I have always hated having to choose. Not because I struggle to make decisions, but because of the inevitable regret that comes with leaving another path unexplored. No matter how much we deliberate, we will never truly know which choice is the absolute best.

  And right now, that same uncertainty gnawed at me.

  "Eryndor Leafshade, have you made your decision?" the Archdruid asked once more, his calm but expectant gaze fixed on me.

  I stood in the heart of Aeloria’s Keep, the grand hall illuminated by the soft glow of enchanted nterns, their light casting intricate patterns across the stone walls. The room was silent, save for the crackling of a ceremonial brazier at the center. Around me stood the highest-ranking druids, their robes adorned with the sigils of the forest, their expressions a mix of solemnity and curiosity.

  The ceremony had been a short but meaningful one, a tribute to my efforts in reciming the Verdant Heart. And at the very end, they had presented me with three reward choices, each with the potential to shape my future.

  I took a slow, steady breath, carefully considering my options.

  The first was a generous amount of Mana Stones, neatly arranged in a crystal bowl before me. They shimmered with an ethereal blue glow, pulsing with condensed magical energy. It was a practical choice, a guaranteed benefit. With this many Mana Stones, I could drastically accelerate my growth, pushing my abilities to the next stage. The fifth-tier druid spells were known to be exceptionally powerful. Unlocking one sooner would give me an undeniable advantage. If I were to gather this amount on my own, it would take months, maybe even years of effort. Choosing this would be the safest and most strategic option.

  The second option was far less predictable, Aeloria’s Blessing. It was said to be a rare gift, bestowed only in times of great need or exceptional accomplishment. Unlike the innate blessings granted to all druids at birth, this one carried a special property: it would enhance one of my spells, but which one would be left entirely to fate. The possibilities made my heart race. If I hit the jackpot, I could become stronger than I ever imagined. But if the opposite happens, then the effect would be underwhelming at best. There was no control over the outcome, no way to influence the blessing’s decision. It was a gamble, one that could change everything, or nothing.

  The st option was the Moonstone Pendant. A silver talisman embedded with a smooth, iridescent gem that gleamed like captured moonlight. The artifact carried immense power, granting special ability to its bearer. My fingers itched to reach for it, but hesitation gripped me.

  I already possessed the Talisman of the Ursine Spirit, which was slightly better than what the Archrdruid offered. And druids, in general, could only wield one talisman at a time. There were exceptions, masters who had learned to bance the energies of multiple talismans. But I was not at that level yet. If I forced my body to bear two talismans at once, the magical strain could be unbearable. It might weaken me, or worse, break me entirely.

  The weight of the decision pressed down on me. My mind raced through possible outcomes, advantages, and consequences. Each choice had its merits, but also its risks.

  Finally, I exhaled, slow and steady. My heart had already settled on an answer.

  Stepping forward, I reached out and cimed my chosen reward.

  ***

  "So, what did you choose?" Vallen asked as soon as I returned to my resting quarters after the ceremony.

  She leaned against the wooden railing near the entrance, arms crossed, her sharp eyes studying me with curiosity. It seemed she was just as eager as the others to know my decision.

  I smirked, letting the anticipation linger. "I'll tell you, on one condition."

  Her brow furrowed slightly. She clearly hadn’t expected that response. "Condition?"

  I chuckled and met her gaze. "I’ll show you directly, during a sparring match."

  Vallen's lips curled into an amused smile, but there was a glint of interest in her eyes. "Hmm… interesting. Very well. I should have some free time tomorrow. Come find me whenever you're ready."

  She spoke with her usual composed demeanor, but I could sense the excitement in her tone. A druid like her wouldn't pass up the chance to test someone's newfound power firsthand.

  With that settled, I wasted no time. There was still unfinished business waiting for me in the city, and I intended to take care of it before nightfall.

  ***

  Since I couldn’t find the answer to my questions before, I decided to search elsewhere, the Grand Library at the heart of Asterion City.

  The journey took two long hours by horse-drawn carriage, passing through the lush borders of Elrion Woods before reaching the bustling streets of Asterion. As the carriage rumbled to a stop before the towering structure, I stepped down and took a moment to admire its grandeur.

  The library stood as an architectural marvel. Massive stone pilrs lined its entrance, each adorned with intricate carvings of schors and mythical creatures. Its towering windows gleamed under the sunlight, reflecting the golden sigil of Asterion’s royal crest. It was the second-rgest library in the kingdom, second only to the Wizard Academy’s Archive, a pce I had no hope of entering. That made this library my best option.

  Compared to the limited collection in the Druid Archives, the Grand Library held a vast array of tomes: histories, grimoires, forbidden texts, and forgotten legends. If there was any pce where I could find answers about the Lich King and other hidden monsters do not exist in the game, it would be here.

  The scent of aged parchment and ink filled the air as I sat nestled in a quiet corner, surrounded by towering bookshelves. The dim glow of enchanted nterns overhead illuminated the open pages before me, casting soft shadows on the worn wooden table.

  For hours, I had been combing through every book I deemed useful, my fingers tracing faded script as I absorbed every fragment of information. The silence was comforting, broken only by the occasional rustling of pages and the faint echoes of distant footsteps.

  For a library of this size, it wasn’t particurly crowded. Adventurers, after all, preferred to learn through battle in the Tower rather than through ‘boring’ books.

  I was just about to turn another page when a presence caught my attention.

  Seated on the other side of the reading area was a young boy, no older than ten or twelve.

  At first gnce, he was just another street urchin. Small, frail, and covered in grime. His clothes were little more than rags, torn at the edges and barely holding together. His hair was an unruly mop of dark brown curls, framing a face that, beneath the dirt and exhaustion, was surprisingly handsome.

  But it wasn’t his appearance that intrigued me.

  It was the book in his hands.

  A Beginner’s Guide to Wizardry, a fundamental text meant for novice wizards.

  He wasn’t just reading it, either. He was trying to practice the spells.

  His tiny, calloused fingers twitched in the air as he carefully mimicked the gestures described in the book. His brows furrowed in concentration, lips moving in a silent incantation.

  Crackle.

  A small flicker of fme danced at his fingertips before vanishing. It was barely a spark, but it was still magic.

  For a street kid without any formal training, mentor, or resources, to be capable of even that much was astonishing.

  I watched as he tried again.

  Fail.

  And again.

  Fail.

  Yet, he did not give up.

  His gaze remained fixed on the book, his determination unwavering. It was clear—he had been at this for hours. Longer than I had.

  "Interesting kid," I murmured under my breath, allowing a small smirk to form.

  I turned back to my own research, satisfied with my brief observation.

  BLAAR!

  An explosion erupted through the silence, shaking the very foundations of the library.

  A fireball had been unched. Wild and uncontrolled, it smmed into one of the nearby bookshelves.

  FWOOSH!

  Fmes spread instantly, engulfing the wooden shelves in an orange bze. The structure wobbled dangerously before colpsing, toppling like a row of dominoes. Books tumbled in every direction, their pages catching fire as the inferno threatened to consume them.

  The few people in the library gasped, scrambling away from the destruction.

  Librarians and guards rushed in immediately, expertly weaving spells to suppress the fmes before they could spread further. The air grew thick with the scent of burning parchment and charred wood.

  And just as quickly as it began, the fire was snuffed out.

  But now, there was another pressing issue.

  Who was responsible?

  A deep silence settled over the room as the guards turned to one another. Then, they consulted the library’s security enchantments, magic imbued into the very walls to monitor all activity within.

  It didn’t take long before—

  “There! That boy is the culprit!”

  A guard shouted, pointing directly at the child.

  He froze.

  The boy’s expression cracked. His eyes widened, panic setting in. Then, his body tensed.

  He knew. He knew he was in trouble.

  And just like that, he ran. A reckless move.

  Guards immediately moved to block the exits, their boots pounding against the stone floor as they pursued him. The kid was fast, but he wouldn’t make it far. Not with trained enforcers chasing him down.

  I exhaled slowly, setting down my book.

  This was my cue.

  Time to act.