Year 1, Spring, Second Month, Second Week.

Night had fallen, and Karl lay awake, restless in the discomforts of his humble bed. The makeshift straw mattress offered little relief from the hard, cold ground below, the occasional sharp stone prodding his back. Such was the norm in the village, where sleeping arrangements were far from comfortable. The villagers, often too exhausted to notice, made do with what little they had.

Ideas raced through Karl’s mind like a storm. He was on the verge of learning magic, but his heart was heavy with the predicament of the village. The villagers, no strangers to hunger and exhaustion, now faced a dire situation. Failing to meet the tribute would mean offering their children as compensation, a fate worse than slavery in the Serion Kingdom.

The Kingdom regularly required slaves for the Mage Houses or war efforts. However, they had learned that indiscriminate enslavement often created rebellions. Thus, they devised a system that coerced the commoners into believing they could avoid enslavement through hard work, a cruel illusion that sometimes went too far and pushed villages to rebel anyway.

Karl pondered aloud, "Master AI, can I become strong enough to protect the village from the Kingdom?"

‘-- In time, potentially. However, would it not be wiser to empower the village itself, so that it no longer requires your protection? --’ Master AI responded in its usual precise, emotionless tone.

Without hesitation, Karl asked, "Can we teach magic to everyone?"

‘-- It is not necessary to manipulate magic energy personally to utilize it. The essence of Alchemy lies in empowering even the most powerless. Remember, Alchemy's potential extends beyond combat prowess. --’

Karl nodded, absorbing the AI’s words, "So, how do I help the village? Should I start teaching them Alchemy? I still have so much to learn..."

‘-- The decision to teach lies with you, but you must keep my existence a secret. Your current situation is an opportunity to apply Alchemical principles. Creativity and thorough analysis are the key. Begin by addressing the immediate concerns before considering larger challenges. --’

‘-- Remember, Alchemy can achieve more than just crafting weapons. The larger the task, the greater the need for materials and skill to complete it. --’ Master AI advised, guiding Karl to consider the broader applications of his newly acquired knowledge.

***

“Mommy, I’m hungry!” the little girl’s voice quivered with hunger and sadness.

With eyes brimming with tears, her mother replied in a choked voice, “I know, sweetheart, but we don’t have... sob... sob...”

The girl, trying to be brave, insisted, “Mom, don't cry! I'm not hungry, really! You never cried when daddy was here…”

Her mother drew her close, offering a feeble smile. “Come here, my love. Daddy's in a better place now, resting peacefully... Go to the Chief’s hut, okay? Young Diana is there; you can eat with her.”

Wiping away her tears with tiny hands, the girl ran off, her heart suffering but hopeful for a meal.

‘This is too much... When Don fell ill and couldn’t work, we barely made it. And now, with him gone... Why did they have to do that to him? That monster! If I could just lay my hands on that Captain... But no, I must focus. My little girl needs me...’

***

“Here, take this! Do you need more help?” Toni asked with a gentle smile as he handed the water bucket to the blushing girl. He often found himself assisting the younger children at the well. Despite his own struggles with the shortage of food, Toni was blessed with a robust constitution, much like his father and grandfather before him. He wasn’t particularly tall but was solidly built. His strength never became a tool for intimidation; rather, he was known for his kindness, always ready to lend a hand. The Chief had even exempted him from the communal fieldwork so he could assist Old Bill in repairing huts and tools around the village.

The midday sun was high in the sky as Toni finished watering the seeds in his family's field. His afternoon was reserved for helping Old Bill collect stones. On his way to Bill’s hut, he noticed Karl, unusually occupied with picking herbs at the field's edge. Curious, Toni made his way towards Karl.

“Hey, Karl! What’s up with the herbs? We usually don’t bother collecting anything outside the fields,” Toni called his friend out but the boy didn’t seem to hear him.

Not getting an answer, he decided to try a different approach, “Hey, Karl. I heard about your ceremony... I know you…”

Karl looked up, a bit startled, “Oh, hey Toni. I’m just picking some white grass... I’ve moved on from the Mage thing. I’m training in Alchemy now.”

Karl was usually reserved, but he felt at ease around Toni, one of his closest friends. They had grown up as neighbors, their families' fields shared a border, leading to daily conversations. Toni had his own registration ceremony two years ago and was soon to join the adults working in the magic fields.

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Contrary to Karl, Toni was a practical thinker, focusing on the tasks at hand rather than dwelling on what couldn’t be changed. When he heard about the tribute increase from his parents, he felt frustrated but quickly channeled it into being more reliable and hardworking.

As Karl shared some knowledge of Alchemy, Toni's interest was unexpectedly piqued. The idea of magic that could be shared for the benefit of their village made him excited. With a promise to return and lend a hand, he headed off to assist Old Bill, his thoughts still dancing around the potential of helping the village.

Later that afternoon, Toni returned, looking for Karl. Not finding him in the fields, he eventually discovered him near his hut, laboriously pressing the herbs with a stone. Understanding the need for a substantial amount of sap, Toni offered his help with the task.

‘-- Now that you have prepared some ink, we shall commence your training. --’ Master AI's voice echoed with its usual precise, emotionless timbre.

‘-- Let’s first understand the basics. Magic energy permeates everything, though its concentration changes from place to place. To harness it, one must use their spiritual energy, which varies in quantity and nature among individuals. --’

‘-- Consider an analogy with farming tools. Imagine magic energy as a tool, say, a hoe. Your hands represent your spiritual energy. You use them to wield the hoe, and your actions with it depend on your intent, proficiency, and technique. Stronger hands and arms, a superior quality hoe, and greater skill in using it will result in a deeper hole dug. --’

‘-- Without deviating too much from our goal, let’s briefly explore two prevalent types of Mages. Elemental Mages possess a spiritual energy affinity with one of the elements, allowing them to manipulate that elemental energy. Spellcasters, on the other hand, use their spiritual energy to directly manipulate magic energy. To cast a spell, or to give a specific command to magic energy, a spellcaster must precisely align their intent, magic symbolism, and spiritual energy. Only when these three elements are in perfect harmony can a spell be successfully cast. --’

Karl listened intently, absorbing the AI's explanation. The analogy helped him visualize the concept, linking the abstract idea of magic to something tangible and familiar. Understanding these foundations was the first step in his journey to master Alchemy and potentially safeguard his village.

‘-- To truly grasp Alchemy, one must understand symbolism. It acts as a language understood by magic energy. Another term for it is a Key; possessing the correct Key allows you to unlock specific magical effects. In Alchemy, we create these Keys in advance to execute magical commands later. The most basic application of Alchemy involves imprinting a Key onto an object. When energy encounters the Key, the intended magical command activates. However, it's crucial to ensure there's sufficient energy to carry out the command. --’

‘-- The imprinting process involves drawing on the object with magic ink while simultaneously infusing the physical drawing with the conceptual magic Key through spiritual energy. You need to craft the Key both physically with ink and spiritually with energy. --’

Karl's brow furrowed in concentration, absorbing every detail of the explanation. The concept was clear, but the practical application seemed challenging.

‘-- Try closing your eyes. Imagine snow – visualize its appearance. But don’t stop there; feel the snow. Does it not evoke specific sensations? Coldness? Smoothness? Texture, scent – all these are part of its concept. If you were to imprint snow, you’d draw it with ink while channeling your spiritual energy into the drawing, infusing it with the concept of cold. --’

‘-- Now, let’s start with exercises to refine your ability to channel your spiritual energy and form these concepts. --’

Karl nodded, the analogy helping him bridge the gap between the abstract idea of Alchemy and its tangible execution. He braced himself, ready to embark on the most difficult and exciting journey of his life.

For the economically strained Caiset, opportunities for trade were scarce, as their location wasn't a regular stop on any Merchant's route. However, their proximity to the main eastern Path meant that occasionally, a Merchant would pass through. When this happened, families who had managed to save a bit of flour would eagerly trade for oil or other basic necessities.

One villager, in a stroke of luck, once discovered an energy crystal near the magic fields' path and traded it for much-needed supplies. Although a low-quality (LQ) energy crystal didn't hold much value, for the impoverished villagers, it was a significant find.

The journey to the magic fields took about an hour on foot. Spring offered the most favorable working conditions: the ground was comfortably warm and the midday sun was pleasantly mild.

On this day, as was customary, a stream of villagers hurried along the Path toward the magic fields, their minds burdened with the increased tribute demands. Resigned to their fate, their only choice was to work harder.

As they neared the magic fields, one man, driven by desperation, strained dangerously close to the edge of the Path. His eyes were fixed on a glimmering crystal just beyond the safe boundary.

‘It’s within reach. If I grab it, I can trade it for extra food, or keep it as leverage if they come for Dana... There aren’t many trees here, fewer beasts, surely. I’m fast enough... For Dana, I’ll risk it...’

Ignoring his fellow villagers’ cries of protest, he dashed off the Path toward the shining crystal. His heart beat wildly as he snatched it from the earth, not wasting a second before sprinting back to the safety of the Path.

But something was wrong. The air was thick with panic and terror. He could sense something pursuing him, an ominous presence that sent shivers down his spine. The villager ran with all his might, the fear of the unknown driving him forward.

In the underbrush, a feline predator lay in wait, its eyes trained on the unsuspecting group of villagers. It remained cautious, sensing an unfamiliar deterrent among them. However, when one villager strayed from the safety of the group, the beast's instinct took over. Presented with such an opportunity, it felt compelled to strike.

As the villager dashed back towards the Path, the feline pounced. Its speed was a blur, easily outpacing its human prey. Closing the gap, it leaped with lethal precision, its fangs targeting the exposed neck. The impact was swift; the villager's body collapsed under the force, his skin offering no resistance. The beast reveled in the warm, rich taste of blood.

***

“Damn,” Karl muttered under his breath, finally giving in to exhaustion.

‘-- An Alchemist must cultivate patience. Mastery of Key drawing is a slow process. Moreover, you have started with Runes, which are inherently more complex than Arrays. Your spiritual energy is depleted; rest is necessary. Tomorrow, you will be better equipped to continue. --’ Master AI's voice was steady and reassuring, guiding Karl toward much-needed rest.

He lay down, his mind still buzzing with the challenges of Alchemy, but his body demanded the rest it sorely needed. With a deep sigh, he closed his eyes, allowing sleep to envelop him, with the confidence that a new day would bring hope.