The days after Mari's rescue, and the end of Bert's undeath, were different.
Kai felt it in the way the villagers spoke to him. rchants spoke with careful words, others with silence. Even those around Maribel, Garrik and Rael acted more cautiously when he was close.
His family still treated him kindly, but there were slight changes in their behaviour. Instead of wishing him a good morning, his parents would just serve him breakfast and move onto talking to each other or to Mari.
Mari would speak to him less around their parents, but treated him no differently outside of that.
They tried to hide it, but Kai noticed every change.
The villagers were worse. The sa hands that once ruffled his hair now hesitated. Conversations he used to be welcod into ended when he approached. The whispers followed him wherever he went.
"Unnatural."
"Bad on."
"Could be Old Magic."
Elders muttered that last part the most. The Old Magic. Kai did not know what it ant, but he could see the weight the words carried. It was sothing feared, sothing unspoken except in hushed tones when they thought he wasn't listening.
But he always listened. His strengthening magic worked not just on his muscles, but his senses, too.
Instead of dwelling on it, he turned his attention to Shade. His secret. His only friend.
In the safety of the woods, Kai practiced. The inky creature moved as an extension of himself, shifting forms and shapes with each command.
At first, it training was simple. Shade fetched feathers and curled around his shoulders like a scarf. Kai ford sharp tendrils that danced at his fingertips and could puncture fallen leaves, but not much more.
I need more control. More precision. More power. I can't be weak in this world.
He had Shade weave between trees at high speeds, balance objects on its shifting limbs, even mimic animals in its silhouette.
It was exhilarating. It felt right. But more than anything, it felt like sothing that belonged to him and him alone. No judgnt, no whispers. Just him and the shadow that obeyed his absolute authority.
After training on a cold autumn day, while walking back into the village, Kai spotted a stranger setting up a small stall in the market square.
The traveler looked unlike anyone in the village. Anyone else he'd ever seen, even in most fiction back in his world.
'Is this going to be soone else like the collector?'
A long patchwork coat covered his body, strange embroidered symbols extending all over it. Rings adorned his hands crafted from different tals with various stones inset. His inspecting eyes flickered with amusent as he spoke to the curious villagers gathered around him.
"Tales from the northern mountains," the traveler said, waving a hand over a collection of odd trinkets laid before him. "Magical artifacts from distant lands, tokens from the realms of old. But most importantly, stories of heroes who walked this world long before us."
The villagers murmured with interest, so skeptical, others intrigued.
Kai watched from a distance, cautious. The traveler was different, but he wasn't feared. Not like Kai.
Then the man's gaze landed on him.
For a long mont, he just looked. As if assessing sothing unseen. Then he motioned Kai forward with a subtle nod.
Kai hesitated but approached the stranger.
He felt the depths of the stranger's mana. No hidden depths, or other entities, no spirits clinging to him.
'I think he's safe... A con artist, maybe.'
"You walk a road few understand, kid," the traveler said, his voice quieter now, ant for Kai alone. "The kind of road that draws attention. And not the good kind."
Kai tensed. "What do you an?"
'Can he read my system? Or does he know soone like ? I need answers.'
The traveler smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "If you ever get the sights of the inquisition on you, head west until you find the ruined mansion."
Kai blinked.
"What? Why?"
"He will help you."
The words sent a chill down Kai's spine. Soone knew more about what Kai was.
"Who's 'he'?" Kai asked, but the traveler turned his attention elsewhere, addressing another villager with a charismatic grin as if their conversation had never happened.
Kai stood there for a mont, hoping to have his questions answered, but the traveler ignored him.
Ruins to the west? I've never even been outside the village. And why did he think I'd need help from so stranger? With how quickly things in the village are changing, maybe I'll find out sooner than I'd like to.
As he walked through the town, Kai's steps faltered when he saw Father Aldric standing near the temple, watching him with a blank expression.
The village's religious leader had always been respected by all. But now, after Bert's so-called possession and the brutal display of light magic that followed, Kai wasn't sure if he should feel reassured or afraid.
The villagers, however, seed to worship the ground he walked on, and even called Mari The Lightbringer.
Father Aldric approached, his long white robes flowing behind him, his golden sunburst pendant catching the light.
"Kai," he greeted, his voice smooth like all charismatic priests that would try to suck them into their cults back on Earth. "How have you been?"
Kai forced a smile.
"I've been fine, Father."
Aldric studied Kai's face for a mont, then nodded.
"That is good. Your magical assessnt approaches, and I imagine you must be nervous. Many young ones feel the weight of assessnt."
Kai swallowed hard. "Yeah. A little."
The priest smiled and the gaze that accompanied it gave Kai goosebumps. Even when Father Aldric baptised him under the nas of the gods the year before, he felt repulsed by the man.
Sothing always felt off.
"Do not fear what awaits you, my child."
"I'm not your child."
"No, Kai, you are not, but you are a child of the gods, just as we all are. The gods have a plan for everyone. Even those who feel... different."
Kai froze in place. He tried his best to keep his breathing and eye movent to a minimum.
Is he trying to intimidate ? Get to admit to sothing? Or is he just warning ?
Before he could respond to Aldric, Mari's voice called out to him.
"Kai!"
Mari rushed toward him, her arms outstretched. She skidded to a stop beside him as she noticed Father Aldric.
Sparing only a brief nod towards her superior, she turned to Kai.
She gave him a hug before her usual smile spread across her face.
'Please never change. Everything else is changing too much.'
Kai forced his tears from escaping, but he felt his eyes water slightly.
"Brother! I've been looking for you! I had a question."
Kai hesitated. Mari was one of the few people in the village who still treated him as before, despite the rumours. But with Father Aldric here, he wasn't sure if it was the best ti.
Mari waited for acknowledgent, but when she realised she wouldn't get it, she continued.
"Your test is soon, so you can use magic, right? You never told what kind."
Aldric's gaze sharpened slightly.
Kai forced out a laugh. "I don't know yet. That's what the affinity test is for."
Mari puffed out her cheeks.
"But I can tell you've been practicing. I can!"
The back of Kai's neck prickled as he felt Father Aldric's eyes bear down on him.
"Maybe I have. Maybe a little."
"I knew it! Can I see?"
Kai glanced around quickly while Mari smiled from ear to ear.
Several of Father Aldric's priests loitered nearby. They pretended to be absorbed in their tasks, but clearly monitored him.
"I... not right now," he muttered.
Mari pouted, but nodded.
"Fine! But after the test, you've gotta show sothing cool!"
Kai forced a smile. "Of course! Anything for my big sister."
Father Aldric placed a hand on Kai's shoulder, looking down at him with a stern expression.
'Now, if there's anyone I still have to worry about in this village, it's you. You know more about this, what's happening to , than I do.'
"You are at a delicate age, Kai. Curiosity is natural, but be mindful. Magic is a gift, but you must also understand and respect it. Do not let it lead you astray."
Kai nodded, but his mind scread at him to retreat.
To be anywhere but there.
Father Aldric gave him one last look before turning away, his priests following like branched shadows.
Kai exhaled slowly, a deep unease settling in his gut.
Heading back ho, Kai stuck to the shadows, hoping to slip away from any prying eyes.
[Novice Concealnt learned.]
'Just two months away until my assessnt. Once it's finalised, I can finally be free of this stress.'
[Na: Kai Tensen | Age: 4 Years and 10 Months | Languages Translated: Irian | Skills: Mana Manipulation, Mana Tempering, Mana Sense, Advanced Shadow Manipulation, Minor Strengthening Magic, Minor Elental Magic, Interdiate Combat Arts, Novice Concealnt | Spellcasting: Novice | Spells: Rejuvenate, Thrall Control, Shadow Conjuring, Bull's Strength, Frozen Touch (Contact), Frozen Zone (Area) | Specialisation: ??? - To be revealed upon Magical Assessnt]
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