The trees stood tall and together, sunlight escaping the branches formed a pattern on the ground.
Birds chirped , squirrels darted from branches. A stream of water can be heard from a distance. This is another peaceful day in Larren vale.
A little boy resting under a tree with one leg over the other, and a book in his hand.
'Mana Basics' it said, the book was very thick. The boy immersed in reading didn't feel the weight.
Alrein, the Little boy is 5 years old now. mother bought him this book on his birthday, after seeing his love for magic.
Elira, his mother and teacher, has never compromised his education, even when she couldn't afford to send him to a school. She taught him reading and writing, magic is the field she has barely experience in. With his growing curiousity and thirst for knowledge she saved some money, and gifted him this book.
"Al! You're dozing off again? I told you grab collect some dry leaves."
Elira, approached the boy with a frown.
"Eh! Mom, hehe i- I was just... "
Looking at her little boy she just smiled took the book.
"No more reading before you gather all the dry leaves here! It's going to rain soon."
The boy stood up, and smiled "don't worry mom, I will collect every dry leaves before it rains"
Elira went inside her house with the book.
Alrein, looked back making sure mother went inside, then he lifted his right hand and stood there for a few seconds.
A glowing white circle appeared on his palm along with some inscription.
His eyes turned white as a small tornado started forming on this ground.
"Now go!" The tornado swiftly moved, covering every corner around the backyard collecting every dry leaves and small sticks before disappearing.
So easy... Magic is awesome.
___
It was nighttime. Elira had served a pot of warm vegetable stew, some flatbreads, and a bowl of curd — their simple, everyday meal.
"Mom," Alrein said between bites, "why don't you know any magic? Maria's mom healed me with hers when I fell while playing."
Elira smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she took another bite.
"Well, I wasn't as talented as you. And besides, why would I need magic when I have my little helper with me?"
It was just another quiet night for the two of them. But it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say — Alrein was the ray of light in Elira's life. Without him, she wouldn't have made it this far.
She had raised him alone, scraping by with whatever she earned selling leaf-plates to the local shops.
As a single mother, she had faced scorn, whispers, and questions. But she never lost hope.
___
Months passed. The war had finally quieted, leaving scars deeper than most could see. The peace that followed was fragile — temporary at best.
Around this time each year, the Magic Academies prepared for the Awakening Trials — a ceremonial event held to scout gifted children, offering scholarships and loans to the promising few.
Though the funding came mostly from nobles and wealthy merchants, the academies paraded the event as charity — a display for public favor and royal approval.
"Al, you know… my brother's going to attend the trials this year. He's the best talent in our whole village! He awakened last year — can you imagine? He's already a first-circle magician, and he's only eleven."
Alrein lay on the grass beside her, watching the clouds drift lazily overhead.
"Maria, even if he doesn't get the scholarship, can't your family still afford the academy fees? They're not that high — just the residential costs, really."
The girl turned her head and pouted.
"I don't know that! Why do you always have to sound so smart?"
She giggled, brushing a blade of grass between her fingers.
"My mom says if I pass the trials and get a scholarship, I can go too. I can't wait to grow up. I want to learn magic. Real magic."
Alrein didn't answer right away. He reached up, caught a drifting leaf in his fingers, and stared at it for a long moment.
"…Me too," he said softly. "I want to go to the Academy too."
___
The woods were quiet in the way only winter made them — no snow, but the trees stood bare and still, their branches like bones against the pale sky. Dry leaves crunched beneath Alrein's boots as he followed Maria down the narrow path, a thin mist curling low over the roots.
"I told you no one would notice," Maria said, hands in her coat pockets, breath puffing in small clouds. "Everyone's too busy chopping wood or pretending to be sick to skip chores."
"You tricked me," Alrein muttered. "You said you just wanted to walk."
She grinned. "And we are walking. Just… toward the waterfall."
He sighed, pulling his scarf up higher. "It's going to be freezing."
"Not in the water, genius. Just near it. I brought dried apples."
They passed between two leaning stones and emerged into the clearing a few minutes later. The waterfall spilled gently over the rocks, not as loud as in spring, but steady. A light mist hung in the air, catching bits of sunlight. The pool at the base shimmered faintly, still and glassy.
Maria hopped onto one of the flat rocks near the edge and plopped down, pulling the cloth bundle from her pocket.
"I love it here in winter," she said, handing him a slice of dried apple. "No bugs. No people. Just peace."
Alrein sat beside her, chewing thoughtfully. The air was cool on his face, and the quiet hum of water filled the silence between them.
"You think you'll awaken during the Trials?" she asked, voice softer now.
He shrugged, eyes on the pool. "I don't feel any different. You?"
"Nope. But my mom says I have a strong mana root. Whatever that means."
Alrein smiled faintly. "Sounds made up."
"It is. She made it up to make me feel better."
They both laughed quietly, the sound echoing lightly against the rocks.
"You think we'll leave the village one day?" Maria asked, suddenly serious. "You know… for good?"
Alrein was quiet for a long moment.
"We still have years before we can get into the magic Academy. And i don't really want to leave my mom."
She giggled
Their laughter faded as a sharp rustle broke the quiet.
It wasn't the wind.
Alrein's head snapped toward the sound. The bushes near the edge of the clearing were shaking — something was pushing through, and fast.
"Al… was that the village kids?" Maria asked, inching closer.
"No," he said quickly, stepping in front of her. His heart was pounding now — not from running, but from something else.
He could feel it.
Something was coming.
The air around them felt heavier. Closer.
Then, with a sudden crash of branches, the creature burst through.
An enormous wolf — far bigger than any he'd seen in books or heard about in stories. Its fur was dark and matted, wet from the river trail, and its jaw dripped with saliva, a low, guttural growl rumbling from deep within its chest.
It didn't hesitate.
It saw prey.
And lunged.
"Get down!" Alrein shouted, grabbing Maria's wrist and pulling her with him as they dropped and rolled hard to the side. The wolf's massive body crashed down where they'd stood a heartbeat ago, claws digging into the earth.
Maria yelped as they scrambled back to their feet.
The wolf circled, growling louder now, eyes fixed on them. Its muscles tensed.
It was going to leap again.
Alrein's hand trembled — not from fear alone, but from decision.
He raised it slowly, palm outward.
The air stirred.
Leaves and dust curled at his feet, and the wind began to hum faintly around his fingers.
"Back off…" he whispered, stepping forward, placing himself fully between the beast and Maria.
The wolf lunged again.
But this time — Alrein didn't run.
He stepped forward.
His left arm shielded Maria behind him, but his right hand rose slowly — steady, deliberate.
The air shifted.
A circle of light formed just above his palm — glowing white with threads of runes spinning along its edge. It pulsed once, like a heartbeat, and the wind obeyed.
It wasn't just a breeze.
It was commanded.
The leaves trembled. The air whistled.
And then—
He struck.
"⟪Gale Cutter⟫!"
A sharp shockwave of wind burst forward, honed like a blade — tearing through the air with a high-pitched screech. It hit the beast mid-leap, carving into its side with such force the sound cracked like thunder through the trees.
The wolf was flung back — crashing into a thick trunk, the bark splitting from impact. It howled — not from rage, but pain — staggering, dragging its bloodied limb.
It didn't try again.
With a guttural snarl, it turned and fled into the underbrush, crashing through the forest as fast as its limbs would carry it.
Alrein stood panting, the wind around him still swirling faintly.
Maria stared at him — eyes wide, lips parted
"M- Maria! You okay? Are you hurt?"
She stared at him with disbelief, as the fear subsided slowly, she rested in relief.