The first light of dawn crept through the village of Elmsworth, casting long shadows over the thatched roofs and dirt paths. At the edge of the woods, where the river curled like a silver ribbon, a figure could be seen sprinting. Kael Veyne, now nine years old, sprinted across the dew-kissed grass, his breaths steady despite the fast pace. His legs burned, but the mana coursing through his body dulled the ache, reinforcing his muscles and bones. A year ago, he had struggled to complete six kilometers, collapsing in exhaustion. Now, he pushed past ten without breaking stride.
His training had paid off. He was no longer the weak, scrawny boy from before. His body had become stronger and more toned, showing the results of his hard work. His endurance had increased several times over, and his movements felt lighter and more controlled. His mana control had reached a point where he could reinforce any part of his body with precision, directing energy to his legs for bursts of speed or his arms for greater strength. The change was undeniable.
Every morning, he trained for hours, pushing his body through a grueling regimen of push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and long-distance running. At first, his body had struggled to keep up, but now, he could easily perform four sets of push-ups with fifteen reps each, five sets of sit-ups with twenty reps, and four sets of pull-ups with eight reps. He noted that it was much easier to improve physically in this world compared to his previous one.
As he reached the riverbank, he skidded to a halt, sweat dripping from his chin. His reflection in the water stared back at him—a boy no longer frail. The baby fat had melted into lean definition, his shoulders slightly broader, Not the bulging muscles of a warrior, but the hardened frame of someone shaped by perseverance and discipline. Crouching by the river, he scooped up cool water and splashed it over his face, letting out a quiet sigh. He had come a long way.
he had learned the subjects Helena taught him in just three months, something that had left both his parents stunned. Most kids took more than a year, yet he had breezed through it. He could still remember Helena's face, her eyes flickering between disbelief, shock and pride as she tested him over and over, convinced he had to be cheating somehow. After knowing he wasn't cheating, Helena wasted no time bragging to the neighbors—especially those who had once boasted about their own sons in front of her. Her voice was filled with pride as she made sure everyone knew just how much of a genius her son was.
Lucas felt both happy and guilty, believing that his son had been working so hard for the sword he had promised him. In the end, he finally handed over the so-called "Dragon Slayer" sword as a reward. The rusted piece of metal had snapped clean in half the moment Kael "accidentally" dropped it
After finishing his morning training, Kael headed home for breakfast. The aroma of fresh bread and eggs greeted him as he entered the house. A small figure bolted toward him, nearly knocking him over. Emily, his four-year-old sister, latched onto his waist with an iron grip, beaming up at him with bright hazel eyes.
"Bwig bwover!" she chirped happily.
Kael groaned, ruffling her auburn hair. "Emily, I just finished training—I'm all sweaty."
She scrunched her nose but held on. "Dun care! You pwomised to pway with me later!"
He sighed, knowing full well that he wouldn't get out of her grip. "After lunch, okay? I have training after breakfast ."
Emily pouted, but after a moment, she held out her tiny pinky. "Pwomise?"
Kael linked his pinky with hers. "Promise."
Satisfied, she finally let go, bouncing off toward the kitchen. Kael chuckled before heading to the table, where Helena served breakfast.
Once he finished eating, he left for his training spot. Extending his right hand, he concentrated, channeling mana into his palm. Small sparks flickered around his fingertips, erratic and unstable. He thrust his arm forward, sending weak currents of electricity crackling into the air. He had very little control over it .
When he first started, he could barely generate a flicker of light. Now, after four months of dedicated practice, he could produce enough electricity to zap a normal person. The problem was control. Lightning was wild and unpredictable. Unlike simple mana reinforcement, it refused to be tamed so easily. Sometimes the sparks danced wildly, striking random objects instead of his intended target. Other times, they fizzled out before making contact. But he refused to let frustration take hold. He had improved. He could sustain the lightning longer, generate stronger currents, and his resistance to lightning was getting better. He still lacked precision, but he knew mastery wouldn't come overnight.
Training lightning manipulation drained him faster than anything else. After just three hours, his mana reserves were depleted, leaving him lightheaded. He staggered slightly, forcing himself to take deep breaths to recover. Controlling lightning demanded far more energy than basic mana reinforcement, but that was expected.
Even in the novel's lore, lightning affinity was notorious for its high energy cost. He had to pace himself, refine his technique before attempting anything too ambitious. After his mana reserves ran dry, he returned home for lunch, knowing he would need the energy for his afternoon studies.
Helena guided him through intermediate-level Runecrafting after lunch. He had spent ten months mastering the basics, inscribing runes with precision until they became second nature.
Now, the real challenge had begun. The intermediate book contained twice as many symbols, their meanings interwoven with complex theories. A single misdrawn rune rendered an entire inscription useless. The process was meticulous, but Kael welcomed the difficulty. He enjoyed the discipline Runecrafting required, the way it demanded absolute focus.
Unlike lightning, which was unpredictable, runes followed a structured logic. If drawn correctly, they always worked. That consistency was satisfying in its own way.
He worked on perfecting a D- rank seal, carefully inscribing the intricate symbols onto parchment. Each stroke had to be exact, every curve and line flowing seamlessly into the next. Helena watched with approval, correcting him only when necessary. After an hour, Kael infused the parchment with mana. The symbols glowed faintly before stabilizing—a sign of a successful inscription. Helena smiled, nodding in approval. "Good. You're getting better at this." Kael exhaled, satisfied. Runecrafting was as much about patience as it was about skill. Rushing led to failure, and he had learned that lesson early on. He continued his practice until a small hand tugged at his sleeve.
"Bwig bwover, pway now!" Emily demanded, eyes shining with expectation.
Kael sighed, setting his book down. "Alright, alright."
Emily cheered, dragging him outside. They played for hours, running around the yard, playing tag, and building makeshift forts out of sticks and leaves. Despite everything—his training, his pursuit of strength—these moments with Emily were precious. After playing for few hours they went inside.
After dinner, Kael took a warm bath before retreating to his room. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he entered meditation. He still couldn't sense external mana, but his control had improved significantly. His reserves had grown, though without a reference point, he had no idea how they compared to others. But none of that mattered. He was stronger than he was a year ago. And tomorrow, he would be even stronger.
After completing meditation , Kael fell on the bed staring at the wooden ceiling, He thought 'It has been a year, Since my transmigration. I've improved steadily throughout this time, But this isn't enough. I still can't sense the mana around me.
I remember that the protagonist, Alden, took just four months to sense mana and started absorbing it. He even went further by absorbing mana from his surroundings while moving—something others thought was impossible.
I expected I would also be able to sense mana, maybe not as fast as him, but at least within ten months. Yet even after a year, I still can't. What exactly am I doing wrong?'
Kael closed his eyes and pondered for a few minutes. 'Is there a specific way or process for meditation? Hmm… No, as far as I remember, the novel didn't mention any special method. It just stated that you have to keep trying until you succeed.
I guess Alden managed it because he's a genius. I shouldn't compare my progress to the protagonist. Their power growth is always beyond reason. Alden is already at the intermediate stage of Initiate Rank at just ten years old, while here I am, not even at the intermediate stage of Novice level. A full year of continuous training, only to reach Beginner-stage Novice from an ordinary kid.'
Kael sighed. 'No point comparing myself to that freak. Even though I lack strength compared to the other noble kids, that's only for now. I'm only nine years old—I still have time to grow. If I rush, my progress will become stagnant.
Alright, I'll stick to my current training plan. If I feel like I'm not making any progress, I'll change my approach.'
With that thought, he drifted into sleep.
A couple of months passed in a similar manner, without any significant events. One day, on his way home after finishing his lightning element training, he noticed a crowd gathering on the road. As he approached them, the sight before him left him shocked.