The room was immersed in darkness, save for a flickering point of light. In the gloom, Kvolt focused, his red eyes fixed on the swaying flames of five candles arranged before him.

With controlled breathing, he concentrated, feeling the mana flowing through his Circuits. Slowly, he extended his hand, focusing his will on the candles.

One by one, the flames extinguished, submerged by an invisible force. Then, with a snap of his fingers, they reignited, burning even more brightly than before.

"Your precision and efficiency are improving with each session. Your plexus has taken on a stronger blue hue, increasingly overshadowing the previous gray. It seems that as your mana capacity and efficiency increase, your core and manantic vessels become more robust."

Kvolt nodded, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple. Though a simple exercise, the constant repetition demanded concentration and mental effort.

"By alternating between extinguishing and reigniting the candles," Aurora continued, "Your Emissitrochytes are improving the modulation of the mana flow with speed and precision. In time, we will achieve more spells with less exertion."

Aurora went on. "I'm assisting the cells that repair your manantic vessels and plexus. This method of circulating mana through your body with increasing intensity is bearing fruit, but at several points, I detected possible ruptures in your manantic vessels caused by excessive strain. Your duration and intensity of mana circulation have increased, yet it still seems perilous. I theorize that the Gifted must use safer methods to evolve, given the danger of doing so without internal monitoring like I'm providing."

Kvolt smiled. That made sense... Aurora had been interrupting him whenever she detected anything out of pattern and potential injuries. A Gifted wouldn't have such a structure, but... it's possible that Kvolt's own method was outdated, given the lack of knowledge about how they practice magic.

He had been running various tests over time, gradually discovering how it worked, how these bioenergetic systems improved, how it operated, and the fundamentals of mana and how it altered and created matter.

Despite having trained more with his father in previous days, he had yet to discover how to access that Vitalis. However, he had felt a noticeable increase in his swordsmanship dexterity.

Suddenly, the bedroom door opened, and Nessa entered, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"What are you doing, Kvolt?" she asked, approaching the candles.

Kvolt hesitated for a moment, pondering whether to share his secret. But then, seeing the look of admiration in Nessa's eyes, he decided to trust her; she already knew Kvolt could use magic, and she hadn't told their parents.

"I'm practicing magic," he said, giving her a vote of confidence and pointing to the candles. "Want to see?"

Nessa nodded enthusiastically, sitting down beside her brother. With a fluid gesture, Kvolt extinguished and reignited the flames, eliciting an exclamation from Nessa.

"Wow! How do you do that?" she asked, reaching out as if to touch the fire.

"I just concentrate and use my mana," Kvolt explained. "It's an energy inside me. I can feel it, and then I make it flow with my imagination and willpower."

Nessa frowned, appearing pensive. "Will I be able to do it too?"

Kvolt smiled, pondering; it was a fair question. "I don't know. Maybe? You can try concentrating and see if you feel anything."

Nessa closed her eyes, her face contorting in concentration. She extended her hand toward the candles, imitating Kvolt's movements. She grimaced and turned red, trying to force her intention, but despite her efforts, nothing happened. The flames continued to flicker, indifferent to her will.

"It's not working," she sighed, disappointed.

"Maybe you haven't found your magical ability yet," Kvolt said, trying to console her. "Or maybe you just need more practice. I didn't get it right away, either."

Nessa nodded, looking a little more encouraged. "I'll keep trying. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be able to do magic like you!"

At that moment, Lisai's voice echoed through the house. "Children, come here! I need to speak with you."

Kvolt and Nessa looked at each other before getting up and walking into the living room. There, they found their mother with a worried expression on her face.

"It seems we have no eggs today, and I fear we have little food. Winter is coming," she said, sighing. "I'll have to go to the village to buy some."

Nessa's eyes lit up. "Can I go with you, Mom? Please!"

Lisai hesitated, appearing reluctant. The village of Virtin was a bit far, at least three hours journey. Kvolt saw an opportunity to truly experience this world, its culture, and way of life.

With a carefully studied innocent expression, he approached his mother.

"I want to go too, Mom," he said, blinking his eyes. "I've never seen the village before. Please?"

Lisai looked at her two children, her heart melting at their hopeful expressions. After a moment, she sighed, relenting.

"All right, you two can come. But stay close to me at all times, understood? It's a bit far."

They nodded eagerly, Nessa barely containing her excitement. For Kvolt, this was the perfect chance to explore the world beyond the confines of their farmhouse.

The walk was long, Kvolt noting that the path to their home was quite underused, with vegetation taking over much of the dirt road.

When they arrived, he realized the village was a cluster of wooden and stone houses, some detached and poorly finished, others closer together with thatched roofs and chimneys emitting thin columns of smoke. The worn dirt streets were filled with people coming and going, carrying baskets and pulling carts.

Kvolt analyzed everything with watchful eyes, his mind jotting down each new piece of information. The smells - fresh bread, horse manure, wood smoke - assaulted his nostrils. The sounds - the whinnying of horses, the clop of hooves, the murmur of conversations - filled his ears.

"How nice to hear civilization again," he commented with a sigh of relief.

"Hello, Lisai!" a voice called out. It was a middle-aged woman with a round, friendly face. "It's not often we see you around here. And look, you've brought your children!"

Lisai smiled, stopping to chat. "Hello, Marthia. Yes, I decided to bring Nessa and Kvolt for an outing. We need to buy some eggs and food."

As the women conversed, Kvolt noticed some curious glances being cast in his direction. People whispered behind their hands, their eyes fixed on him and Nessa.

"Did you see their hair? It's just like their mother's," one woman murmured. "So red, like fire. Not natural."

"And the girl, so crippled," said another, her voice filled with pity. "What a tragedy for a child."

Kvolt felt a little uneasy; at least they could have been more discreet. And why were these people so interested in them? Was it because of their hair? He hadn't given it much thought, believing redheads were common in this place.

"Aurora, do you have any theories?" he asked mentally.

"Based on the reactions and comments, it appears your physical appearance is considered out of the ordinary for the standards of this society," the AI replied. "Red hair may be seen as a sign of difference, perhaps even ill omen. And Nessa's disabilities certainly attract attention and pity."

Kvolt frowned, not liking being the center of negative attention. He focused on his surroundings, searching for any sign of magic or magic users. But everything seemed frustratingly ordinary - no strange glows, no vibrating energy, nothing out of the norm. Not even Aurora detected anything.

Oblivious to her son's thoughts, Lisai continued her shopping, selecting fresh fruits and vegetables from the market stalls. Kvolt and Nessa stayed close to her, observing the comings and goings of the people.

Their mother was fervently negotiating with a grizzled vendor, trying to barter down the price of some salted meats and hard cheeses.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The seller was a wiry old man with a deeply lined face and a crooked grin missing several teeth.

"Come now, woman," he wheezed, gesturing to his wares. "You won't find finer goods in all the village! These meats will last you through the harshest winter."

Lisai scowled, poking at one of the dried haunches skeptically. "This scrawny thing? Why, my Nessa could polish it off in a single sitting. I'll give you two copper pieces, no more."

The vendor clutched his chest in mock outrage. "Two coppers? You financially besiege me, dear lady! I have a family to feed." He leaned in conspiratorially. "But for you, perhaps I could part with the lot for five pieces of silver."

"Five silvers?" Lisai snapped her fingers dismissively.

The two haggled back and forth, voices rising in a heated exchange of offers and insults. Lisai simply would not be swayed, her brow furrowed in angry.

Nessa soon became distracted by a group of children playing nearby. They were boys and girls from the village, running and laughing as they tossed a rag ball between them.

Fascinated, Nessa approached shyly, watching the game with wide, intent eyes. One of the boys, a dark-haired lad with mischievous eyes, noticed her presence and smiled.

"Hi!" he called out, waving at her. "Want to play with us?"

Nessa hesitated, looking at her missing arm. "I... don't know if I can," she mumbled, lowering her head.

The boy approached, his smile unwavering. "It's no problem! We'll help you. What's your name?"

"Nessa," she replied shyly, a small smile forming on her lips.

"I'm Tom," said the boy. "Come on, let's play!"

He took Nessa's hand and gently pulled her into the group. At first, the other children looked at her with curiosity, their eyes lingering on her disabilities. But soon, encouraged by Tom's friendly attitude, they included her in the game, passing the ball to her and cheering when she caught it.

Nessa laughed, her face beaming, as she managed to catch the ball. Kvolt didn't notice her wandering off, as he was carefully observing the people around him, noting every detail of the place in his mind, soon becoming immersed in a mental conversation with Aurora.

"The buildings seem to be primarily made of wood and stone," Kvolt observed. "This reminds me of descriptions of medieval Europe that I read in history books."

"Yes, the architecture is consistent with that period," Aurora agreed. "But notice also the decorative patterns on the stalls and the people's clothing. There's a distinct Eastern influence there, with aspects of the Middle East and Central Asia. Along with other things different from Earth, like the peculiar food."

Kvolt nodded in agreement. He mentally cataloged the various foods for sale - flatbreads resembling pitas, hard cheeses in various colors, dried fruits, and spices he didn't recognize.

His brain was already running with possibilities; with Aurora, he could make a fortune, perhaps improving the quality of life for the population or selling some modern creation.

"So, where do you think we could make the most improvements? Where should we start to improve the standard of living?" he said to Aurora.

"Well, one of the most important areas would be agriculture. If this is similar to the medieval period, we could implement techniques like crop rotation that could vastly improve the productivity and sustainability of agricultural practices. We need to analyze their current agrarian moment and the methods they use to plan and outline the potential inventions you could bring to this world."

"Explain that a bit more," Kvolt requested, wanting to understand better.

"Of course," Aurora continued. "For example: Crop rotation is the practice of planting different crops, types of plants, in succession on the same land. This helps maintain soil fertility, as different plants absorb different nutrients, and some even replenish the soil, like legumes that fix nitrogen. It also helps control pests and diseases, as many are specific to certain types of plants. By alternating crops each season, farmers can break the life cycles of pests, even if the plants are different from Earth's, I presume they operate on the same principles."

Kvolt nodded, visualizing the fields around the village filled with a variety of carefully patterned crops. "That makes sense."

His gaze turned to a woman drawing water from a well, her skeletal arms trembling with the effort of turning the rusted crank.

"Sanitation and water infrastructure," he continued, his mind already envisioning plumbing and treatment systems. "Imagine the impact clean, accessible water would have on health."

"Definitely a critical area. Throughout your life and diet, I've had to eliminate a fair amount of pathogens from water and food you consumed," Aurora said. "And access to clean water and a proper sewage system would have an enormous impact. During the Middle Ages, waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid fever were major killers. Simply separating the water supply from sources of contamination, like sewage, could save countless lives."

Kvolt smiled bitterly, imagining how many children in this world could have been lost to these preventable diseases.

"We'll need to think about that, perhaps magic itself can help with that. In the future, we'll need to initiate tests. But what other ideas do you have?"

As they passed a stall selling rustic fabrics, Aurora drew Kvolt's attention to the laborious process of spinning wool with a spinning wheel and spindle.

"Look at that. A spinning wheel would vastly increase textile productivity."

"We'll definitely add that to the list. The closer we get to inventions created during the industrialization on Earth, the more resources and labor will be needed. I hope in the future I can gather the resources, or have time for it," Kvolt said.

With each new observation, Kvolt discussed the possibilities - watermills for grain milling, more efficient kilns for pottery production, new methods of mining and metallurgy.

But Kvolt knew he couldn't simply dump all this innovation on the people. He would have to be strategic, introducing new ideas gradually in a way that made sense within the context of their society and culture.

"We need to develop a step-by-step plan," he told Aurora. "Something that takes into account not just technical feasibility, but also social acceptance and potential unintended consequences. We don't want to completely disrupt their way of life. I could be hunted for something like witchcraft," he finished with a wry smile.

"I'll start drafting a framework, categorizing potential innovations based on their projected impact, implementation difficulty, and potential risks. We can refine it as we learn more about the specific needs and values of this society," Aurora said.

So engrossed was he in his observations that it took him a while to notice that Nessa had wandered off. A sudden panic gripped him when he couldn't spot his sister in the crowd.

"Nessa?" he called out, his voice loud. "Nessa, where are you?"

He turned frantically, searching for any sign of her.

He spotted her a few meters away, near a group of children playing with leather balls. Nessa watched with fascination, a wide smile on her face. It was rare for her to see other children playing so carefree.

Kvolt began walking toward her, but before he could reach her, he noticed a shift in the atmosphere. Some of the children started whispering and pointing at Nessa, their expressions turning from curiosity to disdain.

A slightly older boy, looking around eight years old, with brown hair and a chubby body, watched the scene with a smirk.

"Look, the little cripple is trying to play," he mocked, nudging his companions. "She must be Tom's new girlfriend."

Some of the children laughed, casting glances at Nessa. The girl felt her smile falter.

"Leave her alone, Gareth," Tom said. "She hasn't done anything to you."

Gareth rolled his eyes. "Of course not. She can barely do anything with that little stump for an arm."

Nessa felt tears sting her eyes. She turned to flee, wanting only to escape the situation, but ran straight into Kvolt, who had appeared behind her.

"What's going on here?" Kvolt asked, his eyes narrowed in barely contained fury.

Gareth smiled, crossing his arms. "Well, well, if it isn't another redhead, the other freak. The cripple's brother."

Kvolt narrowed his eyes, trying to understand the situation.

"I don't know what's happening, but we're leaving." Kvolt cast a deep look at the boy. "Just don't speak ill of my sister," he growled.

"Or what?" Gareth taunted. "You'll hit me with your weird hair?"

Some of the children laughed, but others seemed uncomfortable with the rising tension. Tom stood beside Kvolt, facing Gareth.

"Enough, Gareth. This isn't right. Leave them alone."

Gareth took a threatening step toward Tom. "And who's going to make me? You, you traitor? Defending these freaks? Don't you know they're the region's cursed children? Everyone's heard the stories."

He took a step forward, his shadow engulfing Kvolt. "Why don't you go cry to your mommy, you disgusting worm?"

And then, before Kvolt could react, the boy spat at him, a gooey ball of saliva hitting his face. The others burst into laughter, pointing and jeering.

Kvolt had endured enough. With a shout of rage, he launched himself at Gareth, knocking him to the ground. The two boys rolled in the dust, exchanging punches and kicks.

The other children screamed and scattered, some cheering, others running to call the adults.

Something snapped inside Kvolt. He felt the mana exploding through his veins, a tide of power he could barely contain. His eyes burned, and for a brief moment, he had a vision of the boy surrounded by an almost blinding luminous aura.

“Kill him!”

Gareth couldn't move, feeling the air around him was almost being sucked away.

Without a second thought, he extended his hand toward Gareth, focusing on controlling the air around his foe, channeling all his willpower into that gesture.

"Kvolt, no!" Aurora's voice sounded urgently in his mind. "You'll only reveal that you're Gifted...This will further tarnish your family's already possible negative reputation."

But it was difficult to restrain himself when all he wanted was to make Gareth pay for his words, for making Nessa cry. However, Kvolt sealed his mana and in response received a punch in the face from Gareth who got up dazed and staggering.

"What was that..." Gareth said, holding his throat with a lack of air.

Soon, the adults came running, pulling the boys apart. Lisai was there, her face pale with shock and anger.

"Kvolt! What are you doing?" she shouted, gripping him by the shoulders.

"He was defending the cripple," Gareth spat, wiping blood from his lip. "That little monster attacked me!"

"Liar!" Tom yelled, despite his mother's warning look.

The adults began arguing among themselves, their voices rising in accusations and defenses. Gareth's mother turned to Lisai, her face purple with indignation.

"This is your fault!" she screamed, pointing an accusing finger at Lisai. "You and those cursed children of yours! They're a threat to our children!"

Lisai paled, pulling Nessa and Kvolt closer. "My children are not freaks," she said, her voice trembling but firm. "They are my life, and I will not stand here listening to you insult them."

Positioning herself between Nessa and Kvolt, her own red hair blazing in the light, Lisai growled, "Stay away from my children," her eyes flashing with fury.

The other children's mothers approached, their faces twisted in disgust.

"You can't blame us for wanting to protect our children," one of them said. "Everyone knows your children are demon-touched. You're dangerous."

Lisai turned livid. "How dare you?" she hissed, taking a threatening step toward the other woman. "They're just different!"

But the other mothers did not back down. "Different? They're cursed," another spat. "They'll bring misfortune on all of us. You should be ashamed to let them near the village folk."

Lisai looked ready to attack, her fists clenched and her body trembling with rage. But then Nessa took her hand, looking up at her with tear-filled eyes.

"Mom, please," she pleaded. "Let's go. I don't want to stay here anymore."

Lisai looked at her daughter, and all the fight seemed to drain from her. She pulled Nessa into a tight embrace, casting one last venomous look at the other mothers before turning and walking away.

"Come, Kvolt!" she said with an inscrutable expression.

Kvolt followed behind, his anger giving way to a feeling of helplessness. He could feel the burning stares on his back.