After calming myself enough to stop my hands from trembling, I headed downstairs. The familiar smell of sizzling shellfruit and seaweed broth filled the air.
Mother was at the stove, humming softly—an old sailor's lullaby she had learned during her treasure-hunting days.
She turned as soon as she sensed me.
"Hey there, birthday boy."
Her smile warmed the entire room.
"You're up early."
Oh right.
My birthday. I had completely forgotten.
"Uh… yeah," I said, rubbing my neck. "Couldn't sleep. Too excited."
"Understandable." She winked. "Fourteen is a good age for big things."
If only she knew.
I sat at the dining table, watching her move with practiced grace. Every step, every gesture was smooth—an awakener's body always was. She poured broth into a bowl, reached for spices…
And curiosity burned through me.
Inspect.
I thought the command, and the system responded immediately.
A soft ding sounded in my mind.
A translucent panel opened in front of me—visible only to my eyes.
[INSPECT — Seris Valea]
Status: Awakened
Age: 35
Physique: 23
Mana: 41
Luck: 6
Talent:
Veil of Shifting Seas(Illusion Type)— Creates illusions strong enough to deceive perception, sound, presence, and location.— Can conceal objects, people, or even entire islands under mana fog.
Titles:
Island Protector (Advanced)
Illusion Weaver (Expert)
Sanitation Advocate (Basic)(locked)
Calm Seas Envoy (Basic)
I stared, stunned.
Her mana stat was massive—but that wasn't the surprising part.
It was her Talent.
Veil of Shifting Seas.
Mother's illusions weren't simple tricks of light. They were… global-scale deception tools. Enough to hide the entire island from pirates for years.
No wonder most people on the island thought we were blessed.
And the titles—
Island Protector
Illusion Weaver
Calm Seas Envoy—these were exactly what I expected of her.
But seeing Sanitation Advocate under her name made me smile.
She truly had been the one to spread everything.
My eyes lingered on Mother's stats for a moment longer—her mana was higher than I expected, and her talent was even more powerful than she ever let on.
But then another button on the interface caught my eye.
A subtle icon shaped like a scroll.
[TITLE GUIDE — Recommended Titles for Target]
"…Oh?"
I tapped it mentally.
A new panel opened beneath Mother's information, showing titles she was close to earning and her progress toward them.
[Suitable Titles — Seris Valea]
1. Calm Hearth Guardian (Advanced)
Progress: 86%
Requirement:
Maintain uninterrupted peace for an island or settlement for 10 consecutive years.
Notes: Her illusions have kept the island hidden and safe for years. Nearly complete.
2. Veilmist Scholar (Expert)
Progress: 64%
Requirement:
Develop or improve illusion techniques that influence large areas or groups.
Notes: Mother had refined the island-wide illusion nets several times.
3. Community Pillar (Basic → Advanced)
Progress: 71%
Requirement:
Provide consistent support, leadership, and crisis prevention within the community.
Notes: Mother handled disputes, protected the weak, and guided newcomers.
4. Mirage Matron (Unique Seed)
Progress: 7%
Requirement:???
Notes: System cannot determine full requirements.
Related to illusion mastery, emotional protection, and world influence.
My jaw slowly dropped.
Mother wasn't just strong—she was on track to earn some major titles, including a unique seed title.
And she had no idea.
If she ever awakened a new level of her talent… the world might see her illusions as divine.
I quietly closed the panel, a strange mix of awe and pride warming my chest.
Mother glanced over her shoulder at me.
"You're awfully quiet today."
"Just thinking," I said quickly. "A lot."
"Well," she said with a gentle smile, "don't think too hard before breakfast."
If only she knew how impossible that was.
Especially today.
Mother noticed me smiling and raised an eyebrow.
"What's with that look?"
"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just… happy."
She placed the bowl of broth in front of me and ruffled my hair.
"Well, eat. You'll need energy today. Birthdays are busy."
Busy?
She had no idea.
Inside my chest, the treasure system hummed—alive, waiting.
Today wasn't just my birthday.
Today was the beginning.
As I finished looking through Mother's potential titles, footsteps thundered toward the table.
"Kael! Mom! Breakfast!" Lio skidded into the room dramatically, half-sliding across the floor. Typical Lio entrance.
Mother sighed but smiled. I chuckled.
He plopped into the chair across from me, panting like he'd sprinted all the way from the harbor.
I blinked once.
Well… since I was already using Inspect today…
Inspect.
A soft ding echoed in my mind, and Lio's panel unfolded before me.
[INSPECT — Lio Maren]
Status: Unawakened
Age: 12
Physique: 8
Mana: 5
Luck: 7
Potential Talent:
Beast Resonance (Unawakened)
Innate affinity with beasts, especially juvenile or docile species.
Can instinctively understand beast emotions.
High chance of forming bonds with sea creatures and island fauna.
May evolve into Beast Whisperer, Tidecaller Companion, or Ocean Beastmaster depending on awakening path.
Awakening Requirement:
Form emotional connection with three different beasts.
Current progress: 1 / 3
(…Oh. I knew exactly which one counted.)
A smile tugged at my lips.
Lio always spent time feeding the cliff gulls and sneaking treats to the island's lazy reef-dog that lived near the docks. I remembered him nursing a baby tide-rabbit last year after it injured its paw.
Of course he'd have this talent.
It fit him perfectly.
He wasn't physically strong yet, he wasn't the most disciplined kid either—but he was kind.
Warm.
Unyieldingly loyal.
The type of person beasts trusted instinctively.
As I stared at the panel, a thought crossed my mind:
Beast Resonance wasn't a combat talent.
It was a bond talent.
A partner-making talent.
A future treasure-hunting team's backbone.
The exact kind of talent that would flourish fighting side-by-side with mine.
Lio leaned over the table and squinted at me.
"What're you smiling at?"
"Nothing," I said lightly. "Just happy you're not late today."
"Hey! I'm never late! and what's so special today."
Mother and I exchanged a look.
We both snorted.
Lio glared at us.
At least until breakfast arrived.
Food silenced him faster than any spell.