Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

Kael let out a deep sigh as he leaned back against the trunk of the tree, holding the open backpack in his lap. The soft evening light filtered through the leaves above him, casting dancing shadow patterns on the ground. With a mixture of curiosity and a touch of irritation, he pulled out the items from the backpack, one by one.

"She really thinks of everything," he muttered, holding the note he had found. The words were written in elegant, feminine handwriting, the kind of writing that didn't match the woman he knew so well. He read it again, with an almost mocking tone:

"Here are your clothes, break this orb and you'll have a whole wardrobe, but do it only when you're at the academy."

Kael raised an eyebrow, holding the orb mentioned in the note. It was small, crystalline, and seemed to glow with magical energy. He twirled it between his fingers, wondering what this "entire wardrobe" would be like. Probably something he wouldn't have chosen for himself.

"She loves using magic for everything," he grumbled, putting the orb back into the backpack. "But teach me something? Oh, of course not. That would be too much work."

As he continued rummaging through the backpack, he found a magical map. It was unlike any map he had seen before; the lines seemed to move on their own, adjusting as he turned it. A small glowing mark appeared in the lower left corner, probably indicating his current position.

"Well, this will be useful," he admitted, though he couldn't shake the slight discomfort of being so dependent on the tools left by her. He folded the map carefully and set it aside.

The next discovery was a set of smaller orbs, translucent and slightly greenish. Kael held one of them, curious, before noticing that its interior seemed to contain food. He looked closer and saw a tiny banquet rotating inside the sphere.

"Food sealed in magical orbs," he murmured, an ironic smile forming on his lips. "Of course it would be like this. No simple bread or dried meat for me, right?"

Despite his frustration, he couldn't help but admire how practical the magic was. He pressed the orb lightly against the ground, and it emitted a soft glow before disappearing, leaving in its place a steaming bowl of stew and a slice of fresh bread.

"Well, at least she cares about my survival," he said, grabbing the bowl and taking a bite of the bread. "Though, knowing her, this might just be because it'd be inconvenient if I died."

Kael ate in silence, reflecting on the next steps of his journey. The academy was his destination, but he knew it would only be the beginning. The world was vast, full of challenges and opportunities. And with the system he now had, the potential to become something much greater than he had ever been was too tempting to ignore.

After finishing his meal, Kael stood up, feeling rejuvenated. He packed the remaining items into the backpack and adjusted it on his back with a decisive motion. He gazed toward the horizon, where the towers of the Academy were still out of sight but surely awaited him.

"Let's see how far this will take me," he said to himself, starting to walk toward the unknown.

Kael walked toward the city with firm steps, but his heart carried a mix of nostalgia and curiosity. He had passed through here many times before, always with his mother, but only as a traveler, observing the hustle and bustle from a distance while they headed for other destinations. The city had always been lively, but now it felt different.

As he neared the gates, he noticed that the place was more crowded than usual. There was a gathering in the main square, and the energy was palpable. People of different ages and backgrounds clustered in groups, some arguing animatedly, others watching in silence. Vendors shouted their offers, trying to attract attention amidst the chaos.

Kael stopped for a moment at the city entrance, furrowing his brow as he tried to understand the reason for the commotion. He pulled out the magical map from his backpack, but there were no markings or indications explaining the event.

"Interesting…" he murmured to himself, putting the map away. His eyes scanned the bustling streets, picking up snippets of conversations around him.

"Did you hear? The tournament is starting soon!"

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance! If I can enter, my life will change forever."

"Do you think they've already arrived? They say people from all over the kingdom are coming to participate."

Kael raised an eyebrow, intrigued. He knew that the city was a gathering point for many travelers, but tournaments weren't exactly common. Determined to learn more, he blended into the crowd, moving with the fluidity of someone accustomed to observing without being noticed.

As he approached the central square, the view opened up to a large stage set up in the middle of the space. At the top, a group of men and women in ornate armor and fine clothes watched the crowd with evaluative eyes. There was also a huge golden plaque next to them, where names were being registered by a scribe working frantically.

"What's going on here?" Kael asked a man beside him, a street vendor with a tray full of crystallized fruits.

"You don't know?" the man replied, surprised. "It's the Ascendant Flame Tournament! A rare event organized by the Academy to find new talent. Anyone can participate as long as they have the courage and strength to get through the early rounds."

Kael felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing the Academy's name. He knew that was his destination, but participating in a tournament like this hadn't been part of his plan.

"And what happens to the winners?" he asked, keeping his voice casual, though his interest was growing.

"The winner gets a direct recommendation to join the Academy, along with a gold prize. And of course, the prestige of being recognized as one of the strongest of the generation."

Kael nodded slowly, thanking the vendor before stepping away. His gaze returned to the stage, where participants were signing up. The idea of participating in something like this intrigued him, but he knew he needed more information before making any decision.

"So this is what's attracting all these people," he thought, observing the crowd more closely. Many seemed to be warriors or mages, boasting weapons and artifacts. But there were also those who, like him, were watching closely, assessing the situation before acting.

Kael crossed his arms, pondering.

"This is a waste of time, after all," Kael murmured, turning toward the city's exit. "Why should I bother and waste my time with some stupid tournament? I'd crush the first guy with a single blow." He shrugged a bit arrogantly… But it was just a fact.

Kael was trained by the Witch Queen… How could some random young guy compare to him? Kael was blessed.

"Alright, I'm finally free. I need to make the most of this freedom to learn about this world!" He said, crossing the city's boundary, following the map, and heading toward Azalith!

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