Five years old.
Ashen woke on his fifth birthday to find his room transformed yet again—this time with decorations that felt more significant than previous years. Silver and gold banners bearing House Silverion's crest hung from the ceiling. Essence crystals had been arranged to cast patterns of light that resembled constellations. And on his desk sat a small wrapped package that radiated faint spatial essence—clearly something special.
Mira entered with her usual morning greeting, but her expression carried extra warmth today. "Happy birthday, young master. Five years old! That makes you eligible for awakening ceremony next month."
Next month. Four weeks until his affinities would manifest publicly, until cultivation could officially begin, until the careful facade he'd maintained would need to shift into its next phase.
Twenty-eight days until S-Rank Space and Time, A-Rank Sword affinities are revealed to the world. Twenty-eight days until everyone starts watching how I develop, expecting remarkable progress but never suspecting the Primordial-tier reality hidden underneath.
"Thank you, Mira," he said, accepting her help getting dressed in formal attire—today would involve ceremonies and family gatherings that required proper presentation.
The wrapped package drew his attention. He could see through the paper with his Primordial Sovereign Eyes, perceiving the contents directly—a crystalline pendant shaped like a compass, inscribed with spatial manipulation enchantments that would resonate with spatial affinity if the wearer possessed it.
Clever. His parents had commissioned this as both a birthday gift and a potential indicator of his future affinity. If he wore it and it activated, they'd know he had spatial potential before the official ceremony.
They're curious but too polite to ask directly. So they give me a gift that doubles as a diagnostic tool. I can appreciate the subtlety even as I recognize the manipulation.
He opened the package carefully, revealing the pendant. It was beautiful craftsmanship—essence-forged crystal that caught light and fractured it into rainbow patterns, suspended on a silver chain.
"Your parents wanted you to have this," Mira explained. "It's been in the family for generations, passed to children who show promise with spatial concepts."
Ashen lifted the pendant, and the moment it touched his skin, the inscribed enchantments activated. Not dramatically—just a subtle glow that pulsed in rhythm with his concealed Primordial spatial affinity.
Mira's eyes widened. "Oh! It's responding! That means..." She looked delighted. "The Duke and Duchess will be so pleased. Spatial affinity is rare and valuable!"
They'll be pleased about S-Rank Space affinity. They have no framework for understanding what Primordial-Rank actually means. Good. That's exactly the level of revelation I want—impressive but comprehensible.
"It's pretty," Ashen said, deflecting from the significance. "Can I wear it?"
"Of course! That's what it's for." Mira helped him fasten the chain. "Come, your family is waiting for breakfast. This is a special day!"
The family dining hall had been decorated as elaborately as his room. All his siblings were present—even Reikan, who'd been away on diplomatic business for weeks. Lyra had apparently returned from whatever expedition she'd been on specifically for this occasion. Kael and Elara sat together, discussing something in low voices that stopped when Ashen entered.
"There's the birthday boy!" Lyra called out, grinning. "Five years old! Practically ancient!"
"Hardly ancient," Elara corrected gently. "But five is significant. Old enough for awakening ceremony."
Aldric and Seraphina stood as Ashen approached, both their faces showing the particular expression parents wore when celebrating milestone moments.
"Happy birthday, son," Aldric said formally, then softened into a genuine smile. "Five years. It seems like yesterday you were born, and now you're eligible for cultivation awakening."
"We're very proud of you," Seraphina added, pulling him into a warm hug. "Not because of what you might awaken, but because of who you've become. A kind, thoughtful, brilliant young person."
"I see you're wearing the pendant," Aldric observed. "And it's responding to you. That's... significant."
Everyone looked at the subtle glow emanating from the crystal against Ashen's chest. Reikan's expression showed analytical interest. Kael looked impressed. Elara seemed pleased. Lyra bounced excitedly.
"Does that mean he has spatial affinity?" Lyra asked. "That's so cool! You could learn to teleport and travel everywhere!"
"It suggests spatial potential," Aldric corrected. "The awakening ceremony will reveal the actual affinity level and any other elements present. But yes, this is a strong indicator."
Breakfast proceeded with everyone in high spirits. Gifts were presented—Reikan gave a set of historical texts about famous spatial cultivators, Elara provided organizational tools for managing cultivation training schedules, Kael offered a practice sword scaled for a five-year-old, and Lyra presented a collection of interesting rocks and feathers she'd gathered specifically for the occasion.
"These are from my favorite places in the northern forests," Lyra explained. "So when you're studying boring things in the castle, you can remember there's a whole world out there to explore."
It was surprisingly thoughtful from his usually chaotic sister. Ashen thanked each sibling genuinely, appreciating the effort even if most gifts were more symbolic than immediately useful.
After breakfast, Aldric requested that Ashen accompany him to his private study. Once there, father and son sat across from each other in the comfortable chairs reserved for serious conversations.
"In four weeks, you'll undergo the awakening ceremony," Aldric began. "I want to prepare you for what that means, both personally and for the family."
Ashen nodded, signaling attention.
"The ceremony itself is simple—you'll stand in a specialized formation that resonates with your internal essence, revealing your natural affinities and their rank. Most children awaken with F-Rank or E-Rank affinities. D-Rank is considered talented. C-Rank is exceptional. B-Rank and above are rare enough to attract significant attention."
"What rank do you think I'll have?" Ashen asked, even though he knew exactly what would manifest.
"The pendant's response suggests at least C-Rank spatial affinity, possibly higher. Your mother has light affinity at SS-Rank, I have lightning at EX-Rank. Strong bloodlines often produce strong affinities in children." Aldric paused. "But there's something more important than rank that I need you to understand."
"What's that?"
"Power attracts attention, both positive and negative. If you awaken with high-rank affinities, people will have expectations. Other noble houses will watch your development with interest—some hoping to form alliances, others viewing you as potential competition or threat."
Aldric's expression grew serious. "You're the youngest son of a duke. That already makes you politically relevant. Adding exceptional cultivation potential makes you valuable in ways that can be dangerous if not carefully managed."
"Are you saying I should hide what I can do?"
"No. Hiding would be suspicious and ultimately futile—the awakening ceremony is conducted by imperial officials who report results to the Emperor. What I'm saying is that you'll need to be strategic about how you develop. Don't advance so quickly that you draw hostile attention. Don't reveal capabilities before you're strong enough to defend them. And trust carefully—not everyone who offers friendship will have your best interests in mind."
Ironic advice considering I'm planning to hide capabilities far beyond what even this conversation assumes. But the underlying principle is sound—strategic development, careful trust, defensive caution about hostile attention.
"I understand, Papa. Be strong but not threatening. Talented but not impossible."
Aldric smiled slightly. "You have a gift for summarizing complex strategies succinctly. Yes, that's essentially what I'm recommending. Though I trust your judgment on how to implement it. You've always been perceptive beyond your years."
If you only knew how far beyond my years. But I appreciate the trust and the tactical advice. This is the kind of support that's genuinely useful—practical guidance without micromanagement.
They talked for another hour about awakening ceremonies, cultivation basics, and what to expect in the months following affinity revelation. Aldric shared stories from his own awakening at age five, when his EX-Rank lightning affinity had manifested and immediately attracted attention from across the Empire.
"I was unprepared for the scrutiny," Aldric admitted. "Everyone wanted to know how quickly I'd advance, what techniques I'd learn, whether I'd match or exceed my ancestors' achievements. It was exhausting until I learned to manage expectations and maintain some privacy."
"How did you do that?"
"By being consistently good but rarely exceptional in public. I'd train hard in private but display moderate progress publicly. When I did demonstrate advanced capabilities, it was in controlled circumstances where I could manage how the information spread." Aldric looked at his youngest son directly. "I'm telling you this because I see similar intelligence in you. You understand strategy instinctively. I trust you'll find your own way to navigate political complications that come with power."
After their conversation, Ashen had lessons with Master Corvin—the scholar had prepared special fifth-birthday curriculum focusing on pre-awakening meditation techniques and essence sensitivity exercises.
"These won't give you cultivation abilities before the ceremony," Corvin explained, "but they'll help you become aware of the essence flowing through and around you. That awareness makes the transition into active cultivation smoother."
The exercises involved sitting quietly and trying to perceive ambient essence—the energy that permeated reality that most people couldn't consciously detect until after awakening.
Ashen followed along, pretending to struggle with sensing what his Primordial Sovereign Eyes had been perceiving perfectly since his eye awakening years ago. He "discovered" the ambient essence with appropriate excitement, making Corvin beam with satisfaction at his student's rapid progress.
"Excellent! You're already detecting essence flow. That's advanced for someone pre-awakening." Corvin made encouraging notes. "Continue practicing this meditation daily until the ceremony. It will serve you well."
Afternoon brought an unexpected visitor—Magistra Vex, returning from her extended time at the observation post near the spatial convergence point. She looked weathered from weeks of field research but energized by whatever discoveries she'd made.
"Young Ashen!" she greeted warmly when she found him in the library. "Happy birthday! Five years old—that makes you eligible for awakening next month, correct?"
"Yes, Magistra. How was your research?"
"Fascinating and deeply concerning in equal measure." Vex sat across from him, apparently delighted to have someone to discuss her findings with. "The convergence point is more complex than initial models predicted. We've documented forty-seven rifts in eight weeks, all within three miles of the focal point. The spatial instability is accelerating exponentially."
"What does that mean?"
"It means something is happening at that location that standard dimensional theory can't fully explain. The pattern suggests either unprecedented natural phenomenon or..." She hesitated. "Or deliberate manipulation from the other side. Something might be actively trying to breach through at that specific point."
Ashen's Primordial Sovereign Eyes had already confirmed what Magistra Vex was theorizing. The convergence point was indeed attracting attention from entities in adjacent dimensions who'd noticed the weakness and were beginning to probe deliberately. Not organized yet, not coordinated, but no longer purely accidental breach attempts.
"That sounds really dangerous," he said, which was honest assessment.
"It is. I've recommended that the Emperor establish a permanent garrison near the convergence point. We need military presence capable of responding to major breach events, not just research teams with minimal security." Vex looked troubled. "Though I'm not sure even a garrison would be sufficient if something truly powerful pushed through."
"Can't you close the weak spot? Make the barriers stronger?"
"That's the problem—we don't understand dimensional mechanics well enough to actively reinforce reality barriers. We can only observe, measure, and respond to breaches as they occur." Vex sighed. "It's like watching a dam develop cracks but lacking the tools to repair it. Frustrating for someone who values solutions over mere documentation."
They talked for a while about her research, Vex explaining complex spatial theory in ways that made it accessible without being condescending. Ashen asked questions that displayed intelligence without revealing the depth of his actual understanding.
Eventually Vex noticed the pendant he was wearing. "That's essence-forged crystal. A diagnostic artifact?"
"Birthday gift from my parents. It started glowing when I put it on."
"Spatial resonance. That suggests you'll likely awaken with spatial affinity next month." Vex looked genuinely pleased. "That would be wonderful! Someone with natural spatial talent who's also intellectually curious about dimensional mechanics—you could contribute significantly to research eventually."
Or I could pursue power for its own sake and let other people handle research. Though I suppose the two aren't mutually exclusive. Understanding strengthens capability, and capability enables freedom.
"Maybe," Ashen said diplomatically. "I don't know what I want to do yet. That seems like something to decide after I actually start cultivating."
"Fair point. You're only five—plenty of time to discover your interests." Vex stood to leave. "I need to report to the Duke, but let's talk more about spatial theory sometime. You have good intuition for abstract concepts."
After she left, Ashen remained in the library, processing the day's accumulation of information. His fifth birthday, the pendant revealing spatial resonance, Aldric's strategic advice, Magistra Vex's concerning research updates, and the approaching awakening ceremony that would officially begin his cultivation journey.
Four weeks. Twenty-eight days until everything shifted into the next phase.
Dinner that evening was festive—the family gathered with several close friends and minor nobles who'd been invited to celebrate. Ashen played the role of gracious young host, accepting congratulations and birthday wishes with appropriate enthusiasm.
Duke Marcus Azure had even sent a gift—a message stone that allowed brief communication across vast distances, along with a note saying his own son Kaelen had recently celebrated his fourth birthday.
The protagonist is four years old now. Still months away from his awakening ceremony but developing according to the novel's timeline. Growing up completely unaware of his future significance while I prepare from full knowledge of what's coming.
Our paths won't meaningfully cross for years. Probably not until academy, maybe not even then if I manage things carefully. He'll have his destiny—hero rising to face cosmic threats. I'll have mine—power sufficient to render those threats irrelevant to my freedom.
The celebration continued into the evening with music, dancing, and general festivity that made the castle feel more alive than usual. Ashen participated appropriately—accepting attention when required, retreating to observer role when possible, maintaining the balance between engaging with people and preserving his natural inclination toward solitude.
Lyra caught him during a quiet moment, pulling him aside with unusual seriousness. "Hey, birthday boy. Can I tell you something?"
"Of course."
"Everyone's acting like awakening is this huge deal, and I guess it is. But don't let them pressure you into being something you're not." Lyra looked at him with genuine concern. "I awakened with A-Rank wind affinity. Everyone expected me to become this amazing combat cultivator or join the aerial scouts. But I just wanted to explore and study nature."
"Did people get angry?"
"Some were disappointed. But I decided their expectations weren't my responsibility. I'm living the life I want, not the one they imagined for me." She smiled. "Just remember—your power is yours. Nobody else gets to decide what you do with it."
It was perhaps the most meaningful advice anyone had given him, precisely because it aligned with his actual goals. Lyra understood the difference between having power and being controlled by others' expectations about that power.
"Thank you," Ashen said sincerely. "I'll remember that."
After the celebration wound down and guests departed, Seraphina brought Ashen to his room for their evening routine. But instead of reading from a book, she pulled out a different object—a small journal with blank pages.
"I wanted to give you this privately," she said. "It's a cultivation journal. Starting from awakening ceremony, you'll be developing in ways that change you fundamentally. Recording your progress, your thoughts, your discoveries—that helps you understand your own journey."
"Did you keep one?"
"I still do. Twenty-five years of entries documenting my cultivation path." Seraphina smiled. "Reading old entries reminds me how far I've come and helps me understand choices I made along the way."
Ashen accepted the journal, running his fingers over the leather cover. It was beautiful craftsmanship, obviously expensive, with his name inscribed in silver on the front.
"You don't have to share what you write," Seraphina added. "This is for you, not for anyone else. Your private space to process your experiences."
A journal where I can write absolute truth without anyone reading it? That could be valuable for organizing thoughts without the constant careful filtering required in conversation. Though I'd need to ensure it's secured—wouldn't want anyone accidentally discovering my actual plans.
"Thank you, Mama. This is really thoughtful."
Seraphina kissed his forehead. "You're growing up so quickly. Sometimes I wish I could slow time and keep you small forever. But that wouldn't be fair to you—you deserve the chance to become whoever you're meant to be."
If you could see who I'm actually meant to become—someone powerful enough to render cosmic threats irrelevant, someone who pursues freedom above all else, someone hiding capabilities that would terrify you—would you still want that for me?
Probably. Because despite everything, you genuinely want me to be happy. And power brings freedom and brings happiness, at least for someone like me.
After Seraphina left, Ashen lay in bed processing his fifth birthday. The pendant that revealed spatial resonance. Aldric's strategic advice. Magistra Vex's research updates. Lyra's wisdom about maintaining autonomy. Seraphina's gift of private space for honest reflection.
All of it data points, pieces of the complex puzzle that was navigating this world while pursuing goals nobody else could imagine.
Through his window, stars shone in layered dimensional space. His Primordial Sovereign Eyes perceived them in their full complexity—not just light sources but gravitational anchors, essence generators, fixed points in spacetime structure that helped maintain cosmic stability.
Somewhere beyond those stars, in dimensions adjacent to reality, entities were becoming increasingly aware of the convergence point that Magistra Vex studied. Not intelligent enough yet for coordinated action, not organized enough for strategic breach attempts, but definitely noticing the weakness and probing more deliberately.
Years away from being actual threats. But the countdown had begun, acceleration visible to his eyes even if others couldn't perceive it yet.
The system pulsed once in his consciousness.
[PRIMORDIAL AMPLIFICATION SYSTEM]
═══════════════════════════════
No techniques detected.
═══════════════════════════════
Four more weeks of this message. Four more weeks of dormancy. Then the awakening ceremony would activate his affinities officially, and the system would finally have techniques to track once he began learning cultivation methods.
Twenty-eight days until S-Rank Space, S-Rank Time, A-Rank Sword manifest publicly while concealing Primordial-tier reality. Twenty-eight days until cultivation officially begins and I can start the real work of building power sufficient for absolute freedom.
Everything has led to this point. Five years of observation, learning, careful facade maintenance. Five years of watching others train while I prepared theoretical foundations. Five years of being the gifted child who's remarkable but not impossible.
Now the next phase begins. The cultivation years. The period where I advance from F-Rank to Primordial-Rank while appearing to progress at talented-but-reasonable pace. Decades of careful growth, strategic concealment, methodical power accumulation.
Outside, the castle settled into nighttime rhythms. Guards patrolled walls. Servants finished final duties. Magistra Vex was probably reviewing field data from the convergence point. His family slept in their respective chambers, each dreaming whatever dreams occupied their minds.
And Ashen lay awake, Primordial Sovereign Eyes open, perceiving reality in its full layered complexity, planning for battles that wouldn't come for decades but required lifetimes of preparation to survive.
He opened the cultivation journal Seraphina had given him and wrote his first entry:
Five years old today. Awakening ceremony in twenty-eight days. Everyone expects spatial affinity—S-Rank, maybe EX-Rank if I'm exceptional. They have no framework for what Primordial actually means.
Good. That's exactly the level of knowledge I want them to have. Enough to be impressed but not enough to be terrified.
Magistra Vex reports forty-seven rifts at the convergence point in eight weeks. Exponential acceleration confirmed. The timeline toward dimensional breakdown is proceeding faster than the novel described—either my memory is imperfect or my presence has altered progression patterns.
Either way, I need to advance faster than initially calculated. Not so fast as to be suspicious, but fast enough that I reach sufficient strength before cosmic threats arrive at full force.
Power for freedom. Freedom through strength. Strength built methodically across decades of careful cultivation.
That's the goal. That's always been the goal.
Everything else—family, relationships, social dynamics—adds texture but doesn't change the fundamental objective.
Twenty-eight days until it begins officially.
I'm ready.
He closed the journal and set it on his bedside table, then returned his gaze to the window where stars shone against darkness.
Five years old. Standing at the threshold between childhood observation and active cultivation. Poised to begin the journey toward power that would span decades but ultimately lead to freedom beyond what this world could imagine.
The first five years had been preparation. The next phase would be execution.
And Ashen was very, very good at executing long-term plans.
Tomorrow would bring new observations, new data, new steps toward the distant future only he could see coming.
But tonight, on his fifth birthday, surrounded by family who loved him and protecting secrets they couldn't comprehend, rest was enough.
The Primordial Sovereign Eyes continued their endless perception even as his body slept. The consciousness that had once been Takeshi Yamamoto processed information in the background, cataloging, analyzing, and preparing.
And in the spaces between realities, dimensional barriers grew steadily weaker, counting down toward conflicts that would reshape this world.
But by the time those conflicts arrived, Ashen Silverion would be ready.
More than ready.
Strong enough that cosmic threats would learn what Primordial-Rank power actually meant.
That was the promise he made to himself on his fifth birthday.
A promise he fully intended to keep.