I can react faster now. Just a few steps from my distance, I traveled quicker than him. Before he could land a hit with his wooden sword, I leapt higher than his height, twisting my body from back to front and performing a roundhouse kick aimed at his head.
Surprisingly, he dodged my attack and managed to keep up with my speed.
Surely adapting to his enemy's skill is his specialty, I noted.
As soon as my feet touched the ground, he launched a flurry of multiple charged strikes toward me. Swinging left to right nonstop, his agility sharpened, his speed increasing with every move. Moreover, his heightened sense of smell made it possible for him to predict my movements, reading me like an open book. My father was not like other typical magic users—he was a Pro-Hunter after all.
I knew from the beginning that this fight wouldn't be easy, but that was before I met the fox. I focused my energy on my soul, closing my fists and gathering as much mana as possible. Then, when I saw him bolt toward me, I punched the air in front of him, launching a magic energy ball made of pure mana. With such force, it hurled my father several meters away, blasting him across the whole field.
Smoke and dust clouded our surroundings…
"Dad?!" I paused, shouting with concern. But it seemed useless. Though he struggled to get back on his feet, he was smiling.
"He… hehe… hehaha… HAHAHA!" He laughed slowly but proudly. "Nat! I knew it! My boy is a genius!" Defeated yet wearing a confident smile, his expression burned into my mind.
He walked toward me, playfully swinging the wooden sword. Right before reaching me, he stopped. "Look… there's nothing more I can teach you now. Next year you'll enter the academy, so you should begin your studies in school." He pointed the tip of the sword toward my face.
A voice from the distance suddenly spoke. "Looks like there's an interesting kid in this small village." A man in a dirty hood, clad in a thin and battered plate armor, appeared. He was a few paces away, yet I could feel his immense mana surging from his body.
"May I know your name, kid?" the man asked.
"Perhaps you should introduce yourself first to him," my father tittered.
The man ignored my father. His eyes locked on me, his aura radiating deep interest. Crossing his arms, he continued, "I'm just a traveler passing by. Answer me, kid—do you want to become strong?"
The man walked closer. With every step, the atmosphere grew colder, his overflowing mana trailing in waves. More than that, everything his feet touched froze solid.
"Yes," I answered.
"Well then, if you want to become stronger, come to me at the bottom of that mountain." He pointed his finger at the highest peak located southeast. "You'll find a white boulder there. Meet me once you're ready."
Then, like shattering snowflakes, the mysterious man disappeared before us. As he left, I let out a heavy breath. My father was left in deep thought.
"That guy… he's strong," my father muttered curiously. "Anyway, let's head back home. Your mother is probably waiting for us."
Another year had passed. My father no longer taught me, so I practiced everything I had learned from him—breathing, exercising, meditation, harnessing mana, and more. I never stopped practicing, but I didn't feel any real change. I still couldn't control my power completely. School wouldn't teach me advanced techniques until I reached 8 Star.
Today was the first day of school. I might find some new friends there, so I was a little nervous.
As I walked toward the building, I overheard three women gossiping.
"Do you know there are bandits roaming the nearby villages?" one woman muttered.
"Really?" another asked.
"Yeah… I heard they're escaped prisoners," she answered.
"It's dangerous for us at night. I hope the Nightwatch Patrol catches them soon. I don't want my kids to be in danger," the third woman said.
"Why rely on the Nightwatch Patrol? Aren't Pro-Hunters better than them?" one asked.
"Are you an idiot? Pro-Hunters won't waste their time chasing escaped prisoners," the other snapped.
The news about prisoners spreading across villages was alarming. Yet the Central Imperial Guard didn't seem to care—not even sending a single Pro-Hunter to deal with it.
Soon, I finally reached my school, where I would study and hopefully meet new friends.
"Woaaahhh!" My eyes widened with excitement as I saw the building. "So many students."
From what I knew, this school only accepted students from 1 Star to 8 Star.
As I walked, I came across a noisy boy. Silver-white hair, green eyes, two silver earrings, and a voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Waaahhh, I don't want to go to school!" he shouted.
"Why are you crying, idiot? It's not like we're staying here forever," a girl replied beside him.
Is that girl with him? I asked myself.
"Yeah, but I hate people!" the boy whined. The girl slapped him lightly, pinching his ear and dragging him toward the building. "Madam Lillia will scold us if we don't go. Remember?"
She was scary. Watching them, I saw a reflection of myself and Selene. My lips curved into a small smile.
Inside, I carefully looked into every classroom, each one filled with students. I reminded myself—before I died, I was older than all these kids. Finally, I found my classroom. Walking in, I counted about eighteen students. Every seat was taken, except one, near the same two kids—the girl and the noisy boy.
They're still arguing, I muttered.
Not long after, the class began when the instructor arrived.
"Stars represent ranks. A five-year-old student like you is 1 Star. A 6-year-old is 2 Star, a 7-year-old is 3 Star, and so on. If you successfully graduate as an 8 Star, you will enter the Manifestation Stage Training." She paused, scanning her students carefully before continuing.
"At 13 years old, you can begin learning to manifest your animal spirit. If you are lucky enough to manifest it before turning 16, you will be recommended to the Imperial Magic School to train and harness your power. If not, then you can continue your studies in normal academic schools across the empire."
The bell rang, signaling the end of classes.
I stretched and yawned. I really hate school.
"Uurrghhh, finally done," the boy whined.
"Come on, we still have one last class after lunch," the girl pushed him.
"Whaaaattt?!" the boy shouted with wide eyes.
"Yes, and our teacher will be Mister Ginger," she answered.
Are they always like this? I thought.
"You mean Mister Penis Head?" the boy smirked.
"He's not penis head, he's just bald, you idiot," the girl snapped, dragging him away.
I followed them to the cafeteria. Spotting an empty seat at their table, I quickly approached.
"Hello, I'm—"
The girl cut me off. "Do you think I wouldn't notice? Why are you following us?" Her sharp yet curious eyes pierced into me.
"I… I just—"
"Did Madam Lillia send you to spy on us?" she pressed.
"No! I just—wait, who? I'm not. Trust me," I stammered. "I'm just a regular student." I smiled genuinely.
Thankfully, she calmed down and believed me.
"Okay. Looks like you're not lying. By the way, my name is Mika, and this is—"
"I'm Luis," the boy interrupted. "And she's my future wife. We're not siblings, by the way." He grinned broadly.
"Shut up!" Mika argued instantly.
It turned out they were orphans, with Madam Lillia as their legal guardian. They had been abandoned since birth, never knowing their parents. Madam Lillia supported their studies. From their story, she was strict but kind, caring for them as if they were her own children.
Three years passed after that meeting in the cafeteria. They became my closest friends. The three of us always stuck together—we hunted wild magic beasts, camped in the forest, played tricks on strangers, fished only to burn our catch into charcoal we couldn't eat, and so much more. I even introduced them to my parents.
I never realized how happy I was with them. For the first time, I had friends I could truly treasure. Memories to hold onto.
Yet, it did not last long.