A haze of coppery dawn light filtered through the high windows of Arden's Atelier, illuminating wisps of drifting forge-smoke. The heat and clang of forging had become Kael Ashborne's near-constant companion. Yet today, after his recent breakthrough to Orange Core and the leap of his forging to Intermediate (Lv.1), a heightened sense of clarity inflected his every movement.

  He stood in front of one of the lesser anvils, fitting an alloy ingot into the brazier's heart. Sparks danced across his forearms as he channeled Fire to heat the metal, while Earth stabilized the forming runic lines. Despite the early hour, Kael felt a near-endless well of vigor from his newly advanced core. The swirl of Ice and Darkness—freshly awakened yet hidden behind the Void Veil Seal—barely tugged at the edges of his consciousness. He kept them suppressed, mindful that even an accidental display would raise eyebrows.

  Across the workshop, Arden was reviewing an order ledger for custom weapons. He glanced toward Kael every so often, as though measuring how much further the boy could push his forging artistry after crossing into Orange Core and Intermediate forging skill. Meanwhile, Cedric—Arden's older apprentice—organized racks of half-finished plates and swords, taking pains not to disrupt Kael's focus. Cedric's earlier wariness had all but vanished, replaced by cautious respect for the younger boy's meteoric growth.

  A Brief Respite

  Once Kael finished shaping runic lines into the heated ingot—layering a stable Earth-Fire combination—he quenched it, causing a fierce hiss of steam. Satisfied with his progress, he set the glowing metal aside to cool. The moment he stepped back, Arden approached.

  "Kael," Arden said gruffly. He tapped a parchment pinned to the main worktable. "We've new commissions from a local mercenary guild—Earth-Fire scimitars with a minor Light infusion. They want them robust and partially self-healing. A step beyond the standard forging you've done so far."

  Kael inclined his head. "I'll do my best, Master."

  Arden's gaze lingered a moment, scanning Kael's aura. "You're channeling your Orange mana quite smoothly. I can tell by your improved elemental manipulation . Keep it up, but be mindful not to overstrain. Even newly advanced cores need time to stabilize."

  He turned, then added more quietly, "Not all fosters of advanced forging can adapt so rapidly to new core expansions. If you feel any backlash or strain, let me know."

  Kael nodded, grateful for the concern. The Orange core surge had left him brimming with energy, but he knew from his old-life knowledge (and Sage's Insight) that forcing continuous high-level forging could destabilize newly formed channels. He resolved to be cautious yet persistent.

  A Letter from Gethran

  Late morning found Kael in a side chamber, rummaging for specialized runic chalk when Cedric informed him of Gethran's arrival. The scholar had come bearing more news. Kael quickly wiped sweat from his brow, heading to the front foyer of the atelier.

  He found Gethran hunched over a small wooden table, eyes grave as he studied a city bulletin. At Kael's approach, the scholar looked up and offered a tight smile.

  "Another rumor surfaced," Gethran said by way of greeting, tapping the parchment. "At least three talented youths from outlying villages have vanished. The city watch has little to go on—only that these youngsters had strong aptitudes, and sightings of robed figures near their homes."

  Kael's stomach tightened. "Do we have any leads? Or are they just… gone?"

  Gethran grimaced. "Vanished without a trace. This might be connected to forced awakenings of beasts as well. If someone is bold enough to abduct young talents, they could be researching a method to forcibly awaken humans too."

  An uneasy chill ran down Kael's spine. He had half-expected that possibility—someone attempting to replicate the forced-runic branding not just on beasts but on talented people. "That's monstrous."

  Gethran nodded. "Precisely. Be extremely cautious. You're already known as an 'S-tier forging genius'—which might make you a prime target if they discover your real potential. We can't confirm the group's identity, but if you notice anything suspicious, alert me or Arden."

  Kael inhaled, forcing calm. "I won't let my guard down."

  Gethran placed a gentle hand on Kael's shoulder. "Good. Focus on forging and keep watch for unusual runic signatures." Then he left Kael with the bulletin, its text detailing the vanishings of three prodigies from small hamlets. Rage and unease churned in Kael's chest—someone out there threatened not just beasts but gifted children, all for twisted experiments.

  Arden's Reaction

  Back in the main workshop, Kael found Arden reviewing an early draft for a new bracer design—one intended for heavier front-line mercenaries. Without preamble, Kael recounted the gist of Gethran's news, mindful to keep his voice low so as not to alarm the other apprentices.

  Arden's mouth set in a grim line. "I'd heard rumors, but nothing concrete. If Gethran's discovered a link to missing youths, it's far worse than I feared." He straightened, gaze flicking to Kael. "You, Cedric, and the rest—avoid traveling alone at night beyond the city wards. We can't afford to lose anyone."

  Cedric, standing nearby, overheard. He swallowed, expression tense. "These vanishings… do we suspect they're tied to the forced awakenings of beasts?"

  Arden nodded once, curtly. "Highly likely. We'll stay vigilant. Kael, focus on forging commissions here. If you must hunt or gather forging materials, bring Cedric or myself. Understood?"

  Kael dipped his head, though he knew he would continue night hunts. People out there needed protection. "Yes, Master Arden."

  Despite the heavy atmosphere, Kael also sensed a quiet pride in Arden's stance. The man was clearly impressed by the forging leaps Kael had displayed since hitting Orange. The swirl of advanced elemental manipulation, Kael mentally corrected—helped him produce near-flawless triple-layer items. Yet the threat overshadowed the atelier, reminding them that forging alone couldn't solve every problem.

  Advanced Artifact Infusion

  After midday, Arden beckoned Kael to a smaller annex used for advanced artifact-crafting. Various half-finished protective amulets and runic-laced sword hilts lined shelves. Arden placed a partial metal sphere on a central dais. Intricate lines swirled around it—some Fire-based, others Earth. The shape pulsed faintly with contained energy.

  "This," Arden said, pointing to the sphere, "is part of an advanced artifact. The client wants a stable infusion of Earth and Fire for consistent warmth and minor seismic bursts. Usually, only a mid-tier forging group handles such complexity. But I want you to attempt the infusion. Consider it a test of your new forging rank."

  Kael's pulse quickened. He'd done triple-layer forging on simpler bracers or plates. An artifact sphere, though, was more akin to the city's top-tier forging labs. "I'll try."

  Arden stepped back, arms folded. "Use your new vantage—Orange mana might make it feasible. Focus especially on transitions between Earth and Fire runes, so no wild fluctuations occur."

  Kael carefully ran his hands over the sphere's surface. The partial runes glowed dully, awaiting completion. He breathed deeply, channeling Earth in one palm and Fire in the other. Sparks flickered around him. Slowly, he etched additional lines that bridged the gap between the existing Earth and Fire patterns. The sphere throbbed with energy, testing his control.

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  Sweat trickled down his brow as he painstakingly hammered the final runic arcs into place. A subtle hum filled the annex as the artifact stabilized. At last, Kael poured a measured pulse of Fire to seal the lattice. The lines flared bright red, then subsided into a stable glow.

  Arden stepped forward, placing one hand on the sphere. For a tense moment, no words passed. Then he let out a measured exhalation. "It's stable. Remarkably so."

  System Notification

  Forging Success: Advanced Earth-Fire Artifact Sphere

  +400 EXP

  Kael's chest swelled with pride. Another chunk of forging EXP. Though still far from leveling up again, every step mattered. Arden managed a faint, rare smile of approval.

  "You handle runic layering at a level I'd expect from far more seasoned forgers," Arden remarked. He paused, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Your breakthroughs truly place you among the city's forging prodigies. At this rate, I see no reason not to endorse your Academy forging track application."

  Kael's heart thudded. Confirmation that Arden intended to recommend him to the Astraeus Academy forging program meant the next big chapter of his life loomed. "Thank you, Master. I'll keep proving my worth."

  Arden nodded. "For now, let that sphere rest. We'll deliver it tomorrow. Go get some water, then you can help Cedric with the next commissions."

  Forced Awakening Threads

  Just as Kael turned to leave, Gethran slipped into the annex. His face was paler than before.

  "More news?" Kael asked, tension coiling in his gut.

  Gethran nodded grimly. "A rumor from a traveling merchant—someone spotted a group of robed individuals capturing a small group of beasts near a deserted farm. They carved runes into them on the spot, forcibly awakening them. The beasts rampaged as though in unimaginable pain."

  Kael felt nausea twist his stomach. "When did this happen?"

  "Last night, southwest of the city," Gethran replied softly, glancing at Arden. "The merchant was too frightened to intervene. He fled. We suspect these robed figures might be the same ones behind the vanishings."

  Arden's jaw clenched. "We'll inform the watch. Meanwhile, no more solitary hunts beyond the city perimeter for any of you," he said, eyes flicking to Kael. "Understood?"

  Kael hesitated—he wanted to quell these monstrous acts. But something in Arden's tone suggested real danger. "Yes, Master. But if the watch won't act quickly… People might be in danger." He saw Gethran's expression flicker with concern.

  "We must not be reckless," Gethran said. "Let me gather more intelligence first. If we can confirm a location or pattern, perhaps we can strike effectively."

  Kael exhaled. The tension in his chest was almost suffocating. "All right," he relented. "But I won't stand by if more innocent folk are threatened."

  Arden clapped him on the shoulder. "Your courage is commendable. But your safety—and that of the atelier—comes first. We'll handle this carefully."

  An Evening of Quiet Determination

  That evening, Kael wrestled with conflicting impulses. Part of him wanted to rush out and scour the farmland for robed conspirators, test his new Orange powers, and rescue any unsuspecting youths. But he also recognized that he was only nine, albeit an overpowered forging genius with multiple hidden elements. Charging into unknown territory risked more than just his own safety.

  So he channeled his restless energy into forging. Alongside Cedric, he worked on the commissioned Earth-Fire swords. Each blade required stable double-layer runes on the spine, plus a faint Light swirl near the hilt for mild regeneration. With forging at Intermediate (Lv.1), Kael could manipulate these runic combos with surprising ease. Sparks flared around him, and metal glowed bright under his hammer.

  Cedric watched in subdued awe. "You handle layering as though you've done it for years. Hard to believe you arrived only months ago."

  Kael gave a wry smile. "I'm just practicing nonstop. There's no secret beyond that." He kept his true capacity—and his newly awakened Ice and Darkness—strictly hidden.

  Still, each forging success spurred him forward. By the time the swords were ready for quenching, the atelier's lamps flickered low, indicating the approach of midnight. Cedric yawned, turning in for rest. Kael lingered, mind spinning with images of robed abductors, mutated beasts, and advanced forging runes. One day soon, he vowed, he would unmask whoever orchestrated these forced awakenings.

  Nightly Resolve

  With the rest of the atelier quiet, Kael made a small round of the workshop's perimeter to clear his head. The city beyond was dark, save for a few scattered lights in upper-floor windows. A distant rumble of thunder hinted at a coming storm.

  He paused at a side gate, gazing up at the swirling clouds. The vestiges of the day's forging sessions still thrummed in his arms, an almost electric resonance from hours spent channeling Fire, Earth, and Light. The new presence of Ice and Darkness nudged at him, subdued but insistent. He refused to release them, not until he was certain no one could detect him.

  Quietly, he recalled Gethran's warning: missing youths, robed figures, forced awakenings spreading. The swirl of frustration rose. He clenched his fists. I might be nine, but I won't let them keep harming innocents. He resolved to train even harder, push forging skill and elemental mastery to new heights—so that when the time came, he'd be fully prepared to act.

  A soft drizzle of rain began to fall. Kael took a final breath of night air, then retreated inside.

  Morning Strategies

  Come dawn, Kael woke early to set out the completed Earth-Fire swords for inspection. Arden tested them, channeling short bursts of Fire and Earth, verifying the stable synergy. He even tapped Light near the hilt, noticing how the minor regeneration effect glowed faintly. Satisfied, he beckoned Kael aside.

  "I'll personally deliver these swords to the client. Meanwhile, you handle that bracer commission from the southern caravan. Cedric can assist, but I trust you to lead the forging. After that, we'll see about a new set of requests."

  Kael nodded. "Yes, Master." He glimpsed the swirling energies behind Arden's stoic features. The forging master was proud, but also weighed by the city's dark rumors. With Kael now forging at an intermediate level, Arden's confidence in him soared, but so did the stakes.

  "What about the vanishings?" Kael asked quietly. "Any updates from the watch?"

  Arden shook his head. "They confirmed a few scraps of info, but no real leads. I'm no watch captain, but I've urged them to post more patrols. We can do only so much until we have a concrete location."

  A flicker of determination crossed Kael's face. "I understand."

  Arden lowered his voice. "Focus on forging, keep your hunts local if you must. Once you perfect a few more commissions, I'll finalize my recommendation for your Academy enrollment."

  Heart pounding, Kael bowed. "I'll meet your expectations, Master." Inside, he felt a swirl of excitement tempered by the dark specter of forced awakenings. He'd hone his forging, gather strength, and remain vigilant.

  The Day's Work

  Kael spent the day meticulously forging the southern caravan's bracer commission. The client wanted Earth and Firerunes primarily for combat, plus a subtle glimmer of Light for minor healing. Similar to the piece he had made earlier but with a different shape and higher durability demands.

  His Intermediate forging skill let him carve runic lines with fluid precision. Now, forging multiple runes at once felt like second nature. He used a specialized hammer—a new piece Arden had lent him—to anchor the runes deeper without fracturing the metal.

  Each clang of the hammer resonated in Kael's arms, his newly advanced Orange core providing stable power. He could sense the metal's structure as though it spoke to him—a testament to both his forging rank and the synergy of multi-element manipulation.

  When at last he plunged the bracer into an oil bath, it emerged gleaming with runic brilliance. Cedric walked over, eyes wide at the cleanly fused runes. "That's impressive. Not a single crack in the tri-layer lines."

  Kael offered a humble shrug. "Still perfecting it. But I think it meets the specs."

  Cedric tested the bracer with a pulse of Earth-Fire. The runes lit up in a stable pattern, no sign of strain. He released the energy and gave Kael a faint grin. "The client will be thrilled."

  A Growing Unease

  As the sun dipped low, the atelier quieted. Kael carefully placed the finished bracer on a rack, waiting for Arden's final inspection. A heaviness still clung to the air—news of forced awakenings and missing youths. Kael tried to keep forging, but his mind wandered to the southwestern farmland where robed figures presumably roamed. A flicker of guilt pricked him: Should he investigate personally?

  No, he told himself. Arden and Gethran want me safe. But if I catch a definite lead, I won't stand idle.

  Evening's Grim Tidings

  Just before closing, Gethran rushed in with face drawn. "The watch discovered more forced-awakened beasts outside the western fields. A ragtag group of adventurers fought them off, but…no sign of the robed instigators." He paused. "We can't confirm if the missing youths are tied to these events, but the watch suspects a single group orchestrating it all."

  Kael's fists clenched involuntarily. The sense of power from his new Orange core warred with the frustration of inaction. He forced a steady breath. "I'll be ready if something definitive arises."

  Gethran nodded, voice quiet. "Stay on guard, Kael. We can't lose you to these fiends."

  A Silent Resolution

  That night, Kael laid awake in his small bunk, forging plans swirling in his head. He replayed the day's successes: advanced artifact infusion, forging the bracer, each step consolidated his forging skill at Intermediate (Lv.1). The forced-awakening threat remained ominous, but he resolved to become strong enough—both in forging and elemental manipulation—to confront it head-on when the time came.

  He closed his eyes, letting the rhythmic pulse of his Orange Core soothe him. Hidden beneath the Void Veil, Ice and Darkness stirred, glimmers of power he had barely begun to tap. If the conspirators threatened more innocents, he would be ready.

  For now, forging overshadowed everything, fueling his unstoppable ascent. Tomorrow promised more commissions, more hunts, and a step closer to unraveling the forced awakening conspiracy. And in Kael's determined heart, he vowed to ensure no child's potential would be twisted by vile runes—nor any unholy experimentation would go unanswered.

  STATUS SCREEN

  Name: Kael Ashborne

  Age: ~9 yrs + 4 months

  Talent: SSS (Hidden)

  Core Grade: Orange (Low) — recently advanced

  Level: 14

  EXP: 400 / 5000 (gained +400 forging artifact sphere, +200 from boar kill, some from new bracer forging; partial)

  Free Attribute Points: 0

  Attributes:

  ? Strength: 33

  ? Agility: 10

  ? Constitution: 33

  ? Intelligence: 37

  ? Spirit: 56

  Trait:

  ? Sage's Insight

  (Advanced runic forging & multi-element theory comprehension.)

  Elemental Manipulation (Publicly Revealed):

  ? Fire (Intermediate, Lv.5)

  ? Earth (Intermediate, Lv.6)

  ? Light (Intermediate, Lv.3)

  ? Lightning (Basic, Lv.4)

  ? Metal (Basic, Lv.4)

  Elemental Manipulation (Secretly Concealed via Void Veil):

  ? Water (Intermediate, Lv.4)

  ? Air (Intermediate, Lv.4)

  ? Ice (Basic, Lv.1) (newly unlocked)

  ? Darkness (Basic, Lv.1) (newly unlocked)

  Skills & Spells:

  ? Earthen Snare (Intermediate, ~Lv.4)

  ? Ember Bolt (Intermediate, ~Lv.3–4)

  ? Stone Shield (Intermediate, Lv.1)

  ? Windflare Alarm (Intermediate, Lv.1)

  ? Phantom Veil (Basic, Lv.5, overshadowed)

  ? Static Lash (Basic, Lv.2)

  ? Earthen Flame Trap (Basic, Lv.4)

  ? Storm Bind (Basic, Lv.3)

  ? Iron Quake (Basic, Lv.3)

  ? Steel Lash (Basic, Lv.4)

  ? Earthen Flame Surge (Intermediate, Lv.1)

  Forging Skill:

  ? Intermediate (Lv.1) .

  "Focus on forging and watch your back," Kael told himself. "I refuse to let the city's dark rumors fester without answer. When the time comes…I'll strike."