Elian Tarmal’s POV

Opening the wooden backdoor to the yard, I stepped into the warmth of the midday sun, its rays glinting off the steel sword in my hand.

Closing the door behind me, I walked to the centre of the courtyard and paused to breathe in the fresh air, grinning to myself. The sky was mostly clear, with a dark line of grey clouds visible on the horizon. A cool breeze swept through, pushing my shaggy black curls to the side.

I should ask Dad to cut my hair when he gets home from the bakery.

Making my way to the center of the yard, I took another deep breath and closed my eyes. I drew ambient mana slowly into my core and processed it, then pushed the processed mana back out of my body where it dissipated. Fidgeting, my mind wandered while I tried to meditate in the midday sun.

My sword was a gift from Mum and Dad on my twelfth birthday, but I was only allowed to use it during training to transition off wooden weapons. Despite being unable to use it, I still liked to carry it around with me. My grandparents hadn’t been able to visit for my birthday because Grandma was sick, but Mum had gone to the capital yesterday to help with her recovery, so I wasn’t too worried. Well, maybe I was a bit worried.

My thoughts continued like that for a few minutes before I realised I wasn’t meditating and refocused my mind. Along with the earth element I’d inherited from Dad, there was a chance I’d inherited something called a heritage ability from Mum she referred to as ‘Instinct’. She described heritage abilities as an element you couldn’t learn. You either had it, or you didn’t.

Although your parents mostly decided your elements upon awakening, with enough effort and experience it was possible to use an element you didn’t inherit. This wasn’t the case with heritage abilities, which are passed down in a family from generation to generation.

Adjusting my grip on my sword, I experimented with the mana in my core, randomly altering its form before using a small amount to enforce my body. Despite most of the mana being of the earth element, I tried to focus on the small amount that wasn’t.

Nothing happened in response to my enforcement and the mana quickly began dissipating, so I released my hold to try again. I spent a while repeating the exercise of absorbing, processing, and enforcing, trying to notice any changes in the enforcement.

Eventually, on the dozenth attempt, my stomach churned and a sense of unease crept over me. Goosebumps appeared on my arms and a cold shiver ran down my spine. Holding the mana in place, I opened my eyes, but the feeling didn’t disappear.

This is Instinct? Great. Of course it shows up by making me feel like something’s about to explode.

Glancing back at the house, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and headed for the back door. As I moved, I failed to hold onto the mana, causing it to dissipate along with the foreboding sensation.

Instinct was supposed to be a passive danger sense, not that I could use it passively to start off, where the stronger the reaction the worse the event it was detecting. Nervously, I pushed the door open and walked into the living room. Chione sat on the lounge reading a book, with Haela sprawled across her lap, using it as a pillow. I breathed a sigh of relief.

You couldn’t tell they were sisters by looking at them. Chione, with her perfect posture—something Laela had drilled into her—gave off an air of noble grace and dignity. Her glossy, straight black hair was tied back in a ponytail, falling just below her shoulders.

In direct contrast, Haela was still in her nightgown at midday. Her long orange hair was a tangled mess, one strand stuck to the corner of her mouth, while her arm dangled off the couch. Despite her small frame, she’d somehow managed to take up most of the lounge. I doubted Chione had much say in their current arrangement, but the physical contact would likely do her some good.

“Could you stop staring at us? It’s creepy,” Chione muttered without looking up from her book. I couldn’t help but grin when I saw them safe, my nervousness disappearing.

“Sorry. Just thinking how much you’ve changed. You used to be so shy and awkward—now anyone would mistake you for some noble lady’s daughter,” I teased.

She scowled. “Well, stop it.” The room fell into a brief silence.

“Everything good here?” I asked.

Haela cracked open her eyes and gave a lazy thumbs-up. “All great.”

Satisfied that nothing seemed out of place, I walked over to Kane’s room and knocked. He often locked himself away in here for hours, and I could never figure out the reason.

Haela yawned and stretched, catlike. “Why?” The golden iris of her eyes were the same hue as mine.

“It’s probably nothing,” I said, pushing open the door when there was no response. The room was empty. “You two know where Kane is?”

Chione finally looked up, frowning. “I thought he was outside with you?”

A chill ran down my spine. I quickly reactivated Instinct, and a wave of unease surged through me so strongly that I stumbled backwards and lost control of the ability.

Chione closed her book, setting it aside while frowning. “What’s wrong?” 

Without giving her an answer I sprinted for the front door, threw it open, dashed outside, and reactivated Instinct for the third time. I was quickly getting a handle on the ability as I scanned the surrounding wooden homes for the source of my unease. Chione shouted after me, but her voice was drowned out by the blood pounding in my ears. My grip tightened on my sword as I passed our neighbours’ houses, catching glimpses of their familiar faces but not stopping to return the smiles or greetings they gave.

I reached the edge of town and the feeling intensified, pointing me towards something in the giant forest that now lay in front of me before winking out again.

Without a second thought, I plunged into the woodland.

* * * * *

Kane Tarmal’s POV

The wind began to rise, tousling my hair and tugging at my clothes, as if urging me toward the looming forest ahead. I slipped past the last row of houses and left the town behind, following the worn dirt path that wound into the wilderness.

Just over three years ago, I’d started actively cultivating my core, and only a few days ago, I’d reached the final stage before awakening. My core thrummed with mana, which I held in stasis. With Freya and Ronan gone, this was the perfect time to awaken—and there was no better place than the Farnfoss Woods that ran parallel to Damerel. No one could witness what was about to happen. I had to face it alone.

I often saw adventurers going in and out of there to hunt monsters. The pelts, furs, meats, and cores they brought back were central to the town’s economy, but only adventurers entered the forest. Though a strong monster approaching town was unheard of, even weaker ones could kill non-mages, so everyone kept their distance.

The fresh, earthy scent carried by the breeze shifted to the fragrance of flowers and damp moss as I neared the forest. Towering trees loomed above me, their trunks broader than my bedroom. Far overhead, their branches intertwined, forming a distant canopy that blocked the sunlight. The forest’s darkness felt thick, almost tangible, pierced only by the rays of light filtering in from the forest’s entrance behind me. Dark green vines, adorned with small blood-red flowers, climbed the trunks of several trees.

Perched on a nearby branch was a Koukougriff, a rare subspecies of gryphon that looked like a mix between an owl and lion, yet small enough to fit in the palm of my hand. Its plumage was pure snow-white, and its round, owl-like head held deep black eyes that seemed to pierce the shadows. From flora to fauna, it seemed the presence of mana had twisted the growth of life in strange, unpredictable ways.

The Koukougriff’s gaze followed me as I walked past its perch and into the forest. Both nocturnal and rarely seen, the Koukougriff was widely regarded as an omen of good luck and purity. I didn’t put much stock in omens, but I wouldn’t turn down any luck it could give.

Around me, other species of birds and small wildlife flitted about, barely acknowledging my presence. The soft chirping of birds, the hum of insects, and the whisper of wind wove together into a calming melody that eased the knot of tension in my chest.

Behind me, the sky darkened as a blanket of grey clouds drifted closer. I stepped around the unusual plant life, venturing just deep enough into the forest that I could still see the outside, though the town was completely hidden from view. Here, I was safe from any prying eyes.

According to the adventurer’s guild, monsters with a danger rating above E rank were rarely seen on the outskirts of the forest, making it relatively safe. But despite that reassurance, the townspeople avoided the forest altogether, unwilling to take any chances. I was taking a risk by entering, calculated as it was, but there was nowhere in the town to hide my awakening so I had few other choices.

The surge of mana would act like a beacon to any nearby monsters, drawing them toward an easy meal. I would need to carefully control the flow of mana as my core formed to minimise the backlash. That way, I wouldn’t black out after the awakening and could escape back home safely, preferably before anyone noticed my absence.

The air grew thick and damp, sweat already clinging to my back and forehead. Finding a clear patch of grass, I sat down and closed my eyes, the darkness stretching out behind me like the abyss to contrast the dimming light shining in from the forest entrance. I turned my focus inward to meditate, becoming oblivious to the world around me for some time. Even when the wind stilled and silence fell over the forest.

Around ten minutes passed before a soft crunch of leaves sounded behind me, breaking my concentration. I opened my eyes as warm, damp breath drifted across the top of my head, and I felt a trickle of liquid land on my shoulder from above.

Looking up, I saw a large, wolf-like shadow staring down at me, its four glowing, forward-facing eyes fixed on mine, drool dripping from its silently snarling muzzle. A crown of horns jutted from its head, and two bone-white tusks pointed down at me like spears. Thorn-like protrusions along its back gave the illusion of an exposed spine. Its black, feathered coat blended seamlessly with the surrounding darkness, as if it were one with the void it emerged from—a Raventhorn Direwolf. Its lips curled back, revealing a freshly bloodied mouth with three rows of razor-sharp teeth.