Chapter 06: Discoveries and Reflections

The sun hung low over the horizon, casting long shadows across the little village of Brishelm. Aiden's small, four-year-old frame sat in the middle of the family's backyard, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. The experience of awakening his mana core had been exhilarating, but also utterly draining. For all his excitement, Aiden was now painfully aware of one simple fact: he was starving.

Dragging his small legs toward the kitchen where his mother usually spent her mornings, Aiden pushed open the wooden door. Ayleen turned around from the counter, her auburn hair catching the light, and immediately noticed the disheveled look on her son's face.

"Aiden, darling, are you all right? You look like you've been running around for hours," she said, wiping her hands on her apron and crouching down to his level.

Aiden didn't answer immediately. His stomach let out a loud growl, causing him to blush. "I'm just… hungry," he muttered. "Really hungry."

Her lips curved into a soft smile, but as she studied him more closely, she noticed something else. His energy felt different, almost more potent than usual. "Did something happen while you were practicing?" she asked, tilting her head slightly in concern.

Aiden hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I… I think I awakened my mana core," he admitted, looking down at the ground shyly.

For a moment, Ayleen didn't react. She blinked, processing his words as if they didn't quite make sense. Then her emerald eyes widened in shock.

"You… awakened your mana core?" she repeated, her voice rising slightly.

Aiden nodded again, unsure why she looked so surprised. "Is that bad?"

"Bad? No, no, it's wonderful!" Ayleen exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug. "Aiden, do you know what this means? You awakened your core at just four years old! Do you know how rare that is? I didn't awaken my core until I was nine, and even then, I was considered a genius!"

Her excitement was contagious, and Aiden found himself smiling despite his confusion. "So… is that good?"

"It's more than good, my little star," she said, standing up and ruffling his hair. "It's incredible! This calls for a celebration."

She quickly began bustling around the kitchen, pulling out ingredients to prepare a feast. By the time Orin returned home from the village, the smell of roasted meats, freshly baked bread, and spiced vegetables filled the air.

"What's the occasion?" Orin asked, setting down his sword belt near the door. He raised an eyebrow at the spread of food on the table. "Ayleen, are we expecting company?"

Ayleen turned to him with a wide grin. "No, it's just us. But we have something to celebrate. Your son, our son, awakened his mana core today."

Orin froze mid-step, his sharp dark eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Aiden, who was busy trying to sneak a piece of bread off the table.

"Is that true, Aiden?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with surprise.

"Yes, Father," Aiden replied, sitting up straighter. "It happened while I was practicing outside."

Orin let out a low whistle and shook his head. "At four years old… That's unheard of. Even among the most gifted mages, it's rare to awaken a core so young."

Ayleen smiled proudly. "He takes after us, doesn't he?"

Orin chuckled, though his eyes betrayed a hint of worry. "That he does. But this kind of talent will draw attention if we're not careful."

After the feast was laid out, the family sat together, enjoying the food and each other's company. Laughter echoed through the cozy home as Ayleen shared stories of her own magical training, and Orin recounted tales of his days as a knight. But as the evening wore on, Orin's tone grew serious.

"Aiden," he said, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "You're special, and that's a wonderful thing. But you must be careful about showing your strength to others. People can be… unpredictable when it comes to power."

Aiden nodded solemnly. "I understand, Father. I'll keep it a secret."

Orin smiled faintly and ruffled his son's hair. "Good. That's my boy."

The next morning, Aiden was up bright and early, ready to continue his training. Ayleen led him to the backyard, where she began teaching him how to better sense and manipulate mana. She explained the fundamentals of magic and its ranking system, detailing how mages formed their cores in their dantian by gathering and refining mana over time.

"The ranks of mages are divided into ten stages," she explained. "From the embryonic stage to the peak of the Divine stage. You're in the first stage now, but with hard work and dedication, you'll climb the ranks."

Aiden listened intently, absorbing her words like a sponge. After their session, he joined Orin for his martial training.

"Just because you've awakened your mana core doesn't mean you can neglect your physical training," Orin said firmly, handing Aiden a wooden sword. "A strong body is just as important as a strong mind."

As they practiced, Orin explained the ranking system for knights.

"Knights also have ten ranks, starting from the Initiate stage and progressing all the way to the Divine Knight stage," he said. "But instead of forming a mana core, knights use their energy to create an aura core."

"Why can't someone have both a mana core and an aura core?" Aiden asked, tilting his head curiously.

Orin paused, considering the question. "The pathways for mana and aura are different," he explained. "Mana flows through mana veins, while aura flows through aura veins. If both cores were to exist in one body, the energies could clash, causing irreparable harm."

"But what if the energies didn't clash?" Aiden pressed. "Would it be possible then?"

Orin chuckled softly. "Hypothetically, perhaps. But no one has ever done it before, so we don't know if it's truly possible."

As they continued their training, Aiden decided to test his newfound ability. Focusing on his father, he activated the mysterious power granted by the shard. A small window of information appeared in his mind:

Power Level: 2100.

(Normal adult human power level: 50-100)

Aiden blinked in surprise. "Father, what stage are you at?"

"I was at the peak of the fifth stage, the Knight rank," Orin admitted. "But my strength has declined due to injuries I sustained during the war."

Aiden looked at his father with newfound respect. Despite his injuries, Orin was still incredibly powerful.

Evening Reflections

That evening, during dinner, Aiden turned to his mother. "Mother, what's your rank as a mage?"

Ayleen raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Curious, aren't you?"

Aiden nodded eagerly.

"I'm at the fifth stage as well, the Master rank," she said.

Aiden's jaw dropped.

He discreetly used the shard's ability on her.

Power Level: 3500

"You're both so strong!"

Ayleen chuckled. "There are people far stronger than us, Aiden. That's why—" She paused, her smile fading slightly.

"Why what?" Aiden asked, his curiosity piqued.

She hesitated before shaking her head. "You'll understand someday. For now, focus on your training."

As the day came to an end, Aiden lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts wandered to his parents' pasts. How had his mother, a noble from the capital, ended up in a quiet village like Brishelm? And what about his father? Where was his family?

Aiden's mind then drifted to his previous life. Though he had lived on Earth, he realized he didn't miss it. His parents had passed away when he was in junior high, leaving him to fend for himself. Boarding school, part-time jobs, and a lonely existence had defined his life.

But now, in this new world, he had a family—a real family. Clenching his fists, Aiden made a silent vow.

"I'll protect this family," he whispered. "No matter the cost."

With that thought, he closed his eyes, the golden-hued core within him pulsing faintly in the dark.