Kaito leaned against the wooden post outside the guild, his fingers idly tracing the hilt of his training sword. His quest to gather herbs had been uneventful, but it had earned him a few coppers and a bit of experience. Now, he waited for Lilia and Amelia, the two adventurers he had teamed up with.
After a few moments, the sisters arrived. Lilia, the youngest of the two, had an air of elegance and intelligence, her robes marking her as a mage. Amelia, on the other hand, radiated energy, her form-fitting armor and confident stance indicating she was a close-range fighter.
"Did you wait long?" Amelia asked with a grin.
"Not really," Kaito replied.
"Good. We've taken on a quest to hunt some lone wolves," Lilia added. "Six, to be exact."
Kaito nodded but realized he had one problem—his weapon. The training sword wouldn't cut it for serious combat.
"Before that, I need to get a real weapon," he admitted.
The three of them made their way to a weapon shop. Rows of swords, daggers, axes, and maces lined the walls, each glimmering under the warm glow of the lamps. Kaito's eyes, however, were drawn to a single weapon—a katana. The sleek, curved blade felt natural in his hands as he tested its weight.
"Isn't that a sword from the Eastern regions?" Lilia asked, watching him curiously.
Kaito smiled. "Where I grew up, these swords are common."
With his new weapon secured, they headed toward the forest where the lone wolves roamed. The creatures were not ordinary wolves; each had a pair of horns protruding from its head, and their agility made them formidable opponents. The guild required only their horns as proof of the hunt, but the horns also had value in crafting weapons like daggers.
As they walked through the dense foliage, Kaito couldn't help but wonder if he could use magic. He watched Lilia, contemplating whether seeing her cast a spell would somehow help him understand its principles. However, he pushed the thought aside for now.
Soon, they arrived at the wolves' hunting grounds. A pack of seven wolves lurked in the clearing. "Looks like we got a bonus," Amelia mused, cracking her knuckles.
"Get ready," Lilia said, raising her staff.
The first wolf lunged at Amelia, its fangs bared. She dodged effortlessly and delivered a powerful punch to its jaw, sending it flying. Another wolf tried to flank her, but she pivoted and struck it in the ribs, making it yelp in pain.
Meanwhile, Kaito unsheathed his katana. A wolf pounced at him, but he swiftly sidestepped, slashing its flank as it passed. The beast howled in agony before collapsing. Another charged at him, but Kaito ducked low, using his blade to slice through its legs, rendering it unable to move.
Lilia raised her staff and chanted a spell. "Water Cutter!" A blade of water shot out, slicing cleanly through a wolf's neck. The beast crumpled instantly.
Two wolves remained, snarling aggressively. Amelia rushed forward, dodging their attacks with incredible agility. She grabbed one by the throat and slammed it into the ground before delivering a crushing blow to its head. The final wolf tried to escape, but Kaito dashed forward and, with a precise swing, severed its horn before dealing the finishing blow.
The battlefield fell silent. They gathered the horns, wiping off the blood before storing them in their bags.
"That was smoother than I expected," Amelia said, dusting off her hands.
"Not bad, Kaito," Lilia remarked. "Your swordsmanship is impressive."
"Thanks," Kaito replied. "Your magic is amazing too."
With their mission complete, they made their way back to the guild. The receptionist counted the horns and handed them their reward—nine big copper coins and three small silver coins, which they split evenly.
Afterward, they returned to Silver Heart Inn, only to discover they were staying at the same place. "What a coincidence!" Amelia exclaimed as they found a table in the dining hall.
They ordered a meal and sat together. The aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air, making Kaito's stomach rumble. As they ate, Kaito finally voiced the question that had been lingering in his mind.
"Lilia, can you teach me magic?" he asked.
Lilia looked at him, slightly surprised. "You want to learn magic?"
Kaito nodded. "I don't know if I can use it, but I want to try."
Lilia tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Magic requires an affinity. If you don't have one, you won't be able to use it. But... there might be a way to check."
"How?"
She smiled. "I can test your mana flow. If you have any latent magic, I'll be able to tell."
Kaito's excitement grew. "Let's do it."
After finishing their meal, they moved to a quieter section of the inn. Lilia instructed Kaito to sit while she placed her hands near his. She closed her eyes and chanted a detection spell. A faint blue glow enveloped her hands as she examined Kaito's mana.
Her eyes suddenly widened. "This is... unusual."
Amelia leaned forward. "What is it?"
Lilia hesitated before speaking. "Your mana is different. It feels... vast, but unrefined. Like an endless sea that hasn't been tapped into."
Kaito frowned. "Does that mean I can use magic?"
Lilia nodded slowly. "Yes. And if I'm right, you might not be limited to just one type of magic."
Amelia whistled. "That sounds like a big deal."
Kaito absorbed this information, his heart pounding with excitement. The idea of wielding magic alongside his sword skills opened up a world of possibilities.
Lilia smiled. "If you're serious, I can teach you. But it won't be easy."
Kaito grinned. "I'm ready."
And with that, his journey into the world of magic began.