The sky was clear this morning. A gentle breeze swept through the air, birds chirped merrily, and the sound of flowing water from the stream near our house could be heard in the distance.
With all this peace and tranquility, I hoped the world would remain as peaceful as it was now.
Since Mom had left and I had nothing else to do, I decided to spend my time reading.
Well, technically, I was already reading books. The problem was that I had read every single book on our bookshelf. They were all about fairy tales, history, and the stories of our predecessors and warriors who had fought to protect their people against those world-destroying monsters.
I was starting to wonder which path I should take in the future.
There were two paths I could choose from.
I could become a Caster or an Aether.
These were the two main paths I could pursue.
First, there were CASTERS.
Those who followed this path could control, store, and use the energy found in nature, known as Mana. They could manipulate the elements of this world, making them float in the air or hurling them at their enemies to attack.
The VENTUSIE family, for example. According to what Mom had told me, they could control the element of wind.
It was as if the wind itself worked for them. They could make objects fly through the air and attack their targets with powerful gusts of wind.
I had once seen the third young master, LUCAS DE VENTUSIE, training.
He attacked a target from a distance by sending a stream of wind shaped like a drill toward it.
The moment it struck, the straw dummy was left with a hole right through its stomach.
That sight was truly amazing, especially when I looked at it closely.
Next, there were AETHERS.
Most people who followed this path became fighters of some kind, whether soldiers, knights, or bodyguards.
This path strengthened the user's body beyond the limits of an ordinary person.
Unlike Casters, who drew upon and controlled energy from the world around them, Aethers used the energy within their own bodies.
This energy was called Aura.
I didn't know much about either of these paths. I had only learned the basics from the books I had read, and even those books covered nothing more than general information about the two paths.
As for where the energy of each path was stored, both were kept in a special organ near the user's heart called the CLAIM SEAL.
According to the books, choosing one of these two paths required meditation.
And if you were wondering why a person could only choose one, well, think of it this way: why do we only have one heart?
The Claim Seal was connected to the user's heart. Forcing the body to develop more than one Claim Seal would put an enormous strain on the heart.
Besides, a Claim Seal could only store one type of energy.
There were even some people who couldn't form a Claim Seal of their own but still insisted on using energy.
Their bodies would eventually be corroded from within.
"I wonder which path I'll end up choosing. Should I become a Caster and follow the path of the family my mother serves? Or should I become an Aether and follow in my father's footsteps, even though I don't know anything about him?"
As I sat there, lost in thought, my eyes wandered toward a barbell and a wooden training dummy in the corner of the house.
"Maybe I should just try training my body for now."
I sat down and looked up at the sky.
After all, there was no harm in trying, right?
Trading Market — Astria City, Skylark Territory
The market in the city center was bustling with activity.
Crowds of people filled the streets. Merchants shouted to advertise their goods, while customers haggled over prices, each trying to get the better deal.
Laura, Kane's mother, was caught right in the middle of it all.
She was carrying several shopping bags, far too many for a woman to manage on her own.
"Hmm... I think this should be enough for the event. I still have to cook and finish my work once I get back to the estate."
Laura let out a tired sigh as she looked at the things she had bought.
"L-Laura? A-Are you finished shopping? We'll be heading back to the Skylark family's estate soon," asked Uncle Ralo, the carriage driver.
"Ah, Mr. Ralo. I've finished buying everything I need. We should wait for the other servants before we leave—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Laura noticed a bookstore at the corner of the market.
"Hey, Mr. Ralo? How much longer until we leave?"
"W-Well, probably another thirty minutes or so. Why do you ask?" Ralo replied as he loaded the shopping bags into the carriage.
"That's good, then. I need to go somewhere for a moment. There's something I forgot to buy."
With that, Laura left the carriage and made her way through the crowd toward the bookstore she had spotted.
She walked with a spring in her step, her expression brightening as she approached the shop.
Buying Kane a book for his birthday might be a good idea, she thought.
He loves reading so much, and lately, he's been interested in learning about the different energy paths.
Well, he is growing up, after all. It's only natural that he'd become curious about these things.
Kring!
A small bell rang above the door as Laura entered the old-looking bookstore.
She hoped she would find a suitable book for Kane.
"Oh, hohohoho! What brings such a beautiful lady to this old man's humble bookstore?"
An elderly man greeted Laura from inside the shop.
"Hello, sir. I've come here to look for a book," Laura replied politely.
"Hohoho! Everyone who comes here is looking for a book, madam. It's not as though they're here looking for trouble!"
The old man chuckled with a smile.
"I'm sorry, sir. I'm looking for a book to give my son for his birthday."
"A birthday present, you say? He must be a diligent young boy. Hohohoho!"
"Hmm, yes, he is. He's loved reading ever since he was little. Now, he's become interested in learning about the different energy paths. He's also old enough to start studying such things, since he's already ten years old."
"Hmm... That makes sense. A boy his age would naturally want to learn about such things, especially when he'll be attending a school soon. Hohohoho!"
"Yes. Time really does fly. In another two years, he'll be entering an academy. I hope he'll be able to get into a prestigious one."
"Hohohoho! I'll pray for his success as well. He sounds like a diligent child."
The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Wait here for a moment. I believe I have a few books that would suit him in the back room. Let this old man find something suitable for your son."
"Thank you, sir. I'll pass your good wishes along to him."
Kring!
The bell above the door rang again.
Laura turned around and saw a man entering the bookstore.
He had a scar beside his mouth, red eyes, and long, flowing red hair.
His face and hands were covered in blood.
"Haaaah... Why are there so many people making me angry today?" the man muttered, his face twisted with anger.
"Oh, hohohoho! You're back, young man?" the shopkeeper greeted him.
"I'm going inside to rest."
"Hmm? Hey, did you get into another fight with those merchants from the Astrovo family? At least clean yourself up before you go to bed."
"Shut up, you old geezer."
"Good grief..."
The shopkeeper shook his head before turning back to Laura.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that, madam."
"Oh, it's alright, sir. Everyone has their own problems," Laura replied gently.
"Thank you for understanding. That young man was actually my nephew. His parents were killed by bandits while transporting goods to a neighboring city."
The old man sighed.
"Perhaps that's why his temperament has become a little... extreme."
"Really? In that case, I pray that his parents may rest peacefully. Thank you for the book, sir. Here's the payment. I should hurry back before the others leave without me."
Laura took the book and handed over the payment.
"Thank you for stopping by. Take care on your way home."
"Thank you, sir. Goodbye!"
With that, Laura left the old bookstore and hurried back toward the carriage, hoping she hadn't kept the others waiting for too long.