In the familiar Spiritual Domain, where multicolored ribbons of light drifted lazily, Will's warm aura appeared. This time, it seemed to carry a sense of anticipation and profound understanding.

"Greetings, Henry," Will's thought emerged, gentle and calm. "I perceive a clear change in you since our last conversation."

Henry took a deep breath in the Spiritual Domain. The confusion and internal conflict of the past few days had vanished.

"Yes, Sir Will," Henry replied firmly. "I have thought long and hard. About what Laurent told me, about the Sanctuary Enclave's true role in silently maintaining the balance of Tehra, and about what I, with my meager abilities, can do to contribute to that noble mission."

He paused for a moment, as if to reaffirm his choice one last time. "I was once furious, once doubtful, once wanted to abandon this path and live a normal life with the woman I love. But now, after all that has happened, after witnessing the terrifying dangers we face, I understand that there are some battles we cannot choose to stand apart from, and some responsibilities we cannot deny."

He looked directly at Will's aura, his voice ringing out, full of conviction. "I am ready to dedicate myself to the Sanctuary Enclave. I will accept all the challenges, missions, and heavy responsibilities the Enclave entrusts to me. I will walk this path. I believe it is the only way for me to find my purpose and hopefully bring a better future to the world of Tehra."

Will's white aura pulsed gently. It was a silent smile, showing satisfaction, relief, and perhaps a little surprise at the young man's rapid maturity.

"Your decision came sooner than I and the Enclave had predicted, but it is a right and courageous one," Will continued, his voice full of acknowledgment. "We see extraordinary potential in you, not only the power of Mystic Sense or the miracle of the Sanctuary Seal. But also your strong will, a heart that knows right from wrong, and loyalty. These are the most precious qualities of a Sanctuary Enclave member."

Will looked at Henry, his white aura wavering as he considered his next words. Finally, his thought resonated, no longer a verdict but an encouragement. "To contribute effectively to the Enclave, and more importantly, to protect yourself from threats like Beleth, you must understand, unlock, and master your hidden strength." Will turned to the blue light next to him. "Socrost, perhaps you should tell Henry what you discovered during his recent ability examination. About the miraculous change that occurred within his body, a change he may not even be aware of himself."

Socrost's blue aura moved a little closer to Henry, radiating a gentle, pure energy that enveloped the young man's consciousness. Henry felt a strange peace, the reassuring guidance of a wise elder. "Henry," Socrost's voice echoed, calm but weighty, "during your ability examination after the battle in Bonecrack Valley, when you unintentionally came into direct contact with and merged with a small but valuable part of the Primordial Aether from the newly formed Lifestream vein there, I discovered something special, a pivotal change in your energy structure."

Henry trying to focus so as not to miss a single word. Socrost continued, his voice pulling back a curtain on a long-hidden secret. "That pure energy not only healed your wounds and temporarily boosted your strength. It has also rebuilt your energy structure, breaking all potential limits. It has opened a new path that few in the world of Tehra could ever dream of."

Socrost paused for a moment, giving Henry time to process and understand the shocking information that had just been revealed, then continued. "Your potential is no longer limited to Rank 5. You have the potential to reach the Rank 7 Demigod realm if you can unlock two things: first, your unique Mystic Sense ability, and second, the full hidden power of the Sanctuary Seal within you."

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Socrost's words left Henry speechless. It was more shocking than what Laurent had revealed in Iskadra. Rank 7 Demigod? Him? An orphan, an anonymous low-level soldier, a low-ranking investigator who had just struggled to ascend to Rank 3?

And now he had the potential to reach a level of power that only a few dozen people in all of Tehra had ever touched? Beings who were almost gods, who could use their power to change the fate of an entire nation, or even a continent? This was too far-fetched, almost a mockery of his own tragic fate.

He remembered Mythris's power when he faced the Beleth's puppet, and the divine aura of Alfie when he appeared to save Aerion... Could he really become a powerful demigod like them?

"But Sir Socrost," Henry tried to find his voice amidst the shock and confusion. "How can that be? I'm only a Rank 3. The distance was immense, a chasm stretching from the ground to the stars. How can I possibly overcome such a gap?"

Socrost's blue aura wavered, radiating a gentle, reassuring energy. "The distance may be great, Henry," Socrost calmly replied, "but human potential, once unlocked, knows no bounds." He moved closer to Henry, his blue light seeming to shine deep into the young man's soul, trying to convey the bitter truth he had faced and accepted for so many years. "

Henry, you should know that in the Sanctuary Enclave's history of over one hundred thousand years, more than eight hundred members have had Rank 7 potential. The fact that your potential has been unlocked and surpassed its initial state was likely preordained by the Lifestream. The event in Bonecrack Valley was no coincidence."

Will paused, his light seeming to look directly at Henry, with a serious and cautionary tone. "However, the path to the Demigod realm is never a road paved with roses and cheers. You will have to face enemies many times stronger than you, far more complex and insidious conspiracies. And also difficult choices and great sacrifices, greater than anything you have ever experienced." Will's final question echoed in the Spiritual Domain, a verdict of fate. "Are you truly ready for all of that, Henry?"

Henry took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind, which was still reeling from the shocking information. The Rank 7 Demigod potential was a prospect too distant, too grand. But before he could even dream of that future, he had to face a harsh reality, a a tangible, ghostly enemy lurking in the shadows. "Beleth..."

Henry murmured, the name a dark specter, a constant reminder of the imminent danger. "He... he is still the biggest threat to me right now." He looked at the empty space in front of him, his thought filled with helplessness. "Even if I have the potential to reach Rank 7, that's in the distant future. Right now, with my meager Rank 3 strength, I don't have the ability to face his real body directly. Even his puppets are a great challenge for me."

"That is true," Socrost confirmed firmly. His blue light wavered in a solemn nod. "Over the next year, as Mythris told you, you will be absolutely protected from Beleth's direct pursuit within Aerion. That is a precious time for you to focus all your mind and strength on improving yourself, trying to reach Rank 4."

Socrost thought becoming more serious. "Facing and trying to overcome someone like Beleth, who has already reached Rank 6 and may have touched even higher realms, would be too great a challenge, almost hopeless for you at this stage. Your immediate goal, Henry, is to survive at all costs, to find your own way to escape his scrutiny and hunt in Aerion, so as not to endanger your loved ones, your remaining comrades."

The conversation between Henry, Will, and Socrost continued in the Spiritual Domain. They planned how to develop Henry's strength over the next year. More importantly, they discussed how he could safely leave Aerion, escaping Beleth's attention without endangering Sophia or his comrades.

Despite the detailed plans and promises of a future with extraordinary power, the worry in Henry's heart did not lessen, but grew heavier. He looked into the empty space where the multicolored ribbons of light still drifted lazily, and Sophia's image appeared clearly in his mind, gentle and full of love. His heart ached.

"What about Sophia?" he asked, his thought filled with anxiety and pain. "If Beleth can't find me and knows I've left Aerion, he might target her to threaten me. I can't let her be in danger. Is there any way to protect her safely?"

Henry's worry was justified, and it was exactly what Will and Socrost had anticipated for a long time, ever since they decided to interfere with the young man's fate. The path of the chosen one, the path of those who carry extraordinary power and responsibility, is never just about glory and power. It is a path that demands great personal cost, entails loss, and is defined by the cruelest choices that may haunt them for the rest of their lives.

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