Rain drummed against the orchard's rooftops, a soft tattoo that dripped from eaves and pattered on the muddy ground. By the small workshop Father had built behind the barn, Kael examined a newly engraved runic plate, running a calloused finger along the etched lines. The swirl of synergy within glowed faintly, responding to his touch.
Time had marched on—nearly two years since Kael's earliest forays into forging simple wards. Now at five years of age, the young boy stood taller, his features more defined. Most orchard folks still remarked how quietly helpful he was—hauling crates with surprising ease or tinkering with small bits of metal in the barn. None suspected the deeper truth: Kael was a reincarnated magus refining synergy behind his unassuming demeanor.
His father, Joren, however, was no longer entirely clueless. By now, Joren accepted that Kael possessed a knack for runic forging—crafting small protective plates that kept the orchard relatively safe. Yet he believed Kael's talents stopped at "basic ward tools." Father had no idea just how extensively Kael trained in secret… nor how close Kael was to a true Awakening. That remained Kael's guarded secret.
A Subtle Two-Year Lull
The orchard itself had seen a quiet stretch of relative peace. Over the last two years, fewer monstrous attacks threatened its fences. Kael's runic wards—spread across fence posts—seemed to deter minor corrupted beasts effectively. Word in neighboring farms was that Brightwood Orchard was "blessed" or "lucky," though more cynical folk mumbled about unusual ward magic.
Regardless, life continued. Father's forging business improved; travelers sometimes passed through to buy newly forged rakes or nails, praising Joren's craftsmanship. Meria oversaw orchard expansions, planting fresh saplings with help from Rowan and the orchard hands.
Kael used the lull to push his synergy practice further. Every dawn, he woke early to perform slow exercises behind the barn—merging Earth with Water synergy to shape earthen figurines, then carefully heating them with Fire synergy. At dusk, he pored over half-remembered runic formulas from his past life, scribbling them on scraps of parchment. If orchard tasks demanded heavy lifting or subtle repairs, he infused discrete synergy to help, always careful not to reveal the full extent of his abilities.
Yet a persistent ache tugged at him: his unawakened mana core. Stuck at Basic Channeling Lv.9 for all elements, every attempt to break through had failed, leaving him bottled at the edge. If only I could push past this seal…
Father's Quiet Concern
Late one evening, as Kael hammered runes onto a small strip of iron, Father appeared at the workshop door. Candlelight flickered across Joren's face, revealing a careful expression.
"Kael," he began softly, "I see you forging these little wards day in and day out. I… I want to be sure you're not overdoing it."
Kael paused, setting his small hammer aside. For a six-year-old, he moved with an efficiency surprising even to Joren, but Kael always feigned mild struggle to appear more normal. "I'm all right, Father. These plates help the orchard, don't they?"
Joren hesitated, then nodded. "They do. I just… I worry. You're still young. That traveling mage, Gadriel, once warned about novices messing with synergy inscriptions." He forced a chuckle. "But you seem to do fine, so perhaps I'm fussing."
Kael smiled gently. "I'm careful." A cunning glint flickered in his eyes—he always let Father think runic forging was his sole trick. No mention of full-blown synergy spells, or the half-dozen advanced wards he'd hidden around the orchard. Some secrets are safer locked inside…
Father ruffled Kael's hair. "Just be safe. And if anything feels beyond your reach, tell me."
Kael nodded. He wondered if Father suspected more. But Joren said no further word, merely bidding Kael good night.
Rumors of a Great Beast
A few days later, Kora—a familiar messenger from nearby farms—arrived at Brightwood, her face taut with worry. She spoke urgently with Rowan and Father by the main cottage while Kael, seemingly busy hauling a crate, eavesdropped from a short distance.
"Some travelers claim a large creature has been sighted prowling the outskirts of our region," Kora said in a hushed tone. "They mention twisted antlers, black fur, and glowing runes carved into its hide."
Father's jaw clenched. "Another corrupted beast?"
Kora nodded grimly. "Likely. Folks fear it's stronger than the usual stray boar-wolves. They've found half-eaten livestock, fences smashed to splinters. It roams mostly at night, then disappears before dawn."
Rowan muttered a curse. "We'll double the watch. If it ventures here, we must be ready."
Kora thanked them, urging caution. She left soon after, leaving orchard workers unsettled. Kael's mind whirled. A monstrous beast with runes carved into its body… That sounds more advanced than typical corruption. If it attacks, can my wards hold it off?
That afternoon, he quietly inspected each corner of the orchard fence. His Basic-level runic plates had deterred lesser beasts, but he doubted they'd stop a "great beast" rumored to bear its own runic enhancements. I need to be prepared.
Hidden Preparations
As the sun set, Kael retreated behind the barn to practice synergy intensively. Though still stuck without a formal Awakening, he had refined his Basic-level spells—Earthen Snare, Ember Dart, and Clay Shield—to the highest sub-rank they could reach without evolving. Each one now shimmered with faint arcs of synergy whenever he cast them. Just one spark away from breaking past Basic…
But that spark refused to manifest. He exhaled, frustration creeping in. I can't remain in this limbo forever…
He rummaged through old forging scraps—metal shards hammered thin—and etched new wards. This time, he tried weaving more potent synergy lines, layering Earth and Fire runes in a pattern reminiscent of advanced forging he once glimpsed in his past life memories. The strain thrummed in his arms; a mild headache threatened. But he pressed on, forging half a dozen stronger plates than his usual Basic wards.
[Notification: Attempting mid-tier synergy forging… Overstepping Basic synergy capacity… partial success only.]
Kael sighed. The system refused full evolution. Nonetheless, he got a workable version—an enhanced ward plate that might release a stronger jolt against intruders. He carefully stowed them for potential use, heart pounding with a mix of resolve and dread.
A Sudden Summons at Night
Late that same night, Kael jolted awake to frantic shouts echoing across the orchard. Lamplights bobbed in the distance, orchard workers converging near the eastern fence. Father's voice rang out in urgency.
Kael scrambled from his small bed, slipping on a worn tunic and shoes. He had learned to move swiftly and quietly, so within moments he was sprinting toward the commotion, heart hammering.
A scene of chaos greeted him: orchard workers clutched pitchforks, some trembling. Fence posts lay scattered in splinters. Beyond the breach, moonlight revealed a towering silhouette—a stag-like beast nearly twice the height of a man, with twisted antlers etched in sickly glowing runes. Its fur bristled with blackened patches, and drool sizzled where it touched the ground. A stench of rotting mana wafted from it.
This must be the rumored great beast. It snorted, pawing the ground, eyes glinting with malevolent hunger.
Rowan led a few braver workers in an attempt to corral it back. But the creature snarled, releasing a wave of corrupted aura that made the men reel backward, gagging.
Kael's Calculated Intervention
Kael ducked behind an overturned crate, mind racing. If he rushed in openly with advanced synergy, he'd blow his cover. But leaving the orchard hands to fend alone would be disastrous. Father was among them, risking life and limb.
No… I must act cunningly. He spotted a vantage point behind a half-fallen fence post. If he used Earthen Snare from there and targeted the beast's hind legs, orchard workers might believe it was an effect from some hidden ward. Yes—that might preserve his secrecy.
He steadied himself, channeling Earth synergy. Despite the Basic bottleneck, he'd honed this skill to near perfection. With a silent exhale, he forced mana into the ground beneath the stag-beast.
[Notification: Earthen Snare (Basic, Lv.3) cast successfully!]
Tendril-like roots erupted around the beast's hind legs, entangling them. The stag let out a furious bellow, half-turning in confusion. Rowan seized the chance, jabbing a pitchfork into its flank. Another worker swung a torch, flames licking its side.
But the beast's rune-etched antlers flared. With a snarl, it tore free of the snare in a burst of dark energy. Rowan staggered back, nearly dropping his weapon. The orchard men froze, terror etched on their faces.
Kael realized the monstrous stag was far tougher than anything they'd faced. If it rampaged fully, the orchard staff would be slaughtered.
He ground his teeth. Hiding my power is less important than saving lives. In that moment, cunning meant using just enough force to tip the scales—without leaving an obvious signature. He prepared Ember Dart at a higher intensity, hoping orchard folks might assume it was part of the orchard's wards.
The Blow That Seals Fate
Kael ducked low behind a fence post, carefully shaping Fire synergy in his palms. He compressed the swirling heat into a tight orb, forcing it to the very edge of Basic's limit. A single Ember Dart soared overhead, striking the stag's shoulder in a burst of sparks.
Crack-boom! The explosion was modest, but enough to stagger the beast. It stumbled, letting out a guttural roar. Lantern light revealed a scorched patch on its hide.
Rowan's eyes widened, scanning the darkness. "Another ward? Or… what was that?"
No time for reflection—the stag, wounded, turned with a roar, bounding away from the orchard fence. In its fury, it trampled two orchard posts but ultimately fled into the night. Shouts of alarm gradually died down.
Orchard workers exhaled in relief, praising the "mysterious orchard wards" that saved them again. Father stood panting, glancing around. "Everyone all right?"
Rowan nodded, though shaken. "Yes. We… we need to patch the fence again."
Kael exhaled from behind the crate. Crisis averted—for now. But something felt off—the beast might return, or worse, it might push him to reveal more.
Hard-Earned Victory and a Level Gain
At the orchard's dawn gathering next morning, Rowan and Father praised the orchard's runic defenses. Unbeknownst to them, Kael was the true orchestrator. Sometime after the fight, Kael felt a familiar tingle in his core area—a subtle shift.
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[Notification: You have dealt decisive damage to a higher-tier corrupted beast. Gained EXP for defeating it (partial).][Notification: Level Up! Kael Ashborne is now Level 7 → 8!][+5 Free Attribute Points earned from leveling! EXP: 0 / 900]
He suppressed a surge of giddiness. So the system acknowledges partial victory even if the beast wasn't fully slain.Regardless, it boosted his level—and that meant 5 free attribute points.
Kael quickly assigned them in his mind, spreading them to bolster his Constitution and Spirit. He needed more stamina for synergy forging and better synergy capacity for advanced spells. He allocated +2 to Constitution and +3 to Spirit, carefully balancing immediate needs.
[Notification: +2 Constitution, +3 Spirit assigned.]
Yet the mana core bottleneck remained. His synergy channels remained locked at Basic Lv.9. So leveling alone isn't enough to awaken…
A Fateful Time Skip: The Sixth Year
Months blurred into another year, and Kael quietly advanced from age five to six. He trained discreetly each day, improved orchard wards, and refined synergy forging. Father continued forging farm tools, occasionally enlisting Kael's help. The orchard thrived, though rumors persisted of that monstrous stag still roaming distant woods, attacking other homesteads.
Kael's hidden Basic spells rose to near-perfection. But the unawakened core weighed on him like a chain. Night after night, he tried sparking it with multi-element synergy, each attempt leaving him exhausted but not awakened.
Finally, nearing his sixth birthday, Kael resolved to attempt one last, more drastic measure: a synergy ignition ritual, combining all five elements he wielded at maximum capacity. If that failed, he'd bide his time until an external shock forced the awakening.
The Ignition Attempt
On a windless twilight, Kael sneaked to the orchard's eastern clearing—far from prying eyes. He drew a rough circle in the dirt, marking five small points for each element's synergy. Kneeling at the center, he inhaled deeply.
Step one: Earth synergy. He channeled the ground's solidity into his base, letting the orchard soil resonate with him. Faint pebbles rose around him in a swirl.
Step two: Water synergy. Moisture from the evening dew coalesced in wisps of cool mist, circling his outstretched hand.
Step three: Air synergy. A gentle breeze stirred, focusing around his form.
Step four: Fire synergy. Heat glimmered in his other palm, sparks dancing along his fingertips.
Step five: Light synergy. A soft glow radiated from his chest, reminiscent of a dawn ray peeking through shadow.
Sweat beaded his brow—coordinating all five at once threatened synergy backlash. Still, he pressed forward, weaving them into a single spiral at his core. Ignite…ignite…
For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, a fierce internal tension coiled at his navel. The orchard's night sounds dimmed; Kael sensed a raging swirl within him, each element vying for harmony. This was closer than he'd ever reached.
He clenched his jaw, guiding each synergy thread into alignment. A spark of possibility flared…
Suddenly, a vivid flash burst from within. Kael gasped, the swirl spinning out of control. For an instant, it threatened to rend him apart. Then, with a blinding internal roar, something inside shattered. Heat flooded every nerve.
[Notification: Core Awakening successful! Talent Grade recognized… SSS (Hidden).]
Kael's vision swam as raw mana rushed through newly awakened channels. His body trembled, energy blazing. The orchard grass flattened under an invisible force. For several seconds, he couldn't move or think—only endure the onslaught of mana surging from within.
Then, slowly, it stabilized, condensing into a radiant Red-hued core at the center of his being. He had awakened at last.
The Aftermath
When the dizzying rush subsided, Kael sank to his knees, panting. I did it…
He flexed his hands. Mana coursed more freely than ever, no longer stifled by that bottleneck. A cautious test of Fire synergy revealed it was far stronger, more responsive. He grinned, tears pricking his eyes—two lifetimes had led to this moment.
Yet he remained cunning. He couldn't celebrate openly. If orchard hands sensed a massive surge, they might investigate. Gathering himself, Kael smothered the wild aura as best he could, ensuring no bright flares lingered. Then he slipped back to his tiny workshop, heart still pounding.
Testing Newfound Strength
Before dawn, Kael couldn't resist a quick test. He retrieved a small chunk of clay and channeled Earth synergy. This time, it responded with startling fluidity, shaping into a perfect sphere with minimal focus. He layered Fire synergy, heating the clay sphere into a hardened shape. All of it took half the usual effort.
He realized his synergy ranks could now advance beyond Basic. A single attempt to refine Earth synergy triggered a system prompt:
[Notification: Minor Earth Channeling (Basic, Lv.9) → seeking evolution…Do you wish to evolve Earth Channeling to Intermediate? Y/N]
Kael's breath caught. Intermediate… of course. He mentally confirmed.
A pleasant hum coursed through him as Earth synergy expanded, its capacity nearly doubling.
[Notification: Earth Channeling evolved to Intermediate (Lv.1)! +2 Spirit for successful synergy evolution.]
He clenched his fists, euphoria stirring. If Earth synergy advanced, his other elements would follow. But he must remain patient, evolving them gradually to avoid suspicion—and avoid skill dissonance from forcing multiple evolutions too quickly.
Sunrise with Father
Shortly after sunrise, Kael found Father in the barn, rummaging for nails to repair orchard fences. He forced a calm mask, though inside excitement roiled. I can't let him see how drastically I've changed overnight…
Father glanced up, noticing a strange light in Kael's eyes. "You look… well-rested," he remarked, half-laughing. "Come, help me carry these boards."
Kael nodded, gripping a bundle of boards. The weight felt laughably light after his core awakening, but he feigned a mild strain. Father didn't appear suspicious.
As they walked, Father gestured at the orchard perimeter. "Thank goodness no major attacks last night. The orchard's wards—and maybe your runic plates—must be working well."
Kael bit back a grin. If only Father knew the real reason no new beasts threatened them—Kael's synergy was now at an entirely different level.
A Cunning Veil
Throughout the morning, Kael went about chores, meticulously hiding his renewed vigor. Lifting crates, he pretended to grunt softly. If orchard staff asked for help, he used only a fraction of his synergy so as not to raise eyebrows.
Yet inside, he brimmed with possibility. I've awakened… my path to forging higher wards and advanced spells just opened. He yearned to break each synergy channel from Basic to Intermediate. But caution reigned. Evolving them all in a single day might cause suspicious ripples or, worse, attract wandering mages who sensed bursts of mana.
So, cunningly, Kael decided to incrementally evolve each element over weeks, forging the façade that he was slowly improving his forging skill. After all, Father already believed Kael's forging was behind the orchard's safety. He could spin any synergy leaps as "better forging technique."
Re-Encounter with the Beast
The orchard endured a peaceful week following Kael's Awakening. Repairs finished on the eastern fence. Workers relaxed, albeit warily. Then, one gloomy evening, the monstrous stag reappeared—this time slamming into the orchard's north side with ferocious intent. Workers cried alarm, Father grabbed a pitchfork, Rowan a torch. Panic rippled through the orchard once more.
Kael rushed outside. Now is the time to truly test my awakened strength… but carefully.
He spotted the stag raking its rune-etched antlers against the fence. Dread coiled in his stomach. The orchard's minor wards crackled, delivering small shocks that made the beast roar, but it pressed on.
All eyes locked on the terrifying silhouette. Then, to the orchard's horror, the stag smashed the fence aside and lunged into the orchard proper. Workers scattered, fear gripping them.
Kael inhaled. I can't keep pretending. If this beast rampages further, it'll kill someone. He advanced, adopting a cunning approach: "reinforce" an old runic plate. Quickly placing a palm over a fence post, he poured new Earth synergy into the ground beneath the stag, hoping orchard folk believed it was "the orchard's hidden ward boosting itself."
Earthen Snare erupted—now at Intermediate potency thanks to Kael's newly awakened Earth channel. Thicker vines shot from the soil, coiling around the stag's legs in an unbreakable grip. It roared, thrashing. Rowan and Father looked on in awe.
With a second wave of synergy, Kael silently invoked Ember Dart, now on the cusp of evolving. He charged the dart with Fire synergy that was still Basic, but enhanced by the awakened core. The projectile, far more intense than before, struck the stag's flank, searing runic patches off its hide.
Bellowing in agony, the stag collapsed. Orchard workers found their courage, spears at the ready. Rowan led a final thrust, piercing the creature's throat. Gouts of black ichor spewed onto the grass. The beast kicked once… then stilled.
Quiet Aftershock
Panting orchard hands stood around the monstrous corpse, hearts pounding. Father trembled slightly, gazing at the smoldering wounds. "It's dead… but how did those vines get so strong? And that flame…?"
Rowan rubbed his chin. "Must've been the orchard's wards. They're… more potent than we realized."
Father exhaled with relief, shaking his head in amazement. "Thank the fates. Our orchard is truly blessed."
Kael hovered at the edge of the crowd, feigning shock. Inside, adrenaline and exhilaration sang through him. This time, the orchard staff inflicted the final blow, but I inflicted the crippling damage. Sure enough, a system prompt flickered:
[Notification: You contributed major damage in slaying a rune-corrupted stag. Gained significant EXP.][Notification: Level Up! Kael Ashborne is now Level 8 → 9!][+5 Free Attribute Points earned from leveling! EXP: 250 / 1100]
Kael's pulse raced. Another level, plus 5 attribute points. He assigned them swiftly: +2 Strength, +1 Intelligence, +2 Spirit. A sharper synergy flow would help him refine spells further.
[Notification: Attributes assigned successfully.]
He took a calming breath, ignoring the swirling power inside. He'd awakened his core, advanced synergy channels, and now leveled again—all while keeping orchard folk ignorant.
The Stag's Aftermath and Father's Revelation
Next day, orchard workers hauled the stag's carcass away from the orchard boundary. Its twisted antlers drew uneasy stares—each rune glowed faintly, even in death. Some men muttered superstitions about "demonic blood" or "cursed runes." Father had it burned outside orchard grounds to avoid contamination.
Amidst the cleanup, Father pulled Kael aside, brow furrowed. "Son… these wards are getting stronger every day. I used to think you were just crafting small plates. Now it seems… unstoppable power protects us." He paused. "Are you sure you're only making small forging wards?"
Kael kept a neutral face. "Yes, Father. I've improved them over time, but… maybe the orchard's natural mana helps too." He offered a well-practiced half-truth, letting Father fill in the blanks.
A long silence followed. Then Joren sighed, patting Kael's shoulder. "Perhaps so. I'm grateful, whatever the cause. I… sense your forging has become quite advanced. But if you ever feel burdened, tell me. Understand?"
Kael nodded earnestly. "I will, Father." He recognized the love and concern behind Joren's words. But some secrets he simply couldn't share yet.
A Private Moment of Triumph
That evening, Kael retreated to the orchard's far corner again. He tested synergy in short bursts: half a swirl of Earth, a flicker of Fire, a gentle spiral of Air. The difference in control was staggering. Freed from the unawakened lock, synergy responded with vibrant potency. He was still a child physically, but magically, he had stepped onto the true path.
Yet he remained cunning about his progression. In the following weeks, he pretended only mild improvement—occasionally forging "slightly stronger" wards that orchard folk assumed were natural skill gains. No one connected the orchard's near-miraculous defenses to a hidden child magus.
In quieter moments, Kael practiced new spells, such as Ember Jet—an evolution of Ember Dart—and a refined Stone Shield beyond the old Clay Shield. Each attempt showed a system prompt allowing him to push from Basic to Intermediate. He advanced them piecemeal, carefully avoiding an overnight metamorphosis that might draw suspicion.
Dawn of a New Chapter
A hush of anticipation filled Kael's heart. With the monstrous stag defeated, the orchard stood safer than ever. Father and the orchard workers voiced relief daily, confident that future threats wouldn't breach their "mysterious wards." Kael only smiled politely, accepting their thanks from the shadows.
And so ended a profound chapter of his life: the chapter of languishing in Basic synergy, unable to awaken. Now, at age six, Kael had quietly broken free of that threshold. He glimpsed the road ahead—progressive synergy evolution, the possibility of forging advanced runic arrays, and eventually the rumored path to the Academy. He thought of how soon the official Academy examiners might return, testing local youths for potential recruitment.
Within the orchard's gentle dawn light, Kael inhaled deeply, an indescribable energy thrumming in his core. The orchard would remain his cradle a little longer, but his heart longed for broader horizons. I will keep forging my skills. I will hide my power until the time is right.
A flicker of his old magus cunning danced in his eyes. This time, he would not let arrogance or negligence sabotage him. He had a second life to do things right.
And so, quietly, Ascendant Kael Ashborne prepared for the day he would step beyond orchard fences and into a world that never suspected a hidden SSS prodigy thrived among its rural fields.
Status Window
Name: Kael AshborneAge: 6Talent: SSS (Hidden)Core Grade: Red (Newly Awakened)Level: 9EXP: 250 / 1100
Attributes:
Strength: 17 (+2 from level-up)
Agility: 6
Constitution: 16 (+2 allocated from level-ups)
Intelligence: 32 (+1 allocated from level-up)
Spirit: 42 (+3 from synergy forging and leveling)
Free Attribute Points: 0
Trait: Sage's Insight (Passive – fosters advanced comprehension of synergy, runes, and forging)
Synergy Channeling
Earth Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.1) (Evolved beyond Basic after core awakening)
Fire Channeling (Basic, Lv.9) (Eligible for evolution soon)
Air Channeling (Basic, Lv.9) (Eligible for evolution soon)
Water Channeling (Basic, Lv.9) (Eligible for evolution soon)
Light Channeling (Basic, Lv.9) (Eligible for evolution soon)
Skills (Selection)
Earthen Snare (Intermediate, Lv.1) (Evolved from Basic after awakened synergy) Ember Dart (Basic, Lv.5) (Near the cusp of evolution) Stone Shield (Basic, Lv.5) (Refined Clay Shield technique) Windflare Alarm (Basic, Lv.2) Warmth Ward (Basic, Lv.1)