The next morning.
Sunlight streamed through the grand windows of the Kiran Mansion, casting a soft glow across the second-floor hallway.
The mansion was still quiet.
The servants were slowly beginning their daily tasks, while the aroma of breakfast drifted through the corridors.
However, in one of the more secluded rooms of the residence, someone had already been awake for quite some time.
Myth sat at a desk.
Several books lay before him.
Some were thick and ancient, with leather covers worn down by the passage of time. Others looked much newer, but they all had one thing in common.
They were books related to magic.
Myth gazed at the small stack.
His eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Ever since the previous night, his mind had been filled with questions.
He had discovered that he possessed an extraordinary affinity for the four basic elements.
Water.
Fire.
Earth.
Wind.
Moreover, his mental power had reached a level that would normally belong to a Fourth-Class Mage.
All of this at the age of six.
Even with the memories of his previous life, Myth could not help but feel excited.
The door opened softly.
Louse entered.
She carried two more books in her arms.
When she noticed the eager look in her son's eyes, a small smile appeared on her face.
"You're up early."
Myth immediately stood up.
"I wanted to get started as soon as possible."
Louse placed the books on the table.
"I figured."
She pulled out a chair and sat down across from him.
"But before we learn any magic, I want you to understand something."
Myth nodded.
Louse gently rested her hands on the table.
"Magic does not begin with casting spells."
"Before that, you must understand the path itself."
She picked up one of the books and opened it.
"There are two main paths a person can follow to strengthen their life force."
"The path of the warrior..."
She lightly touched Myth's chest.
"And the path of the mage."
Myth listened attentively.
"A warrior strengthens the body and cultivates battle qi."
"Within a warrior's body, the lower dantian, located below the navel, is where battle qi is concentrated."
She then gently touched her own chest.
"A mage follows a different path."
"A mage's dantian is located in the center of the body, in the chest region, between the nipples."
"It is there that magical power gathers."
Myth fell into thought.
"So they are two different kinds of energy?"
"Yes."
Louse smiled.
"Although both paths share the same goal."
"To strengthen one's life."
She turned a few pages.
"In the early stages, warriors and mages progress differently. But do not think of them as completely separate paths."
"As a person continues advancing, the difference between them gradually diminishes."
"When someone reaches the Demigod level, the two paths finally converge."
Myth remained silent.
He had already suspected something similar.
But hearing it directly from his mother made it feel much more real.
Louse continued.
"For most people, choosing even a single path is already extremely difficult."
"That is why nearly everyone chooses only one."
"However..."
She looked at Myth.
"People with sufficient talent can cultivate both."
Myth raised his eyebrows.
"Both?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"That is called dual-path cultivation."
"A warrior can strengthen their body and battle qi."
"A mage can strengthen their mental power and magical force."
"If a person has enough talent to do both, they can advance along both paths simultaneously."
Myth rested his chin on his hand.
"Wouldn't that be much more difficult?"
"It would."
Louse answered immediately.
"That is why it is not something I would recommend to just anyone."
Her smile became gentler.
"But you do not need to decide that now."
"You are still only six years old."
Myth nodded.
She was right.
There was no need to rush.
Louse then picked up another book.
"Now let's talk about the ranks."
She opened a carefully marked page.
"In the early stages, both warriors and mages have nine ranks."
"First."
"Second."
"Third."
"Fourth."
"Fifth."
"Sixth."
"Seventh."
"Eighth."
"And Ninth."
She slowly ran her finger down the page.
"A warrior begins as a First-Class Warrior."
"Then advances to Second Class and continues climbing."
"Upon reaching Third Class, they can already be considered an intermediate warrior."
"At Fifth Class, they become a senior warrior."
"At Seventh Class, they are known as Great Warriors."
"At Eighth Class..."
She paused briefly.
"They are Eighth-Class Warriors."
"And at Ninth..."
"Ninth-Class Warriors."
Myth listened carefully.
Louse then explained:
"Mages follow a similar progression."
"First, Junior Mage."
"Then Intermediate Mage."
"Then Senior Mage."
"At Seventh Class, one reaches the stage of Great Mage."
"At Eighth, one becomes a Master Mage."
"And at Ninth..."
She smiled.
"An Archmage."
Myth looked at the book.
"And after Ninth Class?"
Louse slowly closed the book.
"After Ninth Class..."
Her expression grew slightly more serious.
"Comes the Sanctuary."
Myth froze.
"Sanctuary?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"That is an entirely different level."
"It is not simply a matter of accumulating more power."
"One must comprehend the laws and elemental mysteries."
"That is why those who reach that level are called Saints."
Myth pondered her words.
The memory of what his father had told him resurfaced.
His grandfather had been a Saint.
The last Saint of the Kiran family.
Louse noticed the look in her son's eyes.
"Your father must have already told you about our ancestor."
"Yes."
"Then you understand why our family values knowledge so highly."
She touched the books on the table.
"These books were not written recently."
"Some of them belonged to our ancestors."
"They contain cultivation methods, the experiences of mages, insights into the elements, and various techniques that have been preserved by our family for generations."
Myth looked at the books with even greater interest.
"So I can learn all of this?"
"In time."
Louse chuckled softly.
"Do not try to swallow everything at once."
She raised a finger.
"First, you must learn to walk."
"Then you can learn to run."
Myth smiled.
"I can do it."
"I know you can."
She replied affectionately.
"But you do not need to prove it today."
For a moment, mother and son remained silent.
Then Louse took out a small crystal.
She placed it on the table.
"Now let's talk about what you possess."
Myth's attention sharpened immediately.
"Your talent."
She looked directly at him.
"Yesterday, we discovered that your affinity with the four basic elements is extraordinarily high."
"Water."
A small droplet appeared above Louse's palm.
"And wind."
A gentle current of air flowed through the room.
Both manifestations disappeared shortly afterward.
"Having an affinity for a single element is already very useful."
"Having a strong affinity for two is extremely rare."
"But you..."
She smiled.
"Possess extraordinary affinity with all four basic elements."
Myth could not hide his grin.
"Does that mean I can learn all four?"
"You can."
Louse nodded.
"But you do not need to do that right now."
"Your first goal will be understanding."
"Understanding the element."
"Understanding mental power."
"Understanding how to sense energy."
"And when your body is ready, we will learn how to cultivate it."
Myth became serious.
"So I'm not going to learn any spells today?"
"No."
Louse replied softly.
"Today, you're going to learn something more important."
"What?"
She touched his forehead with a finger.
"How to think like a mage."
Myth blinked.
Louse laughed.
"Don't worry."
"I'll teach you everything slowly."
She then opened the first book.
The morning passed quietly.
And for the first time since arriving in that world...
Myth truly began walking the Path of the Mage.