Raion's footsteps echoed in the still air as he approached Haruto, his eyes glowing with a mix of amusement and boredom. The fight was over, the air thick with the remnants of tension, but Haruto still stood, his expression a mixture of gratitude and stubborn pride.
Raion stopped just a few feet from Haruto, his confident stride slowing. His gaze flickered down to the battered young man, taking in the blood and scratches that marked his face.
"Hey, kid," Raion said, his voice light but carrying an edge of seriousness. "It's best you don't walk around alone at night. You never know who you'll run into. Or what."
Haruto looked up at him, still trying to catch his breath, and gave a small, tired smile. "Thanks for the help… but I could've handled him."
Raion made a soft, gravelly laugh that seemed to ripple through the peaceful darkness. "Yeah, I bet you could've," he said, his voice thick with amusement. "But sometimes it's better not to take unnecessary risks. Next time, you might not be so lucky."
Haruto frowned, unsure of how to respond. Part of him wanted to argue, but he could tell from the way Raion spoke that there was truth in his words. Raion was strong no, he was on a whole other level. It was evident from how easily he had dispatched that man, that he is unbelievably strong.
Raion took a few steps back, nodding as if satisfied with his assessment. "Well, I've got my business to take care of," he said. "But don't get yourself killed, alright? The world's a lot more dangerous than you think."
As Raion turned to leave, Haruto called out to him. "Wait… before you go, do you know anything about the way that guy attacked me? The… freezing thing he did?"
Raion paused and looked over his shoulder, his expression serious. "Ah, so you felt it too, huh?" He turned around, folding his arms. "That was a form of mana manipulation somewhat rare, but effective. He froze you with a technique that taps into your own mana flow, restricting your movement. It's quite risky if you lack the skills to escape it.
Haruto listened, He felt helpless at that moment, unable to move, to defend himself. "How do you fight against something like that?"
Raion shrugged. "The key is awareness. If you're aware of the mana circulating through you, you can challenge it. But if you're among those who don't know what mana is, you'll face some difficulties. "And if you don't have enough of it, well… you'll just die."
He knew, he was nowhere near being able to fight against something like that. "I see…"
"Good," Raion replied, giving him a thumbs-up. "Well, kid, I'll leave you to it. Stay alive, and maybe I'll see you again sometime."
With that, Raion turned, walking off into the distance as the first rays of sunlight broke across the village.
Haruto stood there for a moment, watching Raion's retreating figure. The events of the night felt surreal, like they belonged to someone else's life. But they had happened, and he was alive barely.
He glanced back at the dead farmer's body, a sickening reminder of just how close he had come to death. He had been too slow, too weak.
Sighing, Haruto turned and began heading back home, his thoughts a tangled mess. He wasn't sure what his next step should be, but one thing was certain—he needed to grow stronger. The world wasn't kind to the weak, and if he wanted to survive, he had to learn how to fight back.
As he walked through the village, the familiar sights felt different now. The market square was bustling with activity, vendors selling their goods, children playing, the hum of daily life continuing as usual. But to Haruto, it all felt distant. He couldn't shake the feeling that the world was moving forward without him, leaving him behind. He had to catch up.
Once home, Haruto set the book on the table, the pages now stained from his sweaty palms. Engaging with the man made him uneasy, yet it solidified a belief he held. He needed to gain a deeper understanding of mana, the world, and his own limitations.
Haruto sat on the edge of his bed, the book still open in front of him. He had spent hours trying to wrap his mind around the concepts he had read, the weight of the words lingering.
"Mana." The life force that connected all things. He felt like he was understanding, but it was a concept that felt as though it was always just unreachable.
Mana is the life force of the world, flowing through all things—living beings, nature, and spirits. Those who can harness it are called mana manipulators, each tapping into one of four types of mana: Elemental, Enhancer, Soul Bond, and Spiritual. These powers are cultivated through levels of mastery, each more powerful than the last.
Elemental Mana is the force of nature, controlling the elements—fire, water, earth, and air. Novices can summon small flames or gentle winds, while Adepts control earthquakes or storms. Masters can summon massive natural disasters, and there is class stronger than this.
Enhancers focus on strengthening the body, channeling mana to push physical limits. Novices experience small boosts, while Apprentices move faster and strike harder. Adepts are nearly invincible, with near-instant healing, and there are those who can do incomprehensible things.
Soul Bond Mana allows users to connect their soul with objects or spirits. Novices can imbue simple items with small enhancements, while Apprentices bond with spirits or create sentient objects. Adepts forge powerful weapons, and soul-binding masters merge their spirits with their weapons, granting them legendary strength.
Spiritual Mana connects to the spirit world. Novices sense spirits or create basic shields, while Apprentices communicate with spirits. Adepts can raise the dead temporarily or heal mortally wounded beings, and Masters control spirits, commanding life and death.
Combination of Mana Types: Some users combine powers for even greater strength. They may merge Elemental and Enhancer abilities to create destructive forces or blend Soul Bond and Spiritual Mana to wield divine weapons and summon spirits.
Haruto closed the book, his mind buzzing with possibilities. This is just the beginning, he thought. I have a long way to go. But for the first time, he felt a sense of direction. He didn't have to figure everything out at once. He could take it one step at a time. First, he would focus on understanding his own spiritual mana. Once he could feel it, maybe then he could begin manipulating it slowly, carefully.
With a deep breath, Haruto pushed himself away from the table, leaving the book open before him. There was much to learn, and he was determined to start now. The night's encounter had shown him just how much he still had to learn, and it had ignited something inside him. He had to get stronger