A few months had passed since my last birthday, and now I was four years old. My days in Profundia were filled with study and learning, especially under the guidance of my sister Aria and my mother Lysa. However, today was different. Aria and Lysa insisted I put aside my books and studies to go out and play with my friends. Although relaxing wasn’t exactly exciting for me, I decided to take their advice.
“Come on, Kaion, you need a break—and don’t forget to take your apprentice’s wand with you,” Aria said with a smile, handing me the wand I usually practiced with and gently nudging me toward the door. “The hill outside Draconia is a perfect place to unwind and have some fun.”
With a mix of resignation and curiosity, I left the house and headed for the hill. I wasn’t quite sure why everyone liked to send the children to that place, especially since there had been a monster attack there the last time. My sister had assured me that security had been reinforced so it wouldn’t happen again. I examined the wand my sister had given me. It was simple, with a wooden handle made from Abyssal Oak, a special tree that grows on this continent. Most students of magic use wands like this until they’re given a more advanced one or can afford a wand made of superior material.
As I walked through the streets of Draconia, my thoughts drifted back to my previous life. I remembered the endless hours in the office, the complex legal cases, and the feeling of accomplishment after every courtroom victory. It was a world so different from Profundia, filled with magic and mystery.
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While lost in thought, I ran into Nara, the girl from the Bone Mask Clan. She wore a bone mask carved with intricate designs, leaving only her bright brown eyes visible. Her dark brown hair cascaded down her back, contrasting with the whiteness of the mask.
“Hi, Kaion!” she greeted me, her voice lively but still somewhat distant. “Are you coming to play?”
“Yes, my sister and mother made me take a break,” I replied with a slight smile. “I decided to go to the hill. Want to join me?”
Nara nodded, though her expression barely changed. She always seemed to measure her words and actions carefully.
“Sure.” Her answer was brief and precise, as if every word carried specific weight.
We started walking toward the hill, and a palpable silence settled between us. I decided to break it in a way that might open the conversation and gain more insight.
“Nara, I’ve been thinking about the different elements and energies that exist. What element do you belong to?” I asked with genuine curiosity, knowing it might pique her interest.
Nara glanced at me from the corner of her eye, evaluating whether or not she should answer.
“I belong to the Earth Element.” Her tone was neutral, almost defiant, as if expecting that to be enough to satisfy my curiosity.
“That sounds fascinating. I heard your brother, Ragna, is a Qi user who cultivates death energy. Is that common in your clan?” I continued, trying to keep the conversation flowing naturally.
Nara stopped for a moment, clearly surprised by my knowledge, though her expression remained cold.
“Yes, our clan, the Bone Mask Clan, specializes in Qi cultivation. We don’t develop mana like the other Ancients,” she replied more fully this time, perhaps to avoid further questions.
I decided to make the most of the opportunity.
“Could you explain the difference between Qi cultivation and mana channeling?” I asked, watching her reaction closely. I knew this question could be the key to getting more information.
Nara was silent for a moment, as if lost in thought, before answering. Her voice was soft, but her tone maintained emotional distance.
“You… talk a lot, Kaion,” she remarked with a slight tilt of her head. “Fine, I’ll explain as best I can. In our clan, Qi is our life energy. We aren’t born with it in the same way that mages are born with mana; instead, we cultivate it through meditation, practice, and a deep connection to the earth. It all starts with the Dantian.”
“The Dantian?” I repeated, intrigued.
“Yes, the Dantian is an energy center located just below the stomach. It’s where we store and cultivate our Qi.” Her explanation was more detailed, holding my attention entirely. “For us, cultivating Qi involves focusing our energy in the Dantian and expanding it throughout our body. It’s a rigorous path that requires great discipline.”
I nodded, intrigued by her explanation, but knew I should press on.
“And how does that differ from mana channeling?” I asked, truly curious and making an effort to show admiration in my voice.
“Channeling mana is different. Mana flows in our blood; it’s part of our heritage. In Profundia, the Ancients use this energy to cast spells, experience visions, and perform magical feats. Qi cultivation requires meditation, time, and a deep connection to our surroundings, while mana channeling relies more on our lineage and our innate ability to control this energy.” Her tone was more explanatory, though it still carried her usual chill.
“Interesting. Is it difficult to cultivate Qi?” I asked, wanting to understand more and also hoping to make her feel valued for her knowledge.
Nara looked at me as if trying to figure out my intentions, but she chose to continue.
“Yes, it requires a lot of patience and discipline. But it also makes us stronger in a way that’s different from mana users. It gives us resilience and a unique connection to nature,” she explained, with a passion that slipped through her otherwise reserved tone.
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We finally arrived at the hill. We sat on top, watching the illuminated structures of Draconia underground, with its magical lights shining in the dark. My conversation with Nara had given me much to think about, and as the artificial sun began to set on our cavern’s horizon, I felt grateful for these moments of learning and connection in my new life in Profundia.
Nara, despite her cold demeanor, had been an invaluable source of knowledge. I realized I had guided the conversation exactly where I wanted it. I’d managed to get Nara to open up, even if just a little. And though she wouldn’t openly admit it, it was clear she had figured out my intentions, but her curiosity had kept her talking.
As I looked into the distance, I smiled to myself. With friends like Nara and the support of my family, I was confident I would uncover the secrets of this new world and its Fundamental Energies.
Sitting on the hill, we enjoyed the fresh air and a rare moment of tranquility as the view of Profundia stretched out before us, its magical lights twinkling in the distance.
“Nara, I’m curious—how did you know your element before taking the elemental affinity test?” I asked, breaking the silence with my usual curiosity.
Nara turned to look at me, her brown eyes shining beneath her bone mask.
“Qi users don’t go through that test. In Qi cultivation, the user chooses which energy to study based on their understanding and connection to it,” she explained, her tone cold yet instructive. “Mana users, however, are chosen by an element and the god representing it. That’s the fundamental difference.”
“So, Qi users have more freedom to choose their path, while mana users are predestined by their elemental affinity,” I reflected aloud, absorbing the information.
Nara nodded slowly.
“Exactly. But each path has its own challenges and advantages.”
Our conversation was suddenly interrupted by commotion among the other children up ahead. We stood up and saw a group training, recreating a simulated battle. Nara pointed to an open space on the hill, away from the noise.
“Kaion, I want to show you something,” she said, walking toward the clearing. I followed her, curious.
“This place is called Triumph Hill for a reason. Here, the children of Draconia train to survive in Profundia. The games are actually training exercises designed to prepare us for the continent’s dangers,” Nara explained, as she took a combat stance.
“So these ‘games’ are battles where we gain experience?” I asked, trying to understand the scale of what she was saying.
“Exactly. Our parents send us here to become stronger by fighting each other, so we’re ready for any adversity. Profundia is not an easy place to live. It’s the most hostile and dangerous continent, and only the strong survive,” she continued, her eyes gleaming with fierce determination.
“I see. So, do you want to train with me?” I suggested, sensing that she might attack me at any moment with a spark of excitement and anticipation.
Nara nodded, taking a steady stance without drawing any weapons.
“Prepare yourself, Kaion. I won’t go easy on you just because you’re new at this.”
I nodded, raising my wand. It was clear that Nara had experience in these “games”—it wasn’t hard to deduce that she was a formidable opponent, and this fight would be an important test for me. We faced each other, measuring our skills and resolve.
I started with a defensive strategy, casting a mana shield to protect myself from her initial attacks. Nara wasted no time in showing her abilities. With a swift movement, she struck the ground, and a shower of rocks erupted around her, quickly launching in a burst toward me and colliding against my mana barrier, cornering me.
“Surprised?” she asked, with a faint smile beneath her mask.
“No, but definitely impressed,” I replied, launching a Mana Shot at her.
Nara dodged gracefully, countering with a series of earthen spikes that shot up from the ground, forcing me to retreat. As I defended, I fired several mana projectiles in her direction, trying to keep her at bay.
I counted my attacks. One, two, three... each time I launched a shot, Nara dodged it or blocked it with an earthen barrier. She was fast and precise, her movements a perfect combination of strength and agility.
“Four, five, six...” I muttered to myself, trying not to lose count.
As the fight continued, I realized my attacks weren’t having any effect on her defenses. The walls of earth she raised were too solid for my regular projectiles. I needed a new strategy, something that could surprise her and break through her barriers.
While preparing my seventh shot, an idea began to form in my mind. If I could compress the mana energy into a single point, I might be able to concentrate enough power to break through her walls of earth. It was worth a try.
I focused, channeling all my energy to the tip of the wand. I felt the mana compressing, becoming denser and more potent. With a shout, I launched the compressed shot toward her earthen barrier.
The projectile broke through with a loud crack, surprising Nara and forcing her to step back.
“What… how did you do that?” she exclaimed, clearly impressed.
“I just thought of a different way to use my mana,” I replied with a triumphant smile. But my joy was short-lived, as the effort had left me exhausted.
Nara didn’t waste any time. She took advantage of my moment of weakness, striking the ground forcefully and raising more walls of earth around me. I found myself surrounded, with no room to maneuver.
“Eight...” I exhaled, launching the last projectile with all my remaining strength.
Nara blocked it easily, and before I could react, an earthen wall rose in front of me, blocking my view. I felt the ground tremble beneath my feet, and in an instant, I was surrounded by a ring of earthen stakes, trapped with no escape.
“Do you surrender, Kaion?” Nara asked, her tone calm but firm.
My breathing was heavy, and I felt light-headed. The world around me seemed to spin, and I knew I had nearly exhausted my mana. I nodded slowly, acknowledging my defeat.
“Yes, I surrender,” I said with difficulty, lowering my wand.
Nara made a gesture, and the earthen stakes vanished, freeing me. She approached and offered a hand to help me up. I accepted, feeling a mixture of frustration and respect.
“You did well, Kaion. You’re good at this, but you need to learn to conserve your energy and choose your moments to attack more carefully,” she said, her voice now softer and encouraging.
“Thank you, Nara. I learned a lot today. I promise I’ll keep improving,” I replied, taking her hand and standing up.
We stayed on the hill, watching the lights of Draconia and gaining a new understanding of what it meant to be strong on this continent. This training had strengthened not only our bodies but also our minds and spirits. I knew that with Nara by my side, I was on the right path to face any challenge.