The journey had been surprisingly peaceful.
For hours, they had traveled without a single attack from the beasts that roamed the land. Compared to the chaos of Xhaelyn's first day in this world—where she barely escaped the clutches of a duskrend beast—this calmness felt almost unnatural. But no one else seemed to find it odd. The mercenaries remained at ease, occasionally chatting as they guided the wagons along the road.
Xhaelyn, however, remained alert.
As the wheels creaked against the dirt path, her mind replayed the discussions from before. Unique Abilities, Unique Energy, the Twelve Dominions—everything Edgar and the others had explained swirled in her thoughts. It was a lot to take in, but more than anything, it gave her perspective.
This world functioned on a system of power, and that power stemmed from Unique Abilities.
She had spent most of her past life honing her physical skills—assassination techniques, stealth, precision. But here, no matter how skilled she was, someone with a powerful ability could easily outmatch her. If she had a Unique Ability, it would be a massive advantage. If not… she would have to find another way to stand on equal footing.
Her gaze shifted to the surroundings. The dense forest stretched endlessly to her left, thick canopies swaying under the soft breeze. On the right, the dirt road led forward, curving toward the distant horizon where faint structures hinted at civilization.
She watched closely, observing the way the trees moved, the way the leaves rustled, the way the air felt against her skin.
Then—she felt it.
A familiar sensation stirred within her.
Her eyes narrowed as she focused. This energy… it was the same as what she had sensed the first day she woke up in this world. It wasn't like the Unique Energy she felt in people—it was different. Wilder. Boundless. Yet, at the same time, it carried an uncanny resemblance to Unique Energy itself.
What exactly is this?
She hesitated, then made a decision. If she couldn't understand it just by sensing it, then she would approach it the way she was trained.
Essence Integration.
In her first life, this was a fundamental practice among assassins. Unlike normal stealth, which relied on physical concealment, Essence Integration was about becoming one with the environment—blending not just in body, but in presence, in flow.
It sharpened their senses. It made their movements unpredictable, their attacks undetectable, their strikes precise and unavoidable.
She closed her eyes, letting out a slow breath.
Focus.
The essence of the forest, the energy flowing around her—she let herself sink into it. Instead of resisting the energy, she moved with it. Instead of standing apart, she became part of it.
Something shifted.
A strange sensation spread through her body. The rustling of leaves became clearer. The distant footsteps of animals barely touching the earth became more defined. The mercenaries' heartbeats, the creaking of the wagons, the faintest shifts in movement—all of it came into focus within a limited range around her.
It was like… she had become a part of the forest itself.
Xhaelyn remained still, feeling the energy flow through her. But then, something changed.
Her energy began to weaken. Not lessen—but weaken.
Her breath hitched. It was subtle at first, like a slow leak in a water container. Instinctively, she tried something new—she guided the energy of the forest toward her, directing it into her own.
The result was immediate.
Her energy replenished, not just returning to normal but feeling… stronger. Sharper.
But then—
It abruptly stopped.
The flow of energy was cut off completely, as if an invisible blade had severed it in an instant.
Xhaelyn's eyes snapped open.
She blinked, quickly scanning her surroundings.
And that's when she noticed—they had just passed the border of the forest.
The sensation vanished, leaving her energy feeling as if it had been forcefully returned to its original state. Whatever had just happened… it was tied to the forest.
Her grip tightened slightly.
Just what had she stumbled upon?
Xhaelyn's fingers curled slightly as she stared at the now-distant treeline. The abrupt severance of energy left a lingering emptiness, like a breath cut short before it could be fully drawn.
She carefully re-examined the sensation. When she was in the forest, the energy felt vast and untamed, yet it resonated with Unique Energy. It was almost like… a larger, natural version of it.
But as soon as they left, it was gone.
Is it something exclusive to the forest? Or…
She glanced at the land ahead. The road stretched toward a more open area, where the trees thinned and the sky widened. If that energy was tied to the forest, then would she feel something different in other environments?
She filed the thought away for later. For now, she needed to confirm something else.
Slowly, she closed her eyes again, reaching inward.
Unlike before, she didn't focus on her surroundings. Instead, she focused on herself—on the energy within her own body.
…There it is.
It wasn't strong, nor was it particularly distinct, but it was there. A presence. A force inside her, separate from her physical being yet undeniably a part of her.
Her Unique Energy.
So, she did have it.
But what about her Unique Ability?
She had read about characters in fantasy novels who underwent trials before their abilities fully awakened. Others needed intense training. Some required emotional triggers.
She recalled her experience in the forest—how her energy had weakened, how she instinctively drew the energy of her surroundings to replenish it.
Could that have been… her ability?
If so, why had it stopped so suddenly when they left the forest?
A frown flickered across her face before she forced her expression to remain neutral. She couldn't rush this. If she truly had a Unique Ability, she would figure it out in time.
And if not… she would find another way.
"You're awfully deep in thought," Owen remarked, his tone casual but observant.
Xhaelyn glanced at him briefly before looking ahead again.
"She's always like that," Carlo chuckled. "Ever since we found her, she's been a quiet and wary kid."
Owen scoffed. "Yeah, well, being wary doesn't do much if you don't know what you're up against."
Xhaelyn didn't react outwardly, but she found his words ironic. In her past life, wariness had been the difference between life and death.
"You thinking about what ability you might have?" Paulo asked, his tone light.
She considered her answer before simply saying, "Maybe."
Edgar chuckled. "Curious, huh? That's good. But don't dwell too much on it, kid. Abilities or not, how you use what you have matters more."
Xhaelyn nodded slowly, but her mind lingered on the strange energy she had sensed.
Unique Energy. The natural energy of the forest. The way her own energy reacted to it.
She would figure this out.
Even if no one else could sense it, even if she had to uncover it on her own—she would.