The months that followed weren't easy on Ranav, but they were exciting. He was now nearly three years old and could speak more or less clearly. The isolation of winter and the constant hunger gnawed at him, yet he had finally managed to get his father to agree to teach him reading, writing, and counting. Ranav's first lesson had begun by the fireplace on a stormy afternoon. With the wind howling outside, he insisted they use the ash on a food tray as a makeshift chalkboard, much to his father's surprise.
Trinav, though taken aback, could not deny his son's eagerness. He had expected Ranav to grow bored quickly, as he himself would have at that age. But the boy's concentration was unwavering as they worked through the numbers. The numerals of this world had different shapes, but Ranav's clever mind adapted swiftly. He memorized the shapes by tracing them over and over in the ash, and soon he was counting by tens and reciting his multiplication tables with ease.
When Vivita challenged him with, "How much is twelve times twelve?" Ranav replied, "One hundred and forty-four," without a second thought. His family sat there, dumbfounded. Naveena couldn't contain her pride and swept him up into a hug, marveling at her "little genius."
Reading and writing required more time, though Ranav's progress was swift. He quickly learned the fifty-one letters in the alphabet, memorizing them with a wooden ruler his father carved for him, with letters on one side and numbers on the other. This ruler became his prized possession, a simple yet essential tool that allowed him to practice on his own, sparing his parents the effort of overseeing his lessons.
In the mornings, when he wasn't practicing his meditation, Ranav studied with the ruler, repeating the alphabet and numbers until he felt he could write them as naturally as he spoke. His family saw him as a child prodigy, yet Ranav knew it was simply hard work, persistence, and a little edge from his past life's knowledge that drove his progress. But even with his newfound skills, his curiosity only grew stronger.
It wasn't long before Ranav began asking questions, eager to understand more about the world they lived in. His father explained the structure of the Mayura Kingdom and their place within it. They lived in the village of Dhela, part of the county of Khohdwar, within the archduchy of Himavant, and under the rule of the Mayura Kingdom. His family held the rank of peasants, owning their land but far from the higher ranks. Ranav learned that there were layers of titles in the kingdom—king and queen at the top, followed by dukes, marquesses, counts, barons, knights, and finally peasants like them, with serfs at the very bottom.
Trinav didn't know much about life outside the village, and the kingdom's hierarchy was mostly just words to him, a distant system he rarely thought about. In his father's eyes, the king was a figure of legend, but the local Count Khohdwar was a more tangible presence. The count governed their land, administered justice, and attended the New Year's Festival as the guest of honor. For Trinav and Naveena, he was a person they could put their faith in, though they never thought beyond his rule.
Ranav, on the other hand, was beginning to see a much larger world. Beyond the kingdom's structure, he wanted to understand the secrets of magic, the legends of the land, and the knowledge of neighboring countries. The family knew little more than the names of neighboring countries, with no knowledge of their people, language, or history. Ranav quickly understood that his family's perspective was limited, and he had far too many questions for them to answer.
So, when he grew tired of practicing numbers and letters, he shifted his focus to meditation. His family had long known he was born a Mage, a rare occurrence considering they had no other mages in their ancestry. But magic was not a mystery to them. They had quietly accepted his abilities, though they still avoided discussing them. Nanima, the village healer, had told them she'd consider taking Ranav as her apprentice once he turned four.
He continued his Kotodama meditation outside the house, mastering the chanting of spirit sounds. To others, it seemed like child's play, but he knew the significance of each vibration and tone. Over time, he felt the world's energy in every cell of his body, as if his spirit and the land were intertwined. Every morning, he practiced outside, breathing in the cold air, letting his chants carry through the quiet fields. This new world's energy felt purer, more alive than he had ever experienced on Earth, fueling his growth in ways he hadn't expected.
As he grew stronger, however, so did his questions. It was one of those rare, sunlit winter mornings, and Ranav stood outside, warming himself in a patch of sunlight that cut through the gray sky. His sister Vivita joined him, her curiosity about his "games" evident in her eyes.
"Lil bro, what's the fun in chanting all those strange sounds?" she asked, puzzled. "It sounds like you're talking to yourself."
He smiled, deciding to share a small part of his secret with her. "It's not just sounds, Sis. It's like… feeling the world talking back to me. And when I say the right things, it feels like… I'm stronger."
Vivita tilted her head, intrigued but clearly unconvinced. "But it doesn't look like anything. I don't see anything special."
Ranav shrugged, understanding that it was difficult to explain something so internal. "One day you'll see the power of my meditation," he thought. He knew little about mages besides that they were powerful, but for now, that was enough. He was determined to be strong, even among the mages.
Ranav's determination grew stronger, yet his family's limited understanding of magic left him searching for more. He knew Nanima was his best chance. While she was accessible at her shop in the village square, she had made it clear she would take Ranav as an apprentice only when he turned four. Ranav knew he would have to wait, but his resolve was set.
As winter passed and the first whispers of spring softened the cold, Ranav prepared himself. He would keep learning, reading, and practicing. He would be ready for the day he could finally see Nanima and know more about this world and what he could learn from her.