Nico knelt down, arms crossed and expression soured like he'd just chewed a lemon.

  "Why is it always me getting punished while she parades around like a royal peacock?" he muttered, glaring up from the grass.

  Valea, standing beside Cedric, raised a brow and smirked. "Because you are the one who always throws the first insult, genius. Actions have consequences."

  Cedric, arms folded and calm as ever, added with a mild shrug, "You do tend to start about ninety-nine percent of these arguments, Nico."

  Nico clicked his tongue and looked away. "Hmph. So now even you're siding with that wind-blowing witch?"

  Valea's eye twitched. Her smile faded into a death glare.

  "HUHHH!?" Flames of anger practically danced around her shoulders.

  Eren sighed dramatically, plopping down on the grass beside me. "They'll never change… Just pretend it's background noise."

  I blinked, watching the chaos unfold. Somehow, these people felt like strangers and yet... oddly familiar. There was a strange warmth here, even in the bickering.

  My eyes drifted to Cedric—the calm in the storm. Cedric Virelion. A name I'd heard back in the streets. A man with presence, authority… and apparently a high-ranking knight.

  The three around him? His students.

  I looked down. For now… I need to stay with them. But eventually, I have to find Aries' family—his parents. His sister. They're my only link to getting back to Earth.

  Think, Shang. Think.

  Before my thoughts could spiral deeper, Eren nudged me gently with his elbow.

  "So, let's talk about you, Aries," he said casually. "How old are you?"

  I looked up. "I'm… twelve."

  "Thought so," he nodded, grinning. "Definitely younger than the rest of us."

  "Pfft, and he's still more mature than someone," Valea muttered, jerking her head toward Nico.

  "I heard that!" Nico growled, still sulking from his 'punishment seat.'

  Valea ignored him and walked over to us, placing her hands on her hips. "Ugh, I'm starving."

  Cedric, still by the campfire setup, chuckled. "Don't worry, food's coming. Boar meat for lunch."

  Nico "Wait—that boar?"

  "Yep," Cedric replied with a relaxed smile. "Bit of seasoning, mana-grilled—tastes better than it looks."

  "I'll help," Eren stood, brushing off his pants. He stepped forward and raised his hand. With a deep breath, stones lifted from the forest floor, shifting and reshaping until they formed a smooth, bowl-like cooking pit. His control was steady. Effortless.

  I watched, wide-eyed. Stone elemental manipulation... seamless precision... They're definitely Weavers. Intermediate level mages… And Cedric—he must be something much higher.

  Just then, Valea turned to me. She knelt a little to meet my eyes, tilting her head playfully.

  "Well then, Aries," she said, smiling, "Why don't you tell us a little about yourself?"

  Eren looked over his shoulder. "Hey, don't pressure him, Valea. He's still getting used to us."

  "N-no…" I said quickly, nervously fiddling with the hem of my sleeve. "It's okay. I can…"

  But before I could finish, Cedric raised a hand.

  "Let's not jump into heavy talks on an empty stomach." He turned with a grin. "Lunch first."

  ___________

  "Ugh… I'm stuffed," Nico groaned, lying flat on the grass.

  "You're the best cook ever, Master!" Valea said, still licking her fingers.

  Cedric chuckled, wiping his hands with a cloth. "Ha… Thanks for the compliment, Valea."

  "It was perfectly crisped. Deep-fried just right. Honestly…" Eren tapped his belly with satisfaction.

  As everyone laughed lightly, Nico suddenly sat up and turned his gaze toward me.

  "Hey you," he said, narrowing his eyes. "What's your elemental affinity?"

  It took me a second to realize he was talking to me.

  Even Cedric leaned forward slightly. "I'm interested to hear that too."

  "Same," Valea added, brushing some pink strands behind her ear. "What kind of energy flows through you?"

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  I blinked, my smile fading a little. "I... don't actually know yet," I said, rubbing my arm awkwardly. "I haven't unlocked any elements. I'm just... a conductor for now."

  Valea tilted her head slightly. "Ohh… I see." Her voice dropped thoughtful.

  "Hmph. Gross," Nico muttered, rolling his eyes.

  Eren stared at him, deadpan. "Do you have a personal ambition to argue with the entire world?"

  Cedric folded his arms, smiling calmly. "Well then, why don't we find out... Aries?"

  "Huh?" I blinked at him, confused.

  Eren clapped his hands and stood up. "Yeah! Let's do it! Even I'm curious to see what element you'll awaken first."

  But... how? I tried before but wasn't able to find out how to get an elemental nature

  I closed my eyes, breathing in slowly.

  As Cedric instructed, I focused inward—diving deep into the reservoir of energy that flowed within me.

  "Alright, Aries," his voice echoed gently. "Enter your Arcane Core. Let your mind sink into the mana."

  At his words, I felt my consciousness drift—pulled inward—into that strange yet familiar space. My body stilled, but my mind fell through layers of silence until—

  —there.

  A cosmic void surrounded me.

  Brilliant streams of pure mana danced like ribbons across a vast black canvas. Stars pulsed gently in the distance.

  But this time, something was different.

  The stars felt closer—more responsive. The energy was no longer distant or wild. It flowed around me... into me.

  "I can feel it," I whispered in thought. "Unlike before... now I'm not just sensing mana. I'm channeling it. Through every vein. Every breath."

  "Good," Cedric's voice pierced through the stillness of my inner world. "Now… channel that mana. Let it flow outward—back into your body."

  I exhaled, letting the gathered energy surge outward like a tide breaking free.

  A pulse ran through me—from soul to skin.

  Then Cedric, now a blur beyond my closed eyes, spoke again.

  "Take this," he said. "Place your hand on the Orb once you're ready. Let's see what you truly carry within."

  I extended my arm without opening my eyes.

  My fingertips brushed the cool, glassy surface of the orb—silent at first. But within my inner vision, everything ignited.

  Suddenly, the mana-space responded.

  Four great currents spiraled into view before me

  Each of them reached toward me… waiting.

  But I didn't reach back.

  No. I went deeper—beyond the easy choices, beyond the ones that pulled naturally to me.

  I want to understand what lies beyond the known... I thought. Something more.

  Then—CRACK!

  A searing flash exploded in my inner world. Blinding. Sharp.

  The space around me shattered like glass, and my consciousness was flung back to the waking world.

  "AH—!" I gasped, staggering slightly, pulling my hand back.

  The crystal orb in Cedric's hand trembled… then split clean in two, light steaming from the center. Everyone stared at it—eyes wide.

  "W-Woah..." Eren blinked. "It broke... again?"

  "Did it just burn out...?" Valea muttered.

  Cedric looked at the cracked orb with quiet intensity.

  From his side, Valea leaned toward me, her curiosity bubbling over. "So?" she asked, her eyes bright. "What did you see in there, Aries? What's your element?"

  I blinked, rubbing the back of my head.

  "Umm... I'm honestly not sure," I said. "There was this really bright light… and it kinda… exploded?"

  Cedric rested his hand on his chin, eyes gleaming with quiet thought.

  "Hmm… perhaps there's another way," he said, stepping forward. "Aries, why don't you try channeling your mana into an attack?"

  "Huh?" I blinked, confused. "But… I don't even know what element I have."

  Cedric gave a faint smile. "Exactly. You felt the elemental surge, but the identity escaped you. So rather than choosing the element... let it choose you."

  He began to pace slowly, voice firm and full of experience. "Try this. Normally, mages first identify their affinity before attempting elemental manipulation. But what if—just what if—you channel your mana and leave it open… not directing it toward a specific force, but letting your inner nature—your true affinity—react on instinct?"

  He looked at me, eyes burning with the thrill of theory.

  "Push your mana outward. Let it become something. The element you possess will shape it—because it already resides in you."

  Eren's eyes widened. "Whoa… does something like that exist?"

  Valea blinked. "That's kind of brilliant."

  "I'll say it's stupid," Nico scoffed, crossing his arms. "What's the point of flailing around with raw mana? That's like swinging a sword with your eyes closed."

  Cedric just chuckled. "We won't know if it works until we try, right?"

  I stood up slowly, swallowed nervously, then turned toward the trees.

  "Okay…" I lifted my arm, pointing my palm into the woods. "Here goes."

  Eyes shut. Breath held.

  I focused.

  Mana stirred within me—slow at first, then steadily rising like waves during a tide. The warmth in my chest flowed down my arm, concentrating into my palm. A pale glow pulsed there—just faint light, like before.

  Nothing else.

  Nico clicked his tongue. "See? All he did was make a glowstick. That's just basic mana compression."

  Cedric sighed. "Tch… maybe I put too much faith in that idea. Alright, let's try another—"

  Then—

  A sudden wave of heat washed over us.

  "Huh?" Valea blinked, her eyes narrowing. "Is… is it getting hot?"

  "yeah, even I can feel it-" Nico says

  Eren's gaze snapped toward me. "L-Look at A-Aries!"

  The glow in my palm flared violently—mana spiraling in rings, swirling tighter and tighter. Sparks burst from the core. The air cracked, shimmered—

  Then ignited.

  A roaring flame erupted from my hand, swirling like a miniature sun. It spun, coiling into a sphere of fire that pulsed with immense energy, burning golden-orange. I gasped, eyes flying open, the force vibrating through my bones.

  The fireball shot forward—BOOM!

  It tore through the trees and smashed into a massive boulder ahead, the explosion echoing like thunder. Shards flew, the stone cracked and charred—a full meter deep from impact.

  Smoke curled. The ground trembled.

  Silence.

  "W-What was that?!" Valea gasped, stepping back.

  "He manifested a Fireball on instinct!?" Eren's jaw dropped.

  "That's… that's insane," Nico muttered, genuinely stunned.

  Cedric's smile broke wide across his face—prideful, not just impressed. "That's it... Very good, Aries."

  I turned back to them, chest rising and falling, breath shaky, but my voice brimming with disbelief. "I… I did it."

  Valea rushed up, her eyes sparkling. "You really did! You manifested Fire... directly higher level of element, I'm actually jealous now!"

  Cedric nodded. "And with that kind of output… your mana pool must be larger than average. That wasn't a spark, that was a high-level burst."

  Eren chuckled. "You sure you're twelve?"

  Before I could say anything else—

  My legs gave out.

  Thud.

  "Aries!" Cedric caught me before I hit the ground. My limbs felt heavy. My vision dimmed.

  "He's drained," Cedric said gently, lifting me onto his back. "That fireball must've used everything he had stored. He needs rest."

  Valea watched me with concern. "He really gave it his all…"

  Cedric looked to the others. "Let's move. We've stayed here in the forest for long enough. Time to get back on the road."

  They nodded, gathering their things.

  As we walked, the forest light flickered through the canopy above. I stirred slightly, eyes half-lidded, the world swaying softly with Cedric's steady steps.

  I felt… safe.

  Warm voices around me. Laughter in the distance. Valea and Nico already bickering again. Eren humming quietly.

  And Cedric… carrying me like I mattered.

  A smile crept across my lips.

  I think I can rest easy… with them.