The leader of the group, a broad-shouldered man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward and bowed his head slightly toward Thalos. “We owe you our lives, mage. Without your aid, we would have all perished here.”

Thalos remained silent for a moment, then gave a small nod. “Your battle was not mine to fight, yet fate led me here. Do not waste the second chance you’ve been given.”

The warrior straightened and turned to the others. “Prepare to depart. We continue to Velharys, the capital of the kingdom.”

Aeren’s ears perked up. Velharys… the heart of the magic world. He had heard of it from Thalos before—a place where scholars, mages, and warriors alike gathered. It was home to the Velharys Magic Academy, the most prestigious institution for magic users in the entire kingdom.

As the warriors made their final preparations, Princess Serena hesitated before approaching Thalos. Her small hands clutched the fabric of her dress, and her bright blue eyes were filled with gratitude.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “For saving us.”

Thalos looked down at her, his expression unreadable. Then, in a rare moment, he offered her a slight nod. “A ruler must learn to protect her own people, little princess. Strength does not come from blood alone—it is earned.”

Serena’s hands clenched slightly, his words lingering in her mind. She gave a determined nod, as if she had taken his words to heart.

Aeren stood beside her, watching as the warriors mounted their horses and secured the princess’s carriage. He felt a strange pang of longing. This was his first real encounter with people from the outside world, and it was already coming to an end.

Serena turned to him. “Aeren…”

He blinked in surprise. “Yeah?”

She hesitated, as if unsure of what to say, then reached into a small pouch tied to her waist. She pulled out a small, silver pendant shaped like a crescent moon. “Take this.”

Aeren frowned. “What for?”

She smiled faintly. “A reminder. If we ever meet again… I want you to show me how strong you’ve become.”

Aeren hesitated before slowly taking the pendant. He could feel the warmth of her touch still lingering on the metal.

“I… will,” he said, gripping it tightly.

With that, the princess turned and stepped into her carriage. The warriors gave one final bow to Thalos before urging their horses forward. The group moved out, their figures growing smaller as they disappeared into the dense forest path leading to Velharys.

Aeren stood there, the pendant still in his palm, watching them go. A strange feeling bubbled inside him—one he couldn’t quite describe.

Thalos, watching from the side, let out a small sigh. “Don’t get too attached.”

Aeren looked up at him, confused. “Why?”

Thalos gazed at the now-empty path where the warriors had vanished. His voice was low, almost distant.

“Because the world you saw today is far crueler than you realize.”

As the days passed after their encounter with the warriors, Thalos decided it was time to train Aeren properly. The boy had been unknowingly strengthening himself through the daily woodcutting and survival tasks, but now, it was time to refine his skills.

One early morning, as the mist still clung to the trees, Thalos handed Aeren a wooden training sword and a small dagger. “Your body is getting stronger, but strength without technique is nothing,” Thalos said as he took his own stance, his blade steady in his grip.

Aeren mimicked his movements, his grip on the training sword firm but unrefined. He had seen Thalos fight before, seen the way he moved like a shadow, striking with precision and purpose. He wanted to move like that.

Thalos wasted no time. He attacked with a swift, controlled swing, forcing Aeren to react. The boy barely managed to lift his sword in time to block, the force sending vibrations up his arms.

“Faster,” Thalos instructed. “Your opponent will not wait for you to be ready.”

Again and again, Thalos struck, each time forcing Aeren to react quicker. His footwork was sloppy at first, but with each mistake, Thalos corrected him. “Never plant your feet too long in one place. Stay light. Move with the flow of battle.”

Hours passed, sweat dripping from Aeren’s brow as he struggled to keep up. His muscles burned, his grip on the sword faltering, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t.

Thalos then handed him the dagger. “A short blade is just as dangerous as a long one. But it requires precision.”

Aeren took the dagger, adjusting to its lighter weight. Thalos showed him how to wield it properly, how to strike at weak points, how to parry, and how to turn an opponent’s strength against them. The training was relentless, but Aeren endured.

Then, something happened.

As Aeren lunged forward in an attempt to strike, Thalos countered, forcing the boy onto the defensive. Aeren’s grip tightened as he pushed back, refusing to let his blade be knocked away.

And in that moment, something inside him stirred.

A faint glow, barely noticeable, flickered around Aeren’s hands. A feeling surged through his body—warm, powerful, yet unfamiliar. It wasn’t something he had ever felt before.

Thalos’s eyes narrowed. He stepped back, lowering his sword. “Aeren… do you feel that?”

Aeren looked down at his hands. The faint glow had already faded, but he still felt it—the remnants of something deep within him, something that had been locked away until now.

“I… I don’t know,” Aeren said, his breath heavy. “It felt… like something inside me woke up.”

Thalos studied him carefully, his mind racing. Aeren was supposed to have no magic. The royal family had cast him away for that very reason. And yet…

Thalos placed a hand on Aeren’s shoulder. “That was magic.”

Aeren’s eyes widened. “Magic…? But I thought—”

“Magic is not always something seen or measured from birth,” Thalos interrupted. “It is a force that lies dormant in some… waiting for the right moment to awaken.”

Aeren clenched his fists. He had spent his whole life believing he was nothing, that he was incapable of wielding the very power the world valued above all else. But now… this changed everything.

Thalos’s gaze darkened, his voice low. “This power inside you… it is unlike anything I’ve seen before.”

Aeren looked up at him, determination burning in his eyes.

“Then teach me how to use it.”