The setting sun cast long shadows through the forest as Yun Jin strolled ahead, the gentle rustle of leaves and distant bird calls providing a serene backdrop. Behind him, Merlin lagged, his breaths uneven and labored. Yun Jin glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the boy stumble and collapse, his staff clattering to the ground.

“Merlin!” Yun Jin rushed to his side, kneeling as the boy’s flushed face and trembling form confirmed his exhaustion. The kid’s been pushing himself too hard, Yun Jin thought, frowning.

By the time dusk settled, Merlin awoke, blinking groggily. He realized his head was resting on Yun Jin’s lap, and his face flushed even redder. “I—uh—sorry!” he stammered, scrambling upright and brushing himself off as though nothing had happened.

“You should’ve told me you were at your limit,” Yun Jin said, his voice a mix of frustration and concern.

Merlin hesitated, his gaze dropping. “I didn’t want to look weak... You weren’t tired at all, so I thought I could keep going.”

Yun Jin sighed, his expression darkening. Without warning, he lightly chopped the boy’s head with the side of his hand. Merlin yelped, clutching his head. “Resting when you’re exhausted is far better than collapsing,” Yun Jin scolded, though his lips quirked into a teasing grin. “Next time, just say something. We’ll stop, or I can even carry you.”

Merlin rubbed his head, muttering an embarrassed, “Okay…”

When the boy tried to stand, his legs wobbled before giving out, sending him back to the ground with a frustrated groan. “I... I don’t think I can walk right now. Can we just... stay here for the night?”

Yun Jin nodded, his calm demeanor returning. “Fine. I’ll set up camp.”

He stood, scanning the area for materials, but Merlin stopped him. “Wait! Let me handle it.” The determination in Merlin’s voice made Yun Jin raise an eyebrow.

Curious, he stepped aside and watched as Merlin knelt on the ground, drawing an intricate diagram in the dirt with his staff. The boy’s hands moved deftly, his focus unwavering as he muttered under his breath. When the drawing was complete, Merlin placed his hand on the diagram and channeled his mana. The lines glowed faintly, and a translucent barrier shimmered into existence around them.

Yun Jin stepped outside and turned back, only to find that the boy had vanished from sight. He walked back in, and Merlin reappeared as though he’d never moved. “What is this?” Yun Jin asked, his curiosity piqued.

“A barrier,” Merlin explained, still slightly winded. “It blocks most animals’ senses and is hard to break. It’ll keep us safe for the night.”

Yun Jin nodded, impressed. “Why didn’t you use this in the village?”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“It takes time to set up,” Merlin admitted. “And if something attacks before it’s complete, it’s useless. Plus, repeated attacks can break it eventually. But out here, it’s perfect. It’ll stop us from being ambushed.”

Intrigued, Yun Jin knelt by the diagram, tracing a finger over the faintly glowing lines. “What’s this?” he asked, pointing to a particularly intricate section.

Merlin crouched beside him, eager to explain. “Diagrams are like external magic circuits. They’re tied to specific spells. You have to know the spell you want to cast and use the right medium to draw it.”

As Merlin spoke, Yun Jin watched the faint flow of mana circulating through the diagram. When Merlin infused more mana, the glow intensified, and a floating, glowing eye formed at the center. It rose into the air and floated out of the barrier.

Moments later, Merlin sagged to the ground, pale and trembling. “That… takes a lot out of me,” he admitted with a weak smile. “It’s the only way I can cast spells that need a constant mana supply. If I use my magic circuit, I’d be drained in seconds.”

“Did the eye find anything?” Yun Jin asked.

Merlin’s face brightened. “I saw a town on the horizon! If we keep moving tomorrow, we’ll reach it by evening.”

Yun Jin nodded. “Great!” He knelt by the remnants of the diagram Merlin had drawn. His fingers traced over the glowing lines, his brow furrowing in thought. “So this is like an external circuit, right?”

Merlin nodded, though he seemed a little cautious. “Exactly. It’s stable and specific. You could try using it, but it depends on how much mana you can control.”

Yun Jin’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. “I’ll give it a shot.” Without much hesitation, he redrew a pattern in the dirt, though the lines were a little uneven. Infusing the lines with mana, he channeled energy into the diagram.

Merlin tilted his head, watching Yun Jin’s work. “What are you trying to—”

Boom!

A brilliant flash erupted from the diagram, flooding the barrier with an intense burst of light. Merlin yelped, stumbling back and shielding his eyes. “Seriously?!” he shouted, blinking rapidly to clear the afterimages.

When the glow subsided, Yun Jin sat cross-legged with a satisfied grin. “Not bad for a first try,” he said smugly.

Merlin groaned, rubbing his temples. “You just... ran a spell through a diagram? Do you even know how diagrams work?” He sighed, his voice taking on an exasperated tone. “Diagrams are one of the hardest arts of magic! You need to understand leylines, materials, mana flow, and the specific magic you want to cast. Just ‘running a spell through it’ isn’t how it works.”

Yun Jin scratched the back of his head, his grin fading slightly. “I just wanted to see if it would work.”

Merlin facepalmed, muttering to himself, He’s more narrow-minded than I thought.

He sighed, looking back at Yun Jin. “For now, stick to the basics. Use what the system gave you. If you really want to learn diagrams, I can teach you the necessary knowledge later. But it’s not something you can just wing like that.”

Yun Jin smirked. “Alright, alright. I’ll keep tinkering with the basics for now. But I still think I’m getting the hang of this magic thing.”

Merlin sighed again, shaking his head. “Let’s hope you don’t blind me a third time.”

Yun Jin chuckled, standing and patting Merlin’s shoulder. “Come on, get in position. I’ll help you recover with breathing practice before we sleep.”

Merlin obeyed, sitting cross-legged as Yun Jin placed a hand on his back. The boy tensed briefly at the contact but quickly relaxed under Yun Jin’s steady guidance. Slowly, Merlin’s color returned, and his breathing steadied.

As the night deepened, both settled into the barrier’s protective embrace. The quiet of the forest enveloped them, and for a while, there was peace.

In the shadows beyond the barrier, unseen eyes watched.