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Nerya had taught Kael basic enchantments and mana control, but she had finally hit a wall; there was not much left for her to teach. Kael was on the threshold of the 2nd Circle, and after seeing her son enveloped in that dark mana, Nerya had become deeply uneasy about continuing his training. The help of a professional was now a necessity. She had written a letter to one of her relatives in the Eastern Kingdom—someone she had cut ties with years ago but still trusted.
Two days later, when Kael woke up in the morning, he saw a stranger sitting in the living room next to his mother, radiating a sharp scent of the wind. The man smiled as he saw Kael: — "So, this is our young man, eh?"
"My son, this is your uncle Zephyros," Nerya said. "He is a 7th Circle Royal Mage and an academic. I haven't mentioned our relatives to you; I had my reasons, but one day you will understand." Kael did not press further, trusting his mother. Nerya continued: "Your uncle Zephyros is a far better magic user than I am, a genius in his field. He will be the one training you from now on."
Zephyros laughed, "You flatter me, Nerya." Kael was astonished: "Mother, your techniques are also great; I've developed myself through your teachings, but..." Nerya cut him off: "My son, my teachings have a limit. I showed you the basics, but I cannot teach you like an expert in magical theory and knowledge. Trust your uncle Zephyros."
Kael was in awe. His mother was indeed talented, but Zephyros held a presence that felt as though it could tear the sky apart. In Kael's eyes, Zephyros saw the gaze of an old friend—Nerya's mysterious husband. Zephyros knew Nerya's husband well. Normally, a Royal Mage like him wouldn't come from the capital to train just anyone; mages working under the Kingdom are more untouchable and independent than most aristocrats, taking orders only from the King. Zephyros had traveled all the way from the Eastern Kingdom to this village because he was curious about what kind of boy that man's son had become. He wondered if the tragic separation of Nerya and Kael would be worth it for this child. Nerya had told him about Kael's recent incident, which is why Zephyros had brought a Sealing Ring with him.
"Come now, young man..." Zephyros began. "I can feel the fire and that trembling darkness inside you. But in nature, no flame can escape the embrace of the wind. Show me not just your rage, but who you truly are! Stop hiding your power behind the shadows and let's see how long you can stand against the wind." With these words, he challenged Kael to a brief duel outside to test him.
Kael took a deep breath. Though he gulped in the face of his uncle's majesty, he did not step back: — "I don't think I can defeat you, Uncle... But I won't let my mother's faith in me go to waste. If you are to train me, let me show you how far I am willing to go. Please, do not withhold your wind from me!"
A Small Test: The Dance of Fire and Wind Once outside, Zephyros said, "Let's see what we have first." Kael immediately took his stance and prepared his strongest spell, the Crimson Sphere. He hurled a massive fireball at Zephyros. However, Zephyros didn't even lift a hand. He merely blew a light breath; a small current of air suspended Kael's massive fire in mid-air and extinguished it within seconds. Kael drew his axe and lunged forward, but his uncle glided past him like the wind. Kael couldn't even touch him; it was as if he were swinging at empty space. Zephyros moved like a falling leaf, dodging every strike. "Your speed is good, but your rage is clouding your mana, lad," Zephyros said, lightly pushing Kael's shoulder and sending him to the ground.
"That sorrowful determination in his eyes... Just like his father. But the fire in his heart is purer than his father's ever was. A normal child would have given up after the first strike against my wind, yet he came at me with a more determined step every time. Nerya was right. This boy is not just a talent; he is the harbinger of a storm. If we don't guide this potential correctly, even the Eastern Kingdom won't be enough to extinguish the fire he will kindle. Only fourteen... How can he remain so innocent under such a heavy burden? I must train him not just as a mage, but as a warrior. Because the world will line up to shatter that innocence," Zephyros thought to himself.
When they returned inside, Zephyros opened an ebony box engraved with ancient runes. Inside the box lay a Sealing Ring, pitch black as the night and decorated with silver chain engravings. — "This ring will only seal your dark magic. You must focus solely on your fire magic. I brought this from the Magic Research Facility. It is a Sealing Ring, specially tuned for you. You are forbidden from removing it until you reach the 6th Circle."
As Kael reached out his hand, Zephyros froze upon seeing the Moon-Engraved ring on Kael's finger. "This ring... where did you get this?" he asked in shock. Kael replied, "A gift from a friend, it's very precious to me." Zephyros remembered seeing a similar ring on the hand of an Elven Noble while serving as the King's guard during international summits, but he chose not to press the matter for now.
Before bidding her son farewell, Nerya called him to her bedroom. From a secret compartment under the floorboards, she pulled out a sword wrapped in black velvet. As she unsheathed the blade, the room seemed to go silent for a moment. On the hilt was a dragon motif with purple eyes that looked almost alive. "This is your father's sword," Nerya said. "This is a Magic Sword. It is not made of ordinary steel, but forged from a special ore that absorbs mana. Your father gave it to me, and now I give it to you. Do not draw it from its scabbard until you are at the threshold of the 6th Circle; you cannot control it in your current state."
Kael strapped the sword to his back and hugged his mother one last time. "Don't worry, Mother, I will come to see you as soon as possible," he said. Before he left, Nerya drew an invisible charm on her son's hand; a bond that allowed her to feel his heartbeat. This way, no matter how far away he was, she would be able to know his vital state.
As the carriage pulled away from the village, the sun was setting like molten gold on the horizon. Watching from the window, Kael saw the silhouette of the forest slowly fade. Inside the carriage, Zephyros warned him: "So, your mother gave you the sword... That sword is a special weapon used by your father; it is unlike any ordinary magic sword. Do not draw it until you have developed yourself." Kael, watching the road, asked: — "Uncle, you know my father, don't you? I don't really know him myself, but I will never forgive him for abandoning us and leaving us like that."
Zephyros looked toward the horizon with a sigh: — "To forgive or to hate, you must first know the truth, lad. It wasn't just about 'abandoning' you. But remember; a mage's greatest enemy is rage. If your mind is not as clear as a lake, both that sword and your magic will consume you."
Zephyros noticed his nephew sitting across from him, clutching the sword tightly to his chest. — "Is that sword feeling heavy, young man? I'm not just talking about its weight, but the meaning it carries."
Kael turned his head from the window to look at his uncle: — "A little... When my mother said this was my father's sword, I felt as if I were carrying a stranger on my back rather than just a weapon. I don't know him at all, Uncle. Can a person hate someone they've never even seen?"
Zephyros leaned back with a deep sigh: — "Hate feeds on the void, Kael. Because you don't know him, you're trying to fill that void in your heart with anger. But your father... when he drew that sword, even the wind would change direction. Your mother wasn't trying to protect you from him; she was trying to protect you from the weight of that world."
Kael frowned, his voice dropping slightly: — "My mother is sick, Uncle. Not knowing where my father is while she suffers every day is what truly kills me. If he was that powerful, why wasn't he with us?"
Zephyros smiled, pointing to the sealing ring on Kael's hand: — "Some people must sacrifice those they love most to save the world. Others set the world against them just to protect their loved ones. To understand which one your father was, you must first decide what your own power will serve. When we reach the Eastern Kingdom, you won't just learn magic; you will learn who you are fighting for."
Outside, the sun had completely vanished, replaced by a silver moonlight. In the darkness, the carriage continued its journey toward Kael's destiny. Kael listened silently to the rattling of the wheels. Ahead of him lay a year of hellish training, and behind him, a past full of secrets. As the first star shone in the sky, Kael was no longer just a village boy, but a candidate for a Magic Knight.
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