“Hand over your satchel, kid. We don’t want to hurt you.”

Angelo glanced around at each bandit, analyzing any details he considered important.

‘Looks like they’ve been here for a while…judging from the jewelry they have on, it wouldn’t be crazy to assume they’ve robbed others before me too….’

“I don’t want any trouble. Can we just go our separate ways?”

The bandits all laughed out in mockery, staring right towards Angelo.

“We’re not here to play with you, kid. Give us the satchel and whatever’s in it, and you’re free to go.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. Is there any compromise we can come to?”

“Sure is. We can just kill you and take it ourselves.” One of the bandits responded, drawing his blade.

“Boys, he’s just a stupid kid, I’ll take him. Stand back and watch.” He continued, walking towards Angelo.

‘These guys are dense. They’d kill a fifteen-year-old for whatever’s in my satchel?’

“Well, I didn’t want it to come to this, but…alright then.” Angelo sighed in disappointment.

Raising his fist, a light blue aura was conjured, enveloping his hand with its energy. Angelo glared at the bandit that dared approach him.

“I won’t kill you, but I will have to subdue you.” Angelo spoke calmly, before taking a deep breath, closing his eyes for one full second.

“You’ve got guts, kid. I’m gonna have fun tearing them out of you!” The bandit mocked, laughing out as he lunged towards Angelo.

Angelo quickly jumped out of the way, rolling to the side of the blade as he swung his fist directly at the bandit’s face.

The bandit was surprised by Angelo’s agility, caught off guard as Angelo’s fist slammed into his face, dropping him to the ground.

“You’re surprisingly weak…just one strike and you already fall down.” Angelo commented.

“Don’t get cocky, kid!” The bandit roared out, slamming his fist into the ground as he quickly got up, but before he could lunge his blade…

SLAM!

Angelo struck the bandit once more, right in the chest. The impact was so powerful that he spat out saliva from it.

But Angelo didn’t stop there. Quickly, he lifted his fist back up and continued with a combo, slamming it onto the bandit’s face over and over, before finishing it all with a thunderous kick to the face, knocking him unconscious.

“Unfortunately for you, I’m not just any ordinary kid. I’m a Soul Magician.” Angelo spoke, crouching down next to the bandit’s body.

“If anyone of you still wants to fight me, then bring it.” Angelo said, sliding his hand across his brown hair, breathing in and out.

The bandits realized that they wouldn’t be capable of defeating him, seeing him beat their leader that quickly. Reluctantly, they grabbed their leader and were forced to withdraw.

‘That guy must’ve been weak. I only used a little Soul Energy when I hit him.’

Angelo sighed, standing back up as he started making his way back home.

‘I wonder where those other pathways led…well, maybe I’ll come back here someday.’ He thought to himself, walking along the path as he looked around himself.

***

Angelo had finally made his way back to his home village, greeting his friends and family again. Fortunately, he didn’t take too long to come back from the Tomb and was able to comfort his mother again.

Angelo was currently having a fine dinner, sat at the dinner table with his mother and brother.

“Hey, mom…I wanted to ask you about something.” Angelo quietly muttered, looking towards his mother.

Angelo’s mother smiled, turning to face Angelo.

“Yes, dear? What is it?”

“I know you don’t like talking about him…but…what happened to my father?”

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Her smile quickly dwindled as she brushed her blonde hair behind her.

“Well…uh…you’re right about me not liking this topic.” She responded, her face turning into a scowl.

“He’s…well, he’s not here. I don’t know where he is.” She said, before continuing to eat the stew she had brewed.

“Well…surely you can at least tell me about the weird paper he told you to give me?”

Angelo’s mother stayed silent, shaking her head.

“You’ll learn when the time is right, Angelo. Now, please don’t bring up your father again in this household.”

Angelo sighs, nodding. His brother simply continued to eat his stew, making sure not to draw too much attention to himself.

“Where does Soul Energy even come from?” Angelo asked, looking towards his mother.

“Well….not everyone has it. Only a very few like you do. The fact you’re able to manipulate it like that is marvelous.”

Angelo finished his stew, placing the bowl on the table as he stood up.

“I won’t stop searching for more answers. I went to the tomb today, you know?”

Angelo’s mother quickly glared at Angelo.

“Did I not specifically tell you not to follow that until you asked me for permission?”

“You never let me go. So, I just took matters into my own hands.”

“You don’t just do that! What if you were hurt?”

“Well, I wasn’t. And I even found something special…but anyways, I’m going to continue adventuring out, mother. I just wanted to tell you.”

“No! I forbid you.” Angelo’s mother yelled out.

“I’m not a kid anymore, I can take care of myself.”

“I don’t care. You’re not ready to adventure out, you’ll die! Do you know how dangerous it is outside of the village?”

“But haven’t you ever wanted to see the world? I’ve always been told never to go out of the village, well I did it yesterday. I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

“You’re breaking my heart, Angelo. Please stop with this madness.”

“This isn’t madness, mother. I’m only just trying to explore the world!”

Angelo’s brother stood up from his seat, walking over to his mother as he comforted her.

“Angelo…just…give her some time, okay?” His brother said.

“Yeah…you’re right, Toby.” Angelo sighed, sitting down on the ground as he began to ponder.

“I’m gonna go to Shimotsuki Village.” Angelo said, standing up as he walked over to the ground.

“I have some friends to catch up with over there.”

And with that, Angelo left the home, leaving Tobias with his mother.

***

Angelo had met some old friends, chatted with them, and overall had a fun time in Shimotsuki. He chose to go on a walk with a close friend of his; Edward, who was also a Soul Magician.

They slowly walked down a stone pathway, making their way through an empty part of the village.

“You know, I asked her about dad. She wasn’t happy, of course.”

“Well, that’d only make sense. Nobody even knows who your dad is, only she does.”

“Don’t I have the right to know, too?”

“Well, that sounds like an issue you have to sort, y’know?”

“Maybe you’re right.”

Edward chuckled.

“I know I’m right.”

Angelo turned to look up at the sky, observing the clouds.

“How’s your Soul Energy? Did you get a Soul Power?” Angelo asked.

“Yeah, actually. My Soul Power is magnetic attraction. I can basically place two opposite magnets at any two points I want to.”

“That sounds really good. I still haven’t got my power.” Angelo sighed, turning to look at Edward.

“I’m sure you’ll get it soon enough. No Soul Magician has ever had Soul Energy without a Soul Power.”

“Well, I wanted to ask. How would you feel about going out and exploring the world? I know we’re too young to leave the village, but…I snuck out today.”

“And how was it like?”

“A whole lot happened. Like, a LOT. I need to go out more often…I can’t imagine how beautiful the world looks. I even met a sentient tree.”

“Okay, now you’re just lying.”

“I’m not!” Angelo says, chuckling.

“I don’t really understand why we learn Soul Magic, anyways. It’s not like there’s any monsters out there. It’s all just fairy tales.” Angelo continues.

“I wouldn’t say that. I’m sure there’s plenty to discover out there…in the wilderness. We’ve been in the village all our lives.”

“Which is why I’m going to leave tomorrow. I’m going to learn about the world.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“I’m dead serious, Eddie.”

A moment of silence passed as they both stared at one another, the tension between them slowly rising.

“That’s a death wish, you don’t even know what’s out there. Hell, you don’t even have a Soul Power yet.”

“So? I beat some bandits today. Made them all surrender to me.”

“Yeah, those are bandits. They’re practically small fry to Soul Magicians. But I’m telling you, there’s some real monsters out there.”

Angelo paused for a moment.

“How would you know? You haven’t been out there.”

“My dad was a strong Soul Magician, and after one of his missions, he still hasn’t returned to this day,” Edward paused. “If those things can kill him, they can kill you. You don’t have your powers yet, you’re practically free food for them.”

“Maybe…maybe you’re right. I don’t know.”

Angelo sighs, looking back up at the sky and towards Edward.

“I’ve made up my mind, though. Just tell my mom I’m staying here for a while; I don’t want her to worry.”

“Alright, it’s your wish. But I’m warning you, you’ll die out there.”

Angelo smiles, looking straight ahead.

“If death is the cost of freedom, then I’m all for it.”