The morning mist clung lazily to the grass as Rei and Tenko made their way toward the training field just beyond the outskirts of Namor town. The rising sun bathed the field in soft gold, and the breeze carried with it the scent of dew-soaked earth and the faint rustle of distant trees. Rei walked with a bag slung over one shoulder, filled with books and scrolls detailing elemental formations, Qi control, and the self-written theory of Sorcery. Tenko balanced on his shoulder like usual, his fluffy tail flicking with each bounce, until the training field came into view. Then, with a small yap, he leapt down, landing with a light thud on the soft grass.
Rei dropped the bag near a tree stump and clapped his hands once to get Tenko's attention.
"Okay," Rei said, his tone instructional, like a teacher addressing a dedicated student. "Today, I'm going to show you how to make a Wind Bomb."Tenko's ears perked up, eyes wide with curiosity.
"First, you need to make several miniature tornadoes at once," Rei said, raising one hand. A series of swirling wind spirals spun into existence above his open palm—each one tight, fast, and whistling softly.
Tenko sat attentively, tail wrapped around his paws.
"Now," Rei continued, "you place the tornadoes side by side, making sure their flow is complementary—not clashing. Like this."
He brought the mini-tornadoes together, aligning them with an unseen precision. The moment they touched, they began to swirl together, compressing until they formed a dense orb of spinning wind—a Wind Bomb.
"And that's it. Wind Bomb, ready to detonate," Rei said, flicking the orb into the air where it dispersed with a sharp whoosh.
Tenko immediately got to work, his tiny paws raised and his focus absolute. Unlike creating simple wind gusts, forming multiple tornadoes at once proved significantly harder. His control wavered, and the first set collapsed in on themselves with a puff of air and a sneeze from the fox.
Rei gave a small laugh, but there was pride in his voice. "Take your time. You'll get it."
With Tenko occupied, Rei turned and made his way toward the Hunter's Tower in the center of town. The tower loomed over the nearby buildings like a watchful guardian, its black stone exterior etched with symbols of past glories—of heroes, beasts, and hunts long since passed.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of parchment, leather, and the faint metallic tang of weapon oil. Rei walked toward the quest board, scanning the available tasks. Most were low-tier: clearing weeds, carrying goods, feeding livestock. But then his eyes landed on one that felt familiar—Herb Gathering near Hegaroar Territory. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. Perfect.
He took the task slip and approached the receptionist, a young woman with sharp eyes and an impatient manner. She barely looked up as he handed it in.
"I'm registering this one," Rei said simply.
She nodded and scribbled his name into the log. "Stay safe out there."
On his way back out of the tower and toward the forest path, Rei saw an old man sitting on a bench, gnawing on a piece of dried meat with slow, deliberate bites. There was a quiet wisdom to his gaze, the kind that only came with watching too many seasons pass.
Rei approached respectfully. "Hello, Elder. May I ask something?"
The man looked up, eyes sharp beneath bushy brows. "Hmm? What is it, boy?"
"Are there any magic schools near this town?"
The old man squinted. "Magic, you say? You don't look like you've got a drop of it."
Rei paused, the truth heavy on his tongue. I created Sorcery… I don't need magic. But he couldn't say that aloud. Not here. Not to this man.
"Oh, nothing like that," Rei said, shrugging casually. "I was just curious. My sister has magic. She's three years older than me. I wanted to know if she might be studying somewhere nearby."
The old man relaxed. "Ah, I see, I see. That makes more sense. Well, no magic schools in our country, I'm afraid. All of them are in the GALU Republic."
"GALU, huh?"
The old man nodded. "But don't go getting ideas. The schools there are strict. They don't take students until they're twenty-three."
Rei blinked. "Twenty-three? That late?"
The elder grunted. "That's because kids here are kicked out of their homes by age ten. If they want an education, they've got to earn the money for it. By the time they're twenty-three, those who've survived and saved enough get their chance."
"I see," Rei said softly, eyes drifting toward the road leading east. "So… I'll have to head to the GALU Republic eventually."
He thanked the elder and headed toward the forest path, his mind filled with swirling thoughts. A school for magic… a place where mages gather. Would they recognize Sorcery? Or reject it?
He was deep in thought when the rustling bushes ahead snapped his attention back to reality. A Hegaroar burst from the trees—a massive, boar-like creature with thick muscles and snarling tusks, charging at full speed. Its yellow eyes locked onto Rei, and it roared.
Rei didn't panic. He'd been waiting for this.
In a swift motion, he pulled a compact crossbow from within his Whispering Cloak. The weapon was small, sleek, and deadly. He took aim at the beast's head and fired.
Thwip!
The arrow struck true, embedding itself just above the Hegaroar's snout. It didn't stop. Blood splattered, but the beast charged on, howling in rage. Rei leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the crushing hooves, and reloaded.
The second shot hit the beast's back, puncturing near the spine. The Hegaroar skidded to a stop, turned, and now moved in a weaving pattern—zigzagging like a snake, trying to make its charge unpredictable.
"Smart," Rei muttered. "But not enough."
He stomped on the ground and released a Dust Explosion, creating a thick cloud of smoke and debris. He disappeared from sight, and the Hegaroar charged blindly.
From within the dust, Rei fired the final arrow.
Thwip!
Straight into the eye.
The beast screamed and toppled over, writhing in pain. It wasn't dead yet.
Rei walked forward calmly and drew a short sword from his side. He placed the blade against the Hegaroar's skull and thrust it in with a single, clean motion.
Silence.
He exhaled and dragged the heavy carcass over his shoulders. He gathered the herbs swiftly and started his walk back toward town, blood staining his cloak, dirt clinging to his boots.
The Hunter's Tower was loud when he entered.
Conversations halted when the large body of the Hegaroar dropped onto the stone floor with a thud. The receptionist stood, eyes wide.
"H-he killed a Hegaroar?" someone whispered.
The receptionist stared at the body. "Looks like… he used a bow. He was just… lucky it hit the eye."
"Yeah," said a hunter from the side. "Total fluke. Two arrows in the head and back, then one in the eye? Lucky shot."
"Just luck," another muttered. "No real skill."
Rei heard them all. He didn't respond. He didn't care.
He looked at the receptionist. "This should be enough to prove my strength. I want to apply for the Level 8 test."
The receptionist hesitated, then nodded. "Y-you have enough points, but there's a formal test."
"Schedule it for tomorrow."
She handed him a form. Rei filled it out swiftly and handed it back, all while the whispers continued.
"Fluke."
"Beginner's luck."
"He just got lucky."
Rei ignored them all. Neither Luc nor the mysterious cloaked man watching from the shadows spoke. But they noticed.
Rei stepped out into the sun once more, Tenko bounding toward him from the edge of the field.
The world could whisper all it wanted.
He'd let his actions speak.