Takeru's eyes snapped open, and the first thing he noticed was the sky—two suns burned softly in a pale lavender horizon, casting long, unfamiliar shadows across the landscape. He sat up slowly, wincing as he surveyed his surroundings. Rolling hills stretched endlessly, dotted with strange, twisting trees and rivers that shimmered like liquid crystal.
He flexed his hands. They were whole. Strong. And yet… he felt nothing. No familiar warmth of his Fire, no surging currents of Wind or Energy. The Power Gem he had carried so long was gone. His body was healed, yes, but his strength—the elemental strength he had relied on for everything—was gone too.
Takeru's chest tightened. I… I'm powerless again.
A soft rustle caught his attention. Turning, he saw a young woman standing at the edge of a nearby clearing. She had long, silver hair tied into a braid, eyes sharp and observing. Her stance was poised, elegant, yet unmistakably ready for combat. In one hand, she held a slender sword, while the other traced faint glowing symbols in the air—circles of intricate designs that pulsed with faint light.
"Who are you?" Takeru asked cautiously. His voice sounded strange to his own ears, unsteady, unused to this new world.
The woman tilted her head slightly, assessing him. "You… are not from here. I can sense it. You carry the aura of one untrained in circle magic, yet… there is potential." Her voice was calm but authoritative.
"I… I don't know where I am," Takeru admitted, feeling the knot of fear in his stomach. "I just… woke up here."
She stepped forward, a small smile forming. "Name's Liora Velmont. I can help you… if you're willing to learn."
Before Takeru could respond, movement in the nearby trees caught his eye. A young man, clad in leather armor and carrying twin daggers, emerged with a mischievous grin. "Looks like we've got a visitor," he said. "You don't look like you belong here… I'm Ryn Falcrest."
Takeru blinked. New world… new people… what's happening to me?
"Enough introductions," a third voice interrupted. From a nearby hill, a young man in gleaming knight armor strode forward, eyes narrowed. His blonde hair glinted in the twin sunlight, his posture proud, almost infuriatingly confident. "I am Sir Kaelen Ardent. And I see you are untrained and… weak. I don't tolerate incompetence near battle zones. Step aside—or prove yourself."
Takeru's stomach twisted. He had faced armies before, but he was powerless. I can't fight him—not like this…
Liora placed a hand on Takeru's shoulder. "Do not worry. Here, strength comes in many forms. The magic in this world is controlled through circles. Draw them, focus your energy, and you channel spells through them. Combine that with swordsmanship, and even a newcomer can survive."
She knelt and traced a small glowing circle in the dirt. "Try this. Just concentrate. Even a spark is progress."
Takeru knelt, hands trembling, and tried to mimic her movements. He traced the circle, imagining energy flowing through him, but nothing happened. Sparks didn't ignite. Wind didn't stir. His body felt… ordinary.
"It's… not working," he admitted, frustration and shame washing over him. I can't even use a simple spell here?
Ryn laughed, hopping onto a rock nearby. "Welcome to reality, newbie. You can't rely on old tricks in a new world. Think with your head, not your power."
Kaelen scoffed. "Head? This is a battlefield, not a chessboard. Without strength, you're a liability."
Takeru's hands clenched. I'll show you… somehow. I may not have powers, but I won't just die here. I survived before without my full strength—I can do it again.
Liora noticed the fire in his eyes. "Good. Determination is the first step. Now, focus on your swordsmanship. Circles can amplify, yes, but a blade is still your most reliable friend in battle."
Hours passed. Takeru learned footwork, parrying, and basic strikes. He combined his attempts at circles with each motion, almost mechanically at first, failing repeatedly. He fell to his knees again and again, sweat dripping from his forehead, muscles burning. Yet with each failure, a tiny understanding emerged: the magic was tied to intent, control, and precision—not brute force.
As he trained, distant echoes of battle reached them: clashing swords, screams, and explosions of magic. Smoke rose in the distance, curling into the violet sky. Liora's expression darkened.
"That's the front line," she said softly. "A war has been raging here for decades. Civilians and soldiers alike suffer daily. You'll need to adapt quickly if you hope to survive."
Takeru's heart clenched at the sound. Memories of Tenria—the Dark Army, Xandros, Malakar—flooded back. He felt powerless then. And he was powerless now. But the pain, the grief, the sense of responsibility… it fueled him.
Ryn smirked. "Looks like you're not completely useless after all. You at least care about people."
Kaelen, watching silently, shifted uneasily. Takeru's resolve began to earn grudging respect, even from the proud knight-in-training.
As twilight fell, Takeru stood atop a hill overlooking the distant battlefield. Twin suns dipped lower, casting long, dramatic shadows across the land. His sword in hand, hands trembling, he whispered silently to himself:
"I don't have my old powers… but I will survive. I will learn this world… and I will protect the people here. I can't fail—again."
From the valley below, the sounds of war continued to echo: cries, clashes, and magical explosions. Somewhere in the haze, Takeru glimpsed a young soldier struggling against overwhelming odds. Without magic, without elemental force, he sprinted down the hill toward the fight. Strategy, courage, and willpower—these were the tools left to him, and he would wield them with everything he had.
And so, Takeru Yamato, powerless but unbroken, began his life in a new world, a world of circles, swords, and war. The shadows of Tenria still haunted him, but here, amidst strangers and enemies, a spark of determination ignited—a spark that refused to die.