The candlelight flickered softly in the room, casting faint shadows across the wooden walls. Silence filled the air—an uneasy silence between a boy and his mother. Yinzu stared at her, his eyes searching for an answer that never came.
“Mother, why are you so quiet?”
“…”
“What’s inside that book, really?”
His mother lowered her gaze, the warmth in her voice fading into something distant.“Yinzu… I can’t tell you yet. Because—”
Knock. Knock.
A sudden knock cut through the air, sharp and urgent.
“Hello? Is this the room of Laura Glynne?”
“Ah, yes. Please wait a moment.”
The door creaked open.“What is it?”
“There’s a letter for you, ma’am. Are you the recipient?”
“That’s right. Thank you for bringing it.”
Yinzu tilted his head, curiosity stirring.“What is it, Mother?”
“It’s a letter from my family back home,” she said, her tone lightening.
“A letter? Does that mean… we can go home to your family?”
“Yes, Yinzu. We’ll leave tomorrow morning, all right?”
“Alright, Mother.”
“Good. Then let’s get some rest.”
As she put out the candlelight, Yinzu’s eyes lingered on the dark ceiling.“Tomorrow, huh? There’s still time… maybe I should train a little more.”
He clenched his fist, determination flaring quietly in his chest.“I have to strengthen my control… and uncover the truth about my magic affinity.”
The night was cold and clear. Yinzu sat on the rooftop of the inn, eyes closed in deep focus.
“Absorb the mana around you… let it flow through your body.”He exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the chill air.“Good… my body’s getting used to this technique. The mana enters my claim seal and leaves traces behind. My body’s beginning to remember.”
He recalled something from the book he had bought earlier — the part about spellcasting.
“To use magic, a caster must first memorize the spell’s chant,” he murmured. “But if one truly masters it, words become unnecessary.”
The book said nothing about ice magic — only the basic elements. Yet it also mentioned that a mage could create their own spells by weaving mana through their own pattern.
“I just need to find my pattern.”
He lifted his head toward the sky, where the stars were fading behind drifting clouds.“What kind of spell could I create… with ice?”
He stretched out his hand, palm open.“Calm your body… reach for the mana… form the pattern… imagine the spell…”
A chilling mist began to gather before him — thick and pale, swirling like a living breath of frost. The air turned sharp and biting.
Yinzu grinned.“I did it! I actually— h-hhhhaaa— it’s freezing! Why am I the one freezing?”
He rubbed his arms, shivering uncontrollably.“Isn’t ice supposed to be my affinity? This doesn’t make any sense…”
He stood up, trembling as his breath fogged the night air.“I need to get back inside… I need a blanket. No— I need Mother’s hug right now…”
...
Inside the Skylark estate.
Vaskal stood before the head family’s chamber, his knuckles tapping gently against the heavy door.When it creaked open, a cold breeze slipped out from the darkness within.The only source of light inside was the faint flicker of dying candles.
He lowered his head respectfully.“Vaskal, paying my respects to the Head of the House.”
A deep voice answered from behind a grand chair, its back carved with elegant patterns.
“How did your investigation on the boy go?”
“He answered my questions properly, and provided everything he knew about the incident that night.”
“I see… Did he tell you what caused that chaos?”
“Yes. He said a man wearing a black cloak and a bird-shaped mask used fire magic to destroy and burn the servants’ quarters. He also stated that Young Master Kamael stopped him using the Golden Sphere Necklace.”
“Oh? So that explains Kamael’s severe condition. And this man with the bird mask… Who is he, exactly?”
“It seems, sir, that he belongs to an unidentified criminal organization.”
“A criminal organization…?”
“The boy also said the man was holding a book after he detonated the building.”
Aelfric fell silent.The room froze—an eerie quiet swallowing the air.
“A book? So those rats have finally sniffed it out.”
“Rats, sir?” Vaskal asked cautiously.
“Yes… Rayner.”
Aelfric called out, and the head butler stepped forward from the shadows.
“At your service, my lord. What are your orders?”
“Fortify every corner of the estate. And deploy all of our eyes and ears throughout the Empire.”His voice grew colder, dripping with restrained fury.“Find the one who dared attack our household. They must learn they have chosen the wrong enemy.”
...
The next morning, in front of the inn in the town.
Yinzu and his mother were preparing to return to their hometown. They were waiting for the carriage that would take them on their journey.
While waiting, Yinzu went to the market to look around and search for clues about learning mana control.
“Hmm… where should I even start looking? Why is there not a single shop selling the book I need? Do they never study magic here? This isn’t even a big city—it’s just a small town in Skylark territory… and yet its market takes up almost half the town. So why… why is there no book about mana?”
As Yinzu grew frustrated, a whisper came from a nearby alley.
“Psst, hey. Kid.”
“Hm? Who’s that? Someone’s calling me.”
“Yeah, you. Come here.”
Yinzu approached, curious.
“What is it, uncle? Why are you calling me?”
“Are you looking for something? Maybe I can help you.”
“Really? Then… do you have a learning book for mana control?”
“A book about mana, huh? Oh, you want to become a caster. Of course I have one.”
The man opened his cloak and pulled something out.
“Here, a book about spellcasting.”
“Wow… you keep a lot of books inside your clothes. This one looks great. How much?”
“You ask the price right away? You’re not like most kids.”
“Yeah yeah, just tell me the price. My mother is waiting.”
“Hehehe. Alright then, how about… 300 driel?”
“Hah? Are you joking? That’s twice the price of a standard learning book!”
“Hehe, but… you can’t find one in this town, right?”
“Tch… fine.”
Yinzu pulled a pouch of coins from his pocket and handed it over.
“Here. Take it.”
“Hoooh, you sure have a lot of money. Pleasure doing business with you.”
…
“Haaah… I think I just got scammed by a weird guy.”