Then, out of nowhere, I heard a voice.
"Are you Melody Fitzwilliams?"
I spun around, heart racing, but there was no one there. The darkness stretched on forever, empty and silent. Confused, I called out, "Who are you?"
The same voice replied, repeating the question. "Are you Melody Fitzwilliams?"
"Yes," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "Yes, I am Melody. But who are you?"
The silence pressed down on me like a heavy weight until finally, the voice spoke again.
"I have no name. I am only a guide… created for you."
Its tone was strange—neither male nor female, neither human nor anything I could recognize. It was unreal, otherworldly, and impossible to describe.
"Created for me?" I echoed, my brow furrowing. "A guide? What does that even mean?"
"My master created me to lead you… to help you with the power you were born with, Melody Fitzwilliams."
The words made me freeze. "Power I was born with? What are you talking about? Who is your master?"
"I no longer remember my master," the voice admitted, a faint echo curling around its words. "The moment I was created, the memory of him faded. All that remains within me are memories of you. I have always been with you, watching. The power I speak of lies within you. You humans know it as… magic."
I stood still, my thoughts spinning. Magic? Power? A guide that had been with me all this time? None of it made sense.
"What do you mean by magic?" I asked carefully, my voice low, as if afraid the answer itself might break me.
"It is easier to show you than to explain," the voice said.
Suddenly, the emptiness around me began to shift. The darkness rippled and folded in on itself, like a curtain being pulled back. My heart pounded in my chest as I slowly turned around—
And what I saw took my breath away. It was wild, unreal, terrifying and beautiful all at once.
Before me appeared something I could hardly describe. It was a giant, circular shape glowing with a golden-white light. The glow swirled around it like a storm in slow motion, beautiful yet unsettling. But I noticed something strange—some of the light seemed to be slipping away, almost as if it were escaping.
I stared at it in silence, unsure what to call it, unsure even what I was looking at.
"This is your mana core," the voice explained, calm and steady. "It is very large, and it continues to expand. Each time the mana begins to escape, watch closely."
As I focused, the strands of golden-white light that had drifted outward suddenly reversed their path. They flowed back into the glowing sphere, as if pulled by some invisible force. The core pulsed, growing larger, brighter, and stronger. The swirling inside became faster, more alive, almost like it was breathing.
My eyes widened. "So… this is inside me?"
"Yes. And your core is not like the average person's. It is extremely rare. With it, you hold the potential to become the strongest person to ever walk this land."
I blinked, trying to process the words. "What? Are you even aware of what you're saying?"
The voice answered without hesitation. "I was created with all knowledge. You could say I am all-knowing. Yet as you grow, as your power develops, I will grow as well. One day, I may become something beyond this… omniscient."
I tilted my head, confused. The word sounded heavy, important, but I didn't know what it meant. "What does omniscient mean?"
"It means all-knowing. To know everything—the past, the present, and even the future."
I swallowed hard. "Is that… even possible?"
"Yes," the voice replied firmly, without a trace of doubt.
A chill ran down my spine. If what it said was true, then this wasn't just some dream. This was something much greater.
"If you've been watching me all this time," I asked, my voice low but heavy, "why step in now? If you've seen all the mistreatment, if you know I could do better, why wait until now?"
The voice didn't hesitate. "I was programmed to finally speak with you once you reached the age of twelve. I could have spoken to you sooner—on the very day you turned twelve, in fact—but I had to wait for the right moment. You were always busy, always working. Your family was usually around, never giving you a moment of peace. Other times, you were crying, lost in your pain. This is the first chance where you are truly alone. That is why now."
"Oh…" was all I managed to say, not knowing what else to respond with.
I took a breath, trying to steady myself. "So now that you've shown me all this—told me all of this—what happens next?"
"I have prepared a clear path for you," the voice said, steady as ever. "A way for you to grow stronger and reach the goal my creator wanted for you."
My brows knitted together. "What goal is that?"
"To become strong. Strong enough to stand above others. Perhaps… to become a demi-god."
My heart skipped. A demi-god? I had only ever heard about them in stories. They were said to be below the gods, yet still far above humans—creatures of immense power, respected and feared. But they were rare, almost mythical. Becoming one was considered nearly impossible.
I shook my head in disbelief. "That's insane. I can't do that. I live with people who step on me every single day, people who treat me like dirt. And yet you're talking about me becoming something… that powerful?"
"Nothing is impossible," the voice replied.
Its certainty unsettled me. Still, I pressed on. "Alright then… what's this plan you've laid out for me?"
"The first step is simple. You must become familiar with mana—understand what it is, how it flows, and how to use it. I will teach you. Afterward, you will apply to a magic academy."
"A magic academy? Huh?" My eyes widened. The idea seemed ridiculous. Yet… as crazy as it sounded, something inside me stirred. Was it fear? Excitement? Maybe both.
The voice continued. "According to my knowledge, magic academies open during the third month of the year. We are currently in the second month, with just one week left before the new term begins."
I blinked in surprise. It was right. Our calendar had ten months. The year was 1234 in Nexus, and I had been born in the first month. The third month always marked the start of academy terms—for both normal schools and magic academies.
"So… how would I even get into a magic academy?" I asked cautiously.
"Once I teach you the basics, you will take an entrance exam. It will test you both in written knowledge and physical ability. But there is another requirement—you will need money. Starting today, I can train you, but you must also find a way to earn gold."
I bit my lip. "How much money are we talking about?"
"For an average academy, approximately five gold coins per term. For a better academy… twenty gold coins or more."
My mouth fell open. "What?! That's insane. I don't have that kind of money—and neither does my family."
The voice paused, then asked, "May I ask you something?"
"Yeah," I muttered.
"Why do you still call them 'family' when they have never treated you as one?"
The question cut deep. My chest tightened. "I… I don't know. I mean, I grew up with them, but… I really don't know."
"I understand," the voice said. "I only asked because, though I have no feelings or emotions, I have observed yours. From everything I have seen, they do not care for you the way you care for them."
The truth of its words sank into me, but I stayed quiet, staring at the glowing core as if it held the answers.
The voice broke the silence. "As for money, there is a path you can take. Adventurers earn gold quickly—sometimes even a coin a day."
My eyes widened. "Adventurer? But I'm too young. And how would I even fight as one?"
"Age does not matter. So long as you are over ten, you qualify. And as for fighting… I will teach you. You need not worry."
I was about to speak when the voice suddenly interrupted. "You should return now. Time has passed, and those people will soon be home."
Before I could say anything else, the dream dissolved around me.
---
I woke with a sharp breath, my chest rising and falling fast. Sweat dripped down my forehead. My eyes darted to the window in Jasailee's room. The sky outside was black—completely dark.
"Oh my gosh… it's night already?" I whispered.
The moment I realized how late it was, I jumped up from Jasailee's bed and hurried out of her room. My heart was still racing from the dream, from everything I had just heard, but I forced myself to move quickly. If they returned and found me there, it would only cause trouble.
I slipped back into my own room and closed the door behind me with a soft click. For a moment, I just leaned against it, breathing heavily, trying to calm myself down. Then I lowered myself onto the floor, the cool boards pressing against my legs, and let my thoughts race.
Everything that had happened… the voice, the core, the promise of magic and power—it felt unreal, like a story someone had told me rather than something I had lived. And yet, deep inside, I knew it was real. Maybe this was it. Maybe this was the start of something new. A chance to step out of the miserable position I'd always been stuck in.
Pulling the thin, old blanket around me, I laid down on the hard ground, curling up as I had so many nights before. But tonight felt different. Tonight, there was hope flickering inside me, a tiny spark that hadn't been there in a long time.
I closed my eyes, the faintest smile tugging at my lips. It had been so long since I'd gone to bed with a smile—so long since I'd felt even the smallest piece of happiness. But tonight, for the first time in what felt like forever, I did.