In the magical world of Aerindale, power was everything.
From the moment a child turned six, their mana was tested. Strong mana meant respect. Weak mana meant struggle. And no mana at all meant a life of silence.
Ethan had no mana.
He stood at the edge of the village training ground, holding a wooden bucket filled with water. Sweat rolled down his face as magical sparks flew everywhere around him. Children his age were practicing fire spells, wind cuts, and light barriers. Laughter echoed when spells succeeded—and mocking whispers followed when Ethan passed by.
"There goes the mana-less boy," someone said softly.
"He'll never be anything," another laughed.
Ethan heard everything.
He always did.
But he never replied.
Instead, he clenched his fists and continued his work. He helped the blacksmith, cleaned the training field, and repaired broken tools. While others grew strong with magic, Ethan grew strong with patience.
That night, as the sun dipped below the hills, Ethan walked alone toward the nearby forest. The Silver Forest was dangerous, but herbs grew there—valuable herbs. Selling them helped him survive.
The forest was quiet… too quiet.
Suddenly, a sharp scream broke the silence.
Ethan froze.
"Help!" a girl's voice cried.
Without thinking, Ethan ran toward the sound. He pushed through bushes and found a strange sight—a girl trapped against a tree, her clothes torn, fear in her eyes. In front of her stood a Shadow Beast, its red eyes glowing in the dark.
Ethan's heart pounded.
He had no mana.
No weapon.
No chance.
Yet his feet moved forward.
"Hey!" he shouted, grabbing a fallen branch.
The beast turned toward him, growling. For a moment, Ethan felt death breathe against his skin. His hands trembled—but he did not run.
The beast lunged.
Something strange happened.
A warm sensation spread from Ethan's chest through his entire body. Time felt slow. His vision sharpened. Instinct took over.
He moved.
The branch struck the beast's eye with impossible precision. The creature screamed and fled into the darkness, leaving behind silence.
Ethan collapsed to his knees, gasping.
The girl stared at him in shock.
"You…" she whispered. "You shouldn't be alive."
Ethan looked up, confused.
"I just didn't want you to die," he replied simply.
The girl smiled softly, her silver eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"My name is Lyria," she said.
"And you just changed your fate."
Above them, unseen by both, a faint symbol began to glow in the sky—
marking the beginning of a destiny that would shake the world.