I thought about yesterday all night, turning over the memory of that adventurer's words. Compared to him, I was nothing but a kid yelling in the dark.
But then again… I was just a kid. What was I expecting, really? To match grown adventurers with my twig arms and shaky magic? Idiot.
No—I needed to stop sulking. I couldn't compare myself to them yet. The only thing I could do was start training, one step at a time.
And as luck would have it, with Jason's birthday tomorrow, the entire mansion had turned into chaos. Maids were stringing up ribbons, polishing the halls, dragging tables back and forth. Nobody had the time to babysit me. Perfect.
Finally, some freedom.
"Alright… training starts now," I muttered, shutting my door. "Let's go with something basic. Pushups."
I lowered myself to the floor, bracing my tiny arms. And—collapse. My nose smacked against the carpet.
"Ow—dammit!"
Okay. Sit-ups then. Except my legs were too short to lock in place and my stomach muscles screamed after one pathetic attempt.
I flopped onto my back, panting. "This body sucks…"
Still, giving up wasn't an option. So I tried running. I slipped out into the backyard, passing decorated hallways filled with ribbons and flowers, workers weaving garlands into the garden hedges. I managed three laps before collapsing onto the grass like a dying animal.
"Fine," I wheezed. "Physical training is… postponed."
Which left magic.
But I couldn't just guess my way forward. I needed someone to actually teach me.
That's when it hit me. Jason. He was already learning magic. If anyone could help, it was him.
Jason looked surprised when I asked him, hesitant even. But in the end, he agreed. Maybe he didn't want to look like the stingy older brother.
We slipped into the training hall on the left wing of the mansion—a massive chamber where the guards drilled every morning. The floor bore the marks of their effort: scratches, scuffs, and faint dents from countless sparring matches. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting long beams across the floor.
Jason stood in the middle of the hall, arms crossed. "So, first lesson. Do you know what mana is?"
I puffed out my chest. "Mana is the fuel for magic."
His brow lifted. "Where'd you hear that?"
"…Secret," I whispered, leaning closer. "I sneaked into the library and read it in a book."
I almost laughed. Really? He said that it was some big secret. Everyone in the house knew Lucian slipped into the library whenever he got the chance—Father, Mother, even I had caught him sneaking. But the way his eyes sparkled, so proud of himself… yeah, I wasn't about to point it out. Let him have this one.
"Anyway," he said, "that's correct. But there's more to it. First, you need to understand two things: your mana pool, and your mana control."
I nodded quickly, eyes wide.
"You can't increase your pool yet. That'll come with age and proper training. For now, all you can do is practice control. Watch closely."
Jason closed his eyes, his breath steadying as he drew mana into his hand. Slowly, it gathered, forming a sphere the size of a small bowl. It was translucent, like a bubble catching the light, thin ripples shimmering across its surface as if the air itself were bending around it.
I couldn't help but gape. "That's… awesome."
He grinned, chest puffing a little with pride. "This is just the basics. Once you get better at it, you'll be able to make the sphere denser."
Oh that is so interesting, I couldn't have learned about it in that 'Magic 101' book.
"My turn."
Jason stepped closer. "Alright. First, focus on the mana flowing through your body—feel it moving inside you—and then gather it into your palm. Like I did."
I pressed my hands together, shut my eyes, and focused. Mana. Pool. Control.
Something stirred deep inside me, tugging at my chest. I pushed, strained— And then, floating above my palm, a tiny droplet of shimmering mana appeared. Barely the size of a raindrop.
I gasped. "I did it!"
But before I could celebrate too much, it popped like a bubble.
Jason's jaw actually dropped. He stared at my empty palm, then back at me. "…What the hell? On your first try?"
I blinked. "That's bad?"
"That's—no, that's insane!" Jason burst out, his usual pride cracking into excitement. "I couldn't do that until weeks of practice. You… you're seriously something else, Lucian."
A flush of pride warmed my chest. But I didn't miss the way Jason's expression shifted—proud, happy, and maybe even a little amazed.
"Still," he said after a pause, crossing his arms to hide his grin, "don't let it get to your head. You need to keep at it. Even if the Church hasn't given you your system yet, being able to manifest mana already is… well, it's rare."
"System?" I tilted my head.
Jason looked at me. "Remember when you turned one? The Pope himself came for the blessing ceremony."
"…Ah. I kind of remembered it."
Jason continued "That was just the start. When you turn eight, you'll go to the Church, perform the awakening ceremony, and only then will you actually receive your system. That's how it works for everyone."
I scratched my cheek, forcing a grin. Hehe. If only Jason knew.
The truth was, I already had a system. But telling him is out of the question.
That was my little secret.
I asked him eagerly. "So, can I train with you?"
Jason hesitated again, then sighed. "Maybe we should tell Father. If he agrees, you can study with me… at least while I'm still here."
My brows furrowed. "What do you mean 'while you're still here'?"
He looked at me like I'd forgotten something obvious. "The academy, remember? I'll be leaving for the capital next month."
"Oh…"
Jason's tone softened. "But I'll come back every year. So don't worry."
"Understood." I smiled—really smiled. Not out of habit, not to hide anything, but because at that moment… I just felt like it.