A subdued calm settled over Brightwood’s orchard in the days following the boar’s forced retreat. Whispers of the mysterious flame that had struck the beast persisted among the workers, yet no conclusive explanation arose. Some claimed it was a hidden ward placed by Altheon, the traveling mage, others suspected an ancient orchard talisman. Only Kael knew the truth—that a well-timed Earthen Flame Gust from his infant hands had seared the boar’s flank and turned the tide.

Under normal circumstances, the orchard might have returned to its easy routine: tending saplings, crushing fallen leaves, hauling baskets of fruit. But faint tension lingered in the air. Workers patrolled the orchard’s perimeter more often, searching for signs that the monstrous boar had returned. Father continued forging new iron fencing, occasionally wincing from his side. Meanwhile, Kael orchestrated his quiet training as best he could, mindful never to reveal his extraordinary progress.

Quiet Mornings and Restless Hearts

In the early morning light, Father inhaled deeply by the forge, testing his ribs. Though his wound had mostly healed, it hadn’t yet vanished. “Maybe today I’ll hammer out the last set of orchard gate braces,” he murmured. The orchard steward, Rowan, had asked for extra reinforcements after last week’s scare.

Kael, set on a blanket near the forge, eyed Father warily. He could sense subtle pulses of discomfort in the man’s aura. Despite the near-constant twinges of pain, Father refused to slow down—both duty and pride drove him. I have to find a way to help him more openly, or strengthen his gear somehow, Kael mused, wriggling in his makeshift seat.

Mother stepped over and rested a hand on Father’s arm. “Don’t push yourself,” she pleaded. “That boar might be gone, but you still aren’t a hundred percent.”

Father gave a half-smile. “I won’t overdo it… just enough to finish these braces. Then I’ll rest.” He gently kissed her forehead, trying to quell her worry.

Kael’s eyes flicked between them, heart heavy. He wished he could stand upright, gather forging materials, and craft a runic-laced bracer to shield Father from further harm. But at barely six months old, he could only practice in secret, forging intangible synergy in the privacy of his mind.

The Traveling Peddler’s Return

Midday brought a new visitor: Corin, the traveling peddler who made monthly rounds delivering small luxuries—candles, spices, sometimes knickknacks from afar. Corin’s arrival usually sparked mild excitement among orchard workers. He strolled in with a wide grin, donkey in tow, crates of goods piled high.

“Fruit’s lookin’ fine these days,” Corin said to Father, halting near the forge. “Heard about the boar trouble. You folks all right?”

Father nodded. “We managed,” he said, choosing not to elaborate. His gaze drifted to the crates. “You have anything for forging injuries or, maybe, advanced herbal salves?”

Corin ran a hand over his stubbly chin. “Might have a few pouches of healing tea leaves. Also, some interesting seeds rumored to help with orchard pest control—though I hear you’ve got bigger pests, eh?” He chuckled, though Father’s pained expression cut his mirth short.

Kael, perched on the blanket, stared curiously at Corin’s donkey. The animal radiated a calmer aura compared to the orchard’s daily bustle. Something about the donkey’s gentle presence soothed Kael, and he used it as a focus for a quick mental synergy exercise: harnessing Earth’s steady nature with a faint thread of Air. The donkey twitched its ears, possibly sensing a slight breeze swirl around its mane.

[Notification: Minor Air Channeling → Lv.8. +1 Spirit Through Focused Manipulation!]

An internal thrill fluttered in Kael. Another incremental improvement, hidden behind a baby’s innocent gaze. Every bit counts.

A Shrouded Barter

Father settled on purchasing the healing tea leaves to aid his recovery. Mother insisted, pressing coins into Corin’s hand. “We can’t risk your wound festering,” she said sternly, half-chiding Father for being stubborn.

Corin rummaged through one of the crates, fishing out a small linen pouch. “Steep these leaves thrice a day—morning, noon, night. They’ll help with internal bruising and reduce swelling.”

As Corin closed the crate, Kael caught sight of something glinting inside: small crystals, not quite standard mana crystals, but definitely containing faint magical essence. Skill stones, perhaps. Kael’s heart jumped—he recognized that subtle flicker. But Corin quickly slid the crate shut, hiding them from view.

The orchard had no official ban on skill stones, but they were typically handled by specialized mages or purchased at designated trade posts. To see them with a peddler meant Corin was dabbling in goods that might be borderline black market or at least unregulated.

Skill stones… if Father discovered them, would he buy one to defend the orchard? Kael felt a sudden pang. That could lead to skill dissonance if Father’s not awakened. The thought alarmed him.

He said nothing, of course—he was just a baby in everyone’s eyes. But the possibility that unawakened orchard workers might purchase skill stones out of desperation unsettled him.

A Lingering Worry

That evening, Father sipped the first batch of healing tea near the hearth. He grimaced at the taste. “Bitter,” he muttered, “but if it helps me get back to full strength, I’ll endure it.”

Mother sat beside him, gently massaging his shoulder. Kael remained in the cradle, quiet, observing. He considered how he might accelerate Father’s healing from the inside again.

When Mother momentarily stepped away to check on dinner, Kael summoned a faint swirl of Earth synergy. He took a slow breath and reached out with intangible threads of mana, letting it drift gently toward Father’s chest.

[Notification: Minor Earth Channeling → Lv.5. +1 Control Through Targeted Healing Attempt!]

A trickle of warmth spread across Father’s torso, hopefully easing deep bruises. Father let out a soft sigh, shoulders relaxing. He might assume the tea had quickly taken effect, unaware of the subtle magical push from Kael. It was enough. Kael exhaled, content that he’d done something.

A Night’s Resolve

Late that night, once his parents were asleep, Kael again slipped from the cradle—a practiced maneuver by now. Crawling to the small window, he peered out at the orchard under moonlight. The hush of leaves, the silver glow upon the orchard rows—it all beckoned him, hinting at hidden potential.

He recalled the fleeting glimpse of skill stones in Corin’s crate. A swirl of conflicting thoughts rose: skill stones could expedite skill acquisition but risked meltdown if used recklessly. Father and the orchard workers might be easy prey to unscrupulous sellers. If they tried to defend themselves by absorbing random skill stones, skill dissonance could strike.

I have to remain watchful. He pressed a hand against the wooden windowsill. If any orchard folk try to buy stones, or if Corin brings them for a quick profit… they might get hurt.

A new sense of responsibility weighed on him. Not only to protect Father and Mother from beasts, but to guard them from the hidden perils of unregulated magic.

With that sober thought, Kael closed his eyes, summoning the synergy. He pictured Earthen Flame Gust in his mind—his newly minted skill—then tried weaving a faint twist of Air with an undercurrent of Earth, minus the Fire. He wanted a purely defensive air barrier. Perhaps one day he could create a Wind-Earth Shield to shield Father openly if crisis came.

The swirling energies flickered, unstable, but not out of control. Kael breathed steadily, letting the synergy shape itself within his core.

[Notification: Minor Air Channeling → Lv.9. Synergy Attempt with Earth Noted! +1 Spirit!]

Satisfied but tired, Kael carefully padded back to his cradle. He drifted to sleep with a quiet vow: I’ll keep building these small breakthroughs until I can protect them from everything.

Spark of Suspicion

Morning arrived with a swirl of orchard routine: picking ripe fruit, loading carts, patching fences. Kael perched on the porch near Mother, who was sorting herbs. In the distance, Father hammered away, finishing the orchard gate braces.

A conversation drifted across the yard between Rowan and one of the orchard workers. “Corin mentioned something about ‘special crystals’ for a cheap price… Didn’t say what they do, but I’m curious,” the worker said.

Rowan shrugged. “If he’s hinting at those magic stones, I’d steer clear. Heard they can scramble your head if you’re not awakened. Don’t want any orchard hand turning daft from meltdown, do we?”

Kael’s heart thumped. So Corin is indeed peddling skill stones on the side. The orchard might not buy them en masse, but curiosity could be dangerous enough.

He noticed that Father, overhearing, paused mid-hammer stroke. Father’s brow furrowed, as though weighing the orchard’s vulnerability. Then Father shook his head and resumed hammering. Kael read the tension in his father’s posture: half-tempted, half-fearful. He wants any edge to protect us, Kael realized. But he also senses the risk.

A Subtle Inquiry

That afternoon, Father visited Corin’s wagon, seemingly under the guise of checking new hinges for orchard carts. Kael watched from across the yard, heart pounding. Father and Corin spoke in low tones; Corin occasionally pointed to a small wooden chest. Father’s face remained stoic, but Kael recognized the flicker of interest.

Some orchard workers hovered nearby, no doubt suspecting that Father was learning about these “special crystals.” After a brief exchange, Father left, not buying anything that instant. But the possibility lingered. If he’s desperate, Father might return.

A Decision to Intervene

That evening, once Corin left for another part of the village, Father sat by the forge, massaging his ribs. He kept glancing at the orchard’s north boundary as though expecting another beast at any moment.

Kael felt an ache of empathy. He recalled the day the boar attacked—Father had been powerless, re-injured and nearly pinned down. For a man so protective, that helplessness must gnaw at him.

An idea flared in Kael’s mind: What if I can create a small protective charm? Nothing extravagant—just enough to reassure Father there’s an alternative to skill stones. He wasn’t yet skilled enough to do elaborate runic forging, but maybe a rudimentary enchantment was possible.

He scanned the yard for a suitable object. A stray piece of scrap metal lay near the forge—a small ring of iron. If Kael could infuse it with Earth synergy, it might provide a fraction of physical reinforcement, at least once or twice in an emergency.

Midnight Crafting Ambition

Late at night, after everyone turned in, Kael wriggled free of his cradle again. By the dim moonlight, he crawled to the forge’s open side door. The embers had cooled to faint glimmers. Perfect for secrecy—he didn’t want any bright light to alert Mother or Father.

The ring of iron sat on a wooden bench, half-forgotten. Kael stretched, struggling to haul himself upright, balancing precariously on toddler legs. With trembling arms, he reached the bench’s edge, hooking the iron ring.

Now, how to infuse it? He’d read about rudimentary enchanting in the forging tome’s margin notes, gleaned through Sage’s Insight when Father left the tome open. The principle required applying mana in a slow, consistent thread while visualizing the desired effect—like layering a thin runic imprint.

He knelt on the floor, ring in hand, and summoned Earth synergy. He pictured a protective barrier, something that would momentarily harden or stiffen around Father’s chest if danger struck. He pressed his tiny palm to the iron surface, letting Earth mana trickle in.

The ring quivered under his hand. He tried to maintain the synergy, weaving in a thread of Air to bind it together—like forging a swirling imprint that waited for activation.

[Notification: Attempting Minor Rune Imprint → Earth + Air synergy… processing…]

Kael’s breath caught. The synergy flickered, threatening to dissipate. He forced calm, re-centering his focus. Carefully, methodically, he repeated the mental chant: Strengthen, unify, protect.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Slowly, a faint glow traced across the iron ring’s surface, forming rudimentary runic lines. They were crude, incomplete at best—but hopefully enough for a single-use defensive effect.

[Notification: Runic Infusion partially successful. +1 Intelligence from complex synergy manipulations!][Notification: +1 Spirit for forging synergy into a physical object!]

The glow faded, leaving the ring looking ordinary. Kael exhaled sharply, drained. His entire body trembled from the strain of such delicate work. But he felt a thrill of accomplishment.

Gently, he set the ring aside, letting the synergy settle. If used properly, it might produce a fleeting Earth-based armor effect around Father’s torso. Of course, Father had no idea how to activate it… but maybe Kael could nudge him or cause it to trigger in the heat of a crisis. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.

Exhausted, Kael crawled back inside, ring in tow. He placed it near Father’s forging tools, hoping he might find it soon. Then he returned to the cradle, collapsing with a slow, relieved breath.

Morning Revelations

At dawn, Kael awoke to the sound of Father rummaging near the tools. He peaked over the cradle’s edge, heart pounding. Sure enough, Father picked up the iron ring with a puzzled frown.

“Strange… Did I forge this recently?” Father muttered. He turned it over in his calloused fingers. “Feels slightly warm to the touch.”

Mother, busy sweeping the floor, glanced over. “Maybe a leftover piece from your forging last week?”

Father shrugged, slipping the ring onto his pinky out of curiosity. “It fits all right.” With no further explanation, he pocketed it. “It might come in handy if I want to shape it into something else.”

Kael suppressed a smile. It worked. If Father kept it close, perhaps it would help if danger returned.

The Boar Returns in Vengeance

Fate did not make them wait long. Near midday, frantic shouts erupted from the orchard’s eastern side. A worker sprinted up the path. “It’s back!” he gasped. “Or… or maybe a bigger one! Something’s ramming the orchard fence—wood splinters everywhere!”

Father’s expression went grim. Without hesitation, he grabbed his forging hammer and dashed off, ignoring Mother’s pleas to be careful. Kael’s pulse hammered in tandem. He needed to follow—Earthen Flame Gust might again be the orchard’s hidden trump card.

Racing Against Fear

Mother, still reeling, looked around in panic, then gathered Kael into her arms. “Come, we’ll stay safe inside,” she whispered, rushing back to the house. But as soon as she set Kael in the cradle and stepped out to help gather orchard workers, Kael made his move.

He tumbled over the cradle’s edge, determined to repeat the stealth approach. It was risky—Mother might return at any second. But he refused to let Father face another monstrous beast alone.

Scrambling on all fours, Kael slipped out the door, hiding behind barrels. He heard distant roars, snorts, and the crash of fence posts. Fear chilled him. This might be worse than last time.

Peering around orchard rows, he spotted Father and a small group of workers forming a defensive line near the eastern fence. The boar, or some variant of it, was indeed larger—a hulking brute with spiked shoulders and tusks shining black as obsidian. It rammed the fence with frenzied violence, ignoring spear jabs.

Father gritted his teeth, brandishing his hammer. The orchard hands tried thrusting pitchforks, but the boar’s hide seemed unnaturally tough. A few strikes deflected off its shoulders with ominous clangs.

A Glimpse of Hope

As Kael crept closer, he saw Father shift his stance, wincing from his old injury. Yet a subtle glow emanated from Father’s left hip—the ring’s location. A faint shimmer of Earth mana. Kael’s heart soared. The enchantment is responding.

Father looked momentarily surprised, but he had no time to question the warmth flooding up his side. The boar charged, tusks aimed at Father’s midsection. The orchard workers cried out, certain Father would be gored.

But as the tusks impacted, a soft swirl of pale brown light rippled around Father’s torso. The boar’s momentum slowed as if hitting a hardened barrier. Father stumbled back rather than being slammed full force.

“What in—?!” Father gasped, nearly dropping his hammer. The orchard workers froze, unsure what had just happened.

Taking the Opening

The beast reeled, confused by the partial reflection of its charge. Kael seized the chance. He inhaled, summoning triple-element synergy for Earthen Flame Gust—the same skill that had saved them before.

However, the distance was slightly greater this time. He worried the gust might dissipate en route. Bracing one hand against the ground for Earth anchoring, he shaped Fire and Air in his core, swirling them together. Focus… focus…

A swirl of heated wind formed around Kael’s outstretched palm. He willed Earth essence into it, hoping for an even sturdier strike. The synergy flickered, then roared to life.

[Notification: Earthen Flame Gust → +5% skill familiarity!]

He unleashed the skill. A stream of flame-laced wind tore across orchard rows, rustling leaves violently, converging on the boar’s broad flank. The scorching blast collided with its hide, eliciting a furious squeal.

The orchard workers, Father included, recoiled at the sudden wave of heat. The boar stumbled sideways, eyes wide with pain. That opening was enough—Father hefted his hammer, slamming it down on the beast’s foreleg. Another orchard hand jabbed a pitchfork into its neck.

Bellowing in rage, the boar lurched away, crashing through the half-broken fence. It staggered into the undergrowth, squealing as it retreated into denser forest. Within moments, it vanished from view.

Aftershock and Questions

A stunned silence followed. Orchard workers blinked at each other. Once again, an inexplicable flame had intervened. Some edged around, searching for the source. Father pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the ring’s faint warmth. He looked at it in disbelief. “This ring…?” he murmured, voice wavering.

Kael panted from behind a nearby crate, every muscle trembling from synergy exertion. Yet relief flooded him—he had prevented another tragedy, and Father survived unscathed. The ring’s partial enchantment had shielded Father in the moment of greatest danger.

But suspicion hung in the orchard air. People remembered last time: random flame from nowhere. Now, a second occurrence. Rowan frowned. “We have wards? Did Altheon set more wards?”

Father stared at the battered fence, eyes narrowed. He rubbed his side; apparently the ring’s protective effect had left an odd tingle. “I… I truly don’t know,” he whispered.

Sudden Realization

Before orchard hands could spread out to search, Father stiffened. His gaze drifted across the orchard row—toward the crates behind which Kael crouched. A fleeting movement must have caught his eye. Kael froze, heart hammering. Is he suspecting me?

For an instant, Father’s expression flickered with confusion. Then he shook his head, turning back to help the orchard workers. Kael exhaled shakily. That was too close.

While the orchard folks regrouped, Kael seized his chance to crawl back to the porch. He managed to slip inside the house just moments before Mother rushed in, frantic. Finding him in the cradle—where he promptly pretended to be dozing—she wept in relief. “Thank the heavens you’re safe.”

An Emotional Homecoming

Father returned shortly, the orchard situation stabilized. Exhaustion lined his face, but he was otherwise unharmed. Mother hugged him tightly, scolding him for risking his wounds again. Kael watched from the cradle, hiding a proud smile behind baby-like blinking.

“What about the boar?” Mother asked breathlessly.

“Gone,” Father replied, brow knit. “We may need to fortify the eastern boundary. But more than that… something protected me again, like last time. Except this time, I could sense it.” He opened his palm, revealing the simple iron ring. “It glowed—like it had a mind of its own.”

Mother peered at it. “How? Did you buy that from Corin?”

Father shook his head. “It just appeared among my scrap. I can’t explain. Maybe an old piece of magecraft left behind by someone else.” He sounded bewildered but also strangely grateful.

Kael felt a surge of satisfaction. At least now you’re safe from your own curiosity about skill stones. If Father believed the orchard already had a hidden magic talisman, he wouldn’t be so easily tempted by Corin’s dangerous offerings.

Doubts and Reflection

That evening, orchard workers hammered new boards over the broken fence. Rowan organized watch shifts, uncertain if the boar would try again or if an even bigger threat lurked beyond. Meanwhile, Father turned the iron ring in his hands repeatedly, lost in thought.

Kael, from his vantage in Mother’s lap, sensed Father’s unsettled mood. He wonders who made it. He wonders if Altheon or someone else left it behind. A pang of sadness hit Kael: he couldn’t reveal it was him, or the entire tapestry of his secret would unravel.

Mother gently massaged Father’s shoulders. “You seemed to move more freely out there, despite your wound. Are you all right?”

He inhaled slowly. “Yes, actually. My side barely hurts now. That ring… it felt like a cushion against the boar’s charge.” He paused, glancing at Kael with a flicker of curiosity. Then he shook his head, as if dismissing the notion that a baby could be connected.

Kael pretended ignorance, cooing softly.

Nightly Resolve

When night descended, Kael felt an odd mixture of triumph and guilt swirling in his chest. He had saved Father again, but with each rescue, suspicion would rise. I have to be more careful. But I can’t let them be harmed.

In the cradle’s darkness, he summoned his Status Window to check the day’s gains:

Status WindowName: Kael AshborneTalent: SSS (Hidden)Age: ~6 MonthsCore Grade: UnawakenedPhysique: Omni-Element Physique (Sealed)Level: 1

Strength: 4Intelligence: 11 (increased)Spirit: 18 (increased)Agility: 3Constitution: 3

Trait: Sage’s Insight (Passive)

Skills:

Mana Sense (Novice, Lv.2)Minor Air Channeling (Novice, Lv.9)Minor Fire Channeling (Novice, Lv.4)Minor Earth Channeling (Novice, Lv.5)Earthen Flame Gust (Basic, Lv.1)

He eyed the slight boosts to Intelligence and Spirit from the day’s events, plus the incremental progress in Air and Earth channeling. That felt gratifying. Even the partial success with runic infusion showed promise. One day, I’ll do this on a grander scale—true forging enchantments.

Yet a deeper worry gnawed at him: skill stones. If Corin or others sold them irresponsibly, orchard folks might be lured in, risking meltdown. Kael couldn’t handle an entire orchard’s hidden purchases. But at least Father might rely on that ring now, he thought, relieved.

A Subtle Shift in Father’s Gaze

Before dawn, Kael awakened to find Father already dressed and quietly stepping out to the forge. No one else was up. Curiosity piqued, Kael crawled to the door, peering out. Father held the iron ring up to the faint starlight, turning it over as though searching for hidden engravings.

An unusual seriousness etched Father’s face. He tested tapping the ring against a scrap of metal, listening for resonance. He even tried focusing, as if expecting to activate some latent power.

No obvious result. The ring’s enchantment seemed dormant unless triggered by physical threat. Father exhaled, perplexed. “Where did you come from?” he whispered at the ring, as though expecting an answer.

Kael bit his lip (or tried to, in baby form). He’s close to realizing it’s newly enchanted. If Father asked Corin, he’d learn the peddler had no part in forging it, leading to more confusion. I must tread carefully.

Eventually, Father sighed and pocketed the ring once more. “Fine,” he muttered to the silent dawn. “If it’ll protect me or the orchard, I’ll accept that gift—whoever sent it.”

A quiet wave of relief washed over Kael. At least he’s more confident now, less likely to chase after skill stones.

Unseen Preparations

As the orchard awakened for the new day, Father resumed forging tasks, though with a lighter heart. The orchard’s mood lifted somewhat as well—two boar attacks repelled, with no casualties. People joked about the orchard being blessed by some guardian spirit.

Kael, however, suspected the orchard’s troubles were far from over. The mutated beasts seemed more frequent. Whispers of unnatural mana flows or rising tensions in the wider region found their way into casual talk. He overheard references to potential bandits stirring in a neighboring hamlet. Even the orchard’s caretaker, Rowan, spoke of unusual footprints near the forest’s edge.

In the coming days, orchard folk might take bolder steps to defend themselves. Kael resolved to accelerate his training. If a truly dire threat came—like multiple beasts or a cunning foe—he’d need more than a single short-ranged skill and a half-baked enchantment.

Evening’s New Resolve

That night, lying in his cradle, Kael planned his next steps in silent determination. I’ll refine Earthen Flame Gust, maybe incorporate pure Air synergy for a mid-range push. Or try forming a shield-based skill. He also thought of creating more trinkets for orchard workers, though that risked revealing himself if too many turned up with odd protective gear.

He considered skill stones again. He had no illusions that skill stones were wholly evil; he simply knew unawakened folks stood to suffer meltdown. If any orchard worker purchased them from Corin, Kael might have to sabotage or remove them secretly. That idea unnerved him—stealing or tampering might cause suspicion. But better suspicion than meltdown.

A weight lay heavy on his small chest. For all his knowledge, he was still physically weak, an infant in the eyes of the world. The day he could stand tall and speak openly of magic was still far off. Yet step by step, synergy by synergy, he was climbing toward that future.

A faint swirl of self-crafted confidence filled him. He recalled the scene of Father being saved by the ring’s protective aura. That single moment validated the power of runic forging. Perhaps I can refine that approach, so the orchard can rely on real protective crafts instead of reckless skill stone usage.

Echoes of the Past and a Future Glimpse

Before drifting off to sleep, Kael closed his eyes and let his mind wander back to a memory from his previous life. Aerion—standing in a grand hall, forging alliances with dwarven runesmiths. They had hammered blazing sigils into great swords and armor, each piece shimmering with potent synergy. Then the Abyss had come, and so many of those runes were lost, never to be recreated.

Now, centuries later, Kael had conjured a tiny fraction of that forging brilliance in an orchard forge. The ring on Father’s finger was a faint echo of his past life’s achievements. The recollection brought a warm sense of hope. This second life truly is a chance to do better.

He inhaled, steadying his thoughts. The orchard might remain a small corner of Aurelia, overshadowed by grand capitals and towering academies. Yet it was here that Kael’s quiet ascension began—a place he was determined to protect at all costs.

The Path Ahead

Though Father remained unaware of Kael’s secret feats, a shift now existed between them. Kael saw it in the way Father carried himself, ring occasionally tapped to confirm its presence. And Father, perhaps unconsciously, glanced at Kael with fleeting curiosity, as if sensing a deeper mystery swirling around this “harmless” infant.

For now, that mystery remained unsolved. Kael took comfort in the orchard’s relatively peaceful routine returning for the next few days. He continued stealth training each night, weaving synergy and testing expansions of Earthen Flame Gust into multi-element variants. Small notifications of attribute gains flickered in his mind.

Each day, orchard life marched on: baskets of fruit harvested, fences mended, stories swapped about the so-called “spirit” protecting them. The orchard workers resumed half-playful banter. But Kael’s vigilance never wavered. He sensed that the orchard’s challenges were but the beginning of greater trials looming in Aurelia.

In a private corner of his soul, Kael recited an oath: I’ll master enough power to shield them from any threat—be it a mutated beast, skill stone meltdown, or something far darker.

He let that vow guide every synergy exercise, every runic concept gleaned from forging tomes. The orchard might remain mostly unaware of their infant guardian, but day by day, Kael’s hidden path to ascension grew clearer—and with it, the faint promise that the orchard, his beloved parents, and the entire realm would have a shield far stronger than any fluke or rumor.

And so, under the watchful glow of the orchard moon, Kael drifted to sleep, forging his destiny one subtle breath at a time.