"Every journey begins with a single question. Wisdom begins when you seek the answer."— The Law of Knowledge
The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of Alen's bedroom.
Warm golden light danced across polished wooden floors as birds sang outside.
Alen slowly opened his eyes.
For a brief moment...
He forgot where he was.
Then he looked through the window.
Three moons still lingered in the morning sky.
"...Right."
"Namidia."
He smiled.
"I wasn't dreaming."
A knock echoed from the door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Elara Beta stepped inside carrying a tray.
Fresh bread.
Fruit.
A steaming cup of tea.
"You slept well."
"I think so."
She smiled.
"You used to wake before sunrise."
Alen scratched the back of his head.
"I guess almost dying changes your schedule."
She laughed.
"It certainly seems to."
As they ate breakfast together, Elara answered dozens of Alen's questions.
"What is mana?"
"The energy that flows through every living thing."
"Can everyone use magic?"
"Almost everyone."
"What's a Magi Sword?"
She smiled proudly.
"One of the rarest combat classes."
"They combine swordsmanship with spellcasting."
"Most people specialize in one."
"Very few master both."
Alen nodded.
"That sounds..."
"Really difficult."
"It is."
After breakfast...
Cedric waited inside the library.
On the table rested a crystal sphere.
It glowed faintly blue.
"What is it?"
"A Mana Resonance Crystal."
Cedric adjusted his glasses.
"Before you enter the Royal Academy, every student has their mana measured."
"I thought we had plenty of time."
Cedric smiled.
"We do."
"But I wanted to see something."
He gestured toward the crystal.
"Place your hand on it."
Alen rested his palm against the smooth surface.
Nothing happened.
For three seconds...
Everything remained still.
Then—
The crystal pulsed.
Blue.
Red.
Green.
Gold.
Silver.
Purple.
White.
Black.
Every color imaginable erupted inside it.
Cedric's calm expression disappeared.
"...Impossible."
The crystal shook violently.
Hairline cracks spread across its surface.
Alen quickly pulled his hand away.
The room fell silent.
Cedric stared at the damaged crystal.
"...I've never seen that before."
Neither had the System.
[Warning.]
[Unknown Mana Signature.]
[Analysis... Failed.]
Cedric slowly sat down.
"Alen."
"Has anything..."
"...felt different since your accident?"
Alen hesitated.
He couldn't tell him the truth.
"I've had strange dreams."
Cedric nodded thoughtfully.
"Sometimes, great trauma awakens dormant potential."
He didn't sound convinced.
That afternoon...
Kael arrived carrying two wooden practice swords.
"Ready?"
Alen grinned.
"I've never held a sword before."
Kael blinked.
"...Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"Then let's fix that."
The training yard behind the estate was larger than Alen expected.
Practice dummies lined one side.
Weapon racks stood beneath a covered pavilion.
Kael tossed him a wooden sword.
"Catching it is lesson one."
Alen barely managed to grab it before it hit the ground.
Kael laughed.
"We have work to do."
Hours passed.
Swing.
Miss.
Swing.
Trip.
Swing.
Fall.
By sunset...
Alen had lost count of how many times he had landed flat on his back.
His arms burned.
His hands ached.
His legs felt like jelly.
Kael leaned against a fence.
"You know..."
"You're terrible."
Alen collapsed into the grass.
"I noticed."
"But..."
He slowly stood again.
"I'm getting better."
Kael smiled.
"There it is."
"The attitude of a swordsman."
As the sun dipped below the horizon...
A gentle breeze passed through the yard.
Without thinking...
Alen closed his eyes.
The wind brushed against his skin.
The earth beneath his feet felt...
Alive.
Steady.
Comforting.
For just a heartbeat...
He could almost hear something.
Not words.
Not voices.
A feeling.
Like an ancient mountain silently watching him.
Then it vanished.
The System appeared.
[Unknown Resonance Detected.]
[Earth Law Synchronization: 0.01%]
The notification disappeared before Alen could read it completely.
"Huh?"
"What was that?"
No answer came.
Far beneath Namidia...
The golden-eyed being smiled.
"So..."
"The child has heard the first whisper."
"But he does not yet understand."
The mountain returned to silence.
End of Chapter 4