The dinner table was quiet, filled only with the soft clinks of utensils against ceramic plates. Aiden was unusually pensive, his thoughts fixated on the peculiar black rock he had acquired during his travels. The curiosity was eating at him, and he decided he could wait no longer. As he stood to leave, Ayleen glanced at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Aiden," she called out, her voice carrying an amused lilt, "where are you running off to so quickly? You've been fidgeting all evening."
Aiden hesitated before turning around. "Mom, I forgot to ask you earlier, but… um, where is that rock?"
Ayleen blinked, then chuckled softly. "Oh, that rock? I've already kept it in your room under the bed. Still don't understand why you'd spend so much money on a fancy rock." She leaned back, crossing her arms. "Care to explain what's so special about it?"
Orin, seated nearby, perked up at the mention of the "rock," curiosity flickering in his eyes.
Aiden grinned mischievously. "Come on, Mom. Where's the fun in spoiling the surprise? You'll find out soon enough."
Without waiting for further questions, he bolted toward his room, leaving Ayleen and Orin exchanging puzzled glances.
"Did he tell you what it's about?" Ayleen asked, half amused.
Orin shook his head. "Nope. Like he said, let's wait and see what surprise he has in store for us."
Inside his room, Aiden closed the door firmly behind him and dropped to his knees. Reaching under his bed, he carefully retrieved the box containing the mysterious black rock. Holding it in his small hands, he examined its rough, uneven surface. Despite its strange appearance, most people had dismissed it as nothing more than an oddly shaped stone.
But Aiden knew better.
He traced his fingers over the intricate glyphs faintly etched into its surface. "Who would've thought this was hidden inside the merchant's collection?" he muttered to himself, his excitement bubbling over.
Remembering the shard's unique ability, he whispered, "Show power level."
A faint glow illuminated the room as the shard responded:
Power Level: 7
Aiden's eyes widened. "Wait, it was only 5 last time. How did it increase?"
His mind raced with possibilities. Perhaps it responded to mana? Determined to test his theory, he began channeling his mana into the rock, his hands trembling with anticipation.
As he focused, a sharp edge of the rock grazed his finger, drawing a bead of blood. He winced, but before he could react, the droplet was absorbed into the stone.
"What the…?" he whispered, watching in awe as the glyphs on the rock shimmered briefly before fading.
Thinking it might need more blood, Aiden pressed his injured finger against the surface. But this time, nothing happened.
"Huh… so it doesn't need blood after all?" he murmured, perplexed.
Undeterred, he resumed channeling his mana. The stone vibrated slightly in his hands, and the rate of absorption increased dramatically. The glyphs glowed brighter, one by one, as if awakening from a long slumber.
After a few minutes, the vibration ceased, and the rock fell silent. Exhausted, Aiden checked its status again.
"Show power level."
Power Level: 27
Aiden gasped. "Twenty-seven?! That's insane!"
His mana reserves were nearly depleted, but the results were worth it. Whatever this rock was, it was far from ordinary. Carefully placing it back in the box, he whispered, "Come out soon, my first pet. I can't wait to see what you'll become."
As he slid the box under his bed and climbed into bed, a faint glow emanated from the stone. The first glyph etched into its surface cracked, releasing a soft pulse of energy before going dormant once more.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, deep in the bustling city of Dermon, the elegant Countess Fiona Venti sat in her study, poring over a stack of documents. Her deep amethyst eyes scanned the pages with sharp focus, her quill scratching against parchment as she made notes.
The room was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of paper—until a soft tap on the window drew her attention.
Fiona turned, her gaze narrowing as she saw a large owl perched on the windowsill. Setting her quill aside, she rose gracefully and opened the window.
The owl hopped inside and, in a flash of light, transformed into a tall, striking late teenage girl with long white hair and golden eyes that glimmered like gemstones. She wore a playful smirk as she looked at Fiona.
Fiona's expression darkened. "Arianna," she said curtly. "Why are you here?"
Arianna chuckled, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "Not even a 'hello'? Aren't you going to offer me some tea? I traveled all the way from the capital, you know."
Fiona sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're the only disciple I know who expects her master to serve her tea."
"Exactly why I'm your favorite," Arianna teased, settling into a chair.
With a resigned sigh, Fiona prepared two cups of tea and set one in front of her guest. "Now, tell me why you're here."
Arianna's playful demeanor faded as she grew serious. "Master, it's been confirmed. Enemy spies have infiltrated the kingdom."
Fiona's hand paused mid-air, her teacup hovering just below her lips. "How many? And where?"
"That's the problem," Arianna replied. "We don't know their numbers or their exact locations. They've covered their tracks well, but reports from the capital suggest they've already made moves in key regions."
Fiona set her cup down, her expression grim. "And you've come to warn me because you suspect they might target Dermon?"
Arianna nodded. "Your territory is strategically vital. If they're here, they'll be watching closely. You've been a thorn in their side since the war."
Fiona leaned back in her chair, her eyes glinting with resolve. "So, the peace is over," she murmured.
"It seems that way," Arianna replied.
The two women sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation settling over them like a heavy cloud.