After the strangest breakfast of his life, Kael tried to return to his routine.
His mind was still filled with images of Irelith and her intimidating brother, but he pushed them aside—for now.
As usual, he headed to the training room where Elmond awaited him.
The training chamber felt more serene than usual. Soft blue light radiated from the mana crystals on the ceiling. At the center stood Elmond, already prepared with scrolls and mana stones laid out on the table.
Kael sat cross-legged, ready for the next lesson.
Elmond unrolled a large scroll covered in magical symbols, numbers, and complicated diagrams.
> "Today, we'll cover the classification of magic power in this world."
Kael nodded, trying to stay focused.
> "There are four main tiers in magical mastery," Elmond continued. "Low, Intermediate, High, and Catastrophic. Each tier is divided into five levels—for example, Low 1 to Low 5, Intermediate 1 to 5, and so on."
Kael raised his hand.
> "So... what level am I right now?"
Elmond gave him a flat stare.
> "You're not on any tier yet."
> "…Ouch. Even though I accidentally used intermediate magic in my room that time…" Kael thought.
> "That's normal. Even most nobles only ever reach the Intermediate tier. As for Catastrophic... very few in history have ever reached that level."
Kael scribbled notes into a small notebook.
> "What about magic artifacts? Do they follow the same system?"
> "Yes," Elmond said with a nod. "Artifacts and enchanted weapons are graded similarly. For instance: a Sword of Intermediate-4 or a Cloak of Defense High-1. The item's power corresponds to the user's mana control."
> "But Kael… magic doesn't dominate the world."
Kael frowned in confusion.
> "Why not?"
> "Because magic is powerful, but not practical. It requires incantations, focus, and time. In real battle, time is everything. That's why—"
> "—Magical swords dominate the battlefield," Kael finished for him.
Elmond smirked slightly.
> "Your father is a perfect example. He doesn't rely on pure magic. He wields a sword infused with mana, allowing fast and deadly strikes. Knightcasters like him—swordfighters who enhance their weapons with mana—are far more effective than traditional mages on the front lines."
Kael exhaled deeply.
> "So if I want to be useful... I can't just sit around memorizing spells?"
> "Exactly. You need both physical strength and mana mastery. Only then can you survive the battlefield."
Kael looked at his hand, recalling how hard it was just to light a mana stone.
> "Alright. I get it now."
> "Good. Let's start with mana flow strengthening exercises for your arms."
That day, there were no explosions. No grand displays. But for Kael, it was a lesson that grounded him in one truth:
> In this world, strength doesn't belong to the most magical—but to the most prepared.
---
Seven Days Later.
Kael's training began to bear fruit. Every morning was spent in the training room, and every evening he meditated alone in the backyard, tracing the mana paths through his body.
On the fourth day, he created a small Fireball—just the size of a marble, but enough to earn a round of sarcastic applause from Irelith watching from the balcony.
> "Very low tier… but cute," she said.
On the fifth day, he tried a Waterball... and splashed himself in the face. Irelith laughed loud enough to echo.
By the sixth day, he was gaining basic control over elemental magic—fire, water, and wind, all still small in scale.
---
Day Seven.
The morning began like usual.
Kael sat cross-legged with an orange flame gently spinning in his palm.
Elmond watched from afar, jotting notes.
> "Maintain your mana flow. If it surges too fast, the ball will—"
BOOM!
The Fireball popped, burning the ends of Kael's hair.
> "—explode."
Kael sighed, patting his head.
> "These basic spells are like moody toddlers…"
> "Because you still don't know how to communicate with them," Elmond replied calmly.
Kael took a deep breath and closed his eyes again.
Then, he felt something different.
The mana flowing through him… wasn't like a gentle mist. It was thick, hot, like molten liquid moving rapidly through his veins.
Denser. Heavier.
> "What… is this?"
Suddenly, his hand lifted on its own.
Mana surged uncontrollably—and before Elmond could intervene—
WHOOSH!!
A blazing pillar of fire shot from Kael's palm, nearly three meters high. The ceiling crystals flickered violently. The entire room shook.
Elmond moved fast, dispelling the flames with an intermediate Wind spell.
> "What the hell was that?!"
Kael collapsed backward, breath heavy, sweat dripping down his face.
> "I… I don't know… my body moved on its own…"
> "That wasn't a basic spell. That was Flame Lance—Intermediate Tier-2! How did you—"
[Ding!]
A translucent blue screen appeared before Kael's eyes.
---
[Magic System Awakening Complete]
Name: Kael Alvan
Race: Human
Level: 1
Path: Not Selected
Sync Rate: 7%
[You have accessed the Natural Magic Path.]
[Intermediate Tier magic unlocked via resonance.]
[Special Trait Detected: Internal Mana Fusion.]
---
[Current Spells]
Fireball (Lv.2)
Waterball (Lv.1)
Water Bullet (Lv.2)
Flame Lance (Lv.1)
---
He had access to Intermediate magic...
Because his body had entered resonance with the Natural Magic Path. And somehow, he possessed a rare trait: Internal Mana Fusion—a power even Elmond had never heard of before.
---
Later That Afternoon.
A servant approached the training room.
> "Young master… the Duke's family has arrived. And so have your relatives from the northern provinces."
Kael groaned.
> "Please tell me they're not staying long…"
> "I'm afraid… they'll all be staying for a full week."
And sure enough—
By evening, the front yard was flooded with luxury carriages adorned with noble crests.
Kael's grandfather was the first to step down—a loud old man with a metal cane and a voice louder than any war drum.
His grandmother followed, smothering Kael in a hug.
Then came his uncles, aunts, and cousins—each louder than the last.
From the opposite path, the Duke's entourage arrived.
The Duke himself, regal in a long cloak, walked with quiet authority beside his elegant wife.
And at the center, standing tall in a sky-blue gown—
Irelith.
Her gaze locked onto Kael's—not with a smile, but with a calculating stare.
Kael stood there, blinking at the crowd forming in front of his house.
> "A national-level family gathering, huh… My life's spiraling way too fast."