"I know how to evolve your beasts," Noa declared, locking eyes with each of his parents.
He said it because he felt it—the tiny, flickering hope that was still buried behind their doubts, refusing to go out.
They didn't fully believe his chances. Not yet.
But he did. And they needed to believe, too, to know that his words weren't just empty promises born from desperation, but a future waiting to be realized.
If they listened…
If they trusted him…
Then he would prove the truth.
"What do you mean?" Kaelor questioned first, his voice rising.
As a tier 6 warrior, he knew better than anyone how ridiculous Noa's claim sounded.
The ritual of his advancement was demanding.
Not only did he have to amass a huge amount of mid-tier fire essence from the elemental caves, but he also needed a tier 7 beast core and Inferno Fruit from the Pyre Tree.
Then came the ritual itself,
which was even harder to do, as it demanded one month of hibernation inside the living volcano.
But now Noa insisted he could help him?
Considering his lack of strength and knowledge, it sounded ridiculous, especially when he meant to aid Elara as well.
She, too, had an epic-ranked beast, and her condition was no easier than her husband's.
So she looked surprised as well.
But instead of getting angry at him for spouting lies or for making wild claims, she narrowed her eyes and listened to him.
Noa could see that his words had worked.
He had piqued their interest, and it was time for him to nail the coffin and hope that they would trust his advice.
"The way to push your beasts past their limits is simple," he pressed on, watching as Kaelor's brows tightened and Elara's questions died in her throat. "It's not something humans remember. They either forgot or lost it entirely."
Noa took a short pause.
He breathed in and continued.
"Dad, you need to do push-ups under the sun. Twice a day. But you have to summon your familiar and hold it with your back."
Kaelor looked at him as if his only son had finally lost his mind.
Still, he massaged his temples and listened to him silently.
"You need to do it for 30 days straight. And if you miss even a single day, the ritual would no longer work.
But… even after completing it, you would still need to use fire essence—at the very least, just a single drop should be enough."
Noa spoke simply.
He went straight to the point and didn't sugarcoat his words. All he did was share the ancient knowledge.
Then, without waiting for feedback, he glanced at his mother.
"Mom, yours is simple, too. You don't need potions to brew, nor charms or extra essence. Just take quick naps in cold water with your beast present for 31 days straight, and after drinking one drop of water essence, you are good to go."
Noa ended his speech.
There was nothing he had to add on this matter.
Yes, he could explain in more detail, plead, or try even harder to convince them, but the time he could spend was limited.
Also, he wanted to believe that they would trust him.
So, after everything that needed to be said had been said, he looked at his parents and felt their thin breaths.
Thalia's steady presence behind him still lingered.
She was staring at him with surprise, not knowing what he was talking about.
Kaelor and Elara had similar reactions.
These rituals sounded too stupid to be real, especially when there was no evidence and no one had tried these methods.
The doubt increased in their hearts.
They didn't want to, but it just happened—the understanding of this world was so deeply rooted in their minds that it was hard for Noa to alter it so easily.
Still—
It was a start.
The new beginning of their hope that refused to be extinguished yet again.
"I-I will give it a shot," Elara muttered. She didn't look convinced, but she wanted to believe; she needed her son to be right. For him… and maybe for her as well.
"Thank you," Noa nodded and flashed her the warmest, most genuine smile he had ever given. "I promise… It's real."
Seeing them, Kaelor didn't want to be left behind.
"Cough, going back to the basics sounds like a great plan for my practice," he said and coughed again. "I know my son wouldn't lie to his parents at his age."
"Thank you," Noa said again.
Gratitude surged through his chest when he felt Thalia nudging his sleeve.
"Young Master. We need to leave," she urged, politely gesturing to Noa. Then she turned to his parents and bowed deeply, as if bidding them farewell.
Though it was too early for the sun to set, they had to be quick.
Not only to ensure that the attack wouldn't befall the house, but also to begin their journey before the sky darkened.
Noa was about to turn back and leave the carriage.
He didn't want to stretch the departure more than necessary, especially when he didn't want to experience a feeling of sadness.
But Elara caught his wrist just before he disappeared from her vision.
Her thumb brushed over his pulse.
It was a mother's wordless warmth and last plea for him to be safe, to tell him how much she cherished and cared for him.
However, Noa couldn't offer her anything.
Not yet.
So he squeezed her hand instead, his grip gentle yet strong enough to convey the meaning.
He looked at his father as well.
Kaelor's face looked sharper than ever, and his angular face barely showed a change.
Noa bowed his head.
Not like a servant, but like a son who wanted to communicate without actually saying anything. 'I will come back stronger,' he promised silently to himself, then repeated it out loud.
"Take the carriage," his father offered, his voice hanging low.
Noa nodded and didn't refuse, stepping back to slip free from Elara's hold.
Then he straightened his collar and watched them as they stepped out of the carriage, taking one last look at his face.
One minute later, Noa, Ashe, and Thalia departed.
And the figures of his parents shrank across the horizon while a new adventure and an unexplored world lay ahead on the other side.