Chapter 3: The Quiet Years in Hage
Time moved strangely in Hage Village.
Slow.
Uneventful.
Perfect.
Years passed not in milestones, but in small repetitions—morning prayers, cracked wooden floors, shared meals that were never quite enough. My body grew, inch by inch, while my mind remained carefully restrained by Raphael's guidance.
> "Notice. Cognitive growth synchronization stable. Recommended: gradual lifting of mental restrictions."
I agreed.
Too much awareness, too soon, would only invite mistakes.
---
Asta was always loud.
From the moment he could walk, he trained.
If he couldn't use mana, he used his body. If his body failed, he screamed at it until it moved again.
Relentless.
> "Observation. Subject Asta exhibits extreme mental resilience. Statistical projection: high probability of transcending natural limitations."
Yuno was the opposite.
Quiet. Polite. Focused.
Mana responded to him like an old friend, swirling unconsciously around his small frame.
> "Observation. Subject Yuno's mana control efficiency improves without formal training."
Two paths.
Two destinies.
And me—
Walking carefully between them.
---
I learned to read early.
Not because I was special—
But because I was patient.
The church had few books. Old scriptures. Records. Faded notes about magic theory that no one in Hage could actually use.
But Raphael could.
> "Analysis. Black Clover magic system is heavily affinity-based. External interference yields instability."
So I didn't interfere.
I observed.
---
At night, when the others slept, Raphael finally spoke again.
> "Proposal. Sufficient baseline data acquired. Permission requested to activate Skill Creation – Prototype."
My heart skipped.
"Only something small," I warned.
> "Acknowledged. Designing minimal-impact utility skill."
---
Skill Created: Mana Sense (Basic)
A simple ability.
No amplification.
No enhancement.
Just awareness.
The moment it activated, the world sharpened.
Not brighter—
Clearer.
I could feel mana currents like faint drafts of wind. Weak in Hage, but present.
> "Evaluation. Skill classified as Normal-grade. Stability confirmed."
Good.
No alarms.
No fate backlash.
---
I kept it hidden.
Existence Concealment masked the fluctuations. To everyone else, I was still the quiet third child. Neither loud nor gifted.
Perfect camouflage.
---
Days turned to years.
Asta trained harder.
Yuno grew sharper.
And I—
I prepared.
> "Conclusion. Early-stage survival achieved. Future variable: Grimoire Ceremony. Probability of abnormal outcome—high."
I smiled.
Let fate come.
This time, I would be ready.
---
End of Chapter 3