Two years had passed.
Xiao Yu was now seven years old.
Although still a child, he had already come to accept one undeniable fact—he could not cast magic.
No matter how hard he tried to concentrate, the vast magic within him remained unresponsive, unable to be guided or released. It was as if an invisible shackle had sealed it away inside his body.
Sitting cross-legged on the grass in the backyard, he spread his hands, trying once again to summon even the faintest trace of magic—only to fail as always. He could clearly feel the magic surging inside him, yet it was like a caged beast, completely beyond his control.
Xiao Yu pressed his lips together, unwilling to give up. Ever since he was little, his mother, Lin Yuehuai, had guided him in practicing basic magic at home. But while other children could easily ignite a small flame or summon a gentle breeze, he could only stare blankly at his own hands.
"This is so unfair..."
Every time his mother comforted him, telling him that magic wasn't everything in life, he would nod quietly. Yet deep down, he struggled to accept reality. If I truly can't use magic, then why does so much of it exist inside me?
Refusing to waste any chance of growing stronger, he turned to learning swordsmanship from his father. Though he lacked magic, at least he could rely on the sword. However, as a seven-year-old, his physical strength was limited. Every practice session left him gasping for breath, his wooden sword slipping from his grasp.
One day, as usual, he trained in the forest. The breeze rustled through the leaves, and sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Swinging his wooden sword with all his might, he focused on every movement.
From afar, his mother called out, "Xiao Yu, be careful! Don't run too far!"
"Got it—!" he responded, then continued sprinting through the trees. But just as he rounded a large tree—
A scorching presence suddenly surged from the side!
Xiao Yu's pupils contracted. His instincts screamed at him to dodge, but—too late!
A blazing fire arrow streaked toward him at terrifying speed!
His mind went blank, heart pounding wildly. He could feel the heat approaching—death was right before him!
But at the very moment the fire arrow was about to strike—
A mysterious light burst forth from within him!
Instead of hitting Xiao Yu, the magic attack halted mid-air, as if caught by an invisible force. The flames gathered into a small orb of light, gently floating beside him.
He froze.
The magic that should have hit him—had disappeared? No, not disappeared—absorbed?
Dumbfounded, he stared at the floating light. It was a warm, red orb, quietly circling around him like a tiny fire spirit.
"What… just happened?"
From the distance, his mother's voice called out, "Xiao Yu! Are you alright?"
Snapping back to reality, he looked at the light beside him. A sudden thought emerged in his mind—if this orb was the magic from before… could he release it?
Driven by instinct, he extended his hand and swung forward!
The light orb trembled slightly, then—
Boom!
The fire arrow shot out once again, streaking toward a tree in the distance!
Xiao Yu stared at his hand, eyes wide in disbelief.
I can't cast magic… but I can absorb it?
And even release it?
A memory from that fateful night surfaced in his mind—the deep voice echoing in the ruins.
—"He who bears the power of the curse shall receive its gift..."
—"Thy magic shall surpass mortals..."
—"Yet, thou shalt never cast magic…"
So… this was the gift?
Xiao Yu's heart pounded wildly as he clenched his fists.
He may not be able to cast magic, but he could absorb released magic and turn it into his own power!
This was not simply an inability to use magic—it was a new way to fight!
That day, Xiao Yu finally understood—
His curse… might not be a shackle.
Perhaps—it was a power of its own!
—End of Chapter 2—