Chapter 4: The Joy of Magic

A week had passed since Zyra's awakening, and the house had been lively with celebrations. Friends, neighbors, and relatives all gathered, filling the air with laughter, chatter, and the clinking of glasses.

But amidst the joy, Zyra found herself lost in thought.

"I never imagined this would be my second life…" she mused, her small hands resting on her lap. "Before, I devoted everything to success. But maybe… this time, I should just enjoy life. Let the past be the past."

A soft smile crept onto her lips as she made peace with the thought.

Meanwhile, the restaurant buzzed with energy—some guests were drinking, others feasting, and a few gossiping. The warmth of the celebration was comforting, but for a five-year-old, it was exhausting.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Zyra lifted her tiny arms toward Kaelith and yawned, "Papa… I'm sleepy… l-let's g…o…ba—"

Before she could finish, she drifted off in his arms.

Kaelith chuckled, adjusting her gently. "Looks like it's time for us to leave. Sorry, my friends, but the party ends here for us."

The Next Morning

As the first rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains, Zyra sprang out of bed, filled with energy. She dashed through the house, giggling, her tiny feet pattering against the floor.

But before she could escape—

Lyssara caught her.

"Hold it right there, young lady," she said, raising an eyebrow. "First, you need to wash up and eat breakfast properly."

Zyra pouted, knowing there was no way out.

And so, after a proper bath and a hearty breakfast, they all sat at the dining table.

Kaelith smiled and patted Zyra's head. "Now that you've awakened as a Mage, it's time for you to learn about mana and magic."

Zyra's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Magic is like air," Kaelith explained. "It's everywhere in the environment. People absorb this mana into their bodies and form magic circles around their hearts. That's how they channel magic."

"Why around the heart?" Zyra asked, tilting her head.

"Because the heart gathers knowledge and emotions, while the brain analyzes and processes it," Kaelith replied. "That's why people say, 'My heart says so,' rather than 'My brain says so.'"

Zyra nodded thoughtfully, finding it fascinating.

"But," Kaelith continued, "not everyone uses mana the same way. Take dragons, for example—they don't form circles like us. Instead, they draw mana directly from nature."

Zyra gasped. "That's so cool! But… what's the most important thing about being a Mage?"

Kaelith chuckled. "That would be your elemental attribute—the type of magic that suits you best."

Zyra waved her little hand in the air, eager to ask another question. "And what do you mean by mental image? Is it something we see with our eyes?"

"No, my girl." Kaelith smiled. "Mental image means how you visualize the structure of your magic in your mind."

To demonstrate, he raised his hand. A small lump of dirt floated above his palm, forming a swirling shape.

Zyra's mouth fell open in awe.

"When you form your first circle, you can control mana," Kaelith explained. "Once you form a second circle, you can start shaping your magic—like this."

With a flick of his fingers, the floating dirt morphed into the shape of a tiny mouse, scurrying in the air.

Zyra gasped. "Waaah! That's amazing! But… how many circles do you have, Daddy?"

Kaelith laughed awkwardly. "Ehh… I'd rather not say."

Zyra pouted at his response, but then her thoughts jumped to another question.

"Wait, if Daddy can only use earth magic, how can Mommy use both water and ice?"

She quickly ran like a duck toward Lyssara, who was cleaning the house. "Mama! Mama! Show me your magic! How do you have two elements while Papa only has one?"

Lyssara scooped Zyra into her arms, chuckling. "It's not that I have two elements, sweetheart. I simply use an advanced form of water magic."

Zyra's eyes widened. "Advanced form?"

Lyssara nodded. "Each element has an evolved version when a Mage reaches the Fifth Circle. For example—"

She extended her hand, and a stream of water appeared, swirling effortlessly in the air. Then, with a soft breath, the water froze into ice, forming a delicate snowflake.

Zyra gasped.

"Water evolves into Mist and Ice," Lyssara continued. "Earth evolves into Gravity, Fire into Heat, and Wind into Sound. And then, there are the rarest elements—Light and Darkness."

Zyra's brain whirled with excitement. "Does that mean I can do this too? Since I have two elements?"

Lyssara smiled, gently patting her head. "That's right, my smart girl. In fact, because you have dual attributes, you can even use Combination Magic—something that normally requires at least six circles. But for someone like you, it's possible even at the First Circle."

Zyra clapped her hands in delight. "Yay! But… that means I need to wait three more years before I can join the Academy, right?"

Lyssara chuckled at her daughter's enthusiasm. "That's right. Three more years, and then you'll officially begin your journey as a Mage."

Zyra puffed up her cheeks and started counting on her fingers. "Six… seven… aaannd eight! That's so long!"

Lyssara playfully tickled Zyra. "Don't worry, the time will pass before you know it."

Zyra giggled, trying to escape her mother's teasing.

And just like that, her journey into the world of magic had begun.