Mana. It can be found in all things. It is required for the fire to burn, for the wind to blow, and for new life to birth. Its most pure form, however, is found flowing through the veins of the living, created by their soul.
By learning how to manipulate Mana, mankind has managed to carve out a space for itself in this world, amidst colossal beasts, supernatural entities and eldritch terrors, managing not only to defend itself but to stand high in the food chain.
Year 12XX.
Steps echo through a large, empty hallway. At the end, lies a wooden door, protected by two guards. Walking towards this door is a young boy, one Zacharyah, wearing his adoptive father's black robes; the scent permeated in it made it feel as if he was never gone to begin with. Underneath was concealed a sword, the first Zacharyah had ever gotten. He grasped it firmly.
He walks with his head held down, staring blankly at the floor. As he approaches the door, the guards can't help but look at him with pity. They were, of course, aware of what it was that brought him pain in that moment.
He stops in front of the door, raising his head and fixing his posture. He was just trying to look appropriate as he stepped in for an audition with a noble, but he also knew it couldn't go on forever like this. If he could muster the will to do it now, then why was he walking around looking at his feet in the first place? He's a swordsman taught by the greatest one he'd ever known, this wasn't any way for him to carry himself.
It was such a minor thing, but he got frustrated at himself for it.
Even his adoptive father never had much time or the ability to care for him properly. Most of the time they'd spent together was during training drills with the guards. The blade was Zach's first language. He was defined by it.
Chief Lou himself wasn't so obsessed. His intentions were kind.
He pushes the door open. The room was much better lit than the hallway, it was a difference of day and night. As the light hit his face, his deep, golden eyes glistened.
The room was mostly empty. A bookshelf in the corner, a flag depicting a green sword surrounded by stars, couple chairs... In the middle of the room sat a desk, on top of it a letter, and behind it, a man. There were also a few windows, it was an office after all, it required plenty of luminance.
Zach walks towards the man, stopping halfway.
The man had a smile stapled on his face, though why was unclear. He rubbed his chin, continuously passing his fingers through his beard as he evaluated Zach.
After a few seconds of silence, Zach broke it.
"You called for me?" His voice was monotonous, sounding tired.
"Chief Lou was indeed a virtuous man, I'm sorry for your loss."
Zach remained silent.
"I have a proposal for you." The man puts his hand on top of the letter. "There's a certain noble family, the Bulwarks, who requested Lou as a sword instructor to one of their children... Though the timing of that request, well..."
Zach's brow furrowed, though it was basically unnoticeable.
"You spent a lot of time learning from him, and I know how devoted you were to it, so I trust you should be capable of teaching as well, at least the technical aspects."
'We're not comparable in the slightest.'
"Of course, you don't work for me, so this isn't an order. Though I believe this is an offer you can't pass up on, in your current situation. Even if you are to fail, you'll at least be in a large city, you'll even be close to the capital. It should give you good opportunities."
The man taps the letter twice.
"When you're ready, take the letter, it explains the situation clearly as well as recommending you. Your destination is Emeralia, where a branch of the Bulwark family rule. They're one one of those families that ascended into power because of their combat prowess, they usually produce high-level mercenaries."
'Wouldn't they have access to better instructors than me, then?'
He slides the letter to the other end of the desk.
"Just pack your things and head to the contraband wagons outside."
"Contraband?"
"What, you're gonna tell me you didn't know?" The man says as if holding back laughter.
Zach heads over and takes the letter, then walks away. He stops one last time and glances back at the noble. His smile widened.
Zach had a few changes of clothes, it was all he needed. That, and his sword, of course. He then goes to the wagons, the men there already expected him. There really was never any question whether Zach would accept.
***
Three weeks pass. Even during their travel, Zach took every chance he could to practice. It was wired into his mind, he passed the time by swinging his sword around until his arms were sore. He had also gotten the opportunity to fight a few beasts, though the wagons were already being guarded by older and stronger soldiers, so he only got the small fry.
Finally, having arrived at the city, Emeralia, Zach now had to make his way to the Bulwarks. The men who came with him in the wagons didn't know where the residence was, but he figured since they were nobles he could ask just about anyone on the street and they'd know it. And it really was that simple; a nice old lady gave him clear directions toward the place.
The streets were quite busy, it being closer to the capital and all. Zach had never seen so many people gathered, all the buildings packed together gave him a mild sense of claustrophobia, but this was his new home, so he would adapt.
With every corner he turned, his heart began beating faster. His mind was practically as numb as ever, but he wasn't sure how to feel about having a pupil. He was... "excited" may be too strong of a word for it, but he was curious to learn who it would be, all he'd heard was that it was the child of a noble. He hadn't bothered to check the letter for information, either.
Now, it was within sight. A large mansion, even more extravagant than that of the Saphirs.
'To think they probably have multiple of those...'
Approaching the gate, a guard stood impatiently waiting for when he'd have to change shifts with another. Zach was unsure what to say, so he just...
"I have a letter." And handed it over.
The guard inspected it, seeing it was addressed to the head of the house.
"Wait here."
Thirty-eight steps. Zach counted what it took for the guard to reach the front door, where a maid took over the duty of delivering the letter. The guard walks back to the front gate and closes it, without saying a word.
Zach moves out of the way of the gate and sits on the cold and humid sidewalk, a faint petrichor emanating from the yard behind. The guard side-eyes him but ultimately pays no mind.
A couple people walk by while he waits, much less than he'd seen in other parts of the city.
"Hey, kid. Get up."
Zach gets up from his uncomfortable rest to see a tall blond man walking toward the gate, donned in the fanciest of fancy attire, at least in Zach's eyes.
He gestures and mumbles something unintelligible to the guard. Blessed with communication beyond just understanding words—as with most humans—the guard opens the gate and lets Zach inside.
He follows the noble inside his humble abode. A servant offers to store Zach's robe, but Zach denies.
"Come, have a seat. Aisha, could you provide tea for our guest? Thank you."
Zach sits on a couch, across from the man. Blond, blue eyes, unbuttoned shirt—Zach couldn't find a more stereotypical noble if he tried. Though he did have quite the tired look on his eyes, and his physique wasn't indicative of someone who tried to be a fighter at some point.
The place is tidy and clean, as would be expected. Between them was a small mahogany table; one of the younger-looking maids comes up and serves tea to Zach, and he's captivated by her features—it was the first time he actually got to see a beast-person. The aroma of the tea alone was enough to soothe Zach's nerves.
"Grateful."
Some other servants watched too, and while not exactly confused or weirded out by Zach's unkempt appearance, they were curious to learn his purpose for being there.
"First of all, you can call me Leo, I'm the mayor of Emeralia. It's my pleasure to meet you. So, Zacharyah..."
The noble takes the letter and glances over it one more time, before settling it down on the table.
"It says here you trained directly under Lou for your entire life, so I won't question your ability with swords or even your capacity to teach it, even if you're a lot younger than I was hoping for. There's still a problem, however..." He leans back and scratches the back of his head. "The one you'll be tutoring is my niece, Charlotte. And she..."
'A girl? What an untraditional tradition.'
Leo sighs. "We've already tried other sword instructors. But she completely lacks discipline, you see. It's a cycle. They'll try once, it goes terribly, they'll say these things take time, and after said time, they'll say it's a lost cause. I don't even know why she still insists on learning how to use a sword. Frankly, I have to wonder what goes on in brother's side of the family for her to turn out like this..."
Zach takes a sip of his tea.
"Oh, sorry, I'm going a bit off track. Point is, do you really think you have a chance of actually getting somewhere with her?"
Zach sets the cup of tea on the table.
"If the issue is that she's hot-headed and disobedient, that's fine. I can think of something that might help."
Some of the servants raise an eyebrow to Zach so nonchalantly insulting a member of a noble family, but Leo has only intrigue for his idea. Zach continues.
"Is she here? Could we start now?"
"What are you planning to do, exactly?"
"I was thinking we could start with a sparring match, so I can see where she stands."
"I meant in regards to her behavior."
"I just told you."
Leo had only been left with more questions by Zach's answer.
'How is a duel going to help with anything?'
"She's in the premises, but are you sure you want to do it now? Aren't you tired?"
"It's fine. Do you have wooden swords?"
''Please show him to the courtyard. There are training swords there. I'll go get Charlotte."
An older male servant guides Zach to the courtyard, used as a training grounds. It's quite expansive, but doesn't appear to see that much action. Zach takes off his robes, revealing the layer of clothing below. A simple white shirt with long sleeves and gray pants, both visibly worn-out and of cheap material.
'A girl, huh...'
As he waits by, he swings the wood sword around, getting a feel for its weight.
'This'll do... Hopefully he doesn't get mad at me.'