A month had passed since Marcus had left, and Faith’s worry had grown heavier with each passing day. Raul often caught her pacing the house or staring into the distance.

Now, they stood in a long, winding line outside the village chief’s residence. The warm morning sun shone down on Viswall, but the atmosphere was tense.

Families gathered with their children, chattering anxiously as they waited their turn to prove their kids’ magical worth.

The village chief had announced a royal decree: the kingdom had lowered the entry age for mage training. Any child who could demonstrate magical talent would be trained for free by a kingdom-appointed mage.

For Faith, it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. She glanced down at Raul, her face a mix of concern and determination. She had been forcing herself to remain strong for her boy , though something told her that Raul had already seen through her act. His maturity was unnerving at times, even for her.

“This could be good for you,” she said softly, but her tone lacked its usual energy. Her mind was clearly elsewhere.

Raul tugged at her sleeve. “Mom, are you okay?”

Faith blinked, forcing a smile. “I’m fine, sweetheart. Let’s focus on this. It’s a big opportunity.”

The line moved slowly, inching forward. Raul, still small because of his physical age, struggled to see past the adults and taller kids ahead of him.

The courtyard of the chief’s residence was bustling with activity, but the raised platform where the mage was testing children remained out of sight.

When they finally reached the front of the line, Raul squinted up at the figure on the platform—and his jaw dropped.

The mage was a girl, no older than fifteen, with the unmistakable features of an elf.

She had striking green eyes that gleamed with intelligence and long silver hair that shimmered like moonlight. Her ears were delicately pointed, peeking out from under her hair. She wore robes of deep emerald green, intricately embroidered with golden runes, and her calm yet commanding presence made her seem far older than her years.

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Faith leaned closer to Raul. “That’s an elf,” she whispered. She knew that her son had only been exposed to humans , the only race present in their village.

Raul’s heart raced. This was his first time seeing an elf since reincarnation, and she was nothing like he’d imagined.

The elf mage’s voice cut through the noise, smooth and precise. “Next,” she called, her tone neutral. She looked down and smiled at Raul.

Faith gave Raul a gentle push forward, whispering, “Do your best.”

Her hands lingered on his shoulders for a moment, as if she didn’t want to let him go. Raul could feel her anxiety, though she tried to hide it.

As Raul and Faith stood at the front of the line, a ripple of recognition moved through the crowd. Whispers began spreading, voices hushed but still loud enough to reach Faith’s ears.

“That’s Marcus’s wife and kid,” someone murmured.

“Marcus? You mean the adventurer who disappeared a month ago?”

“Yeah. Poor woman... he’s probably dead, killed by monsters out there.”

A knot formed in Raul’s stomach. He glanced at his mother, but Faith remained composed, her face calm and serene.

“What will they do now?” another voice added. “She doesn’t have a job in the village. How’s she going to take care of that boy?”

“Maybe that’s why she’s here,” someone else chimed in. “This program’s free. No fees. She’s probably hoping the elf will take pity on him.”

Raul’s cheeks burned. He clenched his fists, staring at the platform where the elf mage stood.

“Look at him—so little. What can a child like that even do? She’s probably just desperate.”

“Let’s hope the elf is kind enough to let him pass, no matter how bad he is. That family’s been through enough.”

Faith, having heard every word, knelt beside Raul and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Hey,” she said softly, her calm smile never wavering. “Everything will be okay. Just do your best, sweetheart.”

Her voice was steady, but Raul could see the faint flicker of pain in her eyes. She wasn’t as unaffected as she seemed.

Raul took a deep breath, the sting of the crowd’s pity fueling a growing fire inside him.

He wasn’t going to let them see him as some helpless kid. More importantly, he wasn’t going to let them pity his mother. She had been strong for him every day since his father left, and now it was his turn to return the favor.

He had been modifying the code for Chimming Winds to make it more efficient and reduce manna consumption. It had taken weeks of trial and error, but he’d finally perfected it. He hadn’t told Faith yet, wanting to surprise her.

This was the perfect moment to prove everyone wrong and make her proud.

“I’m ready,” he said, his voice steady.