“Fal, it's time to get up and eat,” Myla said, shaking me to get me out of my precious sleep.

“Five more minutes, please Myla” I managed, digging my head back into my soft pillow.

She conjured a water ball over my head, “Get up, or I drop it.”

I let out a sigh and complied, “Training with dad, all day every day isn't an easy thing to do you know”

Myla let out a light giggle, “Yeah, but you shouldn’t get lazy. It’s already the middle of the day, you’ve been sleeping forever.”

“Yeah I see your point, but can you please put that water ball away. I don’t want to accidentally get splashed in the face.”

She quickly canceled the spell. The floating water ball turned into vapor, disappearing in the air.

It’s been a month since my first day of training. During this time Myla’s body got fully accustomed to her mana core, allowing her to utilize mana.

Apparently, Myla was a natural talent. It would usually take a newly awakened child a couple of months to control and actually use a spell without it failing, but it only took Myla a week to learn one of my father’s water spells, [Water Ball]

“Why do you sleep 'till so late anyway? Mom said at your age you should have plenty of energy,” Myla asked curiously, but I could tell she really wasn’t expecting an answer.

I just shrugged my shoulders, “Geniuses need their rest.”

Myla smiled, then turned to walk out of my room. “Oh, just shut up and come eat.”

I couldn’t help but feel guilty at the white lie I had just told Myla.

The real reason why I’d sleep so late is because I would stay up all night practicing mana enhancement. I got good enough at it to where I could use it for ten minutes straight.

My family didn’t know this though. I kept it from them, acting as if I could only use it for four minutes. But I still felt this was too fast of progression in my family’s eyes.

I needed to find somewhere, where I could train with no restraint nor worries.

My father’s red core level golems have become too easy, and training mana enhancement in my room late at night is too restrictive.

I thought about the woods my father talked about. He had said that once I could use mana enhancement for five minutes, he would take the family there. He also mentioned there were small mana beasts to train against.

I smiled slyly.

Putting my plans for tonight in the back of my mind. I put on my shirt and headed to the dining room.

The smell of meat and vegetables invaded my senses, making my mouth water, “Smells amazing.” I said, as I sat down at one of the table chairs.

My father turned from the kitchen stove, “Ah, I’m surprised Myla got you up son. You sleep like a log.”

I sighed, “Well I probably wouldn’t have if she didn’t have a water ball to my head.”

My father let out a chortle, “Well at least you're up.” He turned back to the stove to continue cooking, “Your mother and Myla are outside training. The food will be ready in about an hour. You should go observe them in the meantime, you might gain a better understanding of mana now that they spar with spells.”

This piqued my curiosity. I never had time to observe Myla and my mother train ever since Myla got her magic. With my dad's training and my secret training, it just slipped past me.

“Sounds good,” I responded, getting out of my chair.

I grabbed a cup of water on my way out to cool myself from the outside summer heat.

I walked out to see a water ball darting toward my mother. The water ball seemed to have burst before it could reach her though. It took me a minute, but as I looked closer I could see a barrier fully made of wind, a foot in front of my mother.

“Myla I know you just got magic, but try not to rely on it too much. If you do, it may hinder you in the future.” My mother advised.

My sister canceled her newly half conjured water ball, “I know mom, it’s just so fun and useful. Especially when I can’t get close to you.”

“Don’t get me wrong, it is useful, but only when you use it wisely. Try to respond with a spell when you have an opening on your opponent. Don’t just shoot at them with magic just because you can. If you do, you’ll run out of mana giving your opponent the upper hand.” My mother said, Matter of factly. “Now let’s go again, and come at me with those amazing sword skills of yours.”

They dashed toward each other. The clash of their dull training blades resounded through the backyard. From their swiftness to swordplay, they looked almost identical.

As they fought, they continued only to use swordplay. Not having the chance to use a spell against one another.

They stayed at a stalemate until Myla began to grow tired. When she couldn’t continue, they would take a short break, and repeat this process.

These training sessions with Myla didn’t seem to tire my mother though. While Myla was chugging down water and trying to catch her breath, my mother would just let her know what she did wrong and how she could fix it in the next match.

After about a three-minute breather from their last spar, Myla got up, “Alright mom, I’m okay now, let’s go again.”

They both walked back and got in their usual positions. As they were both unsheathing their blades, my mother spoke. “This time, try to mix in spells. I will be doing the same, and if you don’t watch out you might get hurt. Make sure to keep your body enhanced.”

At my mother’s words, my sister put on a serious face that looked quite funny from my perspective.

They brandished their swords and dashed toward each other once again. Their clash this time was much louder due to their mana enhanced bodies. Unlike last time though, Myla didn’t shoot her spells mindlessly. She used her water ball spell at every opening she saw. Even though Myla was improving she still couldn’t touch our mother. At every spell my sister threw my mother blocked swiftly, with either a wind slash or barrier.

Myla seemed to have noticed this and tried to gain some distance to recuperate. After she did, she went back on the offensive. Myla swung her sword attempting a vertical slash.

From where I was standing it looked like it would completely miss my mother. To my surprise though, my mother stepped back dodging the slash entirely. During my whole time of watching them she never completely dodged an attack. She would always block and counter, but this time she didn't. I was curious as to why, but my mother’s next words answer my trivial question.

“Extending your weapons range with wind mana aye, pretty clever Myla.” My mother complimented, as she sheathed her sword, “When did you learn to do that?”

Myla sheathed her sword as well and sat down in the grass. “Well after I learned the water ball spell I got bored. So I've been practicing this and was saving it for the right moment to surprise and defeat you, but it didn't work.”

My mother sent a gust of wind toward Myla, ruffling her long hair. “Don't downplay yourself sweetie, this is a great achievement. When I was your age I couldn't even use one spell, let alone two.”

From the books I’ve read in the past, cladding your weapon in your element is a useful and well-known technique, but also somewhat arduous. For her to be able to do that, and a water spell at nine years old was incredible.

The hour seemed to have flown by because my father came out and told everyone lunch was ready. We sat at the table, chatting and laughing about random things like any family would. Like this, night came in the blink of an eye.

When everyone was asleep in their rooms, I was getting ready to sneak out.

I felt like a child once again, trying to sneak out of the orphanage to buy a snack from the gas station with the spare change I found lying around the building.

I slowly put on my pants and long sleeve tunic. Then grabbed the earthen dagger my father made for me and took light steps toward my window, weary of the wood floors making a noise.

When I made it to my bedroom window I stopped to look at my all too familiar reflection.

I had grown used to my new, dark navy blue hair that looked black without the sunlight. My skin wasn’t pale but wasn’t tan either, it was somewhat in between. My most distinct feature though, was my emerald green eyes.

When I first saw my reflection I had to drop my pants to see if I was really a boy. Gladly I was.

I put my hand on my chin, inspecting my features in-depth. “I’m actually quite handsome, to be honest.” I whispered.

After I got a good look at my face I slowly opened the window and crawled out, landing softly on the grass. I didn’t close my window all the way, leaving a small crack to make minimal noise when I returned.

I took light steps in the grass, but as I got further from home I started running. Going as fast as I could.

In the distance, I could see the tall trees of the woods under the moonlit night.