As Bolt sits on the fence, lost in hopeless thoughts, a shadow falls over him.
A rough voice speaks:
"Here, kid. Eat this."
A hand appears before Bolt, holding a warm piece of bread and a small fruit.
Bolt looks up, sees a middle-aged man in a dusty apron — clearly a shopkeeper or vendor from the nearby market.
Man: "What happened, kid? Why the long face?"
Without hesitation, Bolt snatches the food and starts eating like he hasn't eaten in days.
The man chuckles.
Man: "Woah, you must be starving. Slow down or you'll choke!"
As he chews, Bolt mumbles his story — how he's searching for a Sage, how no one could read his aura, and how every door has slammed shut on him.
The man scratches his beard, thinking.
Man: "That's rough… really rough."
"You know, this reminds me of something… There's a Sage called Master Thomas, lives on top of Dragon Mountain — people say he's a little crazy, but powerful. One of the best."
"He only takes two students every four years. I heard he took two kids in two years ago, so…"
The man looks down at the boy — but Bolt is gone.
"...Huh?"
He turns in every direction, confused.
"That rude little… didn't even say thanks!"
"Kids these days!"
With a half-laugh and half-grumble, the man walks back toward his small shop.
But Bolt… is already running.
With bread still in his mouth and fire in his eyes, he's racing through the city streets — heading straight for the base of Dragon Mountain.
This… might be his only chance.
Bolt climbs higher, each step rougher than the last.
The air grows thinner. The wind howls louder.
Bolt spots a small hut built into a cliffside.
Exhausted but hopeful, he stumbles to the door and knocks.
Bolt: "Hello?! Is anyone there?!"
No reply.
He slowly opens the wooden door and steps inside.
The room is simple — dusty scrolls, a tea kettle, a pair of old boots. No one is in sight.
Bolt: "Hello...?"
Suddenly, a wave of terrifying pressure hits him from behind.
His spine chills — the aura is so powerful, so fierce, that for a moment… he forgets how to breathe.
He turns.
An old man with sharp eyes, a long beard, and a wooden staff stands there.
Old Man: "You little thief…"
"How dare you barge into my house!"
Before Bolt can explain, the man raises his staff, ready to strike.
Bolt (jumping back): "W-wait! I'm not a thief! I swear!"
"I'm here to meet Master Thomas!"
The old man lowers his staff slightly.
Old Man: "What business do you have with me?"
Bolt's eyes widen.
Bolt: "Y-you're Master Thomas?! Please... make me your disciple!"
"I've travelled from city to city, begging sages to train me — but no one would even read my aura!"
"Please… I won't disappoint you. I'll do anything!"
Thomas eyes him coldly.
Thomas: "If no one accepted you... then why should I?"
"You're clearly a good-for-nothing. What makes you think you're worthy of me?"
Bolt falls to his knees, tears forming in his eyes but his voice strong.
Bolt: "Because you're the only one I haven't failed yet."
A long silence follows.
Thomas grunts, turning his back.
Thomas: "...Fine. I'll give you a chance."
He throws a small training dagger onto the ground.
Thomas: "Pick it up. If you can land even one blow on me… I'll consider training you."
Bolt stares at the dagger.
Bolt grips the dagger tightly.
His palms are sweaty. His legs shake.
But his spirit? Unshakable.
He lunges at Master Thomas with everything he has.
Bolt: "HAAAAAH!"
Thomas calmly sidesteps.
Again, Bolt attacks — a swing from the left, a stab from the right — but the master dodges them all without breaking a sweat.
Thomas (grinning): "Is that it?"
Suddenly, Thomas clenches his fist and slams it into Bolt's gut with terrifying precision.
CRACK!
Bolt's body lifts off the ground and crashes a few meters away.
Gasping for air, pain shoots through every part of him. He lies there, defeated.
(Inner voice)
"This is it. I'm really... nothing."
"A failure... a loser..."
He sees Rose looking away from him in disappointment.
He hears the sages' voices:
"Good-for-nothing."
"You're not worth anyone's time."
Tears roll down his cheeks.
But suddenly — something snaps.
A quiet fury bursts in his heart.
Bolt rises.
Bolt: "I'll prove my worth!!"
Master Thomas's eyes widen.
Before he can even react —
SWOOSH!!
Bolt vanishes in a flash — a blur of raw speed.
In the next instant, a faint cut appears on Thomas's cheek.
He turns sharply.
Bolt is standing behind him… just for a moment — before his knees give way and he collapses, unconscious.
Stunned silence.
Thomas walks to him, kneels down, and lifts Bolt in his arms.
He smiles faintly.
Thomas: "You really proved your worth, kid."
Bolt slowly opens his eyes, his head still heavy and his body sore. He finds himself lying on a small futon inside a simple wooden cabin. Sunlight seeps in through a small window. The smell of herbs fills the room.
Before he can sit up, two older boys step into his view. One of them, tall with fiery hair and a confident smile, speaks first.
Chris (smirking):
"So, you finally woke up, huh?"
The other, calmer and slightly more serious, stands with his arms crossed beside him.
Leo:
"What's your name, kid?"
Bolt blinks a few times, his voice raspy and weak.
Bolt:
"...My name is Bolt."
Chris chuckles, nodding in approval.
Chris:
"Bolt, huh? Not bad. You've got a strong name."
He points to himself, proudly.
Chris:
"I'm Chris. And this here is my colleague and sworn brother, Leo."
Leo gives a small nod.
Leo:
"Nice to meet you."
Chris: grinning "So, what's your sage nature, Bolt?"
Bolt: shrugs "I… don't know. I've asked people, but no one could figure it out."
Bolt: "What about you guys?"
Leo: smirks "I've got Water nature. Chris here's got Fire… though he's not as perfect as me."
Chris: eyes narrowing playfully "Oh? You trying to start something again?"
The two leap toward each other, playfully wrestling and laughing like brothers. Bolt watches, smiling, until—
CREAK.
The sound of a door opening echoes in the small room. Both Chris and Leo freeze, instantly sitting upright like disciplined soldiers.
Master Thomas walks in slowly, holding a thick, dusty book under his arm.
Thomas: firmly "Kid… do you know what your Sage Nature is?"
Bolt: shakes his head "No, Master. I don't."
Thomas: places the book on the table "I went to the town's library today. Did a little digging. There are ancient records about rare Sage types."
Thomas: looks straight into Bolt's eyes "Yours… is Lightning."
Chris and Leo's eyes widen. Bolt's jaw drops slightly.
Thomas: calmly "It's so rare, it doesn't reveal itself through aura detection. It manifests only through actions… through moments of instinct. That moment yesterday—you awakened a glimpse of it."