One morning, on the promised day, Ace made his way to the church, eager to start his training.
"I'm going out now," he said as waved at Ellie who followed with, "Okay. Be careful out there."
"Okay!"
After a while, he arrived at the church, a grand structure with towering spires and intricate stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the stone floors. As he knocked on the door, it creaked open to reveal a kind-faced sister.
"Excuse me? Is miss Maria present?" asked Ace, his voice tinged with anticipation.
The sister nodded and guided him towards the church's library. "Yes. You must be the child she told me about. Please follow me."
The library was a haven of tranquility, filled with the rich scent of old books and the soft hum of ambient light filtering through the windows. In the library, Ace found Maria and another girl waiting for him.
"Oh! Hello Ace," Maria greeted him with a friendly wave. "Come on in. I'm sure you still remember Isabella, right?"
"Yeah, I remember," he answered.
Isabella Windsor, a 9-year-old petite girl with dark shoulder-length hair and beautiful blue eyes. She was also Maria's apprentice. She gave him a brief nod before returning the book with an indifferent expression that was quite reserved. Ace felt a bit put off, but he was still excited to learn magic.
Maria directed Isabella to fetch a book about mana theory from a high shelf. As Isabella did so, Maria began explaining the basics of magic to Ace. "If you remember correctly, Mana is an energy that can be used to create, control, and modify matter and other phenomena," she said her voice steady and clear. "Now, how many attributes are there?"
"There are 7 attributes: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, Dark and Null attribute. Each person has a natural affinity for one or more of the first six attributes. Hence, one must first discover one's attributes and learn the basics." Ace answered followed by a thought. "Well, that is what I remember from 'Ace's' memories."
Ace then added, "Then we have the null attribute. A rare, mysterious and powerful attribute, capable of manipulating space, time and other magical, and physical phenomena."
"Very good," Maria, a professional smile on her face started. "It seems you that you didn't forget what I taught you before. Then let's move on."
The session lasted for 4 hrs. Ace listened intently, absorbing every bit of information about mana theory and its practical uses. By the time he returned home, his mind was abuzz with the possibilities that lay ahead.
Chris was waiting for him in the living room, his expression a mix of curiosity and satisfaction. "How did it go?" he asked, casually leaning against the doorframe.
"It was good," Ace replied, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I learned many new things."
"Glad to hear it." Chris said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "From now on, Maria will teach you about magic on Tuesday and Thursday while I will teach you swordsmanship on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Saturday and Sunday are rest days. Be prepared to work hard."
Ace's days began early, with a disciplined routine that dictated the flow of his day-to-day life. His mornings started with mana manipulation exercises under the guidance of Maria. It involved sensing the mana within the body, converging it and letting it circulate freely.
After his 4-hour session with Maria, he would then go back home, occasionally reviewing what he was taught while experimenting. Ace would then endure grueling workouts designed to push his limits. From sprinting through the fields to lifting and stretches, Chris's training was relentless.
"Before teaching you how to wield a sword," Chris said one day, his voice gruff yet encouraging, "we must first hone your body for it to be strong, agile and flexible." His muscular arms were crossed as he spoke, and his eyes held a glint of approval. Ace nodded; determination etched on his young face.
And so, this was Ace's new routine life. Mana lessons with Maria from 8 a.m. to noon, followed by a hearty lunch, a two-hour rest, and reviewing lessons. Then his physical training from 10-12 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. with Chris.
Evenings were a quiet affair. After a simple dinner with the family and talking about his day with Ellie, Ace would take a bath, the warm water soothing his aching muscles. Then he would retreat to his modest bed, falling into a deep sleep. But one night, his peaceful slumber was interrupted by a dream.
In the dream, Ace found himself in a white, empty space. The brightness of the space was thick and palpable. His heart raced as a mysterious shadow, its form shifting and elusive, emerged and loomed before him.
The voice that emerged was both alluring and menacing. "Let's play, friend." It said, a chill running down Ace's spine.
Ace, standing amidst the fog-like space, mustered up his courage and asked boldly, "Are you the one who brought me here?" his voice steadier than he felt
The shadow's response was cryptic as it chuckled. "If you wanna know, come find me in the Sezar mountains. But come only if you're strong enough... or 'you will' die."
"I'll be waiting. Hahaha!" With that, the shadow vanished laughing as the fog-like space and dream dissipated. Ace jolted awake, his heart pounding in the midst of dawn. The dream had ignited a new fire within him. He knew he had to become stronger, to unravel the mystery of his arrival and the shadow's enigmatic message. With renewed resolve, he threw himself into his training with an intensity that surpassed even his previous efforts.
17 months later, Ace, now 12 years old, had transformed into a formidable young warrior. He had reached an intermediate level of mana mastery and honed his swordsmanship to low-grade knight-class standard. His once childish appearance had changed from the countless hours spent training under the sun. His muscles, though still growing, were well-defined, and his frame stood with a confident stance.
One day, he approached Chris with a request. "Dad," he said, his voice steady and his eyes filled with resolve. "I want to join you on your hunts."
The seasoned warrior looked down at the young boy, his face marked with lines of skepticism. Chris raised an eyebrow. "You're still just a kid. It's dangerous out there."
Ace's gaze was unwavering. "I've trained hard, and I need to test my skills in real conditions. So please?" he pleaded, bowing his head.
Chris sighed, the corner of his mouth twitching into a reluctant smile. "Alright, fine. But if things get dangerous, we leave right then and there, okay?"
Ace nodded enthusiastically, his eyes shining with determination. "Yes sir!"
The hunts proved to be an invaluable experience for Ace. He faced real threats and tested his abilities against wild beasts and hostile monsters. With every challenge, he grew more adept in his mastery of magic and his skills with a blade sharpened by the trials he faced.
From dark blades appearing from his shadow to diving into his shadow to move unnoticed as well as null magic such as reinforcements and enchantments, his proficiency with magic was impressive. His swordsmanship was precise and mastered. There were no useless movements. Chris, who was by his side, felt a deep sense of pride seeing his son and disciple grow.
After months of grueling practice and countless battles, Ace had completed his training and could now depend on his own strength. One day, he announced to his foster parents that he was going to hunt on his own for the first time. Chris and Ellie, though reluctant, agreed to it. And so, his sword at his side he went to the forest for his first solo hunt.