Hisix years later....
The sun hadn't even fully risen yet, but Logan was already seated in a lotus position, training.
His back was straight, and his breathing was calm. Mist coiled faintly around his small frame, a quiet aura of warmth drifting from within, not mana, but Qi.
He drew in a long breath slowly. Qi flowed through his meridians like a quiet river. After holding it for a while, he exhaled slowly. He continued this cycle. Each exhale carried a faint mist, coming out both from his mouth and nose.
For the past six years, he had been continuously cultivating, and his internal energy had increased significantly. He was six years old now. Six years since Aiden Ferith died and was reborn as Logan Smith.
And already, his body was stronger than most adult warriors.
His fists could crack stone. His senses rivaled a hawk's. His muscles, though childlike in size, were packed with power. Yet none of this came from mana.
Even though he had already formed a mana core, he hadn't trained with it.
Not after what happened a year ago.
_________
One year back....
One evening, while trying to comprehend magic, Logan felt a strong connection toward the ambient energy in the air. It felt familiar, like an old friend. As he focused, small white-like particles drifted toward his dantian. Time continued to flow on its own accord. Logan didn't move, nor did he lose patience. And it paid off. After a few hours, what felt like an eternity, he successfully condensed the white particles — ambient energy into a rudimentary mana core just beside his dantian. The process was tiring but smooth.
And naturally, what he had achieved, something even Logan didn't know how heaven-defying that was, didn't go unnoticed.
From the court, every noble family was appointed a mage for observance who would report back any update about breakthroughs, problems regarding mana training within those families, or even help them with any difficulties. The court mage assigned for the Smith family, Abraham, sensed something odd during a routine check. When he focused more, he was bewildered. "H... How can this be?!" He started at Logan with wide eyes as if he had seen a ghost.
Within the day, Rudeous and Mirena learned about this. While one was overwhelmed with joy, the other couldn't help but clench her fists.
Logan was summoned before the elders of House Smith.
The moment Logan stepped into the hallway, all eyes turned toward him.
"House Smith has given birth to a prodigy." Someone whispered.
"Yes. Can you even believe this? He is only five, but he has already formed a mana core. Awesome! I can't wait to see what more surprises he will bring for the family." Another added.
"Sussh. Silence." But someone didn't like these murmurs and told them to keep it quiet.
"You've violated House Smith's mana training law," one of his uncles suddenly said. His voice felt like he was talking to an outlaw. "Forming a mana core without undergoing the Enlightenment Ceremony is forbidden."
Hearing this, many eyes snapped toward him. They looked confused. What was going on? Wasn't Logan supposed to be praised? Then what was with this tone?
Logan was stunned as well. "Violation? Mana training laws? What is he talking about?" He wondered. He still steadied his breathing and looked toward that uncle. "I didn't know it was forbidden."
"You're five. Of course you didn't," Mirena said sharply. "But ignorance doesn't make you harmless."
Darius stood nearby with his arms crossed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Unstable mana control can cause an accident at any time… especially in the wrong hands."
His voice wasn't loud, but jealousy was brimming with it.
Many nodded in agreement. Many seemed displeased with the claim, but for some reason, they didn't raise their voices.
Logan didn't react. Finally, he understood what was happening. It wasn't about the law. It was about fear. "So you want to play righteous. Alright. Let's see what game you all are playing." He thought.
Most noble children couldn't form mana cores before the Enlightenment Ceremony at age fourteen. It wasn't forbidden. It was almost impossible. There were only a few exceptional cases. And yet, he had done it effortlessly. How could Darius not be jealous and feel threatened?
Mother and son weren't afraid of instability. They were afraid of him. Afraid that if he kept progressing, Darius wouldn't stand a chance of inheriting the title of patriarch.
And the rest of the family members? Nobody wanted to cross the Stevens family, Mirena's bloodline. Even though many admired Logan's talent, they kept silent. And many were eager to please her.
Then Rudeous finally spoke.
"Logan," he said with an unreadable face. "The law exists to protect. Mana training at your age can be dangerous. For yourself. And others." A long pause followed. "I will overlook it this once. But from this moment forward, you are forbidden to train mana or use magic until your Enlightenment Ceremony. Disobey…, and there will be consequences." He said that, but inside, his heart ached. "Forgive me, son. This is the only way to protect you for now." He thought to himself.
But Alice's voice echoed right away. "You're punishing him for being gifted? How can you do this, Rudy?"
Rudeous gave her a look that stopped her from asking more.
Logan didn't flinch. He only nodded.
But Mirena leaned forward with dissatisfaction. "And what if he practices in secret?"
Rudeous's jaw tensed. "What else do you want?"
Abraham cleared his throat. "His mana core should be sealed. Only then can we be sure there will be no further incidents."
Several elders nodded in agreement. All were in cahoots, trying to flatter Mirena and earn her favour.
Rudeous didn't speak. He felt helpless inside. It seemed as if, for some reason, his hands were tied.
Alice caressed Logan's shoulder with her trembling hands, holding back her tears. She wanted her son to live happily, but she was helpless.
Logan placed his hands on her trembling hands and consoled her, "Don't worry, Mom. It's alright."
The sealing ritual followed… A glowing rune was pressed to Logan's abdomen, its light seeping into his skin. It didn't hurt. But something inside him… shifted. Like his will being restricted.
Still, he said nothing. He smirked in his mind."Is this how you plan to stop me?! Childish!."
Though he had been excited to learn magic, he could wait until his mana core was unsealed again.
"I will continue with cultivation for now. Let's see how far your schemes can take you." He decided inwardly.
Those who thought they had won a war didn't even know what they had invited.
The months that followed were quiet on the surface.
Logan obeyed the order. No mana. And in the silence, he focused on cultivation… trained every single day using the Void Soul Sutra, an advanced breathing technique from his past life that refined body, mind, and soul in harmony.
He trained his body to turn it into a perfect vessel for his future progress — lifting bricks, sprinting across the courtyard, doing push-ups until his arms trembled. Sweat drenched his clothes. His bones groaned under pressure, but instead of breaking, they grew denser. Stronger.
Soon stories started spreading. Even servants began to whisper.
"Why does the young master always do those weird trainings?"
In this world, due to the presence of magic, no one was used to physical training.
"Who knows? Maybe trying to calm himself. Who can live with being born with talent but forced to abandon it?"
"Yes. Maybe sorrow has made him go senile."
Many other family members also had the same thought.
But some scoffed. "Huh! Is he trying to impress the patriarch, thinking he would unseal his core again?"
"Dream on. How dare he think he can compete against Darius?"
Rudeous occasionally watched from afar with an unreadable expression.
But sometimes…just for a moment…he would fail to hide a flicker of a smile across his face. "That kid….he is still trying even when the whole family is against him."
_________
Back in the present.....
One morning, Alice found Logan in the garden, doing push-ups.
"Logan," she said in a concerned voice. "Tell me honestly. What are you up to?"
He paused, then smiled politely. "I'm training in a different way, mother. Nothing serious. Just increasing my physical strength."
She knelt beside him, caressing his hair with affection. "But they are always observing you, Logan. Please don't give them another reason. Your father won't be able to help much. His hands are tied. You know, right?"
"I won't. Don't worry about me at all. I will only learn magic when I am allowed to. And they didn't forbid me from doing physical training. So I am not breaking any rules." He smiled convincingly.
What he said was logical. They couldn't blame him for this unless they wanted to stand as cowards.
But they didn't bother him, for his training didn't mean they wouldn't make his life even harder.
Several days later, during breakfast, Mirena said while chewing her food, "I heard the boy is doing physical training." She continued with an air of mock concern. "Is he trying to be a farmer like those magicless commoners, Alice?"
Alice's fist tightened slightly under the table. "Growing boys need to be strong."
Mirena sipped her tea, with her eyes fixated on Logan. "Let's hope that strength doesn't lead him into any trouble."
Logan looked up and met her gaze calmly.
"I've stopped all mana training, Lady Mirena," he said without a hint of fear. "As father instructed."
Darius leaned back, resting his chin on one hand.
"Good. At least you know what you are not supposed to do." He sneered.
"By the time your core is unsealed again, I'll be so far ahead. Let's see how you can still be a thorn in my path. You think you are special just because you accidentally formed a core at five? Dream on." He thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Logan didn't even react. He never thought of competing with his elder brother for the patriarch position anyway. But by the time Darius would awaken his mana at fourteen, Logan's body would already be stronger than most adult knights. He didn't give a damn about all these mockery and provocative words. He didn't want any recognition. No approval either.
All he needed was time.
Time to learn. Time to grow.
To be strong enough to protect whatever and whoever he cared for.