Reawakening: I Can Absorb Infinite Skills

Nyra noticed first. She tilted her head. "You don't look so thrilled. Shouldn't you be glad we're heading back ?"

Arden blinked, then smirked faintly. "What, can't a man walk quietly without you digging into his soul?"

Rael chuckled under his breath. "Quiet, sure. But you look like someone handed you spoiled meat. What's with the face?"

Zephyra gave a short huff, a sound closer to a growl than a sigh, and it made Rael grin wider.

Arden rubbed the back of his neck, still wearing that half-smile that didn't reach his eyes. "It's nothing. Just a bit of history with Caelum, that's all. Don't read too much into it."

His tone was light, but none of them bought it. Nyra's eyes stayed on him, sharp and unreadable. Rael's grin softened into something more cautious.

They'd seen Arden crack jokes with a blade at his throat, yet the expression he wore now was one they recognized, guarded, unsettled.

"Really," Arden said again, rolling his shoulders like he could shake the weight away. "Drop it. We'll go, we'll handle whatever comes, same as always."

No one pressed further, though the air among them grew heavy with unspoken questions.

Arden walked on with that faint smirk still in place, but behind it his thoughts wandered restlessly.

That night the group sat together, but the mood wasn't the same as before.

They shared a fire, their food warm and filling, but each of them carried their own thoughts.

Nyra absently traced patterns on the rim of her cup. Rael leaned back with his hands behind his head, looking more thoughtful than relaxed. Even Zephyra stayed unusually still, her eyes fixed on the shadows just beyond the fire.

They spoke a little about their new insignias, what it meant to bear the rank of explorers now. It was an honor, but also a weight.

Silver rank was only a step away from where the envoys stood, and though they were proud, none of them were blind to what it meant, more eyes on them, more dangerous missions, more chances to make enemies.

Rael voiced what they were all thinking. "I wonder how the city will take us. Not too long ago, we were the ones people called exiles. Now they'll have to bow their heads when they see the badge." He smirked, but his voice carried a hint of unease.

"Respect doesn't come easy," Nyra murmured. "And people don't forget so quickly. We'll still have to prove we deserve it."

Arden poked at the fire with a stick, sparks rising in the dark. "Then we prove it. Simple as that." His tone was casual, but it carried that steadiness the others leaned on.

Still, the night wasn't full of laughter like before.

They each drifted into silence, burdened by their own thoughts, until at last they turned in for rest.

Dawn came quickly, stirring the camp into motion. Wagons were packed, tents folded down, supplies strapped tight.

The envoy's words from last night echoed again, reminding them that this was no longer just a trial, they were part of the guild now, with duties and expectations.

Arden's group packed their things quickly. Zephyra moved restlessly near the edge of the camp, her tail swishing in irritation at the bustle of so many humans.

Rael loaded their gear onto the cart with practiced ease, while Nyra checked their supplies twice over.

Breakfast was simple—bread, dried meat, and a flask of broth.

They shared it in the cart as the wagons rolled out, the motion steady and almost soothing after the trials of the last few days. Arden leaned back against the wood, tearing a piece of bread in half and tossing part of it to Rael, who caught it with a grin.

"Not the finest meal," Rael said, chewing, "but better than dirt."

Nyra gave him a sharp look. "You'd eat dirt if Arden told you it would make you stronger."

Rael smirked, glancing at Arden. "Wouldn't you?"

Arden only chuckled, biting into his share. "Depends on the seasoning."

The laughter that followed eased the weight from their shoulders, if only a little.

The journey was smoother than any of them expected. The wagons covered miles with surprising speed, the roads clearer than before. They still faced ambushes here and there, but the berserk beasts came in smaller numbers, their rage diminished since the parasite bloom had been destroyed.

When they struck, Zephyra moved like a shadow, her flames cutting paths while Rael and Nyra handled the stragglers. Arden stayed watchful, stepping in only when necessary.

Each fight reminded them of how far they had come. What once would have felt like a desperate struggle now seemed almost routine.

Meanwhile, in Caelum City, the mood was different.

Inside a hall of polished stone, elders of the Explorers Guild gathered, their expressions grave as a messenger finished reading the report.

"The cause was identified," the man said, lowering the scroll. "The outbounds neutralized the parasite bloom, though… Arden chose to preserve it rather than destroy it."

A murmur ran through the room.

One elder, hair white as frost, leaned forward. "He kept it? Dangerous, reckless."

Another shook his head slowly. "Or bold. He saw what others did not. Still… the bloom is no common plant. Its danger must be handled carefully."

The eldest among them spoke last, his tone heavy but not without pride. "Reckless or not, the result cannot be denied. They ended a threat that even the envoys admitted was beyond the Crimson Fang. And they chose to bear the weight of its consequences themselves. That alone proves their worth."

The others nodded reluctantly.

"And their rank?" one elder asked.

"Straight to silver," the eldest answered. "It is well earned. They did what was thought impossible."

There were no objections, though some looked uneasy.

The Crimson Fang was also mentioned, their reassessment deemed fair.

They had failed, but stripping them entirely would have been a waste of talent. Arden's group, however, had surpassed expectations so thoroughly that denying them advancement would be an insult to the guild itself.

In the end, pride outweighed doubt.

A/N:

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