“I’ll be off, Dad! Mom!”

Shaden swung the door open and waved to his parents in the morning. The sun was already out, casting its gentle rays on the city grounds.

“Have a good time, son.”

“Be sure to eat as much as you can~!”

With a confident smile, Shaden shut the door behind him and ran down the stairs. The beginning of summer had come, and with it, the Sword Camp that he had dearly looked forward to. A time to make new friends, a time to hone his skills even further and learn new ones. It was important to refine one’s basic skills, and the camp was a perfect place to focus on his body.

Rother had already left—the older students were going somewhere completely different. With only a year and a half left at the Academy, they had to find the next path to take soon. So, during their last five summers, they would take a trip around the country and experience the more specialized areas of swordsmanship that they would eventually learn. Rother had already decided on the specialization he had wanted to take—the Sword of Ice and Cold.

It was the way of the sword that inflicted wounds on an opponent like a frostbite. Through precise strikes and exploiting one’s weak spots, the victim would die from constant blood loss that came from all sides. For defense, the masters of the Sword of Ice and Cold sent a specialized pattern through their swords, making each strike cause their opponents’ sword to become brittle and crack. Like all ways of fighting, they held many prized techniques.

It was an old and revered style of fighting, but nowhere as well-known as the prestigious ways of the sword like the 672 Slashes of Retribution or Sword of Stars and Light. With Rother’s skill, he could have gotten into the latter two with little difficulty. However, like his father, he was a bit of a find-your-path-yourself kind of person. He did what he liked and not what everyone thought was right. The Sword of Ice and Cold appealed to him, so he seized the opportunity to go there during the summer.

Why had he chosen it? Who knows. He must have fallen in love with the ancient, intricate building of the school or possibly some people he met there. He experienced their sword, and he liked it more than anything else.

Shaden was still finding his way. Until he became 10, he would continue his basic training.

With newfound energy, he leapt into the streets and ran towards the Academy. Because it was a summer camp, he would be trained by other Instructors besides Instructor Reedock, who had said that he was going to another city for personal matters. It was a great opportunity to stack up new experiences.

In addition, trainers from all over the country were coming to educate them. While the students couldn’t go to the schools themselves, they could experience a taste of their fighting styles. Something like a sneak-peek into their future selves.

Shaden ran, excited for the new experience.

〄 〄 〄

“Welcome, students!”

With a bow, the speaker at the front introduced himself to all of the students present inside of the Great Hall. Everyone clapped, including Mistilia, who wagged her tail behind her back.

“Is this your first time attending?” she asked her friend.

Tristene nodded. “My dad wanted me to come, so I’m happy you asked me. I just hope they have some decent food. My mom says that the food at the Academy isn’t that good, but I don’t mind. Do you think it’ll be better during the camp?”

Mistilia twitched her ears. “About that. I took a peek at the kitchen this morning. Guess what I found?” Her lips were stretched widely with a huge grin, and her canines stuck out from the corners of her mouth.

“What? Tell me. Tell me!” Tristene whispered, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“I saw meat. Piles and piles of meat!”

“Eh~? Meat?”

“Yep! And potatoes and carrots, but mostly meat.”

“Nothing special? Just meat? Or was it cut out thinly like steak, or salted, or grilled?”

Mistilia shrugged. “Meat is good. More meat is even better.”

Tristene’s expectation faded away with her short excitement. “Too much meat isn’t good for you. That’s what my mom said. She said I should eat some more lady-like things, like biscuits and tea. And cake.”

This time, Mistilia’s eyes started sparkling. “I hope they have cake.”

“No way~.”

The two young girls continued their small talk as they waited for the opening ceremony to conclude. Finally, after all of the tutors had been introduced, everyone’s names began to be called one by one to form groups for the camp. The girls patiently awaited their turn in their rows.

“Come to think of it, did that boy you always talk about come here? Shabby or something. Was it Shady? Shoben?

“Shaden,” Mistilia corrected. “He said he would.”

Remembering their promise, Mistilia suddenly became irritated at the mention of his name. He was the one who had introduced the camp. He had been the one who had said friends go to camps together.

But he had lied.

She pouted internally and hmphed. What a weak boy.

Eventually, everyone’s names were called out. Mistilia and Tristene clapped each other’s hands as they rejoined each other in the same group. Soon, the hall was emptied out, and everyone went to their corresponding rooms to drop off their belongings for the day.

〄 〄 〄

“There have been thirteen casualties as of now. Thirteen!” shouted Governor Pricel of Danark. “The city guard has been patrolling night and day, and yet the monsters still emerge within the sewers like rats!”

“Correction. They are rats,” corrected the Academium’s Director. “Big, yes, but rats, nevertheless. If you were talking about the insects, however—”

“There is no time for this!” cried the Governor. “How comes your research for the monster repellent formations, Director?”

“Quite smoothly. However, because the monsters are of a mutated variety, increasingly nowadays, it will take some time.”

The Governor sighed. “And you, Master?”

The Master of the Union of Magic stroked his long beard. “We have located a signal that may be the source of all of this overflowing mana within the city. However,”

He turned his eyes towards the Headmistress and cleared his throat.

“I have received instructions not to speak of it,” he said, his voice thick with accented accusation. With a huff, he closed his eyes and turned his face away from the Headmistress, taking a deep breath from his pipe in dissatisfaction. Yet a sly smile was hidden away on his old face.

“What is this?” the Governor demanded. “Headmistress—”

He winced slightly at the old woman’s piercing gaze but regained his confidence and straightened his back.

“Would you kindly tell us what this secret is about?”

The Headmistress set down her cup of tea and glanced around the room. “Quite skillful of you to bring everyone to this place.”

“Headmistress—”

“What the Master suspects is mere speculation. There has been no definite proof. I will take this matter into my hands, so do not interfere.”

The Governor snorted. “Thirteen dead. And no clue as to what’s causing the absurd mana concentration. No dungeon core, nothing we can regulate. If we set mana-repelling formations around the city, the citizens will complain.”

“And what will you do if you find its source, Governor?”

The Governor crossed his thick arms. “Eliminate it, of course. Or relocate it if that is not possible.”

“The suspected source is a child.”

“Sorry?” The Governor turned his head towards the Headmistress for clarification.

“The source that the Master suspects is a child that is not yet seven.”

The Governor wrinkled his eyebrows and frowned. However, after looking at the Headmistress’s stern face, he turned to the Master for confirmation. After seeing the Master’s nod, his frown deepened even more.

“What do you mean, the source of all of this—is a child? You are expecting me to believe this? The change in the mana, the cause of all of the monsters—is due to a child?”

“That is why it is mere speculation,” said the Headmistress. “It is absurd and unreasonable. I think of it wrong to run tests on children.” She picked up her cup and took a sip again. “And as it stands, the city is making quite the profit, I hear.”

“She is correct,” confirmed the Guild Master of the Adventurer’s Guild. A thin man in a neat, black leather coat with a thick scar down his right cheek, red, slicked-down hair that stood out above his sullen face and wide forehead filled with wrinkles. “The Governor must be aware of the fact that not many monsters surround these parts. With the increase in monsters, so have the members of the Adventurer’s Guild. And with it, more mana crystals. To remove the source would mean to lose profit.”

“That is why we must control it.” stated the Master. “We must control the source and use it to our benefit!”

He quickly shut up after he felt the Headmistress’s aura. In fact, all of the room quieted down.

“I know your intentions, Holopst,” said the Headmistress coolly. “Don’t even think about touching the boy.”

“Oh, I would never dare. But Governor, consider the possibility. If the source of all of this is really the boy, what action would you take?”

The Governor glanced between the Headmistress and the slightly-excited Master and breathed deeply in. Both were figures he would hate to make enemies out of, so he had to choose his words carefully.

“It is absurd to think that this much mana can be caused by an individual,” he stated. “If it is really a single entity that is causing it—”

He paused for a moment, observing the reactions of all of the people in the room.

“Then he should be instructed to control his power.”

“Yes. Exactly!” agreed the Master. His eyes shined with a dangerous tint. “A person with such mana should be instructed! Think about the potential. He could become the next Sage.”

At the mention of the Sage, a small murmur went throughout the room. The Governor hammered the table for silence.

“As the Headmistress has stated, there is no proof. We should take care of urgent matters as of now and return to our original discussion. The matter about this particular individual can be set off until later.”

“What if proof has been obtained?”

The Headmistress glared at the Master. “You would not dare.”

“Oh, I would never,” said the Master. “However, it stands that I cannot control everyone inside of the Union. The same goes for your Academy.”

The Master suddenly raised his hand and snapped it. Immediately, the door opened, and a figure walked inside. The man gracefully bowed, and his ice-blue eyes rested upon the Master, then the Headmistress.

“Instructor Pinec.”

“Headmistress. I sincerely apologize for this, but it had to be done.”

“The child. He will remember.”

“Oh, not with his memory altered. You understand how I value the students, Headmistress. You were far too careful, far too cautious. It had been months, and still, you did not act. It was simply excruciating to watch someone so talented be wasted away under your care. I simply had to do something.”

Instructor Pinec nodded to the Master.

“It has been confirmed. He is the source. Not just a perfect mediator, but a possessor of a colossal mana pool.”

The Master clapped his hands and took a sip out of his pipe. “What did I tell you.”

“Tell me more about this,” demanded the Governor.

The Headmistress felt a silent fury inside of her rising. That greenhorn. To think that one of the Instructors—

No. It was probably the expected outcome. It was natural that the prying man would try to get his hands on the boy sooner or later. It was bound to happen sometime, and she had just slowed the process. She had wanted to wait until the boy reached ten, but the die had been cast.

〄 〄 〄

The room was cold and dark, and Shaden felt the icy chains on his wrists. He was lying on a surface of something, restrained, and the upper half of his body felt bare, exposed. Something had happened. He had exited his house—then had woken up here.

His head rang, and he felt nauseous. Even now, he sensed his mana being drained away from him at a steady pace, and for how long he did not know. For what seemed like an endless time, Shaden was restrained on the cold platform.

Honestly, it hadn’t been that bad. Compared to the nothingness he had experienced once before, this was a breeze in the park. But it left a bad taste in his mouth. Why? Who would do this? And for what reason?

His eyes were covered with a cloth, and occasionally, he heard murmurs nearby. They were barely audible.

At least whoever they were, they properly cared for him. When he felt sore, they cast some magic to make it go away. His hunger and thirst were accounted for, and he was fed some honey-like liquid that tasted absolutely amazing. If he had to say, his mealtimes were the best part of this experience.

But it had its drawbacks.

For one, he couldn’t use magic. Whenever he tried, the chains that were on him sucked his mana away. Naturally, he had increased the output, but the chains sucked it all like a starved animal. And now, he was becoming very irritated. It hadn’t just been a few hours. Possibly a few days, if not more.

He slept for most of the time. That was probably what was causing the nausea.

The only reason he didn’t panic was because it simply wasn’t affecting his real body. An exciting experience of some sort, that’s what this was. But it was getting annoying now.

“Hey!” he yelled. “Hello! Anyone! Can you hear me?”

In the distance, a flutter of whispers arose.

“Hey!” he yelled again. “I know you are…”

Suddenly, Shaden felt very sleepy, and fatigue washed over his body. His eyelids weighted a thousand tons, and he felt his muscles relax. Darkness seeped into his mind, and he felt his consciousness escape from him.