The morning sun poured into the Duke's mansion, gilding every polished surface and painting the gardens in golden hues.Birds chirped outside, carrying the gentle sounds of the city into the wide-open windows. Caelum awoke with the familiar hum of his mana core coursing through him a rhythmic pulse. Even after months of training and their adventures in Eldrascar, the ruins still lingered in his mind like a quiet whisper, reminding him of the power he had yet to master. Though still young, he felt the fire of his lower C-Rank mana core, lightning and light intertwined, ready for any challenge.
Aeyla appeared at the doorway, brushing her hair back with a small hand, stretching her arms as she stepped into the hallway, hair tied in a loose ribbon, eyes bright as the morning sky. She spotted Caelum staring outside toward the city
"Caelum," she said, smiling softly. "Ready for today?"
Caelum nodded, adjusting the hilt of his sword strapped to his back. "Always."
After a quick breakfast with Lira, Kael, and Eryndor, Aeyla approached him in her cloak, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Caelum," she called cheerfully, walking up beside him. "Let's go out. I want to show you around Rycloss today."
He turned to her, blinking once. "The whole city?"
"Yes," she said, grinning. "The whole city."
Before they could begin.The mansion stirred with life. Footsteps echoed down the grand halls, and the distant voices of servants mingled with the soft clatter of dishes. Today, however, the energy felt different. The doors opened suddenly, and a tall, muscular figure entered, his aura radiating the steady, refined pulse of a lower A-Rank mana core.
"Elder brother," Aeyla said softly, rising to her feet.
The figure bowed into the duke, calm yet imposing. "I'm here for a short vacation," Prince Trevan Zack said, his dark eyes scanning the room, landing briefly on Caelum. "I've heard much about your exploits, sister. And you… young man…" His gaze lingered, appraising, measuring strength, potential, and the subtle hum of mana around him.
Caelum instinctively straightened, feeling the weight of scrutiny. Trevan's presence alone radiated power, a quiet command even a seasoned warrior would feel.
Aeyla smiled faintly, rolling her eyes. "You're just here to show off, as usual."
"Perhaps," Trevan replied smoothly, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "But demonstrations inspire. Especially those who wish to grow stronger." he said "We gonna do this later."
"Come on," Aeyla said softly. "I'll show you Rycloss."
"Okay" Caelum raised an eyebrow. "I've seen the academy… but the city?"
She laughed. "You'll see. It's huge. Lots of things… people… excitement." And so began a day that would change everything.
Exploring Rycloss
Later that morning, Aeyla invited Caelum to explore Rycloss. They left the mansion through its crescent-shaped gates, the two walked through the vast streets, the sun warming their backs. The city was alive with movement: merchants calling out their wares, magical banners fluttering, and nobles striding past with haughty expressions bustling marketplaces filled with merchants selling magical items, potions, and weapons. Children practiced sword forms in training ground, while enchanters worked at floating workbenches casting small elemental sparks.
Aeyla stretched her arms out wide. "Welcome to Rycloss, Caelum! Isn't it beautiful?"
Caelum's eyes moved across everything not like a child in wonder, but like someone quietly studying every detail. "It feels… alive."
The princess beamed. "Exactly!"
They wandered through the street's heart, where students from the lower academies practiced basic spells in open plazas surrounded by mana fountains. Families shopped, warriors examined enchanted blades, and elven merchants whispered songs into wind-crystal instruments.
It was at the plaza center that the first commotion began. As they reached a wide plaza, a group of boys dressed in ornate robes noticed Aeyla walking with Caelum. A noble boy around six tall for his age, blond hair wearing robes lined with gold thread. His aura was strong, peak D-Rank mana at least, but his core flickered with arrogance and challenge noticed Aeyla first, then Caelum beside her. he calmly observing
"Princess Aeyla," the boy called, his tone falsely polite. "I did not expect you… with someone like him."
Aeyla's brows twitched. Caelum simply blinked.
The boy stepped closer, chin raised arrogantly. "You should not walk beside a commoner, Princess. Your father would surely disapprove."
Aeyla crossed her arms. "My father approves of whoever I choose to walk with."
The noble's face darkened. "Then your father is too lenient."
"Say that again," Aeyla said sharply.
But Caelum simply stared at the boy, not angry, not offended, merely observing. The boy mistook that calmness as weakness.
"So?" he sneered. "What's your name, commoner?"
"Caelum."
"Caelum?" The noble scoffed. "I should have known a nobody would have such a poor name."
Aeyla took a threatening step forward, but Caelum gently touched her sleeve, stopping her. "It's fine."
The noble smirked, delighted at what he assumed was fear. "Princess, if you're so fond of him, shouldn't we see if he's even worthy of your presence?" He stepped back and pointed to the practice ring. "Commoner boy. I challenge you to a spar."
"You want to fight a four-year-old?" Aeyla snapped.
"He needs to know his place."
Caelum tilted his head. "What place?"
"Beneath me," the noble growled.
A crowd gathered, whispers spreading quickly.
"A challenge? Between a noble prodigy and some child?"
"Aeyla's with him, who is that boy?"
The noble took position in the ring, summoning a faint glow of mana rough earth-element, and igniting a small spark of flame in his right hand. unstable but powerful for his age. His posture radiated aggression.
"You… you think you can keep up with me?" the boy challenged suddenly.
Aeyla knelt beside Caelum, frustration bubbling in her chest. "Caelum, you don't have to fight him."
He looked at her with an innocence that made her breath catch. "It's okay. He asked, so I'll answer."
Aeyla sighed, defeated. "Fine. But don't get hurt. Please."
Caelum stepped into the ring, light and electricity flickering at his fingertips. "If it's a challenge, then yes."
The noble boy smirked. "Try not to cry, commoner."
"I won't."
The plaza became a quiet stage, all nearby students and merchants turning to watch.
The duel began lightly at first, a testing of strength and skill. The noble launched forward, earth mana swirling around his left fists. The ground cracked beneath his steps; he was strong for his age, undeniably talented.
But Caelum watched the movement like drifting wind.
The noble's earth technique swung toward Caelum's cheek.
Caelum leaned slightly left.
The Earth technique cut through empty air.
"What?!"
The noble charged mana and faint rune lights appeared on his arm struck with a blazing spear of fire, he sent a second blow, attempting to catch Caelum off guard. Caelum dodged fluidly, channeling lightning and light into his sword, each movement precise and almost unnatural for his age.
"You're fast… but can you react to this?" the boy taunted, sending a burst of fire toward Caelum.
Lightning licked from Caelum's arms in response, forming a protective barrier and countering with a precise strike. The clash sent a small shockwave through the surroundings.
The duel was intense but brief. Caelum's precise control of lightning and light, combined with his refined sword technique, eventually overpowered the boy. He landed a clean strike, forcing the boy to stagger back.
Aeyla clapped softly, smiling. "Well done. You handled that well."
The noble boy, though embarrassed, could not deny the skill displayed. "You… you're stronger than I expected," he muttered, with a mix of anger and pride.
The noble boy's attacks grew fiercer, mana blazing from his body in brilliant streams of fire. Caelum countered, moving with grace, his runes lighting up along his arms and chest. The strike was calculated, slicing through the boy's offense.
The air split with every strike and Caelum slipped through each one like water, unfazed, eyes calm.
The crowd gasped, murmuring.
"He's dual elemental too!"
"He's four!"
The noble growled, gathering a chunk of mana into his palm. "Fine, take this!"
He stomped the ground, launching a compressed earth-shot straight and fire ball at Caelum.
Finally, with a surge of controlled energy, Caelum lifted a hand. A small rune shimmered a tiny floating glyph, with lightning, simple but a precise blow that forced the noble boy back. His chest heaved as he glanced at Caelum with a mix of awe and frustration.
The earth-shot and fire ball shattered like dust.
"You… how…?!" he muttered.
Gasps filled the plaza.
Aeyla's lips curved into a proud smile.
Caelum stepped forward once.
Only once.
But the noble suddenly felt pressure, a strange, invisible weight pressing down on his mana. He stumbled backward, panic rising.
Caelum placed his finger with lightning against the noble's chest.
"You… lost."
The noble froze.
Aeyla laughed softly. "Looks like you need more training, my friend," she teased.
The crowd went dead silent.
Caelum stepped back calmly as the noble boy collapsed to his knees, humiliated and speechless.
Aeyla rushed to him. "Caelum! That was amazing!"
"I didn't hurt him," Caelum said softly.
"I know," she laughed. "But your pride definitely hurt his."
The crowd parted as they left the plaza, whispers echoing behind them.
"That commoner boy… who is he?"
"He defeated a noble prodigy..."
"Princess Aeyla seems close to him…"
They eventually slipped into the markets, laughing over skewered mana-fruits that glowed faintly when bitten. Aeyla dragged him from stall to stall enchanted with toys, mini-spirits in glass jars, mana-ink pens shaped like phoenix feathers.
At the park, children chased mana butterflies, their wings shimmering with rainbow light. Caelum and Aeyla sat under a crystal-leaf tree, watching the breeze scatter particles across the pond.
Aeyla hugged her knees. "Caelum… the ruin, last time… what really happened?"
He looked through the tree with a gloomy face . "There was a realization. A hole. Something was pushing through."
"And the beasts?"
"They weren't supposed to be there." His voice lowered. "Something called them."
Aeyla shivered, remembering the monstrous claws, the something that tried to pull them apart.
"You saved me that day," she whispered.
Caelum shook his head. "We saved each other."
"Do you think… do they have the same dangers as the ruins?" Caelum asked quietly.
Aeyla shook her head. "No, these are controlled. But the ruins… that was different. Dangerous. Monsters not even in the books, people controlling them…" She paused, her expression serious. "We were lucky."
Caelum nodded. He remembered the S-rank monster, the robed figures, and the portal. "I don't think… that was random. Someone opened that gate. They had a purpose."
Aeyla clenched her fist. "We need to be stronger. Together."
Aeyla smiled softly. "You're a strange boy, Caelum. A commoner, yes… but sometimes you feel…" She hesitated. "Not human."
Caelum stared at the sunset, its golden light painting his eyes. "Sometimes… I feel the same."
The sky melted into orange and lavender as they talked about duty, Aeyla as princess, Caelum as commoner.
"You're noble even if you're not born one," Aeyla said firmly. "And even if the world sees you as a commoner… it doesn't matter to me."
Caelum looked at her. "Why?"
Aeyla smiled, brushing a leaf off his shoulder. "Because you were the first person I ever met who never judged me for being a princess."
Aeyla shrugged. "Titles don't matter to me. Out there… in the ruins… I was just another child. And I wanted to see… if you'd treat me the same."
"Well," Caelum replied, smiling faintly, "I guess I passed the test."
"You did," she laughed softly.
The moment lingered quiet, warm, and perfect.
When they returned to the mansion, the atmosphere shifted. Servants hurried, knights stood straighter. A carriage bearing the royal crest waited in the courtyard.
The mansion was quiet now, servants preparing dinner, the Duke away on urgent matters. The two children sat near a window overlooking the city.
"We'll train tomorrow," Aeyla said softly. "Sparring, mana flow, elemental work…"
Caelum nodded. "And prepare ourselves. Dungeons, monsters… whatever else comes."
She smiled faintly. "We'll do it together."
A man stepped out tall, broad-shouldered, presence heavy with mana.
Aeyla gasped. "Brother!"
Her elder brother, Trevan Zack, embraced her tightly. "I missed you, little wind."
His eyes then drifted to Caelum. "And this is the boy I've been hearing about?"
Caelum bowed politely. "Hello."
Trevan studied, his eyes narrowed, but curious, not hostile. "Your mana… unusual. Strong. Too strong."
Aeyla stepped protectively beside Caelum. "Brother, don't scare him."
Trevan laughed. "I'm not. I'm just impressed."
That evening was soft and warm family dining together, laughter echoing under chandeliers. Even Caelum, usually quiet, found himself smiling as he sat between Kael and lira, listening to stories of battles and kingdoms.
The next day their training began.
Were a whirlwind of movement, sweat, and energy. Caelum and Aeyla trained together under the watchful eyes of Kael, Eryndor, and even the visiting Trevan.
Each morning, they began with mana flow exercises: tracing runes across the air, lighting small orbs of elemental energy, and pushing the limits of their Mana cores. Caelum focused on Lightning and Light, stretching the boundaries of how fast and intense he could channel energy. Aeyla refined her Wind enchantments, learning to combine gusts of air with precise blade movements.
"You're getting stronger," Aeyla said one morning, her daggers spinning in currents of wind magic. "Your lightning… It's cleaner now. Controlled."
Caelum grinned, thrusting his blade forward as sparks of light danced along the edge. "And your air blades cut sharper than yesterday. We're improving."
Kael nodded approvingly. "Both of you are surpassing expectations. Your control over your elements is remarkable for your age."
Eryndor added, "Remember, strength alone isn't enough. Coordination, timing, and observation… they matter just as much."
Sparring sessions were frequent. Lightning flashed, blades clashed, and air currents whipped through the training yard. Occasionally, Trevan joined, his movements swift and precise, pushing Caelum and Aeyla to react faster than ever.
"Focus!" Trevan barked, deflecting Caelum's light-infused strike with ease. "You hesitate! Anticipate, don't guess!"
Caelum's eyes narrowed, feeling the energy of his core surge. Lightning danced along his arms, and he shifted his stance, balancing his sword and mana flow more efficiently. He struck again, faster this time, and this time his strike landed, pushing Teyran back just slightly.
"Not bad," Trevan admitted, smirking. "Keep it up, both of you."
Aeyla challenged Caelum with a grin. "Come on! Spar with me!"
Caelum nodded, raising wooden practice swords. Their clashes were light but fast, Aeyla's air-enhanced movements swirling and Water blasting around Caelum's calm, rune-guided steps.
Caelum was shocked, " I didn't think you knew how to use the element of water." Aeyla smiled.
Aeyla's brother watched from the side. "Their synergy is insane… at their age?"
Eryndor stroked his beard. "The girl has talent. The boy… has something more."
Days turned to weeks, training every morning and evening. Mana flow drills, elemental shaping, runic control, sword forms, Close combat.
Caelum advanced frighteningly fast combining light-element with sword strikes, weaving runes mid-swing, controlling mana like a flowing river.
Aeyla followed close behind, mastering the air element with her two dagger , enchantment, and forming runic circles faster than many adult mages.
Over the days and weeks, Caelum and Aeyla trained relentlessly. Sparring sessions, mana flow exercises, and elemental mastery drills became their daily routine. Every strike, every spell, every maneuver refined their coordination and strengthened their bond.
Caelum are now Mid C-rank, While Aeyla Low C-Rank Mana core
After a week of training , Caelum approached the duke calmly.
"Can we enter a dungeon, Your Grace?"
The duke almost choked. "You are four!"
Aeyla grabbed Caelum's hand. "Father, we've trained so hard! Please?. We want to enter the dungeon gates. To grow stronger, together. Just a registered dungeon!"
Trevan, surprisingly, spoke up. "They're talented. And they'll have Kael, and Eryndor."
The Duke studied them carefully. "You understand the risks? Dungeons are dangerous. Even experienced warriors die there."
"We understand," Aeyla replied, unwavering.
The Duke finally nodded. "Very well. You will be supervised. And you will take a team."
Thus began their first expedition.
A team of seven formed Kael the swordsman, Eryndor the mage, two knights, one healer, and the two children.
The first dungeon gate hummed, swallowing them whole.
Inside, the mana air was damp and thick, faintly glowing with bioluminescent moss. Low-rank beasts prowled the cavern's C-rank mostly, manageable but still deadly.
Caelum cut through enemies with elegant, rune-lit precision; Aeyla's winds danced like blades, shielding and striking in one motion.
"We have to keep moving," Eryndor instructed. "The dungeon adjusts. Even at a low level, complacency will get you killed."
They progressed deeper, encountering stronger beasts: B-rank, then lower A-rank. The fights were brutal, forcing everyone to use their abilities in tandem. "A B-rank and lower A-rank monster?"
The group fought tirelessly. Mana crackled, blades clashed, and spells lit the air. But everything changed when they reached the supposed C-rank boss chamber.
A roar thundered through the halls.
"That's… not C-rank," Kael whispered.
The boss appeared a massive,fur midnight black, horns twisted with mana veins glowing red, a unique beast, distinct from any they had fought before. Its presence shook the dungeon walls.
"A-rank," Eryndor breathed. "How?!"
Kael drew his blade. "Protect the children!"
But Caelum stepped forward.
Aeyla grabbed his hand. "Caelum, don't!"
"I'm not afraid."
The beast lunged. Aeyla's winds erupted, Caelum's light burst forth, runes spiraled around them like constellations.
They fought fiercely Caelum carving light arcs, runes chaining the beast's limbs; Aeyla slicing tornado threads and hydro blast, enchanting Caelum's sword mid-battle.
The beast slammed them both against a wall. Pain flared. Blood dripped.
Caelum's core surged as he channeled light and lightning through his sword. He struck with precision, each move measured, each burst of energy controlled. Aeyla summoned fierce gusts, spinning her daggers like hurricanes, and together they coordinated attacks, covering each other's weaknesses.
The battle was exhausting. The boss's attacks were relentless, forcing them to retreat and regroup multiple times. Even Eryndor and Kael, seasoned warriors, were pushed to their limits.
Yet they rose.
Together.
Aeyla shouted, "Caelum your rune! The one from last time!"
He nodded.
Light exploded from his palm pure, brilliant.
Aeyla guided it with her wind.
The combined blast tore through the beast's core.
Silence followed.
Then the boss collapsed.
Caelum and Aeyla collapsed, exhausted but exhilarated. Their muscles ached, their mana cores burned, but they had grown stronger.
Afterward, the team collected mana stones, relics, and scroll fragments. They returned home half-dead, barely breathing but triumphant.
So the cycle continued.
Dungeon after dungeon.
Fight after fight.
Growth after growth.
A year passed.
The children became seven years old stronger, sharper,
Caelum and Aeyla matured visibly.Their mana cores had improved with C-rank brilliance unnatural for their age. Their presence felt older, deeper.
Caelum stood taller now, eyes calmer, hair longer, aura sharper. Lightning and Light elemental control had become precise, almost instinctual.
Aeyla blossomed like wind in motion, graceful, beautiful, strong. Air elemental mastery and Water element enchantment capabilities had reached a level far beyond her age.
They had endured countless battles, coordinated in team strategy, and developed an unspoken trust in each other.
They often sat on the mansion balcony, overlooking the city lights.
"Caelum," Aeyla whispered one evening, "we're seven now."
"Yes."
"Next month…the academy."
Caelum nodded slowly. "I'm ready. And you?"
She smiled softly. "Ready as you are… I'm not scared."
Caelum looked at her, expression unreadable. "we'll face it together."
The wind rustled her hair. She leaned gently against his shoulder.
"Yes" she whispered.
Caelum looked toward the horizon toward the city, the dungeons, the future waiting for them.
And for a moment, the world felt still.
The sun set, painting Rycloss in crimson and gold. Shadows stretched across the gardens as the children, now seven years old, prepared for the next stage of their journey in the world of mana, dungeons, kingdoms, and academy had only just begun.