As the sun rose Kaiden woke up to finding himself feeling heavy again, it always happened every few weeks and had noticed that it was becoming more and more frequent. The feeling of weight was similar to as if being tired constantly and as if he was being dragged down by heavy stones and whenever he asked his parents or Lina they would always deny any knowledge of it. So Kaiden wasn’t sure as how he should progress but he decided not to pursue it.

Kaiden had recently started Sword styles at the academy and had to begin learn what the basic three styles were. There were the Fire, water and iron sword styles and each one’s core theory was different. Water style was about agility, flexibility, and speed to conduct fighting, while iron sword style was more balanced. Fire style was the most diverse one since it specialized in using mana with sword styles. Kaiden had found himself learning the water and iron styles from his father and Raz and was ahead in the others but he had heard that the fire-style was more difficult to teach as it required the most time to master, was the longest to even see results, and even required a special type of weapon to use.

The Sword Styles classes had just started teaching the first style to the students. Water-sword style was easiest to teach to children as the theory was just ‘be quick, be agile, and don’t get hit’. Kaiden understood this but it was a challenge to him. Sword styles weren’t knowledge but practice so once he started his dad would train him at night by running with him around the district.

“Hey dad, what sword style are you?” Kaiden asked as they reached home at the end of their run.

“Me? I am a Master at the Molten-Earth Sword style.” He said

“Molten Earth? I haven’t heard that at style.” Kaiden said.

“Yeah you won’t learn until you master the advanced tier of a sword style but I’ll explain it to you.” He said as they went inside and sat down at the table.

“Ok so you know the three basic styles right?” he asked as Kaiden nodded his head.

“After you master the basics you rank up and are allowed to learn the next level. For example you like the water style and the next level would either be the River-sword style or the Hurricane-sword style.” He told him.

There were two paths Christian told Kaiden. The option was to master both paths and became a dragon class, or you learned another style and combined them co become a master class. Dragons were complete masters of a particular style, Torrent Dragon, Fire Dragon, or Earth Dragon were the masters of one style, but masters of multiple styles had many names and were just as strong. However Christian told Kaiden to watch out for True Dragon-sword Style Masters, they were rare but they were fighters who sole purpose was to fight stronger people.

Kaiden was amazed, his father was that strong? What about Raz? Mom, Lina, General Ivan? Kaiden couldn’t imagine the strength hidden in the amazing people around him. He wanted to be strong as well.

The next day at school would be the first practice spar at school and he was interested in seeing how he would do. However since the assassin rumor went around not many people were willing to spar with him, except for one person. She was the daughter of Knights and was not willing to make Kaiden feel out of place. Her name was Zona Rea, an average six-year old Kaiden thought as they stepped into a practice ring.

“Begin!” the instructor shouted. The next thing Kaiden knew he was on his back.

“Wha-?” Kaiden said in a stunned silence.

“You ok?” she asked as she helped him up.

“Uhh yeah, what do you do to me?” Kaiden asked.

“I did a backward leg sweep.” She said.

“Then what?” Kaiden asked puzzled.

“That’s it.” She said.

“What? But I thought we were supposed to use our swords.” Kaiden asked.

“Said who? We’re practicing how to fight, and daddy always said if I have to fight I should use everything I have.” She lectured in an air of superiority. Kaiden stood there and reveled in the common sense that he should have realized.

“One more?” he asked her.

“Sure” she replied.

This time when they sparred Kaiden was ready for anything he felt. Then she thrust her sword at his face, and he fell again.

“What’d you do now?” Kaiden asked as he laughed laying down.

“I used my sword to block your vision then did another backward leg sweep.” She said.

“I see, one more.” Kaiden said.

It was like this that he kept challenging her and kept falling on his butt. By the end of the day Kaiden could only dodge her attacks twice before losing. He said his thanks as he left for lunch, there Emmitt was there waiting for him.

“Man you picked the worse partner, everyone is talking about how you were practicing with Zona.” Emmitt said to him.

“Why? She’s strong I learned a lot from her.” Kaiden said to him

“Well duh she’s strong! Both of her parents are commanders in the Royal Army!” Emmitt jested.

“Really? But how is she so strong?” Kaiden asked.

“Well everyone says she has the talent of a Genius, some sword master was at her and said that she would do well when she grows up. He even offered to take her as a student.” Emmitt told him.

‘No wonder I couldn’t touch her.’ Kaiden thought as they finished their lunch and went to finish their afternoon class. Now Kaiden had had advanced magic theory but he wasn’t focused, his mind was clouded with Zona’s skill. The whole day was like this, at home, at the orphanage, and even as he went to sleep. Kaiden couldn’t help admire her strength, Kaiden knew that in time he could match her in strength someday.

As Kaiden and Christian continued training over the weeks they slowly started practicing with practice swords.

“If you can get past my guard I’ll donate ten gold to the orphanage.” Christian said to him. Christian was burning with motivation now. Kaiden swung his sword at Christian but was only met with air and Christian’s sword. Slowly Christian decided to swing back, targeting Kaiden’s legs then his arms but never really hitting them. This went on for nearly three months until Kaiden finally hit Christians forearm.

“I did it!” Kaiden exclaimed.

“Don’t let down your guard!” Christian said as he hit Kaiden in the butt.

“Ouch, but now you owe me ten gold.” Kaiden smiled.

“What for?” Christian asked as he had clearly forgotten the bet.

“The orphanage! You said if I get past your guard I would get ten gold from you to donate to the orphanage!” Kaiden exclaimed.

“Oh I did say that huh, well ask Lina she will give it to you” Christian said to Kaiden.

Kaiden was happy and they continued to train as Christian slowly began taking it more seriously. Even at school now him and Zona had escalated into being more fluid practices, other students would watch as the two of them swung their practice swords at each other with abnormal precision. On a particular day, Kaiden and Zona were in combat and going at each other intensely. She had just blocked Kaiden’s slash, returned with a thrust to his abdomen but he was ready and side stepped the attack, and then preformed a backwards leg sweep, thus resulting in her first loss.

“Yes my first win!” Kaiden said. As he exclaimed this Zona ran out of the practice hall. Kaiden couldn’t see but he could tell she was crying. Kaiden felt conflicted about making her cry but he was happy he got his first victory. For the next Kaiden had seen her but she ignored him, Kaiden was a little worried but couldn’t seem to get her to talk to him. Now nobody could keep up with him at practice, so he was ahead of the others in his class.

Some time went by as he prepared for his midterm exams. Reading and Writing 2, Arithmetic 3, History 1, Honor 1, and Beginner Sword Styles were really easy but due to his training he’d let his Advanced Magic Theory and Advanced Healer Practices studies slip. So he had to study hard at home, recently Lina wasn’t around except to drain his mana and pick him up at school but Kaiden didn’t have time to worry about that, exams were coming up.

On one rare night where his parents were home Lina came home stumbled and injured. It had looked like she was in a heavy sword fight.

“Christian!” Maria yelled as Christian ran downstairs.

“My God Lina! What happened?” Christian yelled as he grabbed bandages. She was bleeding from her shoulder and had a gash across her abdomen.

“hehe, you should see the other guys ‘Captain’” She replied.

“Shut up, what style?” Maria asked.

“I don’t know, could have been a Blazing Hurricane sword style. Or a water dragon. It was too fast.” She said as she coughed.

“It was the assassin group I tracked from the night in Clearwater.” She said.

“Shut up and tell us tomorrow, Kaiden get some water!” Maria screamed at him. Kaiden ran to the filled a pail of water. Inside Lina was screaming and shrieking in pain. No matter what she was suffering and Kaiden rushed into the house to try and help.

“Damn it she’s been poisoned with a black honey venom. We need to get an antidote potion soon.” Maria said.

‘Eldys’ Kaiden thought and he ran out of the house to the orphanage. As he ran as fast as he could Lina’s screams could be heard from down the road. When he arrived at the orphanage eldys was with in the kitchen eating when he saw him. He noticed the pain and suffering on his face and immediately came to him.

“Kaiden what’s wrong?” Eldys worried.

“I… need… antidotes… for black honey… venom.” Kaiden panted.

“I have some in the storage, wait here.” Eldys ran into the basement to get the antidotes, as Kaiden sat down for a second. A moment later Eldys came up with a small crate full of potions.

“Where to?” he asked.

“My house lets go.” Kaiden said as they ran out the orphanage. Time seemed to slow down for Kaiden, for the first time he felt like someone in his life would be taken away from him. He couldn’t allow it, he had the means to stop this so he put all his power into it. They reached the house and inside Lina’s voice was no longer screams but moans of suffering and on the side Maria was trying to make a antidote.

“Here!” Eldys said as he got out the purple antidote to Christian. Christian slowly poured the antidote into her mouth and immediately she was feeling better. Then Eldys handed another handful of potions to Maria and instructed them.

“Give her the blue potion when she throws up, and then the red potion when she wakes up after that.” Eldys said with a relieved expression. It seemed the antidote was working.

“Thank you Eldys” Kaiden said as he hugged him. Maria and Christian were both in the back exhausted.

It took four days until Lina was cured and Kaiden never asked about it. All he learned was that if he didn’t get stronger, faster, and smarter, or else the people close to him would die. He started studying diligently for all of his exams, all for the sake of strength. As he was studying in the school courtyard Zona came up to him and talked to him.

“I’m sorry Kaiden. About not talking to you lately, it’s just that that was the first time I lost.” She confessed.

“It’s ok Zona, I don’t mind.” Kaiden said as he kept studying.

“What are you reading?” she asked.

“Advanced Magic theory.” He replied.

“Oh, well what class do you have next?” She asked.

“Advanced Healer Practices.” Kaiden replied again.

“Oh I see... Wait! You are learning advanced healer and magic?” She exclaimed.

“Yes, Why?” Kaiden said as he finally looked up at her.

“But you’re also taking sword styles. How come you’re also taking advanced healer and magic?”

“Because I can, I want to get stronger and become a dragon or a master level swordsman. But on top of that I also want to be a Grand mage as well.” Kaiden said to her.

Zona stood there in silence. She was trying to become an Earth dragon like her parents but he wanted to surpass them in magic as well.

‘What does he plan to do in the future?’ She thought.

“What about the advanced healing class?” she asked.

“Oh that I want to make potions to give to the sick.” He said then began telling her his life’s goal. The idea of helping people had never occurred to her before. Kaiden told her all about how it feels to make people smile and cry tears of joy. That day Zona’s dreams for the first time were changed.

The next day Kaiden had sword practice and for the first time in a while Zona was his partner. As usual they were matched with her winning a bit more than Kaiden. They had finally grasped the basics of the water-sword style and were moving onto the Iron-Sword style, for this style they were given their first wooden buckler which was enchanted to be same weight as an iron one. The new style was much slower and required more stamina than the first one due to carrying more weight around.

Around thirty minutes of practice Kaiden was exhausted from the shield bearing down on him.

‘Training with dad is only going to get tougher, crap’ Kaiden thought. As he looked to his left Zona was having no difficulty with the shield and this fired him up. They practiced another hour until the lesson ended.

Kaiden ended school and went to the orphanage to meet with Eldys and give him a bonus for saving Lina’s life.

“Kaiden! How are you feeling?” Eldys asked as he was outside playing with some of the orphans.

“I’m Good Eldys, I came by because I wanted to thank you for the other night.” Kaiden thanked.

“NO need for thanks Kaiden. You and Lady Lina gave me hope, joy, and purpose in life again. It was the least I could do.” Eldys said

“Thanks anyway. How’s the orphanage going?” Kaiden asked.

“Splendid, I finished the adventurer’s guild contract and they gave a bonus! 300 Gold, I put it into the orphanage’s fund as well as another ten percent of the profit we made. So about another 380 gold as well. So we shouldn’t need any more help from you. You’ve done so much for everyone already.” Eldys told him.

“I’m glad, maybe you should open the next shelter for those in need.” Kaiden joked and Eldys turned serious.

“That’s a great idea but I have another idea! I can open up a new store! Those who need work will be taught how to make potions, they get paid, and I get potions!” Eldys said.

“That’s not what I meant but if it helps people eat and start over then you should do it. But if you do it make sure you start small Eldys.” Kaiden told him.

“Yes, you’re right as always Kaiden. I’ll let you know as it progresses, now I must be off I have kids to feed!” He joked. Kaiden went home happy after seeing the kids full of joy. Home was quiet and Lina was most likely still upstairs recovering from her wounds. Kaiden decided to see how she was doing as he knocked on her door. There wasn’t a response so Kaiden decided to check up on her, inside was a sight that made him smile.

Raz was sleeping on the floor with a blanket, it seemed he came in when Kaiden was in class and fell asleep from what seemed to be worry and stress. Kaiden left the room and went to study downstairs.

“Hey Kaiden, how was school?” Maria asked as came through the door.

“Good mom, we started the iron style today. How was training?” Kaiden replied.

“Good! I’m training a group of new archers, the new soldiers are not bad but can use some work. How’s Lina doing? Has she woken up?” Maria asked.

“The commander is up there sleeping next to her. Looks like he fell asleep worrying about her.” Kaiden smiled

“Ah yes, I thought so. We told him two days ago but seems he caved and finally came so see her” Maria said.

“Mom is Commander Raz going to become Uncle Raz?” Kaiden asked and with a sudden look Maria started laughing.

“Who knows, Lina hasn’t ever had anyone after her who wasn’t trying to kill her so I’m not sure.” Maria told him.

“Kill her? What do you mean?” Kaiden asked as Maria tensed up, realizing that she slipped something she shouldn’t have.

“Well Lina has had enemies since she was a kid. Your dad and I were some of her first real friends. You should know she used to do some bad things, but she did them because she had to, not because she wanted to.” She told told.

“Oh ok, does Commander Raz know about it?” Kaiden asked.

“I don’t know, it’s not our place to tell her story. If she wanted him to know, he’d know.” Maria said. Then she began to make dinner, Christian came home an hour later just as Raz came down to get dinner as well.

“Two for me, I’ll bring one up for Lina.” He said as Maria passed him another bowl of food and he gave his thanks. After that night Kaiden saw Raz more often than before, maybe things were finally going to happen for them.

Kaiden finally caught up in his [Advanced Magic Theory] and learned about the eight types of magic and their properties. Fire, water, earth, wind, light, dark, arcane, and ancient magic were the eight known types of magic. So far he’d learned only that in order to cast that magic he’d have to get a conduit.

A conduit could be made from anything but it had to be enchanted to become a conduit. Conduits could be made stronger by better enchantments and materials. Currently gems were most popular due to the ability to be mounted on accessories. As it could have been anything most liked something small that could be hidden easily, since without a conduit a mage would be useless.

The next class Kaiden went over was the first time they would see what magic each property was like.

“Good morning class!” as the teacher called out. His name was Zigg, he was a rank three mage who was used to teaching older kids but due to an ‘incident’ he was now teaching pre-awakened kids. As the kids finally settled he was ready to begin.

“Now first off today you will see the common properties of magic. All magic has spells that are used in both healing and combat, but types if each spell is different. Fire magic can cauterize a wound but water magic can’t. Instead water magic would help freeze it instead. As for combat there are the standard ball spells, stream spells, and area spells.” He explained.

He went into more detail about the elements, Fire was opposite to water, earth was opposite to wind, and light was opposite to dark. If one side overcame the other side you could counter that type of magic. As for magic that wasn’t opposite it would take the skill of the mage to defeat the other. They then went into the interactions of each magic with another. Arcane and ancient magic would be covered after they graduated.

As the class ended Zigg was preparing to leave a student came and asked him a question.

“Excuse me, teacher?” the boy asked.

“Yes what is it?” Zigg responded.

“Have you ever heard of a swordsman being able to wield high tier magic?” he asked.

“Well of course, there are numerous magic users who follow the fire-style, but it also depends on what rank the mage has attained. The highest reigning mage to follow sword styles was a mage of rank 5, almost a grand magus. I believe his name was Kane, he went missing about five years ago though so who knows if he’d even alive.” Zigg responded.

“Oh, Thank you Teacher Zigg” the boy responded.

“No Problem.” He responded as the boy ran away. Zigg had plans to meet with the headmaster, hopefully it was about returning him to his former position at the [Royal Magic Institute]. As he went there he say the boy who had asked him about the [Sword Mages].

‘Interesting, not many people are able to figure out magic and swordsmanship can be combined at that age. I wonder if that was his goal from the beginning.’ Zigg thought to himself as he saw the boy run. In the boy’s hand there was a copy of [Advanced Healers Practices] running to the practice field.

“Wha-?” Zigg thought as he reached the headmasters office.

“Come in!” The headmaster said and Zigg went in to see the headmaster studying some papers.

“Hello sir, you wanted to see me?” Zigg asked.

“Yes, please sit” as he set the paper down and gestured him to sit down.

“Now, I know you wanted to rejoin the institute so I asked you here today to give you this. I haven’t read it yet so we can discuss it together.” The headmaster told him as he passed the paper to him.

“Thank you sir.” Zigg said as he opened the letter.

Dear Headmaster,

We’d like you to inform Mage of the third rank, Zigg Selly. That the verdict of the incident in question has deemed him unworthy to return to the institute. However due to his previous accomplishments we have decided to give him a chance. If he can produce a student of high caliber in the next five years, he will regain his status of Professor at the [Royal Magic Institute] granted there are no longer any more incidents. Should he fail to meet his requirements there will be no further chances for him and result in his immediate termination of access to the [Magic Library].

Thank you,

Mage Council of the West Storm Council.

Zigg slumped his shoulders in disappointment, he knew it was a lie and that he wouldn’t be able to find a student of this ability here at this school. The headmaster took the letter to read it him self and chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” Zigg asked.

“Well, I think I can help you out actually, you are a old student of mine so I can’t let you destroy yourself so easily. There is a boy, here in this school who might meet your criteria. Come with me.” The headmaster said as he got up and walked out his office. Zigg followed him in poor spirit, the Headmaster led them to the practice grounds.

“The boy I’m about to introduce you to is not like others. He’s sharp, sharper than most my age so be honest with him, he’s become quite the person already.” he said as he led the way.

“He is the first student to have passed the requirements from three paths in the last ten years. However he is the only one to take all three paths at the same time in the last fifty years.” The headmaster said.

“What? The child of royalty purposely doing something strenuous? I have to admit I’m a little shocked.” Zigg joked.

“Ha, well actually here’s the thing, he’s a commoner. However his parents are warriors, and neither of them are Fire-style users.” The headmaster told him. It took a moment but zigg figured it out.

“He’s a Mage with no Lineage?” Zigg exclaimed.

“Yes” the headmaster smiled.

“But most mages who have no lineage are actually the weakest mages ever! How do you expect me to rejoin the institute with him?!” Zigg argued.

“Haha you forget! The great Magus Maxil was a no lineage mage, and he became the first ever to be ranked Magus. This boy is something special, and I can feel it.” The headmaster told him off with a smile. Frustrated Zigg decided it would be best to humor the headmaster instead of argue with him. They reached the practice space where the current second year students were practicing, they were doing the basic movements of the iron-style from the obvious shield.

“Excuse me Instructor Wulfa, may I borrow Young Kaiden Greywolf please.” The Headmaster asked.

“Of course, Kaiden! Go with the headmaster.” The instructor yelled. All the other students by now had all become curious about the headmaster calling out a student at such a random time. Kaiden said nothing as he went to meet the headmaster and they went back to the headmaster’s office in quiet. Once inside the office Zigg began to talk.

“Hello Kaiden, good to see you again so soon. As you know I am your [Advanced Magic Theory] Teacher Zigg, the headmaster says you have talent in magic but I am skeptical.” As Kaiden heard this his face crinkled.

“However the headmaster had faith in you so I would like to ask you a few questions as to how well you have been studying. Is that ok?” he asked.

“No, sir.” Kaiden responded.

“What did you say?” Zigg frowned, not believing his ears.

“I don’t want to help someone who only needs me for their own goals. If it was something that was important to school I would have been summoned between classes sir.” Kaiden said in a straight face. Zigg was now furious, this kid had just rejected him before he could even say what he wanted.

“Haha, see I told you he’s sharp. Just explain to him from the top.” The headmaster told him. Zigg frowned but decided to just agree and told Kaiden what was going on.

Kaiden listened to his teacher who had lost control of an in class experiment by messing up a basic barrier spell for his class and most of his students ended up injured. As he heard the requirements to his teacher getting his job back Kaiden became interested. Teacher Zigg would become his master in return of being Zigg’s entry in returning to the institute. Kaiden then was asked if he was interested in which he said yes and answered all the basic questions and even some advanced questions that were in later sections of the book they were currently using. The questions slowly became harder until there was one question he didn’t know the answer for.

Zigg hated to say it but he was impressed, not many at his age had the interest to stay focused on school work. His knowledge and willpower would be pretty high in the future, if only he knew how much mana the boy had.

“I would accept you as a dispile right now if I knew how much mana your body could handle.” Zigg said to him.

“Oh, how much mana would I need to be accepted?” Kaiden asked.

“Oh about an acolyte of third rank to begin. With my theory of mana and training you would be rank one initiate in four years.” Zigg said as Kaiden frowned.

“Oh, that’s too slow.” Kaiden said as Zigg and the headmaster stared at him dazed at what he just said.

“Slow? Most don’t make rank one mage until the age of eighteen. How is initiate at age thirteen slow? You’d be fast by most standards!” Zigg exclaimed.

“Should I tell him?” the headmaster asked Kaiden.

“Tell him what?” Kaiden said.

“About this.” As the headmaster pulled out a stone. Zigg knew it was a Magic stone but didn’t understand the significance of it.

“Hmmm…. Ok” Kaiden told him.

“Tell me what? What are you two talking about?” Zigg asked in confusion. The headmaster then tossed the stone to him and asked.

“How much mana is in that mana stone?” the headmaster asked. Zigg then felt the mana stone and was overwhelmed. The mana stone was almost full, if it was full it would have started to glow or leech out mana.

“A lot of mana, you could cast a high level spell with this. How did you come across this?” Zigg asked.

“Well believe it or not it was made last month and it was filled to that much in two weeks.” The headmaster told him.

“How?! It would take a mage four weeks of constantly draining their mana every day and no ability to defend themselves whatsoever!” Zigg complained.

“Well it’s true that that’s what it would take but what if the person wasn’t a known mage? The person had the mana of a high level mage and had no need to defend himself.” The headmaster asked.

“Then it would be possible but what mage deprives himself of his abilities?” Zigg asked.

“A mage who hasn’t had his awakening. Of course that boy would have to have magic abilities of a savant.” The headmaster declared.

“OK, yes but a magical savant would have green eyes, I know this because Magus Maxil is said to have green eyes.” Zigg told him.

“Exactly, Young Kaiden had green eyes, until a friend of theirs drained his mana every week, until it was moved to every day due to his growing mana storing abilities. Kaiden has Lina been draining your mana recently?” The headmaster asked.

“Not for the last two days. She said she’ll do it tomorrow.” Kaiden said.

“Well now Zigg, would you like to drain his mana and transfer it into this empty stone? This is of course if you want to.” The headmaster said with a little challenge in his voice as he waved a stone around.

Zigg used [Telekinesis] on the stone and took it and went to Kaiden. Kaiden held out his hand and Zigg began to drain magic and he couldn’t believe what he felt. The amount of mana coming from him was more than his own mana and there was more still coming.

“Can we stop? I’m starting to feel tired” Kaiden asked

“Ok, but I need some time alone.” Zigg said to himself.

“What for?” The headmaster asked.

“Oh um, I have to revise a special plan for Kaiden, his mana is already beyond me and it’s hurt my pride a little but I will make him even greater than me. He will become a grand mage by the age of sixteen, screw the institute this will be way more interesting!” Zigg exclaimed and thus Kaiden now had a new master.

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