'What have I gotten myself into? I'm standing in the dormitory of a woman I only met a few minutes ago...'

  Moments earlier...

  "HUH?" the black-haired woman blurted out, trying to process the boy's words as if she had misheard him.

  "Exactly what you heard. I have no magic," the boy explained, his voice laced with worry. "I can't use a single spell. Even grimoires are useless to me."

  The woman pressed a hand to her face, looking disappointed. "Well... we can focus on honing your strengths first and deal with your little 'problem' later." She placed her hands on her hips, scanning him from head to toe. "For now, let’s get to my room. From today on, you’re living with me!" she announced cheerfully.

  Presently...

  'Well... at least I’ve learned a lot about her. Her name is Paola Silva. Her magic is weak, but her intelligence far surpassed her peers—that’s how she became a teacher at only twenty-five.'

  The boy noticed the awkward silence that had suddenly filled the room. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

  "Fufufu, I was just saying how much I love dumplings! :)"

  "Dum-dumplings?..." The boy looked baffled. Such a generic, out-of-context topic actually forced a small, genuine laugh out of him.

  "Fufufu, I’m just kidding. I was talking about your body."

  The boy looked down, suddenly reminded of his embarrassing situation. He was shirtless while she examined him. "How much longer do I have to stay like this? It’s embarrassing."

  "Just a bit longer," the teacher replied. "This is incredible! How did you manage to survive three years on the streets with almost no food or water? Your physique is in peak condition." Her voice trembled slightly; she had never seen this kind of build up close. "For a ten-year-old, this is staggering. Defined muscles and a terrifying presence... these spiral marks that start from your navel, run across your ribs, up your right arm, through your neck, and finally coil into your eye..."

  The boy grew nervous. Her words hinted at danger, yet her tone was one of pure scientific excitement. "This amazes me! Does your family happen to have an ancestor who reached or surpassed the Human Limit?"

  "Human Limit?" he asked, confused. "I don't think so. My father was strong, but I don't know any relatives besides my parents."

  "The Human Limit refers to someone who has transcended everything we know: strength, speed, intelligence, body, and spirit. These are the ultimate boundaries we humans possess," she explained as she stood up, meeting his eyes with a serious gaze. "A good example is the Vermilion Clan; they are renowned for extreme physical strength, capable of crushing incredibly tough boulders with their bare hands!"

  "That’s amazing! I never knew people like that existed," the boy commented, pulling his shirt back on. "My father was known for his mastery of the sword, while my mother was famous for her mana and magic."

  "Hmm..." She made a curious sound, trying to piece it together. She leaned in for one last look at the marks. "I see. That could mean one of your ancestors was extremely powerful. Even so, I’ve never heard of spiral marks. Yours bleed and seem to grow like a disease or a plague..." She pointed to the mark on his face. "But strangely enough, they don't seem harmful. Your skin, your organs, and your muscles don't seem to mind their presence at all."

  "I heard that hair color might have an influence too," the boy said. "My father used to say I inherited his will because of my hair."

  "Interesting. And what were the hair colors of your parents?"

  "My mother has blue hair with slight yellow patches. My father’s hair was completely red."

  "Red... blue with patches..." Paola seemed lost in thought. "Strange, I think I read about something like that in a book once." She tried to recall it but eventually gave up. "Regardless, maybe these marks are causing your magical deficiency, or maybe your body is simply preparing for a Magic Awakening."

  "Magic Awakening?!" The boy’s heart leapt with a spark of hope.

  "There are historical records of it. Magic can manifest and grow at an absurd rate until the age of twelve. But while it sounds like an advantage, it’s also a grave concern—it’s rare and often dangerous."

  The boy lowered his gaze, deep in thought. 'I hope I awaken my magic at twelve... I don't want to be like this forever.' He quickly changed the subject. "How can I prepare for the school entrance exam?"

  Paola flashed a wide, almost wicked grin. "Since you have no magic, we’ll focus on your physique! We’ll train your body so intensely that your strength skyrockets. We’ll make it so your punch can shatter any wall!"

  The boy clenched his fists, imagining such power. "Really? Even if it’s just raw strength... I really want to pass that exam."

  "Don't worry," she said, resting her hands on his shoulders. "The selection has three parts. If you fail one, you can make up for it in the other two. I passed the Psychological phase myself and stood out enough to become a teacher."

  "But what’s in that psychological phase? It sounds... unsettling."

  "It’s the most unpredictable stage. It adapts to every student. I had nothing to fear, so I walked right through it."

  'Train my body...' the boy thought. 'It sounds exhausting... but I can't give up now! I won't go back to that cruel, lonely life in the slums.'

  "I’ll do it for my father!" he declared, pride returning to his hollow eyes. "So... what are the steps for this training?"

  "Fufufu"—her laugh sounded like she had just hatched the most diabolical plan imaginable. "I was thinking of a rigorous, extreme physical regime! But if you’d prefer something lighter..."

  "LET’S DO IT!" he interrupted with absolute certainty. "Rigorous training. It sounds like the most effective way."

  "Great! You’ll start this very day. I’ll give you some books." The woman dashed toward the shelves, searching for specific volumes. "Don't think I’ll make it easy for you. If you want to get stronger... you must grow through your own will and determination!"

  "Really?! On my own?" the boy asked, his nerves kicking in at the thought of this new routine.

  "Fufufu, no. I’m just teasing. I’ll guide your training... but I won’t give you most of the answers." Clutching several books, she handed them over. "Read these. Each one covers a different topic: human anatomy and physical conditioning. I expect to see great results!"

  The boy nodded, still uneasy, and left the room to begin his practice. As he walked through corridors and courtyards filled with students, his anxiety grew. The stares directed at him sparked a single thought:

  'Why are they looking at me? Is it... because of my mark?'

  Distracted, he bumped into someone. The books tumbled to the floor, and he scrambled to pick them up. "I-I’m so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going."

  "Hm? A new boy?" A deep, booming voice echoed through the hall. The man’s dominance and presence were overwhelming. The boy found himself unable to move—not out of guilt, but because of a pressure that unsettled his very core. His arms trembled, his teeth clenched, and his eyes struggled to focus.

  Looking up slowly, he saw who he had run into: a man with a curled white mustache and blue hair tinged with the white of old age. His attire matched the noble standards of the academy. The boy remained silent, unable to form a word.

  "Should I consider you an enemy? It’s not common for children like you to appear so suddenly. I hate to inform you, but this school is for students only."

  "N-no!" he said, summoning his courage. "I’m not an enemy."

  "Oh? Interesting... What is an unknown boy doing here? And carrying such strange books, no less."

  "W-well..." He struggled to find the words. "A woman decided to take me in... My name is Giyo. She allowed me to stay in her quarters."

  The man listened intently, letting out a weary sigh. "Huff. Don’t tell me it’s Professor Paola again?"

  "T-that’s right... sir..."

  "Well, she truly knows no bounds... It’s thanks to her that many commoners are here. Personally, I don't see a problem; class and status are for the weak and foolish. True strength comes from the potential within us all," he said with pride, crossing his arms and turning serious. "But she is pushing it. The King himself has spoken to me about sheltering commoners. I hope there won't be trouble this time."

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  "Excuse me... could you tell me who you are?" the boy asked.

  "Oh, right." The man seemed to realize he was being a bit too intense. "Don't let appearances deceive you. I am the strongest man here... for now. My name is Hiro, and I am the Headmaster of this academy."

  Silence fell between them, save for the whistling of the wind.

  "H-i-r-o?" The boy repeated, spelling out each letter in shock. "I... I’m talking to the Headmaster?!"

  "KAAAAAAAKAKAKAKA!" The man erupted into a booming laugh, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. "Indeed! None other."

  Suddenly, Giyo’s fear vanished, replaced by motivation. Seeing that terrifying presence melt into laughter made him let out a small laugh as well.

  "Don't be frightened; I don't plan on throwing you out just yet. I was merely curious about one detail." He leaned down in a welcoming manner. "Since Paola took you in, I assume you are preparing for the entrance exams, correct?"

  "E-exactly! I plan to join this academy and prove my true worth!"

  "KAAAAAAAKAKAKA! I’m counting on it, kid. But tell me... what are you reading there?" He pointed to the books.

  "I’m reading about anatomy. Unlike the others... I can't use magic," he admitted bitterly. "I intend to strengthen my body beyond the ordinary! To reach a strength that surpasses the Human Limit!" he declared with confidence, blushing immediately after realizing what he had said.

  "Surpassing the Human Limit, eh? That takes me back to my younger days..." The man gazed at the sky, lost in a brief memory, before smiling back at the boy. He turned and began walking into the building. "How about I show you a special place? Follow me."

  Giyo followed at once. For the first time, he saw the academy's interior: the lockers, the students, the faculty. He couldn't help but feel inspired as he watched students admire the man and teachers bow respectfully.

  After moving away from the crowds, they reached the end of a long hallway and stood before a massive door. As it opened, a grand indoor arena was revealed. "This place will be used for the exams. You could say it’s a bit of an advantage to see it now, KAAAAAAAKAKAKA!"

  Giyo bowed in gratitude. "Thank you so much!"

  With a wave, the man departed, gesturing for the boy to relax. But on his way back, the Headmaster couldn't stop his thoughts from racing.

  'That boy’s physique was staggering. That spiral mark kept his expression stern... and that threatening aura... for a fleeting moment, I felt it... the sensation of overwhelming power!'

  With a confident grin and a spark of joy in his heart, he whispered: "We will meet again... Giyo."

  Meanwhile, in the great imperial castle, Valhalla...

  "Tell me... what are these rumors I hear?! What do you expect me to tell our superiors? I cannot report that the strongest man in the kingdom fell to a mere Sea King!"

  The old man slammed his fist onto the table. His high-status attire stood out; the symbol of the crosses adorned his white tunic, which was intricately detailed in gold.

  "This is unacceptable! How could Jack lose to a common beast like that?! I thought we had permission to sail those waters!"

  "Do not fear... Pope Graiton," said another elder. He sat in a chair embellished with precious stones and scarlet fabric. His crown, forged from rubies and emeralds, contrasted with his stark white hair. "The word spread throughout the territory is that the Captains were ambushed by a Sea King, but... not all casualties were disclosed." He locked eyes with Graiton, attempting to ease his mind. "Jack fought bravely against the beast... and was slain. Those are the rumors currently in circulation."

  "It's not possible... how could someone like him die..." Graiton muttered.

  "Do not underestimate them. Sea Kings can devour entire ships in a single bite. Their resilience and strength rival that of a Dragonoid!" The King clasped his hands, looking tense. "Jack was the strongest of all generations of Captains. No other could defeat even a lesser dragon, let alone a Dragonoid!" He let out a weary sigh. "I must thank the Gods that the creature didn't decide to raze my entire kingdom."

  "Our only way to stop it was to use the Imperial Sword... But... what shall we do about the next generation?" Graiton asked.

  "In this next generation, we must forge the 'next Jack'," the King stated, maintaining a confident and stern posture. "We must train them and give them all the attention we can muster."

  Graiton nodded in agreement. Soon, the silence was broken by the King’s solemn tone. "Have you heard about the neighboring kingdom?"

  "Are you referring to the Nexus Kingdom? I heard they are developing a weapon capable of wiping out an entire realm."

  "They have always been a threat to the world. The global leaders never stopped the advancement of such weaponry... They are renowned for their high-tech innovation, but I will not accept it! It is an extreme threat. If that kingdom holds such power, what will become of us?"

  Graiton listened intently, a smirk playing on his lips. He bowed with his hand over his chest, his voice filled with pride. "I suggest you don't worry about those vermin, Your Majesty. I have found a child with a very rare power. She will be of great interest to you."

  "A child? And what kind of power are we talking about?"

  "Have you ever heard of the Power of Light?"

  "LIGHT?!" The King stood abruptly, leaning over the table, stunned by the revelation. "Impossible. That power has never been recorded in history. Even if the Holy Book mentions all elements, no one has ever been found with the Light element!"

  "Well, I found a mere commoner with such a feat. I must say, I was as shocked as you are." Graiton sat back, resting his chin on his hand. "She is only a seven-year-old girl. Her potential is incredible! However... she has strange marks on her body. It could be some unknown disease."

  The King pointed at the Pope, his voice urgent. "Have the Imperial Sword absorb her powers immediately! We don't know when she might succumb to her illness..."

  School Dormitory...

  With a weary sigh, the boy returned to his new home. "I'm back..." He opened the door, leaning against the wall with trembling hands. "Hm? That’s strange... there’s no one here."

  The boy walked through the dormitory, past the chairs and table, until he reached the only bedroom. "Are you serious?" he whispered to himself, seeing the woman with her head resting on the desk, fast asleep.

  "Pa-Paola?" he called out, nudging her to wake her up. She opened her eyes, and upon seeing the boy had returned, her tired gaze turned to relief.

  "Welcome back... I was studying all day and ended up nodding off."

  "Studying? And what exactly were you studying?"

  "I decided to research those marks of yours. That strange shape, the irregular pattern... I simply couldn't ignore it, fufufu."

  The woman stood up, standing before the boy as if examining his body. "If you were sick, you’d be complaining of pain." She raised her hand, stroking the boy’s face where the mark lay. "I want to try something. Maybe this mark is the primary reason there’s no magic in your body. But to be sure... you’re going to have to let me touch you."

  "Touch... me!?" Giyo’s breath hitched for a second, his face flushing bright red at her words.

  "Fufufu, don't worry. I’m not going to do anything... inappropriate."

  'This woman must have a screw loose...' the boy thought. "Well... fine by me. But how is this supposed to help?"

  The woman beamed, clearly satisfied with his answer. "I’m going to channel my mana into these marks. From what I’ve researched, there should be a brief reaction..."

  With a nod, the boy sat on the bed, pulling off his shirt to reveal his marked body. Stepping closer, she ran her hands over the spirals delicately, as if afraid they might split open.

  "ó forn seier, fljótt um h?nd mína og fram fyrir líkama, far veg lífsins ok ?rl?gsins, fléttandi band ok bindandi mikinn hnut."

  Amidst that strange language, the boy stood stunned by the flawless pronunciation. 'What language is that? She sounds so different... yet so at home speaking it.' To him, someone who never had the chance to know his ancestral lands, hearing those words was mesmerizing. A faint light emerged—a blue hue flowing from her hands into his marks like a magical, viscous substance.

  "You’re doing great. I hope I’m not hurting you." "I’m okay... it’s cold." "Fufufu, cold? That’s a new reaction for me." "It’s relaxing... it feels like I’m receiving a blessing," the boy said, feeling the strength drain from his arms.

  "This is Ancient Magic. Our ancestors used a different tongue called Old Norse." Her eyes met his with a slight smile. "The World Language is the standard nowadays, but I truly love the ancient tongue. My spells are based on it."

  "I’ve never heard anything like it..." he whispered.

  Suddenly, the spiral mark glowed. A blue radiance filled the room, which had abruptly plunged into darkness. The glow intensified, spreading across the mark until it reached the boy’s scarred eye. The moment it made contact... black flames erupted from his body! The fire consumed the room, startling the woman, who threw herself back in terror.

  Noticing the flames licking at her clothes, she let out a desperate cry, thinking she was about to die... but then she realized something: the flames didn't burn. They simply seemed to drain a small portion of her power.

  "P-Paola! Are you okay?!" the boy shouted, trying to stand but finding his legs weak. "How strange... I thought I was going to be burned alive." She examined the flames, touching them cautiously.

  'These black flames seem harmless, yet I can feel my power slowly fading... did I break some kind of seal?' she wondered.

  "Professor?" the boy called out, still frightened. "I’m fine... I think I just broke a major barrier inside you. There’s an ancient book written by a wise witch about elements banished by the heavens and sealed for eternity." She looked at him sternly. "In our world, there are Magic Generations. The First: fire, water, earth, air, lightning, light, and shadow. The Second: two elements or a mixture of them. And the Third: the most inexplicable of all, which only witches truly understand. These are specific magias like manipulation, levitation, and even opening portals!"

  "Wow..." the boy muttered, trying to grasp the complex explanation. "And what do the black flames have to do with that?" "It’s likely they belong to the Second or Third Generation."

  "Whoa!" The boy waved his hand, extinguishing the flames instantly. Excited, she grabbed his hands and pulled them to her chest. "This is incredible, Giyo! You’re unlike anything I’ve ever studied. I’m certain you come from an incredibly powerful bloodline. I can’t wait to study you thoroughly!"

  The boy felt a surge of discomfort at the idea of being a test subject. "I think that’s enough studying for today. It’s time for bed."

  She looked out the window, seeing that night had fallen swiftly. "True..." she pouted, looking frustrated. "I hope your training goes well. Remember, when you feel stronger, come to me. I’ll teach you the next level."

  Without warning, she pushed him onto the bed and snuggled beside him. The warmth of the moment allowed the boy to surrender his remaining strength to sleep.

  Deep within the abyss, the deepest part of the soul...

  "Interesting..." a dark silhouette smirked. "It seems you’re mastering my power quite well."

  The silhouette was slowly revealed by a lone light in the solitary space, seated upon a throne. His appearance was utterly terrifying: four arms, purple hair with black streaks, and a bone-like jaw covering his face like a guard. What stood out most were the marks on his body: lines across his wrists, crescent moons on his shoulders, and a large arrow descending from his chest.

  "W-what is this? What is this place? Who are you?"

  "Kakakaka, don’t be alarmed. I am merely a host." The man rested his face on his hand, looking arrogant. "In the end, he was right. Sooner or later, you would awaken my abilities."

  "What are you talking about?" Giyo asked. "My, my... can’t you see?" He pointed at the boy, specifically at his marks. "The black flames, your body, our marks... we are alike, after all..."

  The man stood up, walking slowly toward the boy. "Entertain me, kid. I want to see what you can show me with MY abilities! KAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKA!!!"

  Hey, did you find it interesting? Just so you know, there’s much more coming in the next chapters.

  Get ready for new characters and major revelations!