The scent of fresh herbs filled the small wooden cabin, mixing with the warmth of the fire crackling softly in the hearth. The morning light poured through the window, casting golden streaks across the wooden table where Lilith was preparing breakfast.

Lioren sat nearby, watching in silence as she moved with practiced ease, slicing through ingredients with a small, ornate dagger.

But something was strange.

She wasn’t cutting the food.

She was dismantling it.

Each time the dagger passed over an ingredient, it didn’t just split in half. It came apart completely, breaking down into fine, dust-like particles before reforming into perfect slices. It was as if the food had simply ceased to exist for a moment, before realigning itself in the exact shape she intended.

Lioren frowned slightly.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Lilith smiled without looking up.

"Preparing breakfast," she said lightly.

Lioren’s eyes narrowed. That wasn’t normal.

But before he could think too deeply about it, Lilith set the knife down and pushed a plate toward him.

"Eat," she said. "You still need to regain your strength."

Lioren hesitated briefly before picking up the knife himself. He turned it over in his hand. It felt normal. Just a simple kitchen tool.

He glanced at the small block of cheese on his plate.

Then, without thinking, he tried to do what she had just done.

He swiped the blade across it.

The cheese didn’t slice.

It unraveled.

Dust-like particles broke apart, then reformed instantly, as if reality itself had been adjusted for just a fraction of a second.

Lioren blinked.

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"Huh."

Then he heard it—

A sharp gasp.

He turned his head to see Lilith frozen mid-motion, her golden eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, slowly, she set her utensils down.

"Lioren," she said carefully, her voice softer than usual. "What did you just do?"

Lioren glanced at the cheese, then back at her.

"…Cut it?"

Lilith’s expression didn’t change.

"Do it again."

Lioren frowned but obeyed, bringing the knife down over another piece.

The cheese unraveled again, disassembling before reforming instantly.

Lilith stood up so quickly her chair nearly fell over.

She was in front of him in an instant, gripping his wrist with both hands, her fingers trembling slightly.

"Lioren…" Her voice was almost breathless. "How are you doing that?"

Lioren tensed at her reaction.

"What do you mean?" he asked carefully.

Lilith’s golden eyes locked onto his with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

"That isn’t something you can just do," she said slowly. "That was my ability."

Lioren stared at her.

Lilith took a deep breath, steadying herself before she slowly released his wrist.

"Abilities are unique, Lioren. They belong only to the person born with them. No one else can use them."

Her hands curled into fists at her sides.

"And yet, just now… you used mine."

Lioren exhaled slowly.

"I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to."

Lilith blinked, clearly caught off guard by his words.

She shook her head, still processing what she had seen.

"You… You weren’t even trying?"

"Not really," Lioren admitted. "I just saw you do it and thought I’d try."

Lilith let out a sharp breath and sat down, rubbing her temple as if trying to piece together something impossible.

Then, she went still.

Her golden eyes flickered with realization, and she slowly looked back up at him.

"No…" she whispered.

Lioren watched her carefully.

Lilith’s breath caught in her throat as she whispered, almost reverently—

"Your Soul Ability… it's called Perfect Copy."

The words sent a chill down Lioren’s spine.

"Perfect Copy?" he repeated.

Lilith nodded, still staring at him as if he were something unreal.

"You… You can copy any ability you witness. Instantly. Not partially. Not temporarily. Perfectly."

The room felt too quiet.

Lioren slowly set the knife down.

"That means…" He hesitated, trying to process it himself. "I can learn anything I see?"

Lilith exhaled, her expression unreadable.

"No, Lioren." She reached out, gently cupping his face between her hands.

"You don’t just learn it. You take it. You make it yours. As if it was always meant to be."

His chest tightened.

For the first time, he understood.

No limits. No restrictions. No boundaries.

He wasn’t just another magic user.

He was something else entirely.

Lilith’s golden eyes burned with emotion—not fear, but pride.

"You don’t understand how impossible this is."

Her breath was warm against his skin as she whispered:

"You could surpass every mage, every king, every god if you wanted to."

Lioren exhaled sharply.

His fate had changed.

And this time—he would not waste it.