Nerya had taught Kael the basics of spells and spell control, but Kael had begun to slow down in his progress, and there wasn't much left for Nerya to teach him. Kael was on the verge of reaching the second circle, and after seeing her son shrouded in that dark magic, Nerya had become deeply uneasy about teaching him any more spells. He needed the help of a professional. Nerya had written a letter to a relative in the Eastern Kingdom—the only person she could trust—whose ties she had severed years ago.
Two days passed. When Kael woke up that morning, he saw a stranger sitting next to his mother in the living room, emanating a sharp, wind-like scent. The man smiled when he saw Kael: "So this is our young man, is it?"
Nerya:
"Son, this is your uncle Zephyros. He is a 7th-ring royal mage and an academic. I didn't tell you about our relatives—I had my reasons, but one day you'll understand."
Kael was surprised, but since he trusted his mother, he didn't press the issue about relatives. Nerya continued:
"Your uncle Zephyros is a much better mage than I am; he's a genius in his field. He'll be the one to train you from now on."
Zephyros laughed and said,
"You're embarrassing me, Nerya." Kael:
"Mom, your techniques are great too—I've improved a lot with you, but..."
Nerya cut him off:
"Son, there's a limit to what I can teach you. I've shown you the basics, but I can't teach you magic theory and knowledge like an expert. Trust your uncle Zephyros."
Kael was stunned. His mother was amazing too, but there was an aura about Zephyros that seemed capable of tearing the sky apart. Zephyros knew Nerya's husband. Normally, someone from the kingdom wouldn't come to give private lessons to just anyone; wizards working for the kingdom are more untouchable and independent than most aristocrats and nobles—they take orders only from the king.
Zephyros had responded to Nerya's letter and traveled all the way from the Eastern Kingdom to the village where Nerya lived because he was curious about what kind of person that man's son was.
Zephyros was wondering if Nerya's tragic departure would affect this child. Nerya had told Zephyros about the incident involving Kael; that's why Zephyros had also brought a seal ring with him.Zephyros,
"Come here, young man... I can feel the fire within you and that trembling darkness. But no flame in nature can escape the wind's embrace. Show me not just your anger, but who you truly are! Let's see how long you can stand against the wind,"
he said, calling Kael outside for a small duel to test him.Kael took a deep breath. Though he swallowed hard in the face of his uncle's imposing presence, he wouldn't back down:
"I don't think I can beat you, Uncle... But I won't let my mother's trust in me go to waste. If you're going to train me, let me show you how far I can go. Please, don't hold your wind back from me!"
A Small Test: The Dance of Fire and Wind When they stepped outside, Zephyros said,
"Let's see what we've got first,"
Kael immediately took his stance and prepared his most powerful spell, the Red Sphere. He hurled a massive fireball at Zephyros. But Zephyros didn't even raise a hand. He merely blew gently; the resulting small air current suspended Kael's massive fire in mid-air and extinguished it in seconds.
Kael drew his axe and lunged at him, but his uncle glided past him like the wind. Kael couldn't even touch him—it was as if he were striking empty air. Zephyros glided like a leaf, evading every move. Zephyros,
"Speed is good, but your rage is clouding your judgment, son," he said, gently pushing Kael by the shoulder, sending him to the ground.
Zephyros thought to himself:
"That sorrowful determination in his eyes... A normal child would have given up at the first move against my wind, yet he came at me with an even more determined step each time."
"Nerya was right. He's only 14 years old... How can he remain so innocent under such a heavy burden? I must train him not just as a mage, but as a warrior as well. Soon enough, the world will be waiting to shatter that innocence."
When they returned home, Zephyros opened the ebony box he'd brought with him, one adorned with ancient runes. Inside the box lay a Seal Ring, its surface as black as night and adorned with silver chain engravings.
"This ring will seal away the dark magic. You must focus solely on fire magic. I brought this from the magic research facility. It's a Sealing Ring—I had it specially customized for you. You are forbidden to remove it until you reach the 6th ring."
When Kael reached out his hand, Zephyros froze upon seeing the other ring on Kael's finger, the one engraved with the Moon.
"This ring... Where did you find it?"
he asked in astonishment.
Kael:
"It's a gift from a friend; it's very precious to me,"
Zephyros thought he recalled seeing a similar ring on the hand of an elven noble at the national assemblies he had attended as the king's guard, but he didn't press the matter for now.Before saying goodbye to her son, Nerya called him into her bedroom. From a secret compartment under the rug, she pulled out a sword wrapped in black velvet. When she drew the sword from its sheath, the room seemed to fall silent for a moment. The hilt featured a dragon motif with purple eyes, looking as if it were alive. Nerya said,
"This is your father's sword. It's a Magic Sword. It wasn't forged from ordinary steel, but from a special ore that absorbs magic. Your father left this for me, and now I'm giving it to you. Never draw it from its sheath—you can't control it yet. When the time comes, the sword will choose you."
Kael strapped the sword to his back and hugged his mother tightly one last time.
"Don't worry, Mom. I'll come see you as soon as I can,"
Nerya traced an invisible spell onto her son's hand; it was a bond that allowed him to sense her heartbeat. This way, no matter how far away he was, she would be able to monitor his vital signs.When Nerya drew the spell on Kael's hand, Kael stared at his hand for a moment and clenched his fist. He turned his gaze to his mother; this time, his voice was calmer.
"Mom, I know I have to go with my uncle," Kael said, without taking his eyes off his mother.
"I also understand that I need to improve myself and learn to control these seals. But I'm not at ease. You're here alone, and you haven't fully recovered yet. If something goes wrong here while I'm there... how will I get back to you?"
Nerya placed her hand on her son's shoulder with a reassuring smile;
"You're going so you can become strong enough that you won't need to rush back, Kael. Trust me—I can take care of myself. Just focus on your training."
Kael took a deep breath and hugged his mother tightly.
"I'll wear the ring, and I won't take the sword off my back,"
he promised. As he walked toward the carriage, his steps were now more confident.
As the carriage moved away from the village, the sun was setting on the horizon. As Kael looked out the window, the silhouette of the forest slowly faded away. From inside the carriage, Zephyros looked at Kael and said:
"So your mother gave you the sword... That sword is a special weapon your father used; it's not like ordinary magical swords. Don't you dare draw it from its sheath until you've trained yourself," he warned. As Kael watched the road, he asked:
"Uncle, you knew my father, didn't you? I don't really know him myself, and I don't think I can forgive him for abandoning us."
Zephyros sighed and looked toward the horizon:
"To forgive or to hate, you must first know the truth, my boy. It wasn't simply a matter of 'abandoning' you. But remember: a wizard's greatest enemy is his own anger. If your mind isn't as clear as a lake, that sword and that magic will consume you."
Zephyros noticed his nephew, sitting across from him, clutching the sword in his lap tightly.
"Is that sword weighing you down, young man? I'm not just talking about its weight—I'm talking about the meaning it carries."
Kael turned his head away from the window and looked at his uncle:
"A little... When my mother told me this was my father's sword, it felt like I was carrying a stranger on my back, not just a weapon. I don't know him at all, Uncle. Can a person hate someone they've never even seen?" Zephyros sighed deeply and leaned back:
"Hate feeds on emptiness, Kael. Because you don't know him, you're trying to fill that void in your heart with anger. Your mother wasn't trying to protect you from him; she was actually trying to protect you from the weight of that world."
Kael furrowed his brow, his voice growing slightly hoarse:
"My mother is sick, Uncle. Not knowing where my father is while she suffers every day is what's really tearing me apart. If he's so powerful, why wasn't he with us?"
Zephyros smiled, gesturing toward the signet ring on Kael's hand:
"Some people have to sacrifice what they value most to save those they love. Others, however, stand against the world just to protect those they love. To understand which one your father is, you must first decide what your own power will serve. When we reach the Eastern Kingdom, you won't just learn magic; you'll also learn who you'll fight for."
Outside, the sun had completely set, giving way to the bright moonlight. The carriage continued on its way through the darkness, heading toward Kael's destiny. Kael listened quietly to the creaking of the carriage. Ahead of him lay a year of hellish training; behind him, a past filled with secrets. As the first star twinkled in the sky, Kael was no longer just a village boy he was now a wizard-knight-in training.