The next day came faster than I expected. Sleep barely touched me—I was too full of excitement, my thoughts racing with what I had seen and heard. By the time the first hints of dawn touched the sky, I was already awake.
I moved quickly, finishing my chores before the roosters even had a chance to crow. I swept, scrubbed, and cleaned every corner of the house until it shone. Then I started the fire, cooked, and set everything in order. By the time I was done, the morning was still young.
It was only around five o'clock. On Nexus, the first day of the week was called Monday, followed by Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Six days in total, and this one was the very beginning. That meant the new month was close, and with it, the opening of the magic academies. My heart quickened just thinking about it. This week would be a busy one—maybe the busiest week of my life.
When everything in the house was finally finished, I slipped back into my room. The work had kept my hands busy, but my mind was still restless. I decided to sit down and try meditating. Maybe, just maybe, I could return to that strange place I had seen before—the dark void with the glowing core.
As I sat cross-legged on the ground, I thought about something. I didn't like calling that presence "it" or "the thing." It felt too cold, too distant. If it was going to be with me from now on, then it deserved a name.
I closed my eyes, focused on my breathing, and soon the world around me shifted. When I opened them again, I was back in the same dark space as before. The mana core floated ahead of me, swirling with golden-white light, exactly as I remembered.
"I'm here," I said softly.
"Welcome back, Melody. How was your night?" the voice asked.
"Amazing," I answered truthfully. "But I never asked you—what exactly is this place?"
"This place is what you would call your soul sanctuary. It is within here that you can connect with your mana core… and with me."
I nodded slowly, trying to take it in. "So… I can't talk to you unless I come here?"
"It is possible," the voice said.
"Possible? Then how?"
"Just speak to me as you would to anyone else."
My eyes narrowed. "So all this time, I could've just talked to you out loud… and you didn't tell me?"
The voice was silent.
I sighed. "Fine, whatever. But I don't like calling you 'voice' or 'it.' Can I give you a name?"
"Yes. That is possible."
I smiled faintly. "Since you're neither male nor female… hmm, maybe I'll call you Luck."
The silence stretched again.
"You don't like it?" I asked.
"It is not a matter of liking or disliking."
"Then what is it?"
Again, no answer. But I could tell—somehow—that it didn't accept the name.
"You said you have no emotions," I said in my mind.
"I don't"
Then my eyes widened. "Wait… did you just read my mind?"
"Yes. I am able to do so at any time."
I groaned. "And you didn't think that was important enough to mention before?"
No response.
"Whatever," I said with a small huff. "Fine, let's try again. A name… a name…" I tapped my chin in thought. Then it came to me. "How about… Zero?"
"That name is accepted."
A grin spread across my face. "Alright then. From now on, your name is Zero."
"Very well."
"Good. So…" I leaned forward slightly, my excitement bubbling up again. "Aren't we supposed to start my magic lessons today?"
"Yes. Today our lessons begin," Zero said. "First, I will teach you what magic truly is."
I leaned in, eager to hear every word.
"Magic," Zero began, "is formed from mana, which is one of the main life sources of this planet. With magic, the impossible becomes possible. It can heal or destroy, protect or curse. Like fire, it can warm or burn—its purpose depends on the one who wields it."
I listened carefully, every word pulling me deeper.
"Not everyone is born with a mana core," Zero continued. "But those who are can tap into magic. A mana core is what allows you to store, control, and release mana. And each core glows in a certain color. There are ten main colors, each representing a tier of strength."
Zero's voice echoed through the void as he listed them.
"Blue is the most common, low-tier, and weak. Yellow comes next, with cores holding around 400 to 600 units of mana. Green is stronger, ranging from 700 to 800. Pink cores are rare, holding 900 to 1000 or more. Purple falls between 1200 and 1400, while orange ranges from 1500 to 1700. Then comes black, at 1800 to 2000. Above that is gold, between 2000 and 2400. Grey is higher still, at 2400 to 2800. And finally, the rarest, most powerful tier—white—at 3000 and beyond."
I blinked, trying to take it all in. "But… I have a mixture of gold and white. What does that mean? And those numbers—what are they for?"
"It means your mana is extremely strong," Zero replied calmly. "The numbers represent the amount of mana within you. When you enter a magic academy, they will implant something called a system into your soul. It will help you measure your growth, record your abilities, and guide you further. But for now, we focus on training."
I straightened, my chest tight with anticipation. "Alright then. What do I do first?"
"The first step is to feel mana. You must sense it before you can ever control it."
He guided me patiently. "Close your eyes. Breathe slowly. Clear your thoughts of everything else—your family, your pain, your worries. Focus only on the rhythm of your breath. Inhale… exhale. Inhale… exhale. Now, imagine your body as a vessel. Feel the warmth in your chest. That warmth is your core. The energy flowing outward, like streams of light through your veins, is mana."
At first, I felt nothing. Just emptiness. But I did as he said—breathing, focusing, searching. Minutes passed, maybe longer, until finally, something stirred. A faint warmth flickered inside me, pulsing in time with my heartbeat. My eyes shot open in surprise.
"I—I felt it!" I whispered.
"Good," Zero said. "That was your first step. The more you practice, the stronger your connection will become."
I wanted to keep going, to push further, but before I could speak again, Zero's voice shifted. "Hmm… time is up. You should return."
"Wait, Zero—" I started, reaching out.
But the void shattered, and before I knew it, I was yanked out of the sanctuary.
---
My eyes flew open, and I was back in my room. The harsh sound of reality crashed into me as my mother's voice cut through the air.
"IDIOT SLAVE!" she shouted.
The warmth I had felt inside moments ago vanished, replaced by the familiar sting of her words.
I hurried out of my room and into the living room, where my mother's shouting echoed off the walls.
"Yes, Mother," I answered quickly, eyes lowered to the floor. I dared not meet her gaze.
She shoved a paper and a small bag into my hands. "I need you to go to the market and get these things."
I clutched them tightly and nodded. "I'll go now, Mother."
Just as I turned, her voice stopped me. "Wait. Jason isn't going to school today, so you must walk Jasailee to the learning academy."
My stomach dropped. Walking with Jasailee? That was the worst punishment she could give me.
"I–I understand, Momma," I muttered, forcing the words out.
"Jasailee, come now! Time for school!"
A door slammed, and Jasailee stormed out, her face twisted in a sulk. "Momma, I can't go to school without Jason!"
"It's alright, love," my mother said gently, pointing straight at me. "I'll send her with you."
My heart sank.
"What? Her??" Jasailee snapped. "Mom, that's embarrassing! I can't walk with her!"
"Sweetheart, it'll be fine. Just walk with her this morning. You can come home with your friends later."
Jasailee pouted, then huffed. "Fine."
I was standing right there, but to them, I was invisible. They talked over me as if my thoughts and feelings didn't exist.
Jasailee pushed the door open first, rolling her eyes at me as she stepped out. I followed, and the bright morning sun burned against my eyes until I squinted.
We started down the brick road, and soon the main street of Waden Town came into view. Though smaller than the larger towns nearby, it bustled with people. Carriages rattled over the stones, vendors called out their goods, and townsfolk hurried about. To others, it might have looked lively. To me, it was suffocating. I hated this place with all my soul.
Jasailee kept ahead of me, making sure the gap between us was wide enough that no one would mistake us for walking together. When she crossed the road, I followed silently, staying behind to avoid her scorn.
Then a voice brushed against my thoughts.
"You know, you're a potentially powerful person now. Why don't you just leave them?"
"Zero…" I whispered in my mind.
"Yo," he replied casually.
I couldn't help but smile faintly. "If I left them, where would I even go?"
"Hmm… right now, you've got no money, and I'll only start officially teaching you magic tomorrow. But if you wanted, you could just steal."
"Steal? Zero, that's your idea??"
"Why not? They've never given you anything. Taking from them wouldn't even be wrong. You could use it to leave this town and start somewhere else."
I shook my head firmly as I walked. "No. No, stealing is too risky. I won't do that."
While I argued with Zero in my thoughts, my body moved on its own. Suddenly, I bumped into someone. My eyes shot up. "Sorry," I said quickly.
Then my chest tightened. I knew that face. I'd seen him before, outside Mrs. Penzy's house. The man who had looked at me and said "Interesting."
"Second time you've bumped into me, kid," he said with a smirk.
"Um…" My voice caught in my throat.
Without another word, he walked off, disappearing into the crowd.
"That man…" Zero's voice sharpened. "He's suspicious."
I swallowed hard, watching his back vanish into the busy street.