I had been lying on my little bed, daydreaming as always. My tiny mind was full of grand fantasies—flying through the sky, wielding magic, defeating monsters. So excited was I by my imagination that I kicked my legs a little too hard… and tumbled right off the bed.
"Ahhh—!"
I landed awkwardly, my right leg twisting beneath me. The sharp pain brought tears to my eyes. I clutched my leg, wailing, unable to stand.
The sound of my crying quickly brought my mother rushing into the room. "Alex!" She scooped me into her arms with practiced swiftness, gently laying me down as she examined my injury. Her brow furrowed, but then her expression steadied.
"Don't worry, sweetheart," she whispered, pressing a warm hand to my leg.
Then she began to chant. Words flowed from her lips—foreign, melodic, and rhythmic. As she spoke, a soft golden glow blossomed from her palm. The warmth spread across my skin, sinking deeper until it wrapped around the ache in my bone.
I froze, stunned by what I was seeing.
Light. Real, shimmering light, glowing with power.
I had read countless fantasy novels in my previous life, but to witness magic firsthand—it was beyond words.
Within moments, the pain was gone. My leg, once twisted and throbbing, felt perfectly fine. No mark. No bruise. Nothing.
My mother smiled when she saw my wide-eyed, slack-jawed expression. She patted my head lovingly. "Like what you see?"
I nodded furiously. "What… what is that light?"
Her smile widened, though she also looked a little exasperated. "That, Alex, was healing magic. I used my mana to heal your wound."
Mana. The word made my heart skip. Of course, I had suspected as much. In all the fantasy novels I'd devoured in my past life, mana was the foundation of magic. Still, hearing it confirmed in this world—it sent chills of excitement down my spine.
"What is mana?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
Mother's lips curved into a knowing smile. "You're too young to learn about such things right now."
But I refused to let the matter drop. I pouted, stubbornness written all over my little face.
She sighed, clearly torn between her instincts as a parent and my unrelenting curiosity. Finally, she gave in. "Fine. If you truly want to know, then prove to me you can learn. Master reading and writing first. Only then will I give you the books that explain mana."
I nodded so fast my head nearly bobbled off my shoulders. "Teach me, Mama!"