Chapter 3:
The morning passed quietly as Hiro did his daily chores around the mansion. His hands were small, but he worked diligently, sweeping the floors, tending to the garden, and washing dishes with the other house servants. The physical work distracted him from the thoughts of his past, but the looming sense of something greater always hovered over him—his training with Rose.
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, signaling the arrival of afternoon, Hiro wiped the sweat from his brow and set down the broom. The time had come. Rose had instructed him to meet her every afternoon at the training grounds.
Hiro didn't really know what to expect, but the thought of becoming stronger intrigued him. He wasn't like the other kids. He had already lost so much, and while others might have given in to despair, he held onto a sliver of hope—that one day, he could fight back against those who had taken everything from him.
He made his way to the training grounds, a small open field behind the mansion, surrounded by tall trees and shaded by their thick leaves. As he approached, he saw a familiar figure standing in the middle of the field. It was Elysia.
She was holding a wooden training sword in her hands, staring down at the ground. Her small frame looked fragile, and Hiro could tell she was still uncomfortable around him. He walked over but didn't bother to say anything. His mind was focused on training, not making friends. Besides, what would he even say?
Elysia glanced at him nervously but didn't speak either. The silence between them was thick with awkwardness.
Minutes passed before Rose finally appeared, walking into the clearing with her usual confident stride. She surveyed the two kids before stopping in front of them.
"Well," she said, clapping her hands together, "I'm sure you two at least know each other by now, right?"
Elysia fidgeted, her cheeks turning red as she quickly shook her head. "N-No, Miss Rose…"
Rose let out a soft sigh, rubbing the back of her neck. "Great. We've got some work to do then." She looked at Hiro, who was standing with his arms crossed, still keeping his distance. "What about you? You've got a name, kid?"
Hiro looked up at her, his expression unreadable. "Hiro."
Rose raised an eyebrow, nodding slightly. "Alright, Hiro it is." She then turned to Elysia. "And I'm guessing you know how this goes, right?"
Elysia nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am! I'm Elysia, nice to meet you!" She extended her hand toward Hiro with a nervous smile.
Hiro stared at her hand for a moment, feeling the hesitation in her voice. He sighed softly before reaching out and giving her a quick handshake. "Nice to meet you," he mumbled, though his voice lacked enthusiasm.
"Good," Rose said with a smirk, watching them both. "Now that the formalities are over, let's get to the real reason we're here."
Rose walked to the center of the field and motioned for them to follow. Both Hiro and Elysia obeyed, standing side by side, waiting for her instructions.
"Elysia's been here for half a year now," Rose explained, pacing in front of them. "She's already familiar with how we do things. But you, Hiro, you're new. So, before we start any real training, we need to take care of something important."
Hiro's brow furrowed slightly. He wasn't sure what she meant by that.
Rose stopped pacing and turned to face them. "You're both still kids, and your bodies are limited in what they can do right now. But that's where mana comes in."
"Mana?" Hiro repeated, confused.
Rose nodded. "Yeah. Every living thing in this world has mana—a natural energy that flows through you. Most people never learn how to use it, but those who do, well… they become stronger than anyone else. Warriors, mages, adventurers—they all rely on mana in one way or another."
She knelt down and placed her hand on the ground, closing her eyes. The air around her seemed to shift, and suddenly, a faint glow surrounded her hand. Hiro felt a slight pressure in the air, like the energy was pulsing from her very being.
"Before you can fight, before you can defend yourselves, you need to learn how to unlock the mana within your own bodies," Rose continued. "It's not an easy process, but it's necessary if you want to survive."
Elysia glanced at Hiro, then back at Rose, looking nervous. Hiro, on the other hand, felt a strange excitement building inside him. The idea of having power—real power—was something he never considered. But now that he knew it was possible, he couldn't help but want it.
Rose stood up and crossed her arms. "We're going to start by opening your mana vessels. It's not going to feel pleasant, but it's something you have to go through if you want to train properly."
Without waiting for a response, she motioned for Elysia to step forward. The young girl hesitated but eventually took a step closer to Rose.
"Alright, Elysia," Rose said, her voice gentler now. "You've already done this before, so it should be easier for you this time. Just relax and let your body feel the flow."
Elysia nodded nervously and closed her eyes. Rose placed her hand on Elysia's chest, right where her heart was, and slowly, a soft light began to glow beneath her fingers. Elysia winced slightly, her body tensing as the mana inside her stirred, but she remained still.
After a few moments, Rose stepped back. "Good. You're getting better at controlling it."
Elysia let out a relieved breath, her shoulders relaxing as she opened her eyes.
"Now, Hiro," Rose said, turning to him. "Your turn."
Hiro stepped forward, his face serious. He didn't know what to expect, but he was determined to go through with it.
Rose placed her hand on his chest, just like she had done with Elysia, and began channeling mana into him. At first, Hiro didn't feel anything. But then, a strange sensation washed over him, like something inside him was being unlocked. It wasn't painful, but it was intense—a warmth spreading through his entire body.
Suddenly, Rose's eyes widened in shock. She pulled her hand away as if she had touched something dangerous. "What…?"
Hiro frowned. "What's wrong?"
Rose stared at him, her face pale with disbelief. "Your mana… it's…"
She trailed off, clearly shaken by what she had just sensed. Hiro looked at her, confused. "What? What's wrong with me?"
Rose shook her head, trying to compose herself. "It's not wrong, it's just… unbelievable. I've never felt mana like this before. It's like… there's something inside you, something powerful, something chaotic. You, w-who are you?"
Hiro smirked. "I'm just a kid from the slave market named Hiro."
Rose stared at him for a long moment, her mind racing with possibilities. There was something about this boy—something far beyond what she had expected.