The morning sun filtered through Aiden's window, casting a warm glow across his room. He woke up to the sound of soft purring. Ciara, his sleek black kitten, lay curled up on his chest, her golden eyes glinting faintly as she stirred.
"Alright, Ciara," Aiden chuckled, gently lifting her off as he sat up. "Time to start the day."
He carried her downstairs, expecting to find his parents preparing breakfast. Instead, the house was eerily quiet. Aiden glanced around, his brows furrowing. "Mom? Dad?" he called out.
When there was no response, he headed toward the kitchen. As he entered, there was a sudden bang followed by a dazzling flash of light. Ciara leapt from his arms, her fur bristling as she hissed in alarm. Aiden instinctively shielded his eyes before hearing two familiar voices shout in unison:
"Happy Birthday, Aiden!"
As his vision cleared, he saw his mother, Ayleen, beaming as she carried a beautifully decorated cake to the table. His father, Orin, stood beside her, clapping with a wide grin.
Aiden blinked in surprise, then broke into a smile. "You guys scared me! Thank you, Mom, Dad!" He looked down at Ciara, who was still hissing, her tail puffed up like a bottle brush. Chuckling, he reached down to calm her. "It's okay, Ciara. Just a surprise. See?"
The kitten relaxed slightly under his soothing touch, though her gaze remained wary.
After cutting the cake and enjoying breakfast together, Ayleen leaned forward with a playful smile. "Aren't you curious about what we got you for your birthday?"
Aiden tilted his head, intrigued. "You got me a present?"
Orin chuckled as he retrieved a large, ribbon-wrapped box from the corner of the room. "Open it and see for yourself."
The anticipation built as Aiden carefully untied the ribbon and removed the wrapping. When he opened the box, his breath caught. Inside, nestled in soft padding, was an ornate sword within a polished scabbard. The craftsmanship was exquisite, with intricate runes etched along the hilt.
"Go on," Orin urged, a proud smile on his face. "Take it out."
Aiden unsheathed the sword, and it gleamed brilliantly in the morning light. He gave it a tentative swing, and the blade seemed to move as if it were an extension of his own arm. The motion was seamless, almost effortless.
Even Orin and Ayleen exchanged surprised glances. "It suits you perfectly," Orin remarked.
Placing the sword back in its scabbard, Aiden looked at his parents, his voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Mom, Dad. I'll treasure this."
Ayleen smiled warmly and ruffled his hair. But as she did, her expression shifted to one of shock. She paused, her hand hovering near his head.
"Aiden," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief, "have you… have you broken through to the Adept rank already?"
Aiden rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Uh… yeah. It happened last night. I forgot to mention it because, well… Ciara."
Ayleen stared at him, her brow furrowed. "But that doesn't make sense. You were only at the middle stage of the Novice rank. Breaking through so quickly shouldn't be possible."
Aiden hesitated, then decided to explain. He recounted the events of the previous night: how Ciara had emerged from the mana-infused rock, the surge of golden energy that had flooded his body, and the transformation of his mana core.
Both parents listened intently, their expressions shifting between shock and amazement. When Aiden finished, Orin glanced at Ciara, who was lounging on the couch, licking her paws as if nothing had happened.
"She's truly something special," Orin murmured, his gaze lingering on the kitten.
Ciara, sensing their attention, looked up briefly, her golden eyes glinting with an intelligence that seemed almost otherworldly. Then she returned to grooming herself, entirely unbothered.
After breakfast, Aiden went about his usual training. Today, however, he included sword practice in his routine. The new blade felt natural in his grip, and he quickly became accustomed to its weight and balance.
During his magic lessons with Ayleen, she handed him a stack of books. "These are spells for Adept-rank mages," she explained. "You're ready for them now. Study them carefully."
Aiden accepted the books eagerly. "Thanks, Mom. I won't disappoint you."
By late afternoon, Aiden decided to visit Rodrick and Lily. Taking Ciara with him, he made his way to their usual meeting spot.
When Lily spotted the kitten in his arms, her eyes widened. "Oh my gosh! Is that a cat? She's adorable!"
As Lily reached out to pet Ciara, the kitten hissed, causing Lily to jump back with a startled yelp.
Rodrick laughed. "Damn, Aiden. Where'd you get such a cool cat? What's her name?"
"Her name's Ciara," Aiden replied, scratching behind her ears to calm her.
"And, uh, don't take it personally, Lily. She doesn't let anyone touch her—not even my parents."
Lily pouted. "I guess she only likes you because you're her owner."
Aiden chuckled but was quickly distracted when Lily mentioned something that caught his attention.
"By the way," she said, "some new merchants arrived in the village today. They've got all kinds of stuff from the city."
Aiden's brow lifted in surprise. "Merchants? Here? That's rare."
"Yeah," Rodrick chimed in. "They're set up in the village square. Wanna check it out?"
Curiosity piqued, Aiden agreed, and the three of them headed toward the center of the village. As they approached, they found a crowd of villagers examining the merchants' wares.
The group consisted of three individuals: two men and a woman. The woman stood out immediately. She was striking, with sharp features and a poised demeanor. Her movements were graceful, yet there was an edge to her presence that made Aiden uneasy.
As he observed her, she smiled and called out to them. "Would you children like to see our assortment of candies?"
Rodrick and Lily eagerly approached, their excitement evident. Aiden, however, hesitated.
Ciara, who had been resting in his arms, suddenly let out a low growl. Her fur bristled, and her tail puffed up in alarm. Aiden frowned, glancing down at her.
"What's wrong, Ciara?" he murmured.
The kitten hissed, her golden eyes fixed on the woman. Aiden's heart skipped a beat. He remembered something he had read about animals sensing danger instinctively.
He whispered to the shard within him. "Eva, show me their power levels."
A series of numbers flashed in his mind.
Woman: Power Level: 746 | Mana Level: 771
Man 1: Power Level: 679 | Mana Level: 685
Man 2: Power Level: 701 | Mana Level: 715
Aiden's breath caught. These weren't merchants. They were far too powerful to be simple traders.
His mind raced. These people were likely connected to the bandits from the other day. They must have come to investigate what had happened to their comrade. The speed of their arrival suggested they belonged to a larger group or organization.
Rodrick's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Aiden, aren't you going to buy anything?"
He forced a smile. "I'll check with my mom first."
Rodrick and Lily nodded, and Aiden excused himself. As he walked home, his thoughts churned. He couldn't let these people roam freely in the village. They posed a threat to the innocent villagers.
At home, during dinner, he contemplated his next move. He briefly considered telling his parents, but a part of him wanted to handle this on his own. He needed to test the extent of his newfound abilities.
.
.
.
Later that night, the "merchants" gathered in their tent, discussing their observations.
"Did you notice anyone suspicious?" Seven asked.
Two frowned. "Not really. But there was a boy who came with his friends. He didn't buy anything—not even candy."
"Maybe he didn't have money," Eight suggested.
"Or," Two countered, "his family could have recently come from the city. They wouldn't need to buy much."
The group fell silent, the implication sinking in.