Kiyoshi stood by the edge of the forest, watching the snowfall as if lost in thought, the soft crunch beneath his boots grounding him at the moment. He shifted uncomfortably, tugging at the clothing Ceng-tae had given him. As the door to the cabin creaked open, Ceng-tae stepped outside, his breath visible in the cold air. He didn't say anything for a moment, simply observing Kiyoshi.
"Do you feel it?" Ceng-tae broke the silence, his voice soft and gentle.
Kiyoshi blinked, confused. "Feel what?"
"The air, the mana flowing through the trees, the earth beneath us." Ceng-tae gestured around them. "This forest is alive with magic. Can you sense it?"
Kiyoshi furrowed his brow, trying to focus. He closed his eyes and strained to reach out, but there was nothing-just a void.
"No… I don't feel anything," Kiyoshi admitted quietly, the frustration clear in his voice.
Ceng-tae observed him carefully, his gaze softening. "Of course, he wouldn't feel it yet-not after what he had been through. The boy had no recollection of who he was, no understanding of the mysterious power that lay dormant within him." He thought to himself as his mind lingered on the strange energy he had sensed in Kiyoshi ever since he found him in the snow. He knew that there was something more, something dark beneath the surface, and now he was certain.
Glancing towards the edge of the forest, a gentle wind blew the trees, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. Ceng-tas began thinking to himself; after he had given the boy the name Kiyoshi, he noticed subtle shifts in the air around him—a faint but undeniable aura that didn't belong to a simple human. It wasn't until a few nights ago, while Kiyoshi was fast asleep, that Ceng-tae had fully confirmed his suspensions. Using an ancient magic he had learned, he began to unravel Kiyoshi's mana, which in turn drew back the veil that was Kiyoshi's lineage.
The result has shaken him.
It wasn't just any aura that surrounded the boy—it was demonic. Ceng-tae was pretty familiar with this kind of chaotic energy, but never in someone so young, so seemingly innocent. Yet beneath it all, Kiyoshi harboured immense power, a power left unchecked that could spiral out of control. But that wasn't all; there was something even more perplexing. The demonic aura wasn't pure. Kiyoshi wasn't a full demon; his magic felt... dual.
Keeping his findings to himself, Ceng-tae decided that Kiyoshi didn't need to know about his origins just yet. But maybe it was better this way—better for him to stay ignorant rather than become what a demon truly embodies. Resolving to protect Kiyoshi, even if it meant hiding the truth. But for how long could he shield Kiyoshi from the darkness within him? How long till he senses it himself and breaks free?
"Patience," Ceng-tae said. "In time, you'll feel it flow where it's meant to. For now, don't force it." He'd rise to his feet. "Everyone had a connection to mana, some stronger than others. But you…"
Kiyoshi looked up; his curiosity piqued. "Me what?"
Ceng-tae hesitated, then smiled. "You'll see when the time is right."
Kiyoshi asked, "Understand, but why did you name me Kiyoshi?"
Ceng-tae leaned against a nearby tree, watching the boy as he spoke. "Because when I found you, you were silent. Still lost in a cloud that no one else could understand. 'Kiyoshi' means 'pure and quiet.' It seemed fitting."
Kiyoshi's gaze lowered as he began thinking about it. The name itself felt good; it gave him a warmth he hadn't had before. But the feeling of unease still follows; perhaps in time, the feeling would fade, and this small new piece of him would become one, even if it didn't fit just yet.
"You should rest," Ceng-tae said finally, his tone firm yet kind. "Tomorrow, we'll continue, and you'll start learning more about your connection to this world."
Kiyoshi nodded slowly, making his way back into the home.
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"The Next Morning."
As the wind howled softly through the trees, accompanied by the sound of crunching snow beneath their feet, Kiyoshi's heart pounded as Ceng-tae led him deeper into the forest, stopping by a clearing. Ceng-tae turned to face him, his expression serious.
"Mana isn't just power. It's life," his voice had a calm yet firm feeling to it as he guided Kiyoshi on the lesson of mana control. "To wield it, you must understand it. To suppress it, you must understand yourself."
Kiyoshi frowned, unsure. "I don't even know who I am."
Ceng-tae would let out a soft sigh as his gaze met his. "Then this is the first step in finding out."
He kneeled down, motioning for Kiyoshi to do the same. "Close your eyes. Focus on your breathing—nothing else."
Reluctantly, Kiyoshi followed suit, shutting his eyes. His breath came in short, uneven bursts, but gradually, it began to slow down. With each inhale, Kiyoshi attempted to quill the storm inside him. "Now feel the mana. It's not something you control with force. You must flow along with it, like a river."
Kiyoshi listened to the advice, opening his eyes and staring at his hands, attempting to focus on the mana that flowed within him. He sensed a faint warmth in his chest, accompanied by a tingling sensation in his fingertips—but it was elusive.
Ceng-tae got up, taking a step back, and he allowed Kiyoshi to attempt the exercises once more. Closing his eyes, attempting to match his breathing with the rhythm of the wind, as the minutes went by, beads of sweat formed on his brow, and his hand began to tremble slightly.
Kiyoshi huffed in frustration. "I… I can't feel it," Kiyoshi said, clenching his teeth as his frustration began bubbling up. "It's like I'm teaching for something that's not even there."
"Not yet," Ceng-tae corrected. "You're not used to it, that's all, but that doesn't mean it's beyond you. You've simply been disconnected for a long time—don't rush this."
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"Trail & Error."
Over the next several days, they repeated the same exercises. Ceng-tae's patience seemed somewhat endless, and Kiyoshi, though initially uncertain, began to show sparks of progress. Small flickers of glowing light formed in his palms, and just as fast as they appeared, they faded. His control over mana was slowly returning, and by the end, he managed to fully create an object— a small, rough sphere, barely solid but tangible nonetheless.
As the two stood under the twilight sky, Kiyoshi held the sphere in his hands; his eyes widened in disbelief.
"I… I really did it," Kiyoshi murmured, staring at the sphere in his hands. For the first time, hope flickered within him—maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as broken as he thought.
Ceng-tae, grinning, patted Kiyoshi on the back. "See? I knew you had it in you, boy. Now, that's something worth celebrating."
Turning towards Ceng-tae with a small smile plastered onto his face for the first time since they'd met, he felt a sense of accomplishment. Ceng-tae placed a hand on Kiyoshi's head, playfully ruffling it. "You've earned it, kid. Tomorrow, we'll go to the village," Ceng-tae said, his voice pretty light and cheerful. "You've been here long enough. There's a whole world out there, and it's time you saw a little more of it."
Kiyoshi blinked up at him, slightly taken aback by the sudden announcement. "The... village?"
Ceng-tae nodded as his face softened. "There's more to life than just training. You'll see soon enough."
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