The morning sun rose gently over the edge of Eastwell, its light cutting through the spiritual mist. On a quiet hill where the grass swayed with the wind, the first outlines of a new structure had begun to take shape. Stone walls, not yet complete, stood strong and well-built—thanks to the careful work of Taskmaster Roddak and his team.
But Felix Mavis's thoughts were elsewhere.
In a sealed chamber near the construction site, Felix knelt on the floor, surrounded by tools of his craft.
A sheet of talisman paper lay in front of him, resting on a carefully drawn spiritual array that helped preserve energy. Nearby, ink pots sat in rows. Each contained his custom mixtures, some blended with powder from Duskshell beast cores. Faint lines of energy shimmered across the floor, keeping the space stable.
In the next room, the Duskshell beast rested quietly. It gave off a calm pressure, fitting for a creature in the early Soul Awakening Realm. Unlike many beasts, it was never aggressive. Instead, it absorbed energy from the air in a steady rhythm.
Felix watched its breathing. Slow. Controlled. Patient.
And he matched it.
He was close to something new.
The project was called the Rebirth Shell Layer—a talisman that could be used more than once. In a world where most talismans were single-use tools, this one could endure. Not forever, but longer. It was a step toward lasting power—something people would remember.
With the help of his unique cultivation method, Breath of the Mystic Vessel, and the Essence Condenser ability it granted, Felix had learned how to refine energy to a purer state. That made it easier to embed into talismans—and opened the door to new techniques.
The breakthrough came when he successfully made a talisman that could activate twice.
The first was small—an ignition talisman that could light a fire twice.
The second was a defensive talisman. It blocked an attack, then—after some recovery time—activated again.
There were still issues. The second use wasn't as stable. But it didn't break.
It survived.
Felix dipped his brush in ink. The newest batch was his most advanced yet. It blended Duskshell minerals, refined spiritual dust, and compressed essence threads. Nearly impossible to copy.
He began to inscribe a fresh talisman.
His brush moved carefully, drawing layer after layer: energy-absorption runes, feedback loops, and memory seals. At the core were two energy sources—one active, one dormant. After the first use, the second would draw in spiritual energy from the surroundings and repair the talisman enough to work again.
He also added a hidden seal—the Fadebreak Inscription. Once the talisman reached its limit, it would release a single glowing name into the air:
Felix Mavis.
This wasn't for pride. It was protection. He knew someone would try to steal or copy his work. With that final imprint, everyone would know who created it first.
Most common talismans used three or four inscription layers. Uncommon ones used five or six. Rare talismans could have up to a dozen.
This one now had nine.
Felix finished the talisman and placed it in a testing ring. He activated it.
A protective barrier flared up—stable and strong.
After ten breaths, he fed a bit of spiritual energy into the dormant part.
The talisman glowed again. The second activation worked.
There were small signs of wear—minor fading in the lines—but nothing serious.
He let out a quiet breath.
Just then, Rin stepped in carrying a tray. She glanced at the glowing formation.
"No sparks today?" she said with a small smile.
Felix stood and took the food. "No explosions. That's improvement."
She set the tray aside and leaned gently on the wall. "Is that the one you've been working on?"
Felix nodded. "It works. Twice now."
Her eyes widened. "That's not just progress. That's… something new."
He didn't respond. Instead, he picked up a scroll and wrote down the results.
Then he turned back to her. "It's not finished. But I think this is something no one's seen in a long time."
Outside, the sanctuary continued to rise. Workers shaped stone blocks with care, carving spiritual channels into the walls. Felix had even built a spiritual well at the center—where energy naturally gathered. He reinforced it with a formation of his own design.
He walked out with Rin beside him.
The workshop still needed a roof. The rooms were bare. But the foundation was there. It wasn't grand yet—but it was his.
He stepped under the main archway. No big speeches. No dreams of fame.
Just quiet purpose.
This was where he would grow.
Rin stood beside him in silence. Together, they looked toward Eastwell's distant rooftops.
The world outside hadn't changed.
But something inside had.
That evening, Felix returned to his study. The Duskshell beast slept peacefully, untouched by the work surrounding it.
He opened a scroll and began writing:
Research note – LayeringFirst and second activations successful. Partial self-repair after rest confirmed. Signature imprint works as planned. Counterfeiting risk reduced.
Next Steps should be Test possibility of third activation. Improve ink bonding with talisman fibers. Begin trials for mid- and rare-grade talismans using Rebirth Shell design.
He closed the scroll.
There was more to do.
But the hardest step—the first success—was behind him.
And it had his name.
Felix Mavis.
A breeze moved through the sanctuary, carrying a quiet shimmer of energy across the foundation.
For the first time since coming to Eastwell, Felix allowed himself to feel something close to joy.