The exam results had been announced.
I was second.
A strange sense of disappointment filled me as I saw Hikaru's name at the top of the list. Just as I was about to challenge him, my mother's words echoed in my mind:
"If you don't believe in yourself, forget about winning."
I took a deep breath and turned inward. This wasn't about Hikaru. It was about how far I could go.
But even those thoughts couldn't extinguish the disappointment inside me.
Without showing my emotions, I lowered my head and quietly stepped aside.
At that moment, Hikaru approached me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, Lorien. You did an amazing job! But just so you know, this result doesn't mean I'll always be ahead of you."
I wasn't sure if his words were meant to encourage me or warn me. But there was a strange sincerity in his eyes.
"It was just one chance, Hikaru. The next time we face each other, I'll defeat you. But it'll be a friendly challenge," I said confidently.
Hikaru chuckled. "Then I'll be looking forward to it."
Fueled by the motivation of this friendly rivalry, I walked away.
But what happened after the exam…
That was the true beginning of the adventure.
---
That Night, at Home…
Eris kept going on and on about how happy she was with her exam results. She had done exceptionally well in the sword-fighting category.
As my father looked at her with pride, my mother tried to console me.
But even as they spoke, my thoughts were crashing like waves inside my head.
"I believe in myself," I told myself. "But I need to do more. I need to try something different."
Just then, my mother said something that caught my attention.
"Lorien, do you still have silent magic on your mind? We can start training, but it will cost you."
I flinched.
I rarely saw my mother with such a serious expression.
Was this my chance to reach a completely different level?
"Yes, Mom. I want to learn," I said without hesitation.
My mother smiled slightly. "Then we start tomorrow. But this requires discipline far beyond the exam. Be ready, because this journey won't be easy."
---
Eris's Challenge
Eris had truly shined in sword training.
During her duels with my father, it was as if the sword was an extension of her own body.
But this also brought her extra pressure.
One day at school, her classmate Marcus gave her a condescending look and sneered, "It's obvious that someone as lucky as you wouldn't be able to do anything without your father."
Eris didn't stay silent. She gripped her sword and stepped forward.
"You just talk. Why don't you show your real skills?" she said, her eyes burning with determination.
Marcus accepted the challenge without hesitation.
A small sword duel began instantly. The entire class stepped back, watching.
Eris disarmed Marcus with her very first move and placed the tip of her sword at his throat.
But instead of finishing the duel, she pulled back.
"I don't fight. I win," she said, then returned to her seat.
Yet, deep inside, I think she knew that small victories weren't enough to prove herself.
She wanted more.
---
That Night – A New Resolve
At dinner, Eris turned to my father.
"Dad, can you put me through tougher training? I don't want to rely on basic techniques anymore."
My father raised an eyebrow but then smiled and nodded.
"Are you sure? A harder path requires greater sacrifices."
Without hesitation, Eris replied, "Yes, I'm sure."
After that conversation, Eris began an even more intense training regimen under my father's guidance.
But there was something she didn't realize yet—progressing too quickly would place both a physical and mental burden on her.
---
Lorien's First Lessons
Meanwhile, I was also about to take a big step forward.
My mother was determined to push me to a different level in magic.
"Today, you'll focus on feeling your mana," she said.
"The first step of magic is learning to control it. If you can't control it, it will control you."
Her words made me a little nervous.
The thought of silent magic excited me, but at the same time, it scared me.
She placed a handful of small crystals in front of me.
"These crystals are tools for tracking mana flow. Hold them and feel. Try to move them using only your thoughts."
At first, nothing happened, no matter how many times I tried.
But when I took a deep breath and truly focused…
One of the small crystals shook slightly.
Even that tiny movement filled me with excitement.
My mother gave a small smile.
"A good start," she said. "But this is only the beginning. You have a long and difficult journey ahead of you, my son."
---
Eris's Struggles and Lorien's Rise
Eris pushed herself to the limit in her training with my father.
Day by day, she grew more accustomed to the pain in her muscles, more in tune with the weight of the sword.
One day, my father showed her a new technique.
"Feel the sword. Don't think of it as a tool—think of it as a part of you," he said.
"Your strength isn't in speed, but in focus."
Eris spent days trying to master this technique.
Each failure only deepened the determination in her eyes.
"This technique will be my first big step toward becoming a sword master," she told herself.
Meanwhile, I continued my training with my mother.
She began putting me through even more challenging exercises to teach me how to move mana properly.
One day, she handed me a glass of water.
"Mana is like water—fluid and patient. If you can guide it, nothing can stop you. Now, use only your thoughts to lift the water like a waterfall."
I tried for a long time. Nothing happened.
My mother encouraged me. "Don't slow down, Lorien. The moment you believe, you will succeed."
After a few more hours…
The surface of the water shifted slightly.
It was small, but it was something.
And that…
That was my first real victory.