Grandpa—calm now—rushed to their side, kneeling beside them with worry in his eyes.
"My children… are you hurt? Tell me you're safe…"
But then he looked at Lucas.
His eyes… still glowing red. And this time, the power within him… was stronger.
Stronger—and far from ordinary.
Grandpa's heart skipped a beat at the sight—but he masked his fear, forcing calm into his voice.
"Children," he said gravely, "it's getting late. We must go home. If we linger here, creatures like that might return… and next time, we may not be so lucky."
Without another word, they all turned and began the silent walk home, the weight of the encounter pressing on their shoulders like a heavy fog.
Once they reached the house, Grandpa turned to them and said gently,
"There's still time left in the night. Go to bed, two of you. Try to rest."
Then, without waiting for questions, he stepped outside, locking the door behind him.
The moment he was alone in the stillness of the night, a storm of thoughts raged within him.
"I had sealed this area with a powerful barrier… one that no ordinary being could breach. Then how—how did that creature get through? That wasn't just any magical beast—it was an A-rank."
"A creature like that shouldn't even exist in these woods. Someone sent it. This wasn't random. Something… something is terribly wrong."
He moved cautiously, each step heavy with tension, until he reached the clearing where the battle had unfolded.
The air still shimmered with the remnants of scorched magic. More than half the area had been reduced to ash, blackened by his own spell.
But then he saw it—the severed limb of the beast. A powerful, muscled leg, cleaved cleanly. The memory struck him like lightning.
"Lucas… Lucas did that. His attack severed the leg of an A-rank beast…"
Grandpa's eyes narrowed, his breath caught in his throat.
"How is this possible?" he whispered to the darkness. "I've only trained him for three months. Just three months… and he's already powerful enough to wound something of that magnitude?"
He stared into the shadows, unease crawling up his spine.
"What are you becoming, Lucas?"
Several days passed, filled with joy and warmth. Life at home was calm, almost magical. Each day, under the watchful eyes of Grandpa, Lucas trained tirelessly.
The old man taught with patience, and the boy absorbed everything like a sponge.
Then, one evening as the golden sun dipped below the horizon, Grandpa turned to Lucas with a solemn expression. His voice, though calm, carried the weight of finality.
"Lucas," he said, "I've taught you all I can. I've taken you as far as my knowledge could reach. And you—" he paused, a proud smile touching his lips, "you've learned faster than I ever imagined. Now, the only thing that remains is something I cannot give you—experience. Without it, true power remains just potential. But mark my words, one day, your strength may even surpass mine."
Lucas felt a swell of pride… but also confusion. There was something gnawing at him, something unfinished. He looked at Grandpa, his eyes full of questions.
"But Grandpa," he said softly, "what do you mean by experience? You say I've learned everything, but I still feel... weak. You taught me how to focus, how to shape mana, yes—but you never taught me any real magic."
Grandpa chuckled, his eyes gleaming like stars in the gathering darkness.
"Magic," he said, "isn't just spells and fireballs. It's a force that flows through everything—and it manifests in four great forms: Fire, Wind, Water, and Earth. I chose Earth. It grounded me, gave me strength."
He leaned in closer, his voice now a whisper, almost reverent. "But there's another… a fifth form. A rare, radiant energy few ever touch. "Light".
To wield Light is to walk the path of legends. But that path cannot be taught—it must be discovered. You must find your own mana, Lucas. And for that, you must journey into the unknown. Only experience will reveal your true form."
The air around them felt heavy with destiny. Silence settled, broken only by the soft rustle of trees. Then, slowly, they turned back toward the house.
Night fell.
The family gathered for dinner, laughter echoing through the walls. But Lucas barely tasted his food, his mind whirling with thoughts of mana, power, and the mysterious force called Light.
As everyone prepared to sleep, Grandpa called Lucas to his side once more.
And Lucas knew—this was just the beginning.
Grandpa's voice was low but firm.
"Lucas… I want you to become strong. Stronger than you've ever imagined. And to do that, I must send you on a journey—a journey you must take alone."
Lucas's heart dropped. "But Grandpa… I can't leave Luna! I won't! She needs me!"
Grandpa's eyes met his—calm, yet heavy with truth. "I know, my boy. I know how much she means to you. But deep inside, you know this too—if you stay by her side now, you'll never uncover the strength that lies dormant within you. And if you don't find that strength… you'll never be able to protect her when the time truly comes."
Lucas turned away, his fists clenched, torn between luna smile and grandpa's words.
Grandpa continued, his voice now a whisper carried by the wind, "If you stay, saving Luna will remain only a dream. But if you leave now, you'll return as the one who can truly shield her from what lies ahead."
Silence.
Then, in a trembling voice, Lucas asked, "Where… where do you want me to go?"
A faint smile touched Grandpa's lips, though his eyes shimmered with emotion.
"To the City of Emberfall," he said. "A place glimmering with jewels, crawling with merchants, and filled with the unknown. You'll cross the Blackroot Forest to reach it. It won't be easy. It won't be quick. It may take you a month—maybe more. But once you're there, I need you to do just one thing: deliver this letter. One letter… but a journey that may change you forever."
Lucas stared at the letter in Grandpa's weathered hands—such a small thing, holding so much weight.
He took a step back, overwhelmed. "No… I can't. What if something happens to Luna while I'm gone?"
Grandpa placed a hand on his shoulder, steady and strong. "Nothing will happen. I'll protect her with my life until you return. I don't want to separate you two… but this, Lucas—this is the only way to save her. To save you."
Lucas stood frozen, caught between fear and fate. Somewhere deep within, he knew: this was more than a journey.
This… was a "calling."