Skyler walked out of his room. The square dining table in the three-room apartment was positioned directly in front of the high kitchen counter, facing the spacious living room, which featured a set of sofas and a large LED TV on the opposite side.
He dragged one of the five empty chairs around the table and sat down. His father was already seated at the head of the table with a cup of coffee, browsing through his phone to check guild matters. Since the food and cutlery were already arranged on the table, Riya sat down opposite him.
Skyler was somewhat surprised when he saw that his mother had made his favorite spicy chicken wraps. He reached out for them directly, without even glancing at the egg sandwiches or the salad of mixed greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Riya rolled her eyes. She wanted to reprimand him, knowing he wouldn't eat anything else, especially vegetables, but she let him off the hook for today.
The moment they were done eating, his father pulled out a small gift box from his shirt pocket. He and his wife had prepared it as a gift for their son's special day but hadn't been able to present it to him.
Before Johnson could hand it to him, his son decided to drop a bombshell.
"I sensed Evol."
Johnson choked on his breath, and Riya, who was pouring orange juice from a jug into her glass, overfilled it. He coughed a few times as Riya stood up to pat his back while questioning her son.
"What?"
"I said I sensed Evol."
Alright, they didn't hear wrong. But the dilemma was how? Even Jenny Ironhart, their daughter and Skyler older sister who had awakened a 20-star potential for her elements, took a full week to sense it.
Johnson calmed down and looked at his son with a serious expression. It sounded unbelievable, but they knew Skyler wouldn't lie about such a big thing.
"I hope you didn't try to form a crystal without our presence. You know it's a very dangerous process."
Skyler blinked and glanced at the box his father had taken out of his pocket.
"I didn't... I can just sense the golden Evol, not guide it into my body."
Johnson narrowed his eyes sharply. He knew his son too well to believe he wasn't lying. The boy had definitely tried to form a crystal alone. Now, he wasn't sure whether to feel grateful or not that his son hadn't been able to guide Evol into his body.
He pushed the box toward Skyler with furrowed brows and stern eyes.
"This is for you. And don't do anything reckless again. If you are able to guide Evol into your body, tell me. I will supervise and help you form a crystal."
Skyler nodded, took the box, and left for his room. Only when he entered his room did his mother speak in a hurried tone.
"Honey! I am sure there is something special about Skyler that we aren't able to see. Treasures that enhance one's potential are rare to find, but we can search for them to help him. If we can't find them, then..."
She bit her lower lip as if she were making the biggest decision of her life.
"How about we ask for my mother's help? I know it's selfish of me after I left her side, but should we contact the Queen? We can send Skyler to the Royal Castle. She may hate me, but she will help her grandson."
Johnson sighed and pulled his wife to sit down. He wanted to agree... but they had assessed Skyler's potential multiple times at the public testing center. The awakening orb couldn't make mistakes so many times. He had even secretly used an old artifact, but the results were the same.
Just as his wife mentioned, Riya was one of the five children of the reigning Queen of the human continent.
While there was a government in place, it functioned under the monarchy that had ruled the human lands for centuries.
Several hundred years ago, all lower noble statuses were abolished, leaving only three loyal Duke families and Marquis families.
These families are now the richest in the entire continent, second only to the royal family. The current heads of these families are some of the most powerful Lights, and they act as the six main leaders of the government, overseeing the continent.
All the rules and regulations in the human continent are set by the royal family, and the six noble families implement them.
Riya had left the royal family to avoid the bloody war that started when the Queen asked her five children to fight and prove themselves to determine who, after her, would be the next leader of the throne.
It was then that she met Johnson in his guild as a young Light. They entered many dimensions together to fight monsters and save people, fell in love, and eventually settled down for a normal life.
This was the first time she had thought about contacting her mother, knowing that Skyler had always wanted to be one of the best Lights, just like her daughter. She would do anything for her kids.
Johnson patted her hand.
"Calm down, dear. You are right, but we can't send Skyler to the Royal Castle. It's too dangerous with your siblings vying for the throne. The Queen would love her grandson, but you know her rules: one must protect themselves."
At the same time, Skyler, who had yet to fully close the door to his room: "...."
Their apartment had soundproof walls; it seemed that was why his parents didn't set up a noise-canceling barrier around them, assuming he had returned to his room.
So, all in all, he is the grandson of the current Queen of the Continent? Really?
Damn, why does his life suddenly sound like a plot twist from one of those fiction novels he liked to read?
Is he going to start battling dragons and sipping tea at royal parties next?
Skyler shuddered involuntarily. With his meager 1-star potential, he should better steer clear of royalty, or he knew he would die young, considering he had seen online how his grandmother was a vicious and powerful Light with no heart.
His father continued, but he finally closed his door entirely when he heard Johnson Ironhart's next words.
"...Also, even if we and your mother managed to acquire rare treasures, it wouldn't enhance Skyler potential by more than a few stars. You know treasures can only be effective to a certain extent."
Skyler dropped down beside his door and hid his face under his right arm.
He knew that treasures could only enhance a person's potential to a certain extent... he understood. He just didn't dare to admit it.
But it still stung so badly.
"Well, I already told them not to search for treasures for me, and I won't change my mind. This is my life and my battle."
With a deep breath, he finally opened the gift box his parents had given him. His eyes widened when he saw a blue ring engraved with a hammer nestled inside the box.
"This..."
How could he not recognize it? This was a storage ring—a famous item everywhere!
These rings were created by dwarves from the Dwarven Continent—a race known for their short stature and craftsmanship.
They are crafted using the space element and have a spatial pocket that holds items without adding weight—except for living beings. They come in various sizes, with larger spaces being more expensive.
He had always wanted one, but since they were much pricier than the spatial pouches available everywhere and only those who could wield Evol could use them, his parents never bought him one.
Skyler's face fell again as he remembered that he couldn't use Evol yet. He needed to form a crystal before he could harness it.
"I guess I can't use it yet... let alone find out how much space this little ring has."