The morning air was cool as I stood outside Granny Clora's cottage, a small bag slung over my shoulder. The weight of my journey pressed down on me, but instead of fear, I felt anticipation.
I was finally leaving.
For days, I had trained under Granny Clora, learning the basics of magic and how to control my unique abilities. I had pushed my body and mind beyond their limits, and though I had barely scratched the surface of my potential, I was ready for the next step.
Liverland High School of Magic.
A place where the strongest mages and warriors were trained a place where I could truly grow.
Granny Clora stood beside me, her wise eyes studying me carefully. "Are you certain about this, Waine?"
I nodded without hesitation. "I have to go. I need to become stronger."
She sighed, then reached into the folds of her robe and pulled out a small, silver pendant. It was shaped like an ancient rune, glowing faintly with soft blue light.
"Take this," she said, placing it in my hand. "It will protect you."
I stared at it, feeling a strange warmth radiating from the pendant. "What is it?"
"A guardian's charm," she explained. "It will help stabilize your magic in times of distress. But use it wisely it can only protect you a few times before its power fades."
I clenched my fist around the charm, grateful for her kindness. "Thank you, Granny."
She gave me a rare, warm smile. "You remind me of someone I once knew… Foolish, reckless, and full of dreams."
I chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Her expression turned serious. "Be careful, Waine. The road to Liverland is not safe. Bandits, rogue beasts, and worse things lurk in the wilds. Trust no one too easily."
I nodded, tightening the strap on my bag. "I'll be fine."
She sighed. "Then go, before I change my mind and drag you back inside."
I grinned and took my first step forward. "I won't forget what you taught me."
As I walked away, I didn't look back.
This was my journey now.
And nothing would stop me.
The road to Liverland was long and winding. The dirt path stretched endlessly before me, cutting through rolling hills and dense forests. Birds chirped in the trees, and the scent of fresh earth filled the air.
For the first few hours, I felt excitement buzzing in my veins. I was finally out in the world, on my own, with nothing but my magic and determination.
But as the sun began to set, that excitement faded.
I wasn't just some traveler enjoying the scenery I was alone, in unfamiliar territory, with danger lurking in the shadows.
The rustling of leaves made me tense. The distant howl of a wolf sent a chill down my spine.
Granny Clora's warning echoed in my mind.
Bandits. Beasts. Trust no one too easily.
I placed a hand on my chest, feeling the warmth of the pendant she had given me. It calmed my nerves, but not by much.
Then, as I rounded a bend in the path, I saw something that made my blood run cold.
A group of men six of them stood in the middle of the road. They were dressed in ragged armor, their weapons crude but deadly-looking. Their eyes gleamed with something I immediately recognized.
Greed.
Bandits.
One of them, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, grinned at me.
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
My heart pounded. This was my first real challenge.
And I had no choice but to face it head-on.
I stopped in my tracks, my heart pounding as the six men eyed me like a pack of hungry wolves. Their weapons weren't refined, but they were sharp enough to kill.
The tall man with the scar stepped forward, twirling a rusted dagger in his hand. "A lone traveler, huh? And a young one at that. You lost, boy?"
I clenched my fists, my mind racing. Think, Waine. Panicking won't help.
"I'm just passing through," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I don't want any trouble."
Scarface chuckled, glancing at his men. "Hear that, boys? He doesn't want trouble!"
The other bandits laughed. One of them, a bulky man with missing teeth, grinned. "That's too bad. Because trouble's already found ya."
I exhaled slowly, positioning my feet. If they thought I was an easy target, they were about to learn otherwise.
Scarface took another step forward, tilting his head. "Hand over your bag, and maybe we'll let you walk away with your life."
I didn't move. "Not happening."
His grin widened. "Wrong answer."
In a flash, he lunged at me, dagger aimed for my chest.
I reacted on instinct.
My training with Granny Clora kicked in as I sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blade. I summoned a pulse of golden energy in my palm and released it in a quick burst.
The blast sent Scarface staggering backward, his boots dragging across the dirt. His men froze, eyes widening in shock.
"What the hell? He's a mage?!" one of them shouted.
I didn't give them time to recover.
I clenched my fists, summoning the opposing forces within me. Light and Darkness surged through my veins, intertwining as I let my magic flow freely.
A golden glow flickered in my right hand. A wisp of black mist curled around my left.
Scarface's expression darkened. "Tch… This kid's no ordinary traveler."
The bandits hesitated. I could see the doubt creeping into their eyes. They weren't prepared for a fight.
But Scarface wasn't backing down. He growled and tightened his grip on his dagger. "Doesn't matter. He's still alone. Take him down!"
The bandits charged.
I had no time to think.
Two of them came at me first, swinging crude swords. I ducked under the first strike and retaliated with a quick blast of golden light, sending one of them crashing into the dirt.
The second bandit swung at my head I barely managed to block with a surge of shadow energy, redirecting the attack before kicking him away.
Scarface snarled, dashing toward me again. He was faster than the others, and this time, he feinted left before slashing at my side.
Pain flared as the dagger grazed my ribs.
I gritted my teeth, ignoring the sting. I couldn't let fear slow me down.
I summoned both Light and Darkness, channeling them into my fists. My vision sharpened, the world around me slowing as my magic heightened my reflexes.
Scarface lunged again, but I was faster.
I ducked low and struck with both hands light and shadow colliding as I unleashed a powerful blast at point-blank range.
Scarface was sent flying, crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud. He groaned, slumping to the ground.
The remaining bandits took one look at their fallen leader, then at me my hands still crackling with unstable energy.
They bolted.
I stood there, breathing heavily as my magic slowly faded. My heart pounded in my chest, but I had won.
Scarface lay on the ground, barely conscious. He coughed, blood staining his lips. His eyes flickered with something between anger and disbelief.
"…What the hell are you?" he muttered.
I stared down at him, my fists still clenched. I wasn't sure how to answer that question.
So instead, I turned and walked away.
As I continued down the road, my ribs ached where I had been cut, but I forced myself to keep moving.
I had just faced my first real fight in this world.
And I had won.
But the road to Liverland was still long, and I had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time I had to prove myself.
No matter what, I would keep pushing forward.
Because this was only the beginning of my journey.
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and deep purple. My ribs still ached from the bandit's dagger, but the pain was manageable.
I walked along the dirt road, my mind replaying the fight over and over. I had won, but barely. If I had been slower, if my magic had faltered for even a second, I might not have walked away unscathed.
I exhaled, tightening my grip on the strap of my bag.
I need to get stronger.
The bandits were nothing compared to the enemies I would face in the future. If I was going to survive in this world, I couldn't rely on luck alone.
Granny Clora had taught me the basics, but I still had so much to learn.
I needed to refine my magic, sharpen my reflexes, and understand how to fight properly.
And the best place to do that was Liverland High School of Magic.
The thought pushed me forward, my steps growing steadier as I focused on my goal.
As the last light of day faded, the temperature dropped. A cold wind swept through the trees, carrying an eerie silence.
I stopped walking, glancing around.
The road ahead stretched into the dark, flanked by towering trees that swayed gently. The only sound was the rustling of leaves.
Too quiet.
A shiver ran down my spine. Something felt… off.
I placed a hand on my chest, gripping Granny Clora's pendant. It was warm pulsing faintly, as if sensing something.
I wasn't alone.
Slowly, I reached for my magic, letting both Light and Darkness stir within me.
Then, a voice echoed from the trees.
"Well, well. That was quite the show back there."
I spun around, my body tense.
A figure stepped out of the shadows, illuminated by the faint glow of the moon.
She was young maybe my age with long silver hair cascading down her back. Her violet eyes shimmered with amusement as she studied me. She wore a dark cloak over a sleek battle outfit, a slender sword strapped to her hip.
Something about her presence sent warning bells ringing in my head.
"Who are you?" I asked cautiously.
She smirked. "Just a passing observer."
I didn't lower my guard. "You were watching?"
She nodded, taking a slow step forward. "I saw how you handled those bandits. Interesting magic you have… A mix of Light and Darkness. That's not something you see every day."
My muscles tensed. If she knew that, then she was no ordinary traveler.
"What do you want?" I asked.
She tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "That depends. Are you heading to Liverland High?"
I hesitated. "…Yeah."
Her smirk widened. "Then we'll be seeing a lot more of each other."
She turned, walking past me without another word.
I watched her go, my instincts screaming that this girl was dangerous.
Who was she? And why did I get the feeling that our paths were destined to cross again?
I didn't have the answers.
To be Continue