Luzbel returned to the village exhausted after his exciting encounter with the goblins. As he entered the village, his gaze met that of his mother, Lilith, who ran to him and embraced him in grief and concern.
"Luzbel! My God, you're all right!" exclaimed Lilith, her voice trembling. "What happened to you, you gave me a terrible fright!"
Luzbel let herself be hugged, feeling her mother's love and concern all around her. But as soon as Lilith calmed down a bit, she gave him a big scolding about how he had endangered himself and his companions. Anguish and fear for her son's safety echoed in her words.
After Lilith's rebuke, Roland, the old gentleman who acted as Luzbel's grandfather, arrived soon after. Seeing his grandson in the midst of a scolding, he approached and embraced him tenderly, albeit with a scolding gesture on his face.
"You naughty boy, what kind of crazy ideas do you have?" murmured Roland, trying to hide his relief at seeing Luzbel safe and sound. "You don't know how much you worried all of us. You must be more careful in the future."
With everyone home and calm restored, Luzbel decided to tell his mother and Roland what he had experienced in the forest. With a mixture of excitement and awe, he described the strange sense of power that had surged within him and how his flames had defeated the goblins.
They both listened intently, amazed at what they heard. Roland, in particular, seemed to be deeply intrigued by what Luzbel had experienced.
"This is something extraordinary, Luzbel," Roland said, his voice full of awe. "What you have felt is the awakening of mana, something very rare that should only occur at the age of fourteen, and in very exceptional cases."
Luzbel had a puzzled look on his face, not quite understanding the implications of what Roland was explaining to him. The old gentleman continued, trying to clear up the mystery.
"Generally, the awakened are very much in the minority. People have a very low percentage chance of being able to control mana," Roland explained. "The more knowledge and training you have the more chance you have of awakening. The percentage is estimated at 1 in 1000. To give you an example, in this village I have been the only one awakened."
"But Grandfather Roland what is mana?"
Elder Roland watched Luzbel with a mixture of pride and excitement in his blue eyes. He had waited for this moment for years, the moment when he could reveal to his young grandson the truth about mana and the world of possibilities that lay before him.
"Luzbel, little one," Roland began, sitting down next to the boy in the comfortable armchair in the living room. "Mana is a primordial force that flows through our world. It is a magical energy, invisible but powerful, found in everything around us. With mastery of mana, people can channel it and bring about changes in reality itself."
Luzbel's eyes widened, fascinated by his mentor's words. He had always felt a special connection to the world around him, but now he understood that there was something deeper at play.
"You mean I can manipulate mana?" asked Luzbel, his voice full of wonder and excitement.
Roland nodded with a smile. "Exactly, dear boy. With your innate talent and abilities, you are destined to become a master of mana. Imagine the possibilities: torrents of wind that defy gravity, fiery flames that dance at your will, and even, for warriors like you, the enhancement of your combat skills."
Luzbel's heart raced at the prospect of mastering this incredible force. He knew that his destiny was intertwined with mana and that he must follow this path with determination and courage.
"Then I want to learn more!" exclaimed Luzbel with a spark of determination in his eyes. "Where can I learn about mana and hone my skills?"
Roland nodded sagely. "There is a citadel called the Citadel of the Silver Dawn, a sacred and neutral place where all the races of our world gather. There lies the prestigious Mana Academy, an institution that trains the best warriors, mages and scholars of all races."
Luzbel gasped at the mention of the Citadel of the Silver Dawn and the Mana Academy. He imagined himself walking through its grandiose streets, surrounded by people of different races and learning from the wisest teachers.
"Can I go there, Grandpa Roland?" asked Luzbel eagerly.
The old man nodded with a beaming smile. "Of course, my dear Luzbel. When you turn fourteen, you will be ready to prove yourself in the entrance exam to the annual Mana Academy in the capital of our empire. It will be an arduous challenge, but I am sure you are prepared to face it and achieve great heights."
Excitement flared in Luzbel's heart, a spark that grew with Roland's every word about mana and the possibility of learning at the prestigious Mana Academy. He imagined the wonders he could achieve, the adventures that awaited him and the knowledge he could acquire.
However, when Luzbel shared his excitement with his mother, Lilith, his joy was eclipsed by her abrupt and angry refusal. Lilith's words echoed through the room, cutting and with no room for debate.
"No! I will not allow it!" exclaimed Lilith in a firm voice. "You do not understand the dangers involved in the handling of mana and the world beyond our people. You must be here, safe, beside me."
Luzbel was stunned at his mother's flat refusal. He tried to argue, to ask why she was forbidden, but Lilith showed no openness to debate. She simply stated that she didn't understand and that her place was in the village, away from the dangers and strangers.
The talk became tense, frustration and disappointment gripped Luzbel's heart. He longed to explore beyond the confines of his home, to challenge himself and discover his true potential. However, his mother seemed determined to keep him in the safety and monotony of the village.
The conversation came to an abrupt end when Lilith sentenced her final decision. "You will live in the village with me, Luzbel. You will take the reins of protecting the village alongside Roland. There is no further discussion on the matter."
At the strong refusal Luzbel looked at his last hope .
"Grandfather Roland you have to convince her to let me study the mana."
The man in response with a sigh said to him. "Luzbel although I don't understand why your mother refuses, I'm sure she does it because she loves you and wants the best for you, and I can't interfere in her decisions."
The naive young man felt as if something was breaking inside him. The hope and excitement he had felt moments before vanished, leaving a void in his heart. Luzbel knew he could not convince his mother, at least not at that moment. But he also knew there was something else, something calling to his spirit that he could not ignore.
As he retreated to his room, Luzbel promised himself that even though he was trapped in the village, he would look for ways to learn and grow on his own. He would not allow his dreams and his connection to the mana to be extinguished.
With determination in his golden eyes, Luzbel resigned himself to take on his new role in the village, working alongside Roland to protect his community. Though his path to the Mana Academy had been blocked, he would not allow his thirst for knowledge and adventure to be quenched. He knew the world had much more to offer and was determined to discover it, regardless of the restrictions imposed by his mother.