The eve of my sixteenth birthday should have been a celebration, yet unease gnawed at me. Tomorrow I would leave home, as tradition demanded, to prove myself in the world beyond our village.
Aeola, my stepsister, had already reached the same age, but custom bound her here until I—the eldest son—took my first steps into manhood. That evening, as we gathered firewood with my younger brother Luhan for the feast my parents prepared, my thoughts wandered so far that I barely heard his cry until he shouted my name.
I turned, and my blood froze. A massive polar bear loomed from the shadows, its breath curling in the frigid air, hunger burning in its eyes. Instinct surged through me. I seized the hatchet from the stump where I had left it, cursing my lack of mantra—the essence needed to forge a mana core and wield the powers of this world. With a desperate swing, I blocked the beast's strike, shoving Luhan aside. Training from our village's chief combat fighter guided my movements as I rolled clear of its next blow.
Then another figure emerged. This bear was unlike the first: claws and fangs carved from dense ice, fur shimmering as though dusted with eternal snow. A Class C Ice Bear. My heart clenched. I knew I could not defeat such a creature.
But instead of striking us, it turned on the polar bear, slashing its back with a single, lethal blow. The beast collapsed instantly. The Ice Bear's eyes—brown with a hint of hazel—met mine, searching for recognition. And then, before my astonished gaze, Aeola revealed herself, de-transforming into her human form.
Luhan rushed forward, throwing his arms around her. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" he cried.
Aeola laughed softly, tapping his nose with her finger. "It was no problem." She glanced at me, her smile playful. "But your brother was brave too, wasn't he?"
Without hesitation, Luhan turned to me, his face glowing with pride. "Of course he was! No one can beat my brother."
I smiled despite myself, though I reminded him quietly, "But I don't have a mana core like everyone else."
He shrugged, eyes shining. "I wouldn't care if you lost a leg or an arm—you'd still find a way to win." He hugged me tightly, and I caught Aeola's grin, her hazel eyes locking with mine. I looked away, unsure if the heat rising in my face came from the cold or from her gaze.
Back home, Luhan eagerly recounted the tale, his words tumbling over one another. My parents listened with indulgent smiles—until their eyes turned on me.
"How could you fail to defeat a polar bear?" my father demanded, his voice sharp.
"I didn't," I answered quickly. "Aeola simply arrived first."
The look he gave me was enough to freeze the blood in my veins. Fire seemed to burn in his eyes, a reminder of the man he was.
My father—the so-called King of Combat—was as unyielding as iron. A relentless teacher, a constant pain, yet a figure I could never truly resent. My respect for him outweighed every frustration.
That night, family and friends gathered, offering farewells and blessings. The feast was lively, yet beneath the laughter and warmth, I felt the weight of tomorrow pressing down on me.
The evening unfolded with elegance, each guest adorned in their finest attire. I wore the clothes my parents had carefully chosen for me, carrying myself with the manners my father had instilled since childhood. I greeted everyone with courtesy, spoke with measured politeness, and even joined a few card games at the long table. Yet, each loss drew subtle looks of disappointment from my peers, and with every glance, the sting of failure deepened.
I had tried so hard to impress them, but recognition never came. The weight of that silence pressed against me, leaving me restless and wounded. Only Aeola offered comfort. She appeared radiant in a flowing red dress that perfectly complemented her lightly tanned skin, auburn hair, and a face of striking beauty. The sight of her sent a shiver through me, though I cursed myself for it—she was my sister, and such thoughts were forbidden.
We spoke quietly, as we often did, and rekindled the childhood dream we had shared: to one day set out together on an adventure beyond the confines of our home. When the party finally ended, I slipped away unnoticed, locking my chamber door to ensure solitude. Exhaustion claimed me, and I drifted into sleep.
The dream came swiftly. Flashes of masked figures clashed in battle, their immense powers shaking the very air. I strained to see their faces, but the masks concealed all. Then the ground vanished beneath me, and I plummeted into a vast chasm. A voice rose from the darkness—heavy, clear, and terrifyingly deep, yet soothing in its resonance. It made my skin crawl and my body tremble.
"Do you want this power? Do you crave it?" the voice thundered.
My thoughts raced, tangled in fear and desire.
"I can feel the hunger inside you," it continued. "If you truly desire this power, then hurry… find me."
The fall ended abruptly. I struck the ground and awoke with a start, drenched in cold sweat. Reality returned only with the sound of fists pounding furiously against my locked door.