A hush fell over the orchard after the saboteur's escape. Everyone went about their tasks in the same daily rhythm—pruning fruit trees, hauling crates—but the usual banter was gone, replaced by wary glances toward the fence line. It felt as though even the wind carried unease, whispering caution among the swaying leaves.

  Kael sat on a stump near the old barn, gently flexing his bandaged forearm. A dull ache still lingered from the bandit's blade, but it was manageable. More importantly, he was refining the forging manual's instructions in his mind—particularly the pages about gold-infused synergy plating. First, I need the gold, he thought, then I can attempt forging the orchard's wards anew.

  His father, Joren, had insisted Kael rest another day, concerned the wound might worsen. But Kael couldn't afford to sit idle. I have a narrower window than anyone realizes. The orchard's wards must be improved, or these bandits might strike with awakened beasts or even more sabotage.

  He took a deep breath, letting the orchard's earthy air calm him. Then, with a decisive nod, he stood and headed to the forge.

  The Forge and a Merchant's Return

  By mid-morning, the orchard was stirring with news that the traveling merchant—Kohren—had returned. Kael's heart lifted. Perfect timing.

  He found Kohren in the courtyard, his cart laden with various oddities: used tools, random trinkets, folded cloth, and the ever-tempting box of metal scraps. The orchard hands milled about, bartering for small goods. Kael held a small pouch of coins his father had given him "for necessities," though Joren likely expected him to buy forging rivets or practice metals.

  "Kohren," Kael greeted politely, stepping closer. He made sure to keep his expression calm and childlike, feigning only mild curiosity. "Any interesting scraps of precious metal in today's stock? I'm hoping to… experiment with forging runic symbols." He offered a quiet, almost shy grin—knowing that folks seldom questioned "rune curiosity" from the blacksmith's son.

  Kohren lifted an eyebrow. "Ah, little Kael. I might have some small gold pieces, though they're hardly pure. Bits from broken jewelry, chipped plating… not exactly minted coins, if that's what you're after."

  "Broken jewelry or plating is perfect," Kael replied, carefully keeping any eagerness out of his voice. "Could I see them?"

  The merchant rummaged through a side chest. He produced a small leather pouch, clinking faintly. "Mostly scraps, to be honest. Not sure if it's enough to forge anything bigger than a trinket."

  Kael hefted the pouch. Within lay an uneven handful of gold slivers and flecks, some tarnished, some chipped. This is more than I hoped for, he thought, pulse quickening. "How much?"

  Kohren eyed him with curiosity. "Usually, pure gold would fetch a high price, but these are off-quality scraps. I'd let them go for ten silvers, given I'm already loaded with better wares."

  That was steep, but Kael couldn't quibble. This much will definitely help me test the forging manual's gilded infusion."Deal," he said softly, passing over the coins.

  Kohren smirked. "Don't burn your father's forge down tinkering with that, eh?" Then, more gently, "You be careful, Kael. I heard about the orchard troubles."

  Kael nodded, pocketing the pouch. "I will. Thank you."

  Quiet Preparations

  That afternoon, Kael retreated to the barn forge under the guise of "routine forging," ensuring only minimal attention from orchard hands. Rowan, overseeing orchard security, cast him a concerned look—likely remembering Kael's injury. But he didn't interfere. Everyone's on edge, but they trust I won't do anything reckless…

  Inside, Kael inspected the newly acquired gold scraps. Step one: purify as best I can. The manual indicated that cleaner gold infused synergy more cleanly. He stoked the forge flames high, meticulously incinerating dirt and dross from each gold fragment. Soon, he had a small crucible shimmering with half-molten gold lumps.

  This is it. Heart pounding, Kael referred to a torn page in the battered manual:"Fusing gold with synergy-laced iron requires cyclical pulses of Fire and Earth synergy. Quench repeatedly to stabilize runes…"

  He rummaged for leftover iron strips—remnants from orchard repairs. Then, forging hammer at the ready, he carefully began the layered forging process:

  Heat the iron until it glowed red.Channel a gentle pulse of Fire synergy through the runic hammer.Sprinkle fine gold flecks over the iron's surface.Hammer swiftly, pressing the gold deeper into the metal's pores.

  Clank—clank—clank.A faint golden sheen spread across the iron strip, flickering with synergy. Kael's breath caught as he felt the resonance. It was like guiding two puzzle pieces to fit: the gold's conductive properties embraced his synergy pulses, forging them into the iron.

  Now, as the manual advised, he quenched it in water—steam erupted in a sharp hiss. The orchard's clangor outside faded into the background, leaving only Kael's intense focus.

  He repeated the cycle, each time layering synergy from both Fire and Earth. By the third quench, sweat poured down his brow, and the hammered metal strip glimmered with runic lines. One step done.

  A wave of dizziness nipped at him. This was more advanced synergy forging than he'd ever performed. He inhaled deeply, steadying himself. No Overload Dissonance. Breathe, regulate your mana.

  He took a short break, letting the synergy settle. Then continued forging, forging, forging. Hours slipped by.

  Unplanned Distraction

  Just as Kael felt near completion, a commotion sounded outside. Raised voices. He froze, heart pounding. Another saboteur? A beast attack?

  His father, Joren, burst in moments later, face pale. "Kael, they found something—some large boar, wounded and acting vicious near the orchard's northern patch. Rowan's gathering men to chase it off. Stay here. I'll help them."

  Kael's eyes narrowed. A large boar, possibly awakened or mutated. Tension coiled in his gut. If it rampaged through the orchard, it could damage everything—plus, the orchard staff might be in danger.

  As Joren hurried off, Kael carefully set aside the glowing iron plate. I can't let the orchard men risk themselves if it's truly awakened. They only have pitchforks and simple wards.

  He doused the forge flames partially, leaving the plate to cool in a corner. Grabbing his runic hammer, Kael slipped out. I need to handle this. Quickly and discreetly.

  Northern Patch Showdown

  He found a knot of orchard workers near the orchard's boundary, brandishing spears and hastily constructed barricades. From behind the trees, Kael glimpsed the beast: a hulking boar at least three times normal size. Its fur was patchy, and faint lines of swirling mana glimmered across its flanks. A sure sign of partial awakening.

  Rowan tried to coordinate a perimeter, but the boar snorted, pawing the ground aggressively. One orchard hand's shaky thrust with a pitchfork only enraged it further.

  Kael took stock. This boar is at least minor awakened tier—dangerous for normal folk. If it charges, the orchard men might be tossed aside like rag dolls. He couldn't risk waiting for them to find a "safe" approach.

  "Circle wide!" Rowan shouted, voice taut. "We can funnel it away from the orchard if we keep it from turning back."

  The men nodded, splitting to form a half-ring. The boar, tusks glimmering with an odd dark sheen, let out a growl-like squeal, stomping the earth. Kael swallowed. If it sees an opening, it'll break through.

  He crouched behind a trunk, quietly channeling synergy. Earthen Snare or Ember Bolt? He had limited space to cast spells without drawing suspicion. Instead, he considered a quick synergy trick from behind cover—like making the ground shift or unleashing a small flame arc. But all eyes were on the boar. If they see a big flash, they'll know I'm no ordinary child…

  He flexed his bandaged arm and summoned a minimal Earth synergy swirl around his ankles, preparing a single Snare or localized quake. I'll aim near its hind legs, keep it from charging.

  The Beast's Rampage

  Without warning, the boar roared and thundered forward at a diagonal. One orchard worker yelped, diving aside. Rowan lunged with a spear, but the boar's flank hammered it, splintering the weapon. A second orchard man tried to jab from behind, but the boar twisted, knocking him to the ground.

  Kael clenched his jaw. I can't hide now. He sprinted around the orchard staff, sliding behind a row of low bushes. If I anchor an Earthen Snare now, I might trap the boar mid-charge.

  He inhaled, focusing synergy. The ground before the boar's likely path softened. A faint ripple of Earth mana spread out. "Come on," he whispered, hoping no orchard worker noticed the flicker in the dirt.

  Snorting, the boar whirled, spotting a gap in the orchard line—right where Kael had readied the snare. Perfect. It charged forth, heedless.

  Thwump. Its hooves sank into freshly softened soil. The boar squealed in confusion, legs scrabbling. The orchard men gasped, uncertain how the terrain had shifted.

  In that moment, Kael seized his chance. With the synergy-laced hammer, he vaulted from behind the bushes, aiming a swift downward blow at the boar's side. He let a controlled Fire pulse spark at impact.

  Crack—an arc of searing flame lit up the boar's fur. The boar bellowed, eyes flashing with awakened fury.

  Pain shot through Kael's arms from the force. He stumbled back, the boar's hide thick and resilient. That wasn't enough.

  The beast yanked itself free from the earthen trap, thrashing about. The orchard men could only watch, half in awe, half in terror.

  Main Contributor

  Kael pressed on, mind racing. The boar was partially pinned by the snare, but it could break loose any second. I need a second synergy strike.

  He circled, ducking a wild swipe from the boar's tusks. Channeling another surge of Fire synergy through the runic hammer, he aimed for the creature's front shoulder—hoping to disrupt its balance. The hammer flared.

  A second blow connected with a crackle. Flames hissed across the boar's matted fur. The orchard men shouted encouragement, though likely none understood how Kael's hammer was generating such force.

  The boar let out a final enraged squeal, body convulsing. Then, with a trembling lurch, it slumped to the ground. Smoke rose from singed fur.

  For a moment, Kael's entire being vibrated with adrenaline. He stared at the fallen beast—still alive, but dazed, presumably near unconsciousness.

  A hush fell. Then Torik, one of the orchard workers, shouted, "We've got it pinned! Quick, restrain it!"

  They rushed in, roping the boar's limbs. Rowan knelt, breathing hard. "You—Kael… how did…?" He glanced at the boy's hammer, noticing faint runic glow.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Kael forced a weary grin. "I… used a forging technique… heated the hammer with a small flame script. It gave me a bit more punch." He kept his voice shaky, as if this were luck rather than skill.

  Rowan hesitated, then exhaled, evidently too relieved to press him. "You saved us, lad. Good job."

  Harvesting the Spoils

  While the orchard staff secured the boar, Kael stepped back, heart pounding. This was definitely an awakened beast—someone or something triggered its partial transformation.

  [Notification: You contributed major damage to subdue an Awakened Boar (Minor Tier). EXP gained: 120.]

  Kael's breath hitched at the sudden prompt. Another chunk of EXP.He quickly summoned the status panel in his mind:

  Current EXP: 280 / 1600(70 from dog, 120 from boar, plus prior accumulation…)

  He felt a surge of mild satisfaction. I'm still level 10, but building experience. Enough subjugations might let me level up. But leveling wasn't his main focus—increasing synergy mastery and forging skill took priority.

  Several orchard men began discussing the boar's fate. Typically, a normal boar might become dinner, but awakened flesh could be risky if contaminated. They'd likely consult a local mage or the watch.

  For Kael, the important part was that he'd main contributed to subduing the beast. With that came the system's intangible reward. However, no direct attribute points popped up from the system—perhaps because he hadn't yet "killed" the beast, merely subdued it, or because the fight was a partial success. No problem, Kael mused. Better to keep it alive if it's not rampaging further.

  Reactions and Tension

  The orchard workers were quick to give Kael credit. A hush of admiration spread—some patted his shoulder, praising his "lucky forging trick." But the wariness in Rowan's eyes told Kael that some suspected deeper skill.

  Even Joren, arriving belatedly, looked torn between pride and worry. He ruffled Kael's hair. "That was brave… but son, you mustn't risk yourself. Are you sure you're all right?"

  Kael nodded, ignoring the fatigue in his limbs. "I'm fine, Father. And the orchard is safe."

  Behind them, Rowan directed men to reinforce the fence and watch for further awakened beasts. "We can't assume it's random. This orchard's become a target. Everyone, keep vigilant."

  The Gilded Iron Plate

  Once the orchard settled down, Kael slipped back to the barn, heart still racing from the boar fight. He had a synergy forging project half-finished. Carefully retrieving the still-warm iron from the corner, he examined the lines of gold embedded.

  It looked… promising. Faint runic patterns, a swirling mix of gold and iron. He tapped it with the hammer. A subtle hum answered, as though the metal carried a gentle harmonic resonance with his synergy.

  Now came the final step: shaping it into a ward plate for orchard use. He hammered the edges into a circular shape, forging runic carvings around the perimeter. With each strike, he channeled a fraction more synergy—enough to imprint Basic Earth and Fire wards.

  Clank—clank—clank.Time blurred. Kael sank deep into that forging trance, coaxing each line of runes to bond with the metal's new gold threads. By the end, sweat drenched his face, and his hammer arm trembled. But when he quenched it a final time, a quiet radiance pulsed across the plate's surface.

  He lifted it, heart pounding in awe. This is far more stable than my previous plates. If installed along the fence, it should endure sabotage attempts and repel minor awakened beasts or stray infiltration. Possibly more.

  Kael's hand shook from synergy overuse. He forced a slow breath, letting the forging manual's caution echo in his mind: Overload can lead to dissonance—be mindful.

  He set the new plate aside for the moment. In the next few days, he'd carefully replace one orchard fence ward with this gilded version, testing it discreetly.

  Late-Night Training Fixation

  That evening, Rowan insisted on a rotating watch around the orchard. Kael volunteered, but was swiftly denied—an orchard hand teased, "You've done enough heroics for one day, lad."

  So Kael found himself free under the moonlight. Normally, one might rest after such excitement, but rest was the last thing on his mind. He was too eager to refine synergy further. I nearly exhausted my channeling capacity forging the gilded plate. I need to push my synergy channels to the next level, methodically.

  He found a quiet corner behind the barn, where drifting moonbeams cast a faint glow. Kneeling on the grass, he began a series of elemental exercises:

  Fire Channel: Summon a small flame in his palm, maintain stable shape.Earth Channel: Sense the ground beneath him, shaping a slow swirl of dust.Water Channel: He used a small bucket to pull droplets upward, forming a floating sphere.Air Channel: A gentle breeze, swirling leaves around him.Light Channel: Harder to practice in darkness, but he tried to create a faint glow.

  Each channel demanded incremental synergy. By the fourth cycle, his breathing grew ragged, muscles protesting the day's strain. Yet he continued, recalling the phrase from the manual: "Only through repeated forging—of metal and self—does synergy truly refine."

  Flickers of Progress

  As he balanced a flame in one hand and a watery sphere in the other, a sudden surge tingled along his arms. Did my Fire synergy shift? He felt an intangible threshold loosen.

  [Notification: Fire Channeling (Basic, Lv.9) → Fire Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.1) gained.]

  A flush of warmth spread through him. Finally upgraded Fire Channeling. This would grant him more power and control. Every bit helps. The forging efforts and battle usage must have hastened it.

  He sat heavily, heart pounding with both excitement and exhaustion. Focus, Kael, don't overextend. But inside, he brimmed with satisfaction. That synergy improvement was an invaluable step—improved forging potential, stronger flames in combat, everything.

  No new attribute prompts came; possibly he'd need more rigorous physical forging or direct confrontation to earn those. But the synergy gain alone was a worthy milestone.

  Defensive Upgrades

  The next morning, Kael quietly removed an older synergy plate from a less-frequented fence post and replaced it with his gilded creation. He hammered it in place, using normal nails to hide its uniqueness. Then, pressing his palm to the plate, he tested it with a gentle infusion of Earth synergy.

  A warm hum radiated outward. The plate shimmered faintly with runic lines. Kael grinned. Much stronger conduction. If any saboteur tries messing with this ward, they'll find a rude surprise.

  He patted the fence post, stepping back to admire his handiwork. One plate is a start, but I'll need to craft more if the orchard truly becomes a battleground.

  Throughout the day, orchard staff noticed the new plate. Kael shrugged and told them it was "just a forging improvement." No one questioned further, especially with the orchard's focus on bigger threats—like more awakened beasts or hidden bandits.

  Bandit Traces and Growing Worry

  While Kael continued forging additional ward plates (though only one more had partial gold), Rowan led small scouting parties around the orchard perimeter. Telltale footprints, scattered droppings of weird origin… all signs that someone was still lurking.

  One of the orchard men, Baret, confided in Kael that he'd found footprints near the southwestern fence line, possibly from the same saboteur who attacked him days earlier. "They're testing us," Baret muttered. "Trying to see if our defenses are weak."

  Kael nodded gravely. Sooner or later, they might attempt a bigger incursion.

  He spent the next day training synergy in short bursts between forging tasks. His father frowned but said nothing, presumably chalking it up to a youthful obsession with runes. Kael also discreetly improved the orchard's older plates—scraping new runic lines, though he lacked enough gold to replicate the gilding on more than one. If only I had a stable gold supply…

  A Minor Breakthrough in Earth Channeling

  During one forging session, Kael practiced layering Earth synergy into a small leftover iron bar. He hammered each blow with a measured pulse, feeling the synergy swirl and condense. The process was slow, but it built upon the synergy micro-control he'd honed subduing the boar and forging the gilded plate.

  His arms trembled from the strain. "Just… a bit more," he muttered. Another hammer strike, another synergy weave. The bar glowed faintly. Suddenly, he sensed something click inside his core—a subtle expansion, as if his Earth channel reached a new level of clarity.

  [Notification: Earth Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.1) → Earth Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.2)gained.]

  A satisfied grin tugged his lips. Incremental progress. Indeed, all these forging hours were refining his synergy threads.

  He exhaled, letting the forging bar cool. I must pace myself. Don't want Overload Dissonance. But the thrill of improvement buoyed him. Soon, I'll be able to shape the orchard's earthen defenses more effectively if needed.

  Sparring with Siblings?

  One evening, Joren approached Kael with a half-sheepish expression. "Your siblings—if you remember, your older brother, Rannen, is traveling back from the next village soon. He's heard rumors of bandits. I suspect he might want to practice some sword moves with you."

  Kael blinked. He rarely sparred with Rannen, who was older by several years. Typically, Rannen teased Kael for being "bookish." But times had changed, and Joren likely realized Kael had some hidden knack.

  "Sure," Kael said quietly. A chance to practice physical technique might help. I've been focusing on synergy, but basic sword or staff training could be good cover.

  Joren nodded, relief in his eyes. "Thank you. He's worried about the orchard's safety too. A bit of safe sparring could sharpen everyone's readiness."

  Kael concealed a wry smile. I'll have to hold back more than a bit if I'm to keep my real abilities hidden.

  Restless Dreams, Rising Resolve

  That night, Kael lay on his makeshift bed in the barn loft. Exhaustion clung to him—both from forging new synergy plates and the tension of orchard threats. Yet sleep was elusive. In half-lucid moments, he pictured the orchard beset by multiple awakened beasts, or bandits with runic sabotage devices, while he singlehandedly tried to defend every fence line.

  The memory of his past life as Aerion surfaced, carrying guilt and longing. I failed to protect so many before… I won't let that happen again.

  Quietly, he sat up, glancing out the loft window at the moonlit orchard. The new gilded plate shimmered at the fence's edge, a silent sentinel. He felt a surge of determination. I'll push further—train synergy, craft stronger wards, be ready to fight if needed.

  He rubbed the faint scar on his forearm. The orchard needed him, but more forging alone wouldn't suffice. He had to keep improving synergy channels, maybe develop new spells. An advanced synergy-based trap or a short-range elemental blast to ward off intruders…

  Yes. But carefully, he reminded himself. Too many flashy feats, and suspicious eyes might turn on him.

  The Days March On

  Over the following days, tension in the orchard remained high but no further sabotage attempts occurred. Patrols reported fleeting shadows at night, but no one was caught. The men discovered a dead small beast near the orchard path—its injuries hinting at an awakened predator, but they found no sign of the culprit.

  Kael quietly used each dawn to refine forging or meditate on synergy, continuing his "training freak" routine. Hammer in hand, synergy swirling—he methodically improved his forging skill. By day, orchard chores masked his training. By night, hidden by moonlight, he practiced controlling multiple elements in tandem.

  He repeated these cycles: forging synergy-laced items, meditating to calm potential dissonance, testing small expansions of Earth or Fire channeling. Once or twice, he felt on the verge of another attribute gain—sweat beading as he hammered with near-obsessive focus. But the threshold refused to yield easily. The improvements grew harder as his constitution and strength rose, making each small gain more elusive.

  Yet he pushed on. That's the path to true mastery, he reminded himself.

  A Clan's Warning

  Midweek, a messenger from a nearby farm clan arrived, breathless with worry. He told of bandits capturing livestock and rumors of forcibly awakened guard animals. The orchard staff recognized the pattern: the same practice used on the awakened dog that Kael subdued.

  This news only heightened everyone's vigilance. Rowan doubled the fence checks. More orchard workers took shifts at night, pitchforks in hand. The orchard's normal bustle turned grim.

  Kael, forging yet another synergy-laced bracket, listened to these stories with mounting apprehension. Who's behind these forced awakenings? They must have knowledge of synergy runes. Possibly the same group that had meddled with the orchard's wards.

  He hammered the bracket harder, letting a spark of Fire synergy meld the metal. If they come here in force… we need every advantage. I must strengthen the orchard's perimeter.

  One Step Toward Strength

  On the seventh day after subduing the awakened boar, Kael stood in the orchard at dusk, arms folded as he surveyed the replaced plates. He'd managed to forge two gilded plates total, though only one with a decent gold ratio. The rest were lesser synergy plates—still better than nothing.

  His father's voice drifted from behind. "You've been working tirelessly, Kael. The orchard truly owes you. Just… promise me you won't do anything that'll get you killed. We can't lose you."

  A wave of warmth and guilt washed over Kael. He nodded. "I promise, Father."

  Inside, he thought, I have no intention of dying—but I also can't stand by if something attacks.

  That night, as Kael repeated his synergy meditation, a swirl of satisfaction filled him. The orchard was more secure. And his synergy channels had advanced notably. I might be pushing close to a threshold in Earth synergy again, he mused. Not to mention Fire synergy at intermediate now.

  He inhaled deeply, feeling a stable synergy glow in his core. The orchard's path was far from safe, but step by step, Kael was forging a bulwark.

  Status Window

  Name: Kael Ashborne

  Age: 6 (nearing 7)

  Talent: SSS (Hidden)

  Core Grade: Red (Awakened in secret)

  Level: 10

  EXP: 280 / 1600(+120 from subduing awakened boar, plus prior total. No level-up yet.)

  Attributes

  Strength: 18

  Agility: 6

  Constitution: 19

  Intelligence: 34

  Spirit: 45(No new direct attribute gains; training is intensifying, but thresholds get harder to cross.)

  Free Attribute Points: 0

  Trait: Sage's Insight (Passive – fosters advanced comprehension of spells, runes, forging)

  Synergy Channeling

  Earth Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.2)(Recently refined via forging + orchard defense.)Fire Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.1)(Upgraded from Basic Lv.9 after forging + boar fight.)Water Channeling (Basic, Lv.9)Air Channeling (Basic, Lv.9)Light Channeling (Basic, Lv.9)

  Skills

  Earthen Snare (Intermediate, Lv.1)Ember Bolt (Intermediate, Lv.1)Stone Shield (Basic, Lv.5)Windflare Alarm (Basic, Lv.2)Warmth Ward (Basic, Lv.1)

  Despite fatigue and the orchard's ongoing dangers, Kael felt a resolute calm. Each forging stroke, each synergy exercise, each cunning cover story—he was steadily weaving a fortress of skill around the orchard. Whatever threats lurk in the shadows, I'll be ready to defend this place…

  And so the days marched on, with Kael quietly shaping both metal and magic, forging anew the orchard's future and his own path toward hidden power.