“Hmmm…” said Doctor Mall. “That’s concerning.”

“Is something wrong?” asked Julie concerned.

Leo was currently taking his monthly examination. It was more like a tradition to him at this point. Still, that was the first time something like this happened though.

“There seems to be some fluctuation in the leftovers. Did something of notice happened lately?” Asked Paul.

“The school year has begun… other than that I’m not really sure. Is my son going to be okay?” worried Julie.

The doctor continued to look at the screen. “It’s alright, not any big changes happened. School, it’s this time of the year I guess, it could be connected to mana activation.”

Leo just looked at the doctor while tilting his head.

“There should be no need to worry at least. This level is still far from anything dangerous. Let’s continue with our monthly examination as normal.” ended the doctor filling some papers.

-*-

Leo was sitting in his classroom. It was their first lesson on magic manipulation. He really wanted to learn how to use magic. David who was sitting next to him was the same.

“First of all let’s speak what mana is. Simply speaking it’s energy that makes everything up in our world. It’s like little grains that build everything around us by interacting with each other. There are six basic elements that we focus on water, fire, earth, air, light, and blackness.” said Anna Robinson, their homeroom teacher, she was a long haired brunette with blue eyes and tall posture. She was the one teaching them magic manipulation and world history.

She continued “Though while the first four have both their own negative and positive charges, blackness is a negative charge of light element. We distinct it because of major differences between what both of them do.”

Ms. Anna then went to a cabinet of the classroom from which she took crystal tablets that looked very similar to the cube they used for examination.

“What you will be thought here will be how to control your inner attuned mana that you found out during examination and release it. Those crystal tablets, work similarly to the examination device you used yesterday but they won’t pull out your mana. You will need to put mana inside them yourself while they will only support the process.” She said, and the tablet she was holding started shining in green.

“The same element as me.” commented David.

“Now please each of you take one of the tablets.” She said passing the tablets to the first row of desks.

After everyone in the class had one of those, the teacher explained further. “Now everyone will need to close their eyes when holding their tablets close to their body and try to feel an energy inside of you. Try to think of the element you were examined with when doing it. When you find it the tablet will absorb the energy from you and will start to shine.”

Leo closed his eyes and imagined the light he saw yesterday but nothing happened. No matter how hard he focused he couldn’t find anything. He opened his eyes and found out that most of the kid's tablets stayed as they were some of the kids still tried to focus but most already opened their eyes. The only tablet that shined was held by Max who was sitting in the front it was pulsing with purple light.

“Amazing Max. It was really fast. Have you already trained before?” Commented ms Anna.

“My Father thought me a little.” Said Max with a proud look on his face. The rest of the class looked at him with both jealousy and admiration.

“Good job Max, now you should train so that the light is consistent.” She said and turned to the rest of the class. “And don’t worry kids it’s normal to not get it on your first try. You can take the tablets with you back homes and try there. For now, you should try to do it until the end of the class.”

In the end no matter how much Leo focused he could make the tablet shine. Only two more people, Mary and David, made their crystals light up even if so slightly.

“Not so great, double element, huh?” mocked Max.

“It doesn’t seem to work too well, but I will do my best I should be able to get it by tomorrow. Oh and my name is Leo.” said the boy innocently.

“Who cares?” said Max when moving away and laughing. Four boys followed after him.

“What a prick.” said David to Leo.

Leo only looked back at Max who was already leaving the classroom. Not really knowing what to think about the boy. But he was starting to like Max less and less.

-*-

Their next lesson was history. Their teacher was an old man with a white mustache. “As all of you know our great county was created by, Our Hero Olympius who still watch over us from the golden tower.”

“Teacher, but didn’t Olympius defeat the demon lord 800 years? How can he still watch over us?” Asked one of the students.

“It’s because he is a son of the god, he doesn’t age and always stays healthy, simply speaking he is invincible, truly great. But as many of us speak of Olympius did you know the names of his companions who followed him on his quest.” He asked.

All of the kids looked at him, clearly not knowing the answer. “The great warrior Lloyd, the fastest lance Alexander, the sage Athena and finally the great traitor, scoundrel Lize.”

“What did Lize did?” Asked one of the girls in the classroom.

“She was one of the demons we call reincarnated. She betrayed Our Hero at the end of their journey and killed Athena for which in turn she was killed by Our Hero. In the end, Our Hero weakened party killed the demon king but in the fight they lost both Lloyd and Alexander.” finished the teacher.

“Reincarnated really sucks.” said Max.

“Watch your tongue a bit boy, still you are right. Fortunately, nowadays we can find them and eliminate in the most painful way possible to dissuade them from consuming our children again.” said the teacher satisfaction.

Leo tried to listen but he not really interested in the lesson since the next lesson would be gym class. He hoped to practice with an axe again.

The lesson passed and Leo went with David to change into their tracksuits.

“Did your parents let you join the class in the end?” Said Leo hopefully.

“No… Apparently they will make a separate group out of us and we will have normal PE. They will let me once I’m older…” answered David lonesomely.

“I hope they will let you soon then.”

-*-

Leo and the rest of his class were in the tracksuits ready for the basic combat class.

Now that he looked Mary where there too. He went closer to her. “Hi! So your parents let you take this class too?”

She looked at him. “More like they don’t care. You shouldn’t speak with me if you want to be friends with Max.” She said and turned away.

Leo looked around and notice the brown haired boy looking at him, he seemed angry for some reason.

“I don’t care what he thinks about me… but why wouldn’t he like you.” Leo asked curious.

“Family problems… look, class is starting already.” She said before moving away. Leo only looked at her. He didn’t follow her as he wasn’t sure if she wanted to speak with him for now.

“Now we will begin the class!” Said Miles. “For now we will begin with a warm-up.”

It started with simple joints flexing and then half kilometer jog around one-kilometer long sports field track.

“Today we will train the basic forms with the weapon of your choice. Now all of you pick up your weapons.” The teacher said.

Leo decided to take the axe he used yesterday. It was still here not touched by anyone.

“You should take this one for now.” Said Miles from behind him.

He was holding a smaller axe with a one-sided blade about 4 inches long and in total about 16 inches.

“I want to use this one.” said Leo holding his weapon in of choice.

“Right… then what about it if you can swing it correctly ten times I will let you use it.” said the teacher.

Thinking that he wouldn’t get a better deal Leo nodded.

“Okay then hand it to me for a second I will show you.” He said and took the axe.

Miles hold it with his right in the on the end of the shaft and the other in the middle. Performing and basic downward strike with and as the axe went from above his right shoulder it stopped just under the hight of his left knee. He repeated it slowly a few times before passing the axe back to Leo.

“Now it’s your tourn.” He said after passing the weapon.

Leo took his position trying to replicate his teacher. He performed the first strike and only barely was able to stop it before it hit the ground.

Miles slimed at the boy. Without waiting Leo tried again. This time it went little better but it was still hard for him.

It worked just fine till his 5th try when nearly lost his footing from the strain.

“Ready to give up?” said Miles.

Leo just readied his posture again and performed next strike. The axe felt now like a boulder in his hands.

On the 8th strike, he couldn’t stop the axe and it hit the ground next to his leg. He was gasping heavily.

“I won.” said Miles while grinning. “Now you see why I ask you to use this smaller axe it's to build your strength so you can use this one.” He said while picking up the bigger weapon. “For now rest and while you are rested repeat what I showed you with the smaller axe.” He said before turning to the other students.

In the other end of the sports field, you could see Max and his friends laughing in the blond boy directions.

Leo's eyes were brimming with determination. He wouldn’t give up. He would never give up. He stood up and swung the axe until his arms got too tired to do it anymore.

-*-

Leo was now back at his home sitting on his bed while holding the crystal tablet close to his chest.

No matter what he did he couldn’t get it to shine. Frustrated he threw himself on his bed.

Looking at the light in his room he thought. ‘Light and Fire huh…’ He closed his eyes again but this time instead of the light he saw from the cube he thought about the light in his room.

Suddenly he felt some connection, something strange was welling inside of him. He decided to make the light bigger and bigger. He imagined a sun.

Now he felt something hot on his chest and he noticed that the tablet was now glowing brightly in red and white but as soon as his concentration broke and the light went off.

He closed his eyes again and this time satisfied moved into the world of dreams.

-*-

5 years later

Leo was now 11 years old. Reaching the height of 4 feet 11 he was the highest boy in his class. Over the years thanks to his regular training his body become quite muscular. He could now wield his axe quite easily nowadays.

Now he was best friends with David, he was now six inches lower then Leo, they hang out together often after lessons either at his or David’s family house. His friend parents were kind to him.

He also made few other friends but he only talked to them in school and his relationship with Max couldn’t be any worse now. They didn’t speak to each other much but every time they did it turned into an argument and always ended with a duel. Some of which he won but more often lost. Max turned out to be really good with a sword.

With Mary, she was now 4 feet 9 inches high and she grew up quite healthy, he only had contact during gym class when they spared other than that he could never find her on brakes and in class, she always sat alone. Still, it was probably the most she spoke with anyone.

Right now he was getting ready for the tournament that happened on the first day of the last month of the school year. It was his first time since only kids above 10 years old were allowed to participate. Wearing his tracksuit and necklace he was walking through the corridor leading to the arena.

His homeroom teacher was waiting for him in front of the door. “Good luck, still I wish you were as determined about classes as you are now. You still need to retake your last history test, do you remember?” Said miss Anna

“Eh? Do you have to really remind me of it now?” said Leo dejected.

“It’s my job as a teacher!” she said pointing her finger at him. “Now go Max is already waiting for you. Ah, to think that both of my students would fight in the first fight, I will cheer for both of you!”

“Isn’t that kinda cheating?” asked Leo.

“I’m a teacher so I can, no I have too.” she said proudly.

“Okay, I will go now.” said Leo.

He entered the arena. It was made in the school gym where students could sit on the side and participants fought in the middle with 8 matches happening at the same time in the first few rounds.

“What took you so long, loser?” said Max mocking him. He was now 4 feet 8. Little lower than Leo. Still, the blond boy knew that it wouldn’t mean that much in this fight.

He had his necklace already on, Mr. Miles let him have one after back at home he broke his leg while overdoing his training with an axe. On his right hand was a bracelet that showed current left mana in the cross. If it ran out it would be the end of the fight.

“Don’t worry I’m still here before the time, and I wouldn’t miss the chance to give you a beating.” Responded Leo.

“YOU!”

“Calm down both of you!” said Miles. “I will be the judge for this fight, and don’t fight before it starts. Now take your position.”

Miles was the one who most often watched over their fights. While he liked Leo more he still always stayed fair while judging them.

Leo took his position, holding his axe with his left hand and pointing it at his rival. It was now little bigger being 39 inches long and the blade 11 inches long.

Max was still using shield and sword but they were now bigger too than what he used when he was younger.

“Ready! Start!” shouted Miles.

Leo was the first to attack, covering the distance between them in one step he used a downward strike aimed at his enemy. Max put his shield in the way to block but he was forced to use his all to stay on foot.

Still before Leo could attack again he was forced to evade a trust released by the smaller boy, barely dodging it to the right. He now used a vertical strike from right on Max.

The boy put his shield in the way but the force of the attack was too strong and it hit the edge of the object getting past the boy defense and hitting him on the shoulder.

The markings on the Max bracelet fell to about half.

Leo seemingly in the heat of battle forgot it wasn’t the end and was greeted with a sword to a face making his cross mana deplete by about a third.

“Tsk.” clicked, Max, as Leo corrected his posture.

Now it was Max turn to attack as he jumped at Leo with a slash. Leo blocked it with his axe shaft and pushed it away but before he could attack he was attacked again and was forced to jump backward barely evading another slash.

He blocked next slash with the blade of his axe and use the end of his shaft to struck his enemy in his stomach shocking him a little.

Now the cross blocking abilities seemed to be detrimental to him as it blocked the force of his attacked and left him vulnerable to Max’s shield as it connected with the forcefield around his head.

Now both of their mana levels were low and the match would surely end with the next strike.

Max took the initiative and attacked with a forward thrust. Leo seeing this decided it was now a time to take the risk.

He swung his axe sideways as the tip of his enemy weapon was getting closer to him and successfully parried it and followed with downward slash hitting his enemy on the torso.

Max’s cross shined in red and started beeping. The boy looked angry.

“And it’s the end!” Shouted Miles. “The victor is Leo Redmond! Now both of you thank each other for the match with a handshake.”

Leo looked at Max while breathing heavily from the match. In the end, he stretched out his hand despite knowing it was pointless.

The brown-haired boy just looked at him and without saying anything turned around and moved outside of the arena.

Leo could only shrug.

“Good job. Now you should rest before your next match.” said Miles to the boy.

“That was amazing!” congratulated David his friend. He has run up to them as soon as the match ended.

“Thanks. Now let’s go I want to drink something.”

Both boys moved out of the arena heading to the main building. On the way they noticed Mary standing next to the door.

“Hi!” said Leo.

“Hi. I heard you beat Max, good job.” She said with slight smile.

“Thanks! We are going to get something to drink. Do you want to go with us?” proposed the blond haired boy.

“Sorry, I will probably be going home soon. Maybe next time.” Mary said with a slight smile on her face before moving away.

In the end, Leo lost his next match to three years older and higher boy using a spear. He was too outmatched in range to make any real competition.

He promised himself to train harder for the next year.

-*-

“Boss are we ready?” asked bald muscular men in combat armor.

“Soon, we will proceed with the plan in a week.” Answered a black-caped figure.

“But why there, wouldn’t there be more money in a bank?” pried the man.

“Not really, look in the bank we can only take as much money as there is in the place but in this way, we can earn as much money as we want.” Reassured the mysterious figure and it seemed to please the guy as he nodded and moved away. The mysterious person sighed seemingly thankful that his pawns were idiots.