The morning light filtered through the windows of the house, gently spilling across Lisai's face. She was seated at the table, her eyes fixed on the teacup before her, the steam rising in lazy spirals.

Across from her sat Maryuli, the young woman's face etched with sorrow and exhaustion. She had come to bring news, but from her demeanor, Lisai knew it wasn't good.

"It's about Aneiti," Maryuli began, her words barely above a whisper. "She... she didn't return from the expedition."

Lisai felt her heart clench. Aneiti, the wise midwife who had helped bring her children into the world, who had been a constant source of support and guidance... it couldn't be.

"What happened?" she managed to ask, dreading the answer.

Maryuli swallowed hard, fighting back tears. "The Gladrarians, those mage-hunting beasts. They ambushed the group. By the time they were found, it was too late. There was nothing but bones and... and Aneiti's robes, torn and stained with blood."

A sob escaped Lisai's lips. The Gladrarians were known for their way of savagely rending their prey, for their blood lust. The thought of gentle, loving Aneiti at the mercy of those monsters...

"She was so eager to see Kvolt and Nessa again," Maryuli continued, her words thick. "To see how they were growing up. Kvolt especially, she spoke of him with such affection..."

Lisai nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. Aneiti had been one of the few to not judge her son, to see beyond the circumstances of his birth.

"Before she left," Maryuli said softly, "Aneiti gave me a recommendation, someone very important to me as well. In case she didn't return. A shaman, living in the Penumbra Forest to the west of the village. He could help, with any ailing, and perhaps even improve Nessa's condition somewhat."

Lisai raised an eyebrow, surprised and a little skeptical. "A shaman? I didn't think there were any so close; I thought they were just stories to scare children."

Maryuli shook her head. "No, he just doesn't like much attention. And Thallru, the shaman Aneiti spoke of... he was my mentor in the literary arts, many years ago. He is wise and powerful, respected by all who know him."

Lisai bit her lip, uncertain. The idea of taking her children to see a shaman, someone who communed with spirits... it seemed risky.

"I don't know, Maryuli," Lisai whispered, wringing her hands in her lap. "Henry is away, and the idea of leaving the house, of taking the children off into the unknown..."

Maryuli reached out, covering Lisai's hands with her own. "I understand your fear, Lisai. But think of this as an opportunity. A chance to perhaps, just maybe, lift the burden you carry."

But then she thought of Kvolt, his unnatural intelligence, he had been helping her a lot caring for the house in her husband's absence, even at just six years old, but she also remembered her little Nessa, she was growing up and slowly taking on her son's rebellious ways, she wanted to play, run, smile.

Lisai wouldn't be a good mother if she didn't do what was necessary to help her children.

"I can take you to him," Maryuli offered, sensing her hesitation. "I hired some mercenaries to accompany me while I was coming from the capital. You would be safe."

Lisai took a deep breath, making her decision. "Alright. We'll go."

Maryuli's face lit up with a small smile. "You're making the right choice, Lisai. I know it."

Lisai prayed she was right.

---

"We're going to visit a shaman," Lisai told Kvolt, watching his reaction closely.

The boy's eyes went wide. "A shaman? What's that?"

"It's someone who communicates with spirits," Lisai explained. "Someone who can... who can help with things that are beyond our understanding."

Kvolt's face broke into a broad grin. "So it's like a Gifted?"

Lisai felt a chill run down her spine at that word. "No, not like a Gifted. Shamans are different. They... they help people."

Kvolt caught the hesitation in her voice, but didn't show it. He simply nodded, looking pensive. "When are we going?"

"Tomorrow morning," Lisai replied. "Pack your things. It will be a long journey."

Kvolt's smile stretched from ear to ear, finally he would get to experience something of this world... leaving this small farm was all his mind craved.

---

The Penumbra Forest was a dense place, where the light of the twin stars struggled to penetrate the thick canopy. Lisai kept Nessa close as they followed Maryuli and her mercenaries along the narrow trail, her heart racing with anticipation of the unknown.

Kvolt was completely at ease. He walked alongside Maryuli, firing questions at a dizzying pace.

"Do you know how to do magic?" he asked, studying the woman intently.

Maryuli laughed, shaking her head. "No, young Kvolt. I do not have the gift of magic like the Gifted do. But I do have some runes that allow me to cast minor spells, for protection and healing."

Kvolt's eyes went wide. This world was crazier than he had thought. He couldn't contain his interest.

"Runes? What are runes? And how does one become a Gifted mage? Where do they live? Do they have a leader?"

Maryuli held up her hands in a gesture of surrender, still chuckling.

"Calm, calm! One question at a time. Runes are special stones inscribed with symbols, imbued with power. They can be used to channel and direct magical energy. Besides the Gifted having the ability to cast spells without need for an external focus, runes can also be used by those known as Inepts, like myself, who have magic running in our blood but cannot tap into it."

She paused, considering Kvolt's other questions. "As for mages, it is a long and arduous process to become one. They train for years, even decades, at special academies scattered across Arcanis Evernus. And yes, they do have a leader, the Archmage, who governs all the Arcanis people, including us, Kvolt. The Archmage is the most powerful and perhaps wisest mage of all, chosen to lead and guide the others."

Kvolt absorbed all this information, his keen mind already cataloging every detail for future reference.

"Kvolt, that's enough," Lisai said, perhaps more sharply than she intended. "Stop pestering Maryuli with so many questions."

Then she sighed, softening her tone. "Sorry, Maryuli. He can be a little... persistent at times."

Kvolt looked at her, shrugging it off completely.

Maryuli waved away her apologies. "No need to apologize. It's natural for a child to be curious. And Kvolt... well, he has a mind like I've never seen before. His thirst for knowledge is something to be nurtured, not suppressed."

Kvolt grew pensive. Gifted, Mages, Archmages... runes. Fate had blessed him by casting him into this world. Perhaps... even other races beyond humans. Who knows, maybe there was a pretty elf lass waiting for him out there somewhere.

The crunch of twigs underfoot and the occasional flutter of wings as a bird was disturbed from its perch echoed through the forest as the travelers made their way.

"Maryuli," he fired off suddenly. "You mentioned before that the Gifted are those who can actively wield magic. But where exactly do they fit into the hierarchy of this world?"

Maryuli blinked, slightly surprised at the astuteness of the question. She flashed a quick look at Lisai, who nodded reluctantly, as if giving permission to proceed.

"It's a very good question, Kvolt," Maryuli responded after a moment. "The Gifted occupy an elevated status in Arcanis Evernus, seen as blessed with the gift of magic."

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As they walked, Kvolt could hear the distant sounds of the mercenaries pushing aside branches and clearing debris from the path ahead. He focused intently on Maryuli's words.

"At the top of the hierarchy are the Gifted themselves," she went on. "Those born with the spark of magic within them, able to cast spells and shape reality with their will. It is they who rule this land, dictating laws and policies through the Arcane Council."

Kvolt nodded, drinking in the information with an eager mind. He made a gesture for Maryuli to continue.

"Below the Gifted are the Inepts, like myself," she said, gesturing to herself. ". We are still considered superior to the Deprived ones and accepted as brethren by the Gifted for at least having the magic running through our veins."

Her voice took on a somber tone as she mentioned the last class. "The Deprived ones... they possess no magic at all, not a spark of the arcane flame. As such, they are seen as inferior, condemned to lives of servitude and poverty."

Kvolt nodded, processing this information. An entire society stratified based on something as arbitrary as innate magical ability. He couldn't help but wonder where he himself would fit into this rigid system, would be accepted as a Gifted? He held his curiosity tongue from revealing anything.

He soon opened his mouth to ask more questions, but was distracted by an excited shout from Nessa.

"Look, Mama!" Nessa exclaimed, pointing at a blue-winged butterfly hovering over a flower. "Isn't it pretty?"

She pointed with glee at every new wonder she saw - the colorful wildflowers blooming from the rich forest floor, the towering trees with their canopy forming a roof above their heads, the exotic birds that twittered and darted from branch to branch. Even the small creatures scurrying through the underbrush seemed to delight her endlessly.

As the group made their way along the narrow trail, Kvolt walked with confident strides, his short legs eating up the ground. He was lost in thought, his mind whirling with the possibilities this encounter with the shaman could bring.

Suddenly, he felt a presence at his side. It was Nessa again, her clumsy but determined steps as she struggled to keep up with her younger brother's pace.

"Hey, little brother!" she called out, a wide grin plastered across her freckled face, her red hair bouncing. "I'm gonna protect you, just like Dad does with Mama and us!"

Kvolt looked at her, one eyebrow raised in amusement. Nessa was taller than him, her eight-year-old frame already showing signs of the strength and resilience that would carry her through life.

"Oh yeah?" he responded, a mischievous smile playing at his lips. "And how do you plan on doing that, big sister?"

Nessa puffed out her chest, her eyes shining with pride. "I'm older and bigger!" she declared. "I can handle anything that tries to hurt you!"

Kvolt couldn't help but laugh.

"But you're so small!" Nessa went on, scrutinizing Kvolt from head to toe. "How can you be so brave? I'm scared of everything, but you don't seem afraid of anything!"

Kvolt shrugged, the gesture strange on his six-year-old frame. "I guess I'm just confident," he said, winking at her.

Nessa laughed, the sound echoing through the forest. "Tell me a story, little brother!" she pleaded, bouncing at his side. "You know so many things! How can you be so smart, even though you're younger than me? Mama says you're special. That you know things most children don't know. Is that why you're so clever, even though you're younger than me?"

Kvolt smiled, a strange warmth blooming in his chest. He was starting to become fond of this cheerful girl fate had given him as a sister.

"Alright," he agreed, casting his mind back to the countless tales he had read in his previous life. "Have you ever heard of the Lone Knight?"

As he spun the tale, Nessa drank in every word, her eyes growing wide with wonder. Every now and then, she would interject with a question or exclamation.

"When I grow up," she declared during a pause in the story, "I want to be strong like that warrior and Dad! I want to learn how to fight and protect people, like he does!"

"I'm sure you will," he replied, and found that he really wanted to believe that. "You can do anything you set your mind to, big sister."

Perhaps in some near future he would discover a magic that could cure Nessa's frailties.

Nessa beamed, and for a moment, it was as if their differences didn't matter - they were just brother and sister.

A reluctant fondness for the girl walking beside him. He hadn't asked for this second chance at life, this strange and imperfect family.

Yet, it was possible he could learn to accept them all the same.

And then, night fell upon the forest, Kvolt helped set up camp.

He watched Nessa struggle with her bedroll, her movements clumsy with her missing arm. Without a word, he moved to assist her, his small but capable hands tying knots and securing the taut fabric until it was tense and secure.

Nessa smiled at him, gratitude and love in her brown eyes.

"Thank you, little brother," she whispered, hugging him briefly before ducking into the makeshift tent with Lisai.

Kvolt stood there for a moment, staring off into the middle distance. This young body, these emotions - it was all still so strange to him.

A faint voice in his mind pulled him from his reverie.

"Kvolt," Aurora said. "I have finally completed my analysis of the night sky, the database having amassed sufficient observational records to provide reliable and reasonable information. The results may be of interest to you."

He settled himself by the campfire, gazing into the flickering flames. "Tell me," Kvolt sent the thought, eager for the distraction from complexities.

"As you know, I spent a significant amount of time making detailed astronomical observations," Aurora explained. "Photometry, comparisons of structural clustering, stellar parallax - I employed every method my databases contain, despite not having 100% precision due to lack of modern equipment and my ability to measure stellar parallax and other factors being limited by our fixed position, as well as the capabilities of my sensors, but the observed variations are sufficient to indicate a significant discrepancy."

She paused, as if gathering her thoughts. "Kvolt, this night sky...it does not match anything I have on record from Earth. After performing photometric measurements and cataloging the apparent positions, absolute magnitudes, and emission spectra of 4,523 individual stars, I did not find a correspondence with any of the 88 recognized constellations in Earth's databases."

Kvolt frowned, poking at the embers with a stick. Being confronted with yet more evidence of just how far he was from home... it never ceased to be disquieting.

"But surely there must be some similarities?" he questioned. "Stars are stars, no matter where you are, right?"

"In principle, yes," Aurora agreed. "The fundamental laws of physics - gravitation, electromagnetism...they seem to remain constant. But, observe the third star in the hourglass-like constellation - its pulsation patterns of brightness do not follow any of the established formulae for Cepheid or RR Lyrae variables."

Kvolt located the star in question, watching its pulsing light. Now that Aurora mentioned it, there was something hypnotic and almost unnatural about its cadence.

She projected a hologram in his mind to provide further details. Kvolt studied the image, his brain struggling to make sense of the information.

"And there's more," Aurora added, bringing up another set of data. "I've detected fluctuations in the gravitational constant that should not be possible. It's as if gravity itself is...rippling, for lack of a better term. Flexing and distorting in subtle but measurable ways."

She pulled up some complex equations, the symbols and numbers swirling in a blur. "These anomalies seem to be related to concentrations of magical energy in the environment. As if the presence of mana itself is somehow mediating the gravitational force, introducing elements of uncertainty into what should be the most constant of constants."

Kvolt mused, perhaps he wasn't even in the same universe. The presence of magic and Vitalis could indicate an entirely different dimension.

And if... he shook his head in denial after a thought occurred. And if he was hallucinating all of this? Still trapped in that hospital bed in a schizophrenic c oma, having risked the brain implant procedure.

He took a deep breath, staring off into the distance for a long while, lost in the sea of thoughts, only rising when Lisai called him to sleep.

---

They trekked for hours, stopping only briefly to rest and refuel. The twin stars were beginning to set when they finally reached their destination - a small stone cottage nestled on a low bluff, sheltered by ancient trees and surrounded by a low wooden fence, tucked into a small peak in the forest.

As they approached, they were greeted by the sounds of barks and bleats - a pack of guard dogs roamed the premises, along with some goats and chickens that scratched and grazed in the yard.

The door swung open and a man emerged. He was old, his face weathered and hair graying, but his gaze seemed deep. He wore garments that reminded Kvolt of illustrations he had seen of tribal men - a cloak of furs, necklaces of teeth and bones.

But it was his eyes that most captured Kvolt's attention - dark and piercing, seeming to contain centuries of wisdom and secrets.

This was like being inside Lord of the Rings. An old, sage-like man who had many revelations to share. Kvolt couldn't contain his eagerness.

Thallru raised a hand in greeting as they neared, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "Maryuli, my dear pupil. It has been too long."

Maryuli bowed respectfully before her former mentor. "Indeed, Thallru. Far too long. I wish this visit occurred under happier circumstances."

Thallru's smile took on a melancholic tinge. "Yes, I heard about Aneiti. A great loss. She will be deeply missed."

His gaze then turned to Lisai, and something in his expression shifted - a hardening around his eyes, a tension in his jaw.

"You," he said, his voice low but carrying an undeniable weight. "You are dangerous."

Lisai recoiled as if slapped, shock and indignation warring within her. "Excuse me? I have never..."

Maryuli intervened quickly, placing a placating hand on Lisai's arm. "Thallru, please. Lisai is a dear friend. She has come seeking your aid, not your condemnation."

Thallru held Lisai's gaze for one tense moment before finally nodding, the rigidity in his posture easing somewhat. "My apologies. Sometimes I speak without thinking. Please, come inside. Let us talk there."

He ushered them into the dwelling, which was spacious inside, heavy with the scent of dried herbs and incense smoke. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with jars, vials, scrolls, and bundles of herbs, while amulets hung from exposed beams.

Thallru indicated some floor cushions for them to sit on and lowered himself across from them, his movements fluid and graceful despite his advanced age.

His gaze fell on Nessa first, and his face softened.

"Come here, child," he called gently. "Let me have a look at you."

Nessa looked to Lisai, who nodded in encouragement. The girl walked to the shaman, her steps hesitant but brave.

He examined her carefully, his soft hands tracing the lines of her face, the contours of her withered arm. He murmured words in a tongue Kvolt didn't recognize, his eyes closed in concentration.

Thallru studied Nessa for a long moment, his dark eyes scrutinizing every detail of her appearance. Nessa, to her credit, met his gaze unflinchingly, a small crease of curiosity forming between her brows.

Finally, Thallru leaned back, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "Well, I can tell that your daughter is indeed a normal, healthy girl, Lisai. Her infirmities are purely physical, not spiritual or magical in nature. Regrettably, they are beyond my power to heal."

Lisai nodded, a mixture of relief and disappointment coursing through her. Part of her had hoped for... what? A miracle? A magical cure that would fix everything that was wrong in Nessa's life?

But then Thallru's eyes turned to Kvolt, and all the air seemed to be sucked from the room. The old shaman stared at the boy, his expression one of awestruck trepidation.