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Selion ventured deep into the forest, the morning chill brushing against his skin. He found shelter beneath a towering tree, its massive roots curling around him like protective arms. His eyes were fixed on the masked man a few meters away. The man was silent, blending into the wilderness like a ghost.
Then, he slowly reached for the hilt strapped to his waist.
But something was off.
There was only a hilt—no blade, no edge. Just the handle.
Selion frowned. "Where's the rest of the sword?"
At that moment, the man raised the hilt into the air and took a deep breath. Mana surged from his hand, visibly swirling in the air. Like silver light, it gathered at the end of the hilt and within seconds, shaped itself into a full sword.
Selion's eyes widened in disbelief.
He couldn't hold back. He sprang to his feet and ran toward the man.
"How… How did you do that? Can you teach me?" he asked, eyes gleaming with excitement.
The masked man slowly turned his head toward him. Half of his face was lost in shadow, but a faint smile curved his lips.
"In this life, everything has a price, kid."
Selion tilted his head. "What do you want?"
The man paused, studying him.
"This kid can't be older than thirteen… What could he possibly offer me? But still, he's got potential. Even knowing what element he uses could be useful later."
"What's your element?" the man finally asked.
Selion didn't think it was anything worth hiding. With a casual flick of his hand, a bolt of lightning struck a nearby tree.
The man instinctively stepped back. "A ten-year-old… and he can channel lightning like that?"
His expression grew serious.
"Alright," he said. "That's enough payment."
He took the hilt again and turned to Selion.
"You need to think of the hilt as an extension of your body. A third arm, if you will. Just as you direct mana into your hands or feet, you must direct it into the hilt and shape it."
Selion lowered his head. There was a flicker of disappointment on his face.
"I can't even circulate mana through my body properly... That's why I'm out here in the first place."
The man raised an eyebrow in surprise. "How can someone wield such powerful magic without basic mana control?"
He stayed silent for a moment, then gave a slow nod.
"Alright… I'll give you a chance. You can absorb the boar. Come back here tomorrow."
Selion's eyes lit up. After thanking him, he absorbed the creature and returned to his tree. That night, he fell asleep beneath the stars.
At sunrise, Selion woke up with a rush of anticipation and hurried to the same spot in the woods. But the man was nowhere to be found.
He wandered the area, heart pounding. After a while, he noticed something etched into the trunk of a nearby tree.
He stepped closer.
"Unfortunately, I won't be coming back. So I've left something for you."
Selion looked around, puzzled. When he circled the tree, he found five wild boars waiting.
He smiled.
"Thank you…" he whispered into the wind.
He absorbed them all and completed his task, then returned home.
That evening, he told his family he was heading back to his teacher. As he walked out the door, Zenith and Arthur watched him silently.
"Why is he so obsessed with getting stronger?" Arthur muttered. "He lives in this house like a guest—just sleeps here and leaves again in the morning."
Zenith gave a quiet nod.
Selion arrived at his teacher's place, practically floating with excitement.
"Teacher! I've finished filling my mana!" he called out.
His teacher smiled. "Good. Then it's time for the next phase."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"Focus your mana into your feet, and try to climb that wall."
Selion took a deep breath. Then another. He closed his eyes, gathering his mana. When he felt it flowing into his feet, he lunged forward.
One step. Then another.
A third… a fourth… He was halfway up the wall.
"Look! I did i—"
Before he could finish, he lost balance and fell with a thud.
They both burst into laughter.
For the first time, Selion's laughter was pure, unburdened, and filled with joy.