Eden was excited.

Receiving was great, but even more when the giver was someone like his godfather-to-be.

Despite Ben being gone for more than a century, Eden was tired of hearing about him. He was unable to count how many times he heard stories about Ben's influence in his family faction.

As a kid growing up hearing all those tales, his expectations couldn't be higher. So as he forced the package open, his hands shook nervously.

The complexity of the seal didn't help him rein his expectations, either.

But the difficulty had forced him to focus on the job, so he ignored the adults staring at him.

As he focused on the layers coming off, he felt his hands going cold.

But not long after, he also felt heat rising, which made him remember one of his cultivation teachers.

Once the energy leaked, the inner layers came off without disruption. So soon after, Eden finally saw the gift hidden inside.

The sight of the enchanted Rapier sent shivers down Eden's spine.

"I named it fortune, after your father."

Eden turned around, surprised. He didn't understand the name but found it weirdly fitting.

"You had more from where that weird Dagger came from. But this time, you modified it openly," Ginn commented.

"It was the first time I worked heartedly with someone else in mind."

"Your projects are often, well, unique."

"I need to consider my limitations."

"Is this really from the same origin as Uncle Pax Dagger?"

"Yes. But the modifications are different." Ginn said.

A few months ago, Ben returned to the Sunset Ruins after walking around freely and confirming the outcome of his plan. He then stayed there while preparing for his comeback.

"What is this?"

Sitting on the floor, Eden tinkered with the Rapier.

He soon removed a Spirit Core from the inside of some spatial compartment.

Seeing the two emerging galaxies-shaped energy patterns, Eden ended up open-mouthed.

Once his astonishment mellowed down, the teenager looked toward his Dad.

"We can make a good technique. It shouldn't be that difficult to extract its potential." Ginn replied to his son.

"You aren't holding back with the gift." He said to Ben after focusing on him again.

"It's better to go all at once than only trickle it slowly. If the kid uses it sparingly, it should supplement him until his strength is appropriate."

"I remember your cultivation felt very similar to those, but you suppressed it?"

"It wasn't much. I was only testing things around since I got the opportunity to."

"You didn't like it?"

"Nope."

"Why?" Eden asked.

"I'm overly sensitive. So I can feel that the core has leverage over my mind. And I don't like that."

"You aren't building Cores, then?"

"Nope. Not worth my time. I'm not that talented on it, either. It's better to stick to my body refinement."

"Eden, is that how you react to a gift?" Ginn poked at his stunned son.

"No!"

The kid placed the sword on top of the broken package. Then, he got up to hug Ben, who had stayed on his knees by his bag.

"Thank you!"

"Well, that's not all, though."

"Don't make the kid have a heart attack." Ginn joked.

"Alright, alright. Enough hugging. Do you want to see the next gift?"

"Yes!" Eden jumped back, eager.

"On the next one, you might feel inclined to share with others, but you must promise that you won't. Do you promise it?"

"Sure!" After looking back at his father's reaction, Eden accepted the condition.

After the kid stepped back, Ben removed a big jar from his bag.

This time, though, Ben didn't store the gift securely. As soon as the glass jar left the bag, they all could see the contents inside: golden nuts.

"Take this." Ben gave the container to Eden.

"Food?"

"A good snack. It should help with your growing up. Since I know your parents will be impatient, that should assist with you not becoming stuck at this age. I don't think that would make you happy, even if that meant pushing your talent to the max."

Eden again looked inquiringly at his father, who nodded in agreement.

The kid then opened the jar and tasted one of the nuts.

"You should use it sparingly since I can't get more. There isn't an excess I can take."

"Mirana can likely refine it further. So why don't you go ask her later?" Ginn recommended.

"That's true! Will I grow up if I eat this?"

"No. But your body should become more responsive. Which allows your father to build a better body-refinement technique for you."

"You really know how to abuse my existence, don't you?" Ginn chuckled.

"How can you be sure dad can really do those things?"

"If he can't, who can?"

After replying, Ben focused on his bag again and extracted the last gift he had prepared.

"Lastly but not least. This one is a gift for both of you."

"Both?" The father and son asked at the same time.

Stepping forward, Ginn took the jar and held on to it, allowing his son to accept the wool bag Ben held.

"Is this a cloth?" Eden asked as soon as he felt the fluffy thing inside.

Unrolling the clothing piece, Eden noticed it was a strange-looking jacket.

Identifying the gift's theme, Ginn laughed loudly.

Eden looked around at his father as if he was crazy.

"What? Can't I be happy? That's called a hoodie. Don't you always ask about ? That's an article of common clothing from there. Surprisingly well-made. You're always with surprises, Ben."

"I've learned a thing or two. Not much, though. But I had time."

"This is even better since he knows about our origin already. He's always nosy about it," Ginn commented.

Curious about the piece, Eden removed his cultivator's overcoat. At his side, Ginn held onto all his kid items, going as far as using his energy for the sword to float.

"How do I look?"

"Just like some annoying teenage from Earth. Clothes do make a person. And it's even enchanted, so it's not only for the looks, either."

"Arrays are my specialty, so I did a thing or two. You should ask Dinna to reinforce it later."

"Is the party done?" Ginn asked.

"Yes. That is as far as my pockets go."

After closing the bag, Ben stood up with them over his shoulder.

"Grandpa Ben, thank you!" Eden jumped into Ben for another hug.

"My bones are old, so use less force."

"So fragile, wow." Ginn joked.

"Well, we should go. Since I don't need to worry about your destiny flow, I can move around freely. Right?" Ben asked while he held the kid like another bag.

"Yep, you're free to come and go. You're always welcome. And you'll soon notice the impact you had. So don't be surprised."

"Did you know? They really like talking about you! They go on and on and on!" Back to his feet, Eden began jumping around.

"Anyway, as far as I can see, you stopped somehow numbing yourself. But it doesn't seem like a good result? Did something fail?" Ginn changed the subject.

"Not exactly failed. This state was never good, to begin with. It creates too much noise. But this was required to get the information I sent back then. Otherwise, there was no use for the assassination."

"I guess you can't keep reading it?"

"Nope. I abused the anchor piece as much as I could. That is why I took that long. It eventually got to a point I couldn't use it anymore. At that point, it crumbled."

"Did you really kill an apex cultivator? Dad couldn't believe it!"

"Was the second anchor at the apex? I didn't check, to be fair. I didn't fight those people. Instead, I just jumped at them like I did when I arrived." Ben replied, looking at Eden.

"The Elders at the Duchy considered the young man at the apex. Although depending on who you ask, it becomes blurry. But he was close to it, anyway." Ginn commented.

"That's surprising since he seemed weak. I mean, my silly plan worked. Back then, I hoped the anchor there was only as strong as the one that came to your war."

"Aunty Joice said that the marks of your battle were incredible!"

"From my runaway? I don't remember much. So, I can't give you details, even if you ask."

"You crippled yourself, and you don't remember?"

"Did he?" Eden looked worriedly at Ben.

"Technically, I was already crippled back then. My cultivation, body, and soul were a mess."

"Yet, looking at you now, it's even worse. Can you even walk around freely?"

"Walking is fine. Well, kid, do you think the risks I took were unfounded?"

"I'm not a kid anymore. I'll be 15 next week."

"Cultivation is so scary. You look barely 10. But what do you think about my choices?"

"Weren't you merely betting on the ?"

"See, even the kid can understand it."

"I'm not a kid!"

"Your face is so punchable at times." Ginn retorted.

"Don't do it. I'm too fragile! Anyway, should we go? I'm looking forward to some comfort. It's been a while since I could sit and enjoy how rich you are."

"Our faction will be moving out soon. You're coming with us, right?"

"Oh? Are you? Sure. Where are you going?"

"We don't know yet," Eden replied, losing his excitement. He forgot, for a moment, how difficult it had been to find a new place.

"That's fine. I'll be sticking with your father for now. And you, don't waste your luck."

"My Mom always says the same!"

"She indeed knows it."

"Let's go back. There are a lot of people who would want a piece of you, too. So, I don't think you'll be able to relax, Ben."

"I mean. If I can avoid your wild anger, I don't care much about the others. I can delay my answers to them."

"Hey! I know your room. So I can take you there!" Eden yelled.

"Do I have a room?" Ben asked, confused.