As Grandpa's words faded into the silence, Lucas stood still—his thoughts swirling like a storm.
A shadow of doubt crossed his face. Something was shifting inside him.
Grandpa watched him closely, then spoke with a grave tone,
"Lucas, before you set out on your journey... there's one last thing left. Your final training. No, not training—your test."
Lucas blinked. "A test?"
"Yes," Grandpa said, his eyes narrowing. "I can't send you alone into the Dark Wood Forest without knowing if you're truly ready."
Lucas's heart pounded.
"What kind of test? Do I have to fight a wild beast? Cast a powerful spell?"
Grandpa's voice was calm, yet piercing. "No. You don't need to prove anything. You don't have to fetch anything. There's only one task… You must defeat me."
Silence crashed between them.
Lucas stepped back, stunned.
"Defeat… you? But Grandpa, you're the strongest person I know. If I fight you, I'll definitely lose."
Grandpa took a step forward, his presence towering.
"If fear grips you now, my child, how will you ever stand tall when real danger comes? The world beyond this place will not go easy on you. You must learn to face the impossible."
His words struck Lucas like thunder. A fire lit inside him. His hands curled into fists, and his voice rose with determination,
"Then so be it! I'll take your test. I'll face you… and I'll survive this journey. I promise, I'll return—stronger than ever!"
Grandpa's serious face softened just a little. A faint smile played on his lips.
In that moment, the winds whispered through the trees, as if the forest itself was listening.
As Lucas and Grandpa spoke in hushed, serious tones about the journey and the upcoming test, they weren't alone. Unseen in the shadows, someone else was listening—Luna.
Every word they spoke struck Luna like a thunderbolt. Lucas will go to the city... He won't be here for one or two months... He might even have to fight with Grandpa...
Her heart sank. Her mind froze. A storm began to rage inside her.
"Is Lucas going to leave me too? she thought, panic rising in her chest. And if he leaves... will he ever come back?"
Just then, the door creaked open. Lucas stepped out of the room—only to find Luna sitting at the edge of the doorway, her face buried in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Seeing her like that shattered something inside him. Without a word, he rushed to her.
But before he could say anything, Luna threw herself into his arms, clinging to him as if afraid he might disappear. Her voice trembled as she spoke,
"You're leaving me… and you didn't even tell me... Why, Lucas? Why didn't you tell me?"
Lucas held her tightly, his own heart heavy.
"Luna, I swear, I just found out myself. I'm not leaving you… not like that. I will come back. This is just something I need to do… to become stronger."
He gently cupped her face, wiping away her tears with his hands.
"You don't need to cry because I'm going. If I go… I promise you, I will return."
The sun rose over the horizon, but today, it wasn't just the light that returned—it was the winds of a new destiny that began to stir. The air crackled with anticipation.
In a quiet clearing surrounded by ancient trees, two figures stood facing each other: one, an old master hardened by experience; the other, a young warrior whose eyes burned with resolve.
Grandpa looked at Lucas and spoke with a quiet gravity,
"Today is your final test. You must face me. Only then will you know your true strength."
Lucas nodded, his fists clenched, heart pounding like a war drum.
"I'm ready."
"Then begin," Grandpa commanded.
Lucas closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and summoned the energy within him.
"Mana Ball Creation!"
he roared. A glowing orb of pure mana formed in his hand, pulsing with power. He hurled it toward Grandpa with everything he had—but the old warrior moved like a whisper, effortlessly sidestepping the attack.
"He dodged it... so easily ",Lucas thought,
stunned.
From a distance, Grandpa observed, his expression unreadable.
"So... he's already learned how to form and throw a mana ball. Impressive. But the real question is—has he learned to think for himself?"
Lucas gritted his teeth, frustration rising. He channeled mana into his legs and dashed forward at lightning speed.
Grandpa responded in kind, and in an instant, they were both darting through the forest like shadows, leaping from tree to tree, locked in a silent dance of skill and stealth.
But Lucas held back.
This time, it was Grandpa who struck first—he formed his own mana ball and hurled it toward Lucas. It streaked through the air like a comet. Lucas barely dodged.
The ball scraped his cheek, leaving a sharp, burning line. Gasping, he dove behind a tree and clutched his wound.
"He's sensing my mana", Lucas realized. "That's how he knows where I am."
He focused. This time, instead of spreading mana throughout his body, he concentrated it in one spot, making the rest of his presence nearly vanish. In that moment—he became invisible to Grandpa's senses.
Grandpa's eyes narrowed.
"Where did he go? He's even learned how to cloak his mana... this boy... he's evolving too fast."
Suddenly, Grandpa spotted movement. He reacted instantly, firing another mana ball. But Lucas was ready. He dodged again, just in time. His mind raced.
"Grandpa's too strong... I need to end this."
Then the plan formed—dangerous, desperate, but the only chance he had.
"I'll channel every drop of my mana into one devastating strike. But to pull it off, I'll need to get close. Closer than ever before."
Just as Lucas prepared, Grandpa struck without warning—a powerful punch to the gut. Lucas flew back, crashing behind a cluster of trees. Pain shot through him, but he forced himself to rise.
"So grandpa's using physical attacks now... then I will too."
Lucas surged forward, mana surging through his legs, faster than ever before. As he closed in, he enveloped his fists in mana and threw a punch with all his strength.
But Grandpa was ready.
With both hands glowing with mana, he caught Lucas's punch mid-air. The impact shook the ground—but Grandpa didn't flinch. Lucas stared in disbelief.
"He saw it coming. He blocked it... just like that..."
Breathing hard, Lucas retreated once more, sweat dripping from his brow. "There's only one move left. My final attack."
Grandpa, watching him closely, now felt the tension rise.
"He's almost ready... he's learned so much, so fast. His strikes... they're leaving marks. His mana... it's powerful. More powerful than I expected."
And in that moment, the air around them changed—charged with the thunderous silence of the battle's climax.