The merchant quarter buzzed with morning life—market stalls creaked open, vendors hawked wares, and the smell of grilled bread mixed with the tang of steel and oil. Arriel kept his hood low as he and Kael wove through the cobbled streets, avoiding eye contact.
They stopped in front of a narrow shop nestled between a bakery and a blacksmith, its wooden sign carved with looping runes that glowed faintly in the morning sun.
Nelsor's Enchanted Goods
"This is the place," Kael said.
Arriel nodded but didn't move. "I'll wait outside."
Kael gave him a knowing look. "Still don't want anyone to see you buy it?"
"If anyone sees me walking out with one, they'll start asking questions. I'm just a farmer's kid to them."
Kael didn't argue. "Stay low, I'll handle it."
Arriel ducked into the alley beside the shop, crouching behind a stack of firewood. From the shadows, he watched Kael step through the creaky door. A bell chimed softly.
Minutes passed. Arriel tapped his foot, eyes flicking around the street. Though no one seemed to pay him any mind, a strange knot twisted in his chest. The world was changing around him—and he was part of it now.
Finally, Kael returned, a small box tucked under his arm.
"Got it," he said, handing it over. "Basic model, flat crystal screen, mana indicator built in. No enchantments beyond that."
Arriel took the box, hands trembling slightly. "Thanks."
They didn't talk as they walked—Kael led the way, this time toward the outskirts of town. Past the last row of houses, near an abandoned shed surrounded by overgrown grass, they stopped.
"No one comes here," Kael said. "We're good."
Arriel opened the box slowly. Nestled inside was the status bracelet—black leather strap, slim silver frame, and a small, smooth crystal set into its face. Beside the display, a round mana indicator stone sat idle and colorless.
He fastened it to his wrist.
The crystal flared to life.
> [Level 3]
Both boys stared.
A faint green glow shimmered in the mana stone beside the number—his mana was full.
Arriel's breath caught. Seeing it in writing… it felt real in a way that nothing else had. It wasn't a dream, or a suspicion. It was fact.
"I leveled up," he murmured. "Three times already."
Kael nodded, expression serious. "You're growing fast. Too fast, if you ask me. That kind of number on someone your age… someone might take notice."
He reached into his pouch, pulling out a strip of dark cloth.
"Here. Tie this around the bracelet. Just the display. Let people think you're wearing it for show."
Arriel obeyed, wrapping the fabric tightly around the crystal until the glowing number disappeared. Only the green mana stone remained visible.
Kael gave a small smile. "There. Now you've got your proof, and your secret."
Arriel looked at him. "Thanks… I mean it."
Kael shrugged. "That's what friends are for."
---
The next morning, Arriel stood before the quest board at the guild. His fingers brushed past the familiar F and D-rank papers.
He stopped at a C-rank posting.
> "Increased monster activity near the forest trail. Escort caravan and ensure route safety. 600 Git."
He took it without hesitation.
His heart was steady.
"Time to step forward," he thought, and walked toward the start of something bigger.