Thanks for reposting the manuscript. I noticed this is the same chapter you shared previously. Since you asked to return to our normal workflow, I'll treat this exactly as before and provide only the edited chapter.
One note before the chapter itself: I am keeping one of the adjustments you made in previous chapters—Nicos now has grey eyes after his transformation, whereas Tabitha's transformed eyes return to silver. In this manuscript, Nicos is described once as having ocean blue irises, which contradicts the previous chapter, so I've kept it as grey to maintain continuity.
The Spirit Affirmation Ceremony could be performed as early as the age of twelve and no later than fifteen. Completing the ceremony at the age of twelve and successfully gaining entrance into the Spirit Realm was regarded as a testament to one's talent and potential. It signified that, given sufficient resources and proper guidance, such an individual possessed the aptitude to climb to remarkable heights, provided no unforeseen calamity befell them.
That, however, did not mean those who completed their Spirit Affirmation at a later age lacked potential or were destined to remain weak. Rather, it meant that every step of their journey would demand greater effort and perseverance.
For example, if a genius who completed Spirit Affirmation at twelve required only three months to advance to Tier 1, someone who affirmed at fourteen might require six months, while another who completed the ceremony at fifteen could need an entire year to achieve the same breakthrough. Fortunately, rare elixirs, heavenly treasures, and fortunate encounters could shorten this process considerably.
Another advantage of completing Spirit Affirmation at an early age was that it coincided with the most receptive period for establishing a connection with the Spirit Realm, allowing one's Faith Power to develop more naturally.
During Nicos' own Spirit Affirmation years, disaster had struck.
When it was discovered that his Spirit-Root had begun to decay, he was unable to complete his Spirit Affirmation at the age of twelve. Over the next three years, countless resources, specialists, and healers were mobilized in an attempt to restore his Spirit-Root, yet every effort ended in failure.
His fifteenth birthday should have marked the final opportunity to complete the ceremony.
Instead...
It became the day the entire family was banished to the Forgotten Region.
That single event had not only sealed his own fate—it had nearly condemned Tabitha's as well.
Nicos was three years older than his sister. By the time he turned fifteen, Tabitha had just reached the ideal age for her own Spirit Affirmation Ceremony. Had they remained in Silversky Base, she would have entered the Spirit Realm that very year.
Instead, exile robbed her of that chance.
Three years had passed since then.
Fortunately, she still remained within the acceptable age limit. Although she had missed the optimal period, completing the ceremony now was still infinitely better than Nicos' own situation. At eighteen years old, he had already surpassed the age limit entirely.
Moreover, Tabitha possessed exceptional talent. If she could complete her Spirit Affirmation now, her future would remain incredibly bright.
No one knew what changes were occurring within Tabitha's body.
Only she could feel the transformation taking place.
Outwardly, however, the changes were impossible to miss.
Her skin began to peel away in delicate layers, much like the dry scales shed by a serpent, revealing flawless skin beneath—smooth, radiant, and as tender as that of a newborn.
The members of the Silvermoon Family had always been recognized by their distinctive grey hair.
Although their family name contained the word Silver, countless generations of diluted bloodline had caused its original traits to fade until only traces remained.
Yet as everyone watched the transformation unfolding before them, it became obvious that the Spirit Water and the Sacred Seeds had awakened something buried deep within Tabitha's bloodline.
Unlike Nicos, whose transformation had completely diverged from the Silvermoon lineage by leaving him with pure white hair and grey eyes, Tabitha's changes refined rather than altered her heritage.
Her ordinary grey hair gradually shimmered before turning into lustrous silver, cascading elegantly down to her waist like flowing moonlight. Combined with her newly purified complexion, she looked almost ethereal.
She seemed less like an ordinary girl...
...and more like a princess born beneath the moon itself.
While everyone's attention remained fixed on Tabitha, the little white fox resting peacefully on Nicos' lap slowly opened its eyes.
It stared at Tabitha curiously.
Then something inside it stirred.
Drawn by an instinct it could not understand, the little fox climbed down from Nicos and slowly approached her.
Its bright eyes fixed not upon Tabitha herself...
...but upon the space between her eyebrows.
The tiny star-shaped mark upon the fox's glabella suddenly shone brilliantly.
A slender stream of silver light connected the fox and Tabitha.
The room became deathly quiet.
Moments later, the light faded.
When it disappeared, the star-shaped mark on the fox had transformed into a delicate crescent moon.
An identical crescent moon quietly appeared upon Tabitha's glabella before gradually fading beneath her skin.
No one understood what they had just witnessed.
Tabitha slowly opened her eyes.
For a fleeting instant, her irises became completely black.
They resembled endless voids capable of swallowing light itself, causing everyone who looked into them to instinctively lose themselves.
The phenomenon lasted for only a heartbeat.
Then, as though nothing had happened, the darkness vanished.
Her eyes settled into a brilliant silver that perfectly matched her flowing hair.
Chloe's expression changed almost imperceptibly.
Shock.
Recognition.
Disbelief.
All three emotions flashed across her face before disappearing just as quickly.
No one else noticed.
Completely unaware of the disturbance she had caused, Tabitha burst into laughter before scooping the little fox into her arms.
"I knew we were going to be friends the moment I saw you."
She rubbed the fox affectionately against her cheek.
"Don't worry. This beautiful lady will take very good care of you. You've definitely found the best owner you could ask for."
The little fox merely sighed inwardly before settling comfortably within her embrace.
Who asked it to resonate with her in the first place?
"I think I understand now," Tabitha said excitedly as she looked toward Nicos and Chloe.
"There's no restriction between my Spirit Being and the Spirit Realm anymore."
Chloe smiled gently.
"That's wonderful."
She then glanced at the flakes of skin scattered across the floor.
"But before anything else, go clean yourself up and change your clothes while we wait for Alfonso and Nakita."
Only then did Tabitha notice her condition.
She stared at herself before letting out an exaggerated gasp.
"Oops! Since when did I become a snake?"
Without another word, she hurried into the inner room.
Several minutes later, she emerged wearing the same faded clothes she had entered with.
Yet even those worn garments could no longer conceal her beauty.
Her appearance had become noticeably more refined.
Even Nicos found himself staring in surprise.
Barnabas gave a low whistle.
Tabitha placed both hands on her hips proudly.
"This young lady has become far too beautiful to be seen standing beside you two. You'll only lower my standards."
Barnabas rolled his eyes.
"Don't flatter yourself too much."
He pointed toward Nicos.
"You're not even half as beautiful as Brother Nicos. What exactly are you so proud of?"
"Bloke Head can only compete with me if he suddenly becomes a girl."
She lifted her chin smugly.
"Since that's impossible, I'm obviously the most beautiful person here."
Barnabas snorted.
"A beautiful girl?"
He gestured toward Chloe.
"We already have a beautiful woman here—the mother of beauty herself. Compared to Mother, you're still far behind."
Before Tabitha could launch another counterattack—
"Enough."
Chloe rubbed her temples.
"You two are giving me a headache."
She sighed helplessly.
"I swear you must have owed each other something in your previous lives. Otherwise, I cannot understand why you never miss an opportunity to argue."
Tabitha pouted before dropping into her seat, glaring at Barnabas with eyes that practically spat fire.
Barnabas merely grinned.
Having no desire to become collateral damage, Nicos quietly shifted his attention toward Alfonso and Nakita.
While waiting for the two men to complete their transformations, Tabitha remained busy cuddling the little fox.
Unfortunately...
She also began trying to give it a name.
The list grew stranger with every suggestion.
After enduring it for several minutes, Barnabas could bear it no longer.
"Argh!"
He clutched his head dramatically.
"Your naming sense is absolutely terrible!"
"Shut up, bullock!"
Tabitha snapped, attempting to hide her embarrassment beneath her usual aggression.
Barnabas laughed.
"You've spent your whole life giving everyone bizarre nicknames. Now you're discovering that giving your own Spirit Beast a proper name is somehow impossible."
His grin widened.
"I never thought I'd live long enough to witness one of your embarrassing moments."
Before Tabitha could retaliate—
"Quiet."
Chloe's tone was noticeably colder this time.
"If either of you says one more word, I'll personally send both of you outside to make this room quieter."
The siblings immediately straightened.
"...Yes, Mother."
Although Tabitha continued mumbling increasingly ridiculous names under her breath, no one paid her any attention.
At last...
The room became peaceful once again.
Not long afterward, Alfonso became the next person to complete his transformation.
Unlike Nicos and Tabitha, no visible physical changes occurred.
Nevertheless, everyone could sense that something profound had changed within him.
Moments later, Nakita completed his transformation as well.
A smile spread across Alfonso's face.
"I can release my Spirit Essence again without any resistance."
He clenched his fist excitedly.
"And more importantly..."
"I can enter the Spirit Realm."
Nakita nodded immediately.
"I can feel it too."
Relief washed over Chloe's face.
"That's wonderful."
"With access to the Spirit Realm restored, we finally have a chance to change the fate of the Forgotten Region."
After carefully examining himself, Nakita frowned slightly.
"Something else feels different."
Everyone looked toward him.
"My strength hasn't decreased, and my abilities remain exactly the same."
He paused thoughtfully.
"But my connection with the Spirit Realm..."
"...feels completely new."
"It's almost as though I'm about to enter it for the very first time."
Alfonso's eyes widened.
"I thought I was the only one."
He nodded slowly.
"I feel exactly the same."
Chloe considered their words before speaking.
"That may actually be a blessing."
Both men turned toward her.
"If your previous connection has been erased, then your identities within the Spirit Realm have likely been erased as well."
She looked toward the dark sky outside.
"The Forgotten Region cannot truly be considered part of the Human World."
"It exists as an isolated land, separated from both worlds."
"If entry into the Spirit Realm from here is treated as though it originates from an entirely different world..."
"...then the Spirit Realm itself may recognize you as completely new entrants."
Alfonso smiled.
"That works in our favor."
"It allows us to disappear from the eyes of those watching us."
He nodded thoughtfully.
"No one would ever imagine that people exiled to the Forgotten Region could find another path into the Spirit Realm."
"That misconception will become our greatest shield."
"When are we going?" Tabitha suddenly asked, her silver eyes sparkling.
No one needed to ask what she was thinking.
To her...
The Spirit Realm already sounded like the greatest adventure imaginable.
Nakita chuckled.
"We should enter together."
He smiled warmly.
"My daughter is already established inside the Spirit Realm."
"Once I contact her, she can help us settle in."
"Wonderful!"
Tabitha clenched her fists excitedly.
"I can't wait to storm the Spirit Realm and let everyone witness the brilliance of this young and beautiful lady!"
Barnabas couldn't resist.
"Be careful."
He smirked.
"The Spirit Realm might end up storming you instead."
Tabitha immediately rounded on him.
"Will it kill you to stop provoking me for just one day?"
Barnabas simply shrugged.
That only made her even angrier.
Chloe ignored their bickering.
Instead, she quietly looked around at everyone gathered inside the modest bungalow.
For the first time in years...
She felt peace.
Deep within her heart, she had always believed this day would come.
The Holy One never abandoned His people.
His ways often seemed confusing.
His plans rarely aligned with human understanding.
Yet every trial had its appointed end.
She looked at Nicos.
For six long years, she had watched him carry a burden no child should bear.
She knew he blamed himself for everything.
For his family's exile.
For Tabitha's delayed Spirit Affirmation.
For the suffering they had all endured.
Yet she also knew something he did not.
Had she not made that decision all those years ago...
They might never have escaped the invisible chains that truly bound them.
Now...
Those chains had finally begun to break.
All that remained was patience.
Time.
And the courage to seize the opportunity that destiny had placed before them.
A warm smile blossomed across her face.
Soar higher...
Gias.
My little phoenix.