The Convergent Path (Reincarnation/LitRPG)

Fin crossed Haven's grounds as the afternoon sun dipped toward the horizon, shadows stretching over ancient stone and well-tended grass. His leather satchel bumped rhythmically against his hip with each step, Enchanting's wand nestled safely inside, his course scroll creased from frequent consultation. Elemental Imprinting awaited in the western spire, marking the conclusion of Day 2's grueling schedule. His shoulders no longer ached from yesterday's sparring session with Gavric, the scab on his neck still itching where the instructor's blade had found its mark, but Equilibrium steadied him. The whispers that followed him had grown since yesterday.

A wooden sign beside the entrance, Elemental Imprinting, Room 12, directed him up a spiral staircase, the air growing thick with sharp mana as he climbed, like standing at a storm's edge. Not oppressive, but present, a constant reminder that this was no ordinary classroom. The subtle pressure increased with each step, a test in itself. Some students, he'd heard, never made it past the stairs, their cores rejecting the concentrated elemental energy before they'd even begun their studies.

The chamber opened before him after three spiraling turns, high arched windows letting in the fading light, walls etched with runes that pulsed with subtle power, fifteen students already seated at curved wooden desks arranged in a semicircle. All older, 16, 17, Year 2s whose faces were etched by a year's worth of training and trials. Fin, barely 13, froze momentarily in the doorway, suddenly aware that he was the youngest by far, his new tunic too crisp and clean against their faded, well-worn gear.

Conversation died as he entered, replaced by murmurs that flared like kindling catching flame. Fin kept his face neutral, Equilibrium helping him maintain composure while Scientific Warfare analyzed the room's dynamics. Fifteen pairs of eyes tracked his movement as he made his way to an empty desk at the back.

"Year 1?" a broad-shouldered boy hissed loudly, his blond hair tied back in a warrior's knot, arms corded with muscle from a year's worth of combat training. He didn't bother lowering his voice. "This is for Tier Two preparation, what's he doing here?" The question hung in the air, a challenge Fin chose not to answer as he slid into his seat.

A girl with intricate braids that spoke in a thick accent frowned deeply. "He's the one who sparred with Instructor Gavric yesterday. But, It's too early for him to be here." Her words carried a mix of confusion and indignation, as though Fin's presence somehow diminished the achievement of reaching this class.

Others shifted in their seats, confusion and doubt rippling through the room. Year 2s were approaching their evolution, paving the way for eventual evolution during Year 3. Fin's presence disrupted their understanding of Haven's hierarchy.

"I heard he has a lightning skill strong enough to punch through Gavric," whispered a thin boy with spectacles perched on a pointed nose. "Lightning is pretty rare but that Spark skill is usually weak."

"Impossible," dismissed a muscular girl with close-cropped hair. "No Year 1 has a skill that strong. Most waste their 15 skill slots on common and uncommon skills."

"Maybe he's older than he looks," suggested another student, eyeing Fin suspiciously. "Some of those Noble houses on the Eastern reaches start late."

An orange haired boy, clearly some kind of informal leader among them, laughed mockingly. "Look at him. He's a little baby. Probably still sleeps with a toy."

Fin ignored them, focusing instead on arranging his materials, though his fingers itched to activate Thunderfang. Just a small demonstration would silence them, but Equilibrium warned against it, unnecessary displays drained resources needed elsewhere. Besides, he had nothing to prove to them. His placement here was approved by Headmaster Elijah. They didn't matter.

"Seriously though," persisted a girl with copper hair tied in a tight bun, leaning across the aisle toward Fin, "how did you get placement here? Do you have some sort of family connection? Are you a secret prodigy?" Her question wasn't entirely hostile, curiosity mixed with the challenge in her voice.

Fin met her gaze evenly. "I guess I'm just that good," he said simply, offering no elaboration. Let them wonder.

The orange haired boy wasn't satisfied. He rose slightly from his seat, turning fully face Fin. "Listen, little bug, this isn't some basic mana control class. This is the real world. You don't belong here. You should run back to your simple Year 1 courses before…"

The door clicked open with decisive purpose, cutting off whatever threat had been forthcoming. A woman entered, appearing to be in her early 20s, dark hair falling loose around her shoulders, white robes with silver threads that seemed to flow around her body without sound or disturbance. She moved with fluid grace, each step precisely placed, though her eyes, sharp and observant, belied the apparent casualness of her entrance.

Fin's Electromagnetic Perception reached out automatically, and found nothing. No mana signature, no core presence. Just emptiness, a void where she stood. His eyebrows ticked upward involuntarily, his first failure with the skill since mastering it. Was she masked somehow? Her Tier, Three? Four? remained hidden, and Fin felt his Equilibrium hum to calm the sudden spike of unease this caused.

"Enough," she said, her voice clear and carrying without being raised, slicing through the lingering murmurs. "I am Instructor Mara Velith. Settle yourselves." She smiled, warm but with an edge that suggested boundaries firmly in place, as she leaned against a rune-etched podium at the front of the room. The orange-haired boy smirked, arms crossed over his chest, challenge still evident in his posture. "If the presence of a Year 1 student bothers anyone in this class, please stand now."

Silence stretched for three heartbeats, then the orange boy rose, jaw cocked defiantly. "Yeah, I've got a problem with it. This course is meant for us, Year 2s who are close to reaching Tier Two. He's what, 13? Tier One with barely any training, too green for this level."

Mara's smile widened fractionally, sharper now. "Continue…"

"Jaren. Jaren Restoria"

"Continue, Mr. Restoria. I'm listening." The invitation seemed to inflate him further.

"He's nowhere near evolution, bringing him here just wastes our time. We've worked a full year for this opportunity, and he hasn't earned it." Jaren gestured expansively, clearly expecting support from his peers, but most stared fixedly at their desks, unwilling to meet either his gaze or the instructor's.

Mara nodded thoughtfully, appearing to consider his words with genuine interest. Then, almost imperceptibly, she flicked her wrist, a faint, unseen pulse rippled through the room. Jaren's smirk froze as his satchel lifted from beside his desk, hovering in midair, while the classroom door swung silently open. "Out," she said, her smile unwavering. "You don't get to select my students, Jaren."

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Jaren gaped, his face flushing deep red as he snatched his floating bag from the air and stormed from the room. The door closed behind him with a decisive click that somehow conveyed more finality than if it had slammed. Mara turned her attention back to the class. "Does anyone else wish to question my or Headmaster Elijah's student placement decisions?" Silence held firm, eyes dropped to desks, the tension thick but subdued.

"Good," she said, beginning to pace slowly before them. "The Headmaster spoke with me this morning, the elementals won't crest the peak for at least a month, possibly longer. That gives us time to prepare properly." She waved her hand casually, the podium glowed with soft blue light, a mana figure shimmering above it, half-formed and constantly shifting. "Elementals are mana affinities given life and purpose. Different than your general monsters. They are key to reaching Tier Two. Imprint one successfully on your core, and you evolve, fail, and you remain Tier One indefinitely."

A lanky boy with tousled brown hair raised a hand. "Why are they needed at all? Why can't we progress without them?"

Mara's smile softened, becoming more genuine. "There are competing theories. Ancient texts claim that cores need a 'voice', the will of mana itself, to bridge the gap between tiers. Modern scholars suggest elementals serve as stabilizers for increasing mana density, catalysts for a natural process." She shrugged elegantly. "We have no proof either way, only the fact that without imprinting, advancement beyond Tier One is impossible." She waved her hand again, the figure above the podium flared brighter, fiery wings hinting at a phoenix taking shape. "In most years, only one or two students from this course successfully evolve. When the elementals crest the mountain peak, I'll take those I deem ready to attempt imprinting, not everyone."

Fin's core thrummed with energy, denser than these Year 2s could possibly guess. Year 3 was the normal time for most, yet here he sat, 13 years old, closer to evolution than any of them knew. A stocky girl with short black hair and a scar across her chin raised her hand. "What are they like? The elementals, I mean."

"It varies," Mara said, leaning back against her podium. "Some are pure mana constructs, fluid and formless, with no flesh or substance as we understand it. Others are half-formed creatures, phoenixes, drakes, wyrms, blending mana and physical body in ways our science still struggles to explain. The stronger their tie to our world, the more solid their manifestation, and their inherent power tends to shape their form." The figure above the podium shifted in demonstration, from liquid mana that flowed like water to a feathered creature wreathed in flame.

"So, they're sentient?" asked the copper-haired girl who had questioned Fin earlier.

"To varying degrees," Mara confirmed. "Some are barely aware, primal forces with minimal consciousness. Others possess intelligence rivaling or exceeding our own, particularly the elder elementals that have existed for centuries. Those rarely offer imprinting, they've grown beyond the need for humans."

"How do we choose which type to seek?" asked another student, a boy with a serious expression and meticulously trimmed nails that suggested precision was valued above all else.

Mara shook her head. "You don't choose, at least, not entirely. Your mana affinities draw certain elementals to you, though your character and goals matter too. Someone with fire affinity but a cold nature might attract an ice elemental rather than a fire spirit." She paused, eyes traveling over each student. "That's why self-knowledge is crucial before attempting imprinting. The elemental must complement not just your mana type but your essential self."

"What happens if you choose wrong" The question came from a quiet girl in the corner who had said nothing until now.

"Best case? Rejection, painful but survivable. Worst case?" Mara's expression darkened slightly. "Corruption. The elemental overtakes your consciousness, or your core shatters under incompatible energy. Either way, you lose yourself."

The room fell silent, the reality of what they sought suddenly heavier than before. Fin listened intently, Scientific Warfare ticking away in his mind, variables aligning, possibilities cataloged. He surreptitiously pulled out his System Sheet, the soft glow visible only to him:

Name: Fin Aodh

Age: 13

Core Status: Tier Two Ready – Elemental Imprint Required

Active Skills:

Thunderfang (Unique) Level 25 [Evolution Available]

Plasma Compression Burst (Unique) Level 25 [Evolution Available]

Passive Skills:

Convergent Equilibrium (Unique) Level 10

Electromagnetic Perception (Unique) Level 25 [Evolution Available]

Scientific Warfare (Unique) Level 25 [Evolution Available]

Tier Two Ready. He stared at the words, so far ahead of these Year 2s. Ready for evolution when these older students were still months, maybe even years, away.

"What about family lines?" asked a student with elaborate sleeve tattoos. "My grandfather imprinted a fire lindworm and my mother a fire elemental. Does that increase my chances with similar elementals?"

"Lineage matters," Mara acknowledged, "but isn't deterministic. Family patterns exist, but exceptions are common enough to make prediction unreliable." Her eyes found Fin briefly before moving on. "Sometimes the most unexpected pairings yield the strongest results."

"Are there different ranks of elementals?" asked the boy with spectacles. "How do we know which are worth pursuing?"

Mara's expression suggested the question was both expected and more complex than it appeared. "There are indeed hierarchies within elemental types. Common elementals, flame sprites, water nymphs, stone guardians, are easiest to imprint but offer limited growth. Rare elementals, phoenixes, leviathans, terra colossi, provide greater power but are more selective and dangerous to approach." She waved her hand, and the projection shifted to show different manifestations. "Then there are the primes, supposedly one for every element, ancient beings that rarely interact with humans at all. Imprinting a prime is the stuff of legends, not classroom exercises."

"Has anyone here ever imprinted a prime?" The question came from a boy near the front, voice hushed with wonder.

"Not in living memory," Mara replied. "Though rumors persist of a mage from our neighboring Solare Empire hosting a shadow prime." She straightened, apparently deciding the theoretical discussion had gone far enough. "For now, focus on understanding your own affinity. Next week, we'll study elemental behavior patterns, only a few of you will actually hunt for imprinting this season." Her smile sharpened again, becoming the edge it had been when she'd dismissed Jaren. "Class dismissed."

The students gathered their materials, murmuring among themselves as they filed out. Several cast curious glances at Fin, their earlier hostility tempered by the class discussion. Some nodded respectfully, perhaps recognizing that his presence wasn't the insult they'd initially assumed. Others maintained their distance, still uncertain what to make of him.

Fin rose slowly, slinging his satchel over his shoulder, feeling the weight of Year 2 eyes trailing him, gazes now more wary and puzzled than outright dismissive. Mara's void continued to nag at his Perception, the first crack in what had been a flawless skill. A wall to climb, like Gavric. A challenge, but one he would overcome.

As he reached the door, the copper-haired girl fell into step beside him. "I'm Neela," she said without preamble. "Sorry about Jaren. He's had his heart set on being first to evolve since before assessments."

Fin nodded, unsure what response she expected. "Fin," he offered simply.

"I know who you are." She replied with a slight smile. "Most of use underclassman do after yesterday." She studied him for a moment as they descended the spiral staircase. "You really use lightning? It's going to be hard to fill out your skill list with that affinity. Most settle for pure mana skills in hopes of finding synergy with their existing lightning skills."

"Sure," said Fin with a shrug.

"Interesting," she mused. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "What are you not telling us, Fin from Year 1?"

He met her gaze evenly, Equilibrium keeping his expression neutral despite the sudden increase in his heartbeat. "Nothing relevant to you," he said finally.

She laughed, a sharp, surprised sound. "Fair enough. We all have secrets." She quickened her pace as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "See you next class, lightning bug."

Fin watched her go, the nickname no longer sounding quite as mocking from her lips as it had from Jaren's. He turned toward the dormitories, mind already categorizing the day's information, Scientific Warfare identifying patterns and points of interest. Mara Velith's void presence. The detailed elemental taxonomy. The reactions of the Year 2s.

Only one more month and he could finally progress. It had been way too long.