The abandoned field lay on the outskirts of Halverin, where the ancient walls no longer protected anything but ruins and dry weeds.Most people avoided that place. They said that at night, echoes could be heard coming from the Abyss.

  Ren didn’t believe it.And yet, something about that cold wind always made his chest tighten.

  The sword strapped to his back felt heavier than ever.

  Since the night he was born, he had felt that it should be… different.Sometimes, when he closed his eyes, he swore he could hear a whisper coming from the blade.But now, it was nothing more than ordinary metal.

  Ren sighed.

  “So that’s all it is…?”

  That was when he realized he wasn’t alone.

  At the center of the field, a boy about his age was practicing strikes against the air.His hair was white, almost silver, contrasting with his pale skin.His movements were not those of a child. There was firmness, intention.

  Ren approached, hesitant.

  “Do you… train here too?”

  The boy turned slowly.

  His light-colored eyes reflected the dim light of the cloudy sky.

  “Kael Rosven.”

  “Ren Arken.”

  An odd silence followed, as if the world itself were waiting for something.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Then Kael smiled.

  “Do you want to fight?”

  Ren’s heart began to race.He nodded.They stepped back a few paces.

  Ren gripped the sword with both hands.It felt cold, lifeless… with none of that power that sometimes appeared when he was in danger.

  Kael closed his eyes for a moment.

  “I only know how to use one part of my power… so don’t go easy on me.”

  He raised his hand.

  “Impose.”

  The air around them trembled.

  Ren felt his body grow heavy, as if an invisible pressure were pushing him toward the ground.It wasn’t enough to stop him, but the impact was real.

  “What was that…?” Ren murmured, stepping back.

  Kael looked surprised at himself.

  “I… I just thought about making you stop.”

  Ren lunged forward.

  The sound of metal rang out as his sword crashed into Kael’s staff, sending it flying.Kael rolled across the ground, then started laughing.

  “Wow… you’re strong.”

  Ren was breathing hard.It wasn’t strength.It was fear.

  They sat down in the dry grass, staring at the colorless sky.

  Kael broke the silence:

  “Which power are you from? Echoes? Midas?Or… Aeternum?”

  Ren clenched his fingers.

  “I don’t know.”

  Kael stared at him, shocked.

  “That’s impossible…”

  He suddenly stood up.

  “Say ‘Status.’”

  Ren blinked.

  “Status…?”

  The air in front of him shattered like invisible glass.

  A screen appeared.

  Kael could see it too.

  STATUS — REN ARKEN

  Age: 10

  Strength: 12

  Speed: 10

  Endurance: 11

  Anima: 18

  Power: ???

  The wind blew harder.

  Kael felt a chill.

  “I’ve never… seen this before.”

  Ren looked at his own distorted reflection on the screen.

  In that moment, something became clear:

  He does not belong to any system.

  And one day… the entire world would have to learn what that meant.