A pale sun crested the horizon the morning after the orchard's night of turmoil. Lively birdcalls mingled with the low hum of cautious conversation among the workers. Tension still clung to the orchard, coiling just beneath a façade of normal chores. While the routine bustle—carrying water to rows of young saplings, sorting crates of apples—continued outwardly, minds remained fixed on the captive saboteur bound in the barn's side room.

A Sense of Uncertain Relief

In the wake of capturing the intruder, there was a guarded feeling of triumph, a sense that the orchard had proven more resilient than these mysterious foes anticipated. Rowan, Joren, and the others found renewed motivation to check every fence line, every post, every nook that could be tampered with. Vargis the tracker had left at first light, promising to bring the local reeve's men before midday. Until then, the orchard needed to keep its prisoner contained and glean what information they could.

Kael found it difficult to sleep past dawn—partly out of curiosity, partly out of a gnawing worry that the saboteur's companions might stage a rescue. He rose early and slipped into his usual forging routine, hoping the clang of hammer against steel would soothe his restless thoughts. Within the barn's forging alcove, he built up the coals and selected two iron blanks, determined to create a pair of synergy plates that could further strengthen the orchard's perimeter.

Clank—clank—clank. Each strike carried a fraction of Earth synergy, guided by subtle pulses Kael wove through his arms. The orchard's hush enveloped him, broken only by the rhythmic echo of his hammer. Hours crawled by, and as sweat glistened on his brow, Kael chiseled faint runic lines into the steel. He intended these new plates to anchor illusions: small wards that might obscure a fence post's presence from prying eyes, or trick would-be saboteurs into stepping into a snare. It was an experimental approach, combining illusions with the standard Earth reinforcement.

He paused once the runes were cut, letting the metal cool enough to test. A faint swirl of synergy glimmered along the etched lines, then faded as he willed it quiet. If these illusions work properly, the orchard watchers can see everything normally, but invaders might perceive a misleading silhouette. Time would tell.

Though he didn't feel any dramatic surge of advancement, Kael recognized that each forging project refined his synergy control. Bit by bit, forging is shaping me, too. The satisfaction of incremental progress steadied him.

Under Lock and Key

By late morning, orchard men congregated outside the barn. Rowan led a small group inside the side room to check on their captive. Kael, curious, hovered by the door. Through the gap, he glimpsed the saboteur slumped against the wall, her cloak bloodied where Kallen's blade had struck. Her hands were bound, and a makeshift bandage pressed to her wound. She glowered at the men, silent and defiant.

Rowan cleared his throat. "We've sent for the reeve's men. You'll be turned over to them soon."

She kept her gaze fixed on the ground, refusing to respond. Kallen stepped forward. "Who's behind these forced awakenings? You clearly aren't operating alone." Still no answer.

Joren exhaled, tension evident in the tight line of his jaw. "We know you're part of a scheme to sell awakened beasts. The orchard is just a testing field, right?"

The prisoner's lips twitched, almost a sneer. She muttered, "Your orchard's convenient for our experiments. No one important pays attention to a sleepy orchard in the hinterlands… until now."

Kallen scowled. "Why sabotage it further, then? If you needed secrecy, wouldn't you stay low-profile?"

A strained chuckle escaped her. "Some among us… relish the challenge. We gather data on how well you resist. Each success or failure refines our process." She lifted her eyes, dark with resentment. "In truth, you peasants have become more trouble than expected."

A flicker of anger passed through Rowan's expression. But he reined it in. "Where do you take the awakened creatures afterward? Who buys them?"

She pressed her lips together, refusing further details. After a long moment of stalemate, Rowan motioned for the men to leave. "No point forcing her. The reeve's men can handle a proper interrogation."

They stepped out into the orchard air, frustration etched on their faces. Kael slipped away before they noticed him eavesdropping.

We're just a test site, he mused grimly as he headed to the orchard's western boundary. They gather 'data' on forcibly awakening beasts, refining some twisted method. He felt a surge of indignation for how these saboteurs had turned his home into their playground. But we at least uncovered part of their plan…

The Reeve's Arrival

Shortly before noon, distant hoofbeats announced the reeve's men. Five riders crested the dirt path leading to the orchard gates, their tabards bearing the insignia of Willowford. Leading them was a middle-aged reeve's deputy, a stern man named Oswin. Vargis trailed behind, giving Rowan a curt nod.

Kael watched from a short distance as greetings were exchanged. Oswin confirmed that Willowford's reeve had authorized them to take the prisoner into custody and hold a formal inquiry. Orchard workers parted to let them pass.

In the barn's side room, the deputy's men carefully bound the saboteur's arms with heavier shackles, checking her wound to ensure she could survive transport. She maintained her rigid silence, though a flicker of anxiety showed in her clenched jaw.

Rowan explained the orchard's predicament. "We suspect there's a larger group behind these forced awakenings. She's only one agent. We hope your reeve can pry out more details."

Oswin's face was grim. "If she's involved in forced awakenings, the punishment under kingdom law is severe. We'll push her to reveal her accomplices. In the meantime, remain on guard—these types rarely operate alone."

With that, the reeve's men led the captive out, whisking her away toward the village's holding cells. A wave of relief washed over the orchard staff. For once, they felt official authority stepping in. But an undercurrent of unease lingered: Would the orchard truly be safe now, or might her companions escalate their attacks?

A Clue in the Ruins

Once the reeve's men departed, Rowan called a brief meeting in the courtyard. Vargis spoke, his tone measured. "During my scouting, I found old fragments of runic pottery along a small ruin half a mile north of the orchard. Possibly the saboteurs used that area as a base for storing awakened-beast reagents."

Kallen perked up. "A ruin? I wasn't aware of anything like that near us."

Vargis shrugged. "It's mostly collapsed. Could be an old shrine or outpost from decades past. But the residue I detected matches the orchard's sabotage sites—there's definitely forced mana present."

At this, Rowan exchanged a glance with Joren. "If that ruin houses leftover materials or more saboteurs, it's a threat."

Vargis nodded. "I suggest a small party investigate. We might find evidence to help the reeve's case or disrupt their supply."

Rowan turned to Kallen and another orchard guard, Baret. "Gather your gear. But be cautious—I can't spare too many men. We need watchers here in case of retaliation."

Kael, listening from the side, felt an urge to volunteer. An exploration might reveal valuable clues. But he had to be discreet—he was still a child in their eyes, albeit a capable one. He cleared his throat softly. "I might help with synergy detection," he offered, carefully modulating his voice to sound hesitant rather than eager. "I've learned a bit from forging runes, maybe I can sense tampered mana."

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Rowan hesitated, gaze flicking over Kael's slight frame. But after a moment, he nodded. "All right, you can join them—just stay behind the adults if danger arises."

A flicker of satisfaction warmed Kael's chest. He gave a small, serious nod, playing the part of a boy determined to contribute.

Journey into Overgrowth

By mid-afternoon, Kallen, Baret, Vargis, and Kael departed the orchard. They traveled on foot along a narrow trail leading north. The orchard gradually gave way to denser woodland—a patch of scrubby trees, tangled vines, and knee-high brush. Sunlight filtered in dappled patterns across the path.

As they walked, Kael kept his senses attuned. If there's any lingering forced-mana presence, I might pick up faint fluctuations. He breathed slowly, letting his synergy channels remain on subtle alert. The forging that morning still weighed on his arms, but adrenaline pushed aside any fatigue.

Vargis guided them with confidence. "Not far now. The ruin is near a dried creek bed."

Kallen periodically scanned their surroundings, sword hand relaxed but ready. Baret trailed behind, crossbow loaded. The orchard men had grown cautious from recent sabotage; they weren't taking chances.

In less than an hour, they spotted moss-covered stone rubble jutting from under thick vines. A partially collapsed archway hinted at a once-grand entrance. Carved runes, eroded by time, dotted what remained of the crumbling walls.

"This must've been some sort of old shrine," Baret muttered, kneeling to examine a broken column. "Look at the decorative patterns."

Kael approached the archway gingerly. The air felt heavier, laced with a faint buzz of unstable mana. He reached out with Earth synergy, then flickers of Fire, letting them trace the environment. There's a residue here—like someone performed rough awakenings or curses recently.

He nodded to the others. "I sense it. Something left a strong negative imprint."

Vargis crouched near a pile of shattered pottery shards, picking them up with gloved hands. "Same type as we found near the orchard. Possibly containers for that forced-awakening powder."

Kallen tapped one shard with the tip of his sword. "Could the saboteurs still be here?"

They exchanged wary glances. Kael inhaled. "I'll check further inside." He advanced carefully, staff in hand, illusions half-formed in his mind if he needed to cloak himself. The main area of the ruin was roofless, vines draping overhead. Crumbled stone lumps formed corners of what might've been a central chamber.

Amid the debris, Kael spotted footprints in the soft dirt. Recent, by the look of them—likely the saboteurs or perhaps vagrants. He followed the trail around a partially collapsed wall and froze. A dark stain marred the stones, accompanied by a faint smell of something acrid. More forced mana residue, he thought, stepping back.

"Over here," he called softly. The group gathered. Vargis knelt, sniffing the air. "Same vile concoction used to awaken beasts. They must have performed some rituals or mixing here."

Kallen's grip on his sword tightened. "So this place was definitely a hideout. But it's abandoned now."

Baret grimaced. "We should destroy any leftover materials so they can't be used again."

Kael glanced around. Bits of shattered containers and half-burnt rope littered the area. Even if the saboteurs had fled, any hidden cache could still pose a danger. He knelt, letting synergy flow into his fingertips to sense if anything was buried beneath the rubble. A subtle tremor answered him—something metallic lay under a collapsed shelf.

He dug carefully, unearthing a small iron chest. The lock was smashed, as though someone left in haste. Inside, a single scroll—runes etched in scrawling script, describing a partial formula for artificially amplifying a beast's mana core. Kael's heart lurched. So this is how they turn ordinary beasts into awakened threats so quickly. The script was incomplete, presumably referencing additional steps or reagents.

Kallen read it over his shoulder, expression dark. "We'll hand this to the reeve. Damning evidence indeed."

With a decisive nod, they cleared the ruin of debris that might contain forced-awakening substances, piling them for a controlled burn outside. Kael assisted in lighting the refuse, channeling a thin thread of Fire synergy. The concoction-laced shards hissed and crackled in the flames, releasing a foul stench. As black smoke rose into the sky, Kael felt a measure of relief—this at least was one sabotage site neutralized.

Small Victories, Lingering Threats

As dusk approached, they trekked back to the orchard, weariness tugging at limbs. Yet there was satisfaction in having destroyed a hidden stash. Kallen carried the scroll, determined to pass it on to Rowan, who would, in turn, share it with the reeve's men.

Back at the orchard, Rowan took in their findings with relief and concern. "This confirms the saboteurs' methods. But it also means they're more organized than we realized. At least we've cut off one of their staging points."

Joren clapped Kael's shoulder lightly. "You did good, son, finding that chest. We might've overlooked it without your synergy sensing."

Kael only shrugged, feigning modesty. Inside, he mulled over the runic formula. This technique forcibly overdrives a beast's mana core. It's reckless and cruel. He wondered if it had links to darker arts or illegal magitech. Could this be part of a bigger underground market?

Nonetheless, for the orchard, it was a small but meaningful victory. The immediate threat might ebb for a time. Still, Kael resolved not to let his guard down. The saboteurs might retaliate or shift to a different approach. Meanwhile, he would keep forging synergy wards, honing illusions, and preparing for the day he'd leave for the Academy—armed with more skill than any normal child.

Late-Night Vigil

That night, Kael lingered by the orchard forge once again. Though exhausted from the day's expedition, he felt an unrelenting pull to refine the new illusion-ward plates he'd hammered earlier. If illusions can further hamper intruders, we gain an advantage. He carefully laid out the half-finished plates on the anvil, reviewing the runic lines by lantern light.

He etched minor adjustments, weaving an outline for a subtle distortion field. Nothing too elaborate—he didn't want orchard workers to mistake the fence line themselves. Instead, the illusions would mostly blur the area for anyone approaching with hostile intent. If it worked, a saboteur creeping at night might misjudge distances or fail to spot the actual post they intended to sabotage.

As he hammered in final runes, a faint thrill of possibility danced in his chest. In my past life, illusions were a side branch I seldom explored deeply. Now, it might become a crucial edge.

After an hour of meticulous detail, he infused a gentle synergy pulse. The runes glimmered with pale light, then faded. Satisfied, Kael placed the plates aside, letting them cool. Tomorrow, I'll install them near a vulnerable fence corner. He rubbed his eyes, fatigue weighing heavily now.

A Quiet Exchange

Before retiring for the night, Kael stepped outside to breathe in the crisp air. The orchard lay in a hush, patrol lanterns bobbing among the rows. Near the orchard house, he spotted Vargis standing alone, gazing at the moonlit expanse.

Cautious curiosity drew Kael closer. Vargis half-turned, noticing him. "Couldn't sleep?" the tracker asked quietly.

Kael shook his head. "Busy forging. You?"

Vargis shrugged, a distant look in his eyes. "I'm thinking about how these saboteurs operate. They're cunning. Even with one captive gone, we shouldn't assume the orchard's out of danger. The group might test new angles or vanish entirely."

Kael nodded, recalling the sabotage fiasco. "We'll remain watchful," he said simply.

After a brief pause, Vargis regarded him, expression thoughtful. "You've got a knack for runic forging, boy. More than a typical blacksmith's apprentice. Ever wonder about applying it beyond orchard defenses?"

A flicker of caution stirred in Kael. He forced a shy grin. "I'm just trying to help here. Maybe I'll do more once I…grow older."

Vargis accepted the answer with a light smile. "Wise. Keep your skills close to the vest. In times like these, parading one's talents can invite trouble."

Kael merely inclined his head. The moonlight revealed the tension etched in Vargis's features. He sees through part of my facade, yet remains discreet. The orchard was fortunate to have him, at least for now.

They exchanged a quiet farewell, each returning to a separate corner of the orchard to rest.

Status Check

Late that night, as Kael finally settled onto a makeshift pallet in the barn loft, he closed his eyes and delved inward. No significant breakthroughs had occurred with the day's events—no large battles awarding enough experience for a level-up. Still, the forging, illusions, and synergy scanning had incrementally deepened his control.

He visualized his status screen in his mind's eye:

Status Window

Name: Kael Ashborne

Age: 6 (Approaching 7)

Talent: SSS (Hidden)

Core Grade: Red (Awakened in secret)

Level: 10

EXP: 520 / 1600

Attributes:

Strength: 20

Agility: 6

Constitution: 19

Intelligence: 34

Spirit: 45

Free Attribute Points: 0

Trait: Sage's Insight (Passive – fosters advanced comprehension of spells, runes, forging)

Synergy Channeling:

Earth Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.2)Fire Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.1)Water Channeling (Basic, Lv.9)Air Channeling (Basic, Lv.9)Light Channeling (Basic, Lv.9)

The data reaffirmed his steady, if slow, progress. Kael let out a soft breath, half relief and half quiet longing for the day his synergy might break through again. But pushing forcefully risked Skill Dissonance, something he refused to court recklessly.

Looking Ahead

Eventually, Kael dozed off under the barn's roof beams, lulled by the distant chirp of night insects and the faint glow of newly installed synergy wards. Tomorrow would bring more forging, orchard repairs, and watchers patrolling. The orchard's immediate crisis had eased—a saboteur captured, a ruin's illicit stash destroyed—but the deeper threat remained. At least we've bought ourselves some breathing room, Kael thought drowsily.

He drifted into slumber with one lingering resolution: to keep honing illusions and synergy forging. If these saboteurs or others returned, they would find an orchard more fortified than ever. And each day that passed nudged Kael closer to the Academy, where, hidden behind a child's exterior, he would unveil a talent that might one day reshape Aurelia itself.

For now, the orchard slumbered beneath a gentle moon. Small victories lit the darkness, warding off fear, even as new shadows gathered in distant corners of the land. Kael, forging his future in quiet secrecy, stood ready to confront them all—one synergy-etched plate at a time.