A week had passed since Elina began teaching Julius. She spent the days testing the magic he already knew by giving him some tasks, wanting to see his true ability before guiding him further.
In the second lesson, Julius astonished her. With earth magic, he raised a solid wall four feet tall and a foot thick—far beyond what any child his age should manage. He wiped sweat from his brow, grinning proudly at his handiwork. Then, on a playful impulse, he created several small earth spikes around the courtyard, laughing as the jagged stones looked like tiny fences, with wind magic, he neatly stacked firewood, swept leaves from the courtyard, and even wrapped himself in air currents to dart across the yard with startling speed, giggling as a swirl of leaves spun around him. At one point, he summoned a playful gust that lifted him slightly off the ground, bouncing lightly with joy as the wind carried him a few steps. Birds flitted overhead, startled by the sudden breeze, while the leaves whirled in a chaotic dance that made him laugh uncontrollably.
In the third lesson, healing magic, a wounded stray dog limped into the yard. Julius knelt beside it without hesitation, his hands glowing softly as he healed the paw. The creature wagged its tail in gratitude, bouncing happily before trotting off. Encouraged, Julius tried to make the dog chase some leaves with a gentle gust of wind, and the dog barked and leapt playfully, making him clap his hands in delight, then he held a withered flower in his palm. Mana pulsed gently, and the petals slowly unfurled into full bloom, shimmering faintly in the sunlight. Overcome with excitement, he made all the flowers in the garden bloom, even nudging the plants to grow slightly taller under his magic. Some flowers changed hues, creating a patchwork of color that made the courtyard almost magical.
Elina observed quietly, jotting mental notes as her emerald eyes reflected awe. She tilted her head slightly at his precise control, impressed by how a child of five could manipulate elements with such skill. Occasionally, she offered subtle guidance: "Focus on the center of the flower, Julius, or the petals will curl incorrectly," she would advise, letting him learn while steering him gently.
Nicholas stood quietly at the edge of the courtyard, arms folded, observing his son's focus and determination without interrupting. The sunlight caught the glint of the water spheres Julius formed, the earthy smell of freshly moved soil and blooming flowers mixing in the air. Birds chirped, leaves rustled, and the courtyard felt alive under the boy's magic. At five years old… this boy is far beyond any prodigy I've ever seen, Nicholas thought, while also feeling a quiet worry about overexertion.
---
That evening, Julius approached his father, clutching a piece of parchment covered in messy letters. His face glowed with excitement.
"Father!" he called. "I made a timetable!"
Nicholas looked down at him, curious. "Oh? A timetable?"
"Yes!" Julius nodded eagerly. "Teacher Elina will teach me magic on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. You'll train me with the sword on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. And every evening, I'll study mathematics, science, history, geography, and language. On Sundays…" He beamed proudly. "I'll study even more!"
Nicholas took the parchment, glancing at the childish handwriting. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "You've thought this through carefully. That's good. Discipline will take you far, Julius."
But then his tone grew serious. "Julius… I know you are very determined to do your best. But if you only train like this, you'll lose something important—your childhood. You never go outside to play with the other children your age."
Julius blinked, caught off guard. He had never thought about that before. Since the day he was born, his world had been the house, the courtyard, and the study. Outside was something distant, almost foreign.
"Hmm…" He tilted his head, puzzled. "Playing? And… I have to go outside and make friends?"
Nicholas crouched down to meet his son's eyes, his expression calm but firm. "Yes, Julius. Playing and being with other children is just as important as training. Strength and knowledge matter, but so do laughter, friendships, and experiences. They help you grow in ways that no amount of study or magic can teach."
Julius's brows furrowed in thought. "But… I like learning and practicing magic. I'm having fun doing that."
Nicholas smiled softly. "I know you do, son. And I don't want you to stop. But life is bigger than just lessons and practice. One day, you'll understand why friends, play, and even small adventures are part of becoming truly strong."
Julius nodded slowly, the idea settling into his young mind. "I… think I understand, Father. I'll try to… play too."
Nicholas ruffled his son's hair gently. "Good. Balance is key, Julius. Power without joy is like a sword without a hand to wield it."
Julius nodded slowly, the idea settling into his young mind. "I… think I understand, Father. I'll try to… play too."
Nicholas ruffled his son's hair gently. "Good. Balance is key, Julius. Power without joy is like a sword without a hand to wield it, Now, rest well. A new day awaits."
Julius nodded he is really tired "okay father, I'll take some rest"
The courtyard fell quiet under the last golden rays of the sun, as if honoring the boy who was learning not just to be powerful, but to grow wisely.
---
The first light of dawn stretched its golden fingers across the hills, bathing the little village of Ralia in warmth. Birds sang cheerfully from the trees, and a gentle breeze blew. For the first time in his five-year life, Julius Grey Neshville was about to leave the familiar walls of his home and the courtyard that had been his entire world.
He stepped carefully onto the gravel road, tiny boots crunching against the stones. His heart beat faster, both from excitement and nervousness.
As he walked, he saw people of the village beginning their morning routines. A baker carried a basket of warm bread, a blacksmith hammered sparks into the air, and children chased each other, laughter echoing through the streets.
"Good morning!" Julius called out brightly, his small hand waving.
"Good morning, little one!" came cheerful replies from several villagers.
Julius's lips curled into a smile. He had never spoken to so many people outside his family, and the warmth of their greetings made his chest swell with joy.
One kindly woman bent down slightly, her hands resting on her knees. "What is your name, little one?"
"My name is Julius!" he replied proudly, his voice ringing with youthful energy.
"And who is your father?" another villager asked curiously.
"My father's name is Nicholas," Julius answered without hesitation.
At the mention of the name, the villagers' expressions shifted. A mixture of respect, awe, and a hint of caution crossed their faces. Nicholad had settled in the village of Ralia only six or seven years ago, a skilled swordsman whose origins were a mystery, whispered about but never fully known. He had defended the village from dangerous magical beasts and earned the trust of the village chief—and now his son walked among the villagers, carrying the quiet weight of that reputation.
"Ah… so you are his son," murmured an elder, smiling warmly. "A fine child, I can see it already."
Julius's small chest puffed out a little. The acknowledgment of his father's reputation made him feel… important, though he didn't yet understand why. He continued walking down the road, greeting everyone with a cheerful "Good morning!" and receiving smiles, nods, and friendly words in return.
For the first time, Julius felt the vastness of the world—and he was ready to step into it.
After a few more steps, Julius came upon an open field where children played, their laughter echoing across the morning air. He scanned the crowd, looking for someone his own age. His eyes settled on two little girls, around the same height as him, playing nearby.
"Hello!" he called out, waving with a smile. "Can I play with you!?"
The cheerful girl grinned. "Yes! Come, we'll play with you. What is your name?"
"My name is Julius. What are your names?" he asked politely.
The cheerful girl clapped her hands. "My name is Rika, and this is my friend Alice."
Alice, the shy one, peeked out and said softly, "Hi… nice to meet you, Julius."
"Nice to meet you both as well," Julius replied warmly. "Anyway, what are you both playing?"
Rika laughed. "We're playing tag!"
Julius tilted his head. "Tag…? How do you play?"
Rika's eyes sparkled. "It's simple! One of us is 'it,' and we try to touch someone else. When you're touched, you become 'it' instead." She lightly tapped Alice on the shoulder to demonstrate.
"Oh! That looks fun! Can I try too?" Julius asked eagerly.
"Of course!" Rika said. "We'll start slow so you can learn. Ready?"
"Ready!" Julius shouted, bouncing on his toes. The three children dashed across the field, laughter ringing through the morning air.
---
But their fun was soon interrupted by a group of older children, their cocky grins and confident strides marking them as trouble. They were taller, around eight years old.
"Hey! What are you three doing here?" one demanded. "This is place is ours. You're not allowed to play here. Go somewhere else!"
Rika stepped forward bravely. "But we were playing here first!"
The older boy's glare silenced her. "I said, move! Or else."
Rika's courage faltered, and she muttered, "O-okay…" Alice hid behind Julius, peeking nervously.
Julius straightened his small back, determination shining in his eyes. "We were playing in this field from earlier," he said firmly. "You can't just claim this field because it's for everyone!"
The leader's grin hardened. "I said this place belongs to us. So move away."
Julius lifted his chin. "What if I refuse?"
"You… you can't! You're just a little kid!" the older boy spat, stepping closer.
Julius did not back down. "Even if I'm small, this field is for everyone, not just you. You can't scare us away."
Rika found courage from his words. "He's right… this field is ours too!" Alice nodded, clutching Julius' sleeve.
Anger flashed across the older children's faces. One lunged forward, attempting a light but threatening slap to Julius' head to intimidate him.
Julius' instincts kicked in immediately. Years of sword training since he was three had sharpened his reflexes. With a swift sidestep, he dodged the attack effortlessly.
Before they could react, he creates a tiny spheres of water above his hands and shot forward. SPLASH! The spheres burst on the older kids, drenching them completely.
The older children sputtered and shouted, Humiliated and soaked, they turned and ran, fleeing across the field.
Rika's jaw dropped, and Alice's wide eyes stared at Julius in awe. "You… you did that?" Rika breathed.
"You're amazing…" Alice cheered, she is now more comfortable and trusts Julius.
Julius grinned sheepishly. "I… just wanted to keep you safe."
Rika's face lit up. "you're our hero!"
Alice nodded, with admiration. "Yeah… you saved us!"
Julius' chest swelled with pride. For the first time, he realized his powers could protect others, and he felt taller—not just in height, but in courage and heart.
The three children laughed together once again, ready to continue playing, but now with a newfound bond. Julius had made his first friends, and in doing so, had shown them the hero he could be.