Chapter 2: A Path Revealed

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow over the village of Darvan. The day of the Awakening Ceremony had come and gone, but the weight of it still pressed heavily on Kael’s mind. While most of the newly awakened youths celebrated with their families, basking in their new identities, Kael lay awake in his small room, staring at the wooden ceiling, unable to quiet the thoughts racing through his head.

He had hoped for something more. He had dreamed of waking up to an essence aptitude that would allow him to rise, to fight against the beasts that plagued the lands. Instead, he had awakened with Flicker, the lowest essence aptitude, and his talents—Sword at Flicker and Endurance at Spark—seemed just as unremarkable.

But there were the EX-ranked skills. God Eye and Copy & Evolve. Kael didn’t fully understand their significance yet, but something about them pulsed with untold potential. That thought alone gave him hope, even as the reality of his weak essence aptitude gnawed at him.

‘Flicker might be weak, but these skills… they could change everything.’

The following morning, Kael was up early. He couldn’t afford to waste time. The elder’s words still echoed in his mind—some paths may seem brighter than others, but it is how you walk them that defines you. If he was to walk this path, he would have to train harder than anyone else. His weak foundation meant he couldn’t rely on natural talent or aptitude; he would have to forge his strength through sheer effort and the unknown powers of his skills.

The village of Darvan had no real warriors, just guards sent by the baron to keep the peace and protect against any lesser beasts that wandered too close. Most of them were content with their posts, spending their days patrolling the quiet countryside or sparring in the village square. But Kael knew if he wanted to get stronger, he couldn’t rely on the village’s peaceful ways. He would have to seek out real danger.

Kael made his way to the outskirts of the village, where the forest loomed dark and thick, a place the villagers rarely ventured unless hunting small game. The forest was home to beasts, some stronger than others, but most were manageable by the baron’s knights.

Still, for someone like Kael—who had only just awakened his essence—the forest was no small challenge.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

As he walked, Kael’s thoughts returned to the abilities he had activated last night. He hadn’t felt any immediate changes after activating God Eye and Copy & Evolve, but he knew they were there, waiting to be used. The problem was, he had no idea how to use them. There had been no instructions, no guide, only the cold confirmation of their activation.

‘God Eye,’ Kael thought. ‘What is it supposed to do?’

He narrowed his eyes, focusing on a nearby tree as if trying to will the ability into action. Nothing happened. Frustrated, he tried again, this time focusing on the guard patrolling the village gate in the distance. Still nothing.

A wave of frustration began to build inside him. ‘How do I—’

Suddenly, the guard’s form shimmered, and Kael blinked in surprise. A faint outline appeared around the guard, highlighting him in a dull glow that only Kael could see. Within the glow, information began to surface, hovering just above the man’s head.

Name: Rolan

Essence Level: Pulse (Rank 2)

Talents:

— Spear Talent (Veil)

— Endurance Talent (Horizon)

Kael’s breath caught in his throat. It had worked. He could see Rolan’s essence level, his talents, even their aptitudes. The details were far clearer than anything Kael had ever heard of anyone being able to see. This wasn’t just basic information; it was like peering into the very soul of a person.

‘So, this is God Eye,’ Kael thought, his heart racing. He had barely scratched the surface of what this skill could do, but already he could see its value. He could assess anyone—whether friend or foe—and know exactly where their strengths and weaknesses lay.

Kael smiled grimly to himself. While his essence might be weak, God Eye gave him a way to plan and act with precision. Knowledge, as they said, was power.

But then his mind shifted to his other ability, Copy & Evolve. This skill was even more mysterious. From its name alone, Kael guessed that it allowed him to take the talents of others, but how? He had yet to figure out the specifics, and there was a dark implication to the idea of copying talents. Did he have to defeat someone in battle? Or worse, kill them?

His musings were interrupted by a sound in the distance—the unmistakable growl of a beast.

Kael’s body tensed, his instincts sharpening. The growl came from the forest, not far from where he stood. Without hesitation, he moved toward the sound, his hand already reaching for the basic iron sword strapped to his back. It wasn’t much, but it was all he had.

As he entered the treeline, the air grew cooler, and the smell of damp earth filled his lungs. The growling grew louder, more pronounced. His pulse quickened, and a surge of fear crept into his chest. He hadn’t faced a beast before, not like this. The knights usually handled anything dangerous that got too close to the village.

He crept through the underbrush until he spotted it—a feral wolf-like beast, its fur matted and dark. Its eyes glowed a menacing yellow as it circled a deer it had cornered against a tree. The beast’s teeth bared, saliva dripping from its snarling jaws.

Kael’s heart pounded, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. The beast was clearly stronger than him, but something inside him stirred. This was the moment to test his skills. To see if his awakening had truly given him an edge.

Summoning all his courage, Kael stepped forward, his sword raised. The beast snapped its head toward him, abandoning the deer in favor of this new prey. Its growl deepened, its body lowering into a crouch, ready to strike.

Kael braced himself as the beast lunged, his eyes narrowing. This is my first test, he thought.