Mornings had started to feel different for Zayn.
Waking up was no longer a simple reflex—it was a conscious decision. In the past, when he opened his eyes, he couldn't even tell where he was. But now… now he remembered everything. Who he was, what he had done, and what he had become. The dreams were gone. His dark past wasn't fragmented anymore—it had returned whole, seared into his mind. Silently, he sat up in bed.
This body... still felt like a prison he hadn't yet grown used to.
The muscles were slow but strong. His fingers were slender yet nimble. The face staring back at him in the mirror still felt foreign. And yet, every morning, he couldn't help but ask the same question:
> "Is this body stronger… or weaker than before?"
There was never an answer. Only time and training would reveal the truth.
---
It had been three months since the birth of his baby sister. Zayn had continued living with his family, appearing as just an ordinary child during the day, but waging wars in his mind at night. Still, it was time to stop lingering in the past.
Now, he stood at the edge of a new battlefield: Mana.
---
The Mana System – Tier Structure
Old memories began resurfacing in Zayn's mind. Mana—the essence of this world. Present in every living being, but rarely awakened. Once awakened, however, it could push its user beyond the boundaries of ordinary existence.
In this world, mana cultivation was divided into 10 levels, and each level had 4 stages:
1. Foundation: The initial stage of sensing, recognizing, and beginning to draw in mana.
2. Control: The ability to guide mana through the body and maintain balance.
3. Expansion: Enlarging one's mana pool and enhancing capacity.
4. Stability: Externalizing mana use and eliminating inner weaknesses.
And now, Zayn was ready to enter Level 1 – Foundation Stage.
---
Training Begins
A small clearing in the forest. Far from the house, silent and undisturbed. This was Zayn's secret training ground.
He knelt on the grass. Took a deep breath. Closed his eyes. Rested his hands on his knees. The sun warmed his skin, and the wind gently brushed his hair. But Zayn didn't feel any of it.
He dove deep into his consciousness.
"Mana… you're here. I can sense you," he whispered.
For minutes, nothing happened. Then… a faint vibration stirred in his chest. A subtle tremor, barely there, yet unmistakable. His heartbeat quickened. His breathing grew heavier.
> "This is it," he thought. "First contact."
---
The Body's Reaction
But mana didn't welcome him easily. A sharp pressure built in his chest. His mind blurred. It felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his insides.
Zayn had to hold his breath.
"This… is hard." He opened his eyes. He was soaked in sweat. His knees trembled. But he didn't stop. One hour… two… three.
And then, something clicked.
A locked door deep inside him burst open. The mana began to flow—slowly, but clearly—into his body.
His chest expanded. His mind cleared. Time seemed to freeze.
---
Level 1 – Foundation Stage: COMPLETED
When he opened his eyes, the world around him looked sharper. The colors were brighter. The sounds were deeper.
"It worked," he whispered.
A stream of mana now flowed within him. Weak but real. Unstable but alive.
For the first time in this new life, Zayn had become a mana user.
---
Toward the Night
That night, when he returned home, his parents thought he had simply been out playing. His siblings asked him trivial questions and hugged him. Zayn realized nothing had changed in their eyes or their voices. To them, he was still the same child.
But to Zayn, the world had changed.
He lay in bed. Stared at the ceiling. Let out a slow breath.
> "This is only the beginning… but even with this body, I can carve my own path," he murmured.