The village of Liria had changed again.
Spring matured into summer. Laughter echoed through the fields, and children ran free beneath cloudless skies. The chill of sorrow that once clung to Eren's steps had faded like morning mist. He trained daily, waking with the sun and swinging his wooden sword with a devotion beyond his years.
Now five years old, he was no longer just the boy who had survived. He was part of Liria.
But today was no ordinary day.
It was the long-awaited Soul Awakening Ceremony—a sacred event where children who had reached their fifth birthday would awaken the power sleeping within their souls. Their Soul Sword.
Fifteen children stood before the village altar that morning. The crowd gathered silently. The elder's staff tapped the stone platform as the ritual began.
Among the children were:
Eren, calm and silent, snow-colored hair swaying in the breeze.
Kael, the confident son of the village chief, grinning in anticipation.
Lyra, a quiet girl with forest-green hair and observant eyes.
And a new child, Reina, a soft-spoken but brave girl with auburn curls and an intense gaze.
Arin stood nearby, not among the chosen, but still watching with a gentle smile. At seven, she was older now—a guiding presence and Eren's most trusted friend.
---
One by one, children stepped forward.
Most received weak or average soul swords. The crowd cheered lightly, though some parents' eyes dimmed with quiet disappointment.
Then came Lyra.
The crystal flared green and silver the moment she touched it. A hum filled the air like wind rustling through trees. Her Soul Sword manifested: Verdant Whisper, a sleek blade entwined with glowing vines and polished emeralds.
"She bears the Nature Element," murmured the elder. "The forest breathes with her."
Next was Kael. Lightning cracked overhead the moment his hand touched the orb. From the brilliant surge formed Stormbreaker Fang, a massive blade charged with roaring thunder.
The crowd gasped in awe. "A Lightning Attribute! The heavens favor him."
Then Reina stepped forward.
The orb shimmered pink and deep orange. Her blade unfolded like blooming petals—Solar Ember, a sword of flame and light, warm but wild. A rare dual nature: fire with radiant energy.
"Such heat… and purity," whispered the elder. "The girl's soul burns with purpose."
And then came Eren.
The moment his hand met the crystal, silence fell.
Mist spiraled outward. Snowflakes danced upward despite the summer warmth. Water floated weightless in the air, curling like living breath.
From the mist rose twin dragons—one carved from ice, the other born of water—swirling together until they forged a single majestic blade. A chill passed through every heart.
His sword shimmered like moonlight on a frozen lake: Ice & Water Dragon Soul Sword.
A soul sword of twin attributes.
"It's... legendary," someone whispered.
Even the elder dropped to one knee. "This child… is chosen by a dragon soul."
Eren said nothing. But as his hand wrapped around the sword's hilt, a faint glow flickered in his eyes.
For the first time, he looked not like a lost child—
—but like a warrior in the making.
---
That day, only four children awakened soul swords worthy of the path of a Soul Sword Master:
1. Eren – Ice & Water Dragon Soul Sword [Twin Attribute – Ice & Water]
2. Kael – Stormbreaker Fang [Lightning Attribute]
3. Lyra – Verdant Whisper [Nature Attribute]
4. Reina – Solar Ember [Fire & Light Blend]
The village celebrated deep into the night, though none could shake the feeling that this year's awakening marked the beginning of something far greater—perhaps even dangerous.
For now, though, four new stars had begun to rise.
And in the quiet shadow of the celebration, Arin watched Eren from afar, whispering softly to herself—
> "You're stronger than you know… but please, don't lose your smile."