The sounds of the market buzzed lively around them as they wandered through the labyrinth of stalls, each boasting exotic items, gleaming crystals, and fragrant herbs. Kai had been admiring a collection of ornately painted vases when a sudden pull—a feeling as deep as it was unexpected—captured his attention. He felt himself drawn to a small stall almost hidden between two much larger ones, as if it had been waiting just for him.

"Kai?" Lia's voice was tinged with concern, as she noticed his faraway look. "You okay?"

But Kai didn't respond. His legs seemed to move on their own, and he walked toward the stall, Lia and Aurelia behind him, watching every step he made. The things laid out were mostly trinkets: small carvings, old maps, and a scattering of half-broken jewelry. But in the mess, his eyes caught on a pendant, tarnished and cracked, yet glowing faintly in the dim light. His breath caught in his throat.

Behind him, Aurelia stiffened, her face a picture of shocked recognition. Her hand rose to cover her mouth, quivering as she stared at the pendant. Lia realized something was wrong and gently murmured, "Mother, what's the matter?"

Aurelia snapped back, her head shaking as if to clear her thoughts. "It's… nothing," she murmured, though her voice betrayed unease.

Being so unmindful of Aurelia's reaction, Kai asked the shopkeeper, "How much for the pendant?"

There was a spark in his eyes, which had caught the shopkeeper's attention. He was one of those who understood everything at a glance, yet it was not easy for them to sell anything to people they did not know well.

The shopkeeper let out a sly smile and replied, "Ah, you have a good eye. This is no ordinary trinket. For you, I'll part with it for… five silver."

Kai's face dropped as he knew he had not saved that much money anywhere in his pocket. "Five silver? But it's damaged."

"Damaged or not, it is a rare piece," argued the shopkeeper stubbornly, determined to wring every last coin out of Kai.

Just when Kai was about to turn around and walk away, Aurelia stepped forward, her face iron-set. Inside her robe, she fished out a small silver badge-the badge of the Alchemist Association. The shopkeeper's face paled.

"I think you'll find yourself willing to change the price," she said coolly, her voice one of authority.

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"Ah yes, of course, Master Alchemist," the man stuttered, hastily lowering his price. "For you, two copper is more than fair, I think."

Kai handed over the coins with his fingers trembling with a nervously touched search for the pendant. As his hand wrapped around it, a queer warmth began to seep into his skin; inside of him, his heart beat faster. Aurelia sat there, still closely watching, but said no word, though she eyed the pendant as if this were a long-lost relic.

It was already late dusk, the sun falling behind the horizon. Eldrin returned to the group with a serious face, unreadable. "It is late in the day. Let's find an inn for tonight," he said.

The inn was small, neat, dimly lit; the lanterns had burned down low, and freshly baked bread was wafted into the air from the oven. They were able to secure a quiet room on the second floor, and after an excellent meal, each settled down for the night. Lying there in the quiet, however, Kai's mind churned over the day's events like a storm. Finally, he rolled over to see Eldrin lying there, arms crossed over his chest as he looked out the window at the stars.

In a soft, almost shy voice, Kai asked: "Eldrin…. Do you think someone like me…without noble blood…might ever make it on this path of cultivation?"

Eldrin turned to look at him, his features relaxing, but his voice was serious in a way that rarely happened. "Bloodline or not, the power of a cultivator is determined by their heart, Kai. I've seen pure-blooded people fail and give up at the first obstacle, and I've seen commoners rise to heights no one thought possible."

Kai's eyes dropped and he absently rubbed the pendant in his palm. "But. how? How can a commoner possibly stand against nobles with all that training?

Eldrin shifted, his eyes intense as they met Kai's. "It takes courage, discipline, and an unbreakable mind. Bloodline can give someone a head start, but it's the strength of spirit that carries you forward. If you want something badly enough, and you're willing to work harder than anyone else, you'll find your own way. Set your mind to it, Kai, and don't waver."

The words sank like stones into Kai's body, settling somewhere deep within his heart. Eldrin's expression softened even more. "A rare heart like yours, Kai, can do better than any bloodline. But it takes time, resilience, and grit. Don't let anything or anyone make you feel lesser than you are."

Kai clenched his fist around the pendant, feeling determination surge through his veins. He did not know exactly where his path would lead, but in that moment, he made a silent promise to himself: he would walk his own path, with or without the advantages of birth.