From the portal, Harpily reemerged — but this time, it was different.

  Electricity crackled along its small frame as a body began forming piece by piece: first bone, then sinew, then veins threading through its form, followed by skin and finally its soft, fluffy coat. It was unsettling and mesmerizing all at once, like watching life knit itself together from nothing.

  The little spirit blinked once, fully solid now, and nestled into Valerius’ hands.

  He handed it to Ziraiah again. “Now you can hold him.”

  This time, Harpily stayed in her grasp.

  Ziraiah stared wide-eyed. “What the hell was that?”

  “One of my abilities,” Valerius said simply.

  “So you just… made a body for it?” Ziraiah asked incredulously.

  “Something like that,” Valerius replied, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s not that it didn’t have a body — just that its body wasn’t suited for this plane.”

  "Pray, enlighten me — by what precise means did you accomplish such a feat?" Eryndor inquired, leaning forward, his emerald gaze alight with keen interest.

  Valerius shrugged casually. “No idea. I just… know I can.”

  Ziraiah was too busy burying her face in Harpily’s fur. “It’s so fluffy!”

  Valerius smirked. “He’s so fluffy.”

  “Fine,” she giggled. “He is so fluffy.”

  Valerius flopped onto his back, hands behind his head, watching the dark sky. “Tell me about magic.”

  Ziraiah raised a brow. “You’ve been gone this long, and that’s what you’re asking me now?”

  He chuckled. “Humor me.”

  She lay back beside him, Harpily perched on her chest like a tiny guardian. “We’re Combat Mages,” she said, matter-of-fact. “We can brawl and cast spells. People like us are pretty rare.”

  Valerius tilted his head toward her. “What kind of spells can you cast?”

  She smirked and waved her hand.

  Valerius felt himself lifting slowly into the air, floating weightlessly.

  “Spells like that,” Ziraiah said, clearly pleased with herself.

  Valerius grinned. “I can already fly. Well… sort of.”

  “Sort of?” Ziraiah replied.

  He dropped to the ground with a soft thud and laid back down. “It’s more like… really long leaps. I jump midair over and over. Makes it look like flight.”

  “Show-off,” she teased.

  Then she waved her hand again. A miniature Valerius made of water materialized on the ground, dancing in exaggerated little movements.

  “See? I can do this too.”

  Valerius sat up, watching intently, his expression shifting from amusement to scrutiny.

  The watery Valerius splashed back to the ground.

  Ziraiah frowned. “What?”

  Valerius narrowed his eyes. “Do that again. I wanna test something.”

  Ziraiah waved her hand again, reshaping the dancing figure of water. It rose and swayed like a miniature puppet, a perfect copy of Valerius, spinning and bowing in a fluid little performance.

  Valerius watched in silence, his eyes narrowing slightly—not at the water, but at her.

  He wasn’t watching her technique. He was feeling her.

  So that’s how it flows, he thought. That’s how Vitalis moves inside you. Subtle… but constant. Hm. I’ll have to test this out later.

  Ziraiah noticed his unblinking stare. “What are you trying to do?” she asked, raising a brow.

  Valerius leaned back on his hands. “Just trying to sense how Vitalis flows in you.”

  “And?” she pressed, a little guarded now.

  “I think,” Valerius said, his tone almost casual, “I can do it like you.”

  Ziraiah jolted upright. “What? How can you even feel Vitalis in me?”

  She turned immediately to Eryndor. “Isn’t it supposed to automatically transform into mana once it’s inside us?”

  “You are correct,” Eryndor replied evenly, his tone measured as always.

  Valerius tilted his head. “Can’t you stop that transformation?”

  Both Eryndor and Ziraiah answered in perfect unison: “No.”

  Ziraiah frowned. “It’s like stopping your own heart from beating. You can’t.”

  Valerius waved her off. “Enough with the heart metaphor.”

  She crossed her arms. “It’s true.”

  Valerius smirked faintly. “Think of it this way—like how dad always calls me ma boy. He does it unconsciously. But if he decided, he could stop and call me by my name. You should try it sometime.”

  Ziraiah groaned and lightly punched his shoulder, but a small laugh escaped her lips.

  Valerius ignored her jab, leaning back to stare at the sky. “Did you guys see that huge Yeru stone?”

  Eryndor nodded. “Indeed.”

  “I wonder who Anki was,” Ziraiah murmured, more to herself than to them.

  Valerius exhaled through his nose. “Remember that being I told you about? He kind of… gave me a mission. To uncover our history. To figure out what I am.”

  He turned his gaze toward the horizon, his voice lowering. “Yelleen said I’ll find answers in Mazorik. So I’ll be going there.”

  Ziraiah blinked. “Where’s that?”

  “I have no idea.”

  She tilted her head. “Then how are you going to get there?”

  Valerius chuckled softly. “Not a clue.”

  ---

  Not too far from them, he silver-haired woman stood.

  Her face was unreadable as she tapped the rune-etched Strek at her wrist.

  “The stories were true,” she said at last, her voice calm but carrying an undertone of unease. “He’s very weak… but it’s him.”

  A female voice answered from the other side, sharp and skeptical:

  “Are you certain, my lady? Those were just old tales. Bedtime stories to keep children from misbehaving.”

  “I’m sure.” Her tone left no room for doubt. “I saw him looking at the stone. His expression… it was as if he understood it.”

  There was silence for a moment on the other end.

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  “Are you saying—he opened the Beniek Ruin?” the voice asked, hushed now.

  “I think so.”

  The voice grew heavier, darker. “If he’s really here… then I pray for us all. Because that means the end times are coming. That monster will return for revenge.”

  The silver-haired woman shook her head, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “That’s just a legend. Someone like that couldn’t possibly have existed.”

  “My lady,” the voice replied gravely. “For the sake of us all, I hope it is.”

  The woman’s tone sharpened. “There’s something else.”

  “Yes?”

  “Is it possible,” she asked slowly, “for someone to have two kinds of Bravo?”

  A stunned pause. Then: “No. That’s impossible.”

  The woman’s grip on her Strek tightened. “There’s something inside him. I’ve never felt Bravo like that in my life. It’s different from what he used to fight me with. When I first saw him…” She hesitated, swallowing her words. “…I got scared.”

  A dry chuckle came through the Strek. “You? Scared? You, of all people? You have an unbreakable will.”

  “I do,” she admitted. “But that… that wasn’t something a man should be able to contain.”

  The other voice softened slightly, almost teasing. “So. How was he? Did you like what you saw?”

  The woman smirked faintly. “Oh, I did.”

  ---

  Kaelan sat cross-legged on the pale white ground, his back resting against a low stone pillar, while Elsa reclined comfortably with her head in his lap. The faint hum of the reconstructed island surrounded them — a strange peace after the carnage of the battles.

  Elsa’s gaze wandered toward Valerius, Ziraiah, and Eryndor in the distance, watching the three siblings as they spoke.

  “Hard to believe those are the same kids we met three years ago,” she said softly, her voice carrying a tinge of nostalgia.

  Kaelan followed her line of sight, his expression thoughtful. “They’ve really grown.”

  Elsa tilted her head up slightly to look at him, her lips quirking into a teasing smile. “How does it feel? You’ve officially regained your title as the shortest Rare Breed.”

  Kaelan rolled his eyes. “Thanks for the reminder.”

  “Oh, and the weakest too,” Elsa added with a grin, her tone playful but her eyes curious. “You never told me… why aren’t you like them? Why aren’t you a walking disaster like the rest of your kind? What happened?”

  Kaelan’s gaze darkened slightly. He was silent for a moment before answering.

  “I was taken from the village,” he said at last, his tone quiet and heavy. “It was my fault. I was small and stupid — wandered where I wasn’t supposed to, and played outside the boundaries. Outsiders found me… and sold me into slavery.”

  Elsa’s playful demeanor faded. “Kaelan…”

  “I never got to learn Bravo like the others before me,” he continued. “Never had the chance.”

  “Why didn’t you go back?” she asked gently.

  “I didn’t know how.” His voice hardened, though not with anger — with old, buried shame. “Normal Elvheins don’t have pleasant appearances. Most races respond to us with fear or hostility. That’s why we weren’t allowed to leave the village. Only Rare Breeds could come and go.”

  “But you’re a Rare Breed,” Elsa said softly.

  “I was a child, Elsa,” Kaelan replied flatly. “You think they’d let a Rare Breed child roam free and get himself killed by beasts or other races? It’s a miracle each time one of us is born. They weren’t going to risk me like that.”

  Elsa was quiet for a moment, processing his words. “You don’t usually open up about your life,” she said finally.

  Kaelan shrugged. “Guess seeing them again made me soft.”

  Elsa smirked faintly. “If I were you, I wouldn’t have become an Augmenter. Now you’ll never be one of those ‘walking disasters.’”

  Kaelan chuckled dryly. “I got tired of being weak. I couldn’t even protect those kids. And where was I supposed to find a Bravo teacher? Most people don’t even know it exists.”

  ---

  A short distance away, Eryndor regarded Valerius with a knowing look.

  "By what means did you abolish your limiter?" Eryndor asked abruptly, his voice incisive. "Given your formidable stature, I am inclined to suspect it has been excised."

  Valerius raised an eyebrow. “How do you know about that?”

  Ziraiah crossed her arms. “We had them too.”

  Valerius blinked. “It happened about three months ago. Painful process. It was attached to my spine.”

  Ziraiah smirked. “Pungence had ours removed. Painlessly, too.”

  Valerius groaned. “This world really has it out for me. I’ve been suffering since I got here.”

  He pushed himself to his feet, brushing dust off his coat.

  “Where are you going?” Ziraiah asked.

  “Somewhere,” Valerius replied simply, walking off.

  Ziraiah watched him go, then smirked at Eryndor. “I bet a thousand Kairo he’s going to Elsa.”

  Eryndor’s lips curled into the faintest smile. “Ten thousand. Elf princess.”

  They both watched Valerius cross the courtyard.

  When he inevitably approached Elsa and Kaelan, Ziraiah stretched out her hand without looking away. “Yes. Pay up.”

  Eryndor sighed, reached into his coat, and pulled out ten thousand Kairo, placing it in her palm.

  ---

  Valerius dropped down beside them.

  “What have you two been up to?” he asked casually.

  Elsa didn’t bother lifting her head. “Trying to get rich.”

  “Really?” Valerius raised a brow.

  “Why else do you think we’re here?” she said lazily. “We planned on selling the prize once we won it.”

  Valerius smirked. “Those prizes are mine. But you’re welcome to try and take them from me.”

  Elsa glanced at Kaelan, then back at Valerius. “Wow. He’s gotten cocky.”

  Kaelan eyed Valerius critically. “What happened to you? Why didn’t you learn to use Vitalis like your siblings?”

  Valerius’ grin widened. “Did you see me lagging behind in any way? I’m good without it. And plus, who said I can't use it? I just use it different from them.”

  Kaelan suddenly turned to Valerius, his voice louder than before.

  “You can use Bravo? How?! Where did you even find a teacher?”

  Valerius raised a hand casually. “Calm down, man. I just… got lucky and found one.”

  Kaelan’s shoulders slumped. He glanced down at his hands, his expression shadowed by a mix of frustration and self-loathing.

  Valerius tilted his head at him. “You should take me to meet the other Elvheins someday,” he said with a smirk, deliberately breaking the tension. “I wanna see some cute girls my age.”

  Kaelan huffed out a laugh despite himself. “You’d be surprised at what you find,” he said dryly. “But don’t expect to find any Rare Breeds like you.”

  “Rare Breeds?” Valerius echoed.

  Kaelan looked at him like he’d grown two heads. “You’ve already forgotten?”

  Before Valerius could respond, Elsa sat up, brushing her hair from her face, her eyes flicking to his weapon. “That’s a really nice sword you’ve got,” she said. “Must’ve cost a fortune.”

  Valerius shrugged. “Didn’t buy it. It was given to me.”

  “Then they must be really rich,” Elsa replied, her tone somewhere between impressed and skeptical.

  Kaelan leaned forward, curiosity getting the better of him. “Can I see it?”

  Valerius hesitated for a moment before handing it over. “Sure.”

  The moment Kaelan grasped the hilt, his knees buckled and the sword slipped from his hands like a falling boulder, crashing to the ground with a deafening THUD.

  “AAAH—my hand!” Kaelan yelled, clutching his wrist as pain shot up his arm.

  Valerius quickly scooped up the weapon with ease, examining Kaelan’s hand. “Sorry,” he muttered, his tone more curious than apologetic.

  Kaelan’s hand was crushed, swelling unnaturally.

  Elsa winced. “What the hell kind of sword is that?”

  “Ooooh,” Valerius muttered as if suddenly understanding something, though he offered no immediate explanation.

  Elsa quickly produced a small vial and pressed it into Kaelan’s good hand. “Here. We only have two more left.”

  Kaelan downed the potion, wincing as the healing magic mended his bones. But when he flexed his fingers, his hand still ached, the healing incomplete.

  Elsa frowned. “It didn’t heal fully… damn it. We didn’t have enough money for the stronger potions.”

  Kaelan flexed his hand with a grimace. “How can a sword even be that heavy?”

  ---

  Nearby, Isabela, Juvian, and Valtos sat apart from the others.

  “Valtos. Valtos. Valtos!” Isabela called out repeatedly, her irritation growing.

  He didn’t answer.

  She stomped her foot. “Stop acting so high and mighty! I’m the Princess of Zitry! Show me some respect!”

  Valtos didn’t even glance her way. At his normal, human-sized form, he sat quietly, staring up at the twin moons with a vacant expression.

  “As if I give a damn,” he said at last, his tone flat and cold. “Get away from me. Your voice is irritating.”

  Isabela’s face turned red with fury. “You—! You ass!”

  She took a step toward him, fists clenched, but before she could lunge, stone whips burst from the ground, wrapping around her arms and waist.

  “Hey! Let me go!” she shouted, struggling against them.

  Juvian held the whips steady, his calm demeanor unshaken. “Not a good idea.”

  “Juvian!” she barked. “I need to give him a piece of my fist!”

  He didn’t even respond.

  ---

  A short distance away, Maloi and Eliana sat together, quietly watching the others.

  Maloi broke the silence first, her voice low. “I think this was a bad idea.”

  Eliana raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

  “Do you really think we can win those prizes?” Maloi asked, scanning the crowd. “There are very powerful people here.”

  Eliana frowned. “Of course we can. Stop doubting yourself. You’re a Spellbound.”

  “It’s good to be optimistic,” Maloi said, her tone sharpening, “but don’t let it cloud your judgment.”

  She gestured toward a random man across the courtyard. “If you were to fight him, do you think you could win?”

  Eliana opened her mouth, but Maloi pointed to another competitor, then another. “What about her? Or him? Or them?”

  Eliana felt the mana radiating from them. Some were overwhelming. Some had none at all—Bravo users hiding in plain sight.

  Maloi’s voice softened, almost to a whisper. “There are people here with no mana at all. You know what that means. If things go bad… I don’t think I can protect you.”

  Her gaze fell to the ground. “Number One should’ve come instead of me. With him, we know your safty is guaranteed.”

  Eliana stood abruptly, grabbing Maloi’s face in both hands, forcing her to look up.

  “Listen to me!” Eliana snapped, her voice trembling with emotion. “What happened to you? What’s with all this self-doubt? You used to be proud. Confident. You stood up to nobles even though you were from common birth!”

  She tightened her grip. “Where’s that Maloi? The one who told me to never doubt myself?”

  Maloi slowly pulled Eliana’s hands away, her expression unreadable.

  “That Maloi…” she said softly, “had her eyes opened. To the fact that she’s just a tiny fish in a sea of sharks.”

  ---

  To Be Continued...