Twelve years later

The sun hung high in the sky, casting warm golden rays over the small village of Hearthvale. The sound of children playing in the distance filled the air, while villagers went about their daily routines—tending to crops, gathering water, or repairing their homes.

Among them was a twelve-year-old boy, sitting on a small hill near the village outskirts. His sharp green eyes gazed into the horizon, his dark hair swaying slightly in the breeze. His name was Thaddeus Lore, and today marked twelve years since his reincarnation into this world.

He was no longer a fragile baby. His body was lean, yet sturdy, thanks to years of practice and experimentation with his abilities. Bending. It had been his greatest secret, his hidden talent, and for the past twelve years, he had worked tirelessly to master it.

---

A Glimpse of His Power

Thaddeus sat cross-legged on the grass, stretching out his hands toward a small metal dagger lying in front of him. With a deep breath, he focused, feeling the familiar warmth of energy flow through his fingertips.

The dagger wobbled slightly before suddenly twisting, reshaping itself into a perfectly round metal ball. A moment later, it uncurled and stretched out like a thin wire, then curled back into its original form.

"Not bad," he muttered to himself, a small smirk forming on his lips.

Over the years, he had learned to bend not just metal, but wood, stone, and even softer materials like cloth. His bending ability had no limits, but it required practice. Unlike the first time when he accidentally enlarged a clay ball bigger than his house, he now had control—well, most of the time.

"Still," he sighed, looking at his hands. "I can't bend living things. At least, not yet."

The thought made him shiver slightly. What if one day he could bend flesh? That was too terrifying to even consider.

He shook his head and stood up, dusting off his clothes. He had one goal before the sun set: test his bending against something stronger. He turned to a large boulder sitting a few meters away.

"Alright, big guy. Let's see if I can bend you."

Placing his hand on the rock's surface, he focused deeply. He imagined softening it, turning it into something moldable. A familiar hum of energy ran through his body.

The rock shuddered.

Then—

"Thaddeus!"

A voice shouted from behind him.

Thaddeus froze in panic. The boulder, which had just started shifting, immediately stopped mid-transformation. He turned around slowly to see his mother, Flora, standing a few feet away.

She had aged gracefully over the years, still as beautiful as the first day he saw her, but now with a more mature and motherly presence.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked, hands on her hips.

Thaddeus quickly hid his hand behind his back. "Uhh... nothing! Just, you know... admiring the boulder."

Flora raised an eyebrow, then glanced at the rock. She frowned, tilting her head slightly. "Why does it look... odd?"

Thaddeus gulped. "Err... maybe it's always been like that?"

Flora stared at the boulder for a moment longer before shaking her head with a sigh. "Come on, you're late for lunch."

Thaddeus let out a silent sigh of relief and followed her back home.

---

Back in the village, Thaddeus sat at the dining table, munching on a piece of bread while listening to his father, Alexander, talk about the latest rumors.

"Did you hear?" Alexander said, taking a sip of his ale. "A group of knights passed through Hearthvale last week. People say they were on a mission for the Royal Order."

Thaddeus' eyes lit up. Knights. Magic. The Royal Order. These were things he rarely heard about, since his parents never talked about the outside world much.

"Did they have magic?" Thaddeus asked excitedly.

Alexander chuckled. "Of course. Some knights train in magic, while others rely on pure skill. They say only the strongest warriors get chosen for the Royal Order."

Thaddeus leaned back, deep in thought. Knights. Magic. A world beyond this small village. He wanted to see it all.

---

Later that night, as Thaddeus lay in bed staring at the ceiling, a familiar blue screen suddenly flashed in front of his eyes.

[System Update]

New Quest: Improve Bending Mastery

Task: Successfully bend three different types of materials in one day.

Reward: +5 Bending Skill, ???

Thaddeus grinned. "Finally, a new challenge."

He turned over and closed his eyes, his mind racing with possibilities. Tomorrow, he would push his abilities even further.