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For the first time in his life, he stood outside the walls that had protected him, sheltered him-trapped him.
His gaze rested on the castle, its proud stone walls shining in the morning light. It was his home, the place where he had always been told he belonged. But... was it truly where he was supposed to be?
He swallowed hard, holding tight to the straps of his bag.
"Am I doing the right thing?" he breathed to himself.
"Would my parents be angry?"
"Would Lilith understand?"
Doubt crept in, but Nathan pushed himself to breathe deeply. The air outside was not the same-free. It was scented with fresh earth and the light scent of blooming flowers. It wasn't oppressive like the castle corridors. It wasn't cold and formal like the throne room.
It was open. Vast.
He drew in another breath, allowing it to settle in his chest, to center him. "No, I can't be slow. This is something that I must do."
He stepped away from the castle, propelling himself ahead. The road of dirt wound on before him, filled with warm sunlight, deeper into the unknown. The cold morning air wrapped around him, with the sound of rustling leaves and the distant calls of birds.
Nathan's footsteps slowed as he gazed about, his youth-wide eyes widening with wonder at the loveliness around him.
Birds darted between the high trees, their feathers glinting like small flashes of color in the sunlight. A herd of deer grazed along the meadow, their silent steps tranquil and unaffected by his intrusion. Rabbits darted between the high grass, their little ears twitching as they disappeared into the underbrush.
Nathan couldn't help but grin. He had never actually seen these animals close-up before-not like this.
He bent down, the tips of his fingers stroking the delicate petals of a wildflower. A tiny butterfly, its wings like shimmered glass, landing on the tip of the flower, its fine body untroubled by the cares of the world.
And this is what it's like-to be outside, to look out at the world beyond the castle.
He had heard about it from his story books, tales from the knights coming back from far journeys. But words could never describe the sensation of being here, drawing breaths of fresh air, watching life flow freely.
His gaze tracked the horizon, where the ground fell away, showing him the far-off village of Atlon. Smoke swirled from chimneys, and small people moved along the streets. He could hear distant voices borne on the wind-laughter, talk, and the sounds of a world that he had ever known was just out of his grasp.
Nathan sit ahead, sitting a huge boulder on the crest of the hill. He sat down, allowing the wind to wash his face, flowing his hair. The wind was filled with the smell of new grass and gentle breeze of the earth, embracing him in a gentle calm.
For the first time in many months, he felt peaceful.
"Is this what freedom feels like?" he wondered.
He shut his eyes for a moment, letting the wind caress his skin.
"So.....What do I do now?"
That was the question that swirled around in his heart. He had escaped the castle, but now what? He had always had someone telling him what to do, where to go. But now, he had the decision.
"What do I do first? How do I start uncovering my strength?"
The idea gave a weird shiver down his spine-fear, excitement, doubt. He didn't know. But he did know one thing that he couldn't let anything stop him now.
Nathan stood up again, having one final look at the serene meadow before he headed for the steep hill that descended into the village.
The way was uneven, covered with wildflowers that flowed in the breeze. With each step, the disturbance caused a ripple through the field. Butterflies fluttered, their wings like discarded petals in the wind. The rabbits that were sleeping nearby snuffed and quickly scared away, vanishing into the tall grass.
Nathan observed them disappear, a short smile on his lips. Even the tiniest of creatures understood when to flee toward something new.
Letting a deep breath, he began down the hill, each step drawing him nearer to Atlon-nearer to a world full of possibilities.
Nathan finally walked down the hill, his little body tired from the long walk. His legs hurt a little, but he embraced the sensation-it was evidence that he had traveled this far by himself. The soft breeze chilled his warm skin, and he breathed in deeply, filling his lungs with the strange but vibrant smell of the village.
As he stepped out onto Atlon's stone roads, his eyes roamed to the bustling streets. The village was not like the smooth halls of the castle, where every sound was controlled and measured. The village pulsed with a vitality he had never experienced before. Blacksmiths hammered away at metal, their heavy arms wielding great hammers as sparks erupted into the air. Merchants shouted out to the travelers, holding out their wares-fresh fruit, hand-forged swords, glinting bits of armor.
Kids played in the streets, wooden swords ringing out as they acted out being warriors. Their giggles filled the air, untainted by responsibility. Others brandished axes too big for their little hands, but they used them with impressive training.
Nathan slowed, observing a group of young lads play a game of simulated combat. They charged with such intensity, their faces focus in concentration. Even the children here were learning to fight. It was so different from the formal lessons he had learned in the castle. There were no instructors adjusting their stance or positions, no rules of movement. But here, learning the hard and real way-untamed.
His eyes wandered towards a group of small children, all standing in close circle to a tall man with an teaching demeanor. The man, who wore a black tunic with a leather belt cinched around his waist, stood before a wooden board, writing lessons on it with a piece of chalk.
Nathan walk nearer to the crowd to engaged.
The man's voice was low and controlled as he spoke to the children.
"A warrior's power is not based on size or age," he explained, knocking the board. "It is based on discipline, strategy, and learning how to use your power."
Nathan glanced over at the unusual symbols scribbled on the board-three individual markings, each a different configuration of energy. He scrunched up his brows, engaged.
The teacher whose name Vadon had heard as Sir Vad addressed the group. "All of you have a special strength, but true power is not limited. You need to learn to control it, to understand it, and to master it. And now, who wants to discover what their natural talent is?"
The children there grumbled in anticipation, looking at each other. But Nathan kept quiet, his heart racing.
Sir Vad keen his eyes and swept over the group before he pointed to three students. "Step forward."
A broad-shouldered boy, a nervous but determined-eyed girl, and a little child who couldn't have been more than Nathan's age stepped forward. They stood in a line in front of Sir Vad, eagerness dancing in their eyes.
Nathan held his breath as the instructor extended his hands, a faint glow emitting from his fingertips. The air around them thickened with energy, and the students' eyes widened as streams of light flowed toward them.
The first boy clenched his fists as his entire body shuddered. A surge of golden energy wrapped around his arms, and his muscles flexed involuntarily. The energy pulsed, radiating raw physical strength.
Sir Vad nodded in approval. "You have the strength affinity. A warrior's body that has strong and powerful ability. Come and try your power."
The boy looked uncertain before advancing toward a huge piece of metal set beside them. It was much too heavy for a normal child, but the power still circulated around his limbs. Bending down, he took a deep breath, holding the edge of the metal.
With a grunt, he raised-slowly at first, then with an astonishing ease. The audience gasped as the metal entirely left the ground. Nathan's jaw fell. "He's just a kid, but. he lifted that?" He said.
Sir Vad applauded his hands together. "Good. Strength without control is reckless. Now, try that power into a strike."
The boy nodded, lowering the metal and retreating. He stood his ground, his little fists clenched. Energy burst around him once more as he lunged forward-his hand cutting cleanly through the metal with a deafening crash. The earth beneath the impact shuddered ever so slightly, dust throwing out of the shattered wreckage.
Gasps and cheers rose from the children. Nathan stood there, his mind raising. "So this is what training is like in Atlon."
Sir Vad turned to the second student-a girl. He moved forward, letting a different energy flow towards her. Hers was not like the golden light of the first student, but shimmered in hues of pink, encircling her hands like fine threads.
The girl's breath caught as a soft light enveloped her eyes. "This... feels strange," she whispered.
Sir Vad's tone was soothing but unyielding. "Psychic affinity. A Mind power. But don't be afraid of it-try master it."
She paused, then nodded. "So, What do I do teacher?"
He pointed a large rock lying at a distance. "That large boulder and pick it up. Not with your hands, but with your mind."
The girl took a deep breath. The pink light in her eyes grew stronger, and gradually, the stone began to shake. Nathan gazed in wonder as it rose from the ground, suspended in mid-air.
Some of the children gasped as they looked on at the suspended rock in wide-eyed amazement. The girl raised her hands, and the stone followed, responding to her movement as if it didn't weigh anything. And with a swift flip of her wrist, she threw it soaring across the river there, where it splashed heavily into the water.
Applause burst forth once more, and the girl grinned incredibly, but now her emotion substituting for excitement.
Sir Vad grinned. "Mind over matter. So that is your power."
Nathan couldn't look away. These were little children like him, but they could do such amazing things.
And then, for the first time, he allowed a thought to form in his mind-a one he hadn't been brave enough to ask before.
"What about me?"
"Would he possess a power? A strength of his own?"
"Would he be able to walk among warriors like these?"
His fists curled into the strap of his bag as he gulped.
He didn't know the answer yet.
But he was going to discover it.
As the group of kids burst into applause, Nathan stayed still, observing how the boy dropped his wooden sword, still stunned at what he had accomplished. His speed was totally incredible that he straightly sliced the dummy in a blink of an eye, but the feeling of power hung in the air.
The instructor, Sir Vad, snapped his fingers together, and the students turned to him.
"Well done, all of you. This is merely the start. With proper training, your strengths will become a part of you." He strode forward, his gaze scanning the youthful faces before him. "Do not forget, power does not create a warrior. It is from discipline, wisdom, and knowledge that create a true warrior."
Nathan's fingers spasmed as he took in the words. Discipline... wisdom... understanding... His mind cycled them, but something within him felt removed from them. Unlike the other kids, he wasn't here to learn magic or try out his skills. He wasn't even certain what he was looking for.
The lesson went on, and some students raised their hands eagerly, their eyes aglow with curiosity.
A messy-haired brown boy inquired, "Sir Vad! If we practice plenty of times, can we make use of three abilities simultaneously?"
Sir Vad smiled but shook his head. "That is an upper level, one that requires years of mastery. Most warriors are one-ability warriors. Attempting to master three simultaneously without proper foundation is like attempting to use three magic powers when one does not even know how to use the two."
The students murmured among themselves, some of them nodding in comprehension while others appeared disappointed.
A girl with shining golden eyes asked, "Sir! What if a person has no magic at all? Does that mean that they can never be strong?"
Nathan's chest tightened.
Sir Vad's face became more serious. "If you lack a natural affinity for these elements, do not worry. Strength does not lie only in magic. Some of the Atlon's finest warriors fought with nothing but their own fists, their own determination."
Nathan's breath caught.
No magic. No gift from the gods. Just pure strength and will.
For the first time since he had arrived, he felt the need to say something.
He edged his way slowly through the cluster of children, moving toward the teacher, who had started to show a correct stance for fighting. Nathan stood silently at first, biding his time.
Then, speaking in a firm voice, he asked, "Sir... can one be strong without magic?"
Sir Vad halted in his action, lowering his arm. His piercing gaze met Nathan's, examining him intently. The other kids turned to see, some out of curiosity, others in wonder that someone as little had said anything.
A moment of silence passed before the teacher's lips curved into a thin smile. "Ah... that is something only a real warrior would ask."
Nathan blinked. He had not been prepared for that reply.
Sir Vad turned to face him completely, his arms crossed over his chest. "Tell me, young one. Why do you ask?"
Nathan hesitated. How do you say it? That sense in his mind, the one that had caused him to slip out of the castle, the one that had caused him to sit still while others displayed their abilities, the one that caused him to question whether he was destined for something. other.
"I... I don't have magic," he admitted quietly. "But I want to be strong. I want to fight... even if I don't have powers like them." He nodded toward the other students, who still had remnants of energy glowing in their hands.
There was another murmur among the children. Some gazed at Nathan with wide eyes, and others whispered to each other. A boy next to him grumbled, "No magic? So how will he fight?"
Sir Vad remained silent for a moment, then nodded in comprehension. "Strength exists in various forms. Magic is difficult but one avenue. There is another... one that demands even more devotion." He took a step forward, putting a firm hand on Nathan's shoulder. "The way of the warrior. Has no shortcuts. No magical abilities. Just training, endurance, and an unbreakable will."
Nathan swallowed hard, his heart thudding against his ribcage. "Then... may I learn it?"
The teacher's eyes did not flinch. "Depends if you can carry it all the time."
Nathan's hands balled into fists. "On what?"
Sir Vad leaned slightly down to his height, his eyes keen but with something else behind them-respect, maybe. "On whether you can carry it. The path you want is not simple. It will shatter you before it makes you strong."
Nathan did not hesitate. "Oh..... But I want to try."
For an instant, there was only the breeze, bearing the distant murmur of the village. Then Sir Vad rose, nodding. "Then come. Let us discover what power is in you."
Nathan walked behind him, sensing, for the first time, that he had actually made a true step toward something that was his own.
Something other than magic.
Something that belonged to him.
Nathan felt the pressure of their gaze bearing down upon him. The hushed words, the murmurs and the mocking stares that it all hung around him like a silent aura, waiting for him to slip.
And still, he stood firm.
His fingers gripped tightly around the wooden sword at his side, the wood's grain knowing beneath his hold. It wasn't metallic texture or finely made blade. It wasn't one that was enchanted or made of steel like those in the blacksmith's store.
But it was his own. And for some reason, that was enough.
The group of student who had been mocking him no longer even attempted to keep their voices down.
A boy with sharp features stood with his arms crossed, a smirk from his face. "Tch, this is ridiculous. He really believes he's special just because he doesn't have magic?"
"He really believes he can do something?" another of them mocked.
A group of older girls stood whispering amongst themselves, snickering. "What's he gonna do? Swing that stick and expect the wind to assist him?"
"Let's just see this. This is going to be funny," another sneered.
"With a wooden sword? Against that thing?" He pointed at the boulder. "He's going to brake his wrists before he even put a scratch on it."
And more murmurs came from the students.
But Nathan just ignored them.
Instead, he approached Sir Vad, who had stood a couple of steps behind, arms crossed, waiting. The teacher's eyes were indeterminate-not jeering, not scornful, just observing.
Nathan took a slow breath, then exhaled.
Sir Vad studied him carefully. "Alright," he said, voice even. "You claim to have a talent of your own. Then prove it."
Nathan ignored them, but deep inside, he could feel the familiar sting. He had heard these kinds of words before-back at the castle, from his father, from the knights, from servants who thought he didn't notice their whispers.
"A prince without magic? What a shame."
"He will never be as powerful as his ancestors. "
"Perhaps it's better if he just stay hidden in the castle."
Nathan balled up his jaw. 'No... not this time.' Nathan nodded once.
The student mocking didn't count.
The murmurs didn't count.
This moment-this was his own.
He changed stance, stepping one foot behind the other, his body positioning itself along the boulder. The wooden sword was heavier now, but not because of its weight. It was tension-something deep within him moving, ready to be released.
Sir Vad's keen eyes narrowed ever so slightly. He didn't know why, but something in Nathan's stance shifted in that moment.
The rest of the students kept talking, but their words were background noises.
Nathan raised the wooden sword.
Then-
He moved quickly.
Then the blade sliced through the boulder on one stroke and smooth motion enters.
And, for the very first time, something occurred.
A radiant blue essence followed behind the blade when it cut directly. It lasted only a fleeting moment, was as silent as a ghost's whisper-but unmistakable.
The air seemed to vibrate because the slash met.
Nathan released a breath, his hold firm as he carefully lowered the sword back down. He stepped back, then with an absolute happened-he sheathed it.
One sharp click sounded in the empty training ground when he sheated his sword from his back.
And then- *CRACK* emerges from the boulder.
A fine, jagged line was formed straightly the middle of the boulder.
A second later-
The whole boulder was shattered into pieces.
The exploding sound was deafening and the pieces of stone fell in dust, the impact shockwaves rippling outward. There was a burst of wind that picked up a pieces of debris, scattering pebbles on the ground.
And silence occured.
A complete silence.
All of the students remained still, staring in shock with their eyes wide open.
Some had been in the middle of a sentence, their words cut as their jaws remained nothing. Others had been smirking mere moments before but now appeared as if their whole conception of reality had been turned upside down.
The bullies-the ones who had mocked him-were the most disbelief of all.
"Whaaaat.....He..." one of them attempted to say, but the words are hard to say .
"...He just-"
"That's not possible," another breathed, his face white.
"Tch...It's just a trick," one said hastily, shaking his head. "There's no way he could do that again."
"He used magic," someone persisted.
"He must have used magic."
But deep within them, they all knew the truth.
Nathan hadn't used magic. He hadn't cast a spell, hadn't chanted incantations, hadn't called an elemental force.
He just swung his sword. And yet, the result had been impossible.
Nathan stayed still, his face not an inch easier to read. But within him, his heart raced-not in terror or from lack of breath, but otherwise.
Something deeper meaning. Something it had possessed forever.
Sir Vad was speechless after he see what happened.
Different from the students, he was not in denial. No-not observing. For in Nathan's action, the former master himself detected something further.
Sir Vad's eyes narrowed a little as he noticed on Nathan's chest. For a split second, just before Nathan had swung his sword, a blue light had flickered from under his shirt.
A blue light. It had gone immediately, but he had seen it.
A medallion.
Sir Vad did not say anything. Not yet.
Instead, he kept a close eye on Nathan, his mind whirling with possibilities.
'That was not magic. But it was something different.'
Nathan then looked at the crowd students, his eyes steady. He wasn't questioning what had transpired. He wasn't seeking an explanation.
Sir Vad stayed motionless, his face impossible to read. But within himself, he had no words.
"Like i said..." he spoke softly and his blue medallion illuminate again. "I do have a talent."
Nobody was going to laugh now.
Sir Vad finally took a step forward, his voice calm yet firm. "...Interesting." He studied Nathan closely before speaking again. "I believe we've underestimated you, young one."
'No.He was looking for acceptance.' Vad's mind said
'A challenge.'
Sir Vad met his gaze. "...Very well." His voice was calm, yet carried weight. "You claim to have a talent of your own."
He took a step forward, his presence imposing yet steady.
"Then it's time we see what that talent really is."
The other students around them remained in shocked silence. Some of the bullies were shaking their heads in protest and making up excuses.
One of the bullies snorted, crossing his arms. "Tch... it was luck, probably."
"Yeah," another grumbled. "He can't do that again."
But their voices were less strong now, as if even they were not sure of their own words.
Sir Vad finally broke his silence, his baritone voice rising above the murmurings.
"Luck?" He raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you call what just happened?"
The bullies looked away, avoiding his gaze.
But none of them came forward to confront him.
Because none of them could do what he had just done.
For the first time, he was not attempting to prove himself.
He knew himself.
And he knew he was prepared.
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Nathan swallowed, his mind racing. The question lingered in the air, but he had no clear answer. The blue energy and the strange essence that had followed his strike-was unlike anything he had ever seen. It wasn't fire, lightning, or any of the elemental forces he had noticed from the books.
It was something else.
"I... don't know," he confessed, clenching the handle of his wooden sword in his hand. "I didn't try to use anything. It just... happened."
Some students laughed at his statement, their skepticism becoming ridicule.
"Tch. He's just making things up now," one boy said to his group of friends.
"Yeah, he probably just got lucky. There's no way a weakling like him could actually do that on purpose," another jeered.
Nathan clenched his jaw but remained silent. He wasn't here to prove himself to them.
But Sir Vad's eyes didn't leave him.
The instructor regarded him keenly, his face observing. Then, his eyes wandered lower to Nathan's chest.
A glint caught his eye.
Under the collar of Nathan's shirt, faint but unmistakable, a blue glow vibration softly.
Sir Vad's breath caught. It's that...A medallion?
He had seen it before, but now that he was staring right at it, there was no confusion, the faint glow was definitely there. It wasn't simply normal jewelry. There was something strong about it.
But Nathan himself appeared totally oblivious to the light.
Sir Vad investigating but kept quiet. Not yet.
Instead, he drew a deep breath and refocused on the students. "Enough," he snapped, his voice slicing through their murmurs like a knife. "Doubt all you wish, but the fact remains before your eyes. That rock was real. His actions was real."
The bullies went quiet, but their faces still scowled.
Sir Vad paid them no mind. His attention was on Nathan.
"Meant it 'just happened." He spoke slowly. "So this wasn't your first time, was it?"
Nathan's hand tightened around his sword. He looked at the instructor, then shook his head. "No...I think I've experienced it before. But I never knew what it meant."
The instructor nodded slowly, stroking his chin.
"Aura," he said finally.
Nathan's eyes widened. "Aura?"
Sir Vad folded his arms, his keen eyes unyielding. "It's not magic nor powers of the elements. But Aura." He indicated the broken fragments of the boulder. "There are certain warriors born with a natural strength within them. It's not a gift of the gods, nor is it acquired like incantations. It is determination given by a chosen person."
Nathan listened closely, his heart thudding.
"This power-your aura-is not common. It's something only the greatest warriors can apply." Sir Vad's tone was firm, though there was a sharpness to it, like he too was figuring something out. "And you... you spontaneously released it.
Nathan's head was feeling with questions. If what Sir Vad was telling him was true, then... did that mean he actually did have power? Or just not the same kind as everyone else?
Before he could say anything, one of the bullies laughed out loud. "Hah! So what if it's 'aura' or whatever? He still used a wooden sword. Anyone could've shattered a boulder if it was already weakened."
Some of the other boys also nodded. "Yeah, maybe the rock was old and cracked."
Sir Vad swiveled his head around. "Would you like to try that theory?"
The bullies tensed instantly.
Sir Vad walked towards the group and pointed to another nearby boulder-one even bigger than the one Nathan had broken. "Because you're so sure, why don't one of you break this one?"
There was silence.
The boy who had done the talking shifted his attention, suddenly fascinated by his shoes.
Sir Vad's eyes sparkled. "I thought so."
Nathan observed as the instructor faced him again. There was something different in his demeanor now. It was no longer curiosity.
It was interest.
"Nathan," Sir Vad said, his tone firm, "I want you to try again."
Nathan blinked. "Again?"
"Yes." The teacher nodded towards a second, large boulder. "Pay attention. This time, sense the energy prior to striking."
Nathan drew in a deep breath and stepped ahead.
Whispers behind him again grew more raucous.
"He's just gonna get lucky twice."
"Or this time he's gonna screw up and embarrassed himself."
Nathan tuned them out.
Instead, he shut his eyes, gripping his wooden sword. He had no idea how to harness whatever had just occurred, but... perhaps he didn't have to.
Perhaps he just needed to let it occur.
He breathed out, letting his heart rate decrease. His world dissolved around him-the bullies, the students, even Sir Vad.
And then, he sensed it.
A heat ran through his chest, flowing like a river through his arms, down to his hands, into his sword.
The soft glow from under his shirt flowing.
His eyes flew open.
In a single, swift motion, he lifted his blade-
And cut.
A blue essence flared in the air, following the wooden blade like a ghost light.
Nathan drew his sword.
For an instant, nothing moved.
Then-
CRACK.
The boulder broke apart.
A blast of air burst from the impact, kicking up tiny piece of dust that swirled outward in all directions. The rock separated neatly, fragmenting piece by piece until fragments were all that was left.
Silence.
Not a word. Not a breath.
Each student stood as if still, eyes wide and mouths slightly parted. Even the bullies, the ones who had teased him the most, were utterly at a loss for words.
So was Sir Vad.
But his face was no longer merely one of interest.
It was something more profound.
"...Remarkable," he finally spoke.
Nathan sheathed his sword, his breathing calm. He had no idea what Sir Vad saw in him in that instant, but he knew something.
For the first time ever, he felt like he was home.
And he wasn't finished yet.
Not by a long way.
Sir Vad took a deep breath as he examined the remains of the broken boulder. The blue energy that had flow in the air had finally dissipated, but the gravity of what had occurred was still in everyone's minds.
A few of the students remained standing, transfixed, looking at Nathan with a combination of amazement and disbelief, while others, particularly those who had mocked him previously, whispered to each other, their faces uncomfortable. They had underestimated him weak, but now, they could not refute what they had seen.
Sir Vad sighed and allowed the silence to hang in the air before finally breaking it. "Class dismissed."
The students looked at him, still dazed. He gave them a moment to take it in, then said, "Attention students, before you go, I have an assignment for everyone." He looked each of them over, his eyes keen and thoughtful. "Your assignment is to find your own magic-not only what you're taught, but what's actually yours.
There was a flicker of glances among some of the students. One of them raised a hesitating hand. "Sir Vad, how do we find our own magic?"
The instructor nodded with a smile. "That is a good point. Magic power is not one that just place up-it is one that one must seek. You might see it in the nature, by the way of elements. Perhaps some of you might sense one connection to weaponry, spirits, or even with emotions. Seek it where you are told in your heart that it is found. And remember, all of you, don't force it. The harder you pursue it blindly, the farther away from you it shall get."
The students whispered amongst themselves, questioning where they should start looking. Some spoke about venturing into the forests, while others weighed up meditating in divine earth. The tension was palpable.
Then from the rear of the room a taunting voice interrupted the discussion.
"Hah, you can see after we got our own power," one of the bullies sneered, advancing with a smug smile. He folded his arms and glared at Nathan with obvious arrogance. "Beware of us, kid."
"See you next time weakling" *laughs* another of the member laughs at him.
His friends laughed beside him, their confidence apparently regained now that class was over.
Nathan did not react. He just gazed at them, his face was neutral. The previous excitement of demonstrating himself was lost, changed by something cooler-something stronger. He didn't need to fight with them.
Sir Vad, however, gave them a cutting glare. "You would be well advised to take care of your own improvement and not underestimate others." His tone was chill, but the moment that it carried was sufficient to pause the bullies.
They muttered under their breath but did not dare to speak any more.
Sir Vad faced Nathan again. His gaze relaxed a little. "Nathan, follow me."
Nathan blinked, "Where are we going?"
The teacher did not respond immediately. Instead, he just gestured for him to follow.
As the other students drifted away one by one, Nathan breathed deep and stepped forward, leaving the open field behind.
The instructor did not respond immediately. He just waved him along instead. Nathan took a split second to hesitate before nodding and moving forward, leaving the training area behind.
The path wasn't very long, but the farther in they went from the village center, the quieter it got. The streets and village's lessened, their usual clamor of life muting into a strange quietness. Nathan looked around, surveying the unrecognizable end of the village-worn stone pathways, wooden structures covered in weathered wood shingles, and a smell of smoke on the air.
They came to stop before a fort-like a building at last. It was old, its stones were weathered by time, but there was something about the place that did not feel abandoned, lifeless, but hid-like where secrets only those meant to do so would uncover.
"So....This is my place," Sir Vad had spoken at last.
Nathan inclined his head. "You live here? It seems...like" He found the term difficult to verbalize. "Strange."
The teacher smiled. "It does, doesn't it?" He opened the creaky wooden door and went in. "Come."
Nathan entered behind him, and the instant he passed through the door, he felt a change. The air here was thicker, heavier with a power he couldn't describe. The interior of the fortress was as unusual as the exterior-faintly lit by lanterns, stone walls sketched with old symbols, and shelves lined with old scrolls and relics.
But it was the enormous circle inscribed into the wall in the center of the room that drew Nathan's eyes most stared. It was inscribed on the stone itself, shimmering with a soft cyan light.
Sir Vad strode toward it and, without hesitation, extended his hand. A soft sound filled the room as he spoke a soft incantation. The light of the circle flashed, then-
A portal opened.
Nathan's eyes had gone wide with a swirling gate of blue power appearing from out of the ground, sending a strange but mesmerizing light shimmering across the room. Nathan took a retreating step backwards, his heart racing. "Sir....W-What is that?"
Sir Vad half-turned to address him. "Obviously, a doorway," he replied seriously. "To a destination where you shall know what you are."
Nathan swallowed hard, his gaze flickering between the portal and the teacher. He had seen magic before-he had just witnessed students using it-but this felt... different. This wasn't an ordinary spell. This was something deeper, something connected to something beyond normal comprehension.
"I don't understand," he admitted.
Sir Vad gave him a small nod, as if he had expected those words. "That's why we're here."
Nathan hesitated once more, his hand tightening automatically around the strap of his small bag. All his instincts said this wasn't normal. This wasn't the kind of training other people received.
But simultaneously, something within him whispered him to move forward.
So he did.
As they traversed the portal, Nathan sensed a surge of energy envelop him. It was not unpleasant, nor was it cold-it was just. suffocating. It coiled around his frame like a current of water, drawing him on into the darkness.
And then-
They were elsewhere.
Nathan stumbled a little, blinking as the world around him changed. The fortress disappeared. They stood now in an open field at the top hill under a huge sky, with stars in it though it was midday. The grass beneath them rippled gently, shimmering with a pale cyan light, and the air was fresh, unsoiled by time.
Nathan turned to Sir Vad in amazement. "Whoa....Where are we?"
The teacher drew in a long breath, keeping his eyes closed for a heartbeat before speaking.
"A world in between," he said. "A place in which the balance of aura runs pure."
Nathan's eyes narrowed. "Aura?"
Sir Vad opened his eyes and gave him a calculating look. "Nathan, why did you find that you could not utilize magic as your fellow children have been able?".
"I... I don't know," he said. "I just... can't do it."
Sir Vad's expression softened. "It's not that you can't. It's that you were never intended to."
Nathan scowled. "What do you mean?"
The teacher leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Magic is come from outside influences-like elements, spirits, and the world. But aura..." He put a magic on his own hand. "Aura is inside."
Nathan gazed at him, his thoughts whirling. He knew of aura before, but people never discussed it in depth.
Sir Vad went on. "Few are born with the potential to use aura, and fewer still master its use. Aura or Arcane is not easily be found-but it is granted. And maybe they were born by the legends"
Nathan's mouth seems to fell, as though he wished to speak, but he couldn't articulate anything.
"Legends?" Nathan asked.
"Legends are meant to be the mythical or strongest heroes from the past centuries and granted with Arcane abilities." Sir Vad replied.
Then, Sir Vad's eyes flickered down, just for a brief moment, before returning to Nathan's face.
Nathan didn't notice it at first, but something was glowing faintly against his chest, beneath his shirt.
Sir Vad's expression shifted ever so slightly-shock, realization, and something else.
But he said nothing about it.
Instead, he stepped back, straightening his posture. "Now," he said. "Let's see if you're ready to understand what it means to wield aura."
Nathan breathed in deeply, bracing himself. "Okay..... I'm ready."
He had no idea what came next.
But he knew, deep within, that this would alter everything.