A pale sun climbed over the ravaged Greenwood Orchard, illuminating the wreckage left by the direwolf siege. Splintered fences, churned soil, and half-collapsed watchtowers reminded everyone of the desperate battles that had raged only hours ago. Yet the orchard folk carried renewed hope in their eyes, for the colossal alpha direwolf was gone—repelled at last, or so they prayed. Few doubted the decisive factor: Kael Ashborne's explosive demonstration of synergy, which all now believed to be his sudden Awakening at the tender age of nine.

  Lingering Shock and Relief

  Kael stood beside the battered barn, heart still fluttering from the intensity of the final clash. Although the orchard had survived, the air crackled with remnants of tension. Broken spears and torn cloth littered the courtyard. Several orchard men slumped against walls, nursing wounds or simply trying to catch their breath.

  His father, Joren, approached with a limp. A stained bandage wrapped his thigh. "We made it," Joren said, voice tinged with exhaustion. He rested a trembling hand on Kael's shoulder. "Son… I can't believe you awakened so powerfully. At nine. That's—" He swallowed thickly, eyes brimming with conflicting emotions.

  Kael mustered a wavering smile. "I—it happened under the worst timing, but I'm just glad we drove off that alpha." As orchard staff turned to look at him, awe etched their faces. Clearly, they were grappling with how a child they'd known since infancy had suddenly shown advanced synergy.

  No one realized Kael had truly awakened years before. This "birthday awakening" narrative suited him well, offering an acceptable reason for his high-level synergy control.

  Counting the Cost

  Rowan gathered the orchard hands for a quick roll call. Exhaustion shadowed his features, yet his voice remained resolute. "We have injured men scattered around. Check them. Then we assess the orchard's damage. If—if that alpha recovers and returns, we mustn't be caught off-guard."

  Heads nodded somberly. Some orchard folk wiped away tears for those who hadn't survived. Joren grimaced, scanning the battered fences. "We'll hold a memorial soon," he murmured. "For now, let's salvage what we can."

  A hush settled as Rowan read out the list: four orchard workers lost, six others severely injured. Many sustained lesser wounds. Kael's throat constricted—he recognized some of the names. Friends he had joked with about forging nails or orchard chores, gone in mere days.

  Nearby, Brynn—still wincing from his rib injuries—drew a tight breath. "If not for Kael's synergy surge, that alpha might've torn straight through our last lines," he said quietly. A ripple of agreement passed through those present.

  Acknowledging the "New Awakening"

  Gethran, the traveling scholar who'd aided them, approached Kael with an unreadable expression. A purple bruise marked the side of his temple, and his robes were smeared with ash. "Master Kael," he said softly, "I've seen many awakenings, but rarely do I witness such immediate control—Earth, Fire, illusions before, and more."

  Kael bowed his head, playing the part of an overwhelmed boy. "It's… still strange to me," he lied. "I felt something last night… woke this morning feeling synergy surging. I just had to act."

  Rowan and Baret, standing close, exchanged glances of astonishment. Kael saw the flicker of curiosity in Gethran's eyes. He suspects more, Kael realized. But the orchard's near-destruction overshadowed everything, leaving little room for deeper scrutiny.

  Wounds and Repairs

  Despite battered bodies and weary minds, orchard workers rallied under Rowan's direction. Some hustled to patch critical gaps in the fence line while others cleared debris from the orchard rows. The once-sturdy watchtower lay half-collapsed, only a stunted foundation remaining. Wind whistled through missing boards, carrying with it the lingering scent of blood.

  Kael joined a group hauling salvageable fence posts. The orchard men still showed signs of shock whenever they glanced his way, as though not quite believing a nine-year-old—someone they'd seen toddling around—was now their prime defender.

  He forced a reassuring smile whenever their gazes lingered. "Let's shore up the western boundary," he suggested softly, channeling a thread of Earth synergy into the soil around a shattered post. The dirt compacted, reinforcing the post's base. Several orchard men murmured thanks.

  Exhaustive Labor and Incremental Growth

  Hour by hour, Kael heaved beams, nailed broken boards, and used Earth synergy to stabilize corners. Though illusions were once his hallmark, he refrained from casting any now. The orchard had effectively shifted to synergy forging as its new protective method. He moved in a cycle of hauling, hammering, and pulsing small bursts of Earth synergy. His muscles burned.

  By midday, his entire body felt leaden. He jammed another fence post into a dug-out trench and funneled Earth energy to seal it. I can't let illusions overshadow synergy again, he reminded himself. They all expect real synergy from me now.

  When the post finally stood firm, a faint, familiar shiver coursed through him, reminiscent of quiet accomplishments in forging:

  System NotificationYour body grows more resilient from prolonged heavy labor and synergy usage. Constitution +1.

  A subtle warmth suffused his limbs. Though exhausted, Kael felt the edge of weariness recede a fraction. He exhaled, grateful for every incremental gain.

  Summarizing the Damage

  After a hasty lunch break—consisting of stale bread and water—Rowan convened a short assembly by the barn. Joren, Brynn, Gethran, and others gathered around a makeshift table. A tattered map of the orchard lay spread atop it, showing which rows had been burned or trampled.

  "We've lost about a third of our orchard trees," Rowan said grimly. "Fences along the north and west need full replacement, but we'll try patching them first. At least the alpha's retreat bought us time."

  Brynn surveyed the map, wincing as he shifted his bruised ribs. "We shouldn't assume the alpha is gone for good, though. That beast was cunning. If it recovers…"

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  "We'll do what we can," Joren replied, jaw set. "And if help arrives from the city, all the better."

  Gethran tapped his chin. "My messenger, Calden, left a few days back, but it could be another week before any reinforcements come. In the meantime, we rely on Kael's synergy forging and our own vigilance."

  A silent ripple of gratitude spread at the mention of Kael. Orchard men cast fleeting, respectful looks. Kael fought down a flush. He recalled illusions had once carried them through sabotage, but now synergy forging was undeniably overshadowing illusions. Perhaps it was for the best.

  Memorial for the Fallen

  The orchard set aside work briefly to hold a small memorial for their dead. Four wooden grave markers stood at the orchard's eastern edge. Men and women bowed their heads, faces drawn. Rowan, voice trembling, led a quiet eulogy: "These were our friends, our neighbors, who guarded Greenwood until their last breaths."

  Kael clenched his fists, heart heavy. One marker belonged to a man who taught him how to trim saplings when he was barely tall enough to hold pruning shears. Another was a cheerful older orchard guard who once teased Kael about illusions. The orchard's survival had exacted a brutal toll.

  As the gathering dispersed, Meria—Kael's mother—took him aside, gently smoothing his hair. "You look exhausted. Are you sure you're all right?" Her eyes shone with equal parts pride and worry.

  Kael nodded. "I'm… coping, Mother. Just focusing on repairs." She didn't press further, though the lines of concern stayed etched on her face.

  Talk of Conspiracies

  Once the memorial ended, Gethran beckoned Kael and Rowan over to a corner of the courtyard, where the scholar crouched beside a few small containers filled with oddly glowing residue. "These are samples from near the orchard fences and from that alpha's tracks," Gethran explained. "They bear distinct forced-mana signatures. Remind you of anything?"

  Rowan frowned. "Could it be like those saboteurs' forced-awakening powder from months ago?"

  Gethran gave a somber nod. "Precisely. I suspect the alpha direwolf's mutation is no random occurrence. Some group is systematically testing forced-awakening methods on local beasts."

  Kael recalled the sabotage fiasco, where illusions played a role in capturing saboteurs. Now, illusions were overshadowed by synergy forging, but the underlying threat might well be the same. "If that's true," he ventured quietly, "they might try again—maybe not here, but somewhere else. Other villages could be in danger."

  A grim silence fell. Gethran sighed. "I'll finalize these samples and submit them to city labs once the reeve's men arrive. For now, let's pray this ring of forced awakeners doesn't send more beasts."

  A Mother's Comfort

  Later, Kael found himself in the orchard house's small kitchen, drawn by the scent of broth. Meria ladled steaming soup into a bowl, pressing it into his hands. "Eat, child," she whispered. "You look worn to the bone. We owe you so much, but don't forget to care for yourself."

  Kael sipped the broth, warmth coursing through him. Indeed, illusions used to define his orchard presence, but now synergy forging took center stage. And though the orchard staff believed he had just awakened, he still felt the weight of more advanced knowledge gleaned from his previous life.

  "I'm all right, Mother," he repeated gently. "I promise."

  She smiled, but sadness lingered in her eyes as she recalled the orchard's losses. The day after Kael's ninth birthday had nearly spelled doom; now, they stood on a fragile cusp of rebuilding.

  A Scholar's Observations

  That evening, as orchard workers formed a loose ring around a modest campfire, Gethran sat scribbling in a travel-worn journal. He glanced occasionally at Kael, as though unable to banish curiosity about the boy's synergy prowess.

  When Kael asked if anything was amiss, Gethran cleared his throat. "Merely recording events. A nine-year-old synergy user capable of Earth and Fire control is remarkable. I suspect city-based mentors or academies might be very interested in you."

  Rowan, overhearing, nodded. "If the orchard stabilizes, I can't imagine holding you back from greater training, Kael. Not after what we witnessed."

  Kael folded his hands, letting the fire's glow illuminate his face. "I'll see what happens once the orchard recovers," he said modestly. "We can't be sure the alpha direwolf won't return."

  Joren murmured agreement. "Still, we can't bury such a talent in a broken orchard. You deserve proper guidance." A pang crossed his features, torn between paternal pride and the possibility of losing his son's daily presence.

  Eve of a Different Era

  Night settled over Greenwood Orchard with an unfamiliar hush—no howls, no frantic alarms. Workers slumped against hay bales or battered crates, letting exhaustion claim them. The orchard's illusions that once lined the fences were overshadowed by synergy forging, yet no new illusions danced tonight. The final truth: illusions alone couldn't have beaten the alpha.

  Kael took a moment to walk the perimeter. He laid a hand on a reinforced fence post, feeling the synergy-laced soil beneath. Each step reminded him illusions were no longer the orchard's key defense; synergy forging was. The orchard folk had wholly embraced his "awakening," never suspecting his deeper secret.

  Near the barn's forging alcove, he set down a half-etched metal plate. Flicking a gentle Fire synergy, he heated the metal, then hammered the softened edges. Slowly, he inscribed runes that combined Earth stability with a faint detection effect. If forced-awakening beasts approached again, these synergy wards would alert orchard watchers better than illusions could.

  With each hammer strike, sparks glinted, lighting Kael's determined expression. The orchard is safe for now, he thought, but our troubles aren't over. He pictured the forced-awakening residue Gethran had collected, the alpha's cunning attempts, and the men they lost. Another confrontation—perhaps orchestrated by the same black-market ring—could surface in the future.

  Yet for tonight, Greenwood Orchard could rest. And Kael, having revealed a fraction of his synergy forging in the guise of a newly awakened boy, felt a quiet sense of relief. This was the perfect cover for his far more advanced state.

  Quiet Determination

  Later, as the orchard staff retired, Kael lingered under the moonlit sky, gazing at ruined rows of orchard trees. This was no triumphant victory. But it was survival, a reprieve from daily terror. He breathed in the night air, ignoring the faint sting of dried sweat on his skin and the ache in his muscles.

  Tomorrow, they would bury the dead, rebuild more fences, and wait for city help or further news. He would continue forging synergy wards, stepping away from illusions. For all outward appearances, Kael was simply a newly awakened nine-year-old discovering his synergy potential.

  And that was more than enough to keep curious eyes satisfied—no one would guess at the SSS-level talent concealed behind that modest facade.

  End of Chapter 43

  Status Screen

  (Below is Kael's updated status after a long day of orchard repairs and synergy usage. He's gained a small boost to Constitution from sustained physical labor, but no level-up has occurred since the alpha's retreat.)

  Name: Kael AshborneAge: 9Talent: SSS (Hidden)Core Grade: Red (Peak) — near OrangeLevel: 13EXP: 200 / 3500Free Attribute Points: 0

  Attributes:

  Strength: 29 Agility: 10 Constitution: 29 (+1 from prolonged heavy labor and synergy forging)Intelligence: 36 Spirit: 53

  Trait:Sage's Insight (Advanced synergy & forging comprehension)

  Synergy Channeling:

  Earth Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.4)Fire Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.3)Water Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.1)Air Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.1)Light Channeling (Intermediate, Lv.1)

  Skills & Spells:

  Earthen Snare (Intermediate, Lv.3)Ember Bolt (Intermediate, Lv.2)Stone Shield (Intermediate, Lv.1)Windflare Alarm (Intermediate, Lv.1)Warmth Ward (Basic, Lv.5)Phantom Veil (Basic, Lv.5)Static Lash (Basic, Lv.2)

  No illusions were cast this day; Kael relied on synergy forging and raw Earth channeling to repair fences. The orchard stands battered but hopeful, rallying around Kael's "recent early awakening." Unbeknownst to all but Kael, illusions have truly been overshadowed by forging synergy—and his real awakening began three years earlier.