"Then teach me swordsmanship… and the fiery magic you used."
After I said this, Master Valorant paused and looked at me. His gaze resembled someone who wasn't quite sure what to make of what they'd just heard. Then he spoke, but it felt as though he needed time to fully grasp the weight behind my words.
"And what good would it do if I did?"
"I'll give you all the money I have, if that's what you want. I just want to become strong."
He heard my final words but pretended not to. He turned away, ignoring me. That's when I realized: convincing him wouldn't be easy.
[What must I do to make the old man train me?]
With that thought in mind, I watched him closely the entire day. It was then I noticed something unusual about myself. The wounds I'd received just the day before had started to heal far faster than normal. Bite marks from the demon hounds had become shallow scratches, and bruises from the villagers' stones had faded into mere redness. It was clear—he must've used some kind of magic to heal me.
Later, while we were eating, I asked him again.
"Why won't you teach me?"
"And why should I?" he replied flatly.
"You're right. You don't owe me anything."
It was the truth—he wasn't obligated to help me in any way. In fact, it was I who owed him a debt.
"I don't go around teaching Elestar techniques to strangers I don't know."
"What did you say? Elestar…? What is that?"
"A form of sorcery."
"Please tell me more about it."
"If you're done eating, go to sleep. The sooner you recover, the sooner you can leave."
I understood—he didn't want me to stay here long. I had to convince him to teach me magic before he made me leave. If I learned magic, I could defeat demons on my own. And come to think of it… he probably knew more about demons than anyone I'd ever met. I should ask him.
"May I ask one more question?"
"What now? If it's another request for training, forget it."
He expected me to ask again. Funny. Honestly, anyone would have thought the same in his place.
"No, it's not about that. It's a different question."
I looked him in the eyes, my face serious.
"Why did that demon chase me? Why me?"
This boy... he doesn't even know who he is. Or maybe he's trying to fool me. No, judging by his face, he's serious. Fine. I'll answer.]
"Alright, but sit down and listen carefully. The reason the demon chased you is because of the uncontrolled and immense mana leaking from your body. Demons are drawn to mana like moths to flame. That's why it hunted you. Do you come from a line of powerful sorcerers?"
"No. At least, my mother never said anything like that."
"Strange… Your mana is unusually strong—so strong it attracts demons. Just as humans can't live without food and water, demons can't survive without mana. That level of power usually runs in noble bloodlines or magical families. But you… you don't look like a noble child. And if your family had no history of sorcery, then where did this power come from?"
I fell silent. Deep down, a heavy thought twisted inside me.
[It was all because of me. All of it. If I hadn't left the house that day… none of this would've happened.]
The guilt of knowing my mother died because of me was unbearable. I couldn't accept it. Sensing my pain, Master Valorant tried to console me.
"Your mother's death isn't your fault. It's that demon's."
His words felt both comforting and deeply painful. Without realizing it, tears welled up in my eyes.
"No… it was my fault. If I hadn't gone outside, she might still be alive. My mother… she died because I was foolish. I couldn't protect her. I was too weak. I did nothing but stand and watch her die."
"Blaming yourself won't change anything."
"After that day… I made a vow. No matter what, I'll survive. My mother's sacrifice, her final moments of agony—none of it will be in vain. I also realized something else. When that demon raised its spear over my chest, I understood that survival isn't just about running. It's about having the strength to stand and fight. You can't run from demons forever. That's why I'm begging you—please teach me magic!"
Valorant listened, and something in him shifted. As if my words had reopened an old wound. He stared for a long time.
"If you've finished your speech, go to sleep. In your condition, talking any more will only make things worse."
I'd hoped my words would touch his heart, that he'd change his mind. But maybe they didn't. Maybe soon I'd have to leave after all.
"I'm sorry… if I troubled you with my words."
I lay down, while Master Valorant sat at the table, deep in thought.
Morning came. While I was still asleep, I felt as though a river had poured down over me. Shocked, I screamed out:
"Aaah! What's going on?!"
I sat up and looked around. In front of me stood Master Valorant, holding a wooden bucket.
"What did you just do?!"
He looked at me calmly and said nothing.
"Morning training starts now. Get ready and come outside!" And with that, he walked out of the hut.
That meant only one thing: Master Valorant had agreed to teach me magic.
Filled with excitement, I got up and stepped outside.
"Master Valorant, where do we begin?"
He looked at me for a moment, then replied thoughtfully.
"Call me Master Valorant, not Sir Valorant."
"Alright, Master Valorant."
"I won't be teaching you magic, but rather the Elestar techniques. Mana plays a critical role in these techniques. That's why, first, I'll teach you what mana is, then how to control, contain, and sense it."
The way Master Valorant spoke, this all sounded very intriguing.
"What do I have to do?" I asked eagerly.
He looked at me, then turned his eyes toward a tree stump near the cabin. Naturally, I followed his gaze.
"Sit on that stump and watch the sky. That will be your first exercise."
He had given me a strange task. I didn't understand why I needed to sit and stare at the sky.
"So… just watch the birds flying by?"
"Focus your attention. Simply observe the sky. That's all."
"Nothing else?"
"Just do as I say."
"What's the point?"
"I said do it! Enough talking!"
His voice rose sharply at the end, startling me. Frustrated, I walked over and sat stiffly on the stump. He turned away and busied himself with his own tasks.
From that point, I sat there watching the sky—sometimes birds, sometimes I turned toward sudden sounds. In truth, I just sat still, not leaving the stump.
Even at midday, Master Valorant brought me food and instructed me not to move. I had my lunch right there on the stump. I stayed there until night fell, not rising until Master Valorant came over.
"Attu, that's enough. Get up."
"Okay..."
After sitting in one spot all day, trying to stand was hard. When I moved slightly, I heard creaking from my back. As I stood fully, my spine popped loudly—so much so that Master Valorant heard it too.
When I approached him, he was already preparing dinner. As I neared, he handed me a bowl.
"What was that about?"
"The food."
"I meant sitting like a log on that stump all day!"
"Didn't you enjoy it?"
"No! I wasted the whole day doing nothing!"
"If you hated sitting that much, you're welcome to lie down tomorrow," he said with a smirk.
"Why are you laughing? I thought you were going to teach me something!"
"Only someone who understands the pain of stillness will value the meaning of movement," he replied, tossing more wood onto the fire and stirring the coals with an iron rod.
"What does that even mean?"
His answer only irritated me more. I felt like the whole day had been wasted, and his vague words only added to my frustration.
"Do you actually know anything? Or did you just get lucky killing that demon?"
His expression changed. He grew cold. In one swift motion, he brought the red-hot iron near my neck. I hadn't even noticed it until the searing heat startled me. I froze. My face turned pale as I realized how close it was. He glared at me with a stern, commanding voice.
"Never forget this: no matter who the teacher is—good or bad—they never teach what they don't know themselves. Understand?"
"Y-yes… I understand," I stammered.
I hadn't expected him to lose his temper so quickly.
"Now, eat."
I took the food and began eating slowly. He put the iron down and continued speaking.
"The reason I had you sit there is because the mana in your body is chaotic and excessive. I needed to find something out."
"What?"
"Whether the mana flowing from your body is from emotional stress or your own true mana."
"What's the difference?"
"People are strange beings. We live with others, love them, lose them. When someone dear to us dies, we experience a range of emotions—grief, rage, despair, guilt. These emotions influence mana."