The sun slowly streamed through the large windows of the room, spreading a golden light across the dark wooden furniture.
At the center of the room, sitting on the bed, was Myth Kiran.
His small body remained completely still.
His legs were crossed, his hands rested on his knees, and his eyes were closed.
Around his body, tiny luminous particles floated through the air.
Some were red.
Others were blue.
There were also brown and green particles, all extremely small, yet visible to anyone who had developed their mental power.
They slowly drifted toward Myth before disappearing into his body.
After some time, Myth opened his eyes.
A gentle current of air swept through the room.
"At last…"
He took a deep breath.
"I'm a Level 2 Mage."
A smile appeared on his face.
Despite being only six years old, Myth had already grown accustomed to the sensation of absorbing elemental particles.
After several days of practice, he had realized that his body could absorb all four elements with frightening ease.
Water.
Fire.
Earth.
Wind.
All of them responded to him.
His mother had explained that such a thing was extremely rare.
Yet Myth still did not fully understand just how absurd his talent truly was.
He only knew that whenever he closed his eyes and expanded his spiritual power, the elemental particles seemed to be waiting for him.
"It's strange…"
Myth raised his hand and watched a small current of wind form above his palm.
"The more I refine the elements, the more mana gathers inside my dantian."
He closed his hand.
The tiny current vanished.
"And it remains in this gaseous form."
Myth had learned that the path of a mage was not merely about accumulating mana.
It was necessary to continually strengthen the soul and improve one's mental power.
Only then could one advance to higher levels.
For now, however, he was still at the beginning.
He did not possess powerful magical techniques.
He could not cast complex spells.
His knowledge was still very limited.
So, at that moment, he decided to continue training.
Myth got out of bed.
"Time to begin."
He walked over to a small table where several sets of clothes had been prepared by the servants.
After getting dressed, he left his room.
---
The morning was peaceful at Kiran Mansion.
Servants moved through the hallways carrying trays, clothing, and various items necessary for the operation of the enormous estate.
Myth crossed the corridor quickly.
His destination was the mountain range behind the family estate.
He had trained there several times before.
It was a relatively safe area and far enough from the mansion that he could practice magic without accidentally destroying part of the property.
After leaving the estate, Myth began walking along the road leading toward the mountains.
A few minutes later, the towering walls of the manor were behind him.
The trees grew denser.
The songs of birds replaced the sounds of the mansion.
Myth took a deep breath.
The mountain air was much fresher.
"I can't go too far."
He looked toward the distant peaks.
That region was not far from the territory inhabited by magical beasts.
"If one suddenly appears…"
Myth was silent for several seconds.
"I'd probably die."
He was not joking.
Although his body had already reached the level of a Second-Rank Warrior, he was still extremely weak compared to a true magical beast.
Furthermore, his magical knowledge was still in its infancy.
For that reason, Myth had established a rule for himself.
Do not wander too far.
Find a safe place.
Train.
Return before sunset.
"That should be enough."
He found a clearing among the trees.
A large stone stood in the center.
Myth walked over and sat down.
"Let's begin."
He closed his eyes.
His mental power slowly spread through the surroundings.
The elemental particles began to appear within his perception.
Water.
Earth.
Fire.
Wind.
It was like looking at an entirely different world.
Myth smiled.
"It really is incredible…"
He began to slowly absorb the particles.
Time passed.
One hour.
Two hours.
Myth continued training.
He alternated between meditation and elemental control.
He created small currents of wind.
Made small stones move.
Summoned a tiny flame above his palm.
And condensed a small amount of water from the air.
None of it was powerful.
But for Myth, every bit of progress mattered.
He needed to build a solid foundation.
There was no need to rush.
While training, Myth noticed something strange.
The wind had changed.
He opened his eyes.
"Hm?"
Myth looked toward the sky.
For a few seconds, he saw nothing.
Then—
Whoosh!
A golden shadow shot between the clouds.
Myth's eyes widened.
"What was that?"
He stood up.
The creature had moved too quickly.
Myth tried to sense its presence with his mental power.
But it had already vanished.
"A magical beast?"
He continued staring at the sky.
He could not tell.
Eventually, he decided not to dwell on it.
"It was probably just a bird."
Myth sat down again.
But it wasn't long before a distant sound echoed once more.
This time, it was different.
It sounded like something tearing through the wind.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Myth stood again.
His expression changed.
That creature's speed was far beyond that of any ordinary bird he had ever seen.
Then, suddenly—
Boom!
A distant explosion erupted beyond the mountains.
Myth felt the ground tremble.
His face became serious.
"This…"
He immediately abandoned his training.
Another explosion followed.
BOOM!
This time, a pillar of light rose into the distant sky.
Myth could not make out the details.
The distance was simply too great.
But something was fighting in the mountains.
"Better leave."
He grabbed his training spear.
There was no reason to take unnecessary risks.
Myth quickly began descending the mountain.
That was when he heard a sound.
Chirp!
He stopped.
Looked around.
Nothing.
Chirp!
This time the sound came from behind a large tree.
Myth tightened his grip on his spear.
Slowly, he advanced.
Behind the tree were several exposed roots.
And among them...
There was a small creature.
Myth froze.
It was a bird.
Its body was tiny and covered in golden feathers.
The feathers shone beneath the sunlight.
It looked far too young to fly properly.
The little bird was curled up among the roots, apparently frightened.
Myth lowered his spear.
"You…"
He cautiously approached.
The bird lifted its head.
Its eyes watched Myth closely.
It did not run away.
Myth slowly reached out his hand.
"Are you hurt?"
The little bird remained still.
Then Myth carefully touched its head.
The creature closed its eyes.
"You're not afraid of me?"
Chirp.
Myth smiled.
"Apparently not."
He gently ran his fingers through its golden feathers.
Then he noticed something strange.
"Hm?"
Myth frowned.
The feathers were extremely hard.
He ran his fingers over them again.
"That's odd…"
They felt much tougher than they should have.
Myth pressed one with his finger.
Nothing happened.
"This is almost like steel."
The little bird opened its eyes.
Myth stared at it for several seconds.
"You're definitely not an ordinary bird."
The creature merely tilted its head.
Myth laughed.
"But you don't seem dangerous either."
He glanced back toward the mountains.
Another distant explosion made the earth tremble slightly.
The little bird immediately panicked and hurried closer to Myth.
It hid behind his leg.
Myth looked down.
"You're scared?"
Chirp...
"Looks like you are."
He crouched down and carefully picked up the little bird.
It did not resist.
On the contrary.
It immediately settled comfortably in his arms.
"Were you alone out here?"
The little bird merely closed its eyes.
Myth sighed.
"If I leave you here, you'll probably end up being eaten by a beast."
He thought for a few moments.
"Then I'll take you home."
The little bird opened its eyes.
Myth began walking.
---
The journey back was peaceful.
Myth carried the little bird against his chest as he descended the mountain.
At one point, however, the creature noticed a bird flying among the trees.
Suddenly—
Whoosh!
The little golden bird leaped from Myth's arms.
"Hey!"
Myth's eyes widened.
The creature shot forward.
Its speed was so incredible that Myth could barely follow it with his eyes.
In less than a second, it crossed dozens of feet.
Then it stopped on a branch.
Myth was stunned.
"You're fast…"
The little bird tilted its head.
Myth opened his arms.
"Come here."
It jumped.
Whoosh!
And instantly returned to his arms.
Myth began laughing.
"You really are strange."
A few minutes later, they continued on their way.
---
By the time Myth finally returned to Kiran Mansion, the sun was already beginning to set.
As soon as he entered through the gates, several servants looked curiously at what he was carrying.
"Young Master Myth?"
Myth ignored the questions.
He needed to find his mother.
He quickly crossed the halls of the mansion.
After several minutes, he found Louse in the library.
She was seated at a table piled high with books.
When she saw him entering, she looked up.
"Myth?"
Then she noticed the small creature in his arms.
Her expression turned surprised.
"What is that?"
Myth smiled.
"I found it in the mountains."
Louse stood up.
She slowly approached.
She examined the little bird.
Then carefully touched one of its feathers.
Her expression became slightly puzzled.
"What durable feathers…"
Myth smiled.
"I thought the same thing."
Louse examined the creature for several more seconds.
She found nothing particularly dangerous.
The little bird appeared healthy, though still very young.
"You know we can't simply bring any magical beast into the mansion, don't you?"
"I know."
Myth replied quickly.
"But it was alone."
Louse looked at her son.
Then at the little bird.
The creature was clutching Myth's clothing tightly.
Louse let out a soft sigh.
"Very well."
Myth's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"For now."
She raised a finger.
"But it will remain under observation."
Myth immediately nodded.
"Thank you, Mother!"
Louse smiled.
"And you still need to finish your studies."
Myth's smile vanished.
"Oh…"
Louse chuckled softly.
"Don't think a little bird is going to help you escape your lessons."
Myth looked at the creature in his arms.
Then at his mother.
"I knew there was a condition."
"Of course you did."
The little bird let out a small cry.
"Chirp."
Myth looked at it.
Then smiled.
"You need a name."
He thought for a few moments.
Looking at its golden feathers, he said:
"Jin."
The little bird tilted its head.
"That will be your name."
Myth extended his hand.
Jin immediately moved closer and rubbed its face against his palm.
Myth smiled.
"Looks like you approve."
Louse watched the scene in silence.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
---
One Month Later...
A month had passed since Myth found the little golden bird in the mountains.
During that time, many things had changed.
Myth continued training every day.
In the mornings, he practiced physical training and spear techniques taught by his father. In the afternoons, he spent long hours in the library studying magic with his mother.
His progress was also evident.
His magical cultivation had reached Level 3 Mage, while his body had firmly stabilized at the level of a Second-Rank Warrior.
But there was another change.
Jin had grown.
She was still a small bird, but her body was considerably larger than when Myth first found her. Her golden feathers remained extraordinarily hard, and her speed had become even more astonishing.
Myth often had to run just to keep up whenever Jin flew around the gardens.
On that particular day, however, something different happened.
The gates of Kiran Mansion opened.
Horses entered through the main road.
Behind them, dozens of mounted knights advanced in formation.
Their armor was covered in dust.
Some bore minor injuries, though none appeared seriously wounded.
At the front of the group rode Aleric Kiran.
He wore heavy armor and carried his spear on his back.
After weeks away from home, he had finally returned.
"Lord Aleric!"
The servants rushed to greet him.
Thyrus was among them.
The old butler bowed respectfully.
"Welcome back, my lord."
Aleric dismounted.
"Thank you, Thyrus."
His gaze swept across the estate.
For a moment, he remained silent.
Then he drew a deep breath.
"Finally home."
That was when a small figure came running down the path.
"Dad!"
Myth ran toward him.
Aleric smiled.
"My son."
Myth stopped in front of him.
"You're back!"
Aleric rested a hand on his head.
"I'm back."
Myth looked at his father's armor.
"So... was there really a war?"
Aleric remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he shook his head.
"Not exactly."
Myth frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Aleric slowly walked toward the mansion.
"We received an urgent request for assistance from the border. Everything suggested that a major battle was about to begin."
He removed his gloves as he walked.
"But when we arrived, the situation was very different."
"Different?"
"Yes."
Aleric looked at his son.
"The enemy army was there, but it never advanced."
Myth fell silent.
"So they didn't want to attack?"
"It would seem not."
Aleric sighed.
"For weeks, we kept troops stationed on the border waiting for an attack that never came."
Myth looked surprised.
"So all of that was pointless?"
"Not entirely."
Aleric smiled faintly.
"At least it showed that our family was prepared."
He continued walking.
"But I believe that mobilization had another purpose."
"What purpose?"
Aleric narrowed his eyes.
"Before we departed, several reports began circulating."
"Reports about what?"
"A very powerful magical beast had apparently been spotted in that region."
Myth became attentive.
Aleric continued:
"We don't know exactly what kind of beast it was. Only that several experts were pursuing some creature."
"Experts?"
"Yes."
Aleric nodded.
"Among them were people affiliated with the Radiant Church."
Aleric's expression turned slightly irritated.
"Those people do whatever they want whenever they think something might benefit their church."
Myth remained silent.
Then he asked,
"Did they find the beast?"
Aleric shook his head.
"We don't know."
He stopped before the entrance of the mansion.
"When we arrived, there were already signs of a battle. But no corpse of the creature was found."
Aleric looked toward the sky.
"Perhaps it managed to escape."
Myth said nothing.
His hand unconsciously touched the little golden bird perched on his shoulder.
Jin remained completely calm.
Aleric barely paid her any attention.
To him, she was still only the little bird his son had found.
"Anyway," Aleric said, "the matter seems to be over."
He looked back at Myth.
"And you?"
"Me?"
"How was your training while I was away?"
Myth's eyes sparkled.
"I reached Level 3 Mage."
Aleric stopped.
For a moment, he was speechless.
Then a smile spread across his face.
"Already?"
Myth nodded.
"Mother taught me a lot."
Aleric chuckled.
"I knew your mother would be a good teacher."
He placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"But don't think I'll let you neglect your warrior training."
"I didn't!"
Myth protested immediately.
Aleric laughed.
"Good."
The two entered the mansion.
At that moment, Myth still did not know that his father's return marked the end of a brief period of peace.
Within about a year, he would begin leaving the safety of Kiran Mansion.
His father intended to take him across the family's lands.
Myth would need to learn about the cities, villages, fortresses, and people that he might one day have to protect.
But for now...
He still had much to learn.