Ever-Watch Orphanage
After dinner, the children went to their rooms and the entire orphanage became quiet. The only sound left was the steady rhythm of the cool night air passing through the trees.
It was midnight, but Stellian was wide awake. He sat silently in his room, waiting for the exact moment when he was sure everyone else was deep in sleep. When the silence felt heavy enough, he peeked out of his door.
The hallway was dark and completely still. Using light, quick steps, he made his way outside and into the very center of the garden. He stood there under the moon. This time, he didn't even close his eyes.
He simply focused on the space around him, and the mana appeared. It drifted through the air like tiny sparks. He tried to reach out and grab a handful, but his fingers slipped right through the light. He tried again and again, but he couldn't grasp it physically.
'Sensing the mana is just the first step. What I do next is what actually matters.'
He forced his brain to become completely calm. He pushed away every stray thought until it was just him and the energy in the air. Slowly, his hands began to feel a strange tingling sensation. He was finally touching it.
He decided to start with the easiest element: air. As he moved his palm, the mana began to spin. A cool breeze started to circle right above his skin. Within his vision, the air took on a faint green glow as it swirled around his fingers.
"Wow."
A look of genuine amusement lit up his face. He pointed his hand toward a tree in the distance and let the air go. The breeze flew from his palm and hit the trunk, but nothing happened. The leaves only fluttered for a second.
'Well, I can't expect the wind to just cut a tree down.'
While air magic seemed easy to move, shaping it into something sharp was incredibly difficult. Even Silas, who was a high-ranking Grade-9 Wind Arcanist, had told him that controlling the wind was one of the most respected skills a mage could have.
'I shouldn't waste time. I could try fire, but that would be too dangerous if I lose control.'
Stellian looked at the dry grass and the wooden benches. Fire was too risky for a secret practice session in an orphanage. Instead, he turned his attention to the blue-tinted mana.
'Let's try water.'
He gathered the azure mana into his hand and shot it toward the tree.
Splash!
The water hit the bark with a wet thud. It wasn't fast, and it didn't do any damage; it just made the wood wet. It was clearly not useful for a fight yet. But then, a mischievous idea entered his mind.
He was curious to see just how much mana he could pull together at once. He focused his entire mind on gathering every bit of mana he could reach. He compressed it into his palm until his hand felt heavy.
Then, he pointed his arm toward the sky and let it all go.
Sssssssssssssssssss...
A massive amount of water erupted from his palm. It looked like a giant tap had been opened at full pressure, but the stream was much larger than any normal pipe. The sheer volume of it was incredible.
Almost immediately, his head began to feel heavy. As he stopped the spell, the world started to spin. He looked around the garden and realized he had made a huge mess.
The benches were dripping, the trees were soaked, and the ground was covered in a layer of water about five centimeters deep.
'I am in trouble.'
He was worried about what excuse he would give in the morning, but he was too tired to think. His mind was completely exhausted from using that much power for the first time.
He stood there for a long moment, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The cool night air felt sharp against his lungs. Every muscle in his young arms felt like it had been stretched too far, and a dull, pulsing ache had started behind his eyes.
'Magic... it takes more than just focus. It gives a lot of mental pressure on the mind itself.'
He looked down at his trembling hands. He was a genius, but he was still a child. His mind could grasp the infinite, but his body was limited by the laws of nature. The silence of the night seemed to press in on him, making the sound of the dripping water feel unnaturally loud.
He didn't have the strength to clean the mess. With a heavy sigh, he turned and dragged his feet across the wet grass. Every step felt like he was walking through thick mud. He slipped back through the door, closing it with a faint click that echoed through the dark hallway.
When he finally reached his bed, he didn't even bother to take off his shoes. He collapsed onto the sheets, his eyes closing before his head even hit the pillow. The darkness of sleep pulled him under instantly, leaving the flooded garden to face the coming sun alone.
The Next Day
Stellian didn't wake up until almost noon. The light of the high sun was streaming through his window, hitting his face and forcing him awake. He groaned, his head still feeling like it was filled with wool.
He got out of bed slowly and walked toward the garden, where he could hear people talking loudly. When he stepped outside, he froze in shock.
The other children, Alina, Aurelia, and a temporary worker named Leo were all standing there, staring at the flooded garden. Every corner was wet, and the ground was a muddy disaster.
'Oh no. I need to leave.'
He turned around slowly, trying to sneak back to his room without making a single sound.
"And where do you think you are going?"
Stellian flinched. He turned his head and saw Aurelia Zenin watching him with her arms crossed. She didn't look like she was going to scream, but her eyebrows were twitching in an exasperated way.
He quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her into a quiet side hallway. He took a step back and gave her a deep, apologetic bow.
"I am sorry," he said softly. "I didn't know I would produce that much water. I was just testing my limits."
Aurelia closed her eyes and let out a long, tired sigh. "I really should tell Aunt Alina about this."
Stellian looked up at her, making his eyes look as wide and innocent as possible. "Please, Big Sis. Don't tell."
Aurelia tried to stay firm, but she couldn't stay mad at that face for long.
"Fine! I'll let it go this time. The others already think it just rained very hard last night, so we'll leave it at that. But Stellian... this is a serious problem."
She bent down so she was at his eye level.
"How can a seven-year-old—who just learned to sense mana—create a spell so big that even intermediate mages would struggle to do it?"
Stellian gave her a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of his head.
"I was just curious. I wanted to see how much mana I could use before my brain felt like it was going to shut down."
"Just curious? You're going to give me a headache," she said, shaking her head.
But then she reached out and took his hand. "Go get ready. I got permission to be your personal caretaker for the day."
Stellian looked at her, confused. "Why? I mean, I'm glad, but don't you have to help the other kids too?"
Aurelia gave him a soft, quiet smile. She didn't tell him that she had watched him sitting alone in his corner for days. She didn't do this because she was told to; she did it because she wanted that lonely boy to feel like someone was looking out for him.
"Don't worry about that. Just get ready. We are going to the Town."
The word "Town" made Stellian's heart jump. Silas had never allowed him to leave the orphanage grounds unless he was right there next to him. Going to town was something normal kids did, but for Stellian, it was a rare event.
Aurelia saw the look of worry on his face. "What's the matter, Stellian?"
"It's just... Silas told me I'm not allowed to go outside without him."
'So Master has him on a tight leash.'
Aurelia thought for a moment before patting his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll handle Silas later. Just go and change your clothes."
Stellian looked at his outfit. They were clean, but they were old commoner clothes. "What's wrong with these?"
"They're fine for playing in the dirt, but we're going out today. Go put on something nicer."
"Okay!"
Stellian ran to his room. A few minutes later, he walked back out. He had changed into a pair of crisp black trousers and a simple white shirt.
Even though they were still basic clothes, Stellian's natural appearance—his white and gold hair and those striking eyes—made the outfit look like something a young prince would wear.
"Is it better?" he asked.
Aurelia turned to look at him and smiled. "Now you actually look like you're going somewhere important."
"Yeah, whatever," Stellian muttered, though he looked pleased.
"Let's go," she said, walking toward the gates. "The carriage is waiting."
They climbed into the small, sturdy carriage, and the wheels began to turn as they started the journey toward the town.
For the first half of the trip, Stellian didn't say a single word. He kept his face pressed against the window, watching the horizon. It had been years since he had seen anything beyond the orphanage walls.
Aurelia watched him silently. 'Why did Master keep him locked away like this?'
She felt a pang of pity for him, but she quickly pushed it away. She wanted this day to be about letting him rest and clear his mind from his constant, heavy thoughts.
"Don't tire your eyes out before we even reach the town," she said playfully.
Stellian didn't look away from the window. "These fields... they look like they would be fun to play in."
Aurelia felt her heart melt a little. Even though he had the mind of a genius and acted like a miniature adult, he was still just a seven-year-old boy who wanted to run through the grass.
"We can stop there on our way back if you want," she promised.
Stellian finally turned to look at her, his eyes bright. "Really?"
"Yes! Why not? We have the whole day."
Stellian nodded and turned back to the window, a small, satisfied smile on his face. The carriage moved forward, leaving the quiet orphanage behind as the bustling sounds of the town began to echo in the distance.