The late afternoon sun hung gently over the city as Jade left the training grounds and began the familiar walk toward his home. The air was warm but pleasant, carrying with it the distant hum of traffic, the murmur of conversation, and the faint scent of food drifting from nearby streets.
The training complex slowly disappeared behind him as he stepped onto one of the wide pedestrian walkways that stretched across the outer district. The city around him was alive in the way modern cities always were—restless, vibrant, and constantly moving.
Tall glass buildings reflected the golden sunlight like giant mirrors, their surfaces glowing softly as the day began its slow descent toward evening. Digital screens mounted along the sides of structures flashed advertisements, announcements, and news updates. Occasionally, one of them displayed brief footage from the defensive walls far outside the city, showing armored defenders standing guard against the wilderness of the NTOEL.
Jade barely glanced at those screens.
For him, the walls and the monsters beyond them had always been a distant reality—something important, something serious, but still far from the everyday rhythm of his life.
People moved along the sidewalks around him. Office workers were heading home after a long day, some loosening their ties or stretching their shoulders as they walked. Groups of teenagers laughed together while carrying school bags slung casually over their shoulders. A few delivery drones buzzed through the air overhead, flying between buildings while carrying small packages.
Vehicles glided along the nearby roadways in smooth lines, their engines producing a steady mechanical hum that blended naturally with the sounds of the city.
Jade walked calmly through it all.
His long stride carried him comfortably along the street. The training earlier that day had left a light sheen of sweat on his skin, but it had already begun to dry beneath the evening breeze.
His black hair, dark and slightly long, shifted gently with each step. The strands moved lightly whenever the wind passed by, brushing softly against the back of his neck.
Though he had just finished hours of training, he did not appear exhausted. If anything, there was a quiet energy in the way he moved—like someone who had grown used to pushing his body beyond its limits.
His shoulders were relaxed, yet his posture remained straight.
The strength in his frame was noticeable without being exaggerated. His build was lean but well-shaped, the result of regular physical training rather than natural bulk.
Several people who passed by him glanced briefly in his direction.
Not because he was doing anything unusual, but simply because there was something quietly striking about his presence.
Perhaps it was the calm expression on his face.
Or the focus in his eyes.
Jade continued walking until the wider streets gradually transitioned into a quieter residential district.
The towering commercial buildings slowly gave way to rows of modern houses, each separated by small yards and lined neatly along well-paved streets. Trees had been planted along the sidewalks, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze.
Streetlights were beginning to glow faintly as the daylight softened.
Children played in a nearby park, their laughter echoing lightly through the neighborhood as they ran across the grass.
Some residents were outside watering plants or speaking with neighbors near their gates. Others were returning home from work, stepping out of vehicles parked along the street.
The environment felt peaceful.
Safe.
It was the kind of neighborhood where people greeted each other casually, where doors were rarely closed tightly during the daytime, and where the noise of the city felt distant enough to be comforting rather than overwhelming.
Jade turned down a familiar street and continued toward a modest but well-kept house near the end of the block.
The house itself was not particularly large compared to many of the modern homes surrounding it. Yet it carried a quiet sense of stability.
Its walls were built from smooth pale stone, and large windows reflected the soft orange light of the setting sun. A small pathway led from the front gate toward the entrance door, bordered by trimmed shrubs and neatly maintained grass.
Jade pushed open the gate and stepped inside the yard.
The faint scent of fresh earth and garden plants greeted him as he walked along the path.
As he approached the door, he could already sense someone inside the house.
He stepped through the entrance.
Inside, the home was calm and comfortable.
Soft lighting illuminated the living area, casting warm tones across the modern furniture and polished wooden floor. The faint sound of movement came from further inside the house.
Jade stepped forward and soon saw the figure standing near one of the interior rooms.
It was a man.
A middle-aged man with long hair that extended down his back. The dark strands were tied loosely behind him, forming a thick bundle that rested along the center of his back.
Even at a glance, his physique was remarkable.
His body carried the kind of strength that people often admired in athletes or professional fighters. His shoulders were broad, his posture relaxed yet confident, and the natural structure of his frame suggested years of disciplined training.
Yet there was also something calm about the way he stood.
He was not merely strong.
There was a quiet intelligence in his presence, something reflected in the steady composure of his movements.
This man was Rylan.
Jade's father.
Rylan had once been known among certain circles as the son of a legendary individual—a Smart Transcendence, a powerful figure who had played a critical role in shaping the protective systems that separated the monstrous wilderness from the human world.
Because of that legacy, Rylan himself had grown up surrounded by responsibility and expectations.
Over time, he had carved out his own path.
Now he stood as an Ascendant.
A person who had awakened and been chosen by the mysterious system that granted certain individuals extraordinary power.
Despite that status, Rylan carried himself in a simple and grounded way within his own home.
At that moment, he had his back turned as he adjusted something on a nearby table.
Jade stepped further inside.
"Good day, dad," he said calmly.
His voice carried clearly through the room.
Rylan paused.
He slowly turned around, his long hair shifting lightly behind him as he faced the doorway.
When he saw Jade standing there, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Oh, son," he said warmly. "You are back from your training."
His voice was deep but relaxed, carrying the natural tone of someone who had already lived through many years of experience.
Jade nodded slightly.
"Yes, dad."
He stepped further into the room, placing his training bag near the entrance before walking closer.
For a moment, the two simply stood there facing one another.
Though Jade had grown taller over the years, Rylan still appeared significantly larger in presence.
Not just physically, but in the quiet weight of experience that surrounded him.
Jade then glanced briefly around the room.
Something felt slightly different.
Usually, at this time of the day, another presence could be felt somewhere inside the house.
He looked back at his father.
"But where is mom?" Jade asked.
Rylan folded his arms lightly across his chest before answering.
"She actually went to the spirit realm," he replied calmly.
Then he added, reassuringly,
"But don't worry. She'll be back."
Jade listened quietly.
The words "spirit realm" were not completely unfamiliar to him.
He had heard his parents mention it before during certain conversations. Occasionally, the topic would appear briefly when they spoke about matters related to their powers or responsibilities.
But Jade had never truly understood what it meant.
The concept of a spirit realm sounded distant and mysterious—something tied to abilities and knowledge that existed far beyond the life of an ordinary person.
His parents belonged to that world.
They were powerful.
They were Ascendants.
They had been chosen by the system.
Jade, however, had never been chosen.
At least not yet.
The system did not appear for everyone.
Only certain individuals awakened to it, gaining access to abilities and powers that could elevate them beyond normal human limits.
Because of that, Jade had never pushed himself to deeply question the things his parents discussed regarding their abilities.
Whenever they spoke about the spirit realm or the system, he simply listened quietly without much curiosity.
To him, those matters felt like part of their world, not necessarily his.
Still, he continued training every day.
Just in case.
Not everyone was chosen by the system.
But he trained anyway.