30 miles away from the village, a rumble shook the earth, sending shockwaves through the landscape that echoed through the serene, rolling hills that surrounded it. Beneath the rising dust blown by the wind, were two distinct silhouettes, one adorned in blazing reddish-orange aura while the other exuded a shimmering serene bluish-silver aura.
Their clash was nothing short but spectacular, their movements were blurs, mere trails of their auras to be seen. The sheer force of their blows sent tremors that rattled the very ground beneath them.
In but one moment, as the dust cleared, it was Ace, now 13 years old and his younger brother, Shaw, now a determined, agile, and cheerful 10-year-old, were sparring as part of their training. Chis then showed up, standing between the two, and the two boys immediately halted their assault.
"That's enough for today, boys. It's time for lunch." said Chris, his voice steady and authoritative, yet calm and relaxed.
"But we were getting to the good part!" said Shaw, his pout accentuating his youthful features.
"That's true. The part where I beat him of course," said Ace with a smug expression on his face.
"What?!" Shaw's jaw dropped. "You mean the part where 'I' beat 'you', right?"
As their argument continued, "Okay. That's enough. You wouldn't want to make your mother wait, right?" said Chris as the boys exchanged a sheepish glance, their competitive spirits subsiding as they responded with a "No, sir."
"What happened when I returned from my little trip to the swamp was enough for me," thought Ace as he remembered the scene that took place when he returned home after his solo hunt.
With a small chuckle from Chris, the three of them went back home together, where Ellie was waiting for them. As they approached the house, the aroma of a hearty meal wafted through the air, teasing the senses of the siblings as their stomachs grumbled. She had prepared a hot meal of stewed meat and vegetables, which they eagerly devoured.
Ace had studied more about the history and other social norms of the world he was living in from the books in the church's library. He had now fully acclimated himself to this new world.
During the afternoon, while Shaw took a well-deserved nap, Ace went for a stroll around the village. As he walked through the village and the familiar chatter and laughter of his neighbors filled the air, a voice aborded him.
"Hey Ace," It was Isabella, who also seemed to be out on a walk. "What are you doing out here?"
"Oh! Iza," he greeted as he waved his hand enthusiastically. "What a coincidence."
"How many times do I have to tell you it's Isabella," said Isabella with a frown.
"More times than I can count," said Ace with a relaxed tone followed by a laugh. "Hahaha!"
"That's true," she said with a sigh as she held her forehead. "So, were you training with Shaw again?"
"Yeah," he replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "After all, he's 10 years old now, so he can join in for some training, am I right?"
"Yeah, but still, logically speaking he's still 3 years younger than you, and yet he's capable of keeping up with you. Though it's not as if you give it your all either, right?" asked Isabella, a touch of teasing in her voice.
Ace chuckled. "Maybe a little. Well, I guess he is what you call a natural-born genius. After all, he also has an affinity with both fire and earth mana attributes."
As their conversation went on, they discussed on the fact of how a person with multiple attributes could combine their properties to produce new, and original magical effects.
Isabella's voice was filled with intrigue as she recalled, "If I remember correctly, we also discovered a Beast Will within his soul, right?"
"Yeah, that's right," Ace nodded.
"A Beast Will, the remnants of the mana of a magical beast when it dies. Considered a very rare happening since chances of someone possessing it naturally are slim. Due to its rarity, most of the time, people use magic crystals from monster corpses to absorb the mana within and gain the monster's beast will," said Isabella. "It's true. He might really be a genius."
They continued to stroll around the village eventually arriving at a bench, their conversation going on and on about their magic studies and other pleasantries while sitting on the bench until the sun started to set in the horizon.
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Chris, who approached Ace with a serious expression. "Ace," Chris began, his voice carrying a blend of concern and resolve, "I'd like to talk to you. Follow me."
"Okay," he answered. "Well, Iza, see you later."
"Sure. See you later," she waved at him.
The two of them went to the edge of the village, the setting sun casting long shadows, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.
Chris faced Ace with a thoughtful expression. "I understand that you've been contemplating a journey as an adventurer to further hone your sword skills and magic. I must admit, I was taken aback by this request."
Ace lowered his gaze, his voice steady but filled with earnestness. "I want to improve, Dad. I want to see the world beyond the village and test my abilities. I believe it will help me to grow."
Chris studied Ace's face, nothing but fiery determination in his eyes. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded. "Very well. If you truly wish to embark on this journey, you prove yourself first."
Ace looked up; curiosity piqued. "Prove myself? How?"
Chris gaze hardened, his eyes narrowing with the weight of his words. "Tomorrow at noon, we will have a duel. If you defeat me, I'll let you leave. But if you lose, you'll have to wait until you're 15."
"I understand," Ace replied, his voice steady and his eyes gleaming with determination. "I'll give it everything I have."
Chris's expression softened, a hint of a smile appearing on his lips. "That's the spirit. Well then, let's go home."
As Chris walked away, Ace stood alone for a moment, staring at the horizon. He was determined to prove himself, to earn the right to explore the world, unlock his full potential, and discover the true purpose behind his reincarnation which was his real motivation for becoming an adventurer.
Arriving home, they proceeded to also telling the details of their discussion to Ellie, who even though reluctant, accepted since she wanted to support Ace.
And with all those matters away, the evening fell over the village, casting a tranquil glow over it. As Ace lay down in his bed, his heart raced at the challenge ahead. He knew about Chris's reputation in the past from all the stories Ellie told the two brothers every once in a while. His father had once been a formidable mercenary, renowned for his cunning and skill on the battlefield. To face him in a duel would truly be a true test of his abilities.
Resting so as to be fully energized for his duel tomorrow, he knew that it would be more than just a test of his skill—it would be a defining moment in his journey.