A month had passed since my awakening.
Level 25.
Just 25 more more levels until Rank D—the point where my elemental affinities would finally show their true potential. Fire, water, earth, air… all of them waiting behind an invisible wall. I could feel it every time I trained, like power pressing against a sealed door.
My grimoire was no longer empty.
Spells and techniques now filled its pages—some learned, some created, some adapted from Elilia's teachings.
Mist Step.
Stealth.
Reinforcement.
Occoura—mana absorption.
And several offensive spells I still couldn't fully control.
Each new spell didn't just cost mana. It demanded focus, discipline, and understanding. This world wasn't generous with power.
Tomorrow was Iris's tenth birthday.
Her awakening.
She would finally step onto the same path as me and Mart. Part of me was excited. Another part… nervous. Awakening decided everything in this world. Class. Role. Worth.
A knock came at my door.
Then it opened.
"Good grief," I said. "You actually knocked for once."
Elilia laughed as she stepped inside.
Elilia "Today's special. We have a lot to do."
She raised two fingers.
"First, you'll learn Spiritual Awareness. Second, you're buying Iris a birthday gift."
"…A gift?"
"For her birthday," she repeated calmly.
I frowned.
"I thought about it before, but… she didn't give me anything for mine."
Elilia crossed her arms.
"First, she helped prepare your gifts. Second—whether she did or not—a man should be the one who gives first."
That… put me in an awkward position.
First step?
Did she think I had feelings for Eris or something?
"I don't get your reasoning," I said, "but I have my own."
I counted on my fingers.
"She's family."
"She's my cousin."
"She's my friend."
Elilia tilted her head.
"Cousins are family. So that's really just two reasons."
"…I know."
"Anyway," I said quickly, "what should I get her?"
She stared at me.
"You're asking me?"
Her expression slowly shifted into pity.
"You're hopeless with this stuff."
Yeah. And I didn't want to be good at it either.
"Girls like accessories," she said. "Rings. Necklaces. Bracelets."
She emphasized rings a little too loudly.
"I am not giving a ring," I said immediately. "Especially not that kind."
Then an idea struck me.
"…why don't I ask Arcit?"
"Elilia, suggest me a place where I can buy a good necklace for Eris."
Before she could respond—
Arcit: New Special Mission Available
"…What?"
"I didn't ask for a mission."
Arcit: Retrieve the Lost Phoenix Necklace and gift it to the Chosen One.
"Chosen one? Hey—don't cross that line."
Mission Objectives:
– Slay 100 E-Rank monsters
– Collect 100 E-Rank monster cores
– Absorb all 100 cores using Occoura
– Request 100 million from the King
"…You're kidding."
"You're supposed to help me, not send me through hell!"
"And hold on—how much money?"
Arcit: 100 million silver coin.
"…Did you lose your mind?"
100 million silver coin is equivalent to 10 million gold coin
Arcit: Will you accept the quest?
Elilia stared at me.
"…You look like you just lost a battle."
I explained everything.
She froze at one part.
"100 million?! What kind of necklace is this?"
"It said Phoenix Necklace… or something."
Arcit: URX Necklace.
"Elilia," she breathed. "That's no ordinary accessory."
We rushed to the library.
After searching ancient architecture records, we found it.
"The URX is a protective artifact," she read.
"It creates an autonomous barrier bound to its owner. It cannot be used by anyone else unless chosen by the artifact itself."
"And if the barrier breaks?"
"It either teleports the owner to safety… or heals them completely."
"…That's insane."
"However," she added, "healing consumes mana."
I nodded.
"Worth it."
Training – Spiritual Awareness
Elilia didn't hold back.
Spiritual Awareness wasn't sight.
It wasn't hearing.
It was feeling.
"Close your eyes," she said.
I did.
"Mana isn't something you look at. It's something you recognize."
She released a small wave of magic.
I flinched.
"There," she said. "That instinctive reaction? That's the beginning."
Day after day, she attacked without warning. From behind. From above. Sometimes without using mana at all.
At first, I failed every time.
Then… faint impressions began to form.
Ripples. Pressure. Intent.
By the end of the day, I could feel her presence even when she erased it.
"That's enough for today," she said. "You'll collapse if we continue."
The Next Morning
I woke up sore, exhausted, and hungry.
But focused.
The hunt began.
One monster at a time.
Then ten.
Then fifty.
Occoura burned.
Absorbing mana cores felt like swallowing fire and ice at the same time. My body rejected it—then adapted.
By the hundredth monster, my hands were shaking.
But it was done.
Level 20.
Negotiation
The shopkeeper smirked.
"Two hundred million."
"One hundred," I said calmly.
We argued. Pressured. Threatened to walk away.
In the end, he caved.
The King
"I need 100 million," I said.
My father nearly choked.
"…You lost your mind?"
"It's for Iris."
"…Oh?"
I explained everything.
He was silent for a moment.
Then, internally—
So he's into her.
Out loud—
"Fine. But your allowance is cut for three months."
"I can live with that."
That night, the necklace rested in a red velvet box.
Tomorrow… Iris would awaken.
I went to sleep.
Waiting.