A deep chill ran through my body as I awoke. It wasn't just the cold morning air seeping through the wooden walls—it was something deeper, something inside me. I shivered, my small frame barely warming beneath the thick wool blanket. My hands felt lighter than they should have, my limbs weaker.
Then it hit me.
This wasn't my body. This wasn't my world.
The memories were fragmented but clear enough. I was Leon Vael, five years old, living with my grandfather, Garron Vael, in the town of Eldrin—a small but bustling settlement in the eastern province of Veylan, surrounded by vast plains to the south and dense forests stretching to the north. The Aeris River ran through the western edge of the city, its waters feeding the fertile land where farmers tilled the soil. Our house sat on the eastern outskirts, just past the old training grounds, nestled at the foot of a gently sloping hill. A quiet place, away from the city's heart, yet close enough to hear the distant hum of merchants setting up their stalls in the morning.
I let out a slow breath, my mind still adjusting. I had reincarnated into this child. And this world—a world of magic—was now mine to understand.
"Awake, are you?"
I turned my head. Sitting near the window, his back straight as a steel rod, was my grandfather—Garron Vael, a man who carried his years like a warrior carried his sword. His silver hair was tied back, and his sharp, gray eyes studied me with quiet intensity. Though he wore simple robes, the air around him carried a weight of experience, of battles fought and won.
I swallowed. "Grandfather," I said, the word feeling both foreign and familiar.
"You pushed yourself too hard," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Your Arcane Channels flared open too soon. That's why you collapsed."
Arcane Channels. The lifeblood of magic.
I knew, somehow, that every living being in this world had them—energy running through the body, absorbed from the environment, refining it, and releasing it in the form of magic. For most people, these channels opened gradually, unlocking their Elemental Affinity by the age of five and six.
But I had pushed too hard. I had forced my channels open at five.
And yet... something was wrong.
I closed my eyes, trying to feel it—trying to sense the elemental flow within me. Fire, water, air, earth, lightning... nothing. No pull, no resonance.
My Affinity was unknown.
Garron watched me, as if reading my thoughts. "You feel it, don't you?" he said. "Or rather, you don't feel it."
I nodded.
"Most children your age would have a faint connection to their natural element by now," he continued. "But you... your Arcane Channels are open, yet they do not resonate with any element."
A silence stretched between us. I clenched my small fists. In a world where elemental magic dictated one's potential, where every mage was defined by their affinity, I was nothing.
"Is that bad?" I finally asked.
Garron let out a slow breath, then stood. "Not necessarily. It is unusual, but not unheard of. Some believe it to be a sign of great potential." He turned toward the door. "Come. We will begin again. If you wish to control magic, you must first control your own energy."
The morning air was crisp as I stepped out of our small wooden house. The eastern outskirts of Eldrin were quieter than the bustling city center, with dirt roads winding between scattered homes and open fields. To the west, beyond the rooftops, the distant hum of the marketplace had already begun—merchants setting up stalls, craftsmen hammering away at their work. Glistening under the early sun, the Aeris River cut through the city's western border, feeding the land with life.
I pulled my satchel over my shoulder, its weight unfamiliar. Despite the memories I had inherited, everything still felt new—like I was experiencing the world for the first time.
Grandfather Garron stood at the doorway, arms crossed. "You remember the way?" he asked.
I nodded. "West, past the training grounds, through the central district, then north to the Eldrin Academy."
"Good. No distractions. No unnecessary trouble." His eyes narrowed slightly. "And if anyone challenges you?"
I hesitated. "Walk away?"
He grunted, half in approval, half in warning. "Unless they make it impossible. In that case, make sure they regret it."
A small smile tugged at my lips. Despite his strictness, Grandfather wasn't the type to encourage weakness. I bowed slightly before turning down the path.
The journey to Eldrin Academy was a half-hour walk, cutting through different layers of the city. The training grounds, just west of our home, were empty at this hour—an open field where older students and warriors practiced their techniques. Beyond that, the dirt roads turned to cobblestone, marking the start of the central district, where vendors hawked fresh bread, enchanted trinkets, and handwoven fabrics. I weaved through the crowd, my small frame slipping past hurried merchants and chatting townsfolk.
Unlike my old world, where technology ruled, this city thrived on magic. Street lamps flickered with arcane fire, floating runes marked shop entrances, and in the distance, a Sky Courier—a flying transport powered by wind magic—glided over the rooftops.
I clenched my fist. This world... it's alive with magic.
As I turned a corner, the academy came into view. Eldrin Academy, a grand stone building with tall archways and banners displaying the Sigil of Veylan—a flame encircled by four elemental runes. Despite its impressive size, it was only a primary academy, meant for students aged five to ten, where basic education and elementary magic training took place.
I took a deep breath and stepped through the gates.
Inside, children my age ran about, laughing and chattering. Some already practiced magic—small sparks of flame, floating water orbs, and gusts of wind danced between excited hands.
And yet, as I watched, a sinking realization settled in.
I had no element.
In a world where magic was everything, I was walking into this academy as an anomaly.
I squared my shoulders and walked forward. If I was to survive here, I had to find my own path.
The unknown didn't scare me.
It only made me more determined.