"If I left one day, would you miss me?" Vivienne asked softly as she lifted her head to look at Ray. Bathed in moonlight and starlight, her petite face appeared almost unreal, as if she belonged more to a dream than the quiet beach before them.
Ray blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Why would you say that? Are you going to leave?"
Vivienne puffed out her cheeks slightly. "I said if I left."
Ray didn't hesitate. "You're my little sister. Of course I'd miss you. I'd miss you a lot. A whole lot." He paused, then tilted his head and looked at her more closely. "Hey… have you grown taller? You're almost up to my nose now."
"I'd miss you too," Vivienne replied, her answer drifting past his question. "I'd really, really miss you." Her large purple eyes shimmered, as if a thin layer of water lay just beneath their surface.
Ray laughed gently and pulled her closer, resting his hands on her shoulders. "We're together every day, so there's no need to miss each other. I already talked to Mom and Dad. When I go to an intermediate academy, you'll come with me to a school in the same city. Big brother will always protect you."
The light in Vivienne's eyes quietly dimmed. Without saying anything, she leaned her head against Ray's shoulder, listening to the distant waves crash against the shore.
Early the next morning, Ray woke before dawn. Even his appetite seemed subdued today, though excitement shone unmistakably in his eyes. Wilheim noticed it immediately and chuckled. "Why are you so impatient? Even if we leave now, the Spirit Tower won't be open yet."
For Ray, this day carried extraordinary meaning. Today was the day he would buy a spirit soul.
"Dad," he asked eagerly, barely able to sit still, "what kind of spirit soul do you think I'll get?"
Wilheim smiled faintly. "How would I know? But no matter what spirit soul you obtain, you'll step beyond Soul Scholar and truly become a Soul Master. From then on, the distance between you and ordinary people will only grow."
Ray nodded vigorously, too excited to notice the subtle weight hidden in his father's tone.
From the doorway, Vivienne watched as Ray tugged his father along, nearly pulling him out of the house. Her brows knit together slightly, her expression distant and troubled.
"Dad, hurry!" Ray urged, skipping ahead.
Wilheim followed, shaking his head helplessly. Yet deep within his eyes lurked worry. Buying a spirit soul was one thing, but obtaining a suitable one was another matter entirely.
The Spirit Tower was an existence known throughout the continent. Its influence extended far beyond the Xynnar Continent, reaching even the other two continents thousands of years ago.
After the Arcana Empire's defeat ten thousand years prior, its remnants had fled across the sea and, after countless hardships, discovered a new land.
Though inhabited by indigenous humans, the civilization there was far less developed. The remnants conquered it and named it the Xynnar Continent.
Meanwhile, the endless struggle between the Crescent Empire and the Llyne Empire reshaped history.
As the Crescent Empire unified the Xynnar Continent and became the Crescent Federation, the Llyne Empire chose a different path.
Investing heavily in maritime exploration, they discovered yet another vast land and quietly occupied it, migrating their people and resources there. Thus, the Llyne Continent and the Llyne Federation were born.
Through all of this, the Spirit Tower endured. With its revolutionary research into artificial spirit souls, its status soared. Across all three continents, it stood as the single most powerful organization.
Ironspire City possessed only a three-story Spirit Tower branch, the lowest rank possible. Medium cities had seven-story towers, major cities had thirteen. The Spirit Tower headquarters, however, stood in Central City, an eighty-story colossus said to be the most magnificent structure on the entire continent.
To Ray, even this humble three-story pagoda was sacred ground.
The building dominated Ironspire City's skyline. Everyone knew where it was, yet very few had ever stepped inside.
The doors were already open when Wilheim and Ray arrived, though the interior was quiet. After all, Soul Masters were rare in a city as small as Ironspire.
As soon as he entered, Ray's eyes darted everywhere. The pagoda's octagonal interior was vast and solemn. Smooth marble floors bore the emblem of the Spirit Tower, and a massive circular gate stood at the center of the hall, leading to some unknown space. At the front sat a Soul Master in ash-colored robes behind a reception counter.
The Soul Master stood as they approached, giving Wilheim a brief once-over. "State your purpose."
Wilheim bowed respectfully. "Lord Soul Master, I've brought my son to purchase a spirit soul. He has reached the tenth rank."
At those words, the Soul Master's polite expression cooled slightly when he realized Wilheim was not a Soul Master himself.
"Do you have enough money?" he asked flatly.
Ray stepped forward at once. "We do. I have enough."
The Soul Master glanced at him. "What rank of spirit soul do you intend to purchase?"
Wilheim hesitated, embarrassment flickering across his face. "Lord Soul Master, we aren't very familiar with these matters. Could you please explain?"
The Soul Master frowned. "You came without knowing this?" He sighed impatiently. "In a small city like Ironspire, only three options are available. Ten-year white spirit souls. Hundred-year yellow spirit souls. Or random selection."
"There are seventy-three ten-year white spirit souls and eleven hundred-year yellow spirit souls available. White spirit souls cost seventy thousand Federation Coins. Yellow spirit souls cost one million. Which will you buy?"
The words struck Ray like a hammer.
His face went pale as he blurted out, "Seventy thousand? Lord Soul Master, aren't spirit souls thirty thousand coins? How… how could it be this much?"
The Spirit Master gave Ray a sidelong glance, his tone calm yet faintly tinged with impatience. "Thirty thousand is the price for a random spirit soul. With that option, you may obtain a ten-year spirit soul, or even a hundred-year one if luck favors you, but everything is left to chance. There is a very high probability that the spirit soul you receive will not be compatible with your martial soul at all. Some people who want to save money choose this path and gamble on luck, but personally, I would advise you to purchase a suitable ten-year spirit soul instead. It may not be powerful, but it will be stable and far more helpful in cultivation."
From his manner alone, it was obvious that the Spirit Master had already judged this father and son as people who could not possibly afford a hundred-year spirit soul.
Ray subconsciously turned to look at his father. The excitement that had filled his chest only moments ago had completely vanished, replaced by a hollow heaviness that pressed down on his heart.
Wilheim slowly crouched down in front of his son, meeting his eyes. Countless emotions surged within him in that instant: guilt, helplessness, bitterness, and pain. Yet when he opened his mouth, he found that he didn't know what words could possibly ease this moment.
"Son," he said softly, forcing calm into his voice, "let's choose the random spirit soul. Silverfalls Vine has very high adaptability. It should be able to fuse with most spirit souls."