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Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 : Getting Better.

Chapter 4: Getting Better.

As the morning came, the sun had risen, and it was spring outside the village of Aldia, which held a unique sense of beauty.

Aiden woke from his sleep. He felt refreshed and energized. He remembered his progress last night and felt a tinge of excitement as the memory of last night — the pain, the strange warmth in his chest, the sensation of crawling insects within his veins — flashed through his mind. He got out of bed and started to prepare to go to school.

He opened the window and stood there for a moment, staring at the green scenery, listening to the faint chirping of birds outside his window. Then, with a slow breath, he walked from the window and left his room. His small body — frail and slender for his age — felt light, almost weightless.

Stretching his arms, he realized something strange.

The fatigue he expected, the soreness from hours of breathing and channeling mana, was nowhere to be found. Instead, energy coursed through him, calm yet powerful, as if his blood carried something more alive than before.

Aiden clenched his small fists, curiosity flashing in his dark eyes. Then he began moving — a few squats, a few jumps, a twist of the shoulders, some stretches he'd seen his father do before heading to the woods while doing some exercises he had learned on earth. Every movement flowed with a surprising ease.

"My body… feels light," he whispered. "Stronger, too."

There was no pain or exhaustion.

He couldn't help but grin faintly.

If this was the result of last night, then perhaps… perhaps he truly could become the first person to form a mana heart at the age of seven.

But as he was lost in thought, the smell of something warm and sweet drifted in from the kitchen — honey bread and roasted meat. His stomach growled, pulling him back to reality. With an amused sigh, Aiden entered the changing room and changed into his casual village clothes, combed his messy black hair with his fingers, and made his way to the kitchen.

There, sunlight filled the small wooden room, scattering golden light across the shelves of spices, stacked plates, and the gentle figure moving among them.

His mother, Sara Scytes, was setting the table. Her silver white hair shimmered faintly in the morning sun, and her soft humming filled the room with warmth.

"Good morning, Mom," Aiden greeted with a small smile.

Sara turned, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her son. "Good morning, my dear. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Aiden replied, his voice calm but curious. "How are you, Mom?"

She smiled — the kind of smile that softened everything around her. "I'm fine too. Come, sit down. I've made breakfast for you."

He sat down at the table, and as he did, the sound of slow, dragging footsteps came from the hallway. His father appeared — Jonathan Scytes — tall and broad-shouldered, though his expression was half-asleep. He wore plain white sleeping clothes, his dark hair ruffled, and a faint bruise still marked his wrist from yesterday's hunt.

Sara sighed gently, her tone a mix of exasperation and affection. "Dear, please wash your hands and mouth first."

Jonathan yawned, waving his hand lazily. "Ah, I don't want to. It's too much trouble this early."

Sara turned, her lips forming a pout as she said. "Fine, do as you wish, but don't you dare teach Aiden such habits. I will not have him turn out like you."

Aiden chuckled, resting his chin on his hand, and said with a grin. "Mom, don't worry. I could never be as bad as Dad even if I tried."

Sara's lips twitched — then she burst into laughter at the comment of her son. "You're right," she said between giggles, "no one can beat your father in that area."

Jonathan blinked, then laughed softly, scratching his cheek. "Hey, I'm not that bad! You sneaky brat," he said, feigning offense, "what did you say just now? That you won't be like your old man?"

Aiden grinned mischievously. "No, Dad. I said I won't be like you when eating."

Jonathan thought for a moment and nodded solemnly. "Fair enough."

The morning passed in warmth and laughter. They ate together — soft bread with honey, scrambled eggs with herbs, and a small slice of cheese. It was simple food, but somehow, it felt grand in its own way.

When Aiden finished, he stood up and picked up his school bag. "Mom, Dad — I'm off to school."

Sara waved, smiling. "Have a safe trip, dear."

Jonathan added with a smirk, "Don't bully your teachers."

Aiden chuckled and stepped out into the morning sun.

The village of Aldia was peaceful, its cobbled paths lined with flowers and tall trees. Farmers carried baskets of wheat, merchants chatted with travelers, and the air smelled faintly of soil and smoke. It was a small countryside place, but filled with quiet life.

As Aiden walked through the street, he spotted two familiar figures standing under a tree near the school gates.

The first was a plump boy with brown hair and bright brown eyes — his name was Stefan, Aiden's closest friend and a troublemaker. Beside him stood a petite girl with golden hair tied in two small tails — Cybil, two years younger than them, who always followed Aiden around like a shadow and looked up to him as an older brother.

"Oi!" Stefan shouted with a grin. "Why are you late? Don't tell me you were out last night with some cute girl, huh?"

As Aiden heard this, his eyes narrowed as he said. "Shut up, or I'll beat you to a pulp," he said lightly, walking up to them as he said to Stefan. "And don't say that kind of nonsense in front of Cybil. She's still a kid."

He reached out and patted Cybil's head gently. "Don't listen to his nonsense, and don't hang out with him too much, okay?"

The little girl blinked, then smiled brightly and said. "Yes, brother Aiden. I'll remember."

Stefan groaned dramatically and said to Cybil. "You always take his side…"

Aiden smirked and said. " That's because I'm right."

The rest of the day flowed as most days did — reading lessons, counting exercises, and simple history about the kingdoms of the world. Aiden, with his sharp mind and maturity from his previous life, learned everything easily. His teachers often praised him, and the villagers whispered that he was a genius who was destined to do great things in the future. 

By evening, the sky had turned gold, and Aiden returned home. He shared lunch with his mother, helped her gather herbs, and later watched as his father cleaned his hunting tools. At night he had dinner with his parents, and after that, he returned to his room.

While sitting on his bed, that strange anticipation returned.

 As Aiden sat on his bed, the room was dimly lit by a small oil lamp. The world outside was silent except for the distant noise of an owl. He could feel the faint hum of mana around him.

He took a deep breath. "Let's try again," he murmured.

Sitting Cross-legged, he closed his eyes and began the breathing technique: five short breaths, three long ones, and five steady. Slowly, his mind quieted.

As he started using the technique, he once again felt that same sensation he felt last night. He felt as if insects were drilling into him through his pores and crawling under his skin to make a pathway for them to move.

Soon, that tingling and crawling sensation he remembered grew more intense and faster; he felt like the invisible insects moving beneath his skin had gotten faster and were moving aggressively. He gritted his teeth, holding still.

The sensation deepened. Mana streamed through his veins, sluggish at first, then with growing familiarity. His breathing stabilized. The process felt… easier this time, as if the pathways within him were adapting to the flow of mana in his body.

Minutes passed — ten or maybe more — then fatigue began to accumulate in his body as he felt exhausted. A ache spread through his limbs. His vision flickered behind closed eyes.

He stopped using the breathing technique to stop absorbing mana.

His chest rose and fell rapidly, sweat on his shirt and whole body, but the exhilaration in his eyes was unmistakable.

He'd done it again this time.

And it was faster than before.

Aiden leaned back, resting his head against the wall, feeling the faint pulse in his heart.

"I can feel it growing," he whispered, voice trembling with excitement. "It's slow… but it's there."

He knew his limits. He knew he couldn't push any further tonight. But he also knew this much: he was fine. There was no pain beyond what he could endure.

His lips curved into a quiet, confident smile.

"There's no problem with me creating a mana heart at my age," he murmured softly. "I'll be the first. The first in history to form a mana heart and become a mana cultivator at the age of seven. Then I will surprise mom and dad."

His eyelids grew heavy, exhaustion overcoming his body. As he fell into deep sleep, a faint shimmer pulsed within his chest.

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