⊙---Rebirth Core Spirit

Kael stood in silence, watching as the Varkane twins disappeared from sight. A strange emptiness settled in his chest, but he quickly pushed the feeling aside.

Turning to his sister, he asked, "You're not hurt are you?" He stepped closer, scanning her for any signs of injury.

Lira's lips twitched, but instead of answering right away, she crossed her arms and put on an exaggerated frown.

"Oh, really? Only now you remember your sister?"

Kael scratched the back of his head, already sensing where this was going. He could hear the teasing lilt in her voice, and sure enough, the knowing glint in her eyes confirmed it. She was having fun at his expense—probably because of how he had acted around Eudoxia.

It's not like I did it on purpose…

He hadn't meant to react that way. He didn't even understand why he had reacted that way. It was as if something about Eudoxia pulled at him, something he couldn't quite explain.

Kael shook his head and sighed. "I'm sorry, sis. I was…" His voice trailed off. I was what? He wasn't even sure how to finish that sentence.

Lira let out a bright laugh, reaching up to ruffle his hair. "Relax, Kael. I was just teasing you. Besides, you're not a kid anymore."

Kael groaned. "You really enjoy this, don't you?"

Lira grinned. "More than you know."

Then, her expression softened, the teasing glint in her eyes giving way to something warmer. "But more importantly… I'm just happy we can actually talk—more than just two words."

Her mind drifted to the past, to the days before Kael had awakened. Back then, his mind had been like that of a four-year-old. He had struggled to form proper sentences, often stuttering or pausing as if the words were trapped inside him. Conversations had been short, fragmented—painfully so.

But now…

Now, Kael could speak fluidly. He could hold a conversation, tease back, express himself. It was something so simple, yet to her, it meant everything.

Her smile grew, warm and full of quiet relief. "You've come so far, Kael."

Kael fell silent.

He had no memories of the past his sister spoke of—no recollection of the struggles she had witnessed. Because the truth was, he wasn't truly Kael Avryon. His soul belonged to someone else—Kael Relan. He had been reborn into this body, inheriting a life that was never his to begin with.

The real Kael Avryon… he must have died the moment he went missing.

But Kael didn't say any of this. He couldn't.

Because for the first time, he wanted to belong here.

He had a sister who loved him, a family—something he had never known before. He wasn't about to throw that away. If this world had given him a second chance, then he would live it. He would grow stronger, carve out a future, and protect this family that fate had gifted him.

Yes, Kael vowed to himself. I must protect this life.

Lira stretched her arms before giving Kael a determined look. "I need to head to the Awakeners' Ward for a bit and check on available quests," she said. "Since you're not affiliated with any guild yet, you won't be able to enter—but that's fine. I don't want you joining just any guild right now."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why is that?"

Lira smirked. "Because I want you to focus on getting stronger first. Once you reach level 15, I want you to join Ascendant Guild. Until then, we'll take on quests together. It'll help you level up while we work as a team."

Kael crossed his arms, a teasing glint in his eyes. "So you're saying I should be a rogue awakener for now?"

Lira chuckled. "Exactly. Consider it a temporary rebellion."

With a final grin, she turned on her heel and left for the Awakeners' Ward.

Kael sat in his room, finally alone, and prepared to check his rewards. But before he could open up his system interface, a sudden notification chimed in.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATON:]

Rebirth Core Upgraded to Level 1

Rebirth Core Class is now activated.

Congratulations, Rebirth Core Spirit, Kian has now evolved.

Kael blinked in shock, his mind racing. Rebirth Core Spirit?

He had never heard of this before. Was it referring to the entity he had met before, the one connected to his Rebirth Core? And now its name was revealed to be... Kian?

The revelation hit him hard. So, it wasn't just an ability—there was an actual spirit, and it had evolved somehow.

Kael's heart raced as he tried to process the implications. What exactly was this spirit? And how would Kian's evolution affect him moving forward?

Kian... he thought, testing the name on his mind. The Rebirth Core Spirit had a name now. It wasn't just some unknown force or system fragment—it had an identity.

As Kael tried to gather his thoughts, another alert flashed on his screen.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:]

The Rebirth Core Spirit has now fully awakened. The spirit has integrated into your conciousness, offering guidance and unlocking new potential.

The moment the alert ended, Kael's eyes widened as Kian materialized in front of him. The ethereal presence was gone, replaced by a figure with a human form. No longer a faceless entity, Kian stood before Kael, his features perfectly mirroring Kael's own—exactly like Kael Relan.

Kael took a step back, his breath catching in his throat. "You... Why do you look like me?" His voice faltered, a sense of confusion and disbelief taking over. "No, wait, are you—"

Kian's lips curled into a smug smile, his posture relaxed and self-assured. "This is what I actually looked like."

Kael blinked, his mind struggling to make sense of it. "No... that can't be. That's what I looked like... back on Earth. Did you—did you take over my soul?!" His voice cracked with the weight of the accusation.

Kian's expression darkened, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "It seems you haven't regained your memories yet," he said, his voice clipped. "What have you been doing during my absence?"

Kael was taken aback, his mind spinning. "Regained my memories? You mean... as Kael Avryon?" The words left his lips hesitantly.

"What else?" Kian shot back, clearly frustrated. "How many quests have you done so far? And where's that furry system guide? Why isn't he here?"

Kael froze, his mind racing. He had no answers for the barrage of questions. He was momentarily dazed before finally responding, "He went somewhere... to settle some things. I was a Reborn... and also an Avryon..." Kael faltered, unsure of how to finish.

Kian let out an exasperated sigh. "What? What's wrong with that? It's not like you're taking someone's body." His voice was sharp, cutting through Kael's confusion.

Kael frowned deeply, the words hitting him harder than he expected. 

I'm not Kael Avryon… I'm Kael Relan. 

But then, why did he reborn as Kael Avryon? 

Did I really not born into someone else's body? 

Something wasn't adding up. His mind was still in turmoil, trying to piece the puzzle together.

Kian seemed to sense the confusion in Kael's eyes and sighed again. "You need to retrieve your memories before I can answer your stupid questions." Kian crossed his arms, his gaze intense. 

"Now, enough of this. Where are we now? What's your status? Let me see your level."