The morning in Dornwald was quiet and clear.
Sunlight slowly seeped into the church's inner courtyard, illuminating the stone tiles and old columns.
Kael stood in the middle of the courtyard with his eyes closed.
He breathed deeply.
Inhale.
Exhale.
He focused on the faint warmth inside his chest.
On the thin stream of mana slowly circulating through his body.
Still unstable.
Still weak.
But becoming more obedient with each passing day.
Nearby, Rain was training.
Again and again, he repeated the strikes Father Elion had taught them.
Fist.
Turn.
Step.
Strike.
Sweat ran down his forehead, but he did not stop.
"Again…" he muttered.
Lumi sat on the steps, swinging her legs as she watched them.
"You'll both get exhausted soon," she sighed. "Let's play a little!"
"Later," Rain replied.
"After training," Kael added.
Lumi snorted.
"Boring."
At that moment, Father Elion entered the courtyard.
He stopped at the entrance and silently watched the children.
The focused Kael.
The stubborn Rain.
The bored yet caring Lumi.
"That's enough," he finally said. "That's all for today."
Rain clenched his fists in dissatisfaction.
"I can keep going."
"And that's exactly why you should stop," Elion replied calmly.
After a short rest, he called Kael over.
"Try again. Slowly."
He placed a hand on Kael's shoulder.
"Don't force the mana. Let it flow."
Kael nodded and closed his eyes.
He imagined the warmth inside him moving like a thin stream.
Calmly.
Naturally.
The flow became steadier.
Stronger.
Rain noticed and frowned.
"He's ahead again…"
Lumi giggled softly.
"Catch up."
Training continued until noon.
All three were tired, but satisfied.
During lunch, Lumi suddenly declared:
"When I become the richest merchant, I'll buy you the best swords and books!"
"Why?" Rain asked in surprise.
"So you can protect me," she said seriously.
Kael smiled.
"Then we'll have to become strong."
After lunch, the children went about their own business.
Toward evening, a stranger appeared at the church gates.
He was a middle-aged man wearing a simple travel cloak.
A worn sword hung at his waist.
His face was calm, but his eyes were too observant, as if he was used to noticing more than others.
He stopped at the gate, looked around, and quietly asked a novice:
"Does Elion still serve here?"
A few minutes later, he was led inside.
Meanwhile, Kael and Rain continued training in the courtyard.
Lumi sat nearby, feeling bored.
Suddenly, she noticed the stranger leaving the building and stopping near a column.
He looked… interesting.
Cloak. Sword. Dust on his boots.
A true traveler.
Unable to restrain herself, Lumi jumped up and ran over.
"Hello! My name is Lumi!" she said cheerfully.
The man blinked in surprise.
"Hello, Lumi."
"Who are you?" she immediately asked. "Where are you from? Where are you going? Are you an adventurer? Do you like swords or magic more? Are you strong?"
Questions poured out one after another.
Kael and Rain froze.
"Lumi…" Rain whispered. "You're going to scare him…"
But the traveler suddenly laughed.
Softly.
Kindly.
"What enthusiasm," he said. "It's been a long time since anyone talked to me like that."
He sat down on a bench.
"My name is Arden. I'm just a wanderer."
"A wanderer?" Lumi's eyes sparkled. "Does that mean you've seen the whole world?!"
"Almost," he smiled.
"Where are you going now?"
"I don't know yet."
"Why?"
"Because the most interesting roads are the ones you don't plan."
Lumi thought for a moment.
"That's… beautiful."
Arden looked at Kael and Rain.
"And what are your names?"
"I'm Rain!"
"My name is Kael."
"I saw you training. Why do you train?"
"To become strong!" Kael and Rain answered together.
Arden narrowed his eyes.
"A good goal. But remember: the greater the strength, the greater the responsibility."
Kael and Rain nodded seriously.
Lumi suddenly remembered something.
"Oh! If you're a wanderer, you must know many stories! Tell us one!"
"A story? Which one do you want?"
"Hm… About someone strong! A hero!"
Arden was silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Alright."
He looked up at the sky.
"Long ago, this empire was founded by the Mage King.
A man who mastered all elements.
He could burn a city and save it with rain.
Destroy a mountain and restore it with earth.
He could rule these lands however he wished.
But he chose to protect them and his people."
"Why?" Lumi asked immediately.
"Because he believed that power exists not to dominate, but to protect.
He united people not through fear, but through trust.
And he left behind a country that still exists today."
Rain clenched his fists.
"I'll become as strong as he was!"
Kael listened carefully.
"Remember, children," Arden said, "as I told you before: great power means great responsibility."
Lumi nodded, though she didn't fully understand.
"You're awesome!"
Arden laughed.
"Thank you."
At that moment, Elion came out of the building.
He looked at the traveler.
"It's time."
Arden stood up.
"It was nice meeting you."
He waved to the children and headed toward the exit.
Before leaving, Arden said to Elion:
"I hope you remember our conversation and will be ready. See you."
After that, he put on his hood and left.
Watching his old friend go, Elion sat in his office, recalling their talk.
"I need to meet the duke and inform him," he murmured. "I hope everything will be fine."