Chapter 4 - Journey to the Capital

The nightmare still lingered in my mind as I woke up. Even after opening my eyes, the suffocating darkness and voices from my past felt too real. I sat on my bed for a moment, gripping my blanket tightly, trying to shake the feeling off.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I left my room, and as I stepped into the main area of the house, I saw my parents and my teacher, Sofia, preparing breakfast. The scent of freshly baked bread and warm stew filled the air, but instead of their usual cheerful chatter, I noticed something different.

When they turned to look at me, their faces were filled with concern.

"Cain, are you okay?" my father asked, his brows furrowed with worry.

My mother quickly followed, stepping closer. "We heard what happened from Sofia. Are you feeling alright? Does anything hurt?" Her voice was soft but filled with concern.

I forced a reassuring smile. "I'm okay, Mother. Don't worry, it was just an accident."

Even so, my father didn't look convinced. "Just don't push yourself too hard, Cain." His tone was firm, yet caring.

"Alright, let's eat before our breakfast gets cold," my mother said, changing the subject to lighten the mood.

A Dangerous Awakening

As we sat down at the table, Sofia explained what had happened the day before in more detail.

"Cain's mana became unstable while he was casting his first spell," she began. "He lost control, and the buildup of energy resulted in an explosion. Fortunately, it only exhausted his mana instead of causing any serious harm."

My mother gasped slightly, her hands gripping the edge of the table. "So his first spell exploded because he couldn't control the mana properly?"

Sofia nodded. "Yes, but that only proves how much potential he has. His mana capacity is already remarkable, which is why it surged out of control. I'll be focusing on teaching him proper mana control starting today."

"No training this morning," my father suddenly declared.

I blinked in surprise. "Why?" I asked, worried he was upset about what happened.

He smiled and ruffled my hair. "Because we're going to the capital today."

"The capital?" I echoed, my eyes widening.

"I have vegetables to sell at the market, but more importantly, I think we could all use a little break after what happened yesterday." My father glanced at my mother before turning back to me. "This will be your first time visiting the capital, so I want you to enjoy it."

"Sofia, you're welcome to come with us," he added.

Sofia smiled brightly. "I'd love to. Thank you."

A New Experience

Hearing that we were going to the capital made me nervous.

Even though I had lived in this world for five years, I had never once stepped beyond the village. In my past life, I never even had a real family, let alone the chance to experience something as simple as traveling. Back then, I was trapped inside a tiny apartment, drowning in my own loneliness… until I finally jumped into the abyss.

But now, I had a second chance. I had parents who truly cared for me.

Even so, deep inside, a small fear remained—what if they turned out to be like my past parents?

Pushing the thought away, I focused on getting ready.

My mother was a housewife who also helped my father with the vegetable farm. He had started growing crops when I was three, selling them in the capital once a week.

Our village was called Eldoria, a quiet place surrounded by rolling green fields and forests. The capital we were heading to was Aurendell, the heart of the kingdom of Azlanthia.

After finishing breakfast, we packed our things for the journey.

"Cain, get ready," my father called.

"Yes, Father!" I responded.

Since we didn't own a carriage, my father rented one from the village. It was small but sturdy, drawn by a single brown horse.

Once everything was set, we climbed aboard, and with a soft flick of the reins, the carriage began moving.

The road ahead stretched toward the grand city of Aurendell—my first real glimpse of the world beyond Eldoria.

And so, my journey began.