After recovering from the shock, the warriors of the lake tribe regained momentum and began pushing the enemies back. Amidst the chaos, Luther, the right-hand man of the lake tribe chief, noticed something odd: all the humans in their village were gathering in a remote part of the settlement. Sensing something was wrong, he took a few men to investigate.
By the time they arrived, they saw humans loading onto wagons, preparing to leave. Enraged, Luther bared his claws and charged at Aric, shouting, "How dare you, mere slaves, try to escape!"
Aric stepped back in fear, holding his younger brother tightly in his arms. But Endric quickly positioned himself between them, his body reinforced with magic. His black eyes shimmered blue as he parried Luther's claws with his bare hands. Endric commanded the human warriors, "Hold them off until everyone gets onto the wagons!"
A fierce scene unfolded as the humans, despite their smaller stature, fought the beastmen with newfound strength and resolve. As Aric climbed onto a wagon, Endric shouted again, "Prepare to move! Don't let the beastmen through until the wagons have cleared the perimeter!"
But just then, a beastman broke past his opponent and charged toward the moving wagon. In the chaos, Aric's brother lost his balance and fell from the wagon. Without hesitation, Aric leaped off after him, clutching his brother tightly as the beastman's claws closed in.
In that desperate moment, Aric shouted, "Leave us alone!" His scream unleashed a massive shockwave of magic that exploded outward, hurling the beastmen back and momentarily stunning Luther and his warriors. The human scouts used this brief opportunity to regroup and escape. Endric scooped up Aric and his brother, lifting them onto his horse, and led them to the village, still in disbelief over what had just happened.
---
The sun rose as the central tribe emerged victorious. The tides of battle had turned when their chief underwent a powerful transformation, morphing into a beast-like form. His size increased, and his once-human face with beast eats now became that of a complete wolf with razor-sharp jaws, while his legs took on an animalistic shape that granted him incredible speed. Though temporary, this transformation lasted an hour—enough time for him to slay the lake tribe chief, bringing the lake tribe under central tribe control. While a few among the lake tribe grumbled, none dared voice their discontent after witnessing the central chief's terrifying power.
---
Around 200 to 300 humans had been brought back from the lake village. They were given temporary shelter and provided with food.
Endric, being treated for his injuries in a hut, was soon visited by the chief. "Your bravery has brought freedom to our kind. Keep up the excellent work, warriors!"
Turning to Endric, the chief smiled. "Great job, Endric."
"I only did my duty, Chief."
"No, this was far more than that. I'm declaring you the commander of all the warriors of our tribe."
Endric nodded. "I shall not let you down, Chief."
As the chief prepared to leave, Endric hesitated, then spoke. "Chief, there is a boy among the people we saved. He used mana."
The chief raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Did he reinforce his body like we do?"
"Not exactly…" Endric recounted the incident on their return journey.
The chief listened, intrigued. "Bring him to me when you're finished with your treatment," he said before departing.
---
After reaching the village, Aric was captivated by its peaceful atmosphere. People moved about happily, and he was given warm food—a comfort he had never known. The grain was new to him, part of the agricultural practices the villagers had recently adopted. After feeding his brother, he ate, savoring the warmth and comfort of a full meal. Soon, the man who had saved him approached.
"How are you feeling?" the man asked.
"Good. Thank you for saving us."
"No problem. We're all humans here. We help each other."
Help each other? This simple phrase struck Aric. In the lake village, everyone lived for themselves, never knowing when the beastmen might decide to kill them. Lately, their treatment had only grown harsher.
"If you're feeling up to it, would you mind meeting our chief?"
Aric nodded, and paced his sleeping brother on a mat and they made their way to the chief's cabin.
The chief regarded Aric with curiosity. "So, young man, can you sense mana?"
Aric looked confused. "What is mana? Are you talking about these blue particles around us?"
The chief was taken aback. "You can see them?"
"Yes. Back in the lake village, there weren't many, but here… there are so many of them."
The chief was stunned. He was among the few of his generation to sense mana and attempt to control it. Yet, none of his companions had ever seen mana—they could only feel it. "Can you see what I'm doing?" the chief asked, gathering mana to coat his body, his eyes glowing blue.
Aric mimicked the chief, managing to reinforce his own body as his eyes began to glow as well. But Aric didn't stop there. Instead of only applying mana to himself, he gathered it in front of him, drawing more and more particles together. Suddenly, the mana ignited into a small, fist-sized flame, suspended in mid-air, shocking everyone present.
---
In another world, Zephry watched this scene unfold through the screen infront of him. "So, the first human mage has been born."
With a smirk, Zephry added, "Oh my, such a genius so early in the world's history."
Clark, his butler, nodded. "He will surely shape the future of magic, Master."
Zephry's grin widened. "Then I think I'll join the fun as well."
---
Following Aric's display of power, the chief gathered with the village elders to discuss how to proceed with this newfound prodigy. As they debated, the guard stationed at the village entrance entered and addressed the chief. "Sir, a human traveler has arrived, claiming he's from the west and wishes to visit the village."
The elders exchanged baffled looks, for they knew that west of their lands lay an enormous body of water, much larger than the southern lake. The chief instructed the guard to bring the visitor to his hut.
The guard returned shortly, accompanied by a young man with silver hair and golden eyes. He wore elegant clothes and carried a leather bag, exuding a sophisticated air.
The stranger introduced himself, bowing slightly. "Hello, everyone. I am Zephry, a traveler from the central continent, having crossed the vast oceans to reach your lands."