Even before dawn broke across the snow-covered hills of Aerundal, Logan sat silently beneath a frosted window, legs crossed and back straight. A gentle mist danced around his small frame as warmth pulsed from his core—not mana, but Qi.
The world outside knew nothing of Qi. The people in this world relied on mana—structured, elegant, but shallow. But Qi? Qi was boundless. It was will and breath. It was life itself. And Logan had mastered it once before.
He breathed deeply, drawing air into his lungs tightly, then exhaled slowly at ease. The energy flowed through his meridians like a silent river. Steady. Powerful. And with each breath, faint mist would come out through both his mouth and nose.
It had been nearly six years since his reincarnation, and now he was six years old. He'd reached the level of body refinement that warriors in his past life would have envied.
His fists could crack stone. His muscles, though lean and small, were packed with tensile strength. His senses? Sharper than a hunting hawk.
And yet, none of it used mana.
He had already formed a mana core. But he didn't train his mana core. Not since the last attempt.
It had happened a year ago.
While meditating, he had briefly touched the swirling current of ambient mana and condensed it—forming a rudimentary mana core in his lower dantian. The process had been familiar, almost instinctual. But unlike Qi, mana was volatile, foreign, and resisted his control.
He'd kept it quiet… until the court mage detected something strange during a routine health check-up.
Rudeous was informed immediately. And so was Mirena.
That same evening, Logan was summoned before the elders of House Smith.
"You violated Arcane Law," one of them declared, voice booming. "Developing a mana core without undergoing the Enlightenment Ceremony is strictly forbidden."
He stood calmly, his small hands at his sides.
"I didn't know it was forbidden," Logan said with a plain face.
"You're six years old. Of course you didn't," Mirena sneered. "But ignorance doesn't absolve danger."
Darius stood nearby, lips curved into a smirk. "If he continues unchecked, he could become a threat. Mana instability at his age could destroy his mind… or worse. He could go insane and attack anyone," said Darius.
"Yes. That's true," others chimed in as well.
That was the moment Logan understood—this wasn't about the law. It was about fear. About envy. Everyone had to be baptized in the Enlightenment Ceremony. And with its help, they could easily form a mana core. But before enlightenment, it's not that they shouldn't—it's that they couldn't form a mana core even at the age of 14 without baptism. So both Darius and Mirena were concerned that if Logan was already this advanced in magic, then Darius would never have the chance to ascend the throne of the Smith family.
So both of them wanted to make an excuse to stop Logan from advancing.
Other elders also didn't want to go against Mirena because she was from the Stevens family, which was even in a higher position than the Smith family.
Rudeous, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke.
"Logan," said Rudeous in a flat tone. "The law is to protect someone from going insane. It could be dangerous for both the magician and the people around him. You are still young. And by practicing mana training from this early age, you shouldn't endanger both yourself and others. I will overlook it this time. But there won't be any next time. Hereby, from this moment onwards, you are forbidden to use magic or continue mana core training till the Enlightenment Ceremony. If you are found otherwise, then you will face serious punishment—and may inflict others as well."
Logan knew what he meant. It was a warning to him, keeping Alice as leverage.
Alice gasped. "How can you do this to our own son?" She wanted to continue but was stopped by Rudeous.
Logan said nothing.
He only nodded.
But Mirena wasn't pleased just with this. "What if he practices in secret?" she shouted her doubt.
Rudeous raised his eyebrows. Wasn't it enough already! he thought to himself. He knew very well what the mother and son duo were trying to do. He did what he did to ensure Logan and Alice's safety. If he didn't stop Logan from advancing his mana training, then Mirena wouldn't just sit still. She would try something even more dangerous. Though he was a man driven by power dynamics, he was still impressed by Logan's talent. To form a mana core at the age of just 6—it was unheard of. Even his grandfather, a rare talent, could only form a mana core when he was 13.
He wanted to help Logan, but his hands were tied.
"So what do you want then?" asked Rudeous.
"His mana core should be sealed," said Mirena with gritted teeth and jealousy in her eyes.
"Yes. That can be the only way to prevent any accidents," said the court mage Abraham.
"Yes. That should be it," the others chimed in as well.
Rudeous had no other way but to agree with it.
The sealing ritual was swift—nothing more than a binding rune etched with mana that interfered with the flow of ambient energy. It didn't hurt. But it felt… limiting. Like a cage snapping shut around his soul.
Still, he bore it without protest.
Because Logan had already made up his mind.
They think they've stopped me. But they only closed the door they know. I walk a path they can't even see.
In the months that followed, Logan continued to grow—but now, no one could explain it.
His body, though still childlike, possessed strength far beyond his age. The guards noticed it during sparring sessions. The servants whispered when he carried buckets twice his size with ease. Even Rudeous, normally unreadable, watched him from a distance from time to time.
"How are you getting stronger without mana?" Alice asked him one morning.
He only smiled. "I'm training a different way."
She frowned. "They're already watching you closely, Logan. Please don't give them more reason to target you."
"I won't," he promised. And he meant it.
He didn't touch mana again.
Instead, he returned fully to what he knew best—cultivation.
Each night, beneath the cover of darkness, he circulated Qi using the Void Soul Sutra—an advanced technique from his past life that refined the body, soul, and mind in harmony.
He pushed his muscles to their limits each morning, sprinting across courtyards, lifting stones, and doing push-ups until his arms trembled. His bones creaked under pressure—but instead of breaking, they hardened.
And with each passing week, he grew stronger.
Not the wild flare of mana, but the rooted, thunderous strength of a war god.
One day, during breakfast, Mirena's voice cut across the hall like a blade.
"I hear the child has taken to physical labor," she said with feigned politeness. "Are you trying to turn him into a farmer, Alice?"
Alice kept her composure, though her hand curled slightly over her spoon.
"He's just energetic," she said softly. "Growing boys should be strong."
Mirena sipped her tea. "Well, let's hope that strength doesn't lead him into more… unsanctioned trouble."
Logan met her gaze across the table. Calm. Cold.
"I've stopped all mana training, Lady Mirena," he said, voice light but clear. "Just as Father commanded."
Darius chuckled beside her. "You'll be far behind by the time we reach the Crowned Trial Ceremony. I hope you're not planning to compete with me."
"I'm not," Logan said simply.
And he wasn't.
Because by the time Darius awakened his mana core at fourteen , Logan's body would be a weapon sharper than any spell.
He didn't need to compete.
He would dominate.
That winter, while the rest of the household celebrated the coming season, Logan retreated to the forest beyond the estate walls. The snow bit into his skin. The wind howled like a beast. But he welcomed it.
He trained in silence.
Movements slow, precise—each strike a whisper of death from a past life.
Sweat froze on his brow as he shifted from stance to stance, striking trees until bark split and sap bled like wounds.
And when he meditated, the Qi flowed like fire through his veins—filling his limbs with heat, his lungs with steel.
He was still a child.
But he was no longer weak.
He was no longer defenseless.
And he had no intention of staying in the shadows forever.
Back at the mansion, rumors swirled. Some claimed Logan was still using mana training. Others said he was using black magic.
The nobles began to take notice.
And not all of them were pleased.
Even among the servants, eyes lingered too long, whispers grew sharper.
But Logan didn't care.
He didn't need validation.
He didn't need praise.
All he needed… was time.
Time to grow. Time to rise.
Because when that time came—
When this world finally realise that what he was capable of—
It would already be too late to stop him.