The disorienting plunge through the swirling rainbow vortex ended abruptly, depositing us not back in the dusty, rock-strewn landscape of the ambush, but into a different world entirely.

  Warm, humid air wrapped around me, thick with the scent of damp earth and unfamiliar, heavy blossoms. Towering trees with broad, waxy leaves formed a dense jungle canopy far overhead, filtering the sunlight into a hazy, emerald green.

  The air thrummed with a sound utterly absent from the pine forests near Argun – the incessant, high-pitched drone of cicadas. Gah, they have cicadas in this world too… The noise grated on my already frayed nerves.

  "Welp, we better get going!" Alina announced brightly, stretching languidly on a moss-covered root before trotting off with an air of infuriating nonchalance. "Few hours' walk to the capital city from here!"

  I blinked, taking in the alien surroundings. "Wait, capital? And why are we walking? Why didn't you just teleport us closer?"

  Alina paused, looking back over her shoulder, golden eyes gleaming. "What, a little walking ever killed you, tough guy? Besides," she added with a flick of her tail, "think of it as letting your new core settle. And," her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, "gives us time to chat about why your brilliant new mentor dragged you to sunny Arcadia instead of frosty Silberstrom."

  I sighed. Arguing with her felt pointless. "Got it." I fell into step beside her, the forest floor soft and yielding underfoot.

  "So, spill it, Alina. Why Arcadia? Silberstrom has the College of Blades, the best training ground."

  "Silberstrom," she scoffed, weaving effortlessly around a thick vine, "is a meat grinder, Niko. Cold, unforgiving, obsessed with power and hierarchy. Great if you want to learn how to follow orders and maybe get stabbed in the back for looking at someone wrong. You need more than just fighting techniques right now."

  She hopped onto a fallen log, pausing to look at me. "You need connections. Allies. People who might actually care if you live or die, not just what you can do for them. That's why Arcadia. It’s… different. More prosperous, less rigid. They value trade and diplomacy as much as martial strength. People here have the luxury of pursuing strength because they want to, not just because the Emperor demands it."

  "A monarchy focused on citizen happiness?" The concept felt foreign, almost naive compared to the histories I knew from my past life. "So, they're weak then?"

  Alina let out that dry, breathy laugh again. "Hardly. Weak kingdoms don't become the continent's biggest trade hub. They've got money, Niko. Lots of it. And happy soldiers, trained because they choose to be, tend to fight surprisingly hard. Don't mistake 'less aggressive' for 'weak'."

  "Okay," I conceded, the logic making a certain kind of sense. It was a different approach to power. "So, what am I supposed to do here? What's the plan?"

  "Niko, Niko, Niko," she chided, shaking her head as she hopped down. "I don't hold your paw every step of the way. Figure it out! But my advice? Don't even think about leaving Arcadia until you've built a network. People you can rely on. People who owe you a favor or two. Trust me," her golden eyes held a serious glint beneath the usual mischief, "in the games ahead, you'll need people you can lean on."

  Lean on people… The phrase felt unnatural. In my past life, reliance was a vulnerability. Relationships were transactional, alliances temporary. Trust? A currency easily spent and rarely reciprocated. But the memory of my parents' tears, the warmth of their embrace… maybe Alina was right. Maybe strength wasn't just about solitary power.

  We walked on, the conversation lapsing as I mulled over her words. Eventually, the dense woods began to thin, revealing a small, weathered stone marker half-overgrown with vines. Strange, flowing script was etched into its surface: "Inscribe your Will."

  "Ah!" Alina purred, a satisfied glint in her eyes. "Perfect timing. Just what I was looking for!" She nudged me towards the stone. "Stand right there, kiddo. Face the marker. I'll be right behind you."

  A knot of suspicion tightened in my gut, but curiosity won out. What now? I did as she asked, positioning myself before the ancient-looking stone. I felt her small form move behind me.

  Then, an intense heat bloomed in my chest, radiating outwards with alarming speed. It wasn't the external heat of fire magic; this felt internal, originating from my newly formed Ki core itself. The heat intensified, becoming a searing pressure, like my core was being forcibly expanded, ripped apart from the inside.

  "Alina!" I gasped, staggering, clutching my chest as I spun around. "What the hell is this?!"

  She was sitting calmly, watching me, a strange luminescence pulsing faintly around her. She laughed, that infuriatingly nonchalant sound. "Relax! Don't worry, the pain will go away soon! Think of it as… a little welcome gift!"

  Gift? This felt like torture! I collapsed to my knees, gritting my teeth against the wave of agony washing through me. The heat peaked, holding me suspended in a moment of pure torment, then slowly, gradually, began to recede, flowing back inwards, sinking deep into my Ki core.

  The pain subsided, leaving me breathless, sweat-soaked, but… feeling strangely invigorated. The core hummed with a new resonance, a subtle depth it hadn't possessed before. I pushed myself up, feeling… normal. But different.

  "Alina," I demanded, my voice hoarse. "Tell me. What was that?"

  "Fine, fine, spoil-sport," she sighed, hopping onto my shoulder. "I gave you my blessing, silly! You know I'm a powerful entity – mana beast adjacent, let's say – so I can do that. Duh."

  "A… blessing?" The word clicked. I remembered the books, the concept. Gifts from powerful creatures. "Like… from a mana beast?"

  "Sort of," she conceded with a flick of her ear. "A blessing lets the recipient access some of the bestower's abilities. Each one is unique, shaped by both parties. And honestly," her golden eyes glittered with scientific curiosity, "I'm fascinated to see how this works with you. Never heard of a blessing latching onto someone without a mana core, especially someone with a brand-new Ki core. You might be a first, Nikolai! Thrilling, isn't it?"

  Access her power? The possibilities sent a jolt through me. "What abilities? What can I do?"

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  "Patience, grasshopper," she chided. "Blessings unlock in stages. Awakened, Ascended, and if you're really special, Resonance." She tapped my head with her paw. "Each stage is harder to reach. Most people never get past Awakened, if they manage even that. Don't expect god-like powers overnight."

  "So the abilities get stronger at each stage?"

  "Yep, sure thing. More power, more refinement," she confirmed.

  "How do I train it? Reach the Awakened stage?"

  Alina yawned, stretching extravagantly on my shoulder. "The first stage usually pops up when you're in deep sh—er, I mean, in a time of dire need. Instinct kicks in. The rest… Ascended and Resonance… that takes conscious effort, training, strength, and a deep understanding and synchronization with your partner."

  My mind snagged on the last word. "Wait… partner?"

  Then I felt it. Not heard it, but felt it, a clear thought resonating directly within my mind, laced with smug amusement.

  Yep! Partners for life now, you and I, Nikolai! Stuck with me!

  Telepathy. Of course. Why was I even surprised anymore?

  I am not surprised, I sent back, trying to project calm indifference.

  Good! You shouldn't be! Alina chirped mentally. Now, let's keep moving! Time's burning!

  We continued our journey, the forest gradually giving way to cultivated fields and scattered farmhouses. Eventually, the massive stone walls of Arcadia city rose in the distance, bustling with traffic even from afar. The capital. Very original name.

  A long queue snaked towards the main gate. As we joined the line, a portly merchant, impatient and sweating, shoved past me, knocking me off balance.

  "Watch it, runt!" he snarled, glaring down his bulbous nose. "Outta the way!"

  My eyes narrowed. I didn't move, didn't speak. I just let a fraction of my Ki flare, not visibly, but as a wave of pure, focused intent.

  The merchant froze mid-stride, his face draining of color. His eyes widened in sudden, inexplicable terror, and he stammered a garbled apology before scrambling away into the crowd, casting fearful glances back over his shoulder.

  Hmph. That's better, Alina purred in my head.

  Finally, we reached the gate guards. Stern-faced men in gleaming steel armor. One looked down at me, his gaze lingering on Alina perched on my shoulder. "A young boy and… a cat?"

  Alina let out the fakest, most pathetic "Meow" I'd ever heard. I mentally facepalmed. Awkward.

  "Alright, kid," the guard said, his voice softening slightly. "Your folks give you coin for entry, or are you lost?"

  Play the lost card, Alina instructed silently. Children's Home. Perfect cover. Blend in.

  I forced my features into a mask of childish distress, letting my lower lip tremble slightly. "I-I'm lost, Mister," I stammered, my voice thin and reedy. "I don't… don't know where my family is."

  The guard's stern expression melted into concern. "Ah, happens sometimes, lad. Don't you worry." He pointed towards a short, stocky man in plain official attire standing near a smaller side gate. "Go with that man. He'll take you inside, get you sorted at the Children's Home. They'll take good care of you."

  I offered a watery, grateful smile and nodded, heading towards the official. This was it. My entry into Arcadia, my new temporary life.

  The stocky official was taciturn, leading me through winding streets away from the imposing main gate towards quieter residential districts. Alina padded silently beside me, an unseen commentator in my mind.

  Foster home, huh? Just like you planned.

  A good place to get your bearings, Niko, her mental voice confirmed. And a convenient base for whatever comes next.

  The "Arcadia Children's Home" was a simple, sturdy two-story stone building, clean but unadorned, set back from the road in a modest courtyard. Inside, the official spoke briefly with a middle-aged woman at a large wooden desk. Her eyes, sharp and missing nothing, assessed me with a practiced calmness, though not unkindly.

  "Hello, young man," she said, her voice steady. "My name is Mistress Vivian. You lost your family?"

  "I-I'm lost, Miss," I repeated the lie, forcing uncertainty into my voice. "I don't know where my family is." Alina sent a wave of mental giggles. I told her to shut up.

  Mistress Vivian nodded sympathetically. "It's alright. You're safe here. We'll help you." She led me upstairs to a small, clean room containing two narrow cots. "You'll be sharing with Kaelen. He's out doing chores right now. You can rest today. Chores start tomorrow." She provided a pillow and a thin blanket.

  Chores… The thought was almost comical. Alina, is this a good idea?

  Yep! came the cheerful mental reply. Cultural immersion!

  "Thank you for your help," I murmured to the Mistress.

  "Of course, dear. We couldn't leave you alone," she replied gently before leaving me to settle in.

  After stowing my meager pack under the cot, I wandered back outside to the courtyard. It was large, mostly hard-packed dirt with patches of tough grass – a decent training space. A few younger children chased each other, their shouts echoing faintly. I ignored them, the effort of maintaining the 'lost child' act already wearing thin. My eyes scanned the perimeter, seeking a quiet corner.

  You don't want to train with your full power here, Alina's voice cautioned. Shockwaves tend to attract unwanted attention.

  Yeah, yeah. Martial arts only. Minimal Ki, I sent back, already planning a basic conditioning routine.

  Then I saw her.

  Tucked away in the farthest corner, partially obscured by an overgrown, thorny rose bush, sat a girl. She was petite, maybe eleven or twelve years old, engrossed in a thick, leather-bound book. Her clothing was simple, a dark, mage's robe and a short skirt that allowed for ease of movement, practical even in stillness. Long black hair, stark against her pale skin, was partly caught by a stray breeze, some strands obscuring a face that was still and carried a thoughtful, intense expression.

  And her eyes… when she briefly glanced up as if sensing my gaze before returning to her book, they were red. A deep, unsettling crimson that seemed to absorb the afternoon light, sharp and observant.

  My gaze lingered for a moment. Just another resident. But as my Ki sense, now a passive extension of my awareness, brushed over her, it snagged. An anomaly. A distortion in the normal flow of background energy.

  Intrigued, I focused my Ki sense, probing gently. What I felt sent a jolt through my system, stopping my internal monologue cold.

  The power signature emanating from her.

  It wasn't just strong for a child; it was abnormal. Vast. A deep, potent reservoir that pulsed with a quiet intensity, utterly disproportionate to her small frame and apparent age. It felt different from the straightforward Ki I was used to sensing – this had a heavier, almost wilder undercurrent to it, hinting at potent magical energies.

  This girl… the power within her was on a completely different scale than anyone I'd encountered in Argun, save perhaps for the raw, untamed might of the elemental bear. Contained, yes, quiescent, but undeniably immense. A sleeping giant within a child's form. Not as vast or volatile as my own Ki, perhaps, especially with my new core, but still… remarkably powerful and deeply unsettling.

  What the hell is she? My mind raced, trying to reconcile the data from my senses with the known rules of this world. The red eyes, the unnerving stillness, the hidden ocean of power…

  In a home filled with ordinary lost children, this girl was an outlier, a mystery far more compelling, and potentially far more dangerous, than any bandit ambush. My path through Arcadia had just encountered its first significant landmark. And it was a quiet girl with crimson eyes and an impossible reservoir of power.