Chapter 6 – Aric
The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy as Aric stepped out of the hidden safehouse. The forest seemed alive in ways he had never noticed before—the rustle of leaves, the shimmer of distant mana, even the air itself tingling with latent magic. It was as if the world had eyes, watching him carefully.
"Father said to observe first, react second," Aric murmured to himself. His hands tingled with anticipation, the energy of the surrounding forest awakening something deep within him.
As he walked, he noticed a strange ripple in the air ahead—a shimmer, faint but distinct, like heat rising off stone. Curious, he approached cautiously. The system status hovered in his vision, glowing softly: Magic Anomaly Detected: Level 2.
Aric's heart raced. He had only read about these anomalies in Daren's texts. They were small, unstable pockets of raw magic—harmless if approached correctly, but dangerous if ignored. One misstep could mean a painful surge, or worse, drawing the attention of the system.
"Alright… let's see what you are," he whispered, lowering his hands to the ground. He tried to sense the pattern of mana, following the flow with the methods his father had taught him. The shimmer pulsed irregularly, like it was alive, resisting his touch.
Suddenly, the anomaly erupted. A small tendril of raw magic shot toward him, crackling with uncontrolled energy. Aric leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding it. The tendril struck a tree, splintering it into shards.
"Focus, Aric," he said aloud, steadying his breathing. He remembered Daren's advice: magic is not only energy; it is thought, intention, and timing. He extended his hands again, not to grab or suppress, but to guide the anomaly's flow.
The tendrils of energy twisted and recoiled under his influence, spiraling around him harmlessly before settling. A faint glow lingered, and the anomaly dissipated into the air. Aric exhaled, a small smile forming.
"First success… but minor," he muttered. He knew that even this small victory was important. Understanding the anomaly meant understanding how raw magic behaved outside the system's constraints—and that knowledge could save lives in the future.
As he continued his journey, he encountered several more anomalies. Some sparked minor magical clashes, with floating shards of crystal or bursts of elemental energy darting unpredictably. Aric quickly adapted, practicing rapid control, evasion, and manipulation. Each encounter honed his reflexes, his awareness, and his ability to sense magic as if it were an extension of his own body.
By midday, he paused by a small stream. His arms and legs ached slightly, not from fatigue, but from concentration. Each anomaly had tested him, forcing him to push beyond instinct and into deliberate action. Yet he felt a growing confidence—the raw connection to the world's magic, unfiltered by the system, was intoxicating.
"This is only the beginning," he whispered, staring at the reflection of the forest in the water. "If I can master even this small amount… what will I be capable of when the world's secrets are fully mine?"
Above him, a hawk cried, and Aric realized he had been walking in a single direction for hours, following the anomalies almost unconsciously. The system's control over magic was pervasive, but here, outside its immediate watch, he could feel the edges of freedom—and the first taste of what it meant to act independently.
Aric clenched his fists, determination setting into his bones. Every encounter, every anomaly, was training. Every misstep was a lesson. And one day, when the system, the gods, or anyone else tried to impose limits on him… he would be ready.
The forest whispered around him, alive with unseen power. Aric felt it flow into him and through him, like a river joining the sea. And for the first time, he understood a fraction of what Daren had been trying to teach him: mastery over magic was not just control, but harmony, patience, and perception.
He rose to his feet, gaze firm. "The world doesn't get to dictate my path. I will learn. I will grow. And I will be ready for whatever comes next."