I woke up early the next morning.
Back in my world, I had the habit of staying up late, but here, I was waking up faster than the sunrise. I washed myself, changed into clean clothes, and packed my small bag along with the two swords I'd be taking with me.
My stomach still ached..I'd eaten too much last night. It was Tyler's favorite meal in this world: meat gravy with rice. I liked it, but it wasn't my favorite. I didn't really have one. Back home, I liked everything my mom cooked.
I went down and meet with the kids.
The younger kids were trying to act happy that I was leaving to become a knight, but I could see the sadness in their faces. I didn't blame them. I wasn't good at dealing with loss either.
Outside the orphanage, everyone had gathered to see me off. To my surprise, there was even a cameraman standing there with an old, mana-powered camera.
Yes...a cameraman. In this world. I was shocked. The camera looked ancient, running on mana stones instead of batteries.
"Come, Tyler, sit in the center," said Sister Mariya.
I sat down, with Sister Mariya and Sister Jun beside me, and the children crowded around. The cameraman raised his device and said, "Cheese!" The flash went off, and the picture was taken.
It was a tradition at the orphanage...whenever a child left, whether to study, work, or be adopted, a photo was taken as a memory. I would receive my copy once I left for the Ducal City after two months.
I wanted to see how the picture came out, but it didn't work like that. Here, photos took five days to develop.
Afterward, everyone came to say goodbye. A horse cart waited for me...probably sent by Tev himself. Sister Mariya handed me a sealed letter.
"This will help you enter the Baron's mansion," she said.
"Brother, will you come back and meet us?" Nina asked in her small, trembling voice.
I smiled, placing a hand gently on her head. "Don't worry, Nina. I'll come back in two months, I promise."
Then I climbed into the cart, waved one last time, and the wheels began to roll.
The road to Baron Halt's mansion was rough, and the wooden cart jumped with every bump. The mansion was about twenty kilometers from the village of Lirial.
When we finally arrived, I saw the grand estate surrounded by stone walls and soldiers patrolling with spears and armor. I stepped out of the cart and approached the gate, where a guard stood watch.
"Are you Tyler?" the guard asked, glancing at me.
"Yes. This is a letter from Lord Tev," I said, handing it to him.
He examined the letter, nodded, and led me through the grounds to a large training yard behind the mansion. Dozens of soldiers were practicing sword forms, their movements sharp and disciplined.
"Wait here," the guard said and went inside.
As I watched the soldiers train, something cold brushed my hand. I looked down...a small flake of snow had landed on it.
Snow. So, winter was starting already.
Winter is coming, I thought with a faint smirk.
I was still watching the soldiers when I heard heavy footsteps behind me. I turned...it was Tev.
"Greetings, Lord Tev," I said respectfully.
He looked up at the gray sky. "Ah, looks like snowfall will begin soon," he said, his tone calm. "So, how do you feel here, Tyler?"
"It feels good, my lord. It's my first time visiting a noble estate," I replied politely.
"So, ready to become a knight?" he asked.
"Yes, Lord. I'm very excited to learn under your guidance," I said.
"Good," he replied. "Then come to the training ground and leave your belongings here."
I placed my bag aside and followed him to the center of the arena.
"I'd like to ask you something, Tyler," he said suddenly. "Why do you think I chose you?"
I hesitated, not knowing what to say. After a moment, I answered, "Because I was one of the two survivors of the forest… and I also awakened my mana core."
Tev nodded slightly. "That's part of it. But not the real reason."
He turned his sharp eyes toward me.
"I chose you because you have talent...something that girl lacked. But that talent means little when compared to the nobles. You may be gifted, but only in this small pond. You're a frog who hasn't seen the ocean."
His words stung, but I stayed silent.
"Your core may rival theirs," he continued, "but noble children begin training at four or five. They wield weapons before they can read. They drink strengthening potions and learn from the best teachers. The girl who trained beside you is more experienced than you'll ever be right now. I almost questioned my choice when I saw how easily she could have surpassed you… if she had awakened her core."
He paused, then added,
"But you, Tyler....you awakened your mana in a place where monsters roam freely. You fought to survive. You showed willpower. And that matters more than talent alone."
I nodded quietly.
"The breathing technique I gave you....you're using it, but your rhythm isn't perfect yet. Don't worry, I don't expect mastery in a few days," Tev said with a faint smirk. "Let's start with what you'll be learning during these two months."
He folded his arms. "First, what is your class? Do you know it?"
"No, Lord," I said confidently. "I don't know my class."
"As expected," he said.
(In truth, I had lied....because no one else here had a system like mine.)
In Lumariya, a person's Class is the reflection of their soul and potential, revealed when their Mana Core awakens. It determines their fighting style, abilities, and path in life. Some gain common classes like Knight or Mage, while others awaken rare or forbidden ones that reveal the true nature of their soul.
There's an artifact made from pure Aether, shaped like a glowing orb. When an awakened person places their hand on it, the orb reveals their affinity and class.
Crazy, right?
His eyes flicked to the swords on my waist.
"…seeing you hold two swords tells me you favor them. But why two?"
"I feel more comfortable using both, sir," I said honestly. "It just feels natural."
"Hmm. A dual swordsman, like Commander Arthur Dewn," he said, mentioning a name I didn't recognize. Still, I smiled faintly.
In my previous world, I was ambidextrous—I could write with both hands.
Looks like that talent came with me.
"So now," Tev said firmly, "I'll tell you about the path of a knight and your two months of training. I'll at least teach you the basics."
He walked across the courtyard, his boots echoing against the stone.
"Your training will begin before sunrise. Each day starts with three hours of endurance drills—running, pushups, and balance exercises to build stamina. After breakfast, you'll practice breathing control and mana circulation to strengthen your core. In the afternoon, we move to combat practice—first hand-to-hand combat, then wooden weapons. You'll learn to block, dodge, and strike without relying on brute force. A true knight uses both body and mind."
He stopped in front of me, eyes sharp.
"You'll spar with me and the other trainees every few days to test your progress. At night, you'll meditate using your breathing technique to recover and expand your mana. Remember, Tyler—this isn't just about fighting. It's about discipline, control, and knowing your limits."
"Yes, Lord Tev—or should I call you Master now?" I asked.
He gave a short laugh. "I may be teaching you, but you're not my disciple. Address me as Sir. That much respect is enough."
"Yes, Sir Tev," I replied with a nod.
He removed his long coat and handed it to an attendant. "There's still time before sunset," he said. "Let's use it."
I blinked. "Use it for what, Sir?"
He cracked his knuckles lightly. "For hand-to-hand combat. Let's see how you fare without a weapon."
"Uh… it'll be fine, sir, but you're much stronger than me," I said nervously.
"Don't worry," he replied with a confident grin. "I won't use mana or aura, and I'll match my strength to your level."
I took a deep breath, believing him, set my swords aside, and stepped into the training arena.
"Get ready, Tyler," he said, lowering into a stance. "I'm coming."
I mirrored his posture. I knew a bit of fighting from my previous world, but this… this was different.
The next moment, Tev disappeared.
A blur.
Before I could even react, a solid impact slammed into my stomach, and I was airborne.
My body hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of me. I gasped, clutching my abdomen, my vision spinning.
"What… just happened…?" I wheezed.
Then I remembered how Tev had floored that soldier with a single move before.
I groaned, half in pain, half in disbelief.
Hey… you, Mr. Traveler… save me…