Lucas sat quietly on the couch, his gaze distant and unfocused. His thoughts swirled like leaves caught in the wind, landing on a memory that brought him back to his earlier conversation with Eldric.
'That's right... I almost forgot.'
Eldric had agreed to train him, and Lucas had promised himself he would take the chance, no matter how slim the odds of success might be. The desire to learn magic burned in him—not just as a dream, but as a necessity. He was tired of being weak, tired of being helpless. After everything he had endured, Lucas knew that staying the way he was simply wasn't an option.
He leaned back into the couch, staring at the wooden beams overhead. 'I can't stay here forever,' he thought, the weight of his predicament pressing down on him.
Returning to his own world felt like an impossible goal, especially for someone like him. 'But is it really impossible?' he questioned. These doubts gnawed at him, but beneath them was a spark of hope.
Sebastian's offer to let him stay was a rare gift, a chance to regain his strength and learn about this strange world. Lucas realized he had to make the most of this opportunity—not just to survive but to prepare for the journey ahead. If he understood how this world worked, what kind of monsters lurked within its shadows, and how dangerous it truly was, he might stand a chance the next time he set out.
His mind wandered back to his life before. Back home, he had been ambitious, always dreaming of greatness. He wanted to be athletic, talented, and successful in every way. But those dreams had been crushed by his own laziness. He knew ambition without discipline was meaningless, yet he had failed to conquer his worst habits.
This time, it had to be different.
Lucas clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing with determination.
"If I want to conquer the world," he murmured to himself, "I have to conquer myself first."
The thought settled heavily in his mind, but it was also freeing. He had no choice but to face the truth—this journey wouldn't just be about returning home. It would be about proving to himself that he could change.
"Becoming stronger won't be easy," he said quietly, his voice firm. "But I'd rather suffer through hardship than live with regret."
His heart ached at the thought of his parents. 'No matter what it takes, I'll find a way back to Mom and Dad. I'll survive. I'll grow stronger. I'll make it home.'
After finishing the breakfast Sebastian had prepared, Lucas stepped outside. The crisp air was refreshing, the morning sun casting soft golden light across the forest.
He had one goal in mind: to find Eldric.
The forest around him was vast, its beauty almost distracting as sunlight danced through the leaves, creating dappled shadows on the ground. Lucas weaved through the trees, glancing around as he walked.
'Damn it, where is he?'
Frustration grew as he searched, scanning every clearing and path for any sign of Eldric.
'Why is he so hard to find?'
The memory of their first meeting surfaced in his mind. 'Wait... maybe he's back in that same spot.'
Lucas adjusted his course and headed to the place where he had first encountered the blue-haired boy.
Sure enough, there he was. Eldric stood in the middle of the clearing, his sharp green eyes focused as he practiced his magic. Lucas paused, watching from the edge of the clearing.
Eldric was training again, but this time it was different. Instead of just shooting water balls, he was forming and hurling shards of ice with precision. The sharp, crystalline projectiles shot through the air and shattered against trees, leaving jagged marks on their bark.
But something struck Lucas as odd.
'Is throwing all he can do?'
Before he could dwell on the thought, Eldric turned, sensing someone's presence. His gaze landed on Lucas, and he raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, it's you."
Lucas stepped forward, brushing off the comment. "Since I came back, it should be obvious what I want."
Eldric tilted his head slightly. "You want to train with me, then?"
"Of course. What other reason would I have to come back here?"
Eldric hesitated for a moment before responding, his tone measured. "I'll help you, but don't expect much. I'm only teaching you because you don't know anything about magic. I'm not particularly strong, so don't think you'll learn anything extraordinary from me."
Lucas crossed his arms. "That's fine."
He wasn't looking for miracles, and Eldric's modesty didn't bother him. All Lucas wanted was to learn something—anything—that could give him a foothold in this world.
He watched Eldric closely, the boy's serious expression betraying his dedication. Lucas didn't know much about how strong someone should be after two years of training, but Eldric's progress was undeniable.
'He's stronger than most people would be after the same amount of time,' Lucas thought, his resolve hardening.
This was a chance he couldn't waste.