It was finally Kael Draven's turn—no, not Kael Draven anymore. In this world, in this life he was living, he stood as Caelion Valeith, and right now he stood before the grand registration hall of the Elven capital, a place where countless destinies began. The structure towered above him, crafted from pale silver wood intertwined with glowing vines, its surface carved with ancient runes that pulsed faintly with Aether. This was the Aetherion Adventurer Guild Hall – Aeltheris Branch, the heart of all adventurer activity within the Velmoria Empire. The air inside was calm but heavy with power, filled with warriors of different ranks, each carrying their own presence. Caelion took a slow breath and stepped forward, knowing that this moment would mark the beginning of his path.
Behind the registration desk stood a beautiful elf lady, her long silver hair flowing down her back like moonlight, her calm emerald eyes observing him carefully. Her name was Serelith Moonveil, one of the official registrars of the guild. Her presence alone carried authority, yet there was a softness in her expression as she spoke. "Place your hand on the Aethercore Prism," she instructed gently, pointing toward a glowing crystal embedded into the desk. The stone shimmered with a soft blue light, reacting to the presence of Aether around it. Caelion nodded and stepped closer, placing his hand on the crystal. For a brief moment, nothing happened—then a faint glow emerged, gentle and steady, like flowing water.
Serelith watched carefully before nodding slightly. "Aqua affinity," she said calmly. "D Rank." Her voice was clear, professional, yet there was a slight curiosity in her eyes as she continued the process. She handed him a card—simple, bronze in color, smooth to the touch. "Drop your blood onto the card," she added. Caelion hesitated for just a second before biting his finger and letting a drop of blood fall onto the surface. The moment the blood touched the card… nothing happened. The card remained completely still. No glow. No reaction. Silence.
Serelith frowned slightly. "That's strange…" she murmured. She asked him to try again. He did. Still nothing. Again and again they tried, but the card refused to respond. The surrounding adventurers began to glance over, whispers quietly spreading. Serelith's expression became more serious as she decided to handle it manually. She placed her hand over the card and began channeling her magic into it. The air around them shifted as energy flowed from her palm into the bronze surface. This process was not normal—it consumed a significant amount of magic. Even then… the card resisted. Time passed, and finally, after intense effort, the card reacted.
For a split second—just a split second—the image that appeared on the card was not Caelion Valeith… but Kael Draven. His original face. His true identity. Caelion's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly suppressed his reaction. The image flickered and changed, stabilizing into the appearance of Caelion Valeith. The process was complete. Serelith exhaled softly, clearly exhausted. "It's done," she said, handing him the card. "You are now officially registered." Caelion accepted it silently, but deep inside, he understood one thing clearly—the card had nearly seen through his illusion.
Now holding his Bronze Card, Caelion stepped out of the guild hall. His name, rank, and affinity were now officially recorded: Caelion Valeith – D Rank – Aqua Affinity. The moment he stepped outside, several groups immediately approached him. "You there! Join us!" "We need a support!" "Aqua users are rare!" Voices overlapped as different adventurer parties tried to recruit him. As a Spirit Channeler, his value was undeniable. Though not strong in direct combat, his support abilities made him incredibly important. Caelion stood there, slightly confused, overwhelmed by the sudden attention.
Among the crowd, one group stood out. They did not rush him aggressively. Instead, their leader stepped forward calmly. "You don't have gear," the man said, his voice firm but not hostile. "Join us, and we'll take care of that." Caelion looked at them carefully. This group was known as Azure Fang Party, a rising adventurer team with a strong reputation. After a brief moment of thought, Caelion nodded. "I'll join," he said simply. The leader smiled slightly.
The leader's name was Kaedric Stormvale, an A-Rank Guardian, the strongest among them. With him were three others: Lunara Veylith, a C-Rank Mage specializing in Lumen; Sylwen Thalos, a C-Rank Ranger with Tempest affinity; and Mirel Duskryn, a D-Rank Shadow Walker who moved like a whisper. Together, they formed a balanced team. With Caelion joining, they would become five.
Without wasting time, Caelion explained that he needed to return home first. The group agreed, and since they had a chariot, they offered him a ride. What would have taken three days on foot was reduced to a single day. When they arrived at Elarion Grove, the chariot came to a stop just outside his home. Before he could even step down, Lyra came running. "Big brother!" she shouted, jumping into his arms. Caelion caught her instinctively, a small smile forming on his face. Behind her stood Elmira Valeith and Eryndor Valeith, their eyes filled with pride.
The group stepped down and greeted the family respectfully. Elmira insisted they stay, preparing a meal for everyone. That night, they sat together, talking, laughing, learning about one another. For a brief moment, it felt peaceful. The next morning, the group prepared to leave, promising to return and take Caelion with them to formally register their party in the capital.
As they left, Eryndor asked Caelion to walk with him. When they were far enough, Eryndor brought out a small vial—the antidote. "You can return to your true self," he said softly. Caelion looked at it… then shook his head. "No," he said firmly. "I made a promise." His voice softened. "I won't leave her like that." Eryndor broke down, tears falling freely, but Caelion stepped forward and embraced him tightly. "You are my family now," he said quietly. "All of you."
Later that day, Caelion walked through the village with Lyra, carrying her on his back. Her laughter echoed as they explored the market. At one point, she stopped, staring at a necklace displayed on a small wooden stand. The seller, Tavrin Cole, noticed them. The necklace was called "Lunaris Heartstone Pendant." It held a glowing crystal at its center, connected to a paired resonance stone worn on the wrist. When danger approached, the stone would emit a soft pulse, warning the wearer. "Three gold, twenty-seven silver," the seller said. Caelion smiled faintly and told Lyra, "One day, I'll get it for you."
The next morning, Caelion entered the forest alone—Eldergreen Hollow. He wandered for hours without finding anything. Just as he was about to give up, he spotted a small creature—a Lumibun, a rabbit-like beast with faint glowing fur. He lunged, but missed. The creature fled, and Caelion chased it deep into the forest, further than he intended. Eventually, he caught and killed it… but when he looked up, he realized something was wrong.
He was standing at the entrance of a dark cave.
The air was heavy. The silence was unnatural.
Then…
A deep, low growl echoed from within.
Caelion froze.
Something inside… was watching him.
And just like that—
His real journey… finally began.