Chapter 7: The First Lessons of Destiny

Kael woke up to the sound of Elias's voice. Having grown up in the village, waking up before dawn to gather wood in the forest had made him accustomed to early rising. Normally, by this hour, he would have already grabbed his axe and headed into the woods. However, the scent of expensive incense instead of pine, and the feel of silk sheets instead of rough blankets, served as a sharp reminder of where he was.

Still, Elias's formal tone felt heavy to him. "Elias," Kael said sheepishly. "Could you please just call me 'Kael'? The word 'Master' makes me feel very strange. Please don't take it the wrong way."

Elias bowed his head with a slight smile. "Very well, Kael. Master... Zephyros is waiting for you at breakfast."

Kael quickly got ready and went downstairs. The breakfast table was as lavish as ever. Looking at the variety on his plate, Kael grumbled to himself, "I'll never get used to this luxury."

Zephyros brightened up when he saw the energy in his nephew. "Good morning, Kael! Did you rest well?"

"Oh yes, Uncle. I feel refreshed and vigorous. I can give all my energy to my training."

Zephyros let out a laugh. "Ha ha! That's the spirit I want to see! Grimm will be here shortly. Look, Grimm can be cold and harsh with you, but he's not a bad man. He is a close friend of mine; trust me. All I ask is that you endure his training with patience."

"Don't worry, Uncle. I'll do my best."

When they reached the training grounds after breakfast, Grimm was already waiting for them in the corner. The moment Kael saw the man, he noticed a calm but terrifying power within him. He seemed to radiate an invisible, cold wind. His posture was as straight as a blade, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. Under the man's gaze, Kael felt for a moment as if he were being cut by a sword, yet he maintained his stance.

"Hey Grimm, my old friend! Good to see you," Zephyros said cheerfully.

Grimm replied with his usual surly manner: "Ahh Zephyros... I can't believe you called me here to train a brat. Aren't you the Royal Mage? I'd think you have more important things to deal with."

Zephyros smiled and reminded him of the letter. When Grimm had read the details, especially what was written about the boy's father, he couldn't believe it. The legendary S-Rank swordsman of the Eastern Kingdom had decided to break his retirement for this boy because the father's name had piqued a deep curiosity in him.

Grimm sized Kael up. "Now, listen to me carefully. My training is rigorous; you can quit whenever you want. I don't like forcing knowledge on people, and I despise those who lack willpower. Is that understood?"

"Understood, sir! I will follow your teachings without giving up, you can be sure of that."

Grimm took a deep breath. "Fine... Take this wooden sword, let's see what you've got."

Kael gripped the wooden sword, enchanted himself, and rushed at Grimm. He was sure he had struck when he swung the sword, but all he cut was Grimm's shadow. In an instant, Grimm appeared behind Kael and landed a light blow on his back. Kael immediately recovered and lunged again; this time, he threw a fireball first, then made a move from the right. Grimm brushed the fireball away like a fly with his sword, slipped past Kael's blade, and struck again.

"Using magic in a sword fight? That makes you slow," Grimm said in a voice as cold as ice.

Kael didn't give up; he ignited a ring of fire around them, creating a dense area of smoke. The moment he saw a silhouette within the smoke, he lunged, but his sword only cut through the mist as the silhouette vanished. A second later, Kael felt the cold press of a wooden sword against his throat.

"That's enough. Your stance is flawed, your grip is wrong, and your movements are inconsistent. Besides, your sword is on fire."

As Kael panicked and tried to extinguish the burning wooden sword, Grimm put out the fire with a single flick of his own blade. "You can call me Master; there's no need for 'sir'. Closing my vision with fire was clever, but you restricted your own vision too. What were you thinking?"

"Y-yes, I acted without thinking."

"Look," Grimm said seriously. "Mages can sense mana and life energy. If you learn this, you'll know where your opponent is even without seeing them. But first, we must strengthen your body. You will work every morning exactly as I tell you. Understood?"

"Yes, Master!"

Leaving Grimm's side drenched in sweat, Kael showered and came out to hear Elias's voice: "Master Pyros has arrived for your magic training."

When Kael stepped into the garden, he saw Pyros, the 6th Circle Fire Mage, in his crimson robes. Pyros radiated a warmer but equally authoritative aura. "Master Pyros, I hope I haven't kept you waiting."

Pyros greeted him with a smile. "Hello, lad. I'm here for Zephyros's sake; your uncle is a highly respected figure in the world of magic, appreciate him. Come, let's first examine the basic spells and the fire books I've brought."

As they sat in the gazebo, Elias brought them fragrant teas and sweets. Pyros laughed heartily, admiring Elias's tea and treats. Then, he placed the measurement sphere on the table.

"Are you going to check my magic type?" Kael asked. Pyros was surprised. "You know about this?"

Kael explained that his mother used a similar sphere, but he was hesitant to touch it. "Well, Master... When I did this at home, darkness covered the room. My mother barely stopped it."

"Don't worry, lad. I am a 6th Circle mage; I won't let any harm come to you."

Kael reluctantly placed his hand on the sphere. At that moment, the birds in the garden went silent, the sunlight vanished, and a pitch-black, oppressive darkness covered the surroundings. This darkness was nothing like the black magic Pyros had witnessed before; its intensity was so pure and powerful that Pyros began to struggle for breath. The Chief Guard Varkas, who was on patrol, felt the sinister aura radiating from the gazebo, put his hand on his sword, and rushed into the garden.

"Pyros! What is this? Stop it, you'll suffocate everyone!"

Pyros forced Kael's hand off the sphere. He had known Kael possessed dark magic before coming to the manor; Zephyros had warned him in the letter to be careful during training. Pyros had thought, "How strong can a 14-year-old boy be, even with dark magic?" but after what he had just seen, he understood why Zephyros had written that letter. As the darkness dissipated, everyone took a deep breath.

Pyros spoke gravely: "Kael, your dark magic is too powerful to control. Never take off that sealing ring, or your dark magic will consume you, and you will turn into a soulless monster."

Kael was terrified by Pyros's words; the last thing he wanted was to unconsciously harm those around him. Pyros continued: "But you are close to the 3rd Circle in fire magic, which is very good for your age."

For a long time, Pyros explained magic classes, mana capacity, and magic types. "Ninety percent of people use elemental magic, and two percent use light. But remember, lad; those who use light are not always good, and those who use darkness are not always evil. In the Central Kingdoms, there are people who look at light magic users as gods—complete nonsense. How you use magic is up to you."

As the sun set, Pyros stood up. "That's enough theory for today. Read the books I gave you. Once your magical foundations are set, we'll head to the field. I'll show you how to use fire magic for both defense and offense."

Kael bid him farewell, saying, "Thank you, Master. I won't let you down."

The day had been exhausting for Kael, not just physically but spiritually. When he went to the dining room, he found his uncle Zephyros in his usual spot, pushing aside his parchments.

"How was your day, Kael?" Zephyros asked, gesturing to a chair. "Judging by the dirt on your face and the fatigue in your eyes, Grimm and Pyros didn't go easy on you."

Kael sat down and took a deep breath. "It was actually very good, Uncle. I realized I'm only at the very beginning with Master Grimm. Master Pyros reminded me how dangerous my dark magic is, but he also said I'm close to the 3rd Circle. I feel much stronger and ready."

Zephyros looked at Kael seriously. "Dark power... Did Pyros use the measurement sphere?"

"Yes," Kael said, touching the sealing ring. "Even Varkas came; the place turned gloomy in an instant. Master Pyros said if I don't learn to restrain this power, I might lose my soul one day. The thought of hurting my loved ones unconsciously really scares me."

Zephyros took his nephew's hand. "It's good that you're afraid, Kael; it shows you are still a person of conscience. But remember, that power is a part of you, not your enemy. Pyros and Grimm are helping you for this very reason."

Kael nodded. "Master Grimm taught me today to sense the opponent not just with eyes, but with mana. I can't do it yet, but I will work hard to improve myself. Uncle, I believe I will succeed."

Zephyros smiled and put a piece of meat on his plate. "That's my nephew. Tomorrow will be even harder, so finish your food and get some good rest. When that wooden sword in the training area is replaced by a real blade one day, you'll look back on today's hardships with a smile."

Kael felt the weight within him lighten slightly at his uncle's words. After finishing his meal with appetite, he went to his room. As he lay in bed, every part of him ached with fatigue. Touching the sealing ring on his finger, he closed his eyes. He felt he belonged here now; instead of fear, his heart was filled with curiosity for tomorrow's training.