Birthday present

After 4 years later 

The family, together in that quiet, golden-lit room, smiled as one. And outside the house, the wind carried a soft breeze through the trees—as if the world itself welcomed Lia into its embrace.

The warm glow of the birthday lanterns faded into the night as Leo sat by the window, watching the moonlight spill across the village rooftops. His heart was steady, yet full of quiet thoughts.

"I can't reveal Echoes of Forgotten… or Void Reclaim. Not yet," he thought. "They wouldn't understand. They'd just worry."

Behind him, laughter echoed as Caden lifted Lia in the air while Selene leaned back with a soft smile. Lyra sat close by, folding paper cranes from colored scraps, one of her little hobbies.

Leo turned to them, letting his thoughts fade. He didn't want to miss this moment.

"Leo," Selene called gently, "come sit. The night's still young."

He joined them, sitting close beside Lyra, who looked at him with a soft grin.

"Ten already," she whispered. "You're getting old."

Leo chuckled. "And you're still bossy."

"Am not!"

"Are too."

Caden laughed. "You two haven't changed at all."

As the night wore on, they shared stories, jokes, and old memories. Leo felt at peace… but deep inside, the truth remained—tomorrow, he would need to act. To deceive gently. To protect quietly.

As the birthday celebration came to a close and the stars twinkled gently outside, Selene stepped toward Leo with a soft smile.

"Are you ready, Leo?" she asked warmly.

Leo looked up, eyes curious. "Ready for what?"

Selene smiled brighter. "To awaken your ability."

The room quieted again. Caden folded his arms, watching with quiet pride. Lyra leaned forward, excited. Even little Lia, nestled in Selene's arms, stared curiously.

"How do I do it?" Leo asked, trying not to let his nerves show.

"It's simple," Selene explained gently. "Focus on your mana. Let it gather in your hand and form a ball. Once you've done that, think about your inner self—your power. Trust in yourself, and the mana will react. It'll reveal the nature of your skill through its color."

Leo nodded slowly and stepped into the center of the room. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and began focusing. Soft, golden light began to gather in his hand, forming a warm yellow ball of mana.

Everyone watched silently.

Okay... this is it. I can't reveal Void Reclaim yet… but Echoes of Forgotten should be fine and they don't even know that i already can use them but I have to pretend it that this is i am doing first time like normal kids only lyra know this.

He concentrated harder. The yellow light suddenly shifted. It began to glow brighter—stronger. The golden hue faded as the orb turned into a pure, radiant white, its light spreading throughout the room like morning sunlight breaking through fog.

Selene's eyes widened. "That color…"

The glowing mana sphere slowly dissolved into glimmering dust.

Leo opened his eyes and looked up at her. "Mom… what does it mean?"

Selene blinked, then smiled with amazement. "It's an A-rank rarity skill… Echoes of Forgotten. That's incredible, Leo."

Lyra gasped softly. "Wow…!"

"With this skill," Selene continued, "you'll be able to see past events. And if you grow strong enough, you might even catch glimpses of the future."

Caden chuckled and raised an eyebrow. "So, what now? You going to become a detective or something?"

Leo grinned. "No way. I'll become an adventurer!"

Caden laughed. "Alright, alright, adventurer it is!"

Lyra smiled brightly beside him, and little Lia let out a soft giggle, as if approving.

At that moment, surrounded by his loved ones, Leo felt a deep warmth in his chest. He didn't just unlock a skill—he took his first real step toward the future.

The next morning, the sky stretched wide and clear as Leo stood beside his father, Caden, ready to leave for the capital. Selene and little Lia were both at the gates, waving them off. Selene, with a warm smile, called out, "Take care, both of you!" while Lia, too small to understand the journey, still clung to her mother's hand and shouted, "Bye-bye, Leo!"

Just as they were about to depart, footsteps echoed down the path behind them—quick, hurried steps. Lyra appeared, breathless, having run all the way from her home.

"Leo!" she called, panting. "Best of luck out there!"

Leo turned, a smile playing on his lips. "Thanks, Lyra," he said softly, watching her small frame catching her breath.

Then, with a nod from Caden, they began walking. The path to the capital wasn't far, but for Leo, this was his first journey beyond the village. Every step held a new world. He took in the sight of travelers, merchants, and rolling green fields with wide-eyed wonder. In his heart, a thought lingered—The vision I saw... four years ago. Will it really happen? Nothing had changed yet. The village remained safe. But the memory of that day still haunted him like a shadow.

"We're almost on the capital grounds," Caden said, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Leo smiled and nodded. "Let's go."

As they reached the capital gates, the sight overwhelmed him—crowds of people bustled in and out, vendors shouted, guards stood firm, and adventurers of all kinds moved through with purpose. It was chaotic, exciting, and completely new.

Caden walked forward confidently, Leo following close behind. As they stepped through the gate and approached the Adventurer's Guild building, whispers began to rise in the crowd.

"Wait a minute… Is that…?"

"No way... that's Caden, right?"

"The legendary adventurer?"

Though Caden's name was widely known, few had seen him in over a decade. His sudden appearance stirred the entire guild. Some of the newer adventurers had only heard of his feats in stories—now he stood in front of them, real and alive.

Caden scratched his head awkwardly. "Ah… hey, everyone. Long time."

The buzz only grew louder, until the heavy door behind the reception slammed open and an older man stormed out. "What the hell is with all this noise—?" the Guild Master barked, then stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened.

"…Caden?"

Caden raised a hand. "Hey, old man."

The Guild Master broke into a grin. "You bastard! I thought you were dead!"

Leo watched with mild amusement as the two men embraced like old friends. He wasn't surprised—he knew of his father's past, of the stories involving the Hero and the battles they had once fought together.