The final day of the month had finally arrived.
For the past thirty days, Father had pushed me beyond every limit I thought I possessed.
From the moment the first rays of dawn painted the sky until the evening sun disappeared beyond the hills, my days had been consumed by endless drills, rune engraving, mana control, weapon forms, and sparring.
Every bruise, every aching muscle, every sleepless night spent studying runic formulas had been for one purpose.
To earn Father’s approval.
Only then would he allow me to join a guild.
I wasn’t merely training to become stronger.
I was proving that I was worthy.
The morning air carried the refreshing scent of dew-covered grass as I completed my exercise routine.
Unlike the previous days, today’s training was intentionally lighter.
Instead of exhausting myself with laps and relentless body conditioning, I limited my workout to stretching, breathing exercises, mana circulation, and a few weapon forms.
My body needed to be fresh.
Today wasn’t about endurance.
Today was the examination.
After wiping the sweat from my forehead, I looked toward the distant training grounds.
“…Today’s the day.” I gripped the wooden staff resting on my shoulder.
“I’ll pass… no matter what.”
When I arrived, Father was already waiting.
He stood silently in the middle of the wide training field.
His usual black training clothes fluttered gently beneath the morning breeze.
But unlike our previous sparring sessions…
His weapon had changed.
A massive broadsword rested on his shoulder.
The polished steel reflected the sunlight brilliantly, while countless tiny nicks along its blade silently spoke of countless battles it had survived.
Although Father was retired…
The moment he held that sword, the pressure surrounding him completely changed.
His calm presence became that of a veteran who had walked through battlefields soaked in blood.
Even standing several meters away…
I could feel my instincts screaming.
Danger.
Father slowly turned toward me.
A faint smile appeared.
“Good Morning, Luke.”
“Morning, Father.”
His sharp eyes examined my posture from head to toe before giving a satisfied nod.
“You look prepared.”
“I’ve already done everything I possibly could this past month.”
I smiled confidently.
“The rest…” I planted my staff firmly against the ground.
“…depends on whether you can keep up.”
Father blinked.
Then…
“Hahaha!”
He burst into laughter.
“Good! Confidence is just as important as strength.”
His smile disappeared, replaced by a serious expression.
“Today…” He slowly raised his broadsword.
“We’ll be using real weapons.”
The atmosphere instantly became heavy.
“I’ll be using this broadsword.”
He pointed toward the weapon resting upon his shoulder.
“And you’ll use the long staff you’ve chosen.”
I nodded.
Without hesitation, I walked toward the weapon rack and picked up the polished ash black metal staff Father had personally given for me months ago.
every inch of it had been engraved with countless runes by my own hands throughout this month.
It had become an extension of myself.
Father walked toward the opposite end of the training field.
The distance between us stretched to nearly thirty meters.
He bent over and casually picked up a small stone.
Holding it between two fingers, he spoke calmly.
“Once this stone hits the ground…” His golden eyes locked onto mine.
“…the match begins.”
My heartbeat quickened.
I lowered my stance.
Mana immediately surged through my body.
Blue runes began glowing beneath my boots before spreading upward across my legs, torso, and arms.
Rune Magic: Enhancement.
The same runes spread into the length of my staff.
Its metal surface shimmered faintly.
The familiar warmth of mana flowed perfectly through every engraved rune.
Everything was ready.
Father smiled, then released the stone.
Tick.
The stone struck the earth.
Before it could even bounce—I exploded forward.
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath my feet.
The distance disappeared almost instantly.
The first strike always belonged to the one willing to seize the initiative.
I thrust my staff like a spear.
One thrust.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Each stab targeted a different vital point; throat, chest, shoulder, ribs, knee.
Never allowing Father a moment to breathe.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The broadsword danced effortlessly.
Despite its size, Father moved it with unbelievable precision.
Every thrust was redirected by only a few centimeters.
Not blocked.
Not stopped.
He simply guided away.
“So fast…”
I gritted my teeth.
Without hesitation I transitioned.
The staff spun overhead.
A crushing strike descended toward Father’s skull.
CLANG!
The broadsword intercepted it.
I twisted my wrists.
The momentum continued naturally into a horizontal strike aimed for his ribs.
Again—
CLANG!
Blocked.
I immediately lowered my center of gravity.
The staff swept low across the ground.
Aimed directly for his ankles.
Father lightly leaped over it.
Exactly what I wanted.
Using the sweep’s momentum, I rotated my entire body.
The staff came around in a full circular arc like a battering ram.
“Haah!!”
BOOOM!
This time, Father crossed his sword properly.
The impact echoed throughout the training grounds.
Dust exploded beneath his boots.
For the first time Father slid backward, two step from where he is standing before.
But two steps, nonetheless.
“…!” A grin unknowingly spread across my face.
I moved him.
Even if only a little, I had actually moved him.
Father noticed my expression.
A satisfied smile appeared.
“It seems…” He rolled his shoulders.
“…you’ve chosen to maintain pressure while keeping your distance.”
I didn’t answer.
He continued.
“You’re not overcommitting.” His smile widened.
“I like it.”
His eyes sharpened.
“Against an unfamiliar opponent, gathering information before risking everything is the correct approach.”
He pointed his sword toward me.
“You’re using your head.”
I smirked.
“I only learned from the best.”
Father chuckled.
“Flattery won’t save you.”
“I wasn’t planning on it.” I answered then I lunged once more.
This time my grip shifted.
One hand rested near the end of the staff.
The other near the center.
Giving me maximum reach.
Blue runes ignited.
Rune Magic: Pierce!
Several compressed mana spikes shot forward one after another.
Not powerful enough to finish him.
But enough to force him to react.
Father calmly rotated his broadsword.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The flat of the blade effortlessly swatted each projectile aside.
I carefully studied every movement father made, refusing to let even the smallest detail escape my attention.
His feet glided across the ground with practiced precision, never wasting a single step.
Every shift of his weight, every adjustment of his grip, every subtle rotation of his shoulders flowed together as naturally as breathing.
There was no hesitation, no unnecessary flourish—only countless years of experience condensed into movements so refined that they appeared almost effortless.
Yet beneath that calm exterior, I could sense something entirely different.
He was serious.
Painfully serious.
The faint smile that usually rested on his face had disappeared, replaced by an expression of quiet concentration.
His eyes never left me, watching every twitch of my muscles, every breath I took, as though searching for the exact instant I would make a mistake.
Even so…
He remained passive.
He never rushed forward to overwhelm me.
He never forced an exchange or chased after an opening that could have ended the spar in a heartbeat.
Instead, he simply waited, allowing me to take the initiative while calmly deflecting each attack I threw at him.
It wasn’t because he lacked confidence.
If anything, it was the opposite.
He didn’t need to attack.
My father stood there like an immovable fortress, allowing me to circle around him while his sword moved with incredible motion.
A simple turn of the wrist redirected my strike.
A slight sidestep caused my thrust to pass harmlessly through empty air.
Every defense was minimal, yet flawlessly timed.
He’s teaching me…
The realization struck me as another swing was effortlessly guided away.
“Heh… noticing it now?” Father chuckled, his voice calm despite the exchange.
I tightened my grip on my staff.
“You’re not trying to win.”
“No.”
Clack!
Our weapon collided before separating once more.
“I’m trying to teach.”
Then—He swung once.
Rune Magic: Astral Slash!
The pressure alone split the dirt beneath it.
“So that’s your answer!”
I slammed my staff into the ground.
Runes erupted.
Rune Magic: Barrier!
A circle shield materialized just before impact.
BOOOOM!!
The slash crashed against the barrier, sending violent shockwaves across the arena.
Cracks spread over the shield.
But it held.
The instant the attack dispersed, I struck the earth with my staff.
Dust burst upward like an exploding curtain.
The battlefield vanished beneath a cloud of dirt.
Father’s vision disappeared.
Mine didn’t thanks to a little trick I did, I notice the way the sun shines shadow against him, I know where he is.
“There!”
I pointed my staff.
Five glowing circles appeared around the smoke.
Rune Magic: Bolt!
Blue bolts shot inward from every direction.
Like arrows fired from hidden archers.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The explosions swallowed Father completely.
“…Did I—” Before I could finish, a calm voice emerged from inside the smoke.
“Rune Magic…” The dust suddenly dispersed.
“…Barrier.”
A brilliant blue barrier surrounded Father.
Not a single scratch.
Not even his clothes were dirty.
“…Seriously?”
I couldn’t help groaning.
“That’s cheating.”
Father laughed.
“It’s called experience.”
“Tch.”
No point complaining.
Then time for the next phase.
I dashed forward again.
This time, I intentionally forced close combat.
Staff met sword repeatedly.
CLANG!
CLANG!
BOOM!
Each exchange shook my arms.
Each collision reminded me how overwhelming Father’s strength remained.
Yet.
Every retreat, Every sidestep, Every clash…
I subtly engraved another rune beneath the ground with the tip of my staff.
Seven rune magic circle.
Individually they meant nothing.
But connected they became one powerful array.
Father remained completely focused on our duel.
Exactly as planned.
Our weapons collided dozens more times.
Sweeps.
Thrusts.
Feints.
Blocks.
Counterattacks.
Every exchange was another piece falling into place.
Finally…
The last rune.
Complete.
I leaped backward, breathing heavily.
Sweat dripped down my chin.
My mana reserves were nearly empty.
“Father…” I steadied my breathing.
“I’m almost at my limit.”
He rested his broadsword upon his shoulder.
“I can tell.”
I smiled.
“So I’ll show you everything I’ve worked for.”
Father nodded proudly.
“I’m ready.”
I slammed my staff into the earth.
“Now!!”
Seven glowing circles erupted beneath Father.
Runes spread across the ground like living veins.
Instead of remaining separate they connected.
Each circle linked to another until an enormous array covered nearly the entire arena.
Father’s eyes widened.
“…interesting.”
The center circle erupted.
Chains forged entirely from glowing runes burst upward.
CLANG!
They wrapped around Father’s arms.
His legs.
His waist.
His sword.
Layer after layer.
Dozens of enchanted chains tightened simultaneously.
Rune Magic: Sealing Chain Array.
The seven outer circles continuously fed mana into the central seal.
A prison designed specifically to suppress movement.
Father tested the chains.
The entire array trembled violently.
Cracks appeared.
He smiled despite himself.
“Well done, son.” The chains groaned under his strength.
“But this won’t hold me.”
“It doesn’t have to.” I interrupted him.
“It only has to hold you for few seconds.”
I raised my staff.
Father’s smile disappeared.
“…What?”
Every remaining drop of mana flowed into my staff.
The runes carved into the wood began shining brighter than ever before.
Mana from the surrounding atmosphere gathered toward a single point.
The air itself distorted.
Wind spiraled violently around the glowing tip.
Leaves, pebbles, and dust floated upward.
The surrounding Ethernano answered my call.
Compressed.
Compressed further.
Until it became a single sphere larger than a marble.
Yet its pressure felt like a collapsing star.
Father’s eyes widened.
“…Luke…”
I closed my eyes.
Then began chanting.
“By the law of runes…” The sphere became brighter.
“…let scattered magic gather…” The surrounding mana screamed.
“…let countless currents become one…”
The compression intensified.
The earth beneath my feet cracked.
“…let power become a single spear…”
I opened my eyes.
Blue light illuminated the entire training ground.
“Rune Magic: Ether Cannon!!”
The sphere collapsed.
Then exploded forward.
FWOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
A gigantic beam of condensed blue mana tore across the battlefield.
The ground disintegrated beneath it.
Trees along the edge of the arena bent violently from the pressure.
The beam swallowed Father completely.
Then continued hundreds of meters beyond before finally exploding against the distant hillside.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The earth trembled.
A deafening shockwave rolled across the estate.
Birds scattered into the sky.
Dust engulfed everything.
Silence followed.
I breathed heavily.
Every ounce of mana had disappeared.
Several long seconds passed.
The dust slowly settled.
There…
At the center of a massive crater…
Father still stood.
Surrounded by an enormous ten-sided magical barrier.
Its intricate runes rotated slowly, each layer reinforcing the next with astonishing efficiency.
Not a single crack marked its flawless surface.
Father looked at me with a proud grin.
“Rune Magic” The barrier dissolved into countless glowing fragments.
“Great Decagon Barrier.”
I stared blankly.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Father laughed.
“The spell you and I created is extraordinary.”
He looked around at the devastated training ground.
“It certainly has the firepower of an advanced offensive spell.”
He glanced toward the crater surrounding him.
“And if I hadn’t treated it seriously I’d have been injured.”
Those words alone made every hardship worthwhile.
My legs finally gave out.
I collapsed onto the dirt with a loud thud.
“…I surrender.” I laughed weakly while staring at the clear blue sky.
“I’ve got nothing left.”
My arms wouldn’t move.
My magic power was empty.
Even breathing felt exhausting.
I turned my head toward Father.
“So…”
I asked between heavy breaths.
“I fought you for an hour I used every spell I learned. I even showed you our new spell…”
A nervous smile appeared.
“…Did I pass?”
Father slowly walked over.
His boots stopped beside me.
For a brief moment he simply looked down at me.
Then a warm hand rested gently on my head.
“You pass.”
His voice carried none of the sternness from training.
Only pride. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
“Congratulations, son.” A smile spread across his face.
“I am truly proud of you.”
For a moment I simply stared.
Those were the words I had spent an entire month chasing.
No, Perhaps even longer than that.
A laugh escaped my lips.
Then another.
Soon I was laughing loudly while lying flat on the training ground.
I thrust my fist into the air despite every muscle screaming in protest.
“Hell yeah!!”
The words echoed across the estate.
For the first time since arriving in this world…
I had earned recognition not through talent alone but through relentless effort.
And today Father had finally acknowledged me as a mage worthy of walking his own path.
The silence that followed our sparring match was almost as satisfying as the clash itself.
The morning breeze swept gently across the battered training ground, carrying with it the scent of freshly turned earth and scorched grass.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the stone floor where my runes had detonated, while several wooden practice dummies lay scattered like fallen soldiers after a battlefield had finally gone quiet.
As I slowly steadied my breathing, I noticed a familiar figure standing beneath the shade of the garden archway.
Mother.
She had been watching the entire battle from afar.
A gentle smile rested upon her face, one that carried equal parts relief and pride.
She quietly applauded a few times before making her way toward us with her usual graceful steps, her long dress swaying softly with every movement.
“I believe that’s enough excitement for one morning,” she said warmly.
“Breakfast is ready.”
Father let out a tired chuckle while resting his sword against his shoulder.
“I suppose we made a bit of a mess.”
“A bit?” Mother raised an eyebrow before glancing at the training field.
The once orderly field now looked as though a small magical disaster had swept through it.
Broken stone…
Scattered debris…
Even several nearby trees had fresh scorch marks decorating their trunks.
Mother simply sighed.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t spend two weeks helping the gardeners restore this place.”
Father scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh.
“…I’ll fix it.”
“You’d better.”
With a resigned smile, Father remained behind to repair the damaged training ground using his Earth Magic while Mother and I returned to the mansion together.
As we walked back, neither of us spoke for a while.
Instead, Mother gently reached over and brushed a few strands of hair away from my forehead.
“You’ve grown,” she murmured.
I blinked.
“Physically?”
She shook her head.
“No.” Her hand rested gently atop my head.
“As a person.”
Those simple words somehow warmed me far more than all the praise Father had given me during our duel.
“…Thank you, Mother.”
She smiled quietly.
“Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”
The delicious aroma greeted us the moment we entered the dining room.
Freshly baked bread…
Golden scrambled eggs…
Roasted sausages…
Vegetable soup…
Crispy bacon…
Seasonal fruits…
Everything had already been prepared by the servants, and it wasn’t long before Father joined us after washing away the dust and dirt from the training field.
Despite the exhaustion lingering throughout my body, the meal somehow tasted better than any feast I had ever remembered.
Hard work truly was the greatest seasoning.
For several peaceful minutes, only the sounds of clinking utensils filled the room.
Eventually, Father set down his cup of tea before looking directly at me.
“…Luke.”
I looked up.
“Yes, Father?”
He smiled, a smile that was both proud and nostalgic.
“You’ve exceeded every expectation I had.”
I remained silent.
“When I first began teaching you Rune Combat, I hoped you would become a capable mage.”
He paused before chuckling.
“Now, I find myself wondering just how far you’ll go.”
His expression softened.
“I’m proud of you.”
Those four words carried more weight than any compliment I had ever received.
Father turned toward Mother.
“I think he’s ready.”
Mother already seemed to know what he meant.
“The guild?”
Father nodded.
“Yes.”
“I believe Luke is ready to become a Fairy Tail mage.”
My heart skipped a beat.
Really?
Already?
Mother smiled as she sipped her tea.
“I thought you would say that.”
Father leaned back in his chair before folding his arms.
“Before we decide anything…”
He looked back toward me.
“I have one question.”
I nodded.
“What was going through your mind during our fight?”
He narrowed his eyes curiously.
“You never once fought like someone trying to win. You were planning something from the very beginning.”
I smiled sheepishly.
“That’s because I never intended to defeat you.”
Both Father and Mother looked surprised.
I continued.
“I know the difference between us is still enormous. You were a S-Class Mage before, Father. And I’m only eight. I’d have to be unbelievably arrogant to think I could actually beat you.”
Father couldn’t help but nod in agreement.
“So instead I changed my objective.”
His eyebrow rose.
“My goal wasn’t victory. It was to show you how much I’ve grown. I wanted you to see the results of everything you’ve taught me.”
Father quietly listened without interrupting.
“And…” I rubbed the back of my neck.
“I also wanted to catch you off guard.”
“Oh?”
I grinned.
“I knew you’d expect me to keep my distance if I planned on using Rune Magic. So I deliberately kept rushing into close quarters. I acted stubborn. I made it look like I was being reckless.”
“So you’d think. ‘Luke is still just a child trying to prove himself.'”
Father slowly smiled.
“…Go on.”
“The entire time. I was secretly preparing the spell array. I kept distracting you with close-range combat until the formation was complete.”
“Then the moment you lowered your guard…” I snapped my fingers.
“…Boom.”
Father stared at me for several seconds before letting out a loud laugh.
“So that’s what happened! I knew something felt strange!”
Mother covered her mouth as she laughed elegantly.
“My, my…” She looked at Father with a teasing smile.
“It seems our son inherited my intelligence. He certainly knows how to outthink people.”
Father groaned dramatically.
“Oh, don’t start. He also inherited my strength.”
He proudly folded his arms.
“At his age, I wasn’t even half as strong as he is now.”
Mother chuckled.
“I’ll admit that.”
“But his cleverness?” She gently patted my shoulder.
“That’s definitely from me.”
Father clicked his tongue.
“We’ll call it fifty-fifty.”
“I’ll graciously accept that compromise.”
The three of us burst into laughter.
It wasn’t loud.
Nor was it grand.
Just a simple family sharing a peaceful morning together.
For that brief moment…
There were no battles.
No training.
No expectations.
Only warmth.
When the laughter finally settled, Mother looked toward me with a gentle smile.
“I suppose I have some news as well.”
I tilted my head.
“You’ve completed every lesson I planned to teach you.”
“…Eh?”
“You’ve already finished the curriculum I prepared.”
“History. Mathematic. Geography. Political studies. Magical theory. Monster ecology. Languages.”
“You absorbed everything far faster than I ever expected.”
She smiled proudly.
“I don’t think keeping you inside the library every day will help you grow anymore. There are things that can only be learned through experience.”
Mother exchanged a glance with Father before nodding.
“So… I also agree. You may join Fairy Tail.”
For a brief moment…
My mind simply stopped.
“…Really?”
Mother nodded.
Father smiled.
“We’ll take you there soon.”
An overwhelming wave of excitement surged through my chest.
Finally.
The place I had dreamed of joining ever since arriving in this world…
Fairy Tail.
I couldn’t stop the smile spreading across my face.
“…Thank you.”
Because of how much mana I had burned and how thoroughly I had exhausted myself during the morning’s battle, Father declared the remainder of the day a mandatory rest day.
“No training. No sparring. No physical exercise. That’s an order.”
I reluctantly agreed.
Even with the Blessing of Perfect Health accelerating my recovery, every muscle in my body protested whenever I moved.
So instead, I spent the afternoon in the quiet comfort of Mother’s library.
Sunlight streamed gently through the tall windows as I wandered between shelves overflowing with countless books collected over many years.
The familiar scent of aged paper and ink filled the room, creating an atmosphere that always put my mind at ease.
Though my body rested, my curiosity never did.
I picked out several books on advanced magical theory, ancient runic civilizations, and the history of the Kingdom of Fiore, settling into a comfortable chair beside the window.
As I turned each page, I couldn’t help but smile.
Today had been unforgettable.
I had earned Father’s recognition.
I had gained Mother’s approval.
And at long last…
The path leading to Fairy Tail had finally opened before me.
.
.
.
<Quick question!
which one do you guys prefer, make the word count small but a lot of chapters or just like this, uploading one chapter per day.
Just want some opinion about it.
Thanks for answering.>
<And Hey thank you again for reading this little hobby of mine, hope it can make your life a little happier than yesterday.
have a great day!>