Jin's POV
I waved goodbye to Brother Zegion as he headed off for the Solana Merchant Guild. He said he'd be gone three days for work. My brother's something else—smart and cool, even though he's just three years older than me. I'm not the brainy type, never have been. I've always gotten by on hard work, but three days ago, everything changed.
I was sitting by the Adventurer's Association doors, like usual, waiting for Lady Bree to toss me some odd jobs. My stomach was growling, and I was worn out from hustling. Then Zegion showed up—quiet, like always—staring at me for a second before saying, "Come with me." Just like that, I had a place to stay and real food—three meals a day. Not scraps, but proper stuff that filled me up.
Us alley kids knew Zegion. He was like a ghost who brought us food sometimes. He didn't look at us with pity or anything—just did it, calm as can be. The grown-ups took his help too, but I'd hear them grumble behind his back, jealous and mean. Zegion knew they talked smack. He's sharp like that. That didn't stop him, though.
Those three days of good meals felt like a dream, but now I've got to earn it. Before he left, Zegion gave us a job: awaken our mana and figure out our attributes. By ourselves. In three days. I almost laughed. What was he thinking? Did he reckon we were fancy noble kids who grew up learning magic? Yuna might have a shot—she's got that quiet smarts—but me? I'm an orphan from Zilt's streets. Old Amanda and Rhonda kept me alive when I was little, that's all I've got. Mana? Attributes? It's crazy. And to make it worse, he told me not to ask Yuna for help. "Do it yourself, Jin," he said, serious but not harsh.
It sounds impossible, but I trust him. So I headed to Old Amanda's place, kicking dirt as I walked, my head all jumbled. She's smart, knows a lot, and if anyone can help, it's her. When I got there, Buga and his two buddies were hanging around outside her little house.
"Ohhh, look who's here!" Buga said, smirking. "Sorry, Jin, we're done. Go somewhere else."
"I'm not here for your jobs, Buga," I snapped. "I need to talk to Old Amanda."
He snorted and shuffled off with his crew. "Whatever."
Was he mad? I didn't care. A creaky voice broke through my thoughts.
"Jin, that you?" Old Amanda poked her head out. She's got a bent back now, but her blue eyes were bright, looking me over. "Been a while, kid. You look good—like you're eating right. Makes me happy." She laughed, rough but warm.
I told her everything—Zegion taking me in, the food, and this wild task. "He wants me to awaken my mana, Granny. Me! I don't even know how. Got any books I can use?"
She grinned. "That Zegion's a weird one, but I think you can do it, Jin." She grabbed a dusty old book off her shelf and handed it to me.
I stared at it, my stomach dropping. "Granny, I can't read this. It's too hard. Can you help?"
"Sure, kid," she said with a nod. "Let's get started, or I'll have to get back to my potions."
We spent the whole day together, her scratchy voice walking me through mana stuff. She made it easy: to use magic, you need three things. First, you've got to be able to feel mana—turns out I've got a bit of that, lucky me. Second, you need an attribute, like fire or water, which picks what spells you can do. Third, you cast it—either with magic circles and some old language called Praxis, or by feeling it deep inside you. All three have to work together, or nothing happens.
By the time the sun went down, I sort of got it. But casting was the problem. I didn't know Praxis, and Granny didn't have anything about it. That left feeling it with my soul—whatever that means. I leaned on her table, tired and stuck. Two days left, and I was still lost.
____________________
While the others focused on their tasks, Yuna wrestled with hers—creating boiling water using magic. Unlike Lumine and Ludwig, who were tasked with sensing mana through deep meditation, Yuna already had a foundation in mana control. At first glance, her task seemed simpler, but she quickly realized it was anything but.
Normally, Praxis-based spellcasting required using the elemental name as a foundation, with modifications shaping the nature of the spell. However, altering those words was not something she had been trained in. Praxis was an ancient, fragmented language, and attempts to change its structure often felt like fumbling through a lock with countless keys, most of which wouldn't fit.
Though noble families safeguarded a few high-level Praxis spells, commoners were limited to basic ones. Scholars had spent decades unraveling its secrets, yet progress was painfully slow. As a result, most mages favored mana flow-based spellcasting—an intuitive method that relied on guiding mana into a magic circle and shaping its nature through intent. This method was more accessible, but it also had limitations. Creating compound spells, such as boiling water—requiring both water and heat—was no simple feat, especially for those without dual affinities.
After helping Lumine and Ludwig settle into their meditation, Yuna moved to the small backyard of Zegion's home. Sparse patches of cultivated plants dotted the yard, surrounded by rough grass. Sitting cross-legged on the cool ground, she stared at the sky, deep in thought. How could she create boiling water from a basic water spell? Zegion had advised her to observe boiling water, to experiment with different approaches. The suggestion had seemed vague at first, but she knew there was something deeper in his words.
The day slipped away with no progress, frustration building within her. Seeking a moment to clear her mind, she left for the river on the outskirts of Vichitra Vana. The vast forest bordering Zilt was divided into three regions—outer, middle, and deep. The outer region was relatively safe, often visited by hunters and travelers, while the deeper areas were shrouded in mystery and danger. The river, flowing at the forest's edge, had always been a place of solace for her.
Meanwhile, Jin wandered through the town after his morning rounds, his mind weighed down by his own struggles. The task of awakening his mana felt impossible. His feet led him toward the river, seeking a moment of clarity in the cool water. But just as he neared the tree-lined banks, a sudden, sharp cry split the air—Yuna's voice, laced with urgency.
Jin's heart pounded as he broke into a sprint.