Theo opened his eye, the sunlight the main culprit of his wake, uncomfortably falling on his face. The soft bed beckoned him to lie on it more, and he took up the offer. The boar fur covered his body, keeping him away from the cold much like the many times it had done so back at the village.

Thoughts swirled within his head, from the time Lisa found him in the woods to the time he had laid his gaze upon the sickly old man, friendly enough to offer shelter to the now homeless boy. He never felt ill, and no one at the village did, which greatly surprised him to see the man. Strange dark blue dots covered his body and the man couldn’t stand up on his own, fed by his daughter Lisa, who had went to the forest to look for herbs in times of need.

It was terribly apparent that they only had each other to keep themselves company.

If only he could help the man. Theo sighed as he shook his head. If it was that easy, anyone would have done that.

Theo closed his eyes for a bit, trying to fall asleep once more, proven futile. The mattress was truly a great invention, his kind had created this to relieve stress. He now couldn’t think of the pile of leaves as a matt, more of a… something.

He looked around, the wooden building not much different than his own treehouse, but it was built on the ground, as if the top of a tree was brought down and some wood was added to cover it whole. Impossible back at the village due to the elder’s love of trees. He said that trees were born of god, and mortals out of trees.

Theo was never one for superstition.

He stood up, noticing the set of clothes placed on the drawer next to the bed. There was a light brown shirt and dark green baggy trousers. He didn’t mind doing so, he noticed when the older man eyed him with suspicion and didn’t want that to happen again.

Theo looked in a mirror, as they called it, it was much like the surface of water, but solid. His hair was quite long for a man, reaching his neck and unkempt. He was rather dirty looking compared to the people of this village, and didn’t want to stay that way. Never seeing a river or lake around was worrying. Did his kind not drink water? Then what?

A knock on the door snapped him out of his stupor. He walked up to the door and tried to push it open. It didn’t budge. He was pretty sure he pushed it open last night. Then Theo hit his forehead, and pulled it towards himself. It would be reversed now.

It was rather unfamiliar to him who had hanging leaves in place of doors, both did their job of concealing the insides, yet this one couldn’t be walked through. He had no idea why his kind bothered to create these doors.

He was met with Lisa, who was in the exact same attire as yesterday, but with the lack of a sword. That thing was dangerous, if it was anything like the cleaver which could separate the body parts of a boar easily.

She gestured for Theo to follow her, and he did so without question. He couldn’t truly say no to his benefactor. He’d most likely be lost in the woods if not for her.

She led him into her father’s room, where the man was lying the day before. She took a seat next to the man, on the bed and motioned for him to sit on a chair. Theo complied.

“Let me ask you again, this time without any hostility. Are you a mage?” She said, looking straight at Theo’s eyes.

“I don’t know what that is.” Theo answered, tilting his head.

“I guess you don’t.” She shook her head. “Since you are a sorcerer, you might just be able to do it.”

The man then spoke, his voice weak and frail.

“Wish for me… to be healthy.” The man said. “You won’t… be sorry.”

Theo nodded his head. He then wished, much like the time he manipulated flames, created one and the times he sensed for boars. It came so naturally for him that Theo even wondered if it was this power of his that kept him away from sickness and pain.

The man gave him shelter, and he would heal him. A favor for a favor.

He pointed his palm at the frail man, willing for him to be healthy. Theo felt some stamina leave his body, rendering him immobile. That sure took a lot. The last time he felt like this was after a day’s worth of fireball.

Theo slumped down to the chair, thanking the convenience. It sure was nice to sit on a chair, where everything was his size. Even Lisa was only a tad bit shorter than him.

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“So it didn’t work.” Lisa said, a deep sigh escaping her mouth when it happened. It started with a crackle. A small, tiny crackle which would have escaped the ears of the three if not for the awkward silence reigning supreme.

The crackle turned straight into an explosion: an explosion of dust. Dust that is created with every break of a fireball, dust that covers the body of the winged villagers and dust that fills the air of the village. It was a golden color, shining bright even in the midday sun’s presence.

Now Theo could see, the man covered in dust and the dust entering his crevices, his mouth, ears, nostrils and even eyes. The dust entered his body, turning him into something more akin to a cocoon if anything. A golden cocoon.

Then it exploded. A dull explosive sound escaped, the usual destruction of a fireball. But then again, this was on the body of a human. The old man looked frail no more. Younger, if anything. The dark blue dots covering the entirety of his body had all but disappeared, some smudges still remaining as the only traces.

The old man opened his eyes wide, surprised at the sudden change and the absence of pain. Lisa covered her mouth with her hands, tears streaming from her eyes.

Theo stared at Lisa with a horrified look. Had he done something terrible? That was the only reason she would cry. No. That couldn’t be it. He merely helped the man. But could it be that she didn’t want for the man to be healed? That couldn’t be. She was nice, and wanted for him to get better.

“Thank you. Thank you very much.” She mumbled, erasing all of Theo’s worries. This was most likely a gesture his kind did when something very good happened. The difference in culture was titanic. And it had to exist. Or simply anyone in the world could talk with each other with no problems. That couldn’t be, as per the words of the wise elder.

Theo finally stood up, his energy somewhat returning to him. He was exhausted, but nothing was nicer than helping others. Especially ones that had helped him before. It filled him with warmth.

“Young man, where have you been all this time?” Asked the old man, sitting up on the bed next to Lisa. “Surely not a mage school.”

“I lived in the village of Ballar, south to the serpent’s land and east of the boar’s.” Theo answered. It was the most descriptive way of saying so, and anyone would understand it.

“Truly interesting. I have never heard of such a village, could you have travelled through time.” The old man mumbled. “Oh, where are my manners. I am called Paul, the father of this beauty over here.”

Lisa blushed as she looked away.

Without the threat of death looming only a step away, Paul looked far better. His goatee had been tangled up, but now looked slightly better than a patch of grass. The man’s sunken eyes had now came out a bit, looking normal.

Theo tilted his head to the side. Travelling through time, he had never heard of such a term.

“Truly a mystery.” Paul nodded his head as he stared right at Theo’s eyes. “I’d ask you not to use your powers in the public. Sorcery is frowned upon in the land of the Holy Realm.”

“Holy Realm?” Theo asked. Was it a name of a place?

“It is a given you do not know. The Holy Realm is more of a zealous empire scattered through the world if anything. The pope rules, and the people obey. Without question.” Paul said. “Even if it isn’t right.”

Theo nodded. He didn’t want to use his powers everywhere every time. It made him so tired that he didn’t really want to use it at all, but if the situation called, he had to.

Then the next hour was spent teaching Theo basic knowledge, which he of course greedily devoured, leaving nothing behind. He wanted to know more. Everything was so interesting. His kind was truly interesting. No childish games and pranks, only smart people fighting for more knowledge and land.

Bleuria was a kingdom rich with minerals and the location at the coastline serving as an easy defense against most attacks, if it wasn’t with Aveilorn which had countless mages capable of even turning the tides of the sea, as Paul said. The differences between him and the so-called ‘mages’ were most likely big.

King Berthold ruled the land, at least he did. The last time anyone saw of him was during a diplomatic talk with Aveilorn, and the enraged populace ended up supporting the war efforts with every single fiber of their being.

With such a good king missing, of course they would wish to fight.

Princess Esther had studied strategies of war in Everhill Academy and had taken over that field a long time ago, the loss of the king only serving to further strengthen the resolve of the denizens. The Holy Realm’s mana manufacturing factory was located in Torvali, a port city between the two, and they wanted to preach peace to protect their precious trump card.

Now their preachers existed far and wide, somewhat slowing down the sparks of war turning into a raging flame devouring everything. And they didn’t take well the power of sorcerors.

A mage couldn’t cast without using mana dust, but Theo could. That was the main difference between sorcerers and mages.

That was everything the general masses knew, and so did Theo now. He wanted to learn more. It was truly intriguing. Knowledge enticed one to know more and more, absorbing them completely in no time at all.

Theo stared at Paul with a big smile, all ears.

“Well. I don’t think there is anything left to tell you except this one thing.” Paul said. “I don’t think you’d take it easily.”

Theo nodded.

“If you see people on a leash, don’t touch them. NEVER. Or the owner will come to bite your throat out.” Paul warned. “Don’t notice them at all if possible.”

“Why is that? Isn’t it common sense to help others?” Theo asked. He could understand friction between kingdoms, but not this.

“It’s called slavery. Mostly because some people couldn’t give back something they borrowed in time, or those who lose a war.” Paul said.

Theo nodded. Now he could somewhat understand it. His kind didn’t like to share and took back everything, and enslaved them if they didn’t give it back. Those who lose a war should die, but his kind let them live as these people called ‘slaves’. Theo didn’t think his kind was so generous.

“I have no problem with that.” Theo said with a nod, entering deep thought.

What would happen if he tried to move water? He never tried before. Maybe it would be easier than creating flames. That made him tired, but not much. But what about water.