Adam stared at Jordan, his hands gripping the edge of the table as though it could anchor him in the storm of revelations. His thoughts swirled like a tempest, and he struggled to piece together the fragments of this harsh reality.
“But our village,” Adam began again, his voice barely holding together. “We’ve always been peaceful. What could they possibly gain from destroying us?”
Adam is not able to understand what wrong his people and his village have done to such a big organization that they are after them and want to destroy them at any cost.
Jordan sighed deeply, the lines on his face seeming to deepen with the weight of Adam’s despair. “Child, it’s not about your village itself. It’s about the leverage your destruction provides. These clans and towers don’t act without reason. If Sword Soku Clan is targeting you, it means they see an opportunity to increase their power. Perhaps your village lies on land they want. Or maybe someone in their ranks holds a grudge against someone connected to your people. In their world, such things are reason enough.”
The people of our village do not even step out of that place, then who do they have as their enemy? Adam is thinking about all these things all the time, he is unable to understand why those people allow them to live peacefully.
Adam’s frustration flared into anger. He pushed away from the table and began pacing, his boots thudding against the wooden floor.
“This isn’t right,” he growled. “They have all this power, and they use it to destroy innocent people? Why doesn’t anyone stop them? What’s the point of having a king if he can’t protect his own people?”
Whatever frustration Adam had in his mind, he expressed it in the form of words to Jordan and asked the question that was bothering him very badly.
Jordan gave a bitter chuckle, shaking his head. “You’re thinking in terms of justice, boy. But this world doesn’t run on justice—it runs on power. The king may wear a crown, but the true power lies with the Sword Soku Clan and the Magus Tower. The royal family depends on their alliances and resources to maintain their rule. To challenge them would be to invite ruin upon themselves.”
Adam is very surprised to hear Jordan's words; he does not understand that all the rules in this world are different from what he had thought.
Adam thought that there would be someone who would care about justice but after hearing Jordan's words, his hope is also over and now he has no hope from anyone else.
Adam stopped pacing, his breath coming in short, angry bursts. “So the strong crush the weak, and no one does anything about it?” he demanded, his voice rising. “That’s the world we live in?”
Jordan watched Adam carefully, his expression unreadable. “Yes,” he said after a long pause. “That’s the world we live in. But it doesn’t have to be the world you accept.”
Adam’s eyes snapped to Jordan’s, the older man’s calm gaze piercing through the storm of emotions raging within him. “What do you mean?” Adam asked, his voice quieter now but no less intense.
After listening to Jordan, adam does not understand what he is saying and many questions come to his mind after hearing this.
Jordan leaned forward, his weathered hands resting on his knees. “If you want to save your village,” he said, his voice steady, “you’ll have to do it yourself. No one else will come to your aid.”
Adam’s brows furrowed in confusion and disbelief. “Me?” he asked, gesturing to himself. “I’m just one person. What can I possibly do against people like them?”
Jordan’s gaze didn’t waver. “You may be just one person,” he said, “but you have something your village doesn’t—potential. You’ve lived your entire life in a small, isolated place, unaware of the vast world beyond. But I can see it in you. You’re capable of far more than you realize.”
Adam’s confusion deepened, and he took a step closer to Jordan. “You’re talking about my magic, aren’t you?” he said hesitantly. “That’s why you think I can make a difference.”
As soon as adam understands that his magic is a ray of hope, he starts thinking that yes, I can save my village and my parents too, I just have to use my magic efficiently.
But adam is also confused as to how Jordan knows about his special power but he ignores it.
Jordan raised a hand, cutting him off. “Your magic is part of it,” he admitted, “but it’s not the only reason. If I were only talking about your magic, I wouldn’t bother. Compared to real magicians, your abilities are… insignificant.”
The bluntness of Jordan’s words stung, and Adam’s face twisted in indignation. “Insignificant?” he repeated, his voice rising. “What are you saying? That I’m nothing?”
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After listening to Jordan, adam feels very insulted and thinks that maybe Jordan doesn't know what his magic can do. Adam feels that he has to show it to Jordan.
Jordan met Adam’s glare with calm resolve. “Have you ever seen a real magician?” he asked simply.
Adam opened his mouth to reply, then stopped. He frowned, the realization dawning on him. “No,” he admitted after a moment.
Jordan nodded knowingly. “If you had,” he said, “you wouldn’t be standing here. The Magus Tower has rules that govern this continent. Anyone with mana above a certain threshold is either recruited… or eliminated.”
Adam’s heart skipped a beat, his breath catching in his throat. “Eliminated?” he echoed, the word barely audible.
Jordan’s tone grew grim. “Yes. The Magus Tower doesn’t tolerate unregistered magic, especially among commoners, Nobles often train their children in secret, defying the Tower’s authority. If they’re caught, the punishment is severe—either imprisonment for life or execution.”
Adam felt a cold sweat break out across his skin. He thought back to every time he’d used his magic openly, completely oblivious to the danger. “I’ve been reckless,” he muttered, more to himself than to Jordan. “All this time, I’ve been walking straight into danger without even realizing it.”
Jordan watched the realization sink in, his expression softening slightly. “You’ve been lucky so far,” he said. “But luck won’t protect you forever. If you want to survive—and if you want to protect your village—you’ll need to be smarter. Stronger.”
Adam’s fists clenched at his sides, his mind a whirlwind of fear, anger, and determination. He didn’t know how he would face the challenges ahead, but one thing was clear—he couldn’t afford to remain the naive boy he had been.
For his village, for his people, and for himself, Adam would have to change.
Adam remained seated, Jordan’s words echoing in his mind. His heart raced as the gravity of his situation became clearer. He realized how much danger surrounded him in this harsh and merciless world.
He clenched his fists and raised his eyes to meet Jordan’s calm yet intense gaze.
Adam realises how much he was boasting till now thinking that his magic can save him from any situation but now he realises that there is no guarantee that this will happen.
“So,” Adam began, his voice unsteady, “what condition were you talking about earlier?”
Jordan tilted his head slightly, observing Adam’s growing determination. “I told your parents and now I’ll tell you,” Jordan said. “I will train you. I’ll also protect your village from the dangers that lie ahead.”
Adam froze, stunned by what he just heard. His disbelief quickly turned into joy as a smile spread across his face.
He stood abruptly, staring at Jordan with gratitude and hope in his eyes. “You’ll protect my village?” Adam asked, his voice filled with both relief and excitement. “Does that mean my village is safe now?”
Jordan raised a hand, gesturing for Adam to calm down. “Not so fast, boy,” he said, his tone firm. “Listen carefully. While I am strong, I am not the strongest. There are individuals in this world—and even in the Sword Soku Clan—far stronger than me. Some of them could crush me in mere seconds.”
Adam gets very surprised after hearing this from Jordan, he thought that he was very strong and one of the strongest humans on this earth but he was completely wrong.
Adam’s expression shifted as the weight of Jordan’s words sank in. Slowly, he sat back down, his excitement replaced by solemn understanding. “I get it,” Adam said softly, his gaze fixed on Jordan. “How much time do I have?”
Adam realized that he had limited time so he directly asked Jordan the question that he needed to know the most important thing.
Jordan was slightly taken aback by Adam’s composed response. A faint smile played on his lips as he nodded in approval. “I can give you two years,” Jordan replied. “Two years of rigorous training. But make no mistake—these two years will be the most grueling of your life.”
Adam nodded firmly, determination gleaming in his eyes. “I accept your conditions,” he said without hesitation. Rising to his feet, he took a step forward, then knelt down on the ground, bowing deeply. “Master Jordan,” Adam said with unwavering resolve, “my name is Adam. You can call me Adam. Please accept me as your student.”
Jordan’s eyebrows rose in surprise at Adam’s gesture. For a moment, he was silent, staring at the young man before him. Then, with a small nod, he said, “Very well, Adam. Now, get up. Your dinner has gone cold. Finish it before you lose your strength.”
Adam stood, his heart brimming with gratitude. He had found a mentor, someone willing to guide him through this storm. He was determined to give everything he had, every ounce of his energy, to become stronger. The opportunity Jordan had given him was a rare one, and Adam was resolved not to waste it.
---
Adam returned to his room, where his food sat untouched on a wooden plate. The meal had grown cold, but Adam barely noticed. He sat down on the bed and began eating, his thoughts consumed by Jordan’s words.
“Compared to real magicians, your abilities are nothing more than a speck of dust.”
The phrase replayed in Adam’s mind, each repetition digging deeper into his pride. He had always believed his unique magic made him strong, even unbeatable. But now, he realized how foolish he had been. His confidence was not born of true strength but of ignorance.
I’ve been blind, Adam thought, chewing his food mechanically. I thought I was strong because of my magic. But now I see… I’m nowhere near ready to face this world. There’s so much I need to learn, so much I need to become.
As Adam finished his meal, he felt a flicker of determination ignite within him. He stood, carrying his wooden plate out of the room. The hallway was dimly lit, and the soft creak of the wooden floor echoed as he stepped out. Adam glanced around, searching for Jordan.
To his surprise, Jordan wasn’t on the wooden sofa where he had been earlier. Adam’s gaze swept the room until he spotted a small kitchen area to his left. There, Jordan stood, cleaning wooden utensils with a calm precision.
Approaching quietly, Adam held out his plate. Jordan glanced at him, his usual stern expression softening slightly. “Go to bed,” Jordan said, his voice steady. “We start training tomorrow morning.”
Adam hesitated, wanting to protest, but when he met Jordan’s eyes, he stopped. There was a quiet authority in Jordan’s gaze that left no room for argument. Adam nodded, his voice quiet as he said, “Alright.”
Turning away, Adam returned to his room. As he lay down on the bed, his thoughts remained fixed on the challenges ahead. He had two years—two years to transform himself, to protect his village, and to prove that he was more than just a speck of dust.
The chapter ends here.