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Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: The Birth of a Unique Mana Heart .

Chapter 5: The Birth of a Unique Heart

The few days passed by peacefully in a quiet rhythm — soft, unhurried, and peaceful. Aiden lived his life normally as he would, and spent his day usually as he would do every other day.

Each morning began in the same manner. He would wake up early before sunrise, rub his eyes after waking up, and wash his face in the cold well water behind their house. His mother, Sara, would already be in the kitchen, humming softly as she made breakfast. The fragrance of freshly baked bread and meat pies filled the air. His father, Jonathan, would often yawn his way into the kitchen moments later, half-dressed and wholly unbothered, earning his wife's amused scolding and Aiden's mischievous laughter.

After breakfast, Aiden would sling his small bag over his shoulder and head to the village school. Aldia was a small countryside settlement, nestled between endless fields of golden grass and quiet forests. The village roads were narrow and lined with cobblestones, the homes built of pale stone and dark oak and different types of wood. Children's laughter often echoed through its streets, accompanied by the gentle chatter of merchants and farmers and the gossip of ladies and the long-winded stories of the elderly. It was a happy and peaceful place.

At school, Aiden was already known as the top student. His teachers always complemented him for his quick grasp of lessons, his sharp memory, and his ability to reason and think beyond his years. No one could quite explain how a child so young could solve complex problems or speak of the world with the calm confidence of an adult. But Aiden himself knew the truth that he was no genius — behind his childish smile was a soul that had lived a lifetime before and suffered immense hardships.

After school, he would return home to smell the comforting aroma of lunch prepared by Sara. She would smile at him warmly, her silver hair gleaming in the light that filtered through their house windows. They would eat together, and afterward, he would help her gather herbs in the nearby woods. The forest was alive with the scent of pine and the soft buzzing of insects; the air was always cool and refreshing. Sara taught him how to distinguish between healing roots and poisonous stems, how to pick gently so the plant would grow back again.

Later in the afternoon, Aiden would often sit by his father's side to see his father skinning wild boars or rabbits by the shed, his hands would work masterfully like a professional, deft and strong. Jonathan would call him over, and together they'd work in silence — Aiden, who was sitting beside Jonathan, would learn by watching and mimicking. His father was not a man of many words, but he would always point out all the main stuff to Aiden and give him tips while showing him how to do it. His actions spoke enough: patience, precision, and quiet care.

And when night came, when the stars began to glimmer above the black canvas of the beautiful sky, Aiden would sit cross-legged on his bed. The room would be dimly lighted, the oil lamp flickering beside him, and in that solitude, he would begin his training of mana absorption — the slow, careful cultivation of mana.

He practiced the breathing technique — five short breaths, three long, five normal — drawing in the faint threads of mana that lingered in the air. It was painful at first, as if a thousand tiny insects were crawling through his flesh, opening new paths where none existed before. But Aiden would always endure. He always practiced and absorbed mana until he was completely exhausted. And each night, he felt the change within him: the pathways expanding with the creation of new mana veins, he felt as though the mana was flowing more smoothly, and the connection between his heart and body deepening.

 Day turned into Weeks, and now almost a month had passed. His progress astonished even himself. His mana veins and pathway were being created even faster. By the time his seventh birthday approached, his mana veins were already more than half-formed — an achievement that would have been impossible for anyone else his age. Yet Aiden kept this a secret. He wanted to surprise his parents, to show them that their son would one day be able to stand at the pinnacle of this world.

 And so the day of Aiden's birthday came. That morning, Aldia was alive with joy. Banners of colored cloth fluttered on the rooftop of Aiden's house, tables were set across the village square, and the air was filled with laughter and the smell of roasted meat. Everyone was preparing for Aiden's birthday — his seventh birthday.

Children from the school had come to Aiden's birthday party as they ran about, giggling, chasing one another with wooden toys. Many different Villagers brought gifts wrapped in simple paper, and every face that passed carried warmth and affection.

Aiden stood in the center of all the kids, dressed in a neat black suit that his mother had tailored by hand. His dark hair fell neatly over his forehead, and his pale skin reflected sunlight in the afternoon, giving him a quiet, graceful presence. Beside him stood his two closest friends — Stefan, the chubby, round-faced boy with endless energy, and Cybil, the younger girl with bright eyes who adored Aiden like an older brother.

The sun was gradually setting as time passed, painting the horizon in gold and rose colors. From the cottage doorway, Sara and Jonathan stood side by side, greeting guests and accepting gifts with grateful smiles. Sara's white dress shimmered softly under the light — delicate gems sewn along the hem shone like starlight, perfectly matching her silver hair. Jonathan, dressed in a black suit, stood tall and calm, though the faint scars on his hands betrayed his life of labor and hunting. As everyone enjoyed the party.

Then the time came for the cake to be cut. Jonathan and Sara, who were sitting on the sofa with a table in front of them with cake placed on it and then Sara clapped her hands and said. "Aiden! Come here, it's time to cut the cake!"

Aiden ran toward them, smiling as wide as he could. The cake was large and round, frosted with white cream and small fruits. As he sat between his parents, the villagers gathered around, clapping and singing —"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Aiden…"

The sound filled the air like music, warm and familiar. When the song ended, Aiden sliced the cake, offering pieces to everyone in turn. Laughter echoed across the house as frosting smeared on noses and cheeks, and even the most stoic and strict elders chuckled.

At last, Aiden turned to his parents. He offered a small piece to his mother first, and Sara leaned forward to take a delicate bite, smiling tenderly. Then he turned to his father.

Jonathan leaned down, opening his mouth slightly — but before he could take the bite, Aiden suddenly pressed the cake into his face. The cake was all covered on Jonathan's nose and cheeks.

There was a stunned pause. Then laughter erupted everywhere.

"You sneaky little brat!" Jonathan barked, half-laughing, half-furious, chasing his son around the room. Aiden darted between chairs and tables, laughing breathlessly, his heart full of a joy he hadn't felt in years — a joy that only family could give him.

That night, long after the party had ended and laughter had faded and the guests had gone home, the house was silent once more. The moon hung high, pale and cold, peeking through Aiden's window.

He sat cross-legged on his bed again, eyes closed, breathing steadily. His heart was beating in a calm rhythm, each thump echoing faintly in the quiet of his mind.

He was a persistent child and had wholeheartedly wanted to become a mana cultivator so he could use different types of powers.

After a few moments, he started the breathing technique that came naturally now, his body remembering every motion, every rhythm. The mana around him stirred like invisible mist, drawn toward him as if it were being compelled by an invisible force. As he inhaled slowly, the mana poured into him, threading through every pore and vein.

But felt like something was different this time.

A pressure built in his chest, subtle at first, then growing stronger with every breath. The mana within him felt alive — violent, untamed. His body trembled as the flow quickened. It was as though a storm had been unleashed inside his veins, rampaging wildly and breaking through barriers faster to create the pathways for mana to flow. It was so fast that it was even hard for Aiden to comprehend the speed.

"Wh-What's happening?" he muttered under his breath, trying to steady his focus.

He slowed his breathing in an attempt to slow down the process, but it was of no use. The mana moved on its own, tearing open paths that should have taken days to form. His skin flushed red, his muscles strained, and every inch of his body screamed in pain.

He clenched his jaw tightly while saying to himself. "Endure… just endure!"

Minutes felt like hours. The rampaging of mana reached its peak — his body was burning, trembling, cracking under the force. He felt as if his body was going to explode, but as soon as it reached an extreme state, the last vein in Aiden's body had been created. The pathway for the flow of mana, which would have taken him days to complete, had been created in just 1 day. It felt miraculous. The pain had suddenly stopped.

The pain had vanished.

Aiden gasped for breath, sweat soaking his clothes and body. The mana inside him now flowed freely, smoothly, like blood flowing in his body. He didn't feel any signs of abnormality. It moved through his newly completed network of veins, circulating perfectly before converging toward one point — his heart. It felt as though his coming of age at 7 had triggered something in his body.

His heartbeat quickened, thumping louder and louder. Mana surged toward his heart as a huge wave, drawn by an unseen force, and his heart began to glow — faintly at first, then brighter.

After a few moments, a light green hue spread across his heart, pure and vibrant, like an emerald under sunlight. At first it was light, but as time passed it grew darker and darker until his heart had completely turned light green in color. His entire body was bathed in the soft glow. There was a vortex of light around his body that kept getting bigger and brighter. He had successfully created a Mana heart He had become a Mana Cultivator at the age of 7.

But before he could feel any relief or joy, unease crept within him.This… wasn't supposed to happen.

The book had said nothing about this light, nor about the swirling vortex that now surrounded him. The glow around him thickened, spinning, twisting into a spiraling storm of radiant energy.

Panic gripped him.

He tried to stop the breathing technique to stop the absorption of mana, but it was too late. The vortex tightened as it grew bigger and brighter, then the light grew blinding — and then a sound came from his room.

BOOM.

A deafening explosion tore through his room in the middle of the night.

The light consumed everything.

And Aiden, caught in its center, felt the world vanish around him.

Author's Note: This chapter marks the turning point of Aiden's peaceful childhood — a calm before the inevitable storm. As always, thank you for reading. Your support shapes this world as much as Aiden's choices will.

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