A silver sliver of dawn found Kael already wide awake, perched in the barn loft where he often slept. The last tendrils of night receded across the orchard, painting rows of trees in subdued purple hues. Roosters crowed in the distance, rousing orchard workers to begin another day. But for Kael, this morning held a strange apprehension he couldn't quite place—like an itch beneath his skin warning him to stay on guard.

Morning Observations

While the orchard bustled with its usual routine—workers checking fence lines, Rannen training with a wooden sword by the storage sheds—Kael slipped away to the orchard's less-visited northwestern edge. Having installed his illusion-ward plates there days prior, he wanted to ensure they remained functional. If a saboteur or awakened beast tried crossing that boundary again, illusions might distort their sense of direction or location, gaining the orchard valuable time.

Kael examined each plate in turn, channeling a faint thread of Air synergy to sweep away dirt. The runic lines pulsed gently in response, confirming they still held a residual charge. Good, he thought, satisfied. At least this small corner of the orchard was better prepared.

A rustling behind him made him tense. He pivoted, staff in hand—only to find Torik, a broad-shouldered orchard worker. Torik blinked in surprise. "Ah, morning, Kael. Didn't think I'd find you here."

Kael forced a small smile, quickly hiding the staff behind his back. "Just… checking the fence. Father asked me."

Torik gave a polite nod. "Right. We're making the rounds ourselves—still no sign of new trouble, thankfully."

Kael exhaled relief. "That's good."

Yet the feeling of being watched lingered. Torik moved on, whistling softly, leaving Kael alone in the hush of rustling leaves. I mustn't let down my guard, Kael reminded himself. Simplicity can be deceptive.

A Forger's Dilemma

Returning to the barn, Kael fired up the forge. Flames leapt around chunks of fresh charcoal, their heat radiating a comforting warmth. He rummaged through the pile of leftover scraps—odd lengths of iron, a few half-finished plates. I'd like to refine the illusions further, he mused. Perhaps embed a minor shock effect to discourage tampering.

Yet a subtle frustration simmered in him. He'd tried layering illusions with mild electrical synergy days before, only to find a mismatch that led to runic instability. I might need a stronger conductive alloy or better synergy fusion technique.The knowledge from his previous life as Aerion guided him toward advanced forging theories, but his child's body and limited resources in the orchard tested his patience.

Still, Kael hammered away. Each strike felt deliberate, carefully fusing Earth synergy into the iron. If I anchor illusions with Earth synergy, it might provide a stable base for small electric bursts. The sweat on his brow dripped onto the hot metal, sizzling into steam.

He worked in near silence for over an hour, forging a small plate the size of a handspan. Once the shape was decent, he etched preliminary runes around the edges. If done right, a gentle discharge of lightning synergy could jolt intruders who lingered too close.

But halfway through the runic etching, the lines fizzled, rejecting the layered synergy. A small spark flew. Kael gritted his teeth, tamping down the sudden flare of frustration. He set the plate aside. I need more practice. Pushing illusions and lightning synergy together is trickier than expected. Despite no immediate success, he sensed he'd gleaned tiny insights for next time.

Rannen's Quiet Farewell

Mid-afternoon, Kael found Rannen near the orchard gate, tightening the straps on a traveling pack. A faint sense of finality hung in the air. Joren and Rowan stood by, exchanging parting words with him.

Rannen spotted Kael and offered a warm grin. "Little brother, come say goodbye. I've decided to join the local guard stationed near Greenwood Village." His tone was cheerful but carried an undercurrent of longing—he'd grown attached to orchard life, yet he yearned for broader experience.

Kael approached, heart clenching. He realized how much he'd leaned on Rannen's presence, their occasional spars and friendly banter. "You're leaving so soon?"

Rannen shrugged, sheathing his sword at his side. "The orchard seems stable now; no new sabotage in days. And I want to sharpen my skills in real fieldwork. Father understands."

Joren, arms folded, gave Rannen a firm pat on the shoulder. "You'll do well, son. Just remember to visit." Pride mingled with fatherly concern in his gaze.

Kael forced a small smile and stepped forward. He wanted to offer something. "Here," he said softly, handing Rannen a small iron pendant he'd forged the previous evening—etched with a protective rune. "For luck… in case you face awakened beasts or… anything."

Rannen blinked, touched by the gesture. "Thanks, Kael. Keep practicing that swordwork. Next time we spar, I expect you to be even better."

They embraced briefly. Then Rannen slung his pack over one shoulder, waved to the orchard staff, and made his way down the dirt road leading away from the orchard. Kael watched until the figure vanished in a haze of late-summer heat. Be safe out there, brother.

An Ominous Trace

Late that evening, as the orchard settled into twilight calm, Kael roamed along the orchard's outer rows. Something about Rannen's departure had left him uneasy, as though the orchard's faint illusions of safety might crumble. The drifting scents of ripe apples and dusty earth filled the warm air. He let his synergy senses rove, scanning for anything unusual.

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Near the orchard's southern fence, he paused—his pulse quickening. In the dirt, next to a fence post, was a half-buried scrap of cloth. At first glance, it looked like a piece of old sack. But on closer inspection, Kael noticed faint runic traces—a swirl of Ebony ink. This wasn't here yesterday.

He crouched, peeling it free from the soil. At the edges, tiny runic scribbles flickered with leftover mana. Is this part of a sabotage device? Or an unactivated talisman? The orchard had no reason to place such a thing. A chill settled over him.

Just then, footsteps crunched behind him. He slipped the cloth scrap into his tunic pocket and turned, heart thumping. It was Rowan, lantern in hand. "Kael? What are you doing out here?"

Kael forced calm. "Just… looking around. You mentioned we should keep watch." He kept the cloth hidden. Until he understood what it was, caution seemed wise.

Rowan nodded. "True, can't be too careful. Head back soon, though. It's nearly dark."

Kael murmured agreement, letting Rowan pass by. Once alone, he exhaled slowly, the cloth's runic lines burning in his mind. I'll examine this in private. He felt certain it signaled the orchard's troubles weren't fully over.

Quiet Inquiry in the Barn

Long after the orchard had gone to sleep, Kael lit a single candle in the barn loft. He laid the cloth scrap on a small worktable, rummaging for his magnifying lens. By focusing faint Light synergy, he coaxed the runic ink to glow a dull purple.

The scribbles appeared to be part of a greater formation, now torn. Kael recognized swirling patterns reminiscent of puppet runes—techniques used to coerce beasts into aggression or to trigger forced awakening under certain conditions. He'd glimpsed similar methods in the orchard's sabotage problem weeks back.

So, a fragment of a device meant to incite awakened aggression? Perhaps they planted it at night. Even though the orchard staff believed sabotage had ceased, Kael's discovery suggested the saboteur or an accomplice remained at large.

He frowned. Who left this? Did they fail to activate it, or was it placed as a test?

Regardless, the orchard's illusions might not deter this threat alone. I need to fortify the orchard's wards further—or find some means to track the saboteur's runic signature.

He recalled Gethran, the traveling scholar with suspicious knowledge, and the older forced-awakening ruin. The puzzle pieces loomed ominously in his mind. So many threads. I must tread carefully.

Pushing Limits

Despite the midnight hour, Kael felt adrenaline coursing through him. He decided to harness that energy for training—narrowing his synergy focus on the forging corner. He rummaged for a leftover iron disc, intending to experiment with runic detection lines that might sense the presence of puppet runes.

He heated the disc in the forge's low embers and hammered lightly, each blow forging subtle channels for synergy. At intervals, he'd pause to inscribe runes referencing detection arrays—the concept was advanced, usually taught to older apprentices or second-year Academy students. But his Sage's Insight let him glean enough to try an amateur adaptation.

As his mana poured in, sweat trickled down his brow. The orchard's hush pressed close. Sparks danced off the forging iron, and the runes glowed faintly with Earth synergy mixed with a trace of Air.

His arms trembled by the time he finished forging the basic shape. This is rough, but if it can pick up on puppet runes or forced-awakening arrays within a few yards, it'll be worthwhile. He set the iron disc to cool, slumping with exhaustion. No immediate breakthroughs blossomed—just the slow burn of incremental progress. I'll refine this tomorrow.

An Unexpected Sighting

Sleep eluded him, so Kael ventured outside again, forging disc in hand. The orchard lay draped in moonlight, shadows stretching across silent rows of trees. Crickets chirped softly. He moved carefully along the fence line, letting the disc rest lightly on his palm.

At first, nothing. Then, near the orchard's southwestern corner, the disc vibrated faintly. Kael's heart quickened. The orchard's illusions shimmered on fence posts a short distance away, but the disc's reaction suggested some kind of foreign rune presence lingered beyond. Is it the saboteur? A leftover device?

He crouched, creeping toward the fence. A flicker of movement beyond the orchard boundary caught his eye—a shape in dark robes, slipping between shrubs. Kael's illusions must have partially obscured the orchard's interior from that figure's vantage, but the figure seemed determined, scanning for a break in the fence.

Kael's pulse hammered. I could confront them… but it might be risky. No orchard guard was in sight. If he raised an alarm, the intruder would likely flee. Meanwhile, the disc quivered more strongly—clearly picking up runic traces akin to the scrap of cloth. This figure was no random traveler.

But Kael reined in his instincts. I can't risk a direct battle. Let's see if they depart. He sank lower behind a crate, staff in hand. Through the fence slats, he watched as the robed person fiddled with something in their hand—a small talisman? They tapped it, presumably trying to activate an awakening effect.

However, the illusions on the fence posts shimmered; the intruder seemed confused, stepping forward then back as if losing sense of direction. The illusions are working, Kael noted with satisfaction. Ultimately, the figure cursed under their breath and retreated into the darkness.

Once certain the saboteur was gone, Kael let out a shaky exhale. No confrontation this time. But they'd be back. And now I have proof the orchard remains a target. The tension in his chest both relieved and worried him. The illusions had held, but for how long?

Returning Resolve

Kael returned to the barn. He hid the detection disc under a loose board, deciding to refine it further in daylight. Fatigue tugged at him, yet his mind raced with possibilities. The saboteur's presence meant orchard sabotage was not over. We must remain vigilant—maybe even fortify the orchard's wards more robustly. Or find who's supporting these saboteurs.

He dared not mention the late-night sighting openly just yet. If word spread, the saboteur might escalate or vanish entirely. Best to gather more evidence, quietly informing Rowan or Joren when the time was right. I should also check with the reeve discreetly, or maybe see if that traveling mage who noticed my potential is still around…

At last, as the orchard's quiet hours slipped by, Kael lay down on the barn loft's makeshift bedding, heart still thudding. Danger loomed closer than most orchard folk realized. But he would stand ready with illusions, synergy forging, and cunning to protect this place.

Status Window

Name: Kael Ashborne

Age: 6 (Approaching 7)

Talent: SSS (Hidden)

Core Grade: Red (Awakened in secret)

Level: 10EXP: 520 / 1600(No additional beasts defeated, no new experiences for leveling.)

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 moonlight painted drifting shadows across the barn rafters as Kael's eyes finally closed in restless slumber. Soon, dawn would break again, and with it came the promise of more forging, more cautious patrols, and a deeper dive into the orchard's hidden threats. And Kael, armed with cunning, synergy, and a fierce protective drive, would not relent until the orchard truly stood secure—or until the day his quiet genius carried him far beyond these orchard rows, into a grander world where even greater perils awaited.