"Arcane Arrow Bolt," Kaelen called out, his voice calm but resolute.
The air shimmered as his elemental arrow formed—flames roared along its body, lightning crackled in violent arcs, and wind spiraled tightly around it, feeding the growing blaze. Then, with a thunderous boom, it launched—nearly matching the speed of his Photon Bullet—as it hurtled toward Rudra.
A massive explosion followed.
Dust surged outward in a fiery wave. The siblings' parents gasped, while the guards instinctively moved forward. Everyone except Velgrynd and Kaelen looked deeply concerned for the mysterious knight. But when the smoke cleared, Rudra stood there unharmed, completely unfazed, his armor untouched.
Kaelen narrowed his eyes." Castle Guard... so he really is who I think he is."
Velgrynd's expression remained calm, but internally, she was impressed. "That spell... Arcane Arrow Bolt... if trained and refined, it already rivals high-level magic. This boy is evolving quickly."
Without warning, Rudra dashed forward, kicking up the dust around his feet.
Kaelen blinked once and leaped backward, gathering mana mid-air. He couldn't take back the challenge now. Two swords of solid light shimmered into his hands as he skidded across the ground.
"Crescent Thunder Slash!"
He swung the blades, sending arcing waves of lightning-infused light toward Rudra. But the knight-spin-jumped mid-air, dodging the attack effortlessly, then dove in with a powerful kick. Kaelen crossed his dual swords just in time to block the blow.
Kaelen gritted his teeth and retaliated, slashing in an X-formation. The glowing "X" launched forward, and he delayed its release—sending it just a second into the future with a clever spatial delay. Rudra was mid-charge and had little room to dodge.
But the knight's instincts were sharp. With a blur of movement, he raised his sword and deflected the X-shaped slash, then surged forward with a sharp strike, slicing through Kaelen's right light blade.
Kaelen's stance broke, and he was forced down to one knee. Rudra stopped his next strike and instead burst out laughing, shaking his head.
"Incredible! The entire sibling trio are prodigies," Rudra said with admiration. "The older brother has immense potential in swordsmanship. The sister is gifted in both magic and magical theory. And the youngest... a jack of all trades with terrifying adaptability."
Kaelen winced but smiled. He lost... but it wasn't a hopeless fight.
A moment later, Rudra used Thought Communication to speak privately with Velgrynd."They've passed. Tell the family."
Velgrynd gave a small nod and stepped forward to the family, who had gathered nearby."All three siblings have passed with flying colors. They are eligible to enter the Empire's special school."
The parents were shocked—especially about Kaelen, who was still only seven.
"Even Kaelen?" their mother asked.
"Yes," Velgrynd confirmed with a slight smile. "He will have peers of the same age. School begins in six months. They'll receive quest assignments through the school system, and performance there will determine future standing. There will also be monetary rewards."
With formalities concluded, Rudra turned back one last time and gave Kaelen a meaningful smile before walking away with Velgrynd.
Kaelen stood silently, watching them disappear.
But then... he froze.
"Something's wrong... my soul corridor—Ramiris?"
He dashed to his room and immediately began a Spirit Summon ritual. The moment the summoning circle stabilized, a small burst of light revealed two figures—one familiar, one not.Ramiris emerged first—, now in her true pixie form, was tiny and childlike, but her appearance was startling. She resembled a forest fairy with golden eyes, wild braided hair, and wore a revealing, glossy black outfit. Her wings shimmered faintly in the light.
Ramiris blinked at him. "Yo! Surprised to see me like this? Yeah, that curse kinda forced me into this 'compact form' again. I'm technically still me, just... more adorable."
Kaelen sighed. "So that's what I sensed... I felt something shift in my soul corridor. I was worried."
Ramiris looked sheepish. "Aww, you noticed? That's kinda sweet."
But before Kaelen could respond, another presence descended.
A woman floated down in a cloak of shimmering spatial patterns. Ethereal, composed of space itself, her eyes shimmered with stars and galaxies. The Great Spirit of Space.
She studied Kaelen with curiosity.
"You have contracts with the Spirit of Time... and Ramiris. How unusual. I rarely descend, but you piqued my interest."
Kaelen bowed slightly. "Will you also form a contract with me?"
There was a moment of silence before she nodded."I will. Your potential is vast, and your soul is compatible."
The contract bound instantly. With it came four new unique skills:
**[System Notification]**
—Unique Skill Acquired: Spacial Transportation
—Unique Skill Acquired: Teleportation
—Unique Skill Acquired: Dimensional Storage
—Unique Skill Acquired: Space Warping
The Spirit of Space vanished as gracefully as she appeared.
Ramiris, still fluttering, suddenly clapped her hands."Ramiris hovered in front of Kaelen. "By the way, I forgot something!"
She summoned a glowing orb and tossed it toward him. iT went to his chest and stright to his soul.
**[System Notification]**—Item Obtained: Hero Egg —Unique Skill Acquired: Chosen One
Kaelen stared in surprise. "Why give this to me?"
Ramiris giggled. "Let's call it a gut feeling."
With that, she vanished as well.
Feeling overwhelmed but curious, Kaelen stepped out of his room and ran into his mother."Ah, Kaelen. Would you like to come with me to the market today?" she asked.
He smiled. "Sure. I'd love to."
The day passed peacefully. Kaelen helped carry goods, asked his mother about spices, cooking, and managing trade. She chuckled at his enthusiasm, clearly enjoying the rare bonding time.
"You know," she said as they returned home, "you're growing stronger so fast... but don't forget to enjoy the little moments too."
Kaelen nodded. "Thanks, Mom."
By evening, they returned. Kaelen went straight to his room, still pondering the changes in his soul. He sat on his bed—then immediately lost consciousness.
Something's pulling me... again?His body slumped softly, eyes closed, as his mind drifted into an unknown realm