Alaric let out a low whistle. "You didn't just grow stronger, girl. You've turned into a proper warrior."
Leona winked. "And Kael will be next."
Kael grinned wide, his heart beating faster. That badge… he wanted one too.
Lyra returned with a tray of freshly made soup and warm buns. The aroma filled the room instantly, causing Kael's stomach to rumble.
"Alright, you can talk later," Lyra said with a playful smile, setting the food on the table. "Leona, eat up. I made these tasty buns and soup just for you."
Leona's eyes lit up. "Mother, this smells amazing!" She wasted no time, picking up a bun and taking a big bite. "So soft... and the soup—mmh!"
Kael grinned and dug in too, while Alaric chuckled, shaking his head at his daughter's enthusiasm. The table soon filled with the sounds of clinking spoons, cheerful chatter, and bursts of laughter.
It was one of those rare, peaceful moments that warmed the heart and made everything feel just right.
Once everyone had eaten their fill, Lyra gathered the dishes and headed toward the kitchen, humming softly as she cleaned.
Alaric stood, grabbing his coat. "I'll head to the market. Don't burn the house down, you two."
"Got it, Father!" Leona called back with a laugh.
Now alone, Leona leaned toward Kael, a playful glint in her eye. "Come, Kael," she whispered, beckoning him closer. "I'll teach you something interesting."
Kael's eyes lit up, and without a word, he followed Leona through the house and into the small farm behind it. The soft rustle of wind swept through the trees as they walked.
Once they reached an open patch behind the barn, Leona turned to face him.
"Kael," she said gently, "do you really want to become a magic swordsman?"
Kael nodded firmly. "Yes, sister," he said, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I want to be strong."
Leona smiled. "Good. Then today, I'll teach you the basics—how to sense mana, absorb it, and how it works in our bodies."
Kael's heart pounded with excitement. Am I really going to learn magic now? he thought, barely able to stay still.
"First," Leona said, stepping back, "watch me carefully."
She closed her eyes, and the air around them changed. It wasn't like the intense pressure Kael had felt when his father fought; this was calmer—gentle, yet full of presence.
Kael's eyes widened as he saw it for the first time: faint wisps of glowing energy flowed toward Leona from the surrounding air.
"This," she said softly, eyes still closed, "is mana. It exists everywhere—in the air, the ground, even in living beings. And we, the ones gifted with the right affinity, can absorb it."
Kael watched in awe, mimicking her stance as he listened.
"Mana that I absorb doesn't just disappear," she explained. "It travels through my body—nourishing my blood, strengthening my veins and bones—and eventually flows into my core."
Kael blinked. "Why does it work like that?"
Leona opened her eyes and smiled. "The core is like a bucket, Kael. It's where we store the mana we absorb. Some people are born with a large core—they can hold vast amounts of mana. Others have small ones and need to train hard just to hold a little. But regardless of size, the important thing is how well you control the mana that's stored."
Kael nodded slowly, taking in every word. The mysterious force he had always wondered about was starting to make sense now, and it filled him with burning curiosity.
"You try now, Kael," Leona said with a soft smile, stepping aside and giving him space.
Kael nodded. "Okay."
But inside, a storm brewed. He was excited—yes—but also nervous. After all, he wasn't originally from this world and in his past life, there had been no trace of magic.
Now, here he was, standing in a place where mana filled the air, about to do something every child in Earth would have likely dreamed of.
Is this real? he thought. Am I really going to use magic?
He closed his eyes, heart pounding. He took a deep breath and tried to clear his thoughts. It wasn't easy. Random memories, expectations, and disbelief clouded his mind, but he pushed through. Slowly, his breathing steadied. The world around him dimmed, and his awareness began to shift inward.
But after a while, he frowned. Now what?
Nothing was happening. No glow. No warmth. No flowing energy. Just silence.