Kael sat cross-legged in a remote corner of the training area, his Sword resting on his knees. He was determined to take the "focus" technique Galm had taught him to its absolute limit. He closed his eyes and directed all his focus toward its essence.
As black flames rose around him, Kael had intensified his focus just a little more.
After a while, the birdsong around him suddenly ceased. The wind seemed to have stopped. In the air, a strange crackling sound began to be heard, as if an invisible pane of glass were shattering.
The fabric of the space around Kael was warping as if it were paper.
Meanwhile, in the mansion's study, Galm, who had been examining his parchments, suddenly leaped from his seat the moment he sensed the shifting mana fluctuations. The mana flow around him bore no resemblance to anything he had known before; it was neither an elemental spell nor pure mana power. It felt like a crude interference with the balance of nature.
Galm rushed out into the garden, toward the training grounds. The sight before him left him in shock. The area around Kael was beginning to crack like glass.
"Kael!"
"Kael! Snap out of it!"
When Galm grabbed Kael by the shoulders and shook him hard, everything snapped back to normal as if he'd woken from a dream. When Kael slowly opened his eyes, he saw Galm standing before him, his face as white as a sheet.
"Master Galm? What... what happened? I was just focusing on mana."
Galm's face was as white as chalk. Cold sweat was trickling down his forehead. Kael had never seen Galm look so frightened before.
"Master Galm, are you okay? Why do you look so scared?"
Galm released his hands from Kael's shoulders and took a step back. His voice sounded more anxious than usual
"Kael, I strictly forbid you from repeating what you just did. Do you hear me?!"
Kael looked down at his hands in confusion
"Did I do something wrong? I was just channeling all my focus into my mana, just as you taught me."
"It's not about your focus, son. We wizards always cast our spells within a framework of rules, in harmony with nature. We summon fire, we direct water..."
"Just now, without realizing it, you began to tamper with nature's balance. You might not have noticed, but those black flames were warping the surrounding space, distorting the fabric of the room. Spells that interfere with space and time lie beyond the boundaries of this world."
Galm paused for a moment and gazed into the distance, toward the infinity of the sky.
"Look, son, my intention isn't to scare you. Zephyros has likely told you; the balance in our world is protected by the beings we call 'Gods.' Even we mages do not fully understand the nature of these powers or the true source of magic. But there is one undeniable truth: if we make a move that disrupts the delicate balance they have established, the consequences will be far graver than we can imagine."
"To violate the Gods' prohibitions means not only the harsh punishment of your magic but also of your very existence. Never forget that!"
Galm continued, looking intently into Kael's eyes:
"That distortion I felt just now was right on the edge of the boundary. I don't know how you did it or how the darkness within you triggered it, but this power is far beyond what you can control right now. If you want to protect yourself and those around you, promise me you won't open that door again!"
Kael nodded slowly. His heart was pounding. He'd thought he was just doing a simple training exercise, but without realizing it, he'd pushed the boundaries of reality.
"I promise, Master Galm. Even though I don't fully understand what it is or what it could lead to, I can feel the weight of your warning. I won't push that boundary again, even if it costs me my life."
With that answer, Galm felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He knew Kael was a man of his word. He placed his hand on Kael's shoulder again and squeezed it gently.
"Good... I trust your word, son."
As Kael sheathed his sword and walked toward the manor, he glanced back one last time at the training ground he had left behind. The eerie chill left by those black flames still lingered in the air.
When he returned to his room, he sank down on the edge of his bed and looked at his hands. From the outside, he was just an academy student, but deep down, he felt as if he were carrying a bomb ready to explode at any moment.
This pressure weighing on him sometimes became more exhausting than the training he'd undergone. The same warnings echoed constantly in his mind:
"Suppress your demonic side...!"
"Let no one see your black flames...!"
"Bury that forbidden technique in the darkest corner of your mind...!"
Everyone told him he needed to grow stronger, yet every time he did,
"for heaven's sake, don't use it!"
they would tie his hands and feet. It was as if they'd given him the sharpest sword in the world but forbidden him from ever drawing it from its sheath. This contradiction only made the burden on Kael's shoulders heavier.
"They want me to be strong, but... they're afraid of my power...."
This wasn't just a matter of magic; it was the constant necessity of living with a significant part of his identity as a secret. Galm's horrified gaze from just moments ago wouldn't leave Kael's mind for even a second. If even his master feared him, how would the others at the academy look at him?
Kael sighed deeply and looked out the window. When he left the manor in two days, he would be leaving these sheltered northern lands behind as well. Thousands of curious eyes awaited him in the academy's crowded corridors. There, it wouldn't be enough to simply hide his black flames; he would have to hide himself, like a secret.
The next day, with just one day left before Kael's departure, Lyra grabbed him by the arm and dragged him outside.
"You've been cooped up in the training grounds all week—I need to get you out of that gloomy mansion and show you the real North. Come on."
Kael and Lyra began walking together along the cobblestone streets of the town. Unlike the mansion, the town was bustling and lively. Lyra stopped at every corner to tell him something.
"Do you see that bakery on the corner? Their cinnamon buns are famous—the line stretches all the way to the end of the street in the mornings."
Kael found himself watching the daily hustle and bustle of the people around him.
Along the way, Lyra kept talking about the places her father had taken her when she was little. Kael just listened and occasionally smiled in agreement.When they reached the city's main square, the voices of street vendors and street performers mingled together.
As they entered the city's busiest marketplace, the air was thick with the scent of freshly baked bread, spices, and leather. Lyra rushed excitedly toward a stall.
"Look, if you leave without trying this, I won't say you've seen the North," she said, holding out a small pastry to Kael—its surface dusted with powdered sugar and filled with purple fruit.
"What is this?" Kael asked, eyeing the sticky treat in his hand with suspicion.
"It's the North's wild blueberry ice candy. The dough on the outside is warm, but the filling inside is as cold as ice. Come on, eat it in one bite!"
The moment Kael popped the treat into his mouth, his face contorted. The outside burned his tongue, while the filling was so cold it made his teeth ache. Lyra burst into laughter at Kael's expression.
"Ha ha, look at you, Kael! It takes some getting used to, but doesn't it taste great?"
A little further on, they entered a chaotic novelty shop whose entrance was filled with colorful strings and strange masks. It was so crowded inside that they had to squeeze through narrow corridors just to walk.
Lyra grabbed a huge, fluffy winter hat from a rack—one with two meaningless eyes on it.
"Kael, look! It's perfect for you!"
Before Kael could protest, she slipped the hat onto his head. It was so big it covered half of Kael's nose.
"How do I look?" Kael asked, his voice muffled by the wool.
Lyra started laughing, slapping her hands on her knees.
"You look like a cat that's eaten your head and only your chin is left!"
Kael looked in the mirror; he really did look funny, even a little silly. Finally, he couldn't help it and started laughing too.They left the shop and walked toward the harbor. As they watched the massive ships dock at the pier, Lyra pointed to an old sailor at the harbor.
"Do you see that man? Last year, he claimed he'd pulled a gigantic squid out from under the sea. When my dad went to check, he realized the man had just gotten tangled in a huge pile of seaweed. You should've seen the look on my dad's face!"
As the sky began to darken, they had reached the city center.
"Look, this is the heart of the city," said Lyra, taking a bite of her dessert,
"During the winter festival, they light a massive bonfire in this square, and people dance until dawn. I wish you could stay until then."
Kael: "That sounds fun—maybe I'll come for the festival someday,"
As they walked home that evening, Kael and Lyra carried a few bags of souvenirs, their faces bearing tired yet sincere smiles. Kael had made warm memories in the Northern City that he would always cherish.