Kael's day began like any other in Erendath, but there was an edge to the air, a lingering tension he couldn't quite place. The previous night, his conversation with Limo about the connections between his world and Erendath had left him with more questions than answers.
Today, however, Kael had a different focus: his sparring session with Varin. Varin was his mentor in Erendath, a guide through the chaotic landscape of the Ascension system. Yet there was something more between them, an unspoken connection that neither had fully addressed until now.
Kael activated his mentor system, feeling the familiar surge of energy as his surroundings blurred. The landscape around him melted away, the forest appearing in an instant as if the entire world had just shifted around him. His boots landed lightly on the soft, mossy ground of their usual training spot. Birds sang in the distance, and the sound of rustling leaves filled the air as a gentle wind whispered through the trees.
Varin stood in the center of the clearing, his arms crossed and a smile already spreading across his face. "You're late."
Kael chuckled, brushing a hand through his hair. "Blame the teleport system. It's finicky."
Varin's grin widened. "You mean you were lost in thought, as usual."
Kael shook his head, his eyes settling on Varin. "There's something I want to confirm with you today."
"Oh?" Varin's smile didn't fade, but Kael noticed the slight narrowing of his eyes, as if he already knew what was coming. "Let me guess… Is this about the Rebirth Core?"
Kael nodded slowly. "Yes. And… no."
Varin's smile faltered for a moment. "What do you mean?"
Kael sighed. "How did you unlock your Rebirth Core?"
Varin's expression shifted into something more serious, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by a knowing look. "You mean to ask if I was reborn into this world, right?"
Kael nodded, his heart beating a little faster. He'd suspected as much, but hearing it from Varin was another thing entirely.
Varin crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. "Yes. I was reborn. I used to be from Earth, just like you."
"Does that mean you're from Earth?" Kael's eyes widened in disbelief.
Varin chuckled softly. "I knew you were also reborn, Kael. From the way you acted and the way you talked..."
Kael shifted awkwardly, suddenly self-conscious. "How do you mean?"
"You look like one of the noobs in a game. Clueless and sometimes too eager to do things—like a type of player who tends to skip the narrative when playing a game," Varin teased, a playful smile on his face.
Kael scratched his head, a sheepish grin creeping across his face. "I guess I'm a bit of a noob. I've never played the Ascension game before."
Varin stopped smiling, his eyes widening. "Wait, seriously? You've never played the game? How did you unlock your Rebirth Core, then? From what I know, only players who died and got reborn here have that."
"I'm not sure," Kael admitted, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Limo, he's my system guide, told me that I would know once I was powerful enough. He also said my Rebirth Core is special."
Varin fell silent, his gaze distant as if lost in thought. Then, almost in a whisper, he said, "I see… You're the one they've been talking about."
"Huh? Who's 'they'? What do you mean?" Kael pressed, intrigued.
"Oh, it's nothing," Varin said, his voice trailing off. Suddenly, his expression darkened, shadows flickering in the depths of his eyes.
Kael felt a twinge of concern but sensed that pursuing the matter would only push Varin further into silence. Instead, he shifted the topic. "Do you know that this world is real?"
Varin regarded him with an unreadable expression. "Yes. It's complicated. This world and our world. If you're thinking about trying to find ascendants to communicate with the real world… don't bother." His tone turned serious. "They will only think you're an AI character."
"Why is that? We have the same system," Kael replied, perplexed.
"Believe me, I tried before. I can't even add them as friends. When I tried to access the chat, there's no function for me to send a message. I can't read any messages from the players or chat forums, either. Even if you're in a guild, you can't communicate with any of the players in the guild."
Kael was stunned. A chat feature too? What was Limo hiding from him?
"I see," he finally said, a wave of acceptance washing over him. "Well, I won't need to communicate with the real world. There's no one I want to communicate with anyway. I was an orphan."
Varin's expression softened. "Sorry to hear that."
"I realized something in time," Varin continued, his tone reflective. "I think I understand now. This the Path of the Reborn. I was given a second chance in this world. I chose to be reborn in Erendath, which means my life back on Earth is a thing of the past. I need to move on. Erendath is my home now. Whether it's a game or not, real or not, I will protect it."
Kael nodded, absorbing Varin's words. He felt a kinship with the man standing before him—a bond that transcended their origins.
"Speaking of protection," Kael said, eager to share his progress, "I have a new skill unlocked!"
Varin's interest piqued. "Really? What is it?"
"Deathcaller-Summoner. I can command souls trapped between life and death."
Varin's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "That's… a pretty powerful class. You might hold significant importance in protecting Erendath and unlocking the secrets to the Rebirth Core's purpose. I can see why your guide would say your Rebirth Core is special."
"Thanks. I hope I can live up to it," Kael said, his voice steady but filled with uncertainty.
Varin then asked, "Have you heard of the Ascension Tower?"
Kael shook his head. "No, I haven't. What is it?"
"Unlike the Erendath Awakeners or the Ascendants, as a reborn with a Rebirth Core trait, you can also enter the Ascension Tower to unlock your skills. But you must know, it's also a trial for Awakeners and Ascendants up to the 19th floor. Only those with a Rebirth Core can access the 20th floor."
"I see that you're Level 10 now. There is a skill Voidstep I want you to unlock. I think you're ready" said Varin.
"Voidstep?"
Varin crossed his arms, thinking. "Yes. But you're going to have to find the Ascension Tower to unlock it. You need to complete the Void Step trials to unlock the skill."
Kael's curiosity deepened. "How do I find it?"
Varin smiled knowingly. "Follow the signs. The tower is a beacon for those like us. It will reveal itself when you are ready. The system will notify you, or you can ask Limo, your system guide, for directions."
At the mention of Limo, Kael felt a swirl of emotions. His guide had proven unreliable at times, yet he was willing to give him a second chance. After all, Limo was just like him—a newbie navigating this unfamiliar world.
Kael realized he hadn't taken a thorough look at his new Rebirth Core class or his Eternal classes. He hadn't mentioned his Eternal Shadowmaster and Eternal Soulbinder classes to Varin yet. A nagging feeling lingered in his mind; he wanted to master his Rebirth Core class first before diving into his additional classes, fearing that he might become overwhelmed.
Kael nodded, a determination settling over him like a shroud. "Then that's where I'll go."
Before Kael could dive further into his system interface, Varin suddenly shifted into a fighting stance. "But before that..."
A sly grin spread across Varin's face. "We spar. I need to make sure you're ready for what's coming."
Kael blinked in surprise, but his own lips curled into a smile. His mentor's sudden shift in attitude was familiar, and it brought a sense of comfort. This was Varin's way of preparing him for the trials ahead.
"Sure. Bring it on." Kael grinned, his own sword materializing in his hand.