Morning came slowly.
The sun rose behind the tall buildings.
The sky was orange and soft.
Haru stood on the balcony of his small apartment.
His schoolbag was on his back.
His eyes looked far.
But his heart looked deeper.
---
He thought about the voice from last night.
His past self.
The great mage.
The one who said: "The world is not what it seems."
---
The wind touched his face.
He closed his eyes.
"I know what I must do," he whispered.
---
He opened the door and walked down the stairs.
The hallway smelled like dust and old paint.
The landlady waved at him.
"You still working five jobs, boy?" she asked.
Haru smiled.
"Maybe just three now."
She laughed and shook her head.
---
On the street, the world moved fast.
Cars. People. Loud music.
News screens showed dungeon reports again.
"Fire Mage still unknown," one reporter said.
"Some call him a hero. Others, a threat."
---
Haru passed by the screen without stopping.
He didn't care about fame.
He didn't care about glory.
---
He remembered his little sister's smile.
The way she used to wake him up for school.
The way she laughed when they shared bread on the rooftop.
Now, she couldn't speak.
She couldn't move.
Only the machines kept her alive.
---
"I will fight," Haru said, walking faster.
"I will grow stronger."
"Not for money."
"Not for power."
"But for her."
---
He looked at his hand.
His fingers burned with quiet magic.
He still hid his power.
But soon, the world would see.
---
He passed an alley.
A small cat meowed.
Haru gave it half his bread.
The cat purred and rubbed his leg.
He smiled.
Even in a hard world, kindness stayed.
---
He walked to the edge of the city.
Beyond the houses, beyond the streets…
The great forest waited.
And beyond that?
Dungeons.
Gates.
Secrets.
---
"I'm not ready yet," he said.
"But I will be."
He looked up at the sky.
Clouds moved slowly.
But he saw it now—
A thin crack, glowing faintly in the air.
A sign.
---
His magic responded.
The circles in his heart spun slowly.
Warm.
Steady.
Waiting.
---
He touched his chest.
"I'm coming," he whispered.
"Sister… wait for me."
The air was quiet.
Haru stood alone in the old forest.
No people.
No noise.
Only trees, birds, and the sound of wind in the leaves.
---
He found a small open space.
It was round, full of grass and wildflowers.
He took off his bag.
He took a deep breath.
He sat on the ground, legs crossed.
---
"I need to try," he said to himself.
"I need to learn how to control it."
He touched his chest with both hands.
---
Inside his heart were 10 magic circles.
Each circle was deep with power.
Each one connected to a different type of magic.
---
So far, they were quiet.
Sleeping.
Waiting.
---
Haru closed his eyes.
He breathed slowly.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
---
He went deep into his own mind.
He saw darkness first.
Then, a red light.
---
Suddenly, he stood in a strange space.
It looked like the sky.
But it had no sun.
No ground.
Only floating circles, glowing in colors—red, blue, green, gold…
Ten magic circles.
Each one spun slowly in the air.
---
Haru walked closer.
The first circle glowed red.
Fire.
The second circle glowed blue.
Water.
The third circle glowed green.
Wind.
---
He reached out to them.
His hands felt heat, cold, and breeze at the same time.
---
"I want to unlock you," he said.
"I want to protect my sister. I want to fight."
---
The red circle shook.
It became brighter.
It spun faster.
Then—
Boom.
It sent a warm wave through his chest.
Fire magic unlocked.
---
Then the blue one did the same.
Water magic unlocked.
---
Then the green one.
Wind magic unlocked.
---
Pain hit his chest.
Not sharp, but deep.
His body shook.
His heart felt heavy, then light.
Like fire and wind mixed inside him.
---
He opened his eyes.
He was back in the forest.
Sweating.
Breathing fast.
---
But his hands were glowing.
Red flame in one hand.
Blue water in the other.
Green wind around his arms.
---
He smiled.
"I did it," he whispered.
---
He stood up and pointed to the sky.
He made a small fireball.
Then water around it.
Then wind to spin them together.
---
The spell flew up like a shining comet.
It burst in the sky like fireworks.
---
Haru laughed.
For the first time in weeks, he laughed.
Not because something was funny.
But because he felt alive.
---
"I can do this," he said.
"I'm not weak anymore."
"I will master all ten."
---
And far away…
In a dark room full of crystals…
A girl with silver eyes opened a book.
She paused.
She looked up.
"The Mage of Ten Circles…" she whispered.
"He's starting to awaken."
The city was loud again.
Buses moved. People shouted. Screens glowed.
But Haru walked slowly.
His body was still warm from the magic.
His heart beat calm and strong.
---
He passed by a news screen on the building wall.
It showed fire.
A broken dungeon gate.
Smoke in the air.
---
The reporter spoke fast:
> "A strange monster group attacked near Zone 7. They were not like normal dungeon beasts. These monsters spoke. They used magic. They called themselves... the Flame Brotherhood."
---
Haru froze.
His eyes grew wide.
He whispered, "Flame Brotherhood…"
He remembered that name.
Not from this life.
But from his past life.
---
They were a dark group.
They burned cities.
Killed kings.
Tried to steal forbidden magic from ancient towers.
And now…
They were back.
---
He walked again, his legs heavy.
Another news screen blinked.
Another reporter said:
> "The Black Serpent Order returned after ten years. They are attacking weak dungeons, stealing rare items."
---
Black Serpent Order.
Another name from the past.
They were enemy mages who used poison spells and shadow curses.
They hated the Mage of Ten Circles.
They tried many times to kill him.
---
More names came up.
> "The Bone Mask…"
> "The Red Mist Army…"
> "Witch Queen Elira…"
---
Each name was like a bell ringing in Haru's head.
He saw their faces in memory.
He saw the battles.
The pain.
The fire.
The loss.
---
"They're all returning," Haru whispered.
---
He stopped at a bridge and leaned over the rail.
The river below flowed slowly.
His reflection looked back at him.
A young student.
But also something more.
---
"Why are they back?" he asked the wind.
"Why now?"
---
The voice from his past life spoke softly in his mind:
> "Where there is light, darkness always follows."
> "If your power wakes… so will your enemies."
---
Haru looked at his hands.
They were still glowing a little.
Three magic circles now open.
Seven more to go.
---
He clenched his fists.
"If they are back…"
"I will stop them again."
---
A car drove past with loud music.
A group of students laughed on the sidewalk.
The world looked normal.
But Haru knew the truth.
---
The past was waking.
The danger was growing.
And the Mage of Ten Circles…
Had work to do.
Night fell over the city.
The sky was dark.
The streetlights were soft and yellow.
People walked home.
Shops closed one by one.
But Haru was not going home.
---
He wore a black hoodie.
His face was calm, but his eyes burned with light.
Red fire.
Blue water.
Green wind.
Three magic circles inside his heart were open now.
And he could feel the power growing.
---
He walked alone through the quiet streets.
He passed the hospital.
He looked up at the window.
His little sister was still inside.
Still asleep.
Still waiting.
---
"I will protect you," he whispered.
Then he turned.
And walked toward the edge of the city.
---
There, behind an old building, was a dungeon gate.
It shimmered like glass.
Blue light moved in waves.
A warning sign blinked nearby.
> "Entry Forbidden After Dark"
But Haru didn't stop.
---
He pulled out a black card.
A fake pass from the black market.
He tapped it on the gate.
The magic shimmered.
The gate opened.
---
Wind blew from inside.
Dark. Cold. Wet.
The smell of stone and old blood.
---
Haru looked around.
No one saw him.
No cameras.
No guards.
---
He stepped forward.
One foot in.
Then the next.
---
The gate closed behind him.
The light disappeared.
He was inside the dungeon now.
---
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Stone walls.
Old moss.
Water dripping.
---
He pulled up his hood.
Fire flickered in his eyes.
He held out his hand.
A small flame appeared.
Red and hot.
It lit the way.
---
Then he whispered:
"I was born for this."
---
Step by step, he walked deeper.
Each breath stronger.
Each step louder.
---
A monster's eyes blinked in the dark.
It growled.
Then charged.
---
Haru didn't flinch.
He pointed.
"Burn."
---
Flames flew.
The monster screamed.
It turned to ash.
---
The fire danced in Haru's eyes.
Not wild.
Not angry.
Just full of power.
---
He walked on.
Alone.
But not afraid.
Because deep inside…
The mage from another world had returned.