Three years later.

“Ninety-eight… ninety-nine… one hundred.” Adrian’s breath came out in short, ragged gasps as he completed the final push-up. His arms trembled before he let himself collapse onto the floor, and for a moment, he stayed there, listening to the pounding of his heart. That should be it for today.

Slowly, he pushed himself up, causing beads of sweat to slide down his forehead. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, leaving a streak of grime and salt behind, then made his way to a standing mirror set in the corner of the room.

The mirror’s cracked edge split his reflection, but the eyes staring back were icy blue, framed by stark white hair plastered to his skin. For a boy of nine, his body was lean and hardened, arms and shoulders sculpted through relentless training. He traced a fresh bruise along his ribs with his fingertips, feeling an ache bloom beneath the skin. Am I getting stronger, or just more desperate?

He clenched his jaw. Pride flickered within him, tempered immediately by the weight of failure that refused to lift. Adrian’s gaze shifted to the floor as he recalled the day Seven and Sister Selena were taken from him. In all this time, he had found nothing.

Adrian paced the length of the room. His thoughts returned to when he begged Macus and Anisa to take him back to the convent, only to find it… no.

He slammed a fist into the wall, the impact reverberating through his bones and sending flakes of plaster to the ground. While Marcus and Anisa were more than happy to let me stay here in their home, I never managed to find even the smallest lead as to where Seven and Sister Selena could be. I still remember that time when I tried to visit a different convent that also served the Church of Isha, only to be rejected and treated as if I was a—

Suddenly, a voice called out to him. “Adrian!” Anisa yelled out from below. “If you break that wall again, you’re paying for it yourself!”

He drew in a breath, leaning his forehead against the cool stone. “Sorry!"

“Forget it. Just come down for lunch!”

Adrian rushed for the door, when a nagging sense of something forgotten rooted him in place. He paused, turning his head slightly, ears straining. The faint sound of soft paws padding across the floor pulled his attention. He turned around to see Mimi looking very displeased. She stopped, huffed, and tilted her head, her fluffy tail twitching. She doesn't seem very happy.

Adrian dropped to one knee, meeting her gaze. “Sorry Mimi, I didn’t mean to leave you behind.”

Mimi huffed again, this time with a dramatic flick of her ears, causing Adrian to stifle a smile. “Do you still want to join me for lunch?”

He held out his hands, palms open. For a moment, she held her ground, as if weighing her options. Then, with a theatrical strut, she closed the distance and leapt gracefully into his hands.

He lifted her carefully, placing her on his shoulder where her warmth radiated through him. Crisis averted.

Then, Adrian made his way downstairs to the kitchen where found Marcus and Anisa setting the table. Marcus, with his broad shoulders and easy smile, carried a platter of steaming vegetables, while Anisa placed cups with a practiced hand, her dark hair tied back in a loose braid.

“Hey kid, think you can spare a hand?”

“Of course,” Adrian replied, setting Mimi down gently. The fox then hopped to the table’s edge before stretching slightly.

Adrian helped Marcus and Anisa as they placed plates, bowls, and utensils. When everything was ready, Adrian grabbed a small plate, setting it down next to his own. He placed a mutton chop on it, and Mimi’s tail wagged with obvious delight before she dug in.

“Thank you for the food,” Adrian said, looking from Marcus to Anisa.

“You’re welcome, kiddo,” Marcus replied, clapping a sturdy hand on Adrian’s shoulder. “Let’s dig in."

The table buzzed with the soft clink of forks against plates, the shifting of chairs, and the occasional scrape of Mimi’s small claws as she nibbled her mutton. The scent of roasted meat mingled with herbs and butter, momentarily pulling Adrian away from the weight in his heart.

“So, Adrian,” Marcus said between bites of potato. “Did you actually hit the hundred mark today, or was that more of a rounded estimate?”

Adrian glanced up, managing a laugh. “I hit it, Marcus. Not a single one short.”

Marcus let out a low whistle. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“You’re going to see it when you’re flat on your back in the sparring yard,” Adrian teased.

Anisa couldn't help but laugh and shake her head. “Marcus, don’t act like you can keep up with him. You’ll just end up with another pulled muscle.”

“I’ll have you know I’ve been honing my agility,” Marcus shot back, pretending to stretch his arms with exaggerated movements. “Adrian won’t know what hit him.”

They laughed again, but as the meal wore on, it became increasingly difficult for Adrian to hide his thoughts. In fact, it was impossible.

“Adrian, are you really alright?” Anisa asked.

His fork paused midair before he set it down carefully. “I’m fine, really."

“You’ve been pushing yourself harder than anyone should have to, Adrian. Do you… still want to go to the capital?”

"Anisa, it's alright. I decided to stay here with you and Marcus for a reason, remember?"

"Well… yes, but you did mention before that you wanted to go to the capital to visit the Church of Isha there."

Adrian waved a hand dismissively. “I decided against that a long time ago. You know how it is, going to the capital means dealing with mountains of paperwork and a whole lot of coins just for the tolls.”

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes distant. “Besides, I’m not even sure if the Church of Isha would accept me… after everything.”

Besides, I have a suspicion that the Church of Isha may have had something to do with the incident. Going up against such an established institution would be foolish until I am more prepared. Adrian thought.

Anisa’s brow furrowed. “You know Marcus and I would help cover any costs if it’s something you really wanted. The tolls, the paperwork, we’d make it work."

He shook his head gently, his smile tinged with gratitude. “That’s kind of you, but I’ve made my choice.”

She hesitated, then looked away, shoulders slumping slightly. “I’m sorry, Adrian.”

“Don’t,” Adrian said quickly, shaking his head. “There’s nothing to apologize for. You’ve done so much already. I’ll figure something out. Eventually.”

Marcus leaned back in his chair and smiled. “Well, I can’t offer you a way to the capital, but I can help with something else."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"You mean our usual sparring session?"

"Yup, I think we've been long overdue since the last one."

Anisa rolled her eyes. “Oh, great. You’ll just end up with another injury, and I’ll be the one patching you up.”

“Not this time, I've got some new moves to show off,” Marcus said, winking.

Adrian looked up, his own smile finally reaching his eyes. “I’ll take you up on that, Marcus.”

***

Adrian and Marcus stood in the backyard, where the late afternoon sun painted everything in hues of gold. The swordsman held his blade with practiced ease as he shifted his weight, settling into a ready stance.

“I had my mana core re-evaluated,” Marcus announced with a proud grin. “Got bumped up to C-grade.”

Adrian’s lips curled into a teasing smile. “About time. Isn’t that supposed to be standard for your adventurer rank?”

Marcus barked a laugh, shaking his head as if Adrian’s words amused him more than they should. “Shows what you know, kid. I scraped by with a D-grade for years. Barely kept my adventurer status intact.”

Adrian rolled his shoulders. “Is that so? Then do you want to show me what you can do now?"

"Sure, watch me."

He studied Marcus with a careful eye, recalling every detail of the man’s fighting style. Marcus was a melee fighter at heart, relying on augmentation magic to enhance his strength, speed, and reflexes. Watching him practice over the years has given me some ideas.

Marcus muttered an incantation under his breath, causing pale light to flicker along his limbs, shimmering for an instant before sinking into his muscles. The air itself shifted as the spell took hold, a faint ripple of power coursing through him. “All done."

"Not bad at all, Marcus, not bad." Adrian said.

Marcus let out a hearty laugh as he swung his sword around a few times. "Thanks kid, but, it's a shame I won't be able to test my new magic anytime soon."

"And why do you say that?"

"Huh? Because the adventurer's guild is closed today, obviously. Did you think I was going to use my magic during the sparring section?"

"I don't see why not, spice things up a bit. At least it'll be more interesting than just using swords as usual."

"Kid, I don't know about this idea. Anisa's going to kill me if you get injured too badly."

Adrian let out a confident smile. "Relax, Marcus, I've got a spell of my own to even the odds."

"Hmm? What kind of spell are you thinking of?"

"An augmentation spell actually."

Marcus scratched the back of his head. “Isn’t augmentation outside your specialty? You’re an evocation and conjuration guy, right?”

“I’ve picked up a few new tricks,” Adrian replied evenly. Ever since Kiyara opened my mana channels, I felt that using magic gradually became easier and easier. And thanks to seeing Marcus train these past few years, picking up augmentation wasn't too difficult.

Marcus raised an eyebrow, his sword lowering slightly. “Right. No one has three affinities, kid. Not without—”

“Just watch."

Adrian closed his eyes, letting the world around him fade to nothing as he sank into the depths of his mana core. Threads of energy pulsed within him, waiting to be drawn forth. Adrian focused, guiding the magic with precision, coaxing it to respond.

Blue flames erupted from his arms, racing along his skin in flickering patterns. The fire moved with purpose, curling and twisting as if it had a mind of its own. It licked the air hungrily, the heat radiating from it sharp and precise, yet it didn’t burn him. As the flames enveloped his body, a halo of cerulean fire formed above his head: a crown of otherworldly power.

Adrian opened his eyes. They burned with the same cold, unwavering blue as the flames. Power thrummed within him, alive and electric. Perfect.

Marcus stumbled back, lowering his sword as his face paled. “What… in the world is that?”

Adrian shrugged. “Learned a thing or two watching you.”

Marcus swallowed hard, staring at the impossible sight before him. “You… are you sure you want to use that in a sparring match?”

Adrian’s thoughts raced as he stood there, flames still dancing along his form. Every day, every night, I’ve trained for this. Running until my legs gave out, climbing rocks to push my body to its limits, not to mention sparring with Marcus too. Turns out physical training was a great way to learn augmentation.

Adrian’s flames pulsed, casting flickering light over Marcus’s hesitation. He took a slow step forward, allowing the fire to flare brighter as he moved. “What’s the matter? You were the one who suggested we spar."

Marcus exhaled, his expression hardening as he lifted his sword. “Fair enough, but aren't you going to pick up a sword like usual?"

"Not for today, I'm feeling like testing my limits." Adrian said.

"You know, normally, I'd call you stupid… but that spell of yours really is ridiculous. I can feel the pressure coming from you just standing around."

"See?, I'll be fine, just come at me like you're serious."

"Alright, I'll start on the count of three."

"Go for it."

"One, two, three—"

Marcus lunged forward with enhanced speed. The ground shifted beneath his feet as he closed the gap in a heartbeat, blade slicing through the air toward Adrian.

However, the boy sidestepped the attack easily, his movements almost casual. Marcus followed with a downward strike,but Adrian’s hand flickered with blue light as his forearm intercepted, blocking the blade. Sparks flew on impact, and Marcus grunted, feeling the resistance.

Then, Adrian pivoted, slipping past Marcus’s defenses and bringing up a fist cloaked in flame. Marcus barely parried, colliding with a metallic clang that vibrated up his arm. He stepped back, sweat gathering on his forehead. “Not bad.”

Adrian moved like water, his every step and turn impossibly smooth. He ducked beneath a horizontal slash, closing the distance with a spin that forced Marcus to retreat. Every strike Marcus threw was either deflected or dodged.

“You holding back on me, Marcus?” Adrian asked mid-fight.

"Cut me some slack, kid." Marcus said with a weak grin.

Marcus gritted his teeth, channeling every drop of mana he could muster. The strain burned through his arms, but he pushed harder, unleashing a barrage of attacks.

Adrian met every blow easily. He deflected one strike with his forearm, parried the next with a flick of his wrist, and wove through the assault like wind slipping through cracks. This enhanced state of mine is… incredible, I can see every move so clearly.

Marcus's eyes narrowed. In desperation, he tried a different tactic. “You forgot to do the dishes, you know. Anisa’s going to yell your ears off for that."

The words sliced through Adrian’s focus. Wait… did I?

His control wavered for a split second; the rhythmic dance of his movements faltered. In that instant, the fire around him flickered, and the rush of power that had coursed through him retreated, leaving a sudden, crushing weight in its absence. His limbs felt as though they’d turned to lead, exhaustion crashing down on him all at once.

Marcus seized the moment and lunged forward, sweeping Adrian’s legs out from under him. The boy hit the ground hard as air rushed from his lungs. You've got to be kidding me.

Marcus stood over him, panting, a victorious grin splitting his face. “Victory’s mine.”

Adrian pushed himself up with a groan. “That was a dirty trick."

Marcus barked out a laugh and dropped to the ground beside him, his back hitting the earth with a heavy thud. “Maybe. But I wasn’t lying. You really did forget the dishes.”

Adrian exhaled slowly, shaking his head. “Figures.”

The two sat in silence for a moment, their breaths gradually steadying. Marcus’s laughter faded into a contented hum as he stared at the sky above. “You’ll get me next time, kid.”

“Count on it,” Adrian replied, staring at his hand and watching the last wisp of blue fire vanish. Regardless of Marcus's tricks, it's good that I now know that my enhanced state has another clear weakness. Can't afford to lose focus in the future.

“So, have you thought about what you’re going to do next? With all that strength and fire of yours, there’s a whole world out there waiting,” Marcus said.

Adrian glanced at him, brow furrowed. “You mean… becoming an adventurer?”

“Why not? You’ve got more potential than most who try their luck. Maybe more than anyone I’ve seen in a long time. There’s no age limit, kid. If you pass the trials, you’re in.”

“People might talk, you know? Just a boy suddenly showing up, trying to make a name for himself. They’d think I’m naive.”

“Talk is cheap. What matters is what you do. And if you step into that world, I have no doubt you’ll make them see what you’re capable of."

“Where do I even begin?"

"I can take you to the adventurer's guild and help you register for the preliminary exam, everything after that is up to you."

"Wait, that's it?"

“Yeah, that's really it. Pass the exam and you’d get the chance to train with others, learn the ropes, and grow stronger. Maybe earn some money of your own so you can finally see the capital too."

"Will the adventurer's guild really let me become an adventurer? Don't I have to be older?"

"Hmm, well, I've never heard of anything about kids not being allowed to be adventurers"

"And you're sure that this is going to be enough to convince the people at the adventurer's guild?"

Marcus let out a hearty laugh."Relax, I'll vouch for you. What we really need to figure out first is convincing Anisa."