Sunlight rose over the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow on the village. At the brink of his house, Haruto breathed in the fresh morning air, still feeling the weight of last night's training in his breath. The encounter with the strange man had rattled him, but today, the sun felt like a fresh start—a chance to reset. He needed to push past the lingering feeling of helplessness. He must develop greater strength.
The open fields outside the village were a quiet sanctuary, where the world seemed to slow down, a place where he could focus on the task at hand without distractions. Haruto grabbed his bundle of tools, including an axe for chopping wood and a small shovel for tilling the ground, and set off toward the fields.
By the time Haruto arrived, the early morning mist had lifted, and Kaito was already there, leaning against a stone wall. He greeted Haruto with a quick nod and a smirk.
"Late again?" Kaito teased, twirling his staff in his hands.
With a grin, Haruto shrugged his shoulders. "I was up late. I'm here now, though. Ready to work."
"Good enough for me." Kaito clapped his hands together and straightened. "Let's get to it, then."
The day began like any other. Haruto worked through his chores, his movements driven by the simple routine he'd followed for as long as he could remember.
First, he took to the field with his shovel, turning over the soil to prepare for planting. The earth smelled rich, thick with the scent of nature. As he worked, Haruto thought about the previous night, replaying the strange feeling he had when the man froze him with his attack. It wasn't just the sudden paralysis. It was like his own energy had been turned against him, trapped so he couldn't understand.
Haruto came to a brief stop, his shovel resting in his grip as he fixed his gaze on the ground. What was that attack? The book he had read offered little explanation, just a vague reference to "mana flow" and "mana manipulation." But the more he thought about it, the more he realized how little he understood. His entire body had felt heavy, like he was trapped inside himself.
His hand tightened around the shovel. He couldn't let that happen again. He needed to understand mana—he needed to control it, even if just a little.
But that would take time.
Shaking his head, Haruto returned to his work, digging and tilling the soil. It was a simple task, but it gave his mind something to focus on. The repetitive action was almost meditative. The movement of his arms, the rhythm of the shovel striking the earth—it kept him grounded.
Kaito moved around the field as well, checking on the crops and ensuring the fences were in good shape. Haruto caught a glimpse of him, noting how effortlessly Kaito seemed to move through the work, always knowing what to do next.
He couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Kaito had always been ahead of him in everything—whether it was his ability to handle a weapon, his confidence, or the way he just seemed to understand the world around him. Haruto couldn't help but wonder if Kaito had ever been scared, if he had ever felt out of his depth like Haruto had the night before.
It was a question he didn't have an answer to, and one he didn't think he'd ever ask. Instead, Haruto focused on his own work, pushing his doubts aside.
As the morning passed, Haruto moved on to gathering firewood. The sound of the axe chopping into the logs was steady, soothing even. Each swing of the axe felt like a small step toward something greater, a step closer to becoming the kind of person who wouldn't hesitate in a fight.
"Need help?" Kaito called from across the field, wiping sweat from his brow.
Haruto paused for a moment, staring at the pile of chopped wood. It was more than enough for the day's fire. He could leave it there, but something inside him told him to keep going, to push himself harder. He wasn't ready to stop yet.
"I'm good," he called back, his voice carrying over the open space. "I'll finish up here."
Kaito shrugged and went back to his own work, letting Haruto be. They didn't need to speak much. They had their own rhythm.
Time slipped away quietly. The field was alive with the sounds of nature—birds chirping in the trees, the rustle of wind through the grass, and the distant hum of activity from the village. But Haruto's focus remained solely on his work. He wasn't just chopping wood or tilling the soil. He was working through his thoughts, channeling his focus into something simple, something physical.
Every swing of the axe, every turn of the soil, was a reminder that he was alive. That he had a purpose, even if he wasn't sure what it was yet. The world was still out there, dangerous and uncertain, but for now, the steady rhythm of his work was enough.
By midday, the two had finished most of their tasks. Haruto felt a weariness settling into his muscles, the kind that only hard work could bring. He wiped his brow and walked over to where Kaito was standing, his arms crossed as he surveyed the progress.
"Not bad," Kaito said, giving him a nod of approval.
Haruto couldn't help but smile, the tension from the morning starting to loosen. "I thought it would be worse."
"You'll get used to it. It's not about working fast; it's about working smart. The body can take a lot more than we give it credit for," Kaito replied, resting his staff against the stone wall.
Haruto stretched his arms over his head, letting the muscles relax. "I'm starting to get that."
But there was still a restlessness in him, a hunger for something more. He wasn't sure where it came from, but he knew that this feeling of unfinished business wasn't going to go away anytime soon. The world was full of challenges, and Haruto had barely scratched the surface.
The wind picked up slightly as the afternoon drew near, signaling the passage of time. Haruto glanced over at Kaito again, who was now inspecting the crops, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"You ever wonder what's out there?" Haruto asked, his voice quiet, almost lost in the wind.
Kaito paused, turning to look at him with an eyebrow raised. "Out there? You mean beyond the village?"
Haruto nodded. "Yeah. Beyond all of this. I've been thinking a lot about it lately."
Kaito gave a small laugh. "It's natural to think that way. Especially for someone like you." His expression softened for a moment. "But sometimes, the world beyond can be more dangerous than you think. The village is safe. You'll learn everything you need to right here."
Haruto looked down at the earth beneath his feet, his fingers brushing the soil. "I doubt that's enough for me anymore."
Kaito said nothing at first, just studied Haruto with an unreadable look in his eyes. Then he smiled, but it wasn't the usual teasing grin. It was something more thoughtful.
"Maybe you're right. Just make sure you're ready for whatever comes next. The world doesn't give second chances."
Haruto nodded, knowing that Kaito wasn't just talking about the work in the field. The world out there—beyond the safety of the village—was full of uncertainties, full of dangers that Haruto wasn't prepared for. But he would be. He would find a way.
"Thanks," Haruto said quietly. "I'll keep that in mind."
The sun began its slow descent toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the field. The work was done for the day, and as the two of them began the walk back to the village, Haruto's mind was filled with the weight of what lay ahead. His journey was only just beginning, but each step he took was one step closer to the person he needed to become.