“Maki, you’re definitely a prodigy. The way you balance those twin swords, your feints, precise strikes, and perfect judgment combined with those fast movements… you’ve become one of the toughest opponents I’ve ever faced. You’re devilishly skilled.”

  “You should be used to all this by now, Sers. We’ve been training with Maki every day this past month, and he still keeps surprising us. If he keeps this up, I’ll stop seeing him as a child.”

  The three of us sat down, laughing and chatting about our duel. It’s been a month since my birthday, and I’ve been practicing every single day with Sers and Ritmo.

  Ritmo spent nearly all his savings on a set of collars. These collars generate a layer around the body that absorbs damage from physical, magical, or willpower-infused attacks. Once the set limit is surpassed, a red protective layer appears, signaling the end of the duel.

  “These collars still amaze me. After every fight, the pain vanishes. We can train to our limits without the fear of getting hurt—or hurting others.” We first used them the day after my birthday, and I couldn’t believe it. They’re a marvel of technology fused with magic and runes.

  “Yeah, I was shocked the first time I used one at school. It really helped me push my aggressive style without worrying about injuries.” Sers’s fighting style is brutally straightforward—he tries to cut corners by taking hits or blocking with his axe. Someone like Ritmo is his worst nightmare.

  “It’s similar for a mage. We try to keep our distance for as long as we can. That’s our advantage—but if someone gets close, we usually lose. With this collar, I can practice evasions and quick decisions without fearing death.” Ritmo is really skilled. In his school’s last tournament, he ranked in the top 15. It wasn’t enough to qualify for the interschool competition, but being among the top fifteen still shows his strength and control.

  “Maki, have you thought about your future?” Ritmo asked. “You turned eight a month ago. I know I’m rushing things, but I can’t stop thinking about all the things you could achieve. I don’t mean to disrespect our territory, but your growth here would be limited.”

  Ritmo brings this up almost daily, hoping I’ve changed my mind. A week after we began training together, he brought it up again during lunch with our parents. He wants to take me to the Count’s territory.

  He proposed to our parents that I go with him to Weri County for the remaining two years he’ll be living there. In those two years, he plans to absorb all the knowledge he can and return to implement it here in our small territory. After all, Ritmo is set to inherit the Baronet title soon.

  Our parents were hesitant about letting me go at such a young age. But after a few days, they made a surprising decision: Maki will decide his own future.

  I’m just eight years old—why give me that kind of freedom? I don’t act like a child, I don’t think like one, and I’m more skilled than most, but I am still a child.

  “I haven’t made up my mind yet. Honestly, I want to spend more time in Kasa with my parents and grandmother.” It’d be a lie to say I’m not tempted by the benefits Ritmo’s offering, but I still feel too young.

  “I’m not trying to pressure you,” Ritmo replied. “Just weigh the pros and cons. Your cube will be fully formed in less than a week. Once you go through your ceremonies, you’ll be able to start proper training—and you’ll get much more out of it if you come with me.”

  “I understand that. I might even get a mentor there, but here in Kasa, our parents and grandmother can guide me too,” I tried to argue.

  “You’re still a child, but you must’ve noticed—lately we barely see them. They’re expanding our territory, and the number of monsters has gone up these past two weeks. They won’t have the time to act as full-time mentors for you.” I’d heard about the expansion—a second small village of ours with under four thousand residents is growing.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Maki, you’re awakening almost two years earlier than 95% of people in this world. Even a mid-rank Amethyst Awakener wouldn’t stand a chance against you right now. Once you get your magic, I can’t even guess how strong you’ll be.” Sers’s words took me by surprise—he usually stays quiet or adds short comments when this topic comes up. Maybe he just didn’t want to influence me too much.

  “Sers is right. We’re not forcing you to come. Just think it over during this last week before we leave,” Ritmo said, ending the conversation. We’ve been having this same talk every day.

  My brothers are leaving next week, and they’re hoping to see me awaken before they go. If my calculations are right, it should happen in a day or two.

  I’m honestly anxious for it. I never imagined I’d feel such desperation. I’ll be able to use magic and willpower—I’ll be so much stronger in this world. The possibilities are endless this time.

  Lying in bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about Ritmo’s offer, just like every other night.

  Going with him would bring huge benefits: I’d get to train with a tutor and other talented people, have access to basic potions that enhance magic and willpower control, and witness different types of magic I could learn from.

  I do want to spend more time with my family—but that’s not the main reason I haven’t decided to leave.

  The real reason is… I don’t want to reveal myself too soon to influential people. Ritmo trusts Count Weri and his son deeply, and I’m sure they’re good people. It’s just that… I learned something harsh in my past life: The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

  Maybe I’m being paranoid. Maybe everything would go smoothly if I went to Weri County. But… what if there’s some internal conflict? From what I know, the next count hasn’t been decided. It’s a battle between two brothers.

  Ritmo swears the succession is peaceful. The brothers don’t hate each other and are competing fairly by earning achievements. But I’ve seen firsthand how people change when they start to lose their power, privilege, or status.

  A weak but promising link is always the first to be cut.

  I was about to sleep when I heard someone walking toward my room. Then came a knock.

  “Maki, it’s me—Sers. Can we talk?” Sers often comes by at night just to talk or sit together in silence, each lost in our own thoughts.

  “It’s open, Sers. Come in.”

  He stayed quiet for a few minutes, lying on the floor, then finally spoke.

  “I don’t like thinking about complicated stuff like ‘a better future.’ I also don’t want to force you into a decision you might regret.” He paused briefly before continuing.

  “I just want to share my point of view. Just hear me out for a moment.”

  “I want you to be happy, Maki. I don’t want to see you carrying such a heavy burden on your shoulders, brother. I know the benefits of going with Ritmo. And even if he can act a bit silly sometimes, I also know how someone like you—with your talent—could be used by others.” He probably knows about the Weri succession too.

  “Ritmo loves you just as much as I do. He doesn’t want to see you suffer and he’ll understand whatever decision you make. Just… make sure it’s one you won’t regret. I’ve been thinking a lot about this, and if I were in your shoes, I’d stay in Kasa.”

  “From my perspective, the best path for you would be to grow stronger here, then apply to an academy. Most students enter at thirteen or fourteen. There’s no minimum age, but you have to pass each academy’s tests to get in.”

  “You could probably do it at ten. But being that young comes with more problems than advantages unless you have a strong sponsor. Sure, we’re nobles, and no commoner will try to intimidate you—but higher-ranking nobles or the wealthy? That’s another story.”

  “Our rank means nothing compared to a Viscount or above. They’ve got insanely strong people and the resources to make things ‘look like an accident.’”

  He paused every few sentences. That showed how serious he was. Sers usually talks without thinking much—this just showed how much he cares.

  “Enter the Marquess Timal’s rookie tournament when you’re ten. That’ll open doors for you. The prizes are huge, and the only requirement is to be between ten and eleven years old. You’ll win it easily. I’m not saying to show all your strength—just win it convincingly. That’ll give you more options.”

  I’ve noticed something in this world—there are many tournaments to show one’s strength.

  I never expected something like this from Sers. I’m grateful to be part of this family. They all love me and genuinely worry about me.

  “Thank you, Sers. I’ll think things through all this week and make a decision I won’t regret.”

  We talked for hours about the tournament and some of the competitions he’d been in at school, until it was finally time to sleep.