'MAGIC!! Or advanced technology?' Kayden had never believed in any deity, even though he was reborn he still didn't have an attachment to religion in any way, but at that moment he hoped from the bottom of his heart that it was magic.
Based on his knowledge of the previous life, magic was the manipulation of mana, and this, in turn, was a highly complex form of energy, normally it was around everything, but his question was how to feel this mana. And did she exist or was it all in his head?
'No, no, let's think positive', Kayden had a great perception of his senses since he spent years only using them to live, he tried to feel his surroundings and...
Anything. Absolutely nothing different, but he didn't give up, he knew that magic must be something difficult and logically he wouldn't be able to use it automatically. He tried again to feel something different, but there was nothing, absolutely nothing. Without realizing it, his short time delay was used up again, and Kayden was sucked into the sea of sleep against his will.
These small lapses in consciousness weren't able to make Kayden learn much or be able to feel the mana, but he kept trying his best, he was willing to give 200% of himself in this new life. At times he was in his bedroom and at others in the kitchen or other rooms in the house. Over time, he realized that he should be in an orphanage and of good quality still, he never saw any of the children looking malnourished or with torn clothes after a long time of use.
The issue of language became easier and easier, he was able to differentiate words and learn their meaning through repetitions, and, in addition, as he grew up, he was able to maintain consciousness for longer.
1 year later...
"Smile for the picture, children, " the old man asked with a camera in hand, there were several children in a room, more specifically in the orphanage's party room, there was a large table in one corner of the wall capable of accommodating several people, and in the center of it had a cake.
This was the scene that Kayden faced when he got his consciousness back. In the passing of that year, he had already learned the "English" of this world, it wasn't difficult or complex, it was just a variation of the vocabulary of his old world. With this knowledge, Kayden learned a little about this planet, but unfortunately, he didn't get anything concrete, just fragments of ideas and conversations. But he was sure of one thing: this world was magical. Countless times he was able to see the old man doing impossible things, like carrying a couch in the air or magically disappearing to receive visitors. Not only that, but the kids were able to levitate him.
Kayden discovered that there were levels of power in this world. The children seemed to be at the wizard's apprentice level, as for the old man nothing was discovered. The levels also seemed to range from 1 to 9, most of the young children were at level 1 or 2, and the few above seemed to be over 10 years old. Kayden had no idea what came after the 9 levels or the difference in power between them.
"We're going to cut Kayden's birthday cake now, I don't want any fuss, you hear? " grumbled the old man with the knife in his hand and the cake levitating in front of him, at that moment the knife levitated and in less than a second he divided the cake into some pieces that were then placed on plates in the air and taken to each child in the place.
" Uncle, my piece is too small."
"Mine too, I want a bigger one."
Complaints like these exploded in all directions the moment the cake was served.
"I don't want complaints, you can't eat too many sweets at that age "The old man quickly cut off any attempt to make a mess and prevented the complaints from turning into a small rebellion, it had been a while since he dealt with the little ones and knew their capacity.
Kayden realized that he had been in this place for a year and slowly began to feel a sense of belonging, especially to the old man, who always tried to give them a good life and childhood. Little ones might not notice, but as an adult, Kayden quickly noticed the little details, like throwing a 1st birthday party for a baby who wouldn't even remember it.
Unbeknownst to him, the old man tried to give the children a "normal" life, as he never had the opportunity to have one when he was younger. After everyone ate the cake, the old man told everyone to go to sleep. He took Kayden in his arms and left with him too.
He arranged Kayden normally in his bed and, as he was leaving, he received a call. Out of habit, he answered quickly and threw a kind of protective barrier around the room. Kayden assumed it was a sound barrier from the situation. That little magic only strengthened his resolve to sense the mana.
"Hello Lucian, how are you?" Kayden couldn't hear the other part or know who it was, there was never a Lucian in the orphanage "I'm fine too, thanks. Ah yes, you still haven't found your way? I have already told you that it takes time to find your path and individuality, it is not an easy thing, and few human beings have achieved this."
At that moment, Kayden realized that maybe the old man wasn't just a little old man who ran an orphanage. This path seems to be something very advanced in the magical world.
" I'll explain it to you one last time, Lucian, you're already getting on my nerves, were what? 6 times or 7 I have already explained this "The old man looked annoyed "The path is necessary to pass the 3rd realm, you must try to feel what resonates with you and what you seek for yourself in this life, forget about relying on others, the path must come from you and there can hardly be many equal paths, only variations.
3rd kingdom? This piqued Kayden's curiosity. In a matter of seconds, he found out about two realms and how to reach the fourth.
"No matter what realm you're in, if you know your way around, you'll be unrivaled among your peers. Yes, yes, there are ways to ascend to the 4th realm without the path, but you would be cutting your future short.
They chatted for a few more minutes about other topics, but unfortunately for Kayden, they were useless. At that moment, drowsiness began to call for Kayden, he didn't even resist, he already knew it was no use, sleep was relentless.
The next day, as soon as he woke up, Kayden put what he knew in check and discussed its possibilities. He concluded, his quest to sense mana was not 100% profitable, he was mostly wasting time, but there was something he could pursue now that would undoubtedly affect his future. The way.
The mana and magic would come in time, but the path would not. It was better to suffer for now than in the future. From that day forward, Kayden began debating his path, what did he want? Who was he? What are your wishes? And so on.