In this world, almost every living being is born with a spark of energy that allows them to use magic and innate abilities. It is called "Vara."
Every living being has energy within them—but not all possess "Vara."
That energy flows like a second blood—unseen, yet real. Some use it to light small flames. Some call for rain. And some never even realize they have it.
And then… there are energies that humans were never meant to touch.
Astra knew that.
He had nearly lost his arm once for being too greedy with power.
Morning light slipped through the cracks of the wooden window.
Astra slowly opened his eyes. The simple ceiling greeted him, just like it had for the past six years. He stared at it for a few seconds, letting his mind fully wake up.
The dream about fire and screams didn't come this morning.
Thankfully.
He got up and opened the window. The air of the port city brushed against his face—the salty scent of the sea mixed with damp wood and cooking smoke.
Yucon was already alive, even before the sun had fully risen.
After washing his face, he headed to the small kitchen. Food was neatly set on the table—warm soup, hard bread, and a small piece of paper.
Astra picked it up.
"Before you go to work, don't forget to chop some trees outside the walls. We're almost out of firewood. —Emma"
A faint smile formed on his lips.
Emma was always like that. Strict. Organized. And thinking about everything.
He walked to his younger sister's room and knocked lightly.
"Yuki. Wake up. If you're late, I'm eating your breakfast."
The door slowly opened. A girl with purple hair appeared, her face blank, still half asleep.
"Okay…"
Yuki hadn't changed much in six years. Her face remained calm, her expression rarely shifting. But Astra knew that calm didn't mean she wasn't hurting.
They ate without saying much.
The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was just normal.
Six years had passed since that night.
Emma was now a city guard, wearing a uniform with Yucon's emblem on the left side of her chest. Astra worked odd jobs at the port—carrying crates of fish, helping ships dock, anything that paid.
But that wasn't his real goal.
He trained every day.
He wanted to become an adventurer.
Not for fame.
Not for money.
But for something far darker than that.
.
.
.
After breakfast, Astra grabbed his iron axe and the large basket he usually used to carry wood.
"Wash the dishes, okay?" he said casually. "If anything happens, run to the neighbor's house."
Yuki nodded quietly.
Astra's gaze softened for a moment before he turned and left.
He was always worried about leaving Yuki alone. The world could turn cruel too quickly.
The stone road felt warm under the sunlight.
Merchants were opening their stalls. Children ran around. Guards stood watch at the gates.
Astra gave a short nod to one of them before passing through the massive wall that separated the city from the forest.
The moment his feet touched the outside ground, the atmosphere changed.
Quiet.
The forest around Yucon wasn't completely wild—the guards regularly hunted there. But still, the shadows between the trees never felt friendly.
Astra stepped in.
The deeper he went, the dimmer the light became. Thick leaves blocked the sun. Moss clung to old tree trunks.
He could feel the natural magic in the air—a subtle flow drifting around him.
Pure energy.
Some people would get dizzy if they stayed too long in a place like this.
Others… would explode from the inside.
Astra took a slow breath, steadying himself.
He chose a large tree.
On purpose.
He could've picked a smaller one. But his body needed pressure. Pain made him feel alive.
His first swing struck the trunk.
The vibration ran up to his shoulder.
Second swing.
Third.
Fourth.
Sweat started to drip. His palms turned red.
He didn't use any physical enhancement. Not today.
He wanted to make sure his strength was still his own—not something else's.
A loud crack finally echoed.
The tree collapsed with a heavy rumble, sunlight breaking through a new gap in the canopy.
Astra let out a long breath.
Then—
Crack.
He froze.
Not a tree.
Footsteps.
Slow. Heavy. Unhurried.
Something moved behind the shadows of the trees.
Astra didn't turn right away.
His grip on the axe tightened.
He felt something familiar.
The smell of metal.
And a faint… dark aura.
A small smile formed.
"If it's just a goblin," he muttered, "then today's your unlucky day."
He slowly turned.
And for a brief second, the world felt like it held its breath.
From behind the trees, a small figure stepped out, limping slightly.
Dull green skin. Pointed ears. Yellow eyes darting wildly.
A goblin.
Not a big one. Not a group. Just one.
Astra exhaled softly.
"Alone? Seriously…"
The goblin growled, gripping a rusted dagger. It charged without strategy—pure instinct.
Astra didn't step back.
He lowered his stance slightly.
When the distance closed—
He reinforced his legs for just a split second.
The ground beneath him cracked slightly.
His body moved faster than the goblin's attack. His axe swung in a short motion—not a wide slash, just a precise strike to the side of its neck.
A dull thud.
The goblin staggered.
Astra twisted his body and slammed the handle of his axe into its head.
The creature collapsed.
Silence returned to the forest.
Astra stood still for a few seconds, making sure there was nothing else.
No extra aura.
No footsteps.
Just the wind.
He looked at the goblin's body.
Six years ago, he might have trembled.
Now, he didn't.
He shrugged lightly.
"Thanks for showing up alone."
Astra dragged the goblin's body into the bushes, just to avoid attracting other monsters. Then he went back to chopping wood, this time at a more relaxed pace.
Before long, his basket was full.
The Journey Home
His steps out of the forest felt lighter.
The afternoon sun was beginning to lean westward, slipping through the leaves. The air felt warmer than it had in the morning.
As he stepped past the tree line, he glanced back once.
The forest was silent.
As if nothing had happened.
The back gate of the city could be seen in the distance—smaller than the main gate, usually used by hunters and woodcutters.
An old guard stood there, leaning on his spear.
"Astra. Got plenty of wood today?" he asked casually.
"Not bad, sir," Astra replied, adjusting the basket on his shoulder.
The guard nodded, not checking too strictly.
Astra wasn't a stranger here.
As soon as he passed through the gate, the atmosphere changed again.
The sound of wooden wheels on stone roads.
Vendors shouting about fresh fish.
The smell of baked bread from a small shop at the corner.
Children ran around laughing, chasing a cloth ball.
Astra walked slowly along the stone path. His shoulders felt a bit sore, but it wasn't unpleasant. More like a reminder that he was getting stronger.
The evening sunlight touched the clay rooftops, casting a soft orange glow across the port city.
Some soldiers passed by, wearing uniforms with Yucon's emblem. Astra glanced at them briefly.
Maybe one day, he wouldn't just walk past them.
He would walk beyond them.
But for now—
He was just a teenager with an axe and a basket of wood.
He arrived in front of their small house.
Before opening the door, he paused for a moment.
The sound of a spoon clinking against a bowl came from inside.
Yuki must be preparing something.
Astra let out a quiet breath.
For today, the world was still calm.
And for now… that was enough.
He opened the door.
"Yuki, I'm home."