Meanwhile, in the backyard, Renjiro dodged Misaki's clumsy swing with a wooden sword. "You're getting better, but you're still slow, little monster."
Misaki panted, collapsing onto the grass. "I'm tired! Training's hard…"
Renjiro sat beside her, ruffling her hair. "So, my cute little sister, what do you want to be? Swordsman, mage, healer, or summoner?"
Misaki scrunched her nose. "Swordsman exhausts me. Mage? No way. Maybe healer or summoner. They sound cool."
Renjiro laughed. "Influenced by Himari, huh?" He flicked her forehead again, earning a pout. "Ow! Stop that!"
"Fine, fine," he said, grinning. "Want to know about healers and summoners?"
Misaki's eyes lit up. "Yes! Tell me quick!"
Renjiro leaned back, his voice taking on a storytelling tone. "Healers have six core levels, each marked by a color:
1.Life Bender (green)
2.Aegis Keeper (blue)
3.Soulmender (purple)
4.Radiant Sage (yellow)
5.Vitalis (red)
6.Harmony (white).
They heal injuries and cast protective barriers. The higher the stage, the stronger their techniques."
Misaki nodded eagerly. "And summoners?"
"Summoners have two types: Soldier Manifestation and Beast Manifestation. They use divine energy stored in their core. Soldier summoners create warriors—how many and how strong depends on their stage and energy. Beast summoners call pre-existing creatures, like dragons, griffins, leviathans, or krakens. The rarest can summon both, but it's their power and stage that determine the beast's size and strength."
Misaki's jaw dropped. "Whoa… What about their cores?"
"Summoners have five levels," Renjiro said.
1.Verdant Caller (real)
2.Binded (Violet)
3.Covenant (gold)
4.Arcane (yellow)
5.Blood Woven (red)
To awaken any core—mage, healer, or summoner—you meditate daily, at least two hours, and train physically. Meditation gathers natural energy, converting it to divine energy in your core. Physical training expands your core's capacity, changing its color as you grow that means your start progress on next stage ."
Misaki's eyes sparkled. "I want to awaken a beast summoner! I could ride a dragon and travel the world!"
Renjiro groaned dramatically. "This is my fault for letting Himari influence you. I need to save you from her wild ideas!"
"Stop it!" Misaki giggled, swatting his arm. "I'm jealous of Selena, okay? Everyone calls her a prodigy. I want to be special too."
Renjiro softened, resting a hand on her head. "You don't need to follow Selena. Do what you love. Training's over for today—go play or rest."
Misaki grinned. "Okay, brother! But… take me to our food shop. I'm hungry, take me in your back"
Renjiro smirked, hoisting her onto his back. "Fine, you little monster." As they walked, he asked, "Misaki, do you love me?"
"More than anyone—even Mom!" she said without hesitation. "You're the best brother."
He chuckled. "This morning I was the worst, and now I'm the best?"
"That was just for fun," she said, hugging his neck. "What about you? Do you love me?"
"Three thousand times, I love you," Renjiro said warmly. "And no matter what I'll always protect you."
They reached the shop, where their mother, Naomi, greeted them. Misaki, exhausted, curled up in her lap and dozed off. Naomi smiled at Renjiro. "She trained hard, huh?"
"Not too much," Renjiro said, sitting beside her. "She's tough, tough."
One day before Renjiro's birthday, Haruto and Reina approached Naomi at her home, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Auntie Naomi," Haruto began, "we want to throw Renjiro a surprise birthday party on the tomorrow. Can we use your house?"
Reina nodded eagerly. "We've got Takeshi, Yuki, and Himari in on it too. It'll be amazing!"
Naomi's face lit up. "Of course! I'll take Renjiro, Selena, and Misaki out that day so you can prepare. Be ready by evening."
The morning of Renjiro's birthday dawned crisp and clear. Naomi poked her son awake. "Up, up! No sleeping in—it's your special day."
"Five more minutes, Mom…" Renjiro mumbled.
"No chance," she said, tugging his blanket away. "Go freshen up."
Grumbling, he complied. As he emerged, Selena ambushed him—not with her usual playful punch, but with a silver chain. "Happy birthday, you big lug," she said, draping it around his neck.
Renjiro blinked, touched. "Thanks, Selena."
Misaki bounded over, thrusting a woven bracelet into his hands. "For you, brother! Happy birthday!"
"Thanks, my cute little sister," he said, ruffling her hair.
Selena pouted. "Hey! You never call me cute or beautiful—just Misaki!"
Renjiro grinned mischievously. "Because you're not."
"Excuse me?!" Selena huffed. "Boys follow me all the time!"
"Maybe they need to check their eyes," he teased.
Before the bickering escalated, Naomi clapped her hands. "Enough, you two! We're going out to enjoy Renjiro's birthday. Get ready."
The group wasted no time after them leave, Haruto and Takeshi strung up handmade paper lanterns, their warm glow casting playful shadows. Reina and Yuki draped colorful ribbons across the beams, giggling as they tangled themselves in the process. Himari baked cookies—slightly misshapen but delicious—while Takeshi tackled a cake, determined to redeem his last disastrous attempt.
The day passed in a blur of laughter—street food, a stroll by the river, and Misaki dragging Renjiro into a game of tag. By evening, they trudged home, Misaki yawning on Renjiro's back.
"It's already evening," Selena noted. "Didn't you have fun, Misaki?"
"I did," she mumbled, "but I'm tired…"
Renjiro shifted her weight. "Let's get you home, little monster."
They opened the door—and a chorus of voices erupted: "SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RENJIRO!"
Renjiro's eyes widened as Haruto, Reina, Takeshi, Yuki, and Himari leapt out, the room aglow with lanterns and ribbons. A banner reading "Happy Birthday, Renjiro!" hung crookedly above the table, clearly Reina's handiwork. The scent of Himari's cookies mingled with Takeshi's cake, and a pile of gifts sat waiting.
"You… you did all this?" Renjiro stammered, a grin breaking across his face. "Thanks, everyone."
He remembered the comet he'd wished days ago: I want to enjoy my birthday with everyone. His chest warmed—his wish had come true.
The gift-giving began. Haruto and Reina presented their forged daggers and sword. "We made these ourselves," Reina said proudly.
Renjiro smirked. "They'll break in two days, right?"
"Shut up!" they snapped in unison, then laughed as he hugged them. "Thanks, seriously."
Himari shyly offered a ring and a shirt. "I hope you like them…"
The room quieted. In Mizuhara Village, a ring on a birthday meant love comfession. Reina leaned toward Himari, whispering as she slid a small box over. Himari's cheeks turned bright red. Across the table, Haruto mumbled to Renjiro, handing him a box too. Renjiro blushed hard, looking away. The air felt thick with their shy confessions.
"It's not like that!" they yelped, turning away as everyone burst into laughter.
Renjiro recovered, whispering to Haruto, "So, when's your ring for Reina?"
Haruto sputtered, red-faced, as Reina squinted at him. "Why're you blushing?"
"N-Nothing!" Haruto stammered, while Renjiro snickered.
Yuki handed over a smartphone. "It uses divine energy crystals as charger and to send messages or calls anywhere magic tower was used for communication it was all over continent . I'll teach you."
"Cool," Renjiro said, already poking at it.
Takeshi presented his cake. "No food poisoning this time, I swear."
Renjiro took a cautious bite, then grinned. "It's actually good. Nice job."
Finally, Naomi stepped forward, slipping a watch onto his wrist. "Happy birthday, my son."
Renjiro hugged her tight. "Thanks, Mom. This means everything."
Selena huffed. "What about our gifts? Aren't you happy?"
"Mom's gift has time's value," he said sagely, dodging her playful swat as the others laughed.
The night unfolded with cake, stories, and music from Yuki's smartphone. Himari watched Renjiro, thinking, He's even more handsome today… Maybe a topknot would suit him. She blushed at the thought.
Selena turned to Naomi. "Mom, are the royal families really coming to our village?