Theo woke up with a stretch and a bright smile, rubbing his eyes as the sun peeked through the window.
"Good morning, Kael!" he chirped, face glowing with innocence.
Kael, floating in the corner of the ceiling like a hungover ghost, forced a twisted smile that looked more like a demon chewing glass.
"G-Good morning… Theo," he grunted, still adjusting to the concept of cheerful greetings.
Theo washed up, changed into his day clothes, and skipped toward the door, only to be swarmed by a bunch of excited children at the gate.
"Come on, Theo!"
"Let's go play!"
"Hurry up or you'll be 'Theo the Slow' again!"
Kael hovered above them, unimpressed.
Look at these pathetic little gremlins… all happy and dumb. I can't wait for the day Theo turns on them. He'll crush their smiles underfoot like the cockroaches they are. Bwahahaha…
His maniacal laughter echoed only in his head as he floated alongside the kids, invisible and bored.
The gang set off to their favorite field outside the village, laughter and footsteps bouncing off the trees. But soon, they were met by a group of children from the neighboring village.
At the center of the rival group stood a smug, sharp-tongued 7-year-old with expensive clothes and greasy, combed hair. He looked like someone who read one book on superiority and made it his entire personality.
"I awakened my mana core last week," he announced, loud enough for the trees to hear. "Soon, I'll be heading to the academy while you dirtbags rot here forever. Peasants."
Javy, one of Theo's closest friends, narrowed his eyes. "Shut up, you arrogant prick! I hope you die of diarrhea!"
Theo stepped forward, panicked. "Guys, let's not fight—"
"Oh? You wanna test me?" the boy sneered, eyes gleaming with pride. With a snap of his fingers, he lifted Theo into the air using his mana.
Gasps erupted all around as Theo hovered mid-air, legs dangling.
"Theo!!"
"Put him down!"
"What are you doing?!"
But Theo just laughed joyfully. "Wow! Can you lift me even higher? This is fun!"
The arrogant boy blinked, unsure if he was being mocked or challenged. His ego flared.
"You little—! Fine. Let's see how high your smile stays!"
With another surge of mana, he pushed Theo even higher into the sky, the boy now well above the treetops.
Kael, who had been enjoying the chaos like it was a theater show, suddenly stiffened.
He's actually... getting high. Like dangerously high. This wasn't part of the joke.
Kael's eyes narrowed, conflict sparking in his mind.
Should I let him fall? Taste some pain… plant the seed of hatred? That's what he needs. That's how it begins. But...
He looked at Theo, arms wide, laughing freely with the clouds around him — so unbothered, so pure.
Kael scowled.
Ugh, this is disgusting.
And just as Theo's giggles turned into slight worry — as the wind picked up and the mana user below started panicking about losing control.
The wind howled louder now. Theo's hair whipped across his face, his tiny hands flailing as he looked down.
Far below, the arrogant boy's smirk was gone — replaced by panic. "I-It's not coming down! I can't… I lost control!"
Theo's laughter faded, replaced by a quiet fear.
"M-Mama…!"
Kael floated nearby, eyes locked on Theo as he began to descend — but not gently. He was falling. Fast.
And then… it happened.
Just before Theo's body hit the treetops, his chest glowed faintly — a pale blue light flickered within him, like a heartbeat pulsing out of sync with the world.
Kael's eyes widened.
No way... That's—
A surge of raw mana burst from Theo's body like a soft explosion of wind. Leaves spiraled outward. The fall slowed… and then stopped. Theo hovered, eyes wide, his entire body glowing in faint, celestial threads.
It wasn't refined. It wasn't controlled. But it was powerful.
The ground went quiet.
Theo slowly floated down, landing softly like a feather. He blinked in awe, then looked at his hands, still glowing faintly.
"Whoa… what was that?" he whispered.
Kael stared at him, stunned.
He awakened his core…
The arrogant boy fell on his knees. "T-That was… m-mana? He awakened?!"
The other kids rushed toward Theo, eyes wide, jaws dropped.
"You're amazing!"
"That was so cool!"
"Did you see that light?!"
Theo smiled nervously. "I-I just didn't want to fall..."
Kael floated above, his arms crossed, hiding the tiniest, most reluctant smirk.
Great. Now the little brat has awakened. This just made things a lot more... Fun.