Chapter 11 - Chapter 11- Awakening

Just as Si-woo's hand was about to graze the glowing, red-hued tombstone, a firm grip locked around his wrist. He turned in shock to see Lirin standing behind him, her indigo eyes sharp and her face set in a stern expression.

"Don't," she says, her voice soft but resolute.

Si-woo blinks, his thoughts racing. "Lirin? What are you doing here… How did you even find me?"

Lirin releases his wrist, crossing her arms as she glances at Z, watching the ominous tombstone.

"When you were taking too long, I figured something was up. Ha-yoon was furious when they restrained her from coming, but the guards allowed me through since they know me to some degree. But as another guard and I were leaving, I observed that his body tension rose to an alarmed degree instantly. They were receiving a psy intercom message. I panicked and used that time to run. Of course, there's absolutely no chance of me outrunning a sprit. But luckily, within the first five seconds of me turning into a different hallway, the mansion altered itself. The end."

There's a slight shift in Lirin's curly hair. Toro emerges, the small, mouse-like creature darting around with nimble precision, jumping into her hand.

"Toro has excellent sight," Lirin continues.

"It might not have a sharp sense of smell, but it more than makes up for it with its ability to track residual traces left by living beings. Even ones that have no color to them, such as yours. It was difficult, but I think that's probably why they let me go, now that I think about it… Anyways, it wasn't too hard to find you once we caught your trail."

Zs' intense focus is interrupted by the mention of Toro; with a sudden burst of energy, the whiteblood wyvern darts through the air toward the small creature, a curious coo sounding from its muzzle. Toro squeaks, then vanishes, appearing on the edge of Lirin's left shoulder, a smug look written on its face.

Si-woo looks back at the tombstone. "Why shouldn't I touch it?" he asks, his voice laced with curiosity and caution.

Peeling her starstruck eyes from the bonds, she sighs and brushes off some dust from her pale lavender dress.

"I'm not sure, Si-woo. You tell me why, in this irregular tear, you shouldn't touch a blood-red, ominous tombstone that's emanating a crude force feeling from it?"

"Point taken," he says, not sure why he wanted to touch it in the first place. He sighs, nodding his head in agreement.

"This portal is weird. Very irregular. I do assume that the sprits have a way to assess their ceremonial graveyards. But this tear is in a corridor out in the open for anyone to access without any guards. It's a bit unorthodox."

"Oh, you must not have seen this yet, then." Lirin gathers his attention with her finger and diverts it behind her, where the rift sits under two airborne, oscillating machines. The objects rotate around the rift in a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree motion, as if scanning for something. They're both identical in the way they resemble miniature atomic force microscopes, with all their inner workings in the open to show.

Si-woo racks his brain, trying to identify what he was seeing. "You don't happen to know what the heck those are, do you?"

"Nope. Not a darn clue. I've never seen them in my life, and my mom's made sure I familiarize myself with a lot of gadgets as a child. But if you had to ask me what I think they do, then I would say probably what you're already thinking. The end."

Si-woo hesitates. "Are sprits really that advanced in their technology to open up gate tears? I'm not familiar with their history and their economy much. But looking around… it really looks like it doesn't belong here."

"I honestly think so too. Though they might have a routine that involves opening gate tears in their territory. But this would be new information for both kingdoms. Even we fae don't have this technology yet. Or I would be one of the first to know, considering I snoop around my mom's work. Don't tell her that… but anyways, she is in the biotechnology branch and energy branch of the Knowledge Familia."

Well, that explains why she's so smart. Well, actually, that would explain why the fae are presumably further in their ecological development than the sprits. For one, they live longer, seemingly forever. Two, not a single citizen isn't part of the governmental system serving the economy. It's a truly good system. Very different from the one in Korea. But usually, fae are only part of one branch in a familia. But her mom is part of two branches. And she didn't even mention her father. She's a real genius. It would be frustrating if I were in her shoes, being held back by such a rule of advancement that she cannot control… wait, that might be me soon… oh no.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Si-woo's eyes follow Lirin as she takes a step toward him, toe-squatting to eye level with the tombstone. She doesn't speak for a few seconds as a perturbed expression etches into her face.

"This… this shouldn't exist, Si-woo."

"Huh?" Si-woo throws her a curious look.

"What do you mean it shouldn't exist? It's right here in front of us. Sprits may have a different way of grieving and orchestrating their dead. It can't be so alien."

"The tombstone itself isn't alien. It's what's on it, or I should say, what's in it. Toro can see what's clearly wrong with it. But since I haven't awakened yet, the information we can convey to each other is limited.

That's another reason why your sister is so fascinatingly amazing. The fact that she has that many bonds is a topic in itself. But now she has to constantly give information to each and every one of them, sometimes at the same time or in intervals, and she'sable to do it without much of a problem from my perspective.

Not only that, every animal has a different way of thinking and receiving information. Basically, she has to do mental gymnastics just to convey a message. Imagine the role she plays in conversing with them. The complexity of conversations has to be absurd from a third-person point of view. And then let's not forget-"

"Lirin, we're getting off topic," he sighs, not up to hearing any more of his sister's feats.

"Oh yes, I apologize. But as I was saying, I do understand that there aren't many things that we can feel as pre-awakened Serein users. We do have lucid instincts and even a sixth instinct of danger. Well, some of us at least…" She throws a side glance at him, but his eyes quickly steer off to the sky as his cheeks flush.

"…But we can't sense such intricate, complex rune magic as this embedded on this tombstone. We're too green to sense the complexity of it if it were Serein. We cannot sense mana. Well, not yet, at least.

So, looking at this, Si-woo, besides danger and the obvious allure to touch it, what familiar feeling do you sense from it?"

Si-woo shifts his attention back to the tombstone, waits a moment, then closes his eyes to focus. As he immerses himself, nature, life, and movement around him become more pronounced, but are quickly overshadowed by the feeling of the crude force in the tombstone.

Solely focusing on the feeling of the tombstone, it feels as if it's stretching forward into thorns prickling his skin. But soon after, pushing past the discomfort, he begins to feel the familiar pulling feeling that made him want to touch it in the first place.

He is quickly reminded of his independent meditative sessions, expelling and absorbing his Serein through his channels for a prolonged amount of time while internally focused on this being. On his soul.

His eyes snap open in realization.

"Essence. It's life essence. But why does it feel like this? It feels sinister, corrupted."

"That's what happens when something as pure as life essence comes in contact with foreign energies. With our souls encasing our meridian tree and dantian in the empirical dimension, surrounded by a sea of vast energies, it remains an anchor point for our physical bodies, shielding its internal life essence in the dantian from the invasive powers around it.

The sprits don't have a meridian tree or dantian, so their soul is full of life essence connected directly to their physical bodies. Although they have different physiques, there are laws that all living organisms cannot bypass.

Without life essence, you die, and you are born with a fixed amount of it, so no matter how hard one may try, they can never permanently gain more than their dantian or soul can contain.

Serein users utilize it to reinforce their meridian channels, but sprits… they have a prohibited practice called sacrificial magic. Heard of it?"

Si-woo flinches at the indication of the name. "No. What is it?"

She circles back to the tombstone. "As the name indicates, it is needed for the user to sacrifice something in order to use it.

As you know, Boc is the runic language of the sprits. Not all runes are activated with their mana; hence the use on their tombstones.The use of these archetypal symbols offers comfort, a way to feel close to their deceased loved ones.

The sacred practice stems from their beginning times of colonization here. Well, I mean the Tabaek Kingdom." She sinuously points her index finger back to the tear.

"Oapa told me that there was a constant onslaught of the nearby behemoths, and it was a truly treacherous point in time for the sprits, to the point they became endangered.

And in the midst of all the despair and agony, some searched for strength and others for consolation. The sprit mediums created the practice, and it helped them regain their strength and stem a deep foundation in their lands to create a habitat.

But soon after, they realized there was a terrible drawback, a hereditary consequence, and so they banned the practice.

The mediums engraved Boc into the tombstones of their loved ones and added small absorption wells. Do you see these?" She gestures to the slight indentations across the stone, shaped like shallow, uneven bowls.

"Some gravely saddened sprits used to create these. They believed that by offering blood as a sacrifice, they could bring their loved ones back, with each tombstone acting as the medium for that connection. These were soon called necro-tombstones."

Si-woo's eyes widened in shock. "Bring them back? You mean resurrection? Is that possible?"

"No. I like to think that once you kick the bucket, it's over."

Si-woo listened intently, his breathing steady but his chest tight. "Then-"

"They did many things with the lingering spirits to help them persevere through the devastation. They were capable of voluntary possession, communication of information, or absorbing what little essence was left behind from the spirit.

Since the life of the flesh is in the blood, it would be added to the specific quantum codes or runic symbols to draw out their life essence using mana into the physical dimension, forever tainting it, never to return to the user's soul."

Si-woo bites his thumbnail. "So then either a sprit is in deep mourning right now and is seeking consolation from their dead relatives, or is seeking power to fight something.

There are a lot of fearful animals in Yohen, but as you said, there are hereditary consequences. No sane sprit would have this as an option in their head unless it was comparable to times back then, right?"

"Right. The backlash makes them forever more feral." Lirin stands, looking Si-woo directly in the eyes.

"Similar to the less-"

Her words were cut off by a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the air. The sound is deep and primal; the earth beneath them trembles slightly. Their heads snap in its direction, toward something deep in the woods. Z and Toro abruptly stop in their tracks, alert, then skitter back to the heads of their bounds.

"Shoot," Lirin's face goes pale. "We need to get back to the tear! The end!"

Before she could act, Si-woo grabs her wrist, his grip firm, and pulls her along, sprinting back toward the translucent tear in space. The growls grow louder; the heavy footsteps of whatever beast lurks in the forest shake the ground with every step.

Whoa, Lirin strains to keep up. He's fast.

The rip shimmered faintly in the air as they approached. Si-woo adjusts his grip on Lirin's wrist, pulling her through the portal just as a massive shadow stretches over their heads.

They stumble back into the mansion, the air shifting immediately to its previous stillness. Gasping for breath, Si-woo and Lirin whirl around just in time to catch a glimpse of the massive beast as it emerged from the distant woods.

Its form is monstrous; its broad back rising above its head with gleaming scales that seemed to absorb the faint light filtering through the trees. Its charcoal crescent pupils burn with an unnatural intensity, locked onto the portal just as it began to close.

Then, as swiftly as it had opened, the rip sealed shut, leaving the mansion's towering pillars and serene halls as their only surroundings once again.

Lirin, who had fallen, clutched her chest; her breathing ragged as she leaned against the wall.

"Oh…and I forgot to mention…there's a sentinel that patrols every graveyard."

Si-woo didn't answer immediately; his dark eyes still locked on the now-closed portal. He shifted in her direction, giving her an incredulous stare. "You cannot be serious. How could you forget something like that?"

"Sorry, I have a bad habit of doing things like that. The end."

With a sigh, Si-woo extends his hand to help Lirin up, steadying his breath, when a booming voice startles them both.

"There you are!" A voice bellows.

Before they could respond, a squad of four sprit guards strides towards them, their dark uniforms pristine and their golden claw insignias gleaming. They move with precision, their expressions stern as they approach.

Teis goes straight for Si-woo, tightly gripping his whole hand around Si-woo's bicep. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WHAT HAPPENED TO SOLDIER GLEN? HUH?… OR MAYBE I SHOULD JUST…"

Si-woo grimaces as he tries to shake his arm from the sprit's ironclad grip, but it remains in place as if it were stuck in stone. His arm feels as if it's starting to tear in two.

"I… I don't know. I went in the bathroom and came out, but he was gone… it hurts-"

A sharp and abrupt coo sounds from Z's mouth. The sprit's eyes snap to Z; on all fours, wings flared admonishingly. The whiteblood wyvern's eyes weigh heavily on Teis. He hesitates, then lets go of his arm, apprehensively returning to his position.

"Hmph. We don't have time for this. Remain silent and follow us back. Stay within five paces behind us, or we'll drag you there."

A guard scowls at Lirin. She returns it with a shrug and a slight smile.

"Are you okay?" Lirin steps to Si-woo's side, exchanging a quick, uneasy glance, her voice soft and compassionate.

Si-woo gently rubs his arm, attempting to soothe the tingle of pain. "Yeah. No big deal. Let's just go," he mutters, falling in step behind the guards.

As they move through the mansion's winding halls, Si-woo's mind races, still processing what they had just escaped. His hand instinctively brushes against Z, perched on his head. So the soldier that was with me has gone missing. But they can just track his residual mana signature. Well, maybe not… they probably have ways to prevent themselves from being tracked by enemies and such, but with their natural attunement to the psy mana element, they surely have other ways of detection. Well, there's that. And now the problem with the gate tear in their mansion- do they even know...

Si-woo talks over his shoulder in a whisper. "Do you think they know about the-"

Lirin squints in contemplation, then shakes her head.

"DIDN'T I SAY DON'T SPEAK?"

Si-woo turns his attention back to the leading guards, reluctantly holding his tongue for the rest of the way.

The sprits open the grand doors to the recreation quarters while Teis leads them inside. Warm light spills into the room, and the sound of laughter and playful shouts fills the air.

Si-woo's eyes immediately find Mai and Ha-yoon. Mai stands by the balcony, her hands resting on the railing as she watches Ha-yoon's bonds dart around the sprit children in the yard below.

But what immediately catches Si-woo's attention is Ha-yoon. She is crouched in a wooden cage in the middle of the room, her light gray eyes gleaming with defiance.

"Brother! They locked me up!"

Mai spins around as Si-woo and Lirin enter. Her brows furrow. "There you are! What took you so long?"

Teis places a hand on the cage, speaking before Si-woo can respond. "Your sister was caught attempting to venture off unescorted. For her safety, we placed her in containment until further notice."

Ha-yoon growls softly, leaning against the bars. "I was trying to find you, Si-woo! They wouldn't let me go!"

"Even if she did try to leave, don't you think this is too much?" Lirin steps forward, gesturing to the cage.

"It's not like she tried to bite you. The end."

A silence stretches across the quarters, but Si-woo knows better. He interrogates Ha-yoon with a stare. Not a second of eye contact passes before she bashfully looks away.

"Ha-yoon!"

Ha-yoon snatches the wooden bars with both hands, desperation kicking into her voice. "Lirin got to go, and I have Tic and Tac with me. Who would stop me from going after you guys? The enemy, that's who… so in that moment, I may have had to make a decision to get away… it didn't work."

Si-woo remains still as a statue, giving her a deadpan stare. "They're not your enemies, Ha-yoon, and this isn't the first time it's happened." Just a month ago, I tried to limit her sweet intake, and she bit my hand! Not a second later, her wolves dragged me out of the house, and I had to stay there until she was finished eating all of them.

"How did your bonds react?" Lirin asks with hushed excitement.

"That's the most interesting part. They didn't do anything; they just sat there wagging their tails."

Si-woo sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of course, dummy. What else did you expect was going to happen?"

Mai steps down from the balcony before Ha-yoon can retort. "Can't we let her out now? Her brother is here."

Si-woo senses a hint of annoyance in her voice but quickly dismisses it.

Teis hesitates before unlocking the cage with a flick of his wrist. The wooden bars retract seamlessly into the floor.

Ha-yoon darts out of the cage. She sprints toward Si-woo, arms open wide as if to embrace him in a warm, sibling reunion.

But at the very last second, she pivots, her fist shooting forward and landing squarely in his gut.

"I told you not to get lost!" Her light gray eyes blaze with frustration.

"And because of you, they turned me into a caged animal!"

Si-woo winces, doubling over slightly as he clutches his stomach. His breath hitches as he feels Z, who had been perched on his head, leap off and glide gracefully toward Mai, landing delicately on her shoulder.

Mai instinctively catches Z's small, wiry frame, stroking his head while he coos softly. "I suspect he has something to do with it."

Si-woo straightens up, smirking despite the lingering ache.

"Yeah, he-"

"Si-woo ended up losing himself in this gigantic maze," Lirin interrupts, "but luckily Z was able to find him, and by the time me and Toro were able to find him, we found him walking in the opposite direction of the quarters. The end."

Si-woo doesn't move as she lies about what happened, instinctively aware of why she's doing it.

"And you called me a dummy? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO NEEDED TO BE PUT IN THE CAGE."

"Her rec time is over, guards." Si-woo turns his back to her.

"Go ahead and put her back into her cage."

Ha-yoon then jumps onto Si-woo's back, attempting to bite and crush him at the same time. Moments later, her bonds and the sprit children join the sidelines, howling and giggling with amusement as Si-woo tries to free himself from her grasp, but to no avail.

Teis clears his throat sharply, his voice cutting through the lighthearted scene. "You're to remain here until Oapa's meeting concludes. Don't even think of wandering again."

Lirin nods, offering a sheepish smile. "Yes, sir."

The sprits leave the chaos to settle. In the cacophony of boisterous noises, Mai saunters over to Lirin.

"That can't possibly be what happened, right?"

The corners of Lirin's mouth curve upward, then she glances at the closed grand doors.

"Of course that's what happened. There's no reason to lie, especially with all the sprit surveillance around. The end."

Mai opens her mouth to respond, but before she can utter a word, the sound of approaching footsteps fills the room.

"Am I interrupting something?" Oapa's voice cuts through the tension as he strides in with Sartah in tow; his hood pulled back just slightly, revealing his gray fur and light green eyes.

The sprit children run to them, hugging, climbing, and smothering themselves in their garments.

Ha-yoon jumps off Si-woo's back, leaving him sitting on the floor, rugged. "You missed all the drama! Si-woo went missing, Lirin ran off to find him, and I got locked in a cage! A cage!" Her tone is less accusatory but brimming with energy.

Oapa raises an eyebrow, his gaze briefly darting to Lirin, who meets his look with a shake of her head. When no ears are listening. The end.

"Well, I'm happy you two were able to find your way here. And I'm terribly sorry for what the guards have done to you two," Sartah says, looking between Si-woo and Ha-yoon.

"But I do regret to inform you, due to recent circumstances, we can't allow you to stay in the Tabaek Kingdom for an allotted amount of time."

As I thought.

Si-woo doesn't so much as flinch upon hearing the news.

"No!" the children retort.

"They just got here."

"Wait, is big Sis Ha-yoon leaving?"

"Let me go with you this time, Oapa."

"Circumstances? We haven't even gotten to eat yet," Ha-yoon adds.

Sartah sighs as she picks up a child, seating her in her right arm. "It's only a temporary matter. They'll be back here soon enough, little ones. But according to the food matter-"

Sartah walks to the leftmost amber wall upon entering the quarters, past where Ha-yoon's cage would be, and puts her left hand on it.

Everyone watches with rapt attention as a green pulse is sent throughout the wall. In one smooth motion, the wall folds in on itself, leaving an empty archway revealing another room.

The pleasant smell of food wafts into the quarters, tempting everyone inside. Through the archway is a massive table full of all types of hot and ready foods and desserts, with twelve black, intricately carved seats lining the sides. A large oriel window sits behind the head seat of the table, spilling beautiful morning light inside.

Oapa makes his way towards the archway. "Well, we can't let the food get cold now, can we?"

"Nope," Ha-yoon darts in, the sprit children and bonds following after her.

Lirin helps Si-woo off the floor. "Let's go eat," she whispers, giving him an insinuous look as she pulls him into the room.

Mai pauses at the two, unsure of her thoughts, then slowly follows after.

"I would have made special orders for you if there was more time," Sartah exclaims as they begin to find their seats.

"I do apologize. I hope this food is to your liking."

"Thank you, big sis, Sartah," the collective of the sprit children chant.

"Thmpf youf," Ha-yoon lets out, her mouth full of tender meats.

"Thishhh shoo gooii."

"Don't worry about it, Sartah," Lirin says, sitting down next to Si-woo and Mai.

"We will be back here eventually… my guess is that you have urgent business to get to, no? Don't worry about us; we'll be fine. The end."

Sartah's gaze lingers on Lirin for a moment before she sighs. "I do. I'm about to leave, but when you lot are finished, the guards outside will escort you out. Be a good host to them, Oapa."

"I will," he says, sitting next to Ha-yoon.

"Okay then. Love you all, and please make sure to come back." She waves goodbye as she leaves the quarters.

The air is filled with clinks of dishes and chatter as they indulge in the feast.

"Try not to make it obvious, but I've set up a cognitive link between the three of us. We can communicate this way safely."

Oapa's voice rings in Si-woo's head, stopping his eating. He glances at Oapa, then at Lirin; neither has halted in their actions whatsoever to indicate their telepathic communication.

Out of the corner of his left eye, he notices Mai eyeing him skeptically. With a slight smile, he resumes eating.

"So, what happened in your meeting with the Elders?" Lirin begins.

The corners of Oapa's mouth curve upward as he reaches for a pitcher. "Sure, I'll go first then. After you left, the Elders informed me of why there's more patrolmen than usual… around the districts, a substantial amount of corpses of lesser sprits are being discovered."

Si-woo's eyes narrow slightly at Oapa's words. He glances at Lirin, who has to pick up her fork from the floor.

"That's… That's horrific. I'm so sorry, Oapa," Lirin says, refocusing on the plate in front of her.

"Do they know what's going on? Or is it because of territorial wars between the other species?"

"I'm afraid not. The past six months have been the most cases we've had in the past five years. We concluded from the disparity of the locations and precise incisions of some of the corpses that most likely a third party is involved, and in almost all twenty-one districts, similar cases have been reported. We think that during a dungeon outbreak, an intelligent species capable of utilization of mana might've escaped into our lands through the runic trees. A lot of questions are up in the air right now, left to be unanswered."

"Is it only lesser sprits they're targeting?" Lirin asks.

"Yeah, their intention seems to be only on them at the moment."

"Mmm." Si-woo savors a bite of his pasta dish.

"I know from my master and rumors that our knowledge of dungeons is limited and the beings inside are far from familiar… but a third party causing all this… sounds improbable."

Lirin nods slowly, chewing on her food.

"It is as you guessed. The thought of betrayal did come up as a topic, but with evidence leaning more towards internal play than the fae, we concluded to handle it ourselves while limiting and surveying all travel from and to the Tabaek Kingdom. That's why we can't be here for long, and that's not even mentioning Soldier Glen…"

Without looking at him, Si-woo could feel Oapa's piercing eyes, beckoning him for answers. "What can I say? I have no clue where he went. The moment I left the bathroom, he was gone, and not only that, I was in a whole other place in this maze. But I did find something a little more interesting: a gate tear at the end of a corridor, leading into one of your ceremonial graveyards."

It was Oapa's turn to be surprised. A continuous cough escapes his muzzle, startling a few around him. But with the noise drowning it out, most didn't think twice about it.

"Gotta slow down, big bro," the sprit child to his left says, clapping him on the back.

"Yeah, thank you, Eva." Oapa stares at Glen's daughter in pity before returning to his meal.

"A gate tear inside the mansion… I can't believe it. I trust you aren't lying, but the idea that a security breach happened under our noses is hard to believe."

"It's as I thought, the sprits have nothing to do with it then," Lirin begins.

"Well, in the tear there were two small machines that revolved above it, seemingly keeping the tear open. I've never seen them in my life, so I can't make anything from them other than that. But that's not all we found, Oapa. Shortly after separating from my guard, I found Si-woo and his bond staring at something. Please do your best to not show any reaction this time, but… we found a necro-tombstone. The end."

This time, Oapa does not overtly react. His chewing halts, his right arm going under the table to hide his clenching fist. His nose forms into a snarl, but before it's complete, he releases a sigh, easing the nerves.

"I'm… I'm speechless… no one touched it, right?"

Lirin quickly meets Si-woo's gaze before answering.

"No."

"Good. Depending on the tombstone's purpose, your souls could've been permanently corrupted by it. Was there only one of them? And do you know what district it was in?"

Lirin finishes the last bits of her food. "There was only one from what we were able to see before we got chased by the sentinel guard. I don't know-"

"OH, MY GOODNESS, YOU TWO WERE CHASED BY A SENTINEL?!! YOU COULD'VE DIED! WHO HAVE YOU TOLD ABOUT THIS?"

"Nobody, we told nobody," Si-woo hurriedly intercepts.

"I made sure Si-woo didn't say too much. I had a feeling that no one but sprits were allowed to go there. The end."

"Correct. If the sprits saw or even suspected that you guys entered there alone, especially right now... you two would not be leaving Tabaek Kingdom for a while."

Si-woo glances to his side at Lirin, sharing her anxiety-stricken expression.

"Don't dwell too much on it. What's done is done, and I'm overjoyed that you are safe. I would get on my hands and knees to apologize in any other situation… maybe I will after-"

"No, no, no." Both Lirin and Si-woo agree.

"…Well, okay then. But tell me the description of the sentinel, then I'll be able to locate it and have the place investigated."

"Is that what actually happened, Si-woo?" Mai's gentle voice reaches his ears, though she does not stop picking at the leftovers on her plate.

Lirin and Oapa continue to talk telepathically, seemingly not noticing Mai's inquiry. Although difficult, Si-woo manages to lull the internal dialogue. He rests his chin in his left hand, hiding his clenched jaw. He hesitates.

"Didn't Lirin already explain it? Well, there are other details, like how Z was able to find me, but we can talk about that later."

"Si-woo…"

"Mai, you think I'm hiding something, and I'm telling you I'm an open book. But since we're on this topic, why don't you tell me why you were acting so reclusive earlier?"

She stops picking at her food. "I… I don't know what-"

"We've been around each other for a while now, Mai. So inevitably, when we see changes in each other's behavior, we're going to question it, right? Did you really have nothing to say when the Elders were speaking of fae history or of my fate?"

Mai remains silent, withholding any indication that she'd heard him.

"I'm not too headstrong on it right now, Mai, nor am I holding any animosity towards you… I did come to the conclusion that you must've been 'informed' of something."

"Oapa!" Ha-yoon voices, feeding a bone to her wolves.

"What circumstances is Sartah talking about? Why do we have to leave so soon?"

The other children voice their curiosity, and soon after, all attention in the room focuses on Oapa.

Oapa's eyes scan the table before standing up. "The adults are having political issues, nothing for us to worry about, but they do need their space and time, and since it looks like we're all done here… let's give it to them."

Groans and moans stretch throughout the table.

"Now, now, it's not like it's going to be the last time you guys see them. Eventually, you'll see them in the academy when you're old enough, or if your parents decide to move into the city of Seoul. But for right now, let's say our goodbyes and show them how we thank good company."

All the sprit children gather in a line on Oapa's side of the table and bow. "Thank you. Please come again."

Si-woo and Ha-yoon quickly get up to return the gesture. "Thank you for having us."

As if on cue, four guards walk in. Teis stares at the scene, his stoic expression unchanging.

"The children will follow me, and when you're ready to leave, the other two guards will escort you back to the waypoint."

He pauses, then bows to Si-woo and Ha-yoon individually before gesturing the children out of the quarters.

Ha-yoon peels her eyes away from the closing grand doors past the archway, looking at Oapa. "You're still coming with us to Ondur, right?"

Oapa places a hand on her head, gently brushing her hair. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"It's not like he has anything else better to do." Lirin jests, pushing in her seat.

Oapa throws a scowl at her in response.

With a sigh, Si-woo slightly leans down to Mai, picking up his backpack. "Let's go have fun."

After a split second of hesitation, a smirk appears on her face.

"Yeah, let's go."

…

The atmosphere in the city of Ondur buzzes with life as fae travel from stand to stand, occasionally taking part in the open-street games. The air is an eclectic mix of aromas, each stall offering unique and vibrant fae cuisine that seems to glow faintly under the gentle, flickering hues of the sky. Si-woo and Lirin walk a few paces behind Oapa, who, to his visible chagrin, is being enthusiastically dragged from one stand to another by Ha-yoon, her bonds trailing playfully behind. Mai follows close to them, her expression a blend of amusement and intrigue as she occasionally adds her own commentary to Ha-yoon's excited exclamations.

Lirin glances atop Si-woo's pink bed of hair, where Z lies peacefully curled up, sleeping.

"I think you should talk to Oapa and see if you can use mana."

Si-woo's eyebrows raise.

"Oh, you think I can?"

"I think there is a good chance. I've been wondering what's the difference between you and the Mu, and how come they could bond with whiteblood wyverns? Sometimes the simplest answers are the correct ones. And since we don't know much about your kind or the biology of the Mu, you have an obvious connection to them. So I think their utilization of mana and serein is a factor that played a part in the bond. The end."

"Good idea." I've thought of this too, but there's little to nothing about mana in the common sections of the public library. Only books saying it's virtually impossible for the two to coexist within the same vessel. So I put it off for another time.

Si-woo strides towards the dart game stand where Mai and Ha-yoon attempt to win the mega-sized baby wyvern plushie.

"Come one, come all! To play a game of Dart-em-All. If you can hit all thirty of these glass orbs without missing a single shot, you win the grand prize!" A fae staff member announces, spreading his arms wide to the display of various plushies.

"You got this, Mai!" Ha-yoon cheers, watching her attempt it again.

Si-woo steps to the side of Oapa, who watches from the sidelines with his hood on.

"You want to know if you can use mana, right?"

Si-woo blinks.

"Ah, sprits and their advanced senses… but yeah, how would I know if I can? Do I need to awaken first?"

Oapa shakes his head. "No, well… I'm not sure in your case. Sprits are born quantum receptors in our red blood cells. We have no need for awakenings because we're able to naturally use mana at a very early age, around five years old or so. So if you could use mana, I'm sure you would know by now, but to make sure, let's do a simple test."

Lirin and Ha-yoon tune in, ignoring the whispers and glances of the onlookers.

"All mana users possess resonance senses that allow them to perceive frequencies and patterns to varying degrees. So when a quantum code collapses into reality as cymatic patterns, in short, I will cast a spell, and I want you to tell me if you see or sense the frequency patterns."

The three of them nod in unison, eager to find out if they can use mana.

Oapa sighs and raises his palm slightly. Words begin to slip through his lips in a low and measured tone. Not soon after, a silver shard manifests itself above his palm, slowly rotating clockwise as if on display in a museum.

No one speaks. Six seconds pass, and Si-woo looks at their awe-struck faces, switching from one to the next.

"Well… anything?"

Si-woo shakes his head, a bit disappointed.

"Nope. Not a thing."

Lirin sighs. "Maybe the answer is a bit more complicated than—"

"Wait, I think I feel something," Ha-yoon exclaims.

"No, you don't." Si-woo quickly shuts her down.

Ha-yoon giggles. "Okay, maybe I don't… but does it feel like you're having a sugar rush when you cast spells, Oapa? Or is it automatic like breathing?"

Oapa lowers his hand, and the shard disintegrates into thin air. "It's a different feeling for every spell. But with well-practiced spells like the one I just cast, it is very automatic. But this one is very close to my heart, not only because it was the first one I ever learned, but it was taught to me by my mother."

Ha-yoon gasps in excitement. "Your mom must be awesome and super strong then."

Lirin walks over to Ha-yoon and places a hand on her shoulder, shaking her head. A confused expression crosses Ha-yoon's face before realization hits. Mai's face is added to the circle of confusion.

"It's fine, Lirin." Oapa stares into the sky contemplatively.

"My mother was very strong and beautiful indeed. She often helped my father with his work. You see, before I was born, my mother had a dream of finding a cure for the cognitive disorder of the lesser sprits and sought to help them out in every way that she could. She eventually met my father as the ruler of District Eight and had more help with her dream. Although they didn't make much progress in the cure aspect of the research, the entirety of District Eight became a safe haven for lesser sprits so they wouldn't have to be scattered and slowly picked off by neighboring territories. District Eight served as the linchpin for advancements in sprit biotech, while serving as a therapeutic hospice for them, somewhat subduing their madness… But all dreams eventually come to an end. At age seven, my mother was conducting exams when she was suddenly bombarded by the lesser sprits she had taken care of since they were pups and torn to pieces. Thus ending her life and the whole operation."

Grim expressions carve themselves onto their faces. Si-woo's gaze pulls toward the ground. It's sometimes hard to remember that although the fae and sprits have so much more than us… they've been through their own trials and tribulations… they're not so different from us.

"I'm sorry, Oapa," Ha-yoon says, her voice weak and on the verge of tears.

Oapa smiles, then takes a step towards her, placing a hand on her head. "It's fine. You didn't know, and it's been a long time since it happened. No need to cry, beautiful lady. I also didn't like that I knew of your parents, but you didn't know of mine. I'm happy I got to share it with my friends."

Mai puts two arms around Ha-yoon, hugging her from behind as she sways, trying to comfort her. The wolves and the tetharite stand close by, lookingat their bound with compassion and love.

"Should we go try at this rigged game again, sis?" Mai looks down at her crown braid.

"I'll give it a go too," Lirin adds.

Ha-yoon nods slowly, throwing her fists in the direction of the stand. "Imma get that grand prize even if it's the last thing I do."

A collection of laughs sounds from their mouths as they move toward the game stand. Si-woo stays back for a moment, taking in the scene. A heartwarming smile appears on his face as his heart aches with every beat. Though I still have no clue how I can form a bond with Z, what more can a brother ask for? What more can anyone ask for than this?

He scratches the back of his neck, then looks back towards Ondur's forest pensively. When will be the next time I get to visit Tabaek Kingdom… hopefully it's sooner rather than later.

…

The midday sun beats down mercilessly as thefourth echelon students run the ringlike course.

"Pick up the pace! If you fall behind, you're just dead weight!" The instructor's voice booms through the air, barking commands and reprimands at those who dare to slow down.

Si-woo adjusts his pace, falling back to match Lirin's. She's panting heavily, her posture slumping forward as she trudges along the path. Her arms flail awkwardly at her sides with each step, and Si-woo can't help but notice that her running form was, to put it kindly, unpolished.

"Lirin, do you know your cultivation method?"

Lirin glances at him out of the corner of her eye, her face flushed from exertion. "You… want to talk now? While… running? Are you insane?" she wheezes between breaths.

Si-woo chuckles lightly. "Sorry, just curious."

Lirin continues her strained running, momentarily catching her breath.

"Is it… that obvious?"

Si-woo nods slowly.

A heavy sigh slips through Lirin's lips. "Most of my secondary… and tertiary serein veins have formed complete channels."

She takes a deep breath. "But it doesn't help much when your channels are distributed for practically no physical exertion as a Total Concentration cultivator… The… end."

Si-woo is reluctant to speak, afraid he's going to cause Lirin to give up. Sounds like she's about to awaken in a year or two, the usual age the fae awaken at. People often describe the last hurdle in cultivation as the complete development of the twelve primary channels, though without knowing it, I've completely developed all of them and am working more on my secondary and tertiary channels, and I think it won't be long before I develop those too. Then maybe I would awaken too.

Si-woo's thoughts are interrupted by a group of sprit students, not onlyovertaking him and Lirin but all the other runners.

"Ugh, the end," Lirin exclaims, coming to an abrupt halt. She plants her hands on her knees, gulping for air.

"This is meathead activity." She stands, trudging off the trail toward the shade of a nearby tree.

"Lirin, we're going to get yelled at," Si-woo warns, though he follows her without hesitation.

"We've been running for forty-five minutes, and it feels like the sun wants to take me home," Lirin shoots back, slumping against the tree trunk into a toe squat, letting out a long, dramatic sigh.

Si-woo sits down beside her, the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves casting faint patterns on his face. Z perches in the patch of grass at Lirin's feet. Lirin reaches down, stroking Z's snow-white scales, still catching her breath.

"Sprits are about to overrun all physical competitive activities in Seoul. It's beautiful in a sense, but from a second point of view, discouraging. The end."

Si-woo nods. "Especially in the fifth echelon and above. Although the rate drops a bit from the fae awakening, by then their physique is almost incomparable to faes."

"You're not wrong, but on the other hand, for example, in the rankers familia, although the adult sprits are powerful, there are fae who've lived four times their age, and that's where fae dominate the spectrum. The end."

Si-woo slips his hands into his short, black gym shorts. Gazing at the clouds, he's reminded of Tabaek Kingdom and what the Elders spoke about his fate. Memories of times when he tried to ask for more details on the prophecy rise, but he quickly shakes his head before the anger slips in. They did say that the white engraving on my kunai is Tov. It's similar to boc but utilizes Serein and mana to perform the inscribed script. What would happen to my kunai if I activated the script? I can't imagine. The Everglades are amazing too, still active tens of thousands of years after being done warding off Xexphin and his army.

"Speaking of familias," Si-woo begins.

"Which one do you plan to join?"

"Hmmm, although I truly admire Mutsushiro and his work, and hope to become an apprentice of his, his shift to becoming a co-headmaster of the ranker's familia is… disappointing. I'm choosing the Knowledge familia."

"Oh," Si-woo exclaims.

"Usually people are wary of him more or less, but you aren't?"

Lirin hesitates from petting Z briefly. "People are afraid of what they can't understand. Mutsushiro's curse is a morbid mystery, only solvable by cutting off the bloodline forever. Growing up where people know your fate before you is… well… you understand."

Si-woo acknowledges her with a nod.

"I've grown up with his work, read his books, and seen the industrial developments that stemmed from his research. Society might judge him because of his upbringing and personality, but his work is irrefutable proof of his dedication and love of his people. He's a mechanical genius, and I hope to work with him one day. You two are similar, in a way."

Si-woo throws a glance at her from the corner of his eye. I've only met the man twice, and both times were unique and… eerie. But I do empathize with him and completely understand how his personality may come off as brutish or off-putting after being in his situation. He isn't a criminal or anything, has helped his economy, and now is the co-headmaster of a familia in this golden era of fae and the sprits-

"Who's hiding in the shade? Get back on the trail before I make you run it twice!" The instructor's voice cuts through his thoughts.

Lirin groans while Si-woo stands to offer her a hand. "Come on. Let's finish this before he finds another reason to yell at us."

She lazily grabs his hand and pulls herself off the ground.

"Let's get this over with."

…

The late afternoon sun glares down on the training grounds of the royal palace of Seoul, reflecting off the polished stone platforms. Si-woo stands tall, his kunai pointed at Mai.

Across from him, Mai is sprawled on the ground, her spear sent skidding across the platform. She's heaving as she looks up at the rugged Si-woo.

"I admit defeat," Mai says, her soft voice tinged with both amusement and resignation.

"I just can't keep up with you anymore. You're growing like an avalanche, Si-woo."

Si-woo immediately lowers his kunai and extends a hand to help her up.

"I need to train a bit harder to keep up," she admits with a rueful chuckle.

Si-woo shakes his head, offering a smile.

"Without you, I wouldn't have advanced this far. Also, remember I'm using Serein, and you aren't. Today's spar was nice and all, thank you, but… something feels-"

He is cut off by Minho's voice booming from the edge of the platform.

"You both did well." His eyes linger on Si-woo as he continues.

"Though it seemed like you were… holding back?"

Mai's head snaps toward Minho, her voice indignant.

"Holding back? Really?"

Si-woo raises his hands defensively, shaking his head. "No, it's not that. I've just been feeling… a little uncomfortable lately. Since I've developed all twelve of my primary channels."

"All twelve already?" Mai's face softens.

Minho's midnight eyes squint as he crosses his arms, observing Si-woo closely as he converses with Mai. Perhaps it's because he developed all of the primary channels first. He has to get used to the utilization of them. One hundred and two channels of his meridian tree have developed, so there's a while until awakening. Often, fae exhibit sporadic, chaotic flows of Serein-an overflow of energy with no discernible form; water pouring from an overflowing cup when nearing their awakening. From my observation… there's nothing of the abnormal. It can't be awakening, Minho concludes. But then again… Si-woo is not a fae. He's a completely different species.

"He's fine. Probably just tired from all the training," Minho intrudes, clapping Si-woo on the shoulder.

"Some sleep ought to revitalize you."

Mai nods, though her worry doesn't completely fade as she glances at Si-woo once more. "Don't push yourself too hard, alright?"

Si-woo gives a faint smile.

"I'll be fine."

Minho's attention is diverted to an approaching soldier, his clothing torn but with no visible bruises or cuts on him. Bowing respectfully, the soldier begins his report.

"Sir, Ha-yoon's progress is astounding, but…" He hesitates, touching his sore shoulder.

"I'll have to lessen the weights on my arms and legs during her training. She's adapting faster than I can keep up."

Minho raises a brow at the soldier, then turns to see Ha-yoon approaching, her bonds trailing behind her. She's drained, her face glistening with sweat, but her posture is still upright and determined. Z chirps a greeting from Si-woo's head, but Ha-yoon ignores it, her focus squarely on Minho.

"Minho, can I use my grimoire soon? I've been doing everything you've asked."

Minho sighs, crossing his arms.

"Maturity is mandatory when handling weapons, especially yours," he replies firmly.

"Giving you that book now would do no one any good."

Ha-yoon frowns, her brow furrowing as she crosses her arms in frustration.

"But I really want it."

Minho's expression darkens.

"For now, focus on mastering your foundations. When the time is right, you'll be ready."

Ha-yoon hesitates, then gives a small nod, though her frustration is still evident in her tense posture.

Minho reaches into his satchel and pulls out two small bottles, each filled with luminous, pearl-like pills. He hands one to Si-woo and the other to Ha-yoon.

"These are soul cultivation pills, a new product developed by the alchemy branch of the Knowledge Familia. They're specifically designed to aid in meditation and improve the flow of Serein through your meridians in preparation for awakening."

He pauses, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"The demand is high in the market currently, though I obtain them at no cost."

Si-woo examines the bottle with curiosity, watching as the pills seem to shimmer faintly under the sunlight. The bronze body cultivation pills that he gave us last time were difficult to cultivate with, and even now, they still take significant time to digest and assimilate.

Mai edges closer, observing the pills with slight interest.

"They're actually great, and the process is smoother than the bronze body pills."

Ha-yoon, though still visibly drained, manages a small smile.

"That's a relief. Those things are dreadful."

Minho's gaze lingers on them for a moment longer as the siblings exchange glances before tucking the bottles into their pouches.

"Enough talk for now. Both of you, get some rest. Superb session."

…

The fading light of the sun paints Seoul's sky in vibrant arrays of orange and pink as Si-woo and Ha-yoon part ways with Mai at their home.

Si-woo hesitates at the front door.

"I'll be right back," he says, turning away.

Ha-yoon pauses, her brow furrowing.

"Where are you going?"

"Just a walk. Want to come with?"

Ha-yoon shakes her head, worry crossing her face.

"Not this time, but be safe."

Si-woo gives her a reassuring smile, while Z leaves her with a coo. After a wave, he heads through the gate.

The energy in the streets of Seoul begins to wind down with the onset of evening as he walks toward the western edge of town. The fae are extremely proficient and fast with their projects. These roads used to be torn-up gravel and dirt, with minimal buildings, just two months ago. Although they're not as advanced as the architectural skyscrapers that once dominated Seoul, there are already new shops and establishments lining the streets, their glowing signs showcasing wares crafted from materials harvested from the anomalies. Everyone is in their own world, working together and adding their own beauty to the one they walk on. If this had been Seoul's district government, I'm sure it would've taken years to finish.

His eyes draw to the sherbet sky, watching a wyvern in the distance.

"That's one big wyvern, huh, Z?"

Z perches up, staring at the creature. After a moment, he takes flight, darting off in the opposite direction.

Si-woo lets out a deep sigh, watching Z fly away.

"There he goes again… Honestly, I'm curious about where he spends his time. Does he-"

Si-woo stops short. The hairs on the back of his neck rise as his eyes dart toward the oncoming creature from the corner of his eye.

"It's getting really close… Did a person just jump down from it?"

A jolt of energy courses through his body as he immediately begins to sprint away. He knows what's about to happen, but it's too late.

In one swift motion, the figure gracefully lands directly behind Si-woo, grabs him by the collar, and returns to the sky-all within a moment.

Si-woo doesn't even struggle as he soars toward the wyvern like a ragdoll, flailing through the sky.

A loud and familiar laugh sounds from his captor's mouth.

Upon landing on the back of the brown wyvern, Si-woo sits down on the ridges, staring directly at the hooded figure.

"Do the citizens of the Fae Kingdom know that their king kidnaps children?"

The figure pulls back his hood to reveal the stunningly stark face of King Morey. He sits facing Si-woo as his medium-length, curly hair waves like fine silver silk curtains in the wind.

He lets out a deep, heartfelt snicker, his sharp blue eyes fixing on Si-woo.

"Oh, stop calling it that, son. It's 'surprise adventures.' We all need some excitement in our lives, don't we?"

Si-woo's expression remains deadpan. Eventually, the king's radiant joy pierces through him, eliciting a deep, relaxing sigh.

"See? Doesn't that feel nice?"

King Morey shifts a little to his right, looking past Si-woo toward the horizon.

"I've also missed talking to the two of ya. I'll have to catch-I mean, give Ha-yoon a surprise later."

Si-woo shakes his head, ignoring King Morey's questionable goals.

"Well, actually, I've been wanting to talk to you too."

"Oh, you've missed me too?" King Morey says with glee.

Si-woo continues.

"When I was in the Tabaek Kingdom, I got to meet the elders, as you know."

King Morey nods.

"It was nice and informative, but then they started talking about fate. My fate and my sister's fate, and how they knew of it. I've-I know I've asked a bunch of times about the so-called 'prophecies' and eventually stopped, but now I can't help but feel like strangers have something of mine that I can't get back, and the closest people around me gave it to them."

The whistle of the wind meets Si-woo's ears as King Morey puts on a more serious expression. He waits briefly.

"The sprits did have a concrete relationship with the Mu, so what they say is true, but let me tell you a story.

There was once a young boy who had many friends. His peers would treat him according to his age, as they were young adults. The young boy often found himself jealous and confused, and left out of their conversations. One day, he prayed to be ten years older so he could hang around his friends all the time and take part in their activities, and his prayers were answered.

The next day, he woke up, and his peers were surprised. They inevitably told him all about the things he couldn't understand before. But he still felt left out, and even more alone than before. Do you know why?"

Si-woo ponders, then finds an answer: "Because knowing isn't necessarily the same as being ready to understand?"

"Almost. The kid understands what they're saying, but he has no meaningful experience to tie it to his foundational being.

As we go through life, we look at each other's structures of being, judging what we can gain from one another based on how they constructed theirs. Understanding takes maturity, maturity takes experience, and experience takes time.

You can use your time to make your foundations tall, wide, pretty, or you could use it to make a solid, tessellated, unshakable one.

We may say, 'In due time, we'll tell you more, Si-woo,' but it's not simply because you're a child. We don't want to give you blocks that you'll use to build on an unstructured wall."

Si-woo unclenches his jaw, then nods slowly.

"Okay."

With a smile, King Morey turns his back to Si-woo, focusing on the head of the wyvern.

"On another note, Minho tells me you are doing quite well in training and in cultivating your meridian channels. You even beat Mai in a spar. I'm proud."

Si-woo looks away as his cheeks flush. "Well, I can use Serein, so it wasn't really fair."

"Battles are often not fair," King Morey retorts.

"That's what Maste- I mean, Minho says. I've also been thinking about how I can improve my bond. I know that when I awaken, our bond will evolve, but it's hard finding books about Whiteblood Wyverns that go beyond the basics and don't just depict them in a negative way."

"I see, I see. Well, as you know, there's little to no information about them, so you'll have another adventure on your hands when you awaken. But I do remember some information about them, if you'd like to hear it. But first, tell me what you know."

Si-woo shifts excitedly between the protruding ridges of the wyvern.

"Okay, I know that Whiteblood Wyverns have a lifespan of about forty-five thousand years. They're known to be very intelligent, so at some point, I expect Z to be able to communicate with not only me, but others. They're apex predators and are able to produce a world-ending destructive force from their mouths. I'm not sure what bond type they are since fae aren't able to bond with them, and neither are spirits."

"That's good, and you're correct. Wyverns are Serein and mana-type creatures. I know you can't use mana, but I and others suspect that may change in the future. But that's a topic for another time.

My father used to be a renowned wyvern warrior before he got married to the queen and became the king of Ondur. He used to tell me all types of stories, especially about wyverns. He would tell me that the majority of whiteblood wyverns were female.

But when more than one male wyvern was born, a dormant internal aether organ, used for migration season, was activated through a duel of sorts-one to assert another's dominance. Then, ultimately, the winner would have an aether mark-a mark of god-embedded on their body and would become their head.

During their migration season, they would use that organ to transfer their whole pack into another dimension to deliver eggs and allow them to mature. Later in the season, they may return to this realm for its rich and pure energies."

"Whoa, so you're telling me that whiteblood wyverns are potentially Q, M, and A type creatures?!" Si-woo's eyes widen in shock.

"Indeed. Just the males, though. The bad news is-"

"That there needs to be another male," Si-woo finishes in a low tone.

"Exactly. But look forward to Z's pyric maturation and including it in spars. Maybe use it on experienced opponents, though. Otherwise we don't want kids shaking in their shoes when they see you."

Si-woo scoffs. People being so afraid of me that they start shaking? As if. That's usually my role. I remember how Ye-jun had anxiety problems when he was a kid and started shaking. But he quickly grew out of it.

"Anyhow, I know you don't like to talk much, so let's just enjoy the view, you mysterious boy."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Look," King Morey says, pointing into the evening sky, totally disregarding Si-woo. "The stars are coming out, aren't they beautiful?"

Si-woo debates kicking him in the back but decides it would be a waste of energy. He diverted his attention to the beautiful starry sky enveloping them as the sun cast its last shades of red in the distance.

"Yes, they are."

…

The sun is high in the cloudless glacier-blue sky, and long, deep shadows stretch across the snow-dusted rooftops of Seoul. The streets are filled with fae children, on their holiday from the academy before the new year begins. Si-woo wakes up from his afternoon nap to warm light flooding the city, a nice contrast to the winter chill.

He blinks groggily, still half caught in the haze of sleep. Goodness, the soul pills are draining. He stares to his right through the window at the serene view of snow-covered trees and the luminescent decorations. A set of hurried footsteps jolts him fully awake. Before he could make sense of it, the door bursts open and Minho stumbles in, his face tight with anxiety.

"Get up," Minho orders, his voice urgent as he grabs Si-woo's arm and pulls him to his feet.

Si-woo stumbles, his heart racing.

"What's going on?"

Minho doesn't respond. His grip is firm, almost unrelenting, as he drags Si-woo downstairs.

"Put on your shoes." The command left no room for questions.

From the commotion, Ha-yoon appears at the top of the stairs, her eyes wide and worried.

"What's happening?" she calls with a hint of worry.

Minho glances up at her, his expression softening for just a moment.

"Stay here, Ha-yoon, we'll be back."

"But why-"

Minho pulls Si-woo out the door. The cool afternoon breeze did little to calm Si-woo's growing panic. Fed up, Si-woo digs his heels into the ground, yanking his arm free from Minho's grip.

"What's happening?" Si-woo yells, his voice cracking with desperation.

But the sight before him stole the words from his mouth. His home is surrounded by imposing fae soldiers standing stoically across the front yard in a complete circle; their sharp eyes scan the surroundings as if expecting an imminent attack.

Si-woo turns back to Minho.

"Why are they here? What's going on?"

Minho grabs his shoulders, his eyes searching Si-woo's face with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.

"I was wrong,"

"W-wrong? wrong about what?" Si-woo stammers, but before he could press further, Minho hauled him toward Lemmy, who was waiting nearby, her wings half-open, ready to lift off at any given notice.

Minho lifts Si-woo onto Lemmy's back. "Hang tight,"

"Master-"

Lemmy lets out a shrill cry with a powerful leap as she takes to the skies. The wind roars in Si-woo's ears as he clings tightly to Lemmy's bone protrusions.

Below them, some of the soldiers disappear into thin air, while others remain stationed around the house. The sight of Ha-yoon's worrying face fades in the distance gnaws at Si-woo's heart.

They flew for what felt like an eternity; the familiar landscape of Seoul blurs beneath them until they reach a desolate field of snow with a brown platform sitting in the middle like a lone bastion surrounded by more fae soldiers. The field stretches endlessly in every direction; the air is quiet save for the faint hum of tension mingling with the wind.

As Lemmy descends into the desolate field, Si-woo could make out several figures waiting below. Princess Deane stands at the forefront, her white hair shimmers under the fading under the warm light with the purity of the snoow around her, but her expression was but upliifting, the creaces in her face relay grief and heavy with sorrow. Beside her stands King Morey, his imposing presence only adding to the gravity of the scene. Two fae guards flanked the king, their postures stiff and their hands resting on the hilts of their weapons.

As Lemmy lands, Si-woo dismounts hesitantly, his gaze flickering between the gathered figures. Before he could speak, Princess Deane rushes toward him, her deep ocean eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Without a word, she takes Si-woo's hand and begins leading him toward a group of military guards gathered nearby.

"I saw many young perish," she said, her voice trembling,

"From something I could have prevented."

Now Si-woo is scared. His mind races with questions, but the sight of the princess-normally so composed-rendered him silent. He let her guide him.

They stopped at the center platform in the middle of the military formation, where a circle of eight fae soldiers stands with revolving orbital devices in their hands. A small piece of orichalcum lies at the center of the silver devices. Each soldier around them buzzes with an almost palpable tension, and Si-woo feels the weight of countless eyes on him.

Finally, he couldn't stay silent any longer.

"Princess, what's going on?"

Princess Deane then slows to a stop, turning to face him. She cups his cheeks with her hands, her touch warm and steady. Her eyes met his, and in that moment, Si-woo saw not just a ruler but an image of his worried mother.

"All I want you to do," she said softly, her voice almost pleading, "is cultivate. Just sit and cultivate. Can you do that for me?"

Si-woo hesitates but then nods, his trust in her outweighing his apprehension.

Princess Deane gives him a faint, grateful smile before stepping back, her hands lingering for a moment before falling to her sides. She walks away from the center of the formation, her head held high despite the sorrow etched into her features.

As Si-woo lowers himself into a seated position at the very center of the platform, King Morey raises his hand. With a sharp snap of his fingers, a translucent barrier shimmered to life around Si-woo. The barrier thrums faintly, its edges glowing with a soft white hue.

Si-woo glances around, his unease growing as he realizes what is about to happen. Awakenings… I'M ABOUT TO AWAKEN. But awakenings don't call for this much…what did Princess Deane see? But before he could dwell on the question, he closes his eyes and took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus.

The world around him fades as he centers himself. The familiar flow of serein within him becomes his anchor, steady and calming. Si-woo resolves to do as Princess Deane asked.

As Si-Woo breathes out and immerses himself in making his final channels, the world around him begins to shift. Minutes passed in silence, but then subtle tremors rippled through the ground. Princess Deane, standing just outside the translucent barriers, tenses as the vibrations intensify. The soft thrum of energy from the orichalcum metals held by the guards around Si-woo grew louder.

The rumbling grows stronger, and suddenly, small rocks and debris around the field began to levitate into the air, caught in an unseen current. A ring of light forms above Si-woo's head, with viscous drops slowly falling onto his body, tracing a path throughout his skin.

Princess Deane's eyes widened in alarm. He has a dynamic mode??? She turns to King Morey, who was already fixated on Si-woo with a calculating gaze.

King Morey's deep voice broke the growing tension.

"The energies…" he muttered. His sharp eyes caught the chaotic movements of foreign energies rushing in and out of Si-woo's meditative form, colliding violently with the protective barriers around him.

"These are just prototypes of what we have. But the orichalcum seems to be struggling just a bit, holding him in his nascent dynamic mode."

A resounding crack ripples through the earth, sending shockwaves and snow through the field. Bursts of wind shoot outward, making Princess Deane shield her face.

Inside the last barrier, Si-woo's body is surrounded by a maelstrom of energy. The foreign currents twist and spiral around him, refusing to be contained. His ethereal figure glows faintly, the energies pressed against the barrier, testing its limits.

With one final surge, the barrier quakes violently; a small crack glowing in the center of it flickers. Then, just as suddenly as the chaos began, everything stills. The floating rocks fall to the ground, the trembling stops, and the air grows unnervingly quiet.

The soldiers stand strong, but their veins are evident in their muscles. King Morey surveys the scene, his sharp gaze darting back to the center of the field.

Si-woo, seemingly unfazed, slowly rose to his feet as the force field dissipated. His expression is blank, and his movements deliberate as he begins to walk toward Princess Deane and King Morey. The silence is almost suffocating as all eyes turn to him.

"Where's Minh-"

He stops, feeling the ground beneath him shift unnaturally, the sensation of movement overwhelming his senses. His vision blurred, and a strange dizziness took hold of him. Si-woo reached out, as if trying to grasp something solid, but the world tilted beneath him. The last thing he saw was Princess Deane running toward him, her voice calling his name, before everything went black.

…

The thick covers shift as Si-woo stirs awake. He blinks, his vision blurry and groggy, but he knows the softness of his bed from anywhere. The familiar scent of home surrounds him, and as his vision clears, he realizes he is back in his room.

He turns his head slightly and sees Ha-yoon sitting in a chair beside the bed, her head tilted downward as she slept. Her breathing is soft and steady, her usual composure replaced by a rare vulnerability in her relaxed state. Z lies at the foot of his bed, curled up looking just as disheveled as Si-woo.

Si-woo sits up, with a dull ache.

"How did I get here?" he murmurs to himself, his voice raspy.

His question is met with lingering silence, then suddenly, a bronze-and-black screen materializes in front of him, glowing faintly. Startled, Si-woo instinctively flinches and punches at it, but his hand passes through it harmlessly as if it were a hologram.

"What…?" he mutters, turning his head to Ha-yoon, still asleep in the chair beside him.

He cautiously looked back at the screen, his eyes scanning the glowing letters that formed across its surface:

═══════════ S T A T U S ═══════════

SI-WOO — LEVEL 0

Age 11 · Class: None (qualifications not met)

Title: None

Experience: 0 / 100 ▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱ 0%

— STATS —

Strength — · Agility —

Stamina — · Intellect —

Will — Unactivated

Stat Points: 0 · Skill Points: 0

— VITALS —

Life Essence: ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ 100% (Full)

Serein Fatigue: ▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱ 0% (None)

Mana: ▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱ 🔒 LOCKED

Mana unlocks once a class is obtained.

— MERIDIAN TREE —

Serein: Translucent (White)

Purity: Highest

Channels: [ Observe Tree Status ]

— TOEJU —

14th Degree · Bronze Body: ▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱ 0%

Next: 13th Degree Bronze Body

Body Stature: Divine (Medium)

Formations: Deific Eye of the Storm · Wistful Halo · Heavens Bind · The Holy Prisoner

— EQUIPMENT —

Weapon: Eternity, Breaker of Mercy [ UNIQUE ]

Bond: Z, Whiteblood Wyvern

Armor: — · Artifacts: — · Items: —

— QUESTS —

Immediate:

Daily:

Next Assessment: Level 50

— SKILLS —

Exponential Growth · upgrade unlocks with class

Dynamic Mode · skill unlocks with class

Mu Successor · passive — grants almost instant obtention of Mu-related topics

═══ Z — WHITEBLOOD WYVERN · LEVEL 0 ═══

Male · Si-woo's Bond · Age: 2 years · Type: M (Mana) + S (Serein type)

Stats: Strength — · Agility — · Stamina — · Intellect —

Ability: Elementary Pyric Maturation

═══════════════════════════════

Si-woo blinks, his heart racing as he whispers hoarsely, "What? What is this?"

He stares at the screen, his brows furrowing deeply, unsure if this was real or some fever dream brought on by his exhaustion. He pinched his arm, wincing slightly at the sharp pain. Not dreaming.

His eyes widen as he processes the information. His mind races, comparing this to the games he used to play when Earth was Earth. I can't believe this…is this what an awakening is like? A game? His gaze fixes on the glowing screen in disbelief.

Si-woo stares at the glowing words, his curiosity igniting. It looks like the screen is just a generalization of who I am and my abilities. This kind of reminds me of what Oapa says when they enter anomalies an objective Is shown to them in a translucent , see-through screen, displaying the progress and, among other things. So maybe the screen is connected to the makeup of the anomalies in some way.

That's weird. I don't have a class or a title?I'm familiar with classes, such as maybe warriors, mages, and rogues…but titles seem to be more vague.

Some of my Skills and stats are locked. How am I supposed to get a class? And why am I level zero with empty stats? He frowns. Maybe it's because of the awakening. This system must only count the progress I make from here on. I'm a little sore, but I don't feel like all my strength has been reset.

Then a line catches his eye. Mana? His heart jumps. Can I use mana? Wait, what?Dang it, it also says I need to obtain a class. Then that's the first thing I'm going to try to do. He bit his thumbnail, trying to rein in his excitement. Maybe Oapa can help me use it. I'll probably have to go back to the Tabaek Kingdom and be tutored by the sprits. This is a lot to think about.

And what are Mu Successor and assessments? There are quests too. That must be how I earn experience.

His eyes widen as he keeps reading. I can observe my meridian tree. I can even see how close I am to the next Toeju degree. Z also has his own status window as well, but his stats were empty as well. This is insane. And so organized.Wait. Pyric Maturation? Is that what I think it is?

A soft groan breaks his focus. He blinks, then the screen dissolves without a trace.

"Si-woo?" Ha-yoon's groggy voice pulls his attention away. Rubbing her eyes, she stares at him with her stormy eyes wide in astonishment.

"Oh my goodness. You're awake!"

She rushes over and bear-hugs him tightly as tears stream down her face.

"I thought you weren't going to wake up!"

Grimacing at the soreness, Si-woo gently pats her head. His heart warms as he glances down.

"I'm sorry I worried you."

She buries her face in his chest and cries. At some point, Z had woken up too and crawled to Si-woo's side and perched there, watching. After a few moments, Ha-yoon pulls away, sniffling. Si-woo notices the snot running down her nose. His expression twisted into mild disgust.

"Eww, Ha-yoon, you got snot all over me!"

She swats at him.

"Shut up!" She immediately puts two fingers to his wrist, her face scrunched in concentration.

"You're fine now, but a few days ago your pulse was dangerously low, Si-woo."

Si-woo hesitates, his mind still lingering on the strange screen. "How long was I out for?"

"About five days," Mai answers from the doorway.

"You scared all of us, you know. Ha-yoon was a mess, and Minho's been a bit…stiff."

"I was not a mess"

Si-woo waves off Ha-yoon's retort, piecing together the fragments of his last memory.

"What happened after I blacked out?"

Mai crosses her arms. "King Morey and Princess Deane said you were fine, but you were out cold when they brought you home." Her expression softens with relief, then a teasing grin creeps across her face.

"You're the talk of Seoul, you know. Minho told me you've awakened."

I guess I have. Si-woo thought of the screen again.

"Looks like it."

Ha-yoon wipes the last tears from her face.

"King Morey put out a public announcement to all cheg devices of your awakening, saying something like you're the youngest in history to do it, and other stuff about honor. The news is spreading fast. The fae are already gossiping about the 'prodigy twin' this and the 'prodigy twin' that."

Si-woo groans, running a hand over his face.

Mai chuckles, her silvery hair glinting in the sunlight from the window. "It's okay to bask in it for a little while. You did something incredible."

His face remains emotionless.

"A lot of people have been asking for you these past few days," Mai adds, "including Oapa and Lirin. But Minho made sure only a select few were allowed into the house."

Si-woo raises an eyebrow.

"Really?"

Ha-yoon points out the window. "You can't see it from the backyard, but he even posted military guards all around. They're no joke. Some of them look like they've met the Jeoseung Saja."

Si-woo glances toward the window, picturing the guards outside. The weight of the past few days began to sink in, and Ha-yoon, despite her usual fire, stayed close at his side.

"So, how does it feel to be awakened?" she burst out.

Si-woo clenched his fist. His senses were sharper than he'd ever known them. Without any effort, he could pick out small details in Ha-yoon's face that he'd never noticed before. Every sound, from the creak of the floorboards to the rustle of leaves outside, was crisp and distinct. His muscles were sore, but somehow lighter.

"It definitely feels different," he says, stepping out of bed.

That was when he realized he was in nothing but his underwear. Mai's face turns crimson, as she spins around.

"I'll go tell Minho!" she stammers, and hurries, her footsteps echoing down the stairs.

"What's her problem?" Ha-yoon says, completely unfazed.

Si-woo shrugs. "No idea." He stretches.

"I'm going to take a shower. See you guys downstairs."

With a coo, Z follows him into the bathroom, wings flapping in excitement.

Under the hot water, Si-woo tilts his head back and lets it run down his face. Every droplet felt vivid, amplified by his heightened senses. His thoughts drift, and he calls out to the system in his mind. Status window.

The screen pops up at once.

DAILY QUEST

Complete the daily quests.

Reward: Insight (Skill)

Si-woo groans and swats at the screen out of reflex, though he knows it won't budge.

"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to this. On another note, this is new."

Curiosity takes over. Daily quests. A second screen appears.

Study for 2 hours.

Run 2 kilometers.

Train in Toeju martial arts for 2 hours.

Upon completing all daily quests: +25 EXP

He tilts his head.

"I already do all of this every day."

What really catches his attention is the reward. What does Insight do?

He stands under the shower with a straight face as the water rolls off him. In the corner of the tub, Z flaps his wings and playfully snaps at the droplets, clearly having the time of his life.

"Figures." This is going to be a lot of trial and error, especially with the stat points and skill points.

Once he was dressed, he made his way downstairs, with Z on his head. The moment he stepped into the living room, he stopped short.

"Congratulations!" Princess Deane says warmly, her stunning face catching the sunlight. Her marble-sea eyes sparkle with pride as she steps forward, clasping his hands.

"How are you? How do you feel?"

"I'm fine, I…" He blinks, looking behind her at Minho.

Minho stands stoicallywith his arms crossed in his dark maroon robe, a smirk spreading across his face.

Si-woo rubs the back of his neck.

"Thanks, everyone. It feels strange. It's going to be a while before I get used to it."

Princess Deane smiles knowingly.

"That's normal. Awakening changes you, Si-woo. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to adjust." She says before walking towards the kitchen.

"And I'll be here to make sure you don't slack off while you do." Minho's smirk grows as he walks closer to ruffle Si-woo's damp hair.

Si-woo chuckles nervously, not thinking twice about what Minho had just promised, but genuinely happy to see his reaction to him awakening.

Princess Deane returns from the kitchen with a tray of sandwiches and desserts and sets it on the front room table with Ha-yoon following closely behind.

"Here, have some." Then her tone softens, regret flickering in her light blue eyes.

"Now that you've awakened and are officially a fifth echelon greenie, you'll need to start thinking about which family to join by the first day of the academy. I'm sorry, Si-woo. We thought you'd have more time to decide."

Si-woo shakes his head, his black eyes steady as he picks up a sandwich.

"There's no need to apologize. It's an honor to have the chance to join a family soon."

His gaze drifts once more to the daily quest screen. The tasks felt oddly satisfying, structured and clear in a way that gave him a sense of control amid the whirlwind of his awakening. With a thought, he closes the screen and turns to find Minho leaning against the wall by the front window, sipping tea with a contented smile.

"Minho, can we go to the training grounds after this?"

Minho raises an eyebrow, then chuckles silently as he sets down his cup. "I had a feeling you'd ask. You know, Princess Deane told me not to mention training for a few days. She thought you'd need time to rest and adjust."

Si-woo shrugs.

"After I eat, I'll be fine. And I need to keep up with my daily quests."

"Daily quests?" Mai asks, tilting her head.

"Nothing," Si-woo said quickly.

"Well, since you insist, it can't be helped," Minho says, looking toward Princess Deane for confirmation.

Princess Deane shakes her head slowly, watching Si-woo with a hint of pity.

"I'll make an exception, just this once. If the slightest thing seems off, or goes wrong, you can count on me never being this lenient again. Finish eating first, then you can go."

The room buzzes with anticipation; even Z perks up, chirping as if in approval.

"We're coming too," Mai announces, tugging Ha-yoon.

Ha-yoon, still nibbling on a leftover pastry, didn't retort.

Minho looks around the room in mock exasperation. "Looks like we'll be making it a spectacle. The guards at the royal palace will also want to see your progress." He waves his hand dismissively.

"Alright." Si-woo begins eating. Showing no enthusiasm for the added audience.

Can't wait.