Kateku's mother, overwhelmed with panic, had the maids keeping an eye on her son at all times. No matter where Kateku went, their eyes followed him, checking in with his mother regularly, ensuring she knew of his every movement. Despite the constant supervision, Kateku often found ways to slip away, hiding in the mansion's many rooms and corridors. He could sense her worry even at his young age, but it annoyed him to have no freedom, always watched like some fragile thing.
His mother, unable to shake her fear, finally reached out to his father, who was away in the capital city, visiting one of the noble families. He returned swiftly, and together, they examined Kateku. The absence of a mana core concerned them deeply. Without a core, would Kateku ever wield magic? They considered radical solutions, even discussing the possibility of crafting a custom mana core. But there were risks involved, and the mere thought of it made Kateku's mother shudder.
One night, driven by desperation, she contacted someone—a figure shrouded in mystery. Four months passed. The tension in the house was thick as the unknown visitor prepared to arrive.
A knock on the door echoed through the mansion one afternoon. A maid was seen bidding farewell to a girl and a boy outside before making her way in. She stepped into the grand hall, her presence immediately captivating. Her silver hair shimmered under the light, and her piercing purple eyes seemed to see everything. Kateku couldn't take his eyes off her; she was unlike anyone he had ever seen. A soft breeze seemed to follow her as she moved gracefully through the room.
The maid's name was **Liora**, and she had come at the request of Kateku's mother. Liora was renowned for her abilities, a specialist in training and assisting those with magical potential. Kateku's mother quickly bonded with Liora, finding comfort in the woman's calm and composed nature. It didn't take long for Liora to establish herself as a trusted figure in the household.
Soon after, Kateku found himself alone with Liora. He wasn't used to being around someone so elegant, and he struggled to maintain his usual indifference. They talked for a while—small, simple exchanges at first, but then the conversation took a more serious turn.
Liora led Kateku outside, wanting to see if the boy had any magical abilities. His parents had always been uncertain because of the absence of his mana core. But Liora had a different way of testing things. She began the session by instructing him to focus, guiding him to channel the energy within him.
To her surprise, Kateku managed to produce magic—almost all the elements. Fire crackled in his hands, earth shifted beneath his feet, and water flowed effortlessly from his fingertips. However, there were two elements he couldn't control. Despite his natural talent for most elements, Kateku couldn't summon light or wind.
Liora stood there, watching in silent awe. She realized that Kateku was special, far beyond what anyone could have expected.
Liora decided it was time to test Kateku in a more traditional way. She took him to the nearby town's guild, a place where adventurers and mages gathered. It was known as the **Silver Crescent Guild**, famous for its rigorous training and the magical crystals used to measure a person's mana potential. Kateku was curious but kept his usual expressionless demeanor as they traveled. His mind, however, buzzed with excitement. He had never been beyond the mansion, and the idea of a guild filled with adventurers fascinated him.
When they arrived, the grand hall of the guild was bustling with people—adventurers prepping for missions, merchants discussing supplies, and guild staff managing requests. As soon as Liora walked in, the atmosphere shifted. People recognized her instantly; her reputation preceded her, and whispers filled the room. Kateku followed close behind her, catching a few glances from the seasoned adventurers, some intrigued, others dismissive of the young boy.
Liora approached the guild master, an older man with a thick beard and a sharp gaze. He greeted her with a nod. "Here for a mana evaluation?"
"Yes," Liora responded coolly, "This is Kateku Grox, and we need to measure his potential."
The guild master raised an eyebrow, his eyes briefly scanning Kateku before leading them to the back room where the mana crystal awaited. It was a large, transparent orb that shimmered faintly, resting atop an ornate pedestal. The crystal was known to measure a person's mana capacity and core strength—though in Kateku's case, there was no core to measure.
A few adventurers, curious about Liora's visit, gathered nearby, whispering among themselves. "A child? Seriously?"
Kateku stepped forward, placing his hand on the crystal as instructed. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, suddenly, the crystal began to glow brighter, its light intensifying with every second. The air in the room shifted as raw magical energy swirled around Kateku, creating a tense atmosphere. The crystal hummed, vibrating uncontrollably. Liora's eyes widened.
Crack!
The crystal splintered, and within moments, it shattered into pieces. A collective gasp filled the room as shards of crystal fell to the floor. The adventurers stood in stunned silence, their faces a mix of disbelief and shock.
The guild master stared, speechless. "Impossible… that crystal was designed to handle even the highest-tier mages."
Liora remained calm but knew what this meant. Kateku's power was off the charts—unquantifiable by normal means. He had no mana core, yet his potential far exceeded what anyone could have imagined.
The whispers in the guild intensified as word spread about the boy who broke the mana crystal. But Liora didn't waste time. "Kateku," she said, turning to him, "It's time to put that power to the test."
The guild master, still processing the event, quickly handed Liora a mission scroll. It was a standard low-tier mission—a hunt for a group of dangerous creatures that had been terrorizing a nearby forest.
Kateku didn't hesitate. He accepted the challenge with a determined nod, eager to test his abilities outside the confines of the mansion.
They set out together, heading into the dense woods. It didn't take long to find their targets: a pack of wild **Dire Wolves**, their eyes glowing in the shadows. Kateku clenched his fists, his heart racing. This was his first real battle, and though he lacked light and wind magic, he was confident in his control over the other elements.
The wolves charged, but Kateku stood his ground. His hand flicked, and a wall of fire erupted in front of the wolves, halting their advance. As the flames danced, he followed up with a blast of earth, striking the ground beneath the wolves, sending several flying backward.
Liora watched intently, evaluating his combat skills. She noticed how quickly he adapted, how fluid his movements were. Despite his lack of formal training, he fought with a natural understanding of magic and its flow.
One of the wolves lunged at him, but Kateku was ready. With a swift motion, he summoned a wave of water that crashed into the beast, knocking it off balance. He was far from perfect, and his control occasionally wavered, but for a boy his age, it was extraordinary.
After a fierce battle, the pack was defeated, and Kateku stood victorious, breathing heavily but unharmed.
Liora smiled faintly. "You're much more powerful than even I imagined," she said. "But power alone won't be enough. You'll need control, discipline, and more experience. Today was just the beginning."
Kateku nodded, already looking forward to his next challenge.