Morning sunlight trickled through the orphanage windows, warm and gentle. Children were already gathering at the table for breakfast, laughter filling the room. But Kael sat quietly, his eyes locked on his hands—hands that hours ago had summoned something unreal.
> A blade born not of this world's magic… but of thought, memory, and will.
"Kael?" Sister Lily said, offering a plate of bread and eggs. "You didn't eat yesterday either. Are you alright?"
He blinked and smiled. "Just thinking. Thank you, Sister."
Yuno glanced at him from across the table. Asta was too busy wolfing down food to notice anything—but Yuno wasn't fooled. Something in Kael's mana felt... alien. Unnatural.
Kael could feel it too. Not from Yuno—from within himself.
> [System Alert: Conceptual Manifestation Detected]
Weapon Creation Magic – Limit Expansion Triggered
– New Feature Unlocked: "Imaginative Forging"
– Description: You may now forge objects and weapons based on concepts from past memory or visualized design, not bound by Clover Kingdom knowledge.
Kael remembered last night's conjuration. He hadn't been trying to create a sword—but a katana, one from his past life. Slim. Sharp. Deadly.
And it had worked.
---
Later That Day — Forest Training Grounds
Once the morning chores were finished, Kael returned to the forest. The others had headed to town to help with supply runs. He needed this solitude.
He stood in the clearing, breathing deeply.
"Let's try again."
He focused his mana, but more importantly—his mind. His memories raced: samurai films, games, ancient weapons, legends.
> Form: single edge, curved, fold-bound steel.
Weight: minimal. Reach: increased. Style: Iaido.
Mana swirled around him like a vortex.
> [Weapon Creation: Blade of Memory – "Crimson Katana" Manifested]
– Type: Light-class Concept Weapon
– Durability: Moderate
– Special Trait: Soul Thread (resonates with user's emotional state)
The katana materialized in his hand, glowing faintly with crimson wind. It didn't just feel like a weapon—it felt alive.
Kael swung it once. The air screamed.
It cut cleanly through a boulder in the distance—no resistance. No recoil. The trees didn't even sway.
> "It moved through the air, not with it…"
"Is that…a sword?" Lyra asked as she appeared beside him.
"No," Kael whispered. "It's a memory given form."
Lyra drifted around it, awe in her eyes. "You're shaping magic based on a world this one doesn't even understand. This isn't creation… it's rewriting reality."
---
Flashback – Past Life
Kael remembered a scene from his old world—a martial arts film, where the protagonist fought to protect his family with nothing but an ancient katana. The steel shimmered under rain. Every movement, every cut, was filled with grace, sorrow, and love.
He hadn't thought about it in years. But now, it lived again—through him.
---
Back in the Present
> [New Weapon Registered: Crimson Katana – "Soul Echo" Version]
– Bonus Trait: Empathic Slash (Power increases with emotional clarity)
– Limitations: Breaks if user's will falters
– Fusion Compatibility: Spirit-linked (Lyra compatibility: 92%)
– Rank: C+ (Upgradeable)
Kael closed his eyes. "Let's go further."
He swung the katana again—but this time, he infused Wind Magic and Weapon Creation simultaneously, adding rotation to the blade's edge.
A spiraling slash burst outward in a wide arc, carving a clean line through the forest.
> [New Technique Created: Wind Crescent Slash]
– Cooldown: 30 seconds
– Range: 20 meters
– Additional Effect: Weakens mana defenses briefly on contact
---
Suddenly, Kael felt a pressure—someone watching.
He looked behind a tree. "...You can come out now."
Yuno stepped into view, arms crossed. "That sword. It wasn't made with any magic I've seen."
Kael nodded slowly, crimson eyes calm. "It's just something I imagined. A trick I'm still perfecting."
Yuno didn't press further. "Whatever it is, it's strong."
He turned to leave, then paused.
"Don't fall behind," he said over his shoulder. "The ceremony's soon. And I plan to be the strongest there."
Kael smiled faintly. "Then I guess I'll have to catch up."
---
That Night — In His Room
Kael sat on the edge of his bed, holding the katana in his lap.
"I created this with thought. Next time... I'll try something bigger."
Lyra's soft glow filled the room.
"You're becoming more than a mage," she said. "You're becoming a dreamsmith. And that makes you dangerous."
Kael nodded. "Good. The world will need dangerous people soon."
---
[System Update: Imaginative Forging Log]
> – Concept Weapon: Crimson Katana "Soul Echo" [Active]
– Subclass Unlocked: Magic Smith (Rank: Novice)
– New Skill Available: Weapon Blueprint Imprint
– Bonus Stats:
Strength +2
Mana Flow +4
Imagination Gauge: 23%
---
Outside, a storm brewed far to the east. Clouds darkened the horizon.
Far away, deep within the Clover Kingdom's capital, a royal archivist reviewed ancient records. His assistant approached.
"Sir… we've found traces of magic never recorded in our kingdom before."
The old man's eyes narrowed.
"It's begun again," he muttered. "The Age of Wild Magic."