"Why can you use both magic and the sword… when I'm sure you're a nobody?"
The voice came out of nowhere—soft, like a whisper from behind the trees. Kael turned instantly—but only the breeze greeted him. No one was there. No trace.
He gripped his sword tighter, heart pounding.
"A nobody?" he whispered, staring at his hand, still softly glowing with lingering mana.
A naive smile lingered on his face, but behind it—a quiet, creeping unease began to grow… faint and frightening.
---
The next morning, Kael returned to his training as usual. After what happened last night, he felt the need to train harder. Who knows… maybe that voice had been real.
In front of Marie's small family cabin, he swung his sword again and again. Sweat rolled down his brow. In the corner of the yard, Marie stood watching him with a gentle smile.
"Good morning, Kael! Training again already?" she greeted cheerfully.
Kael turned and smiled. "Oh, Marie. You're up early?"
"I wanted to ask for your help!" Marie said, approaching, cheeks slightly red. "Can you… teach me magic?"
Kael gave a small nod. In his heart, he thought: If Marie becomes strong, she can protect her parents… and this village.
"Alright. You want to be the greatest mage, right?"
Marie nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! And… I want to always be by your side, Kael!"
They fell silent for a moment.
Marie quickly looked down, her cheeks turning redder. "Ah… I… I mean… I just want to learn magic with you! That's what I meant!"
Kael chuckled softly. "Then let's get started."
---
Days passed. Marie learned basic magic and managed to reach Circle 1. Meanwhile, Kael was still trying to develop his own sword techniques.
"Slash… Fire… Water… Slash…" Kael muttered in frustration. "Why are these all just basic techniques?"
He glanced over at Marie, who was skillfully manipulating both a fireball and a stream of water.
She's progressing fast… Kael thought.
Marie noticed Kael's gaze and quickly turned away. "Does that mean… Kael likes me?" she murmured to herself.
"What?" Kael asked, not hearing her over the roar of the nearby waterfall.
"Ah! Nothing! Nothing at all!" Marie quickly replied.
---
That evening, Kael finally created his first technique.
He raised his sword high, and as mana wrapped around the blade, he slashed through the air.
"Crescent Moon Slash!"
The wind split. A crescent-shaped energy arc flew forward, slicing through three trees at once.
Kael froze—then broke into joyful laughter. "I did it!"
A system prompt appeared in his mind:
> [Congratulations. Personal Technique Created. Please Name It.]
"You didn't help with the training, but now you want a name? What kind of system is this…" Kael grumbled.
Still, he gave it a name: First Technique: Crescent Moon Slash
---
A few days later, while they were training again in a small cave, Marie ran up to him, beaming.
"Kael! I've broken through to Circle 2!" she exclaimed. "Now I can control five basic elements: fire, water, ice, earth, and wind!"
Kael smiled with her. "Nice. We're really getting stronger, huh?"
Marie nodded. "Yeah. One day, I want the world to know our names."
Kael looked up through the cave's small opening toward the sky. "We'll become legends, Marie."
---
That night, while Kael was meditating, something strange happened. The aura around his body began to pulse, following the rhythm of his heartbeat. His body felt lighter. His eyes slowly opened.
"…Aura Instinct?" he whispered.
In an instant, he could sense falling leaves, gusts of wind, even the presence of small animals outside the cave.
"This is incredible…" he murmured.
Then…
> "Finally… you're starting to awaken…"
The voice returned—but this time, it wasn't from outside. It echoed inside his head.
Kael held his breath. "Who are you?"
> "Kael Art… or should I say Kim Jungwo?"
Kael froze.
"…Kim… Jungwo?" he whispered.
He stood up, trembling, staring at his own hands. But the voice had vanished. Only the night wind remained… and the thunder of his own heartbeat.
---
The next morning, Kael and Marie went hunting in the forest for a tiger-like monster. Marie was eager to try her new magic. With confidence, she raised her hand and shouted:
"Water Ball!"
BOOM!
A high-pressure blast of water struck the monster. Kael laughed lightly. "You're a real mage now, Marie."
Marie giggled with joy. "Someday, we'll enter the academy together!"
Kael scanned the area. A few smaller monsters appeared. He gestured to Marie.
"I want to test my technique. Head back first."
"Okay, be careful Kael!" Marie waved and left.
Kael infused his sword with mana.
"Crescent Moon Slash!"
SWOOSH!
The monster was cleaved in half before it could even move.
Kael smiled in satisfaction—yet felt a twinge of disappointment. "Too weak. When will real enemies come?"
Suddenly, fifteen monsters emerged all at once.
But Kael just grinned wider.
"Hahaha… now this is proper training."
He channeled mana into his legs and sword. His body vanished in a flash.
"First Bloom: Scarlet Sakura Reaping!"
BOOM!
Trees toppled. Monsters were down. The earth split apart. The strike danced like bloody cherry blossoms in the air.
---
That night, the village held a small celebration. Kael brought back the tiger he hunted. The villagers cheered.
"Kael and Marie are back!"
"Our little heroes!"
Kael's father approached and patted his shoulder. "You kept looking at Marie. You like her, don't you?"
Kael choked on his drink. "Eh?! No, no! I'm actually happy she's close with Rael."
"Why happy? Most boys your age would be jealous."
Kael gave a pure smile. "I just… want her to be happy."
Afterward, Kael went up to his room. He sat cross-legged, staring at his sword.
"I feel like I've created a technique like this before…" he muttered.
Then his gaze drifted to the night sky beyond the window.
"Seven planets… why do I feel like I know you all?"
---
Elsewhere—in a vast, otherworldly dimension—one hundred colossal dragons circled a golden throne. On the throne sat a girl with glowing silver hair, flanked by two mysterious youths.
"He's awakened, hasn't he?" the girl asked.
"Yes, my lady. His memory energy is beginning to activate."
"Good. But it's not time for us to descend yet. Keep watching him from here."
---
Back in Kael's room.
The voice returned—this time clearer than ever.
> "Kim Jungwo… we will meet again."
Kael stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Who are you…?"
No answer. Only silence.
But for the first time, Kael knew… the voice wasn't just a dream.
And within him—something had begun to awaken.
---
End of Chapter 2