“Is that a Death Stone?” Sokram asked, though he already knew the answer.

Death Stones were magical artifacts designed to remotely monitor a person’s health.

Both the stone embedded in the necklace and its paired crystal would turn red if the wearer sustained serious injuries.

If the wearer died, both stones would shatter, transmitting their final memories to the paired crystal.

“Don’t call it that. We from the Central Continent call it Life Stone. Some even call it a Hope Stone,” Miralyn corrected firmly, her expression resolute.

“This will let us know if you need immediate help. And this one has a special enchantment; it can also pinpoint your exact location.” Miralyn's tone left no room for argument.

Sokram could tell she wasn’t asking him to wear it; she was demanding it.

He sighed, feigning exasperation. “All right, thanks for the gift, Minah (Mom).”

He smiled at her warmly before asking, “Do I use mana or vital energy?”

“Chaos Energy, straight from your Core. I’m not taking any chances.”

Seeing Sokram offer no resistance, Miralyn relaxed slightly.

She realized she didn’t need to push him. He was far more mature than she had been when her own mother, Meriande, had given her a similar stone centuries ago.

And back then, she was far older than Sokram is now.

“Sure.” Sokram accepted her instructions, donning the necklace and picking up the green crystal.

Guided by Miralyn, he infused it with his Core’s essence.

The moment he did, it emitted a faint green glow, radiating a soothing aura that exuded vitality.

Miralyn inspected the glow, then glanced at him sternly. “If this even starts turning orange, don’t blame me for ruining your fun.”

“Haha, alright, I promise not to let it go past yellow,” Sokram joked, quickly pulling both his mothers close by the waist.

He embraced them tightly, their concerns melting away in his arms.

Looking up at them with a tender smile, he gave each a light peck on the lips. “I love you with all my heart. Don’t worry too much, I’ll always come back to you.”

Both women were stunned into silence by his sudden display of affection.

Sokram stepped away, leaving the house with a cheerful grin, while his mothers stood rooted in place, their hearts full.

Hilda broke the silence first, looking at Miralyn with a mischievous grin. “I got his first kiss!” she declared, sticking her tongue out playfully.

Miralyn opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, a voice chimed in. “Actually, no. That was me, about five years ago.”

Both mothers turned in unison to see Astrid leaning against the wall, her arms crossed, smirking.

“I’ve been stealing kisses from him every now and then since then,” Astrid added smugly.

“You! That’s not fair!” both women exclaimed, their voices overlapping as the three began bickering.

Meanwhile, Sokram walked towards the Hunters’ Hall, blissfully unaware of the scene he’d left behind.

The Hunters’ Hall was adjacent to the city lord’s small palace.

Eversnow, being a militarized city, had been designed with efficiency in mind.

The layout was compact, ensuring swift responses in emergencies and allowing for rapid evacuation through an intricate underground tunnel system.

Key buildings like the City Hall, Main Hospital, Hunters’ Hall, and Extermination Hall were clustered around the City Lord’s palace and managed by the army.

Private guilds, though regulated by the army, operated autonomously and were only required to meet a minimal yearly quota of tasks.

As Sokram stepped into the Hunters’ Hall, the heavy scent of iron and sweat clung to the air, mingling with the faint metallic tang of blood from freshly returned warriors.

The rhythmic clanking of armor echoed against the stone walls, while tense murmurs filled the room as squads prepared for missions.

From the corner, he spotted seasoned veterans sharpening their blades and younger recruits anxiously awaiting assignments.

While he couldn’t sense their exact Levels of Existence, no one below Perfect Existence could detect it with precision, and only those at least a level below theirs.

Yet, he knew none of them had surpassed the Reformed stage. Those who did would either hold high-ranking military positions or lead prominent guilds.

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Inside, the hall was equally lively, with soldiers and adventurers rushing to complete assignments.

Sokram wasn’t surprised; with rumors of war brewing on Norwinter’s borders, the army had intensified its vigilance.

Every report of unusual activity in the region was treated as a potential enemy maneuver.

Approaching the reception desk, Sokram found a soldier working at it, a feline-kin with brown hair, sharp yellow ears, and a swishing tail.

“Good morning,” Sokram greeted politely, handing over a sealed letter. “I was told to present myself for registration and to meet my team.”

The soldier took the letter, reading aloud absentmindedly, “Sokram di Dracony vid Dracnakrid… Where have I heard that name before?”

His brows furrowed as he looked at Sokram, then muttered, “Wait here while I check something.”

The soldier rummaged through a pile of documents, eventually pulling out a file.

As he read its contents, his frown deepened. “This can’t be right. Is this a prank?”

Looking toward a nearby stand, he called out, “Aruga! I told you these jokes aren’t funny anymore!”

The lion-kin at the stand gave him a puzzled look.

“Really?” the soldier insisted, waving the document. “Am I supposed to believe this says a thirteen-year-old is already Awakened?”

Aruga, visibly annoyed, shot back, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Those files came straight from the City Lord’s office. Just do your job.”

Turning back to Sokram, the soldier asked skeptically, “Kid, how old are you?”

“I’m thirteen,” Sokram replied calmly, though he inwardly sighed, anticipating a drawn-out ordeal.

The soldier groaned. “Who put you up to this? Captain Layla? Anibal? I’m not falling for it again!”

Sokram remained patient, explaining, “You recognized my name, right? I broke the academy records for the youngest to reach both Intermediate and Advanced levels in the academy. I Awakened recently and was instructed to report here. If you don’t believe me, verify it with the City Lord.”

The soldier massaged his temples. “You’re good, kid, I’ll give you that. But I’m not risking another scolding!”

Fortunately, Sokram’s foresightful City Lord had anticipated this reaction and sent someone to intervene.

A sharp, commanding voice echoed from behind him, cutting through the bustling noise of the Hunters’ Hall.

Sokram turned to see Karini, her armor gleaming faintly under the sunrise light from the windows.

“You’re earlier than expected, young dragon.” Her tone was much more respectful than during their first meeting.

“You know this kid, Lieutenant?” the soldier asked, visibly relieved.

Karini nodded. “Yes. As per his family’s request, we kept his achievement quiet. But this young dragon here now holds the record for the youngest Awakened, surpassing my eldest son by four years.”

The soldier stared at Sokram in disbelief.

Sokram sighed inwardly.

The reach of his family’s influence in the city was a problem he should’ve accounted for.

It seemed there was no escaping their watchful eyes, no matter where he went. He wasn’t angry at the soldier for being skeptical, after all, awakening at such a young age was an epic occurrence.

But it slightly irked him to know that his family was still trying to shield and hide him from the world.

Their overprotectiveness was interfering with his goals.

If they were going to these lengths, he could only ensure that his accomplishments would be so significant that no amount of effort could obscure them.

Karini’s tone turned sharp. “This isn’t a test. Compose yourself, soldier.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the soldier replied, finally taking Sokram’s registration seriously.

The soldier processed Sokram’s details and handed him an identification token. Sokram had to drop a drop of his blood on the token and infuse it with his mana or spirit essence.

As he did so, the soldier excused himself, explaining that Sokram’s blood and mana had to be recorded by the city’s defensive wards.

Karini handed Sokram another letter, this one directly from the City Lord. It assigned him to a team of her choosing, one led by the son of her second-in-command.

Sokram was relieved to learn it was one of the city’s best hunting teams, as being placed with Tier 1 recruits would have been a waste of his time.

Still, something about Karini's demeanor was unsettling him.

She was treating him with a level of respect so formal that it drew attention from everyone nearby.

Karini's reputation for being direct and commanding made her current behavior all the more noticeable.

“Auntie, you’re still my elder. You don’t have to act like this. Please, relax a little. I’m just a recruit, and you’re treating me like I’m a Grand General,” Sokram said in a low voice, using Elemental Manipulation to seal the air around them so none of the nearby ferals could overhear.

Karini sighed, looking him in the eye. “You’re right. I’m ashamed. I showed you an unsightly side of me the other day. I shouldn’t have underestimated you.”

“Well, if it counts for anything, I was counting on that,” Sokram replied matter-of-factly, his tone neutral. “Besides, the element of surprise was on my side; only Master Leona and my grandma knew what I was capable of.”

Karini nodded thoughtfully. “True, and who would’ve guessed? But as a Wolf...”

Sokram cut her off with a grin. “As a woman, my mom’s childhood friend, and my Auntie, you only saw me as a kid. That wasn’t a complete mistake.”

His grin widened mischievously. “It’s my merit for looking too young and handsome to be a threat. But you know, Nerium looks harmless too, yet one petal is enough to kill a Tier 10 Reformed.”

Karini frowned, about to interject, but Sokram leaned in slightly, his tone turning teasingly provocative. “But, Auntie, if you keep acting like this around me, my draconic nature might awaken. I’d hate to steal you away from your husband… But having a submissive older woman by my side when I come of age? That’s a tempting thought.”

He met her gaze with a playful grin, fully aware of the boldness behind his words.

Sokram felt at ease teasing Karini.

Among the wolf-kin, sympathy for the defeated was viewed as disrespectful. Yet, mockery was a sign of camaraderie and strength.

They believed that anger, stoked by a sharp tongue, could spark resilience and fuel a drive for power far more effectively than wallowing in self-pity.

And true to that, Karini grinned murderously while her tail wagged excitedly. “Haha, you’re really Hilda’s son. Only someone as bold as her son would dare call me, me, Karini, leader of the White Wolf Squad, Decorated Lieutenant of Norwinter’s army, a submissive older woman.”

But then, to Sokram's surprise, Karini leaned forward, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck.

Her sudden proximity, combined with the pressure of her formidable presence, made his heart skip, a reaction that, knowing her so well, he could never expect.

She pressed herself closer, her mouth near his ear, her ample bosom pressing tightly against his chest, her voice a low, sultry whisper.

“When you come of age… Well, if you’re this handsome and strong already, perhaps this Auntie will have a special gift for you.”

Pulling away just as suddenly, Karini straightened, her expression neutral but her grin faintly teasing.

She turned to the soldier, who returned just in time to witness the scene and had been watching curiously from the sidelines.

Dismissing him from their moment, she said, “I’m done here. Lead this whelp to his team once his registration is finished.”

Karini gave Sokram a final wink before striding away confidently, the wagging of her tail matching the swing of her hips seductively.

Sokram stood there, momentarily flustered.

Despite all his previous timeline's wisdom, the unexpected boldness of her teasing managed to leave him, an ancient being, blushing.