Another Path Taken [Rebirth, Regression, Isekai, System]

Starpass

Clap!

Auren clapped his hands together. "Alright! Now that you've officially joined our team, it's time for your first task!"

Han straightened like a soldier and snapped into a perfect salute. "Sir, yes sir!"

"I see you're ready." Auren grinned. "Then your first mission...!"

Han's eyes lit up with anticipation.

"...is to take care of the Capalunes." Auren pointed toward the herd of creatures grazing nearby. A few of them turned at the sound, fixing Han with a look of pure hostility, as if daring him to come closer.

"...Eh?" Han froze mid-salute.

"Well, we've been staying at this kind lady's house while tracking the Starfiend," Auren said, shrugging. "She's agreed to host Starvanguard agents on local missions, but there's a catch. We help out with chores when we're here. And we've been slacking on brushing and feeding the animals."

He gestured again. "So get to it."

"...Eh?" Han repeated, completely stunned.

"Ahahahahaha!" Erika burst out laughing at the dumbfounded expression on his face. He had clearly expected some grand mission to slay a terrifying Starfiend, only to be saddled with farm work. "Welcome, slave number three! Now that you're the youngest, you better be ready to take on the hardest work and serve your seniors well! Ahahahahaha!"

"Here, dear, you can use this to brush them," an elderly woman suddenly appeared beside him, holding out a large brush with clumps of wool stuck to it.

Startled, Han blinked at her in surprise.

"My, what a good boy. It's rare to see young people this polite and helpful," the old woman said, smiling warmly.

"Right? Isn't Han just the kindest and most righteous person?" Erika said as she approached and elbowed him playfully.

Realizing he couldn't weasel his way out of it, Han sighed and reluctantly accepted the brush. With no other choice, he allowed the old woman to lead him off to begin his new mission of tending to the Capalunes. Erika followed close behind, clearly not done teasing him.

Alwyn and Auren watched the group from a distance. Despite Erika's insistence and her blatant display of dislike, it seemed she was already somewhat taken with Han. Oh well, Auren thought. It might just be her desire to have someone beneath her for once, to not be the lowest-ranked in their little team. Still, it was nice to see the kids getting along.

"You know he's still hiding something," Alwyn said, his gaze fixed on Han, who was timidly trying to brush the wool of a nearby Capalune.

"Uh huh," Auren replied.

"You're not going to dig deeper?"

"Everyone has their secrets, Alwyn," Auren said. "Just like you and Erika have yours."

The two shared an unspoken, understanding look before Auren turned and walked back toward the house. On the way, he turned over his thoughts.

When he had injected his aether into Han, the boy hadn't realized it, but what Auren did was dangerously reckless. It was one thing to use healing Aether Arts, but another entirely to inject one's aether directly into another person. If done carelessly, it could cause unpredictable consequences. Advanced aether users knew how to construct internal barriers to repel foreign aether. Han, however, was completely unaware of this. Despite his ability to fight, he was new to everything. He hadn't resisted at all, allowing Auren full access.

Auren had taken the opportunity to examine Han's soul, and what he found confirmed the boy's claim. Han truly wasn't from this world. Every native soul bore a signature, a hue colored by the aether of this land. But Han's was different. Foreign. Cracked and battered, yet still holding together. The fact he'd survived on his own was a miracle in itself. The soul was damaged, yet slowly, stubbornly, mending itself. That explained the fragmented stories Han gave about his past. No doubt, the poor boy could barely remember anything clearly.