Three years passed in Eldoria Village like the gentle flow of the stream that bordered its fields—steady, predictable, and full of quiet joys.
Kai was now ten years old, on the very cusp of the most important day in any child's life: the Appraisal Ceremony.
He had grown into a lively boy, no longer the small child who once pressed his nose against windows. His black hair was still messy, but longer now, often tied back with a strip of cloth when he worked. His emerald eyes burned brighter than ever, filled with determination and a touch of mischief. Daily chores had built quiet strength into his frame—carrying buckets of water, swinging a hoe, or helping lift hay bales had given him arms and shoulders that already hinted at the man he would become.
The village itself remained much the same. Thatched roofs patched after every storm, the central square with its old oak tree where elders gathered to smoke pipes and tell stories, the dirt paths worn smooth by generations of feet. The Whispering Forest loomed on the horizon, dark and inviting, its treetops swaying even on windless days. Rumors persisted of strange lights deeper within, or the occasional howl that didn't belong to any wolf. But no major threats had come close in years. The goblin pack that once skirted the village had been scattered by a passing adventurer party two summers ago, and life returned to its peaceful rhythm.
Yet, beneath the calm, subtle changes stirred in the wider world.
In distant regions, reports trickled in via traveling merchants: a hobgoblin chieftain in the eastern mountains had evolved into a true Goblin Lord, commanding hundreds and raiding trade routes. An ancient spider queen in the southern swamps had birthed a brood that overran two baronies before being sealed away by the kingdom's elite knights. Dungeons across Aetheria pulsed stronger, their mana leaking into the wilds, accelerating monster evolution. Some scholars in the capital whispered that the Great Cataclysm's seals were weakening—that the world was entering a new age of upheaval.
But in Eldoria, such news felt far away, like storm clouds on a distant horizon.
On the morning of the Appraisal Ceremony, the village buzzed with rare excitement. It happened only a few times a year, whenever a child turned ten. This season, there were three: Kai, Lila (now a bouncy girl with freckles across her nose and boundless energy), and Tomas (still chubby, but kind-hearted and surprisingly good with animals).
The ceremony was held in the village's small temple—a modest stone building with a domed roof, dedicated to Lumina, goddess of light and destiny. Inside, a crystal orb rested on an altar, glowing faintly with divine mana. The village priest, an elderly man named Father Elias with a long white beard and gentle eyes, would guide the ritual.
Kai stood in line with the others, dressed in his best clothes: a clean linen shirt and trousers his mother had sewn. His heart pounded like a war drum. He had dreamed of this day for years.
Lila bounced on her toes beside him. "I'm so nervous! What if I get something boring like 'Improved Sewing' or 'Animal Friendship'? Tomas would love that one, though—he's always feeding the chickens extra grain."
Tomas chuckled nervously, rubbing his round belly. "Hey, 'Animal Friendship' wouldn't be bad. At least the pigs would stop chasing me when I forget to latch the pen."
Kai grinned, though his own stomach twisted with anticipation. "I'm hoping for something strong. Like 'Sword Mastery' or 'Fire Magic.' I wanna protect the village, you know? Make sure nothing bad ever happens here."
Elena and Harlan stood proudly with the other parents near the back, watching as Father Elias began the ritual. Soft chants filled the air, and the orb flared with golden light.
Tomas went first.
He placed his small, pudgy hands on the orb. Light swirled within, forming words visible to all.
Ability: Animal Affinity
The priest smiled. "A fine gift, young Tomas. You will have a natural bond with beasts—useful for farming, and perhaps even taming monsters one day."
Tomas beamed, relieved. Cheers and claps echoed from his family.
Next was Lila.
She skipped forward confidently, placing her hands on the cool crystal. The light danced wildly before settling.
Ability: Wind Manipulation (Minor)
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Magic abilities were rare in a remote village—most commoners received practical skills like enhanced strength, crop growth, or craftsmanship.
Father Elias's eyes widened. "Child, you have been blessed with elemental affinity! Minor though it may be, with training, you could summon breezes, hasten travel, or even deflect arrows in battle."
Lila squealed, jumping in place as her parents hugged her tightly. Wind Manipulation meant potential—perhaps even enrollment in the capital's academy if she grew strong enough.
Finally, it was Kai's turn.
He stepped forward, legs feeling strangely heavy. The temple fell silent. He could feel every eye on him—his parents' hopeful gazes, Lila's excited grin, the elders' thoughtful stares.
Kai placed both hands on the orb.
Warmth flooded through him, like sunlight pouring into his veins. The crystal blazed brilliantly, brighter than for the others. Words formed in the air, visible to everyone:
Ability: Body Enhancement
Murmurs spread. Body Enhancement was solid—a common but reliable ability among warriors and laborers. It strengthened muscles, increased endurance, sped healing. Many village guards and adventurers had similar skills as their foundation.
Harlan nodded proudly. "That's my boy. Strong and steady. You'll be a fine protector, Kai."
Elena wiped a tear, smiling wide.
Father Elias bowed his head. "A worthy gift from the goddess. Train diligently, young Kai, and it will serve you well."
But inside Kai's mind, as the light faded, something else appeared—a second line of text, glowing privately for his eyes alone:
(Full: Body & Weapon Enhancement & Enchantment)
Kai blinked, stunned. The words shimmered briefly before vanishing, as if they had never been. No one else reacted—they hadn't seen it.
Weapon Enhancement? Enchantment? Those were legendary tiers, skills of master artisans and elite fighters who could imbue blades with magic, strengthen armor beyond normal limits, or temporarily boost weapons to rival artifacts.
His heart raced. Why could only he see the full extent? Was this... a hidden blessing? A unique evolution of the ability?
He kept his face neutral, bowing to the priest and returning to his parents. But inside, excitement exploded like fireworks.
That night, the village held a small celebration in the square—roasted meat, fresh bread, cider for adults, and honey cakes for children. Musicians played lively tunes on flute and drum. Lanterns hung from the great oak, casting warm light over laughing faces.
Kai sat with Lila and Tomas under the stars.
"Body Enhancement, huh?" Lila teased, nudging him. "Guess you'll be the muscle of the group! I'll blow enemies away with wind, Tomas will ride a giant boar into battle, and you'll smash everything!"
Tomas laughed, mouth full of cake. "Sounds good to me."
Kai grinned, but his mind wandered. He flexed his hand secretly, feeling a faint warmth—a hint of power waiting to be unlocked.
In the days that followed, life settled into a new rhythm. Kai began training more seriously. His father taught him basic sword forms with a wooden blade, while he helped in the fields to test his enhanced body. He noticed subtle differences already: he tired less quickly, lifted heavier loads without strain, recovered from scrapes almost overnight.
One afternoon, when Kai was practicing swings alone near the stream, he decided to experiment.
Holding a stick as a mock sword, he focused intently. Enhance... weapon?
A faint glow enveloped the stick—barely visible, like heat haze. When he swung it against a rock, the impact chipped the stone far more than it should have. The stick didn't break.
Kai's eyes widened. It worked. His true ability was far beyond what anyone knew.
He kept it secret for now. No need to cause a stir—better to grow stronger quietly.
Meanwhile, in the Whispering Forest, deeper than any villager dared venture, changes brewed.
A goblin scout—larger than normal, with scars across its green skin and cunning yellow eyes—crouched in the underbrush. It had survived countless battles, consumed the cores of fallen kin. Its pack had been scattered years ago, but now it gathered new followers: weaker goblins, hobgoblins, even a few captured wolves.
The scout's name was Grishnak. It felt power building within, mana surging hotter each moon. Soon... evolution. Soon it would become something greater—a lord to command legions.
Grishnak sniffed the air, gazing toward the distant lights of Eldoria. Easy prey. Fertile land. But patience. Wait for strength.
Far deeper still, in a cavern hidden behind illusionary vines—the entrance to the Whispering Dungeon—a massive shadow stirred. An ancient cockatrice, feathers molting into crystalline scales, eyes glowing with absorbed mana. It had slain countless adventurers over decades, growing ever closer to ascension.
And deeper than that, in realms no map recorded, something vast and formless slumbered fitfully. The Phantom Devourer. Its presence was felt only in the chills that sometimes ran through the forest without cause. It dreamed of destruction, of hunger eternal. One day, it would awaken fully... and choose a target.
But for Kai, those shadows remained distant.
Summer turned to autumn, leaves painting the forest in reds and golds. Kai trained daily, his secret enhancements growing stronger. He could now make a wooden sword strike with the force of iron, or harden his skin against thorns.
Lila practiced her wind magic, creating small gusts that lifted leaves or cooled hot days. Tomas found he could calm even the wildest stray dogs with a touch.
The three friends often gathered by the stream, dreaming of adventures.
"One day," Kai said one evening, watching the sunset, "we'll explore the dungeon together. Get strong. Protect everyone."
Lila leaned against his shoulder casually—a habit she'd developed lately, one that made Kai's cheeks warm for reasons he didn't fully understand yet.
"Yeah," she murmured. "Together."
Tomas nodded, tossing a pebble into the water. "As long as there's food along the way."
They laughed, the sound carrying into the twilight.
Peace lingered in Eldoria.
But peace, in a world of evolving monsters and hidden calamities, was never guaranteed to last.
To be continued...