Beneath Grey, the golden pool rippled and churned, its once-radiant glow beginning to shift. It wasn’t flowing outward, wasn’t being directed anywhere—it was changing.

At first, the alteration was subtle. The golden hue faded, tinged with an eerie green that darkened with every passing second. What had once been warm and brilliant now condensed into something dense, something unnatural. The glow deepened into a dark, ghoulish sheen, pulsating ominously.

Then, from the very center of the shifting pool, a single drop formed.

Grey watched, transfixed, as the drop detached and flowed seamlessly along one of the many golden vines branching from the tree. This one, he realized, was connected to Serene.

The energy traveled through the link, visible to Grey the entire time, weaving through the golden threads before finally reaching her orb. He expected the sphere to grow in size, as had happened with every other connection. But it didn’t.

Instead, the core of Serene’s orb—once a steady red glow—flared violently. It expanded outward, stretching almost to the very edge of the sphere, its intensity magnified several times over.

Serene’s breath hitched. A sudden surge of energy exploded within her, raw and powerful, as if it had been lying dormant and had just been awakened.

Tear, sitting nearby and focused on carving an arrow under Carver’s watchful eye, immediately noticed the change. “What’s wrong?” she asked, pausing her work.

Serene stared down at her hands, squeezing them experimentally. Strength pulsed through her veins—fierce, untamed, but undeniably hers. It wasn’t unfamiliar, yet it had never been like this before.

She forced herself to relax and looked at Tear, then at her father, who had also turned his attention toward her, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

“I–it’s nothing,” Serene murmured, shaking her head. She sat back down, forcing herself to focus on her unfinished arrow. Compared to Tear’s pristine work, hers was rough, lacking the precision that seemed to coe so naturally to the young girl.

Carver sighed, leaning back against the wall as he watched her. “Serene,” he said, shaking his head with a smirk. “I can’t believe I ever resisted you becoming a hunter.”

Serene raised an eyebrow. “Meaning?”

“Nothing,” Carver muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Just thinking about passing my legacy to this one here.” He ruffled Tear’s hair, making the girl giggle as she playfully swatted his hand away.

“You mean it?” Tear asked excitedly, her eyes shining.

Carver’s expression turned serious, though the warmth in his gaze didn’t fade. “Of course. You’ve got a talent for this. You might be the only person in the whole village to have three occupations.”

Tear’s jaw dropped slightly, awed by the idea. Carver’s words only fueled her focus as she doubled down on her work, carving with even more precision.

Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Carver grinned and glanced at Serene. “I mean, she’s gonna be family anyway.”

Serene froze mid-motion, her thoughts grinding to a halt. A slow, creeping heat crawled up her neck, betraying her despite her best efforts to remain composed. She quickly stood, muttering something under her breath before turning to Tear with a small smile.

“I’ll be back in a sec,” she said, ignoring her father’s smirk as she made her escape into the next room, where her mother was.

Carver simply chuckled, returning his attention to Tear, who was still too focused on her work to grasp what had just happened.

Serene froze, A slow, creeping heat crawled up her neck as she quickly stood, muttering something under her breath before heading to the next room to spend time with her mother, only smiling at Tear, “I’ll be back in a sec.” and ignoring her smirking father.

Grey stood at the base of the radiant tree, the swirling lights around him casting shifting shadows across his visage. He had appeared next to Serene’s orb only moments ago, witnessing the shift firsthand.

“Incredible…” he muttered, his voice laced with awe. His newfound ability.

Serene was just a step away from transformation. One more push, and she would undergo a trial, just as he and the others had before her.

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Grey’s fingers curled slightly, excitement mixing with apprehension.

The next moment, his eyes snapped open, and he practically leaped out of the now-empty cauldron.

“Elder!” Grey shouted, his voice brimming with urgency.

Elder, who had been scribbling notes, turned abruptly, his aged eyes widening at Grey’s sudden burst of energy. “What is it?”

Grey took a deep breath, struggling to contain his exhilaration. “My abilities—my connections—” He exhaled sharply before continuing, his words spilling out in a rush. “I don’t just increase talent. I can increase the level of aura!”

Elder’s expression shifted from surprise to something deeper—awe, realization, and a trace of fear. “Are you certain?”

Grey nodded vigorously. “I confirmed it. When I connected to so many villagers, something changed. Then, I just… could do it.” His hands clenched into fists, as if reliving the sensation.

Elder stared at him for a long moment. Grey’s power was already fate-bending—but now? How many could he raise with him? How far could he elevate the people of this village?

After a pause, Elder spoke, his tone measured. “And what about the trials?”

Grey blinked, thrown off by the question. “What do you mean?”

Elder’s gaze sharpened. “If you can raise their aura… can you guide them through their trials? Can you help them survive transformation?”

A realization struck Grey like a cold wind.

Even if he could empower his people… could he ensure they survived the change?

“I—I don’t know,” Grey muttered, his excitement now laced with hesitation.

Elder nodded, as if coming to a decision. “Then we’ll test it. Forget the others for now. Focus on me. I am close to transforming soon according to you. Increase my talent by just enough, then I will attempt it.”

Grey’s eyes widened. “But if I can’t—”

“I know the risk, Grey.” Elder cut him off, his voice steady, resolute. “I have already lived through generations. If my life can be used to help our people…” He paused, then let out a quiet chuckle. “And who knows, maybe I’ll recover my old strength and teach my descendants a lesson.”

Grey clenched his jaw, torn between reluctance and duty.

Elder gave him a reassuring nod. “This is not necessarily certain death. Maybe you can guide me through my trial. And if you can… then you can help everyone.”

Grey took a deep breath, staring into the old man’s unwavering gaze.

Then, slowly, he nodded.

“Good,” Elder said. “Why don’t you confirm with Aedric when the plan to leave is?”

He handed Grey a palm-sized piece of parchment along with something to write with. “Write it down here. I’ll inform the others once I return. I need to finish compiling the list of names first.”

With newfound vigor, Elder resumed his task, his quill scratching against the parchment with renewed purpose. Now, even those with no talent or only the faintest traces of Giant lineage might have a chance to defend the village alongside those who could break through their shackles.

Grey took the materials and headed out, waving as he left. “I’ll see if I can visit tomorrow,” he called over his shoulder before rushing toward Elder’s home.

When he entered, he was surprised to find himself greeted by Keen before spotting Leora or Aedric.

Keen sighed in relief at the sight of him. “Oh, good, I was hoping you’d come by.” He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. “I really have no talent for communicating with these two. Can you ask them when I have to send my daughter off exactly?”

Grey smiled. “That’s actually why I came.”

Keen relief still evident, the two walked into an adjoining room. Inside, Leora sat in quiet meditation while Aedric stood nearby, watching over her like a silent sentinel.

Aedric noticed Grey first, straightening slightly. “Grey? Good timing. Can you help me talk to this man? I’m not great at communicating with him.”

Grey blinked, dumbfounded.

He glanced between the two men, realization dawning. “Maybe you two would actually get along well if you understood each other.”

Both Keen and Aedric frowned and, in perfect unison, asked, “Really, why?”

Leora, hearing the conversation, shifted in her seated position before finally opening her eyes. “Is something wrong?” she asked, her voice calm.

Grey chuckled, shaking his head. “No, I just wanted more information about when we leave. That’s what Keen wanted, too.” He gestured toward Keen, who nodded in confirmation.

Aedric raised a hand to his chin, deep in thought. “I hate to rush you all, but there have been some oddities with the device. I’d like to leave tomorrow night.”

Although Grey had expected to leave soon, the words still made his heart jump. “Th—thank you. I’ll tell everyone.”

He stepped to the side, quickly jotting down the details on the small parchment before handing it to Keen. “Make sure Elder gets this… Also, we’re leaving tomorrow night.”

Keen let out a quiet sigh, sadness flickering across his face before he nodded helplessly. “It feels a little early.”

“They said there’s something strange with their return mechanisms. I’m sure they’re just trying to be safe,” Grey replied.

“It can’t be helped, then.” Keen exhaled, his voice steady, but there was an unmistakable weight behind it. “Getting you all out safely is the highest priority.” He hesitated for a moment, the silence lingering between them as they walked to the door. Then, just as Grey reached for the handle, Keen spoke again.

“Watch out for her. For everyone.”

Grey met his gaze, unwavering. “Of course.”

With that, he stepped outside, leaving Keen behind. The night air was crisp, the village quiet beneath the dim glow of scattered lanterns.

He took a breath, steadying himself.

Tomorrow night.

Then, without another word, he jogged off toward Serene’s home.