In a forest where sunlight reflected the beauty of the trees, a young boy, the son of a peasant, was playing with a rabbit he had met earlier that day.
This boy had grown up in his small village, where life was peaceful as long as no one ventured beyond the boundary fence.
He knew this rule, yet without realizing it, he had wandered far too far.
The boy was sitting on the ground, stroking his new companion, when he noticed a shadow approaching him.
He looked up... Above him loomed a massive jaw with teeth as long as knives, deep red eyes, and four hairy legs with claws sharp enough to pierce armor with ease.
The temperature around him began to rise, and smoke started billowing from the creature's mouth.
He recognized the beast instantly—it was the Fire Wolf, the same one he'd seen in the only book his parents owned.
The boy's heart raced, his breathing grew rapid, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably.
He looked around for his rabbit companion, but the little creature had already fled. The boy, however, could not move—he was paralyzed with fear.
The Fire Wolf brought its massive jaws closer to the boy's head, the heat becoming unbearable.
The boy felt his end was near and shut his eyes.
...
Suddenly, he heard a loud boom.
Yet strangely, he felt no pain and noticed no change in his body.
He opened his eyes and saw a tall man, clad in a cape adorned with glowing patterns that shone brighter than the sun.
The Fire Wolf lay several meters away, struggling to get up as if it had just been struck.
The boy couldn't help but stare at the majestic man.
The wolf, now on its feet, glared with burning rage, ready to pounce at any moment.
The man in the ornate cape began tracing lines in the air, his hand emitting a bluish light that formed a glowing pattern. Once the man finished, the boy could hardly believe his eyes—the wolf was encased in ice, its entire body frozen solid.
The man turned toward the boy and smiled.
The boy's eyes sparkled with admiration for the man who had just saved his life.
"Teach me," he said.
"Teach you what?" the man replied.
"I want to... I want to make ice with my fingers too!"
"So, you want to learn magic?" the man asked, sitting beside the boy.
The boy nodded eagerly, excitement radiating from him.
The man scratched his head, smiled, and said, "It's true that I'm very skilled, but I'm not the best teacher. If you're truly determined to learn magic, go to the capital. Your village isn't too far from there."
The man pulled out a piece of paper, which was an announcement for enrollment at the academy in the capital.
"I'll make sure everything goes smoothly," the man said.
He stood up and added, "For now, I have a lot of work to do. Perhaps we'll meet again in the capital."
With a wave of his hand, the man soared into the sky.
"Magic is incredible," the boy said, watching his savior disappear into the distance.
He picked up his pace and ran toward his home, noticing that the rabbit he had met earlier that day was running alongside him.
"You want to learn magic too, little rabbit?" he asked without stopping.
"Then let's go!"
---
The boy arrived home, breathless. His father was already at the table, and his mother was serving the meal. The boy eagerly showed them the announcement and exclaimed, "I want to learn magic!"
His parents exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
"Why are you laughing?" the boy asked, on the verge of tears.
His mother composed herself, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said, "Only nobles can learn magic."
"But why? It's unfair to favor them!"
His father replied in a detached tone, "It's not just a matter of privilege. Nobles are the only ones born with mana, which is essential for using magic. I'm sorry, son, but no matter how hard you try, you'll never be able to master magic."
Hearing these words, the boy's once-bright eyes became dull.
"No... No... You're lying... That can't be true... No... No... NO!" he repeated, backing away.
"Sweetheart..."
"Don't touch me! It's your fault I can't use magic. I wish you weren't my mother, and that I'd been born into a noble family!"
His mother's face fell into sadness, tears welling in her eyes as her legs gave out beneath her.
His father slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Draxion! Take that back immediately!"
"Shut up," Draxion snapped. "You're no better than her," he muttered under his breath.
He slammed the door and ran into the forest.
"Draxion!" his father shouted after him, but the boy was already gone.
Draxion kept running and running until night fell. Exhausted, he collapsed to the ground. The rabbit, who had followed him all this way, was just as worn out.
"At least you're still with me," he said before fainting.
---
Morning came, and Draxion awoke to find himself only a few hundred meters from the capital, its grand walls visible in the distance.
"At last," he said, his eyes regaining their sparkle. "The capital."
At that moment, a group of three men riding a cart stopped in front of him.
"Excuse me, could you take me to the capital?" Draxion asked.
"Of course," one of them replied.
"You'll make a fine slave," another added, licking his knife.
Fear overtook Draxion as the three men, armed with knives, surrounded him, their predatory eyes locked onto their prey.
To be continued...