"Are you okay?" Thesia asked. She was worried. Although she knew he wasn't going to die she still felt responsible.
"I am all good!" Tyrin said. "I have an idea."
Before Thesia could utter a word, Tyrin sat back down, inhaling deeply. He steadied his breath, repeating the process he had practiced before.
Mana seeped in from the world around him, swelling within his body, pulsing like a second heartbeat.
He closed his eyes and focused, visualizing his intent. He recalled the perfect balance from his dream—the serene harmony where chaos found order.
Slowly, the mana began to flow, moving through him and back into the world, an endless cycle of energy. He did not falter. He did not break his concentration.
He simply breathed.
Then, something changed.
The world mana surged into him, flooding him with raw power—more than he had ever felt in his life. It exhilarated him, urged him to take control, to shape it, to wield it. He concentrated, shifting all his focus toward his hands, guiding the energy with deliberate intent. Tiny streams of mana coursed through his body, flowing up from his legs, winding through his arms, finally settling in his palms.
His hands began to glow. Brilliant, radiant, alive.
With a final push, Tyrin projected the mana outward. The energy coalesced before him, shaping itself into a perfect circle—a barrier of pure mana, shimmering in the air
Thesia was in complete shock! Tyrin just learned to make a magic barrier out of pure World Mana. This is a feat that even trained mages couldn't do. It was a remarkable feat.
"It is typical that one learns to control their own mana before controlling the mana of the world." Thesia thought, "It is nearly impossible for even the most trained mage to do. I intended that Tyrin would discover his Mana core by doing the breathing exercise it appears I was wrong though." Thesia was confused, "How strong will Tyrin get? With barely any guidance he has conquered a very challenging task. I think I need to reel back the training a bit." Thesia laughed a little bit but she was truly concerned.
While Thesia was thinking to herself, Tyrin discovered a lot.
Tyrin learned that magic was all based on visualization. You had to a clear mental image of what you wanted to do and how you wanted it to be done. "This is awesome!" He stuttered. Tyrin started to picture different shapes and moved the world mana likewise. Although he was quickly interrupted by Thesia.
"Tyrin! This is amazing!"
"What do you mean Thesia? I just did... stuff" He shrugged not really knowing what he had done.
"The magic talent you are displaying is keen to an Archmage. An honorific title bestowed upon those who have dedicated years of their life to magical research!"
"But I just learned how to do this?" Tyrin shrugged it off like it was nothing unaware of the significance of his actions.
"Let me think of analogy you'll understand." She thought for a moment, "It is like back on earth if a 6 year old child were to attend and pass a quantum mechanics course with no prior knowledge!" She continued, "A feat that is unheard of..." She spiraled on about how unreal it was.
"I still don't understand the problem." Tyrin couldn't understand if Thesia was angry or happy. "Is it good that I'm so called 'amazing' like you said?"
"It is wonderful Tyrin! But it could raise major issues." Thesia's tone shifted, "If a noble of Eldrida or a foreign power found out about it you could be in serious trouble."
Tyrin understood now. It wasn't a problem with him, it was a problem with the idea of "normal"
"When I get to the Village I'll have to hide this from everyone won't I?" Tyrin asked.
"You will but that's not a problem. You're a kid and no one expects you to know magic already. So just don't use it and we'll be fine." Thesia said comfortingly.
"Speaking of the Village, I think we should go. I really need to eat." Tyrin grabbed his stomach as if he was dying.
"You're the one that wanted to stop!" Thesia said jokingly.
~~~
The two left their cave and went back to the path they were walking before.
While they were walking Tyrin was experimenting with Mana. This time not using the World Mana like before. He tried to stimulate the Mana of his body in the same was as before. Except this time he wasn't focused on his breath, he was focused on his body. Not what was coming in, but what was already there.
After a few minutes he started feeling a stirring within his Solar Plexus. It was similar to the World Mana but it was more distinct. Like it was constantly moving whether he wanted it to or not.
"This must be it!" He exclaimed.
"What did you figure out?" Thesia asked.
Too focused Tyrin didn't respond. He just kept walking and focusing on himself.
He started using the breathing technique that Thesia taught him to look within his own body. This time not guiding the world mana just letting it seep into his body and stimulate his senses.
There it was, He could see it.
With in his solar plexus there was a red mass. It wasn't a physical organ, more like an ethereal presence.
"Ha HA! I see it! That's my Mana Core!!" Tyrin was excited.
If Thesia could, she would be having a heart attack. "This is just too crazy, I teach you how to breathe and you discover magic all on your own. What will I ever do with you?"
Tyrin sighed and shrugged, "What will I ever do with you?! I'm being serious. You're a powerful being with nearly 1 thousand years of magical knowledge and you've decided to bond with a 6 year old who isn't even from this planet? What will I ever do with you?"
"Well I guess we'll both learn together because the Village is just a head"
Tyrin was walking for nearly an hour from when they departed the cave. He told Thesia through his mind, "It must be nice hitching a ride!"
Thesia laughed, "It sure is!"
Standing before Tyrin was 1 large gate. It was nearly 4.5 meters (around 15 feet) tall. Large stone walls were on both sides of the gate wrapping around the Village as well as 1 guard posted on each side of the gate.
One guard wore shiny plate armor and wielded a short sword and a shield. The other Guard wore light armor made of leather and wielded a spear. Each stood cautioned like they were waiting for some thing to happen.
"I wonder what they are all worked up about? Let's go investigate."
Tyrin started to rush slightly towards the guards' location.
This put the guards further on edge. There have been reports of bandits on the roads stealing from carriages passing through. The guards were concerned that Tyrin might have been a bandit.
With a second glance the guards brought down their weapons. The boy running toward them had soot stained clothes that have ripped and been torn everywhere. He didn't have anything other than the clothes on his back, no shoes, no family, and he looked extremely ill.
The guards looked to each other and said, "We need to help this kid."
Tyrin ran toward them and asked them a simple question, "What is going on here? You guys looked really concerned."
The guards were taken aback. The one in light armor responded, "We are the ones who looked concerned? We thought you needed help!"
The guard in the heavy armor added in, "We are fine we need to get you some help kid, I don't know if you have noticed but you're kind of a mess."
The guards were talking to Tyrin as if he wasn't a kid but a young man. They didn't know why but he seemed older than he looked.
"So kid," The lightly armored guard continued. "What happened to you?"
"I really don't know." Tyrin was mostly honest with the guard leaving out details that weren't normal, "I woke up with my house in a blazing inferno. I escaped just before it collapsed."
The guards audibly gasped, "That explains the ashes," they thought.
"Right as I got out there was a massive wolf that had fire coming out of its fur. I didn't think I was going to live." Tyrin acted as if it had traumatized him. Looking back at the path where he came from. "Do you think he'll come back?" Tyrin let out small tears huddling close to the guards.
"You are safe now buddy. Let's get you into the Village and get you fixed up.
The guards pushed open the gates and guided Tyrin inside.
They started speaking with each other, "Do you think that's the beast that has been starting those fires?"
"There's no way!" Were some of the things they said.
Tyrin asked Thesia what they were talking about, "Did you start more fires?"
Thesia said, "No. Your house was on fire by mistake. It wasn't supposed to catch fire. The Pyrolykos lost control of the flame that was supposed to draw you out. I promise."
Tyrin sensed no lies behind Thesia's words. "Okay then that's fine but we should still get to the bottom of this."
"Agreed" she responded.
Tyrin went back to the guards, They were walking just fast enough that they stayed ahead of him but just slow enough he could keep pace.
"We are going to take you to the Adventurers Guild. There they will get you all fixed up and help you get settled in to the new village." The plated armored guard said. "They will treat you just right, they are the ones that helped me back when I first came here. I hope they show you the same hospitality."
Hearing those words Tyrin was comforted. He was slowly realizing that as a 6 year old he couldn't just stay out in the woods. He would need to learn skills that he could use to support himself. But most of all he needed food and a place to sleep.
"I guess this is the start to my new adventure!" Tyrin said. He was feeling optimistic.