosalyn were fast asleep after hours of playing around, and Ashlyn had finally finished tidying the house. She sank onto the couch beside Emelyn, thankful for her help with the cleaning. They had spent the afternoon together, but neither had brought up the heavier topics then. ¡°If you are staying for another night,¡± she proposed, ¡°I might not be against the idea of brewing something nasty for now. Only have to make sure the children are not close.¡± ¡°Never imagined I¡¯d see this day,¡± Emelyn said, nudging against her shoulder. ¡°You, settling down, raising a family all by yourself. You were so wild and feisty.¡± ¡°Nor did I,¡± Ashlyn said. ¡°But raising a child changes you... My little pumpkin is so sweet. He makes it all worth it.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± her sister chimed, patting her lap and inviting her to lie down. Just like old times. ¡°He¡¯s so adorable, and so darn curious... Solas, he asks so many questions.¡± Ashlyn gave in too easily, laying her leg over the head of the couch, her head nestled on Emi¡¯s lap. Her sister brushed a clumsy finger through her locks, nuzzling slowly. ¡°He usually finds the answer to his question on his own,¡± she murmured. ¡°Only asks when he couldn¡¯t find them... or if he¡¯s overly excited about something, which is everything concerning a Magus.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a problem, far from it,¡± Emelyn said. ¡°I¡¯d say it is a defining characteristic of excellence. Curiosity.¡± Ashlyn stared at her in silent contemplation. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look,¡± her sister snorted. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have taught him meditation at such an early age or given him the cube if you thought he¡¯d be average.¡± ¡°He learned to meditate on his own,¡± she sighed. ¡°Really¡­ How?¡± ¡°Said he imitated watching me, and one day it began to make sense to him.¡± Emelyn¡¯s brushing fingers froze, the magus in her beginning to calculate what it could entail in raw talent. ¡°Ash, this is really... With meditation, he¡¯s already half-prepared for spellcrafts.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she whispered, her lips pressed into a thin line. Perhaps the simplicity of living in a village with little to no distraction had led him to be so earnest in it, but that didn¡¯t explain all of it. There were hardly any kids as diligent as her pumpkin. ¡°It¡¯s not just meditation... he can sense essence... read and write. He has already filled up a dozen notebooks.¡± It might sound like the ability to read and write was minuscule compared to the ability to sense essence. But essence came naturally to many gifted individuals. ¡°Well, having Focus and Cognition could help one develop their mind sooner.¡± True, there was no shortage of kids who were a bit smarter for their age. A bit, because a few points in this and that attribute could never be a better teacher than first-hand experience. Then there were also those the Spell was partial to. ¡°What worries you?¡± Emi asked, squeezing her palms. What worries her? Well, she could name a dozen. Ignoring the antagonistic relationship she had with her mother before cutting herself off from everything, I worry I¡¯ll repeat the same mistakes with Arilyn. That he¡¯ll hate me and will cut ties with me like I did. All those chaotic thoughts gripped her heart, and yet she didn¡¯t bring herself to voice her concern to her sister¡ªthe person she was once closest to all her life. ¡°I worry the Spell is stealing my little boy¡¯s childhood from him,¡± she sighed with a heavy heart. ¡°You remember Nero,¡± her sister said, reading her expression and her aura. ¡°Of course, you do¡­ He turned out to grow up pretty well, even with all the interference. I¡¯m sure you have nothing to fear.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Her heart jumped as the face of a young boy resurfaced in her mind. A boy, a genius with talents like no other, the youngest to advance to the Prestigious Class. Like Arilyn, Nero was born with a gift, one that bloomed at an early age. Unfortunately, too many people tried to mould him to their liking, forced him through gruelling training when he needed pampering, and left him with nobody to turn to. Ashlyn would never let anyone, perhaps even her own family, shape her little boy. Emelyn was closest to her heart, and even then, she had deliberated for months before inviting her. ¡°You are exhausted, Sister,¡± Emi murmured, massaging her head. ¡°You are trying to play all the roles you can for Arilyn while also doing everything else...¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t bad,¡± she said, letting out a slow breath. ¡°I know, but all these years, you¡¯ve been raising him alone.¡± Ashlyn could feel the question brewing at the tip of Emi¡¯s tongue¡ªquestions she had dodged for years. ¡°What of his father?¡± Emelyn asked. ¡°Where is he? Even our father was never...¡± She didn¡¯t complete the sentence, but Ashlyn knew what her younger sister was getting at. Surprisingly, she wasn¡¯t angry... Perhaps she would have been if it was Ashlyn of a decade ago... she didn¡¯t have the same fire in her anymore. Ashlyn traced her finger over the left side of her ribcage, reaching for the old scar there. Even covered under her clothes, she could still feel it. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t even know where he is currently,¡± she said, her breath hitching. ¡°If even alive...¡± ¡°Oh, Ash...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Ashlyn sat up, a brittle smile on her lips. ¡°I chose knowing it all.¡± ¡°But,¡± Emi sighed, ¡°doesn¡¯t Arilyn need his father?¡± Ashlyn groaned. She had to bring that up. ¡°Sometimes I wonder if you like being alone,¡± her sister said. ¡°You ran away from home, fighting Mother¡­ then that whole thing at the Olympus, and you left your job and everything to disappear completely for years¡­ Sometimes I feel you don¡¯t need us¡­ you don¡¯t want us.¡± ¡°Emi, you know it¡¯s not like that¡­¡± ¡°I know, and I still feel that way¡­¡± She bit her lip. ¡° Can you imagine how hard it is for Rose? Like you, she doesn¡¯t express much, but I know how much she misses her eldest sister.¡± Ashlyn parted her lips to say something, but she found no words that would excuse her absence. Perhaps she could give a valid explanation, perhaps she could blame her mother, but she couldn¡¯t change the fact that she was absent while their little sister grew. In the end, All of her valid reasons would be nothing more than hollow excuses to Rosalyn. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not being a filial elder sister to you two,¡± she finally said, kissing Emilyn¡¯s palm. Now all I hope is that I don¡¯t become an even worse mother to Arilyn. Emilyn shook her head. ¡°When I first told Rose about coming here, she said she didn¡¯t want to come¡­ However, on the day of the journey, she silently showed up hours before time.¡± ¡°That really sounds like our Little Goblin,¡± she chuckled. ¡°She idolizes you.¡± Ashlyn furrowed her brows. ¡°Gosh! You¡¯ve made it so hard now,¡± Emi said, exhaling deeply. ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d come with us¡ªto live together.¡± Ashlyn cocked her head up. ¡°You have done all you could alone to raise him,¡± Emilyn continued. ¡°Let us¡­ let me do my part as an aunt.¡± ¡°Emi,¡± Ashlyn opened her mouth, yet couldn¡¯t find the words. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re still going to be stubborn,¡± Emilyn said, reading her expression. ¡°I cannot leave,¡± she said, biting her lip. ¡°Not yet. I still have work to do.¡± Her sister only stared at her with a pained expression. A deep-rooted guilt resurfaced within Ashlyn¡¯s heart. She closed her eyes before they could break into tears. This is where we agreed to unite. This is where he¡¯ll return to if he¡¯s still alive¡­ I cannot leave. Not yet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Emi, but¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright," her sister said, her lips pressed to a thin line. " I guess I was hopeful for nothing¡­¡± ¡°I promise to visit you and Rose,¡± Ashlyn said, but the damage was already done. ¡°Just give me a little more time to make it to you¡­ Let Arilyn have a normal childhood, with no pressure and expectations weighing on his little shoulders¡­¡± And let me cling to the little hope I have of him returning¡­ ¡°We¡¯ll come to you, Emi¡­ when this little world is not enough for Arilyn¡­ when I cannot give him everything¡­¡±

Emilyn Rose awoke a little later than usual and then had to wipe clean her made-up moustache and beard¡ªher little nephew¡¯s handiwork¡ªpushing their return journey to be delayed. But Ashlyn did note her little sister¡¯s sullen expression. Rose didn¡¯t want to leave, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. She had training to attend, and it was the same for Emilyn¡ªthe difference being that she would be the one giving the said training. ¡°Can¡¯t you just teach her here?¡± asked her little nephew. His face still bore the moustache, though Rose¡¯s hand hadn¡¯t been as creative as his, but it did match his bright red hair. ¡°I could,¡± she said, kneeling down to wrap him in a hug. ¡°But that will make the rest of the students miss the training.¡± Arilyn pouted sullenly, wrinkling his moustache. ¡°Aunt Emi, will you teach me magic when I grow up?¡± ¡°Of course, sweet child. But make sure you learn everything you can from your mum before you¡¯re ready.¡± He nodded eagerly. Then, mischief sparkled in his eyes. ¡°Aunt Emi, I have a grave question. One last one, I promise,¡± he asked with all the seriousness a child could muster. ¡°Mum calls me Pumpkin, and she calls the brat¡ªuh, Rose¡ªLittle Goblin. What nickname did Mum give you?¡± Emilyn smiled, amused. ¡°She calls me ¡®Emi,¡¯ of course.¡± He made a face, feeling a little cheated. ¡°How about this?¡± she laughed, pulling his cheeks playfully. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what I used to call your mum when we were younger.¡± Her nephew perked up. She grinned and leaned in close, whispering in his ear, ¡°Chipmunk.¡± Arilyn couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t tell her I told you that.¡± ¡°I promise,¡± he giggled. On the other side, Rose clung to Ash, crying like she didn¡¯t want to let go. ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t leave me!¡± Rosalyn sobbed, wrapping her arms around her as tightly as she could. ¡°We just reunited, and now we¡¯re parting again¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you, Little Goblin,¡± Ash said softly, nuzzling Rosalyn¡¯s brown hair. ¡°I¡¯ll keep in touch, and I¡¯ll even visit you when you feel lonely. But soon, you¡¯ll be busy at the academy, with all your classes and training¡­ and the boys.¡± Rosalyn snorted, snot bubbling out of her nose. ¡°Train well, little sister,¡± their eldest sister said, patting her head. ¡°And don¡¯t forget to have fun.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Rosalyn mumbled through her tears. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± After wiping away her tears and snot, Rosalyn finally let go of Mum and turned to face Arilyn. ¡°I¡¯ll show you an even greater spell next time I visit,¡± she told him. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Chapter 07: Forgive me, Im Late Chapter 07: Forgive Me, I''m Late The sun sank low on the horizon, signalling the end of playtime, but I didn¡¯t even notice, completely absorbed in solving the Puzzle Cube once and for all. I was on Layer IX now, after solving all the word, number, and maths puzzles that had come before the final problem. It had taken me two whole seasons, close to half a year. Regrettably, the seasons weren¡¯t autumn or winter, when I would have spent long days within the confines of our house, molested by the ashen dust or snowstorms. The brat had called it an excuse the last time we went on a picnic together. It was untrue... The reason was that I simply didn¡¯t want to spend all day solving a puzzle. Only the blighted tempests could force me to it. However, after receiving a letter from my aunt a couple of weeks ago, I became desperate to solve it. Apparently, the brat had solved hers, and I was still unable to, when mine was the dumb variation of her Spell Template in her opinion. I implored Mum to push the date forward, before she sent the reply, hoping to solve the puzzle by then. I couldn¡¯t let the little goblin gloat for too long... Thankfully, I was on the right track. There were thirty-six unique letters engraved on all six surfaces of the cube, while double that number could be revealed by spinning the edges and centre. I spun the edges swiftly, cross-checking if the chains of runic letters were in the right order every once in a while. Almost... Almost! I clenched my jaw, gingerly manoeuvring one side to avoid any mistake that might undo all my progress. Each of the runic letters was like a clockwork cog¡ªany of them could fit with another, even when they didn¡¯t make sense. My task was to make them make sense. ¡°Come on!¡± I muttered, pressing my lips together. The runes seemed to line up correctly... but then... I narrowed my eyes, examining all sides of the cube, when the engravings beamed with golden light. ¡°Yes!¡± I jumped to my feet, punching the air. My eyes returned to the cube and found thin strands of smoke wafting out of it, accompanied by a mechanical hum. The cube¡¯s shape readjusted on its own; the metal of its surface shifted, shrinking to match Rosalyn¡¯s Spell Template. The letters compressed, shifting into something different once more. Under my blazing gaze, new layers appeared on the cube¡ªthere weren¡¯t as many spiralling weaves as there were runes. They looked to be the solved form of all the prior layers I had completed. My eyes widened like saucers as a groan escaped me. I had just finished examining it when the familiar voice of the Spell chimed in my mind. [+1 Focus] Woooh! Thanks! This was one of the few times I had received a reward for accomplishments outside of the Ways. Mum once mentioned that the Spell did not create the rewards, but merely distributed them. Obviously, she wasn¡¯t telling me all of it, fearing I wouldn¡¯t understand. As far as she was concerned, the Spell was like the Custodian of Rewards. ¡°Hey, Spell,¡± I called to the air, without peering at the mark on my left palm. ¡°Please show me my full [Profile].¡± A second passed, and the familiar green script manifested in my mind¡¯s eye, looking fuller than ever. ___________________ [Status] Arylin O¡¯Leon Attributes: (Unallocated Points: 6) Gift: Ways: ________________ Two whole seasons had passed, and I hadn¡¯t been wasting much of it. I still might not be as tough as an Awakened, but I had eliminated many of the weaknesses of my early days. As my active hours rose along with my agency, I divided my time between all the activities depicted in the Ways. There wasn''t a definitive schedule per se, but a few of them had become permanent habits. I used to meditate for three hours easily when I was younger, but gradually, I reduced it to an hour to devote more time to studying. Meditation was crucial. Even Mum did it regularly for half an hour or more, even after she completed the whole Way. I deemed an hour more than enough to make gradual progress in the Way. I fit in two two-hour study sessions in the morning and evening. Then there was my playing time, which lasted between two to three hours. Some days I played alone with the cube, other puzzles, or simply ran around to complete a Way like today. On other days, my friends pulled me into their games and usual mischief. [Way of Education] was where I had made the most progress in the last two years... and I was rewarded with six unallocated points. Two for Layer I, and four more for Layer II. The only thing stopping me from allocating all six points into Arcane Acuity was my Mum. Her reasoning was that uninvested points were hard to come by, so it was best to leave them unallocated until I hit a block. ¡°Finally, did you finish playing with that thing?¡± Eran¡¯s voice interrupted my thoughts as my Profile vanished. ¡°Look what I found.¡± Eran stood proudly, holding an old bow almost as tall as him, using a common stick in place of an arrow. He had a few more of those cobbled-together sticks in the quiver strapped to his back. He had grown as much as I had, but the bow and quiver remained comically oversized.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Where did you get that?¡± More importantly, why don¡¯t you have arrows if you have a finely crafted bow and quiver? Maybe his mother didn¡¯t let him take the real ones, fearing he¡¯d hurt himself or others. ¡°My Da was cleaning the old attic today, and we found this,¡± Eran said. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we can take turns playing with it.¡± Evidently, this had nothing to do with Priam showing off his bow and arrow set to the other kids the other day. Even if it did, Eran was too pure-hearted to show off. ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°To the institute,¡± Eran said, picking up his pace. ¡°We can target practice there.¡± I looked at the dulling orange sun creeping towards the horizon. It would be dark within an hour¡ªhalf of that would be wasted going back and forth. The institute was at the foot of the mountain range, while both of our houses were further south. I didn¡¯t believe we had enough time to get any decent practice in, especially since the institute was only open to the Awakened. Still, I might get a chance to receive Way of Archery. I knew for a fact that such a Way existed and was rather easy to obtain. It wasn¡¯t like I would forget the way back. With that in mind, I dashed forward, running beside Eran, keeping up despite him being three seasons older. After a brisk fifteen minutes, both of us were red-faced, wheezing, our breath heavy and erratic. Through heavy breathing, I collected myself. Even if I did not get Way of Archery, this run had brought Way of Running a bit closer to its second completion. The institute was rather modest, with two separate buildings divided by a large field to serve the newly Awakened students of Karmel and the neighbouring villages. The district of Dimir was at the very fringe of the Alberan Empire. By the time education funds were divided among various districts, little of it remained for us. I would be admitted in two years, while Eran had only one year left. Four was the accepted age for the Awakening Ceremony, and also the typical age to start schooling. The light continued to fade, but a bunch of Awakened kids still remained on the field, either playing or training. Only a few stood gawking at others. ¡°Where are you two kids running off to at this hour?¡± a voice called as we entered the grounds with agitated hearts. ¡°Good evening, Aleya,¡± Eran greeted first, followed by me. I looked to find a familiar girl with sun-kissed hair. Boasting a couple of winters in age over us, Aleya cut a taller, lean figure, though her sweat-ridden face, unkempt braid, and clothes full of dirt and grime hardly matched her Equites upbringing. ¡°Sorry, I do recognise you both,¡± she said, narrowing her eyes at us, ¡°but I cannot remember your names. You two are Priam¡¯s friends, right?¡± Maybe infantile amnesia had caught her faster than me, because I clearly remembered us playing together sometimes. Before Priam, she had been the one bossing the kids around. Eran took the responsibility of introducing us, and Aleya nodded, repeating our names after us, in case she forgot them again. Aleya was the elder sister of our friend Priam, and her father was the Lord Magistratus of Karmel. With the firstborn son set to take over his father¡¯s position, she was likely putting her best effort into the academy. Her dishevelled appearance decidedly suggested so. ¡°That¡¯s quite a hefty bow you have there.¡± Only then did Eran become a little self-conscious, looking at me for direction. ¡°Would it be a problem if we target practised a little?¡± I asked. She cocked her head at my question. ¡°A little... won¡¯t be a problem.¡± She led us to the archery course. Two boys, a couple of years older than her, were already there, packing their stuff to call it a day. ¡°Hold on for a minute, boys,¡± Aleya said, causing them to perk up. ¡°Let these two play around for a few minutes.¡± ¡°Forgive me, Aleya, I¡¯m already late for home,¡± said the taller one, a rough, lanky figure with buzz-cut hair. ¡°What¡¯s urgent at home anyway?¡± the other guy said with a snicker. ¡°You left a young bride at home, Lys?¡± Lys glared at his friend before turning to Aleya. ¡°It will be dark in no time... and my classmates from my village will leave soon. I¡¯ll have to travel alone in the dark.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll only take a while,¡± Aleya paused. ¡°It''s only a matter of storing the equipment and targets, right? I can do it in your place.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll also help,¡± Eran chimed in for both of us. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lys examined her expression, probably wondering if he would get into trouble if we messed with the equipment. ¡°Yeah, it will only take a few minutes,¡± Aleya said. ¡°You are free to leave with your friends.¡± A couple of minutes later, Eran stood ten paces away from the target, the longbow set in his arms. He loaded an arrow and pulled the string tentatively. ¡°Your hands are shaky,¡± Aleya said. ¡°Stand firmer, and raise your right shoulder a bit.¡± I observed from the sidelines and nodded. Eran¡¯s body language was far from controlled, and the bow, being almost his height, only made it worse. Sadly, Aleya¡¯s advice barely did any good, so she moved to stand behind him and guided his posture. Even after all the teaching, when Eran finally shot the arrow, it missed the wooden target completely¡ªthankfully, by only a few inches. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad first shot,¡± Aleya said, patting his shoulder. Eran blushed. This was not his first shot. I turned to the other boy, who had been watching everything in silence since his friend left. ¡°Can you show me how it¡¯s done?¡± He met my gaze and peeked at Aleya before saying, ¡°Well, I don¡¯t see why I can¡¯t show you a couple of tricks.¡± Then instead of mentoring me like Aleya, he took position twenty paces away¡ªdouble the distance of where Eran had stood before¡ªand held his bow. It was two-thirds the length of Eran¡¯s, though not inferior by any means. A full-metal piece, which could be folded to make it easier to carry when not in use. As the boy loaded an arrow, my attention shifted from the design of the bow to his body language. I watched him in complete concentration. The little sparkling light in his eyes didn¡¯t go unnoticed, nor did the way his breathing slowed just before he released the string. The arrow cut through the air and landed at the very centre of the target chart. ¡°At least you didn¡¯t mess up in front of them, Tehn,¡± Aleya laughed. ¡°An unmoving target is hardly a challenge for me,¡± Tehn boasted. He raised the bow again and shot a couple more arrows in quick succession. The second pierced a finger¡¯s width away from the first, while the third landed a few more inches off but still at a respectable spot on the chart. ¡°Ten points for you,¡± Aleya clapped. Tehn¡¯s face flushed completely. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time before I complete the third layer of Archery.¡± He was probably not going to stop until someone acknowledged his mastery. ¡°Thank you for showing me,¡± I said, then stared at the bow in his hand. A less self-obsessed person would have caught on and handed me their bow, but Tehn was obviously not that guy. ¡°Give him the bow, Tehn,¡± Aleya said, being the observant one. ¡°Umm, right...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget to dislodge the arrows you so impressively fired.¡± Tehn quickly obeyed, handing me the bow and an arrow first. ¡°Is it heavy for you?¡± ¡°A little,¡± I admitted. The bow was easily over two kilograms, but thankfully, its length was more manageable. I held it up, aligning the arrow. ¡°Archery requires steady hands as much as good eyesight,¡± Tehn instructed, freeing the three arrows from the target board. ¡°Hmm, you¡¯ve got steady hands...¡± I set my target, slowed my breathing, and pulled the string. I held my aim for an extended moment¡ªthen released. [A new Way is accessible: Archery I (1/100).] ¡°Yes!¡± I cheered. The arrow lodged itself right at the centre of the target. My shot was in no way inferior to Tehn¡¯s, though I had shot from half the distance. My mental attribute points were likely too high for me to do badly at it. ¡°Nice going,¡± Aleya said. ¡°Have you tried archery before?¡± I shrugged like an adult. Taking another arrow, I prepared for a second shot. It missed my aim by a fair margin but still found purchase on the chart. The third missed the board completely. We fired a dozen more arrows until the sun set and our fingertips swelled. Aleya told us we didn¡¯t need to help with the cleanup, but we stayed to be of some use. After all, Eran had promised. I¡¯d be getting scolded the moment I got home, I thought anxiously, glancing in the direction of my house. ¡°It¡¯s getting dark,¡± Aleya said. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll drop you off.¡± She didn¡¯t listen to any of our protests, acting like a responsible adult. She only let us go when I could see my home in the distance, where Eran and I finally parted ways. I bid my goodbyes and danced my way back. Not only had I solved the cube, but I had also received a new Way. The first layer could even be completed in a day if I tried hard enough. Way of Archery only required true shots. I wondered what rewards I¡¯d receive from it. My thoughts were soon interrupted when I spotted a very suspicious-looking man loitering around our home. My eyes widened upon noticing the large longsword strapped to his back. And he looked like a man who knew how to use it. I faltered in my steps. The man turned around, his hawkish eyes narrowing at me. Scary eyes! I glanced back and saw Aleya¡¯s figure fading into the darkness as she made her way home. Should I call out to her? I hesitated, deciding to give the man the benefit of the doubt. He could just be a guildsman, lost after spending many nights in the mountains. His wild appearance certainly supported that theory. ¡°Excuse me, mister?¡± The man stepped towards me, the fierceness in his eyes dimming as he realised I was no threat. ¡°You, ahhm,¡± the man opened his mouth and cleared his throat. ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked. ¡°What are you doing sneaking around our home?¡± The bearded man, with a wild mane of hair, squinted. Then, before I could react in any way, he appeared right in front of me. ¡°What?!¡± Rough hands clamped onto my shoulders, preventing me from struggling. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I demanded. ¡°Are you¡ª¡± ¡°A child snatcher!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not¡ª¡± the man tried to silence me, but that only made me scream harder. ¡°Mum! Save me! I¡¯m being abducted!¡± A figure flew over the green hedgerow fence, fiery golden strings of essence warping around her as she cast her sight on the child snatcher. ¡°Ashlyn,¡± the bearded man froze, his grip on my shoulders finally loosening. Mum faltered mid-step; the look in her eyes sharpened. ¡°Jinn?¡± ¡°Ashlyn, forgive me. I¡¯m late.¡± Chapter 08: Old Tales Chapter 08 I observed the bearded man from behind the neatly cropped hedge fences as the sun beamed overhead. Mum was there with him in the garden, sitting close, their hands clasped together as though they had known each other for a long time. Well, that had to be true if what Mum explained last night was to make sense. The man was still barefoot, just as the day he was born and when he arrived last evening, though he had lost much of his homeless bum look after finally getting a bath, healthy food, and a roof over his head. However, his hardened presence was unmistakable. He was easily a towering figure of two metres, built like a boulder or an unmovable tree that had stood the test of a hundred ashen storms. ¡°You need to lose that blighted beard,¡± Mum told him as she stood up. Her hand was still in his grasp. ¡°Just wait a minute, I¡¯ll bring the utensils. And no, I won¡¯t take no for an answer. You frightened Arylin enough last night.¡± He finally let go and lay back on the lush grass. A minute later, Mum returned with a box and a mirror. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly shaving equipment, but I guess we can make it work,¡± she said, holding up a spoon whose edge soon turned razor-sharp under her power. I had no idea all this time she could shape metal without any effort. The man, on the other hand, gave no indication of surprise. ¡°Now, sit back and let me do my magic.¡± ¡°Hey, Arylin,¡± the familiar voice of Eran rang in my ears, followed by a pat on my shoulder. I spun around and shut my friend¡¯s mouth with my palm. ¡°Shh!¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± Eran whispered, freeing his mouth. ¡°Nothing,¡± I said with all the nonchalance a kid my age could muster, ¡°just swooping around, sneaking here and there.¡± ¡°Sneaking?¡± Eran followed my gaze. ¡°That¡¯s your home, though.¡± My mother was shaving the copperish wiry beard off the man¡¯s face with the spoon-turned-razor. From the sheer length of the beard and the unsuitable instrument, it was going to take some time. ¡°Who¡¯s that man?¡± Eran asked. ¡°My...¡± I paused, staring at the man, who was staring at my mum with heavy eyes. Sucking in a frigid breath, I answered, ¡°He¡¯s... my father.¡± ¡°Your father?!¡± Before I could respond, my father perked up at his hitched voice and turned in our direction. Logic said he couldn¡¯t see through the hedge, but the piercing look in his eyes felt like it could punch through any obstruction. Thankfully, it only felt that way. There were spells or skills for that, but according to the books, they weren¡¯t highly impressive. Even after mastery, one could barely make out vague figures. ¡°Arylin, what are you doing there?¡± my mum called. ¡°Is Eran with you?¡± To his credit, my friend turned his head and ran straight back the way he came. I didn¡¯t believe he was old enough to understand that this was a family matter he couldn¡¯t interfere with. Eran was shy, and my father did have a face that wasn¡¯t very welcoming. Just like how I had been too frightened to talk to him throughout the night. Before Mum could call again, I dragged my body to the garden and presented myself before them. The man looked up at me, but I kept my eyes trained on Mum. I had been doing that since last night. ¡°With everything going on last night, I forgot to congratulate you for solving the cube,¡± she said, ruffling my hair. ¡°Good job, Pumpkin.¡± I grinned and recalled the new form the cube had reshaped into. I had tinkered with it for hours last night and figured out what needed to be done to solve it. As it turned out, the plight of meeting your father for the first time since birth was a great motivator. The problem was that there was no way for me to solve its newer form. I feared something magical needed to be involved in untangling the Template. ¡°Can you teach me how to work on it?¡± I asked, even though I suspected it was impossible without the ability to wield essence. That was why she had given the cube to Rose when she had good control over her power. Since my birthday, I had been working on the cube diligently. If I couldn¡¯t spend time on the cube anymore, it would leave a large gap in my schedule. Well, I could fill it with other kinds of training or study. But Meditation didn¡¯t pack the same punch anymore. Two half-hour sessions at different times of the day were more than enough to get the peace and calm feeling it brought¡ªnot to mention how god-awful boring it sounded to simply meditate for hours. ¡°You¡¯ve left me in a pickle here, Pumpkin,¡± Mum said. ¡°You were supposed to finish it sometime around your next birthday and almost be prepared for the next part of the study.¡± Study? Of course, that¡¯s what it was. The runes were eerily close to the things Mum practised regularly. ¡°Since I finished it early, can¡¯t I simply practise it now?¡± I asked, my eyes widening in hope. Logic said it was impossible, but since we were talking about magic, anything should be possible. ¡°It would only be a masterful waste of time,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°Without the ability to wield essence outside your body, it¡¯s impractical to even try.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°And I won¡¯t have essence for another 1,058 days.¡± I pouted. Mum stared at me blankly. I bet she didn¡¯t think I had already begun counting the days. She turned her head to the man¡ªto my father¡ªwho had been watching the whole conversation with equal parts attention and hesitation. ¡°You do have essence,¡± she said slowly, as though measuring every word. ¡°How do you think you can focus on studying for several hours without breaking a sweat?¡± ¡°Because of my high points in Focus?¡± ¡°That too, but what do you think supplies power to those attributes?¡± Mum smirked. ¡°It¡¯s essence?¡± I arched my eyebrows. ¡°Attributes are a complex form of essence,¡± the man interjected, finally finding something to express his view on. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± Mum said, ¡°but a simple line like that doesn¡¯t even begin to express the complexity at play. For now, think of attributes as a skill with a preset essence usage.¡± ¡°Like how the Focus attribute only lets me focus on something by spending essence?¡± I asked. ¡°Wait, doesn¡¯t that mean I¡¯m already using essence? So if I could awaken a new attribute that enables me to wield essence more freely, wouldn¡¯t that solve the problem?¡± Mum opened her lips, exchanging a look with Father, then grinned. ¡°Clever, isn¡¯t he? I wonder who shall take credit for that.¡± Obviously, it should be her, and her alone, but that didn¡¯t answer my question. ¡°Your thinking is not wrong,¡± she said, ¡°though tragically unrealistic. It¡¯s tremendously hard to wield essence at will without a proper Essence Seed and a binding to the spirit realm.¡± ¡°I know about the Essence Seed. What does the binding do?¡± I asked in confusion. Mum was about to explain, dumbing it down for a five-year-old to understand, but the man¡¯s words stopped her. ¡°We can actually help him form an Essence Seed, can¡¯t we?¡± he said. ¡°As for the binding, we can¡ª¡± ¡°Hush, you.¡± Mum glared at him, sneaking a measuring glance in my direction. She could tell that, although I wasn¡¯t fully on board with the idea of this unfamiliar man being my father, his words had my full attention. ¡°You haven¡¯t even been back for a full day, and you¡¯re already putting rash ideas in his head.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± The man scratched his index finger with his thumb. His skin looked somewhat papery. Mum turned back to me. She saw the expectation on my face and sighed softly. ¡°You have to wait a little longer, Pumpkin. Just because you can¡¯t wield essence yet doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t start training your mind for it when you¡¯ll have full access.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I asked expectantly. She nodded. ¡°I warn you, though. It¡¯s not going to be easy.¡± I acted as though I hadn¡¯t heard that last part. ¡°When can we begin?¡± Before she could answer, I sensed a couple of people creeping toward our compound. It was Eran, trailing closely behind his father, whose eyes shifted immediately to my father as he entered the yard. Dalin Stonecutter was a dark, tall man with a protruding stomach and clean-cut facial hair. I had rarely interacted with my friend¡¯s father, but I knew him to be a hardworking, honest farmer. And he was among the very few people who had ascended to Noble Class and received a title without being born into it. And now that man was looking at my father like a common plebeian looks up at a Patrician. ¡°Ta''shin,¡± he said deferentially. ¡°When Eran told me about Arylin¡¯s father, I thought...¡± My father stood up, narrowing his eyes at the man. A look of recognition flashed across his face, though he probably failed to recall the name. However, before he could ask, Eran¡¯s Da stepped forward and dropped to one knee, his right fist clutched to his chest. ¡°I can never repay you for what you¡¯ve done for me,¡± he said. ¡°If you need anything, at least let me show my gratitude once.¡± Well, that was a bit... dramatic, I thought. And I wasn¡¯t the only one. It stunned Eran. His father was a respectable man among the people, with a properly designated title that he had earned on his own merit. What could my father have done for him to show such deference? ¡°Please stand up,¡± Father said, his eyes flickering to Mum, clearly uncomfortable with the whole thing. The man obeyed before turning his gaze to his son. ¡°Eran, do you remember the story I told you about when I was a soldier?¡± The boy nodded. ¡°You remember Lord Jinn, the man who saved my life? This is him.¡± Understanding finally dawned on Eran, but being a child of merely three winters, he was utterly lost on what to say or do. Thankfully, before he could stammer out a bow, Mum said, ¡°Shall we go inside to discuss the rest?¡± Although she phrased it as a request, she had already begun moving toward the house. The others had no choice but to follow. As the men talked, Mum prepared a light lunch for us, despite Eran¡¯s father¡¯s protests. ¡°So your father is a knight?¡± Eran whispered to me, his eyes wide with expectation. ¡°He¡¯s not,¡± I replied without thinking, my ears absorbed in our fathers¡¯ conversation. Wait, was he? ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a knight,¡± my father said, clearly hearing our talk. Eran looked easily disappointed. Honestly, I felt a tad bit let down too, though it was within my expectations. Knights were the fabled heroes of the realm, not to mention that it was an honourable vocation; seldom did one in ten thousand Awakened ever make it to full knighthood. My father seemed to read our disappointment and found something else to appease us. ¡°But I can go toe-to-toe with a knight.¡± I couldn¡¯t tell how much of that was boasting. They recounted the events of a decade ago when Eran¡¯s father was a soldier in the army. In the very first year of his service, Dalin¡ªwho wasn¡¯t titled Stonecutter back then¡ªalong with many others, had been assigned to deal with the aftermath of a Rift breaking. The higher-ranking fighters were already handling most of the trouble, but they had failed to account for the Rift turning into a Gate, releasing hundreds of monsters at once. ¡°Many people died that day. Good soldiers and common folk alike,¡± the former Decurion said. ¡°Many more would have fallen if not for Ta''shin''s timely intervention. He saved my life, along with a thousand others, and fought until reinforcements could arrive.¡± ¡°I was merely doing my job,¡± my father said. Apparently, his job had been exploring and studying Rifts, ensuring they were closed if possible. If he hadn¡¯t made it all up to appease us, then he had been part of some special military force that dealt solely with such threats. ¡°Enough about me,¡± Father said, waving a hand. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you earned a title for yourself, Dalin. Stonecutter certainly has a ring to it, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Like my friend, his father, too, was embarrassed easily at praise. ¡°I earned it fairly early¡ªthree years into the army.¡± He patted Eran¡¯s head. ¡°But after Eran was born, I couldn¡¯t do it anymore. I chose to settle on the land I was awarded with the title, far from all the trouble and my past aspirations, and I never looked back. Honestly, it agitates me sometimes, thinking about the battles the...¡± ¡°It¡¯s a common folly,¡± Mum said, serving plates of food. ¡°And don¡¯t discourage yourself. It takes as much courage to give up the sword as it does to pick it up for a second time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s something I can agree with,¡± Dalin said, releasing a breath and easing his legs. ¡°Perhaps it is my weakness speaking, but I would never want to pick it up again.¡± At least you were present to see Eran grow up. Chapter 09: Essence Unification

Chapter 09: Essence Unification ¡°Before I teach you the process of Essence Unification,¡± Mum said, settling on the mat before me, ¡°you must know that meditation is arguably the best way to train the mind and prepare for essence weaving.¡± ¡°Weaving?¡± I asked. ¡°You see,¡± Mum said with a nod, ¡°although ambient essence remains mostly in ethereal vapour form, an awakened can only utilise it through threads of such essence, stitched together in a particular weave. The higher one¡¯s mastery, the more complex the weave becomes. But we won¡¯t be covering much of that tonight¡ªor, in fact, for the next two years.¡± After lunch, Mum sent me off to play, informing me my first lesson would begin in the evening. Needless to say, I was excited enough to cut short my playtime and return an hour before sunset. Of course, she didn¡¯t start until she had finished all her tasks. I¡¯m certain she takes some pleasure in watching me fidget with anticipation. The masses believed that before an essence seed was formed, drawing essence was an impossible task. Like most beliefs involving the primal force of the universe, this one didn¡¯t tell the whole truth. It was impossible to draw essence from outside one¡¯s body, but one could still gain mastery over the faint, dormant essence that lay within. ¡°Most do not bother,¡± Mum said. ¡°For them, the trouble does not outweigh the rewards they gain. But the practice of Essence Unification remains vital even after awakening... ¡°You are a couple of seasons too young to learn this, but since you are fairly accomplished with meditation, perhaps it won''t be a complete disappointment.¡± She had warned me several times about the likelihood of failure¡ªsaid the process was too difficult for unawakened children to grasp and cost a great deal of time to even find a semblance of success. Anything she could say to dissuade me. ¡°Can we begin now?¡± I made my intentions clear with the question. ¡°We can, but first, you need to promise Mum a couple of things.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± I said. A smile tugged at her lips. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d say this, but there is a time to hurry and a time to be patient,¡± she said. ¡°If it involves the primal force of the universe, patience is usually the optimal choice.¡± ¡°But I know what you¡¯ll ask of me,¡± I whined. She tilted her head questioningly. ¡°And what might that be?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t want me to do this practice without watching over me, and¡­¡± I racked my brain to come up with what else was there. ¡°And I¡¯m not allowed to complain if I fail or if the practice is too difficult?¡± ¡°Well, you got one right,¡± she said. ¡°Under no circumstances are you allowed to practise this without my supervision until I say so.¡± ¡°I promise,¡± I said loudly. ¡°Secondly, you are not to teach this to anyone.¡± ¡°Why?¡± I frowned. ¡°Is it a secret like my gift?¡± ¡°It is dangerous to meddle with power beyond your comprehension,¡± Mum said conspiratorially. ¡°I¡¯ll be there to make sure you do not cause any undue damage during your practice, but who will be there for them?¡± I nodded, finally understanding. After I swore to follow her demands, she finally began instructing: ¡°I¡¯m going to show you the way to it,¡± she said. ¡°Close your eyes, give me your palm, and feel the threads of essence I pour into you. It will be uncomfortable at first, and then painful. You may give up whenever you want.¡± ¡°I will not give up.¡± I clenched my fists. ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of resolve. The key for you to understand, Pumpkin, is that Essence Unification requires seasons¡ªyears of steady accumulation rather than a single gruelling session.¡± I shut my eyelids. No way was I giving up without even trying. She took my palm in hers, and soon the familiar warmth of her essence threads seeped into my skin. Mum didn¡¯t weave them to cast the rejuvenation spell I was so familiar with, nor did she relinquish her control over the threads. Instead, she kept pouring a sizeable amount of essence, threading it through my body. Goosebumps crawled up my skin as a prickly sensation rippled through me. I fought to keep my eyes closed, my focus intact.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Visualise,¡± she instructed. ¡°Visualisation is the secret to all essence-related arts.¡± I was visualising before she even asked me. My only advanced attribute helped, as did my experience with the Way of Essence Sense. I could practically see the essence; with my bare eyes if it was outside, and in my mind¡¯s eye if it was inward. The latter provided more minute details, though it also required my utmost concentration. ¡°Can you feel my essence moving into your own?¡± she asked, though she didn¡¯t expect an answer. ¡°Visualise your essence, just like mine, and try moving it along.¡± This was where the challenge began. I clenched my jaw and had to force my essence to listen to my command. ¡°Easy,¡± Mum said. ¡°Try not to fight it. A nascent will is weak, and your body doesn¡¯t yet know the way, but it is possible to draw essence within without making it feel like a battle every time. Coax it by visualising it moving through the pathways.¡± It was easier said than done. Essence moved naturally within its channels all the time, but controlling it with my mind was an entirely different feat. ¡°Do not rush¡­ mastery takes years, not moments.¡± She clasped my palm, easing me. ¡°Focus. Take only as much essence as you can handle and circulate it the way I¡¯m showing you. The pace is of no concern.¡± I listened, because otherwise, it felt impossible. ¡°Now comes the painful part,¡± Mum warned. ¡°Lead the essence to your centre¡ªto your abdomen¡ªand imagine a circle.¡± I coaxed my muddy greenish essence to follow the path after her bright golden threads. Sweat formed on my body as a pricking pain assaulted my abdomen, where my essence was accumulating. My form quivered, my back shook, as though my gut was being twisted from the inside. A groan escaped through my clenched teeth, and Mum¡¯s grip tightened. She asked if I wanted to continue. I replied by pressing on. ¡°Imagine a circle of essence, ever swirling and condensing with each moment towards a spherical form,¡± her voice echoed in my mind. ¡°Only draw more essence when you¡¯re fully in control.¡± The pain persisted the longer I drew the essence. She had warned me my body would need time to adjust to the new flow, and only then would the twisted pain cease. No wonder she had been reluctant to teach me. By the third circulation, Mum stopped handholding my essence, though I could sense she kept a few threads leashed on my essence in case I encountered a problem. I did not. By the fourth round, I drew more threads of essence into the fray. By the seventh round, the flow had doubled. At first, it took me about a quarter of an hour for a full circulation, but the time only shrank the more familiar I became with the whole process. Unlike meditation, however, this process was not peace-inducing. By the ninth round, exhaustion weighed on me, my willpower fraying. I had to slow my pace and finally stop inducting more essence into the centre by the twelfth round. The familiar feeling that remained, other than the dull twisted sensation, was the warmth of my mother¡¯s palm as I fell fully into the process. [A new Way is available: Essence Unification I (1/10)] At last, the familiar voice of the spell rang in my mind, announcing the fruit of my labour. A satisfied smile touched my lips as I gave in to the exhaustion.
***

Ashlyn Ashlyn supported her son as he fell asleep on her lap, a content smile resting on his lips. With a quick examination, she found nothing amiss inside his fragile body and withdrew her threads of essence. Unable to hold back any longer, Jinn finally crept into the room. Their eyes met for the briefest moment before he turned his attention to Arilyn. A sigh escaped him, the tension dropping from his shoulders. He settled beside her and opened his lips. ¡°For all your protests against helping him form an essence seed, you so easily taught him the process to form it on his own.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Ashlyn glowered at him, but her shoulders didn¡¯t straighten, knowing there was some truth in his words. ¡°It¡¯s merely the elementary method of Essence Unification. To form a seed, he will need to advance beyond that.¡± That would take at least a year and a couple of seasons, she thought. By then, he¡¯ll be at the accepted age for awakening. Of course, she would be delighted if he ultimately formed his essence seed without the help of the ritual, but her heart couldn¡¯t help but worry¡ªworry about how agonising the next few weeks would be for him. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Jinn mused, a rare smile playing on his lips. ¡°Our son seems intelligent and diligent enough to figure all that out.¡± Ashlyn bit her lip. ¡°Perhaps I shouldn¡¯t have shown him the way, but I feared he¡¯d try to figure it out on his own and fall into disaster.¡± Her gaze returned to her boy. At ten seasons old, he had grown so much¡ªso much that she missed the days she could cradle him in her arms without him protesting. She nuzzled his wild mane of unruly red hair. Finding his face pale, his willpower dwindled, she sent a twirl of rejuvenating light into his chest. ¡°Your worry is unfounded,¡± said the father, placing his palm over hers. ¡°He hasn¡¯t even located his Aether root yet, and the amount of essence in his body is too low to harm him in any way. As long as we watch over him, he¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she whispered. But a mother¡¯s heart never stops worrying. ¡°Sometimes, I feel so resentful of his gift for taking away his chance of having a normal childhood.¡± Jinn¡¯s countenance betrayed an expression that said he didn¡¯t feel the same way. But he was clever enough to keep his opinion to himself. ¡°Look on the bright side¡ªif he succeeds at creating an essence seed, he will receive an Honour.¡± A frown crawled onto her brow. Ashlyn hadn¡¯t thought of it that way when she decided to teach him. Creating an essence seed on one¡¯s own was not an impossible task, though it demanded perseverance and raw talent. ¡°Honestly, I thought it would take him days to get the hang of it,¡± he said. ¡°I was double his age when I formed anything that resembled an essence seed. He looks like he merely needs a few more months and more essence to succeed.¡± ¡°I keep forgetting he can see essence,¡± she mumbled. ¡°He can?¡± It was news to Jinn. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you?¡± asked Ashlyn. Finding him shaking his head, she returned, ¡°Perhaps you would have known if you had been here with us.¡± The mood soured instantly, and all he managed was to look ashamed. ¡°Ash, you know I was¡ª¡± ¡°I know,¡± she said, standing to her feet with Arilyn in her arms. ¡°Doesn¡¯t make it easy.¡± Chapter 10: The City of Klearon Chapter 10: The City of Klearon The City of Klearon was the heart of the district of Dimir, even though it was situated at the intersection of four other districts. The city was not founded simply because five separate districts met at their borders¡ªhistory suggested the opposite. The city was formed first, on account of a stabilised Waygate¡ªwhich could transport people thousands of miles in mere minutes¡ªthen the district came to be. Thanks to the Waygate, Klearon served as the central city for the entire western outskirts of the empire. Of course, nothing suggested Klearon to be a backwater city, even though it was founded a mere hundred and fifty years ago. This late foundation favoured Klearon, allowing it to benefit from the latest innovations and mechanisms to erect a city of magnificence. As I walked between my parents on the fine cobblestone path, I rarely saw any hardwood houses like ours. On both sides of us, tall establishments of stone and concrete stood, clustered together, squeezing for every inch of space. Business and trade thrived in the city, unlike in Karmel Valley, where the main occupation was farming and rearing animals. I counted thirteen inns and taverns on the way, each larger than the two we had in Karmel combined. We came to a halt before one called The Lonely Wanderer. Inside, a dozen or more people lazed and ate¡ªexcluding the attendants¡ªalready telling me the inn was, in fact, not for lonely wanderers. ¡°Ash!¡± A voice caught my mother¡¯s attention before mine, and I spotted my aunt at one of the empty tables in the lounge, a book in hand. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me Aunt would be here?¡± I grumbled, though delighted at the surprise. Mum smiled as I ran to the table. I was big enough now that my aunt would have trouble swooping me up in her arms, though I was sure she would manage fine with her magical power. She settled for embracing me gently, stroking my hair. ¡°Is Rose with you?¡± I asked, my eyes wandering in search of my other aunt. ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Aunt Emi said, ¡°she doesn¡¯t have much leeway now that she¡¯s entered the Oracle Academy. She has to study for two whole seasons before she can get a break.¡± For some reason, my expression dropped a little. It wasn¡¯t that I missed that goblin, but she was the only one who showed me magic and what was possible with it. I loved Aunt Emi, but she merely smiled when I asked her to demonstrate. The last time she visited, she demonstrated a telekinesis spell and a little fireworks. Mum and Father joined us at the table as Aunt Emi flashed a quick glance towards my father before returning her focus to me. ¡°Although she isn¡¯t here,¡± she said, reading my disappointment, ¡°she has sent a gift.¡± ¡°A gift?¡± I jumped to my feet. ¡°What is it?¡± She smiled and brought out a large present box from her duffel bag. She handed it to me, and I found it was easily half as tall as I was. ¡°What¡¯s inside it?¡± I asked, my eyes glued to the box. ¡°Open it and find out.¡± My gaze drifted towards my mum, who nodded. Only then did I abandon all propriety, tearing through the wrapping paper. Inside, I found another rectangular box made of thin, flat wood. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether Rose was playing a trick on me¡ªthat when I opened this box, I¡¯d find another box inside. Thankfully, that was not the case. Mum helped me open the wooden box since it was sealed with pins and nails. My gaze remained fixed as she lifted out a violin. I remembered telling Rose once that I would love to learn the violin when she tried to give me a flute. I hadn¡¯t expected her to remember it. ¡°Thankfully, it''s not a sword or a staff,¡± sniffed Mum, handing me the instrument. I held it in reverent awe. It was a lot heavier than I had imagined. My fingers traced the smooth, polished wood of the violin as the oily scent of paint and varnish filled my nostrils. Although the smell was a bit pungent, I found myself in love with all of it. Hesitantly, I plucked a string, causing a sharp note to echo. Of course, the note was nowhere near a soothing sound, as a few patrons at a nearby table shot their gazes towards us. ¡°Let¡¯s put it away for now,¡± Mother said, securing the bow before placing the violin back into the wooden box. I pouted. Obviously, I would have liked to play with it some more before putting it away, but I didn¡¯t believe the other people would enjoy my attempts. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to practise,¡± Aunt Emi said fondly. ¡°Rose went to great lengths to track down a master luthier and hire her services for the violin.¡± Luthier? Is that a person who makes violins or other musical instruments? My assumption turned out to be correct, as the voice of the spell echoed into my ears. [Congratulations! Way of Words III (10,000/10,000) is completed] Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.[+1 Cognition.] Words were the only Way where the reward didn¡¯t increase with the layers. I supposed it was reasonable, given the difficulty involved. The first hundred words were the most difficult¡ªthen it was all smooth sailing. Noting the completion of the Way of Words progressed Self Mastery to [2/10]. Mum refused to tell me what the rewards for Way would be, teasing me by saying it simply wouldn¡¯t be more attribute points. I suspected and hoped it would be an Advanced or Greater attribute. Unfortunately, it was cursed to be the slowest Way everyone completed. The Way of Self Mastery didn¡¯t measure hours or years of me honing myself. No, it counted the number of other Ways I mastered, and inferior Ways like Motor Skills did not cut it. ¡°I forgot,¡± Aunt Emi said, handing me a letter. ¡°She sent a note.¡± There were barely a couple of paragraphs from Rosalyn, asking me to tell her if I liked her gift. And, of course, she did not forget to threaten me about taking it away if I failed to play a full song the next time she visited. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to thank her,¡± Mum said and cocked her head. ¡°Now the question is, who is going to teach you to play the violin?¡± I looked at her, then at Aunt Emi, who shook her head lightly, before I finally turned towards my father. Not for a moment did I believe that my father¡¯s large, calloused hands had ever lain upon any unfortunate musical instruments, and the dismayed look on his face only confirmed it. ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°we can hire someone to teach him if it comes to that.¡± Mum shook her head. ¡°Good luck finding someone willing to move or travel regularly to Karmel.¡± Is there nobody in the valley who knows how to play the violin? ¡°Can¡¯t I learn it on my own?¡± I asked. Mum exchanged a glance with the others before replying, ¡°Of course you can, though it might take time to figure out your way into it. The violin is a difficult instrument to master.¡± I arched my eyebrows. ¡°More difficult than learning a magical spell?¡± ¡°That depends,¡± Mum uttered her famous two words to most of my curiosity. ¡°If we go by pure numbers, there are more Shapers in the realms than musicians. I suppose, if we''re talking talent, it¡¯s fair to say there are fewer with a gift for music than for the primal forces of nature. But, unlike casting a magical spell, a violin doesn¡¯t require you to be born with a specific kind of talent.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s not more difficult than learning to spell-cast?¡± I asked, more unsure than before she began. ¡°You¡¯ll get your answer after you try it, pumpkin,¡± she said. At least she wasn¡¯t forbidding me from learning. ¡°There¡¯s a novelty in music,¡± Aunt Emi said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t pay well as an occupation. Between the cost of the instrument and lessons, most common folk don¡¯t even consider it. And yet the number of musicians among the awakened may surprise us all¡ªsome even manage to advance to Prestigious and Fabled Class.¡± ¡°Are you thinking of Master Kaius?¡± Mum said. ¡°He¡¯s still around?¡± Father perked up, interjecting for the first time. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him for years,¡± Mum said, turning to Aunt Emi. ¡°Does he still teach at the academy?¡± ¡°No.¡± Aunt Emi¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°He was relieved from his office.¡± ¡°Who would be foolish enough to do that to someone like Master Kaius?¡± Father asked, a frown creasing his brow. ¡°There are always some,¡± Aunt Emi said, shooting him a look. So far, they had only exchanged a nod¡ªa nod of acknowledging each other¡¯s existence, not of familiarity. ¡°How do you know him, if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡± ¡°A long time ago,¡± Father said, ¡°when I was a little older than Arilyn, Master Kaius was in a travelling troupe that came to our town to perform. I saw him from time to time, and he helped when I needed it.¡± ¡°That sounds like him,¡± Aunt Emi said. "Well, I haven''t seen him for over a year either. Hmm, maybe we can find the book he published about Music and songs." An attendant arrived to take our orders. Folks around us were ordering all sorts of hearty meals with steaks, but Mum, being Mum, ordered Moha bread spread with a healthy bit of butter, along with vegetables and salads. Father was fine with leaving all the decisions to her, so I kept my lips sealed too, even if I wanted to have something exotic for my first visit to a city. ¡°Arilyn, are you circulating your essence right now?¡± Aunt Emi asked, narrowing her eyes at me. Mum¡¯s sharp gaze snapped to me at her words. ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± I said, ¡°not actively. Mum only lets me practise an hour a day.¡± Aunt Emi arched an eyebrow, sparing a glance towards her elder sister, a wordless understanding flowing between them. It was not something anyone else was privy to. ¡°I had to teach him the process last week,¡± Mum explained. ¡°His body only just adapted to the circulation and pathways.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s pretty impressive to have passive circulation,¡± Aunt Emi said. ¡°For a moment, I thought you were doing it actively.¡± ¡°It is impressive,¡± Mum said curtly, ¡°for his age.¡± I wasn¡¯t so sure about that. Passive circulation was merely the byproduct of having secure pathways where the essence could move. It didn¡¯t require the great mental power that active circulation did. Of course, it was multiple times slower¡ªto the point that a couple of hours of active Essence Unification was more useful than an entire day of passive circulation. Besides, passive circulation hardly counted towards the Way of Essence Unification. ¡°Last time we spoke, you said you didn¡¯t intend to teach him before the ritual. That there was still a year and a half. What changed? Are you planning on having him awaken naturally?¡± I perked up at the question, though I failed to comprehend what a natural awakening was compared to whatever the alternative was. ¡°Only the Oracle knows what it will come to be,¡± Mum quashed all the questions before they even began to form in my mind. I grumbled, looking at her with puppy eyes. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t as effective as it used to be. The years had stolen my absolute and only weapon¡ªcuteness. The food arrived soon, and we ate our lunch in relative silence. It all tasted good, especially the Moha bread. It wasn¡¯t like usual bread¡ªfar more tender, melting with the slightest chewing. I wondered how they baked it. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve filled our bellies,¡± Aunt Emi asked, turning to Mum, ¡°can you tell me why you called me all of a sudden? It can¡¯t be simply because you want me to meet your spouse. You mentioned it¡¯s important, though you refused to say what it is.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, my spouse is naturally not important enough for me to call you,¡± Mum jabbed, ¡°though a rare sight in our life.¡± Aunt Emi didn¡¯t appreciate the quip, but it did reach its mark¡ªmaking Father uncomfortable. ¡°I didn¡¯t give you the reason in the letter,¡± Mum hesitated, measuring her words carefully, ¡°because I feared you might decline my request.¡± ¡°And which is?¡± Mum inhaled deeply, wisps of faint, translucent essence seeping into her skin, forming out of nowhere. I was so transfixed by the phenomenon that I almost missed her next words. ¡°I want you to be Arilyn¡¯s godmother.¡± Chapter 11: The Business of Books

Chapter 11: The Business of Books ¡°Oi, boy, quit making a mess of the shelf,¡± said a gruff voice from behind, breaking me out of my reading. Closing the book I was holding, I turned to find a middle-aged man putting new books on the emptier part of the shelf. His movements were slow, patient, the kind that only came with age. ¡°I¡¯m not messing, sir.¡± I was unaware if he was the owner or only a worker here, but it didn¡¯t hurt to be respectful. ¡°Of course you are,¡± the man said harshly, pointing at the shelf exactly where I had left a bunch of books after browsing. To prove his point, he grabbed one of them and placed it in the middle of another shelf, sighing deeply. ¡°Why did I even bother to think a child would understand order and cataloguing? Listen, you need to put the books back where you found them. Otherwise, people will have trouble finding what they¡¯re looking for.¡± I wanted to argue, to put my case forward, but he was right. I had messed up the arrangement, hadn¡¯t I? ¡°Sorry, sir,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll put them back where they were.¡± ¡°Leave it.¡± The middle-aged man clicked his tongue. ¡°You probably don¡¯t even remember where they were to begin with.¡± With that, he set about reorganising the books. Then, as if the thought had just struck him, he asked, ¡°Can you even read, or are you just looking at the pictures?¡± ¡°I can read.¡± My response came out snappier than I intended. I wanted no smear on my intellect. Sighing, I held out the tome in my hand. ¡°I¡¯m actually going to buy this.¡± ¡°Secret History of Althelon,¡± he read the title and murmured something under his breath about pretentious kids. Moving away from the rude salesman, I entered another section. Half an hour had passed since we entered the bookshop, and I had barely managed to contain my excitement. How could I not? After all, this was the first time I was ever surrounded by so many books. The shop was large, two-floored, with towering shelves that reached the high ceiling. Thousands of books were stacked along the walls, packed tightly together. A few fine wooden ladders were scattered around, proving how rich their collection was¡ªthat one needed to climb to find a book to their liking. Many other brick-sized tomes were stacked in corners in precarious piles, each one taller than myself. There rarely seemed to be any books purely based on fiction. Most of what could be considered storybooks seemed to hold the stories of some distinguished figure of the Empire. People were really progressive about letting their stories out, huh? Nah, it was probably related to the Class thing. To advance higher above the Noble Class path, to the Prestigious or Fabled Class, an Awakened needed a certain degree of fame. I was not intelligent enough to know how the Spell calculated fame, but after reading a bunch of these biographical books, I discerned it was more about achieving some sort of feat and collecting gravitas from that to advance. Achieving Centurion rank in the legionaries, for example, was a feat of great honour and pulled enough gravitas for one to advance their path from Noble to Prestigious Class. I could only imagine what an Awakened needed to achieve to ascend to Legend Class. Along with fiction, there were little to no books involving magic. I did find a few about the secrets and mysteries of the Spell, as well as books that simply narrated what an Awakened person needed to do to get the most out of the Spell. Books titled like A Dictionary of 10,000 Words and More, 100 Simple Drawings to Achieve Mastery over Your Way, or 10 Honours to Reach Prestige, for the Determined were bestsellers. I thought about getting a few of those. Many of them covered everything people before me had already figured out about the Spell. These books were written to complete the Ways in the most efficient way. My gut twisted, feeling how boring it would be to complete different Ways simply for the sake of a few attribute points. Then the thought dawned on me. I am already doing that, aren¡¯t I? But most of my Way hadn¡¯t gotten boring yet. Suppressing my thoughts, I picked a book that discussed various Ways and the philosophy behind them. For the first time in my life, Mum had given me an allowance¡ªa full twelve silver leafs. When I got it, I wondered what I would do with so much money... A loaf of bread did not even cost two copper chips, which was a tenth of a silver leaf. But now that I saw how expensive these books were, my perspective of the world finally began to change. Twelve silver leafs were hardly enough to buy a couple of dozen books of my choice, but I doubted Mum would want me to buy that many anyway. Her shelf was almost full. I had already finished most of her collection¡ªthose that I could understand, that was. A couple of dozen books would keep me company for a couple of months more. That was why I needed to be absolutely thorough about my choice. I needed to leave some money to buy a gift for Rosalyn, too.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. I wasn¡¯t much of a fan of history, but I still kept Secret History of Althelon in my arms. I had told the man I was buying it, and I supposed there was no harm in learning more about the time before the Empire. After wandering between the aisles, I found another book I wanted to read. It was actually about the Oracle Academy¡ªthe same one Rose attended and my aunt taught at. From the few pages I had glimpsed, I found that the academy was founded right around the time the Spell came to be. Given how involved the Oracle was in both, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it held any answers or even hints to the greatest question of my life. Other than being the focal point of magic and everything related to it, I really wondered if the big answers to all the questions of my life would be there. As the burden of knowledge rose in my arms, I crept from one side to another, finally climbing to the upper floor, which was not decorated as well as the ground floor. There weren¡¯t many shelves, just massive stacks of books and notebooks leaning against the walls. The narrow paths between the rows of books would be a struggle for anyone broad-shouldered. Although the entrance was open, the sight of uncategorised books bound by thick ropes made me hesitate. Was I even allowed to remove anything from their stacks? As I searched for an attendant, I heard soft, familiar voices on the other side of the row of books. Moving a few steps closer, I found the owners of the voices: Mum and Aunt Emi. ¡°Who would have thought I¡¯d find a copy of Heretical Sins in here,¡± said Aunt Emi. ¡°They don¡¯t even publish this anymore. Now, if only I could find something to gift Arilyn.¡± ¡°He probably has stacked volumes taller than him by now.¡± Not true. I was about to join them but faltered on my path, hearing the next phrase. ¡°Curious. How long do you think it will take him to form his Essence Seed?¡± ¡°Hopefully,¡± Mum¡¯s voice, ¡°not before the ceremony.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, then you shouldn¡¯t have taught him the Way, sister.¡± A pause. ¡°I thought it would take him time to learn it. A season or two to get used to it, you know, like normal people.¡± ¡°So now you want your son to be normal?¡± Aunt sounded amused. ¡°Didn¡¯t you give him a customised Arcane Knot when he was three?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d solve it so quickly.¡± ¡°Well, Mother taught us Essence Unification when we were... a little older than him,¡± Aunt said, drawing a breath. ¡°We turned out fine. I¡¯m sure he will too.¡± Mum grunted at that. ¡°That reminds me, have you changed your mind about leaving the village? You can¡¯t give Arilyn the right education and training there.¡± ¡°Who said I want him to go through the perfect education and training Mother forced on us?¡± I frowned. Mum didn¡¯t want me to study or practise? No, it sounded deeper than that. ¡°And yet, I see you raising him with similar methods to hers.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the same,¡± Mum snapped. A short pause, then a deep breath before she continued, ¡°There is wisdom in her ways, even if I hate them. But I won¡¯t put Arilyn through all that... No, I want him to grow as he chooses, without being burdened by our expectations.¡± ¡°Is that why you didn¡¯t even tell her about her grandson?¡± ¡°No... It¡¯s because I still resent her,¡± Mum said curtly before changing the subject. ¡°Enough of that. You still haven¡¯t answered me about my request. Will you be my son¡¯s godmother?¡± ¡°What, I had a choice?¡± Aunt Emi laughed. ¡°I thought you¡¯d force me into it regardless.¡± ¡°Emi, I¡¯m serious.¡± ¡°Then you should have been honest from the start. As for godmotherhood, I¡¯d be delighted.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You know you can talk to me about your worries,¡± Aunt said softly. [Congratulations! Way of Sneak I (100/100) is complete.] [+2 Unallocated points.] [Way of Sneak II (100/1000) is now accessible.] I blinked before a grin spread across my lips. Mum and Aunt stopped talking. Finally, I stepped forward, books in hand. ¡°Took you long enough,¡± Mum said, eyes flicking to the books in my arms. ¡°And you¡¯ve only chosen four?¡± ¡°Mum, there are so many. I want to read them all.¡± Then I finally noticed the rack behind them, where thousands of books lay in a chaotic mess, hardly any care given to their arrangement. None looked new, but most seemed readable. ¡°Used books?¡± I arched a brow, settling my stack with Mum to step closer. ¡°They are,¡± Aunt said, holding a couple she¡¯d picked. ¡°Some are missing more than just a few pages, though.¡± ¡°Are they cheaper?¡± I asked, eyes still fixed on the neglected stacks. Aunt exchanged a glance with Mum, her lips curving upwards. It turned out used books were cheaper. I bought fifteen for a third of their price, while some barely used ones and old editions cost half. Regrettably, I couldn¡¯t find The Secret History of Althelon among them. That one alone cost eighteen copper leafs¡ªI could get four used books for the same price. I was debating whether to leave it when Aunt Emi came to the rescue, adding a couple more books to my pile. ¡°It¡¯s a good book, though it holds more known facts than secrets,¡± she said. ¡°And history is important. These three will give you a solid understanding of how the Empire came to be and why it is the way it is. Maybe you¡¯ll appreciate them more when you¡¯re older.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll read them all,¡± I promised. ¡°Of course you will,¡± Mum said, half amused, half exasperated. On one hand, she approved of my use of the allowance in this bargain; on the other, they would now have to carry books heavier than me for hundreds of miles. Not to mention the lack of space at home. ¡°Now, are you going to carry them back to the inn?¡± Thankfully, Father presented himself at the apt moment, looking thoroughly bored. I stacked the books into neat piles, then handed them to him one by one without a word. Carry the book, Bookcarrier. He glanced at Mum, bemused, before accepting his fate. In total, I bought thirty-two books, spending ten silver and sixteen copper leafs, leaving me with only one silver and four copper leafs, which was hardly enough to buy a gift worthy of the violin Rose had given me. Well, it wasn¡¯t a competition. But then again, it was Rose. That brat would definitely complain if I got her a cheap earring. Still, I didn¡¯t ask for more money. Not after what I¡¯d overheard. Then it dawned on me. If I used Mum¡¯s coins, wouldn¡¯t that mean she was the one gifting her little sister? No. I have to do this on my own.