— Five Years Later —
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It's been a year since Lora left.
She got her awakening done early, same as most kids from the countryside. If you're coming from a village or the outskirts, you're supposed to head to the royal capital at least a year before your ceremony date. The city doesn't hold up the schedule for anyone. So she packed her things, hugged everyone goodbye, and went to stay with our uncle near the city center.
Her class turned out to be Mage. Title: Sage. She can use light, fire, ice, and air magic. Four elements. I heard dad got a little teary when the letter came. He tried to hide it. Elica told me anyway.
I wasn't going to ask her to stay. Everyone moves forward eventually. Me included — right now I'm walking down the dirt road toward the royal capital with the morning sun already way too warm, heading to my own awakening ceremony.
According to the books back home, the ceremony doesn't hand you anything new. It just shows you what's already there — your class, your title, and if your class uses magic, which elements you've got. Only you can see your own status and skills, unless someone around you has the Appraisal skill.
I really hope I don't get a Hero class. The last thing I need
is to be handed some world-saving quest. I've been through
enough in a previous life.
I was mid-thought when someone called from behind me.
Arthur "Hey — Kael! Wait up!"
I looked back. Four of them jogging to catch up — Arthur, Mart, Lan, and Fouad. My neighbors. My childhood friends from Hoka village.
Arthur was the kind of guy who woke up excited every morning no matter what. Mart was built solid and proud of it. Fouad had this burning sense of justice that got him into trouble more than it should. And Lan was quiet, calm, and fast — the type you forget is there until he's already three steps ahead of everyone.
Mart "Slow down, Kage of Hoka!"
Right. That nickname.
They started calling me the Kage — the shadow — after I got serious about training around age seven. Nobody in the village could land a hit on me after that. The name stuck.
Kael "Then hurry up, or we'll hit the crowd. At your pace we won't get there before midday."
Fouad "How far until I get my Hero class?"
Arthur "Chill man. We'll make it by dawn."
Lan "Dawn?!"
Mart "Even I can't walk that long."
Kael "You should've just taken the wagon."
Lan "We couldn't. It's the village's only one, and they need it for trading tomorrow."
Kael "Fair enough."
After what felt like the longest walk of my new life — and considering I died once, that's saying something — we finally reached the capital gates. We ended up taking a short nap in the green field just outside the walls because Mart's legs gave out and nobody wanted to argue with him about it. Fouad woke us all up at full volume.
Fouad "GET UP! I'm not missing my Hero class because you people decided to sleep in a field!"
Kael "We all heard you the first time. And the second time."
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The awakening building is called the Auric Sanctum. It sits right at the center of the royal capital, and its golden dome catches the light before the rest of the city even wakes up. People say it glows on its own — like the magic inside it leaks through the stone walls. Standing in front of it, I kind of believed that.
A long hall led us to a circular chamber at the far end. The moment all five of us stepped through, the doors closed behind us without a sound. The floor was pale crystal with faint currents of light drifting underneath the surface, slow and steady like rivers under ice. In the center stood the Awakening Prism — a tall crystal shaped like a twisting flame, pulsing once as we walked in, like it already knew we were there.
A large stone panel stood beside it, somehow connected to the Prism. That's where your results show up. The officer explained the process in about thirty seconds — place your hand, the Cordo registers, data appears on the stone. Simple enough.
Mart went first.
Kael "Don't overthink it. You've got this."
Mart "Yeah."
Officer "Please place your hand on the Cordo."
The moment his hand touched the crystal, it lit up — a clean bright flash. A second later the stone panel filled with his data.
───────────────────────────
Name : Mart Andrew
Age : 10
Gender : Male
Hometown : Hoka
Class : Axeman
Title : Huscarl
───────────────────────────
Lan "Solid class."
Mart grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me like I owed him money.
Mart "KAEL I GOT AXEMAN! I GOT AXEMAN!"
Kael "I can see that. Please let go of me."
His gear appeared next — every newly awakened person gets a gift. For Mart it was an axe with a layered blade in gold and turquoise, giving off a soft steady glow without being flashy about it. The handle had clean carved patterns that matched the blade. The armor used the same colors — gold plates with turquoise lines, shoulder pieces shaped after the axe's edges, simple engravings on the arms and legs. The whole set looked like it was made for someone meant to stand out on a battlefield without even trying.
Arthur was next.
───────────────────────────
Name : Arthur Morris
Age : 10
Gender : Male
Hometown : Hoka
Class : Tanker
Title : Hero
───────────────────────────
Of course Arthur got the Hero title. The guy probably
willed it into existence through sheer enthusiasm.
His gear was something else — a jagged mithral blade with sharp aggressive edges and a circular core near the hilt that looked like an eye staring back at you. Matching armor in red-black mithral, angular plates, dark-silver inlays, a helm with a narrow visor. Built for someone who moves fast and hits hard and isn't subtle about either.
Then Lan.
───────────────────────────
Name : Lan Marn
Age : 10
Gender : Male
Hometown : Hoka
Class : Samurai
Title : Ronin
───────────────────────────
His gift was a katana — sleek mithral blade with a red-black frame and a glowing energy edge that hummed faintly, like compressed lightning packed into the metal. The armor was streamlined, red channels of light running through it, built for speed, with a visor that narrowed into a sharp crimson line. Fast, precise, dangerous. It suited Lan almost too well.
And then — the man of justice himself.
───────────────────────────
Name : Fouad Thomas
Age : 10
Gender : Male
Hometown : Hoka
Class : Hero
Title : Man of Justice
───────────────────────────
Two Heroes from one village. That's not exactly normal.
Fouad's gear matched his title perfectly. A clean radiant mithral sword with balanced lines and a circular core that glowed like a small captured star. The armor was polished and smooth, pale gold accents, a helm with a calm serene visor. The whole thing had this quiet confidence — like gear made for someone who genuinely believes in what they're fighting for.
Which, honestly, was exactly Fouad.
Then it was my turn.
I walked up to the Prism and placed my hand on the Cordo.
The crystal lit up.
───────────────────────────
Name : Kael Marny
Age : 10
Gender : Male
Hometown : Hoka
Class : Ninja
Title : Kage
Ninja. Well. That tracks.
My gear came in pieces. First, twin daggers — black mithral, shaped like a pair of lethal scissors, angular and sleek with gold accents pulsing along the edges like runes waiting to fire. The handles had circular cutouts and textured grips, built for precision work rather than brute force.
Then a dual blade — compact, broad-edged mithral, the metal shifting from cool steel to a bright energized gold along the cutting edge. Small enough to carry easy, but with the presence of a full weapon. Efficient. Sharp.
Two twin sigils after that — mirrored short-swords, each carved with a hollow triangular cutout, one in darker tones and the other in warm bronze with a gold flare. Together they felt like two halves of the same force, built for a fighter who strikes in synced bursts.
Then a mask. Sleek black tactical piece with angular plating and glowing yellow vents that pulsed slow and steady, like controlled breathing. It wrapped around the lower face in a hardened shell that gave off a quiet, predatory presence — without ever screaming for attention.
And finally — a gauntlet.
Sleek black mithral shaped like overlapping scales, each piece fitted so tightly it moved like a second skin. Gold bands circled the wrist in sharp clean segments. The fingertips tapered into claw-like mithral talons — built for precision and control, not brute force.
The moment I slid it onto my hand, luminous gold patterns surged across my skin, racing from the gauntlet up my wrist and arm like veins lighting up all at once. They were there for just a second before they vanished.
But that was just the start of it.
A sharp flash of gold light burst into the air right in front of me. Before I could even react, a translucent screen formed out of the glow — symbols and numbers snapping into place mid-air like a hologram being built in real time. At the same moment, a circular mark lit up on the back of my gauntlet hand, pulsing with the same gold color as the screen, like the two were connected. And without me doing a single thing, the display filled up with my full status.
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FULL STATUS — Kael Marny
─────────────────────────────────────
Level : 1
HP : 250
MP : 250 / 250
Attack : 20
Defense : 20
Stamina : 20
Speed : 20
Wisdom : 20
Agility : 20
Skills : Stealth | Appraisal
Unique Skills : Jujitsu: Kaioken | Shadow Stride
Ultimate Skill : Great Sage
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...Great Sage? What is that?
A small prompt blinked into existence before I could even think it through.
[ Skill Activation? ]
Yes.
Lan "Yes? Is something wrong, Kael?"
Kael "Huh? No. Hey — can you see anything on my hand right now?"
Lan "There's nothing on your hand. You look tired. Don't tell me you stayed up all night watching over us again."
Not exactly.
Then a voice came through — not out loud. Inside my head, calm and clear, like a textbook that had decided to become sentient.
Great Sage : "Great Sage activated. I shall guide you through your path. Ask any question — it won't be a problem for me to answer."
Kael "Guys — can you hear that voice?"
Lan "What voice? Kael, you seriously need more sleep."
Great Sage : "Master, only you can hear me. Only you can see the System."
System. There's an actual system here. Okay.
If this voice is going to be in my head for the rest of my
life, I'm at least giving it a better name.
Kael "I'm calling you Saga from now on."
Saga : "As you wish, Master."
The name in my status updated on the spot. Didn't even flicker.
Yeah. I think I'm going to like this.
Kael "Alright everyone. We good? Let's head out."
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We walked out of the awakening chamber and almost walked straight into the royal family.
Not what I was expecting.
The king and queen were standing in the main hall alongside their children. The crowned prince was next up for his own ceremony. He had a structured black military coat with red buttons and gold detailing, broader shoulders, shorter cut. A red half-cape draped over one side. A rose-shaped insignia on his chest managed to look both refined and a little full of itself at the same time.
The Prism lit up for him. The stone panel filled. Hero class — title Sword-Master.
Prince Marn "How fortunate. The crowned prince, a Hero, and a Sword-Master. Everything as it should be."
King "That's my son."
Rich people.
Then the princess stepped up. She was wearing a military-cut coat in black with red buttons and gold trim, a flowing red cape over one shoulder, roses accenting the shoulder and hip. The kind of outfit that managed to feel both elegant and serious at the same time.
The stone panel filled. The room went very quiet.
Queen "No — that can't be right. Fiona—"
King "A Witch. And the title of Calamity. I always knew she was trouble from the day she was born. Witches bring ruin wherever they go. I will not have a daughter with that title under my roof. She will be executed at once."
Executed. His own daughter. Said it without even blinking.
Queen "Darling — please reconsider—"
Prince Marn "Father, allow me to suggest something instead. Rather than execution — a mission. She has one week to reach Hoka village and become its lord. If she succeeds, we stay out of her life from that point on. If she fails—"
Princess Fiona "Hoka?! The village at the edge of the Hokan Forest? Nobody has ever gone through that forest and come back. You might as well just execute me now!"
King "The decision is made. You may take your personal maid and knight. That is all."
Nobody spoke. The king turned away like the conversation was already over.
I kept my face completely still. So did the others. Arthur grabbed Fouad's arm before he could open his mouth, which was the right call.
Officer "Hero Arthur. Hero Fouad. You'll be accompanying the crowned prince to the royal palace. All Heroes are expected to train there going forward."
Fouad "Wait — but what they're doing to the princess, isn't that—"
Arthur "Don't. He's the king."
Fouad "But—"
Arthur "No buts. Let's go."
I caught Fouad's eye before they left. He looked frustrated. The helpless kind, which is the worst type of feeling for someone with his title. I gave him a small nod.
Kael "It is what it is. We all have our own road now. Good luck out there."
Fouad "...Yeah."
They walked off with the prince. The hall felt emptier after that.
Kael "Lan. Mart. I'm going to grab some food. Don't wander too far."
Lan "Good idea. You look like you haven't eaten since yesterday."
I have. But sure.
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I activated Stealth the moment I was out of sight and climbed up to the roof of the nearest food stall.
Best seat in the city. Curry in hand. Nobody knew I was up there, which was exactly the point.
Saga.
Saga : "Yes, Master?"
Will she always hold the Calamity title?
Saga : "Not necessarily. If she gains a new dominant title, the old one can be replaced."
So it's not permanent. Interesting.
I sat up there for a while, eating, thinking. The curry was good. The situation was complicated. From the roof I could see Lan and Mart wandering the market below, and eventually I spotted the princess trailing behind them at a careful distance, asking them something I couldn't quite hear from this height.
Alright. Let's go see what this is about.
I dropped off the roof and landed clean without a sound, right in front of all of them. The princess nearly jumped out of her cape.
Kael "So you're Princess Fiona?"
Princess Fiona "Y-yes?!"
Saga — Appraisal.
The scan activated instantly. A gold holographic outline swept over her from head to toe, data panels assembling beside her silhouette in mid-air. I read through it fast.
Level one. Same as me. Her combat and utility stats were about half of mine across the board. Skills: Tame and Magic Manipulation. And her magic—
She could use all seven elements. Every single one.
Unique skill: Summoning. Ultimate skill: Necromancer.
That last one is not a small thing. Necromancer as an
ultimate skill means she can raise and command the dead.
Suddenly that Calamity title starts to make a lot more sense.
Wait — Saga. Why can't I use Magic Manipulation yet?
Saga : "You haven't met the requirements yet, Master."
Of course. There's always a catch.
Lan "Kael — you're making her uncomfortable."
Kael "My bad. So — Princess Fiona. The king was going to execute you and your brother turned it into a mission to Hoka instead. That about right?"
Princess Fiona "Yes. I have one week to reach the village and become its lord. I came to ask if you would take me there. I understand if you say no. I know what my title says. I know what people think when they see Witch and Calamity on the same card."
I looked at her for a moment.
Kael "I don't care about your title or your class. A Witch class gives you skills most people can't even access — Summoning, Necromancy, Magic Manipulation across all seven elements. That's not a curse. That's a toolkit."
Princess Fiona "H-how do you know about my skills?"
Kael "Appraisal skill. Anyway — we leave at dusk. Come with us if you want. But if you ever use your powers against the village or against anyone in it, I'll be the one to deal with you. That's not a threat. That's just how it is."
She held my gaze for a second. Then she stood up a little straighter.
Princess Fiona "I understand. I won't let you down, Mr. Kage."
Kael "The name's Kael. Kael Marny."
Princess Fiona "Then — Kael. And please, just Fiona. No Princess."
Kael "Fiona it is. Dusk then."
She nodded. Mart gave me a look that said he had about fourteen questions. Lan just smiled like he'd already seen this coming from a mile away.
The Hokan Forest. Nobody has made it through and come back.
Good thing I'm not going there to try. As I am It's resident
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End of Chapter Two