Nick stood before a stack of thick fallen logs, his palms burning with swirling crimson flames. Steam hissed where fire met moisture in the cool evening air, rising like faint fog around them.
"We just have to push it," Nick declared proudly.
Miguel stared at his own scrawny arms. "Push it? With this body? Bro—these arms are decorative."
Nick flicked his forehead. "Not with your body, idiot. With mana."
He spoke the word like it held answers to every problem in existence.
Miguel raised an eyebrow. "We're already using magic, but… I don't feel special. Aren't reincarnated protagonists supposed to get cheat abilities? Status windows? Talking swords?"
Nick puffed his chest. "Exactly! Whenever a person reincarnates in novels, some ridiculous cheat shows up. And guess what? We do have one."
"What? Bad jokes?"
"No," Nick grinned. "Infinite. Mana."
Miguel blinked slowly. Nick continued, waving his hands dramatically.
"We used magic ALL DAY yesterday. You shot enough water to drown a goldfish farm. I punched fire into everything that moved. Yet neither of us felt out of mana. That doesn't happen. Even mages in stories collapse after like five spells."
Miguel paused, replaying yesterday in his head. His eyes widened.
"…Huh. That actually makes sense. Bruh, I knew you were a true magic nerd."
Nick rubbed his nose smugly. "Haha, I always knew how grea— WAIT. Did you just call me a nerd?"
Miguel coughed, already changing the topic. "Anyway… we still can't lift stones or logs with these tiny seven-year-old bodies."
Nick smirked. "I have a solution."
He pointed at a log, cleared his throat dramatically, and shouted:
"WINGARDIUM LAVIOSA!"
Miguel burst into laughter. "What is this, Harry Potter fanfiction—"
His laughter died as the log floated smoothly into the air.
"…Bruh."
Nick burst out laughing. "Incantation was a joke! Turns out, if you wrap mana around an object, you can move it. No chanting required. Mana basically works like invisible hands!"
Miguel's expression twisted instantly. "…Well, since YOU figured out levitation, YOU can finish the shelter. I'm going on a stroll."
Nick snapped his head toward him. "Wait, WHAT? Dude, I can't do this alone! And what do you mean night? It's still evening!"
Miguel waved mockingly. "Sayonara."
He vanished between the trees before Nick could chase him.
Nick groaned, grabbing his hair. "Damn traitor… I hope a squirrel bites him."
Then he got back to lifting logs, muttering curses but smiling anyway.
Miguel wandered aimlessly through the forest, the sky tinted orange. The fading sun filtered through branches, painting everything amber. After fifteen minutes, he found the source of a distant rumble—a waterfall.
It cascaded down polished rocks, spraying mist into the air. The pool below was crystal clear, reflecting the sky like a shaken mirror.
Miguel's jaw dropped. "A waterfall? Nature really outdid itself."
He kicked off his makeshift boar-hide clothes, shivering slightly.
"It feels like I haven't bathed since I got reincarnated… and I stink."
He jumped in.
The icy water shocked every nerve. Miguel gasped, but then sighed deeply. "Okay… okay… cold… but amazing."
He floated, letting the current carry him.
But then—A prickle crawled up his neck.
"…Something's watching me."
He scanned the treeline. Nothing.
His heart raced. Muscles tightened.
"Maybe… I'm just tired," he muttered. "Cutting wood all day, magic, running… yeah."
He dunked his head under water, blowing bubbles. Minutes passed. The eerie feeling faded.
Eventually, Miguel dragged himself out, dried off slightly, and slipped his clothes back on. The forest felt… quiet. Too quiet.
He began jogging back, that crawling sensation returning.
Halfway, he broke into a sprint.
Branches slapped his shoulders. Leaves crunched beneath bare feet. He didn't stop until he saw the clearing.
Nick stood proudly beside a half-complete wooden structure—walls stacked neatly, thick logs reinforcing the corners. Sweat glistened on his forehead, but his grin was shining.
"HAHA! Look upon my masterpiece! Ninety percent complete! Not bad for two hours. Just needs a roof!"
Miguel bent over, panting. "Damn… someone was following me."
Nick's grin settled into a calmer expression. He patted Miguel's shoulder.
"Relax. Probably a boar. Or some animal. Forests are like that."
Miguel looked into the dark tree line. "…This one didn't sound like a boar."
Nick exhaled slowly. "Well, whether boar or ghost, we need sleep. We're dead on our feet."
"How are we supposed to sleep comfortably knowing something might pounce on us?" Miguel asked.
Nick's grin returned, sly this time. He leaned close to Miguel's ear and whispered.
Miguel's expression shifted from nervous… to confident. "Yeah. That could work."
He stepped forward, raising both his hands. Mana rippled through the air—shimmering like distortions in heat. Moisture pulled from the air, the river, the soil.
Water gathered.
Slowly, a thin translucent dome formed around their clearing—about sixty meters across. It wasn't a thick barrier, but the surface vibrated delicately. Any disturbance would ripple through Miguel's senses like a bell.
He exhaled, sweat forming. Then, he did something more—he formed a second ring, farther out at about eighty meters. A wider detection net.
The outer ring would warn him earlier. The inner would confirm direction and strength.
Nick whistled low. "A double alarm barrier? Smart."
Miguel flexed his fingers. They tingled from mana output, but he felt fine. Infinite mana was unfair—and glorious.
Nick placed a hand on his shoulder. "Feels like you leveled up."
Miguel smiled faintly. "Feels like my instincts leveled up. Something's definitely stalking."
Nick stretched. "Well, thanks to those rings, we'll know if anything steps foot inside."
Miguel nodded. "If anything touches the outer ring, I'll feel a tug. Inner ring? I'll know exactly where."
Nick cracked his knuckles. "And then we blast it."
Miguel chuckled. "Yeah. Preferably without getting eaten."
They worked together to place a few flat logs overhead for temporary shelter, balancing it like a crude slanted roof. Not perfect. But enough.
As night settled, the forest grew darker. Crickets chirped. Leaves rustled. Miguel felt the barriers humming—soft, like distant vibrations.
The boys lay side by side on boar hide blankets inside the half-built shelter. Their breathing slowed. Neither spoke for a while.
Finally, Nick said quietly, "Hey… happy reincarnation day, I guess."
Miguel laughed softly. "Sounds better than 'nice prison escape.'"
Silence again. Birds called in the distance. Wind swept through leaves.
Miguel broke the quiet. "You know… this feels weirdly… peaceful."
Nick smirked in the dark. "That's because I built a masterpiece house."
Miguel elbowed him. "Half-roofed shack."
"Masterpiece shack," Nick corrected, refusing to be humbled.
Miguel closed his eyes. "If something crosses the barrier, I'll wake us."
"Same. I'll blow it up," Nick murmured, drifting.
Minutes softened into an hour.
Then—Miguel's body twitched.
Ripples.
Something brushed the outer barrier.
Miguel's eyes snapped open, cold sweat forming.
"…Nick. Wake up."
Nick bolted upright instantly, flames radiating around his fists.
The forest rustled.
Miguel's heart pounded—not from fear… but anticipation.
someone… something… had followed.
To be continued ...