⊙---The Mentor

Varin had just arrived at Greythorne's Awakener's Ward, following the System's location. 

His latest mission? To take on the role of a mentor. 

The system had led him all the way to Erendath's northern reaches just to recruit a newly reborn player as his student.

He had been in this world for twenty years now. Though the memories had grown faint, he still recalled his first arrival in Erendath—the moment of his death.

Like any other gamer, he had started playing Ascension for one reason: to make money. He had climbed the ranks, securing his place as one of the top players. But fate had a cruel sense of humor.

The fire had taken everything. He had been deep in the game when it happened, unaware that disaster was unfolding in the real world. 

A faulty microwave, a neighbor's mistake—an explosion that turned into an inferno, spreading through the building like a curse. By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late.

And yet, death hadn't been the end. Instead, he had awakened here, in Ascension—not as a mere player, but as something more. A Reborn. 

The Ascension System had granted Varin a second life. And now, another Reborn had been brought into Ascension.

"I wonder if this one was a ranked player too," Varin muttered, rubbing his chin. "But according to the system… it's a complete newbie."

His gaze swept over the nearly empty Awakener's Ward. Unlike the bustling cities, Greythorne's ward was quiet, rarely frequented by awakeners. It was a place on the fringes, far from the grand hubs of power.

He checked his system interface again, confirming his GPS location. His potential student was at Fanous Inn. A projection of the new Reborn's avatar flickered into view—his appearance rendered in crisp detail.

Varin raised a brow. "Huh. He's actually pretty good-looking." His eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed something peculiar. "And… red eyes? That's rare for a Reborn."

Typically, those reborn into Ascension retained their original human features. But this one… his very genetic makeup seemed altered, blending with the traits of Erendath's native residents.

"Is it because he's a true newbie?" Varin mused. "Or… was he originally a non-player?"

The thought nagged at him, but he pushed it aside. Whatever the case, he had a job to do.

With a purposeful stride, he turned toward Fanous Inn.

He had a student to recruit.

Varin arrived at Fanous Inn, pushing open the heavy wooden door and stepping inside. The scent of roasted meat, ale, and burning firewood filled the air. His sharp gaze swept across the room, scanning every patron seated at the tables or lingering near the bar.

None of them matched the avatar displayed on his system interface.

Where is he? Still resting in his room?

Varin exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders. "Oh well, guess I'll wait," he muttered.

He made his way to an empty corner table, one that gave him a good vantage point of the room. Settling into the seat, he waved down a passing barmaid.

"A beer," he ordered.

As he waited, he leaned back, casually observing the inn's patrons. Conversations hummed around him, a mix of drunken laughter, quiet negotiations, and the occasional clink of tankards. A pair of awakeners in worn leather armor discussed their latest hunt, while a merchant loudly haggled over supply prices with the innkeeper.

Varin smirked to himself. Some things never change.

He took a slow sip of his drink, keeping an eye on the staircase. His student would have to come down eventually.

A few moments later, a man and a woman, both wearing silver masks, descended the stairs. Varin's sharp eyes immediately locked onto them, his brows furrowing slightly.

Ascension Auction Exchange? Silver-masked duo… His fingers tapped against his mug as recognition settled in. The infamous Varkane twins. What are they doing here?

Rubbing his rough chin, Varin observed them closely. The siblings moved with a natural grace, seemingly oblivious to his scrutiny—until they reached the door.

Just as they were about to step outside, the silver-masked woman suddenly hesitated. She turned her head slightly, meeting Varin's gaze.

For a split second, he saw her freeze—just a brief flicker of hesitation, barely noticeable to an untrained eye. But then, just as quickly, she masked her reaction and continued on her way, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for a high-ranked awakener to be watching them.

**********

Eudoxia and Morvaine had completed their quest, and now it was time for them to leave Greythorne. Kael, despite still recovering, wanted to see them off, but the Varkane twins refused.

"You're still recovering, Kael. We don't want to disturb your rest," Morvaine said with a reassuring smile.

He glanced at his twin sister, noticing how uncharacteristically quiet she had become. Eudoxia, usually poised and composed, seemed hesitant—almost shy. With an amused smirk, he gave her a small nudge.

Eudoxia blinked, as if shaken from deep thought. A faint flush dusted her cheeks, but she quickly nodded at Kael, her usual elegance returning, though a hint of something softer remained. Then, she turned to Lira and offered her a warm, genuine smile before the two took their leave.

After exchanging farewells, the Varkane twins donned their silver masks once more and descended the stairs, heading toward the Awakeners' Ward.

Morvaine shot his sister a teasing look. "It's rare to see you acting so shy all of a sudden."

Eudoxia, flustered, pouted in protest. "What do you mean, brother? Am I not a girl?"

Morvaine chuckled, reaching out to lightly ruffle the top of her head. "Yes, but you're not just a girl. You're the Varkane Ice Princess, remember?"

Eudoxia huffed, crossing her arms, but the slight smile playing on her lips gave her away.

As they reached the exit of the inn, Eudoxia felt an inexplicable sensation crawl up her spine. A presence—subtle yet undeniable—watching them.

Her gaze swept across the room until it landed on a man seated in the corner. Dressed in a dark hood and leather armor, he had the unmistakable air of a rogue awakener. Yet there was something about him that unsettled her.

For a fleeting moment, his presence felt... different. Not just an awakener, but something more—something closer to an Ascendant.

Who is that? Eudoxia's thoughts raced. An assassin? A rogue? His attire matched those of shadowed wanderers who operated outside the law, but the aura she sensed—it was almost like the Ascendants of legend.

And then—just as quickly as it came—the sensation vanished. As if it had never been there in the first place. The abrupt loss of it left her momentarily dazed.

"What's wrong, Eudoxia?" Morvaine's voice broke through her thoughts, concern evident even through the mask.

She hesitated before shaking her head. "It's nothing," she murmured. "Let's go. We need to meet Father and report today's events."

Morvaine gave a brief nod, and without another word, the Varkane twins stepped out of the inn, heading toward the portal at the Awakeners' Ward.

Yet, as they walked, Eudoxia couldn't shake the lingering feeling that they had just crossed paths with someone powerful—someone who was more than they appeared to be.