The early dawn light crept through the small cracks of Rey's window, bathing the room in a faint orange glow. He stretched, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and for a moment he thought he was back in Zenith Village, waking up to the sound of birds and his mother's voice. But as he sat up, the distant creaking of wagon wheels and the muffled noise of merchants preparing for travel reminded him where he was. Senju village.
When he stepped out, Kyawey, Shoko, Akame, Noir, and Flio were already gathered near the carriage, bags tied down and horses ready.
"You're awake," Kyawey greeted with his usual grin. "Good timing. We're heading out."
Without hesitation, Rey climbed aboard. He didn't ask where or why. His heart already knew—his journey was moving forward, whether he was ready or not.
"Next up…" Flio announced from the driver's seat, his voice steady as the wheels began to turn. "The capital of Glodaria."
The journey was long, stretching across four days of winding paths, dense forests, and open plains. Rey sat near the back of the carriage, watching the scenery pass by as if the world itself was shifting faster than he could keep up.
A silver river glittered beneath the sunlight, running alongside the path before disappearing into the woods. Deer bounded gracefully in the distance, their movements almost like fleeting shadows. Birds soared overhead, their cries echoing across the forest canopy. Every so often, Flio would stop the carriage, letting the horses rest while they shared meals on the roadside.
The first night, they ate roasted boar meat by the campfire, Shoko humming softly as she tended the flames. Rey barely spoke, listening instead to the voices around him. On the second day, they crossed a wooden bridge spanning a gorge so deep Rey couldn't see the bottom. By the third, they were all exhausted, sleeping under the open sky, with only the stars as their blanket.
On the fourth day, as they rolled closer to their destination, Rey noticed something strange.
Dozens of carriages were traveling the same road, many marked with merchant symbols or noble crests. Horses clattered across cobblestones, guards in armor marched beside some of the wagons, and traders shouted as they kept their goods steady.
Rey leaned toward Kyawey. "Are they all heading to the same place?"
Kyawey gave him a nod. "Yeah, kid. Everyone's bound for the capital."
And then, after the sun dipped low and shadows stretched across the road, the massive walls of Glodaria came into view.
Rey's eyes widened as the carriage rolled closer. Before them rose a colossal wall of cobblestone, towering so high it seemed to scrape the sky. The stones were gray but carried streaks of white, as though time itself had etched its memory into their surface. Guards patrolled the top with halberds gleaming in the sunlight, their silhouettes sharp against the evening glow.
"I guess we're here," Kyawey muttered.
The closer they drew, the slower the line became, until their carriage stopped completely.
"Why did we stop?" Rey asked.
Flio glanced over his shoulder. "We have to wait our turn. The city gate inspectors are thorough. They check every wagon—illegal goods, dangerous items, contraband. The capital's strict, and for good reason."
Rey nodded. He didn't know much about cities, but he understood rules meant safety.
After what felt like an eternity, their turn came. A guard in polished armor approached, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His voice was firm, his expression unreadable.
"Trader or merchant?"
"Trader," Flio answered calmly.
"Name and company?"
"Flio, of Flitz Trading Company."
"Papers."
Flio handed over his ID. The guard studied it carefully before finally giving a curt nod. "You may pass."
The carriage rattled forward, the iron gates creaking open with a groan that seemed to echo into Rey's chest.
He had arrived.
Their first stop inside was a tall, sturdy building bearing the crest of Flitz Trading. The horses slowed to a halt, and Flio hopped down. Kyawey handed him a rolled paper.
Flio's eyes softened as he read it, then he pulled a quill from his satchel and signed it with care.
"Well," Kyawey said, stretching his back. "That's another quest complete."
Shoko smiled. "It was nice traveling with you, Flio."
"Likewise." Flio's voice carried genuine warmth. He curled his fist.
Akame did the same, and the two fist-bumped like old friends. Noir merely gave a nod, though Rey thought he saw a flicker of respect in his usually cold eyes.
"And the boy?" Flio asked, his gaze shifting toward Rey.
Kyawey turned. "Hey, Rey. Wanna come with us? Our journey doesn't end here."
Rey thought carefully. He looked at the group—Shoko's bright smile, Akame's quiet strength, Noir's piercing gaze, and Kyawey's ever-confident grin. They had been his companions these past days, almost like a second family. A part of him wanted to stay.
But he shook his head slowly. "No. Thanks for everything, though."
Kyawey's grin softened into something gentler. "Very well then. See you around, kid."
Rey waved as the group departed, their silhouettes shrinking into the bustling streets of the capital. For the first time since leaving home, Rey stood alone.
He wandered through the capital, his steps aimless until something caught his eye: a grand building with arched windows and towering shelves visible even from the outside. A library.
The heavy oak doors creaked as he pushed them open. The inside was vast, every wall lined with books stacked higher than Rey could reach. Wooden ladders leaned against the shelves, while oil lamps lit the air with a golden glow.
A librarian with thin glasses and graying hair looked up. "If you wish to enter, child, you must pay two silver coins."
Rey nodded and handed him the fee. The man gestured him in.
Rey wandered the aisles, scanning the titles. The shelves were neatly divided—Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning, History, Numbers, Combat Theory. His fingers brushed the spines as he passed, pausing when one caught his attention. The History of Numbers. He pulled it free, tucking it under his arm along with a few others: Feeling Mana, The Basics of Magic, and Origins of the Elements.
Hours passed as he flipped through the yellowed pages. Yet nowhere did he find mention of the mark burned into his body—the glowing ∞ that appeared when his strength erupted.
Frustrated, he set the book aside and opened Feeling Mana.
Mana is the source of all life, the first line read. It surrounds every living being, a current invisible yet tangible. To feel it, one must empty their mind and listen to the world itself.
Rey read carefully, noting the three steps:
Step 1: Close your eyes. Breathe. Empty your thoughts. When tingling spreads through your body, that is mana.
Step 2: After five minutes, open your eyes. If you see colors around you, they are your elemental affinity. Red for fire, blue for water, white for lightning, black for dark. One person, one element.
Step 3: Before releasing mana in combat, train. Mana untempered is dangerous to its wielder.
Rey muttered under his breath. "Seems easy enough."
Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply. The library faded away. No footsteps, no rustling pages, no lamps flickering. Only silence.
Then—tingling. It prickled his arms, his chest, his legs, until it felt as though his entire body hummed with life. Slowly, Rey opened his eyes.
And gasped.
Colors swirled around him—red, blue, green, yellow, black, and more. They shimmered like fireflies, orbiting his body in a radiant dance.
"This…" His voice shook. "This is my mana?"
But it couldn't be. The book said every person had one element. Yet he bore them all. Fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, even darkness.
"What does this mean…?"
He snapped the book shut. Whatever this power was, it wasn't normal. And perhaps it was better others didn't know.
As the sun set beyond the horizon, painting the sky in hues of purple and gold, Rey stepped out of the library. The streets of Glodaria were alive with energy. Merchants hawked their wares, adventurers laughed outside taverns, and guards patrolled with torches in hand.
Rey stopped at a city map displayed in the central plaza. His eyes scanned the sprawling layout, overwhelmed by the sheer size of the capital.
"This place is huge…" he whispered. His gaze settled on an inn marked nearby. "Guess I'll try there."
He followed the cobblestone streets until he found it—a modest two-story building with a sign reading Gloran Inn. The sound of laughter and clinking mugs spilled out from within.
Inside, only a handful of adventurers sat at tables, drinking and sharing stories. The air smelled faintly of ale and roasted meat.
A woman at the counter smiled warmly. "What can I do for you, sir?"
"Hello," Rey said politely. "I need a room."
"For ten days, that'll be five silver coins. For a month, three gold."
"I'll take one month." Rey slid the coins across the counter.
The receptionist nodded, handing him a brass key. "Second floor, third door to your right."
"Thanks."
When Rey entered, he found the room simple but cozy—a bed tucked in the corner, a wooden desk by the window, and a small oil lamp flickering with gentle light. He dropped his dagger by the wall and collapsed onto the bed with a sigh.
"Tomorrow," he whispered, staring at the ceiling. "Tomorrow I'll try to take a quest… if my adventurer card isn't banned here."
Sleep came quickly, pulling him into dreams filled with swirling colors and whispers of a power he still couldn't understand.