Today was the day I’m finally able to explore outside with my parents. Between my new success last night and the excitement of visiting the city, I was barely able to sleep.

  “Hurry, Dad! It’s time to go!” I yelled, anticipation filling my voice. My father had never been the best at being on time but he truly was a good man.

  Over the years from my mom telling me stories and eavesdropping on conversations, I discovered my parents were quite the adventurers which bolstered my excitement for this new life.

  “Alright, alright I’m ready don’t worry.” Coming around the corner of the house, the imposing frame of my father greeted me and my mother.

  My father was a busy man but thankfully he always made time for me when he could during his schedule. You see, after my parents retired from adventuring, wealthy already, they decided to settle down in the 3rd largest city, Arist, in the Vigent kingdom. My mother decided she wanted a quieter life after having me, though once I get older she plans on finding more work. My father however now works for the city guard training the new recruits, a very important job as it involves the security of such a major city.

  “Can’t believe you took so long Casius, right Vileena?” My mother rolled her eyes ignoring my father's poor attempt at humor. At last we made it out the door and my father places me on his shoulders.

  A cobblestone road led away from our private estate, a quiet reminder that my family was richer than most residents. We continued walking, the warm wind pushing against us, as we reached the end of our walkway and into the bustling city.

  Hundreds of different sounds, smells, and sights invaded my senses, threatening to overwhelm me, forcing me to shut my eyes. I take another look and discover the breathtaking chaos that is Arist.

  A sea of people filled my vision as I took it all in, dozens of vendors to the sides selling a variety of goods, hundreds of people heading to various locations. The jumbled voices filled the air.

  “Rank 2 beast meat! Come get it fresh!” A big man called out

  “Enchanted gear for sale! Fire, Water, and Air!” Another voice, this time a young woman, rang.

  Even the smells were completely different from anything I’ve experienced, bakeries, meat, and everything else in between made it all the better.

  “Where are we heading to dad?” I asked from my vantage point.

  “Well I thought first I could show you where I work, maybe watch a spar or two, then go get some food from one of the bakeries. How's that sound?”

  “I can go watch the guards spar! Will they use their magic?”

  “Well usually they wouldn’t but I can pull some strings and arrange a magic duel, I am in charge of those runts after all.” He responded with a large smile.

  My mom shot him a glare at the mention of fights but didn’t intervene after seeing my excitement.

  “Well while y’all two boys go watch fights, I will be shopping for some air cores I could use.”

  Cores? What will she use them for? I guess I’ll have to ask later. Me and my father continued down the street, people clearing the way for the large man.

  As we continued our way into the back of Arist I decided to try seeing the blue dots again which I now think is mana. Concentrating my world suddenly flashes blue as everyone about three feet away from me lights up, except for the children. If this is mana then maybe it has something to do with the awakening of your core and that’s why they don’t? Also looking at myself I notice I'm empty to.

  Sighing at my unanswered questions I turn to look down at my father where my vision is overwhelmed by a blinding light causing my head to feel like someone's stabbing it. Quickly, I close my eyes and turn off the mana sight, easing the pain rattling me.

  After a couple minutes we reach a large open area surrounded with a sturdy metal wall, sounds of metal clashing and grunts surrounded it, the smell of sweat flooding my nose. Steadily, we approached the metal gate guarded by two men in armor, noticing my father they hastily saluted.

  “What brings you on your off day Mr. Rosh?” The guard to the left asked, he was average height but built like a wall, respect filling his gaze.

  “Well, my son decided he couldn’t just sit in the house anymore and wanted to explore the city today. Thought he might as well see what this world has to offer. ” He laughed as I hit his shoulder

  The guard turns to me, a hint of surprise appears on his face but disappears as quickly as it came.

  “Well, you’re in for a treat today son.” He turns back to my father, “Tristan and James are at it again, in fact they requested a duel today.”

  “That's fine, in fact I was going to ask for a duel today anyway for little Casius here.”

  The guard nodded and opened the gate revealing a vast training field, where dozens of young and old men could be seen sparring or training around the area, yet I couldn't spot anyone using magic.

  “Dad, why aren’t they using magic?”

  “It's so there aren't any injuries during training but once a month we’ll have duels that include magic, keeps us from getting rusty for when we need to use it.” That makes sense, boring in my opinion, but safe.

  After hearing his voice all the soldiers stopped training and stood at attention instantly alert as the man in charge of them arrived.

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  “Calm down boys, no need to salute on my off day.” He chuckles as the men ease up and get back to training.

  “James! Tristan! Middle now.” Everyone stops again but this time they seem more nervous as two men around twenty years old emerge from the group.

  “Yes sir.” Both stop in the middle facing my father at attention.

  “I’ve heard you both requested a duel today, eh? Well good I’ll let you have it so my son can get a feel of what magical fights really entail.” Both men grin after hearing him and step to opposite sides of a circle I didn’t notice before.

  “I know everyone here knows the rules but let me refresh you all. This is a spar between brothers in arms, no killing, maiming, or any other crippling of any kind. Besides that everything goes until first blood or what would be a fatal strike. James, are you ready?” The man on the left with the spear nods. “Tristan, are you ready?” The man on the right with the sword nods.

  The tension hung thick in the air as the two men faced one another, eyes locked as they silently measured their opponent.

  James stood tall with a lean frame, the kind of build shaped by speed rather than brute strength. Sharp lines of muscle shifted beneath his clothes as he lowered himself into a ready stance, spear angled forward.

  Across from him stood Tristan. He was shorter, but far broader, his wide shoulders and massive arms making him look like a wall of muscle. He planted his feet firmly into the ground and raised his sword, the blade steady as stone.

  “Three… Two… One… Begin!”

  The moment the signal rang out, both men exploded forward. Their speed blurred before my eyes. Steel met steel with a sharp, ringing clash, the force of the impact kicking up a burst of dust that rippled across the ground.

  A faint brown aura spread over Tristan’s body, clinging to him like hardened earth. His stance rooted itself into the ground, unshakable. James answered in kind. A soft blue aura flowed around him, lighter and fluid, giving his movements a graceful quality. The two fighters broke apart for a brief moment, drawing breath as they reset their stances.

  This time James moved first. His body glided forward, spear flashing forward as he launched into a rapid assault. Each step was smooth, controlled, his attacks flowing seamlessly, one into another like water.

  Tristan didn’t move. He simply stood there, sword raised, unmoving like a mountain facing a storm. James struck. The spear thrust forward again and again, each strike coming from a different angle—high, low, feinting, twisting. The weapon moved so quickly it almost seemed as if multiple spears were attacking at once.

  Yet something was wrong. Some of the attacks clearly slipped past Tristan’s guard. But no blood followed. Frowning, I leaned forward, focusing harder on where the spear struck. Then I saw it. Every time a thrust slipped through Tristan’s defense, the earth beneath him shifted.

  Small shards of stone rose from the ground in the blink of an eye, intercepting the spear just before it could reach flesh. Suddenly the ground beneath James’ feet lurched. The earth twisted violently, throwing off his balance and breaking the rhythm of his assault. His foot slipped, and he dropped to one knee.

  Tristan grinned. Seeing his opening, he stepped forward and brought his sword down in a decisive arc toward James’ neck. But James moved. His body flowed aside at the last possible moment, the blade slicing through empty air. In the same motion, his spear snapped forward. The tip stopped a hair’s breadth from Tristan’s throat.

  Silence fell over the arena as James established his victory.

  “James, good work. Tristan that wasn’t bad but remember not to lose focus just because it appears your enemy is helpless.” James nods with a smile dawning his face, Tristan grimaces but nods as well.

  So this is magic… It’s even cooler than I thought! The spark in me grows, my determination to be the strongest solidifying.

  After such an intense fight, the rest of them seemed to be a bit less exciting as they lacked magic, still fun to watch though. Seeing all these battles really broadened my view of this new worlds powers, even the purely physical fights left me stunned from the sheer speed and strength at which the men moved, shown by the dents in the earth.

  “Good work men, that’s all for me today, thank you,” My father dismissed them. We’ve been here for about a half hour and need to meet back with my mother.

  Leaving the yard and the sounds sparring behind us we head back into the main part of the city. We both look for my mother as we wander around the square, but having no luck we decide to head to a bakery and wait.

  Luckily she seems to have had the same idea as we see her sitting at her own table outside of it. But just before we get to her a voice calls out.

  “Heyyy baby, why don’t you come help me something?” A drunk man slurs in her direction, eyeing her with lust as he reaches to grab her arm.

  Before I or she can react to the words my world becomes a blur of motion as me and my father suddenly appear before the man, stopping the hand. The man reacts with instant fear and pain as the giant being that seemed to have come from nowhere is now dominating his vision and crushing his wrist.

  I can feel waves of anger coming from my father as he looks down on the cowering man, who I notice is soiling himself hinter by the growing darkness on his pants.

  “Scram.” My father unleashes a command that demands his immediate departure and leaves no room for hesitation as he lets go of his arm. The man falls, holding his wrist and scrambling away like a rat, clearly having sobered up from the pain as he stumbles his way into an alley.

  “You know I could have handled that right? He was only Rank two.” My mother sighs.

  “Well why would I let you dirty your hands with such scum. Plus you wouldn’t want to bother having to explain to the guards why a severed limb is in the middle of the city.” Severed limb? How strong are my parents? I know they are retired adventurers and clearly, powerful ones at that.

  “Fine, but once Casius goes to an academy we’ll take on more quests at the guild. I love our current life but I couldn’t sit still and live off the money we made forever.”

  An academy? Could it be a magic academy!

  “What’s an academy mom?” Finally I can get answers.

  “Oh, it’s where you’ll go after you turn thirteen to hone your element, increase your core rank, and learn more about the world. It’s also where I met my party and your father.” Her eyes turn glazed as if remembering the past.

  Thirteen… and there's that core again. I really need to focus on fully building it so I can get access to magic sooner.

  “Wait, what's a core?”

  “Well a core is what governs what element or elements you can control. I myself have an Air core, and your father has Earth. You’ll awaken it when you turn twelve”

  After my series of questions we quickly left after we got our food from the bakery, the mood ruined. By the time we got back it was already night and time for me to go to bed. At least that’s what my parents think, taking a deep breath I activate my mana sight.

  Once again everything around me is flooded with blue. Why can I only see this far? Is it because I don’t have a core yet, or maybe my will isn’t strong enough? Sigh the more I find out the more questions I always have.

  Well I can’t do anything about my core, but how do I train my will to see further? Ideas float through my head but nothing comes to mind. Annoyed by my lack of knowledge I decide to just go to sleep determined to figure it out some other time.