THE ECLIPSE LEGACY

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the bustling marketplace, Ian Maverick made his way toward "The Silver Anvil," a renowned equipment shop nestled in the heart of the city. The day's events at the Eclipse Association had left him both exhilarated and contemplative, and he now sought to capitalize on his recent gains.

Upon entering the shop, the familiar scent of oiled leather and polished metal greeted him. Behind the counter stood Garrick, the seasoned shop owner known for his shrewd business acumen and discerning eye for valuable artifacts.

"Evening, Garrick," Ian began, approaching the counter with a confident stride.

"Ah, Ian! What brings you in today?" Garrick replied, his gaze sharp and inquisitive.

Reaching into his satchel, Ian produced the Abyss-Touched Core, it's dark surface pulsating with an otherworldly energy. The ambient light seemed to dim in its presence, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls.

Garrick's eyes widened momentarily before he masked his surprise. "An Abyss-Touched Core, eh? Rare find. What are you looking to get for it?"

"Considering its rarity and potential applications, I believe 500 silver pieces is a fair price," Ian stated, his tone measured.

Garrick chuckled softly, shaking his head. "500? For an unrefined core with unknown properties? I can offer you 200, and that's generous."

Recognizing the familiar dance of negotiation, Ian leaned in slightly. "This core isn't just any trinket. Its energy could enhance weaponry or be a catalyst in high-tier alchemical processes. How about 400 silver?"

The shopkeeper stroked his beard thoughtfully. "True, it has potential. But potential doesn't guarantee results. 300 silver, and I'll take the risk off your hands."

After a brief pause, Ian extended his hand. "Deal."

Garrick clasped Ian's hand firmly, sealing the agreement. "Pleasure doing business with you."

With the transaction complete, Ian's attention shifted to the shop's discount corner of a section often overlooked by many due to its assortment of damaged and worn-out equipment. However, for someone with Ian's unique Gift, this area held untapped potential.

As he perused the cluttered shelves, various items caught his eye: a shield with a fractured surface, a dented helmet, and swords with chipped blades. Most patrons purchased these items to salvage usable parts, but Ian saw beyond their current state.

His fingers brushed against the hilt of a broken rapier, its blade snapped midway. Closing his eyes, he envisioned its original form, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.

Continuing his exploration, Ian's gaze was drawn to a peculiar fragment nestled among the debris. It was a piece of an ancient weapon, its design unlike anything he had encountered before. Intricate engravings adorned its surface, and despite its age, it emanated a subtle, almost imperceptible hum of energy.

Intrigued, Ian picked up the fragment, feeling a strange resonance with his Gift. He couldn't identify its origin, but he sensed that with time and research, it could prove invaluable.

Approaching the counter once more, Ian placed the broken rapier and the ancient fragment before Garrick.

"Found these in the discount corner. What are you asking for them?" Ian inquired.

Garrick examined the items briefly. "The rapier? 20 silver. As for this fragment..." He paused, squinting at the artifact. "Honestly, I'm not sure what it is. Make it 10 silver, and it's yours."

Ian nodded, handing over 30 silver pieces. "Fair enough."

As he exited "The Silver Anvil," the weight of the ancient fragment in his pack filled him with anticipation. With his Chrono-Resonance, the broken rapier would soon be restored, but the true mystery lay in uncovering the secrets of the enigmatic artifact he had just acquired.

After the day of re-examination, Ian awaited the results with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The Eclipse Association (EA) had a structured ranking system to evaluate the capabilities of newly awakened Eclipses, ranging from luminshade < penlumin < umbralum < syzlume < coronalight < luminova < eclipsarion.

Each rank considered factors such as the potency of one's Gift, combat proficiency, and potential for growth.

A week later, Ian received an official notification from the EA. Opening the message, he read:

"Dear Mr. Maverick,

Following your recent assessment, we are pleased to inform you that you have been assigned a umbralum rank. This rank reflects your unique Gift, 'Chrono-Resonance,' and its potential applications in both support and combat scenarios. While not primarily offensive, your ability to restore and enhance equipment offers substantial strategic advantages.

We encourage you to continue honing your skills and exploring the full extent of your Gift. With dedication and experience, there is significant potential for advancement within the ranks of the Eclipse community.

Sincerely,

Eclipse Association Evaluation Committee"

Receiving a umbralum rank was a respectable starting point, especially for someone with a non-combat-centric Gift. Usually new awakened receive either luminshade or penlumin rank at most for their first assessment while the outstanding one went straight to syzlume rank.

It acknowledged Ian's potential and provided a solid foundation upon which he could build his future as an Eclipse. Ian was quite satisfied with this result. 

There's gonna be another time to raise his rank in the future. Starting with umbralum does disheartened him at all.