The deeper they traveled, the more the forest changed.
At first, it was subtle. The trees spaced farther apart. The sun peeked through the canopy more frequently, painting golden lines on the path. Birdsong returned, distant and cautious at first. The air smelled cleaner, touched with the faint smoke of distant chimneys.
"We're getting close," Aidan said, glancing over his shoulder. "Another half day at most."
Kain nodded, though his heart thudded a little faster now. Somewhere beyond these woods lay the capital of Orilyon—a city spoken of in tales and textbooks. A place of high towers, floating platforms, and divine splendor.
They had spent three days traveling. Kain's legs ached, his clothes were dusty, and his boots wore the scratches of uneven terrain. Still, he pressed on, his resolve steeled by more than the path ahead. A whisper of purpose stirred inside him—silent but ever-present.
That morning, as they resumed walking, Aidan broke the silence. "Do you know much about the royal family?"
Kain looked over. "Only that they rule the continent. And that they're supposedly blessed."
Aidan nodded. "They are. Each generation of the royal bloodline is bound to a specific divine being—one of the oldest. Aurialis."
"Aurialis?"
"A divine of light and dominion," Aidan said. "It's said the first king was chosen by it—not through battle, but through acknowledgment. Since then, every heir has shared a bond with it. The blessings passed down are unmatched. Control over light, healing beyond comprehension. Even resistance to death itself, if the stories are true."
Kain absorbed the words in silence. He thought of his own experience—the strange voice, the god who called itself 'Inventor.' The voice that didn't explain anything.
"And when we get to the capital," Kain asked, "what happens then?"
Aidan stepped over a root. "The class selection test. Every new awakened person must take it. Your performance, talent, and potential are assessed. The Divine System chooses your class based on that. Warrior, Mage, Archer, Healer… or something else."
Kain frowned. "What if it doesn't give you anything?"
"It always does. Unless…" Aidan paused. "Unless the system doesn't recognize you."
Kain felt a pang in his chest. He didn't respond.
Aidan glanced at him. "You'll be fine. You're not the only one heading to the capital without much to go on."
They walked in silence for a few minutes before Aidan spoke again.
"You've heard of the noble families, right?"
Kain nodded slowly. "Some names, maybe. But I don't know much."
"There are three major ones aside from the royal family: the Dawn family, the Jomi family, and the Arquel family. They each control different parts of the kingdom and serve the crown directly. All of them have their own divine pacts too."
"The Dawn family is known for their warriors. Frontline soldiers, battle-hardened and proud. Their divine is Valgrin, a god of martial might and fire. It grants them enhanced combat instincts, endurance, and minor fire manipulation. You don't want to fight a Dawn knight head-on."
"The Jomi family, on the other hand, is more political—strategists and mages. Their divine is Sevara, the Weaver of Minds. It grants them telepathy, memory manipulation, and the ability to perceive intentions. They're terrifying in court and even worse on the battlefield."
"What about the Arquel family?"
"They're more mysterious. Guardians of the borders. They work in shadows, tracking threats before they reach the capital. Their divine is known only as Whisper. No one has ever seen its true form. It grants the Arquels perfect stealth, lie detection, and the ability to vanish into thin air. If an Arquel is sent after you, you won't know until it's over."
Kain let the names and powers sink in. These weren't just noble houses—they were pillars of the kingdom. Forces that shaped the world.
The forest cleared more as they walked, until the cobblestone road revealed itself, half-buried in roots and moss. A remnant of old kingdom routes. Kain brushed his fingers along the cool stone. It felt like a promise.
They reached a bend in the road when Aidan suddenly raised a hand. "Stop."
Kain froze.
Rustling.
From both sides of the path, four men emerged from the shadows—grimy, armed, eyes filled with intent.
Bandits.
"Well now," the front man said with a smile of yellow teeth. "Looks like today's our lucky day."
Aidan shifted into a defensive stance. "You don't want this."
"Oh, but we do," the man sneered. "Leave your packs and weapons, and we might let you crawl away."
They lunged.
Kain drew his short blade, but one of the attackers was faster. A shallow cut slashed across his shoulder, drawing blood.
Pain bloomed. His body screamed. His vision blurred.
I'm going to die.
He staggered back, clutching his shoulder. His knees buckled. Fear clawed at him, flooding every sense, every nerve.
Then—
Ding!
Skill Acquired: Battle Instinct (Lv. 1)
When under extreme fear, the user's mind stabilizes, and reflexes sharpen. Slight increase to speed and awareness. Passive trigger.
A wave washed over Kain—not of panic, but clarity. Time slowed.
The bandit charged again.
Kain moved before he could think, ducking low, his sword swinging in a clean arc that scraped the man's leg. Another attacker came from the side—Kain pivoted, blade flashing up to deflect the strike.
Aidan, meanwhile, was a blur of motion. His dagger danced through the air, every strike calculated, every movement precise. He dropped two of them within seconds.
One bandit limped back. Another fled entirely.
The clearing fell silent.
Kain stood panting, blood on his arm, sword trembling in his grip.
Aidan approached him, his brow furrowed. "That cut deep?"
Kain shook his head. "I'm fine. Just… stunned."
"You were frozen at first. But then... it was like someone else took over."
Kain didn't respond. His gaze hovered on the fading notification.
Battle Instinct.
No blessing. No ceremony. Just a need. A survival instinct made real.
Aidan sheathed his blade. "That's a good skill. Could save your life more than once."
Kain nodded slowly. "I didn't earn it through training. It just… happened."
"Sometimes that's how it starts." Aidan looked toward the horizon. "Come on. The capital's close. You'll need to be ready."
They resumed walking. The towers of Orilyon glimmered faintly in the distance, golden and surreal.
But behind them, in the blood-stained dirt of the forest road, Kain had already taken his first step into the unknown.