The Next Morning
After waking up and taking a refreshing shower, Ash made his way to the dining hall. The house itself was a masterpiece—an elegant elven-style structure that felt like it was pulled straight out of a fantasy novel.
'Oh, Right it is inside a fantasy novel'
It was the first time he'd ever seen a home like this, let alone dined in one. The dining area was perfectly placed by a wide window, offering a stunning view of the serene surroundings.
A glistening lake reflected the morning sunlight, lush greenery stretched as far as the eye could see, and majestic mountains embraced the entire scene. And to top it all off, this dining spot was perched within a treehouse.
A treehouse! Ash couldn't help but marvel. In his previous life, he'd never had the chance to enjoy anything remotely like this.
As he approached the table, he noticed the old man was nowhere to be seen. Still, breakfast was laid out for him, and the aroma was mouthwatering.
What caught his attention, though, was how the food was still steaming hot. Magic? A clever trick? he wondered as he dug in with enthusiasm.
After finishing his meal, Ash decided to explore for a while, taking in his surroundings with quiet curiosity. He wandered through the area, observing every detail, from the towering trees to the faint hum of magic in the air.
Once satisfied with his exploration, he made his way outside, where the open space called to him for training.
Gripping his sword firmly, he began his practice, each swing precise and controlled. His body moved with unwavering determination, muscles tensing and relaxing in a rhythmic flow
Even though he was still a kid, he could tell he was stronger than most children his age, his muscles subtly defined from all his training. It was a good start to the day, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching him from the shadows.
***
[AELION'S POV]
I made my way toward the city, my mind clouded with doubt and curiosity. The streets were bustling with life, yet I felt detached from it all, lost in my own thoughts. I needed to borrow an Affinity Checking Orb from an old friend—something that would give me answers. Answers about him.
Ray Dawson.
That kid was a mystery wrapped in shadows, and the more I thought about him, the less sense he made. Was he telling the truth about my mother? Could I really believe his words, or was he just a masterful liar, spinning a web I couldn't see until I was trapped?
But when I looked into his eyes, I saw something unsettling. Not dishonesty—no, that would've been easier to accept. Instead, I saw certainty. He spoke with a conviction that didn't waver, as if he knew things he had no right knowing. If he was lying, then he wasn't just a kid.
He was something else. Something far more dangerous.
A demon, perhaps.
Yeah. He must be.
"Well," I muttered to myself, "let's get this over with and see what kind of affinity you have, Ray."
After securing the orb, I hurried back home. When I arrived, I found Ray in the yard doing some strange exercise—using his arms to push himself off the ground repeatedly. Who taught him this nonsense? I thought, shaking my head.
I walked up to him and called out, "Hey, kid! Come here. Let's see what kind of affinity you've got."
He stopped his peculiar workout, stood up, and walked over. "Hey, old man," he asked, tilting his head, "did you go all the way to the city to get this orb?"
I smirked. "What, do you think people come here every day threatening me with stories about my mother, begging to be my disciple? If that were the case, I'd have a dozen of these orbs lying around."
He frowned, clearly caught off guard by my reply. I felt a twinge of smug satisfaction. Without waiting for a response, I shoved the orb into his hands.
"Alright," I said. "Channel your mana into this orb."
Ray did as instructed, his face a mix of curiosity and determination. At first, the orb began to glow golden, but then the light receded. What happened next left me utterly speechless.
The orb erupted into a kaleidoscope of colors—red, violet, yellow, brown, blue, black, and countless more, shimmering in a breathtaking rainbow hue. The brilliance was overwhelming, but amidst the dazzling display, four colors shone brighter than the rest: white, blue, orange, and green. These corresponded to the elements of Light, Lightning, Fire, and Air.
I stared in disbelief, my mind racing. All elemental affinities? It was supposed to be a myth—something no one had ever achieved, even in the ancient days. And yet, here it was, right in front of me.
A grin spread across my face, and before I could stop myself, I burst out laughing. This wasn't just rare—it was unprecedented! A once-in-a-lifetime genius, and I was the one who discovered him. I'm his master!
"HAHAHAHAHAHA....HAHAHA...HAHA"
"Stop laughing, old man," Ash said, his expression equal parts dumbfounded and irritated.
I coughed to compose myself. "Ahem… Ray," I began, trying to sound sagely, "you have ALL ELEMENTAL AFFINITY. Although some of them seem weaker, likely because your body isn't yet strong enough to bear their burden.
Over time, as you grow, you'll unlock them. For now, your affinities with Light, Lightning, Fire, and Air alone could make you the greatest swordsman in the world. The rest will come later."
His eyes showed unusual calm as he absorbed my words. For a moment, there was silence between us—just the wind rustling through the trees. Then I added with a smirk, "Well, let's not waste time. We've got work to do, genius."
***
[ASH'S POV]
After checking my affinities, I stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the rainbow-colored orb in my hand. My heart pounded as I tried to process what I was seeing.
I had expected the orb to conceal some of my affinities—the ones that were sealed—but no. Instead, it had decided to reveal everything, putting all my secrets on display for the world to see.
Well, guess the cat's out of the bag.
The only silver lining was that the protagonist also possessed all elemental affinities. That meant my plan of using him as a scapegoat was still intact.
I forced my expression into one of confusion, hoping to play it off. Time to act clueless.
But before I could say anything, the old man did something completely unexpected.
He burst into laughter—wild, uncontrollable laughter.
His entire body shook, his voice echoing through the mountains like thunder. His eyes gleamed with unrestrained amusement, as if he had just heard the funniest joke of his life.
What the hell was so funny?
"HAHAHAHA! AHAHAHA! HAAAA!"
It went on and on, his laughter rolling through the air, making me seriously question his sanity.
"Stop laughing, old man!" I finally snapped, irritation boiling over as I glared at him.
He wiped away a tear of mirth and, in a sagely tone, began explaining things I already knew. I nodded along, pretending to be intrigued, waiting for my chance to steer the conversation. The moment he paused, I asked the question that had been bothering me the most.
"Why can't I manifest elements like fire and use them for long-range attacks?"
The old man froze. The smug expression he had been wearing just moments ago vanished, replaced by sheer disbelief. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
"Show me… show me how you wield an element."
I extended my hand, focusing my mana, channeling it through my pure mana core. Sparks of electricity danced across my skin, and in seconds, lightning crackled around my fist. I clenched my hand into a tight fist, the electricity coiling around it like a glowing gauntlet.
His jaw dropped.
"Where did a monster like you come from?" he whispered, almost in awe. "What you're doing right now is the absolute maximum level of elemental manipulation for someone with your class. If not for the G-rank core's aura I sense in your body, I would have thought someone was pulling a prank on me."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"The reason you can't project your elements for long-range attacks is simple: your class. You're a Swordsman—a warrior-type. Your core is located in the Lower Dantian, not in the Middle Dantian like a mage's.
"Only mages can separate elemental attacks from their bodies. That's why you can't use long-range magic."
His explanation left me speechless. I had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed was frustrating.
Still, as I thought about my abilities, things started making sense. My pure white core—completely free of impurities, something only SS-rank individuals possessed—and my Elemental Manipulation skill, which refused to level up, must already be at its peak. That explained why I could manipulate elements within my body so efficiently.
I heaved a sigh of relief. At least I'd be able to use magic properly after my second awakening.
The old man's eyebrow twitched as he noticed my sigh, and his expression turned irritated.
"WHAT ARE YOU SIGHING FOR LIKE SOME OLD MAN?!" he bellowed.
Before I could react, his voice turned sharp.
"Your training starts now! First, run 100 laps around the mountain. If you want to become a great swordsman, you need endurance. You have three movement-type affinities, which means speed will be your greatest weapon. But speed is useless without a strong lower body to support it.
"So start running!"
He leaned in, eyes gleaming with authority.
"And don't you dare look at me like I'm a fool! NOW GO!"
And just like that, my hellish day began.
***