Echo stood in the yard, excitementbubbling inside him.

For a whole year, he had focused solely on meditation and controlling his energy. He hadgrown stronger, but something wasmissing.

He wanted to learnspells.

So, early that morning, he approached Rilan.

"Dad, I want to learn how to use magic!"

Rilan raised an eyebrow."Oh? Are you ready for that?"

Echo nodded firmly."I’ve been meditating and training every day. I can feel the energy inside me now. It’s time I do something with it!"

Rilan chuckled, setting down the wooden staff he had been holding."Alright, let’s not waste any time."

Understanding Spells

Rilan led Echo to the open field behind their house.The sun was shining brightly, and the morning air was crisp.

"Listen carefully, Echo,"Rilan began."Magic is simple once you understand how it works."

Echoleaned forward, eager to absorb every word.

"A spell is just a command. All you need to do is think about what you want to create, and it will take form using the mana inside you."

Echo blinked."That’s it? No complicated chants or hand signs?"

Rilan laughed."No, those are just for show. If you want to summon fire, you don’t need to say anything. Just picture the flames and feel the heat."

Echonodded slowly, trying to wrap his head around it.

"Let’s start with something easy,"Rilan said."Summon water."

The First Attempt

Echo took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

He imagineda small ball of waterforming in his hands.

He focused, feeling the mana inside him respond.

A faint chill spread through his palms.

Then, suddenly—

Drip.

A tiny drop of water appeared, hanging in the air before splashing onto the ground.

Echo frowned."That’s it?"

Rilan chuckled."Patience. Try again."

Echo inhaled deeply,concentrating harder this time.

He pictured a small, perfectsphere of water, smooth and clear.

His mana swirled, andthis time, the water responded more easily.

A small, wobblyball of waterhovered between his hands.

Echo’s eyes widened."I did it!"

Rilan smiled."Good. Now throw it."

Echo hesitated, thenhurled the water ball forward.

It flew a short distance before splashing onto the ground with a weaksplat.

Echo’s shoulders slumped."That wasn’t very impressive..."

Rilan shook his head."For a child who has only been learning mana for a year, it’s impressive enough."

Echo clenched his fists. He wanted more.

Refining the Spell

Rilan patted Echo’s shoulder."Try again. The more you practice, the better your control will become."

Echo nodded, determination burning in his chest.

Herepeated the process—summoning the water, shaping it, and throwing it.

Again.

And again.

Each time, the water ball grewmore stable.

Each time, it flewa little farther.

Hours passed.Sweat dripped down Echo’s forehead, but he refused to stop.

Finally—

A perfectly round sphere of water hovered in his palms.

Echo grinned."I’ve got it this time!"

With a sharp motion, helaunchedthe water ball forward.

It zipped through the air—

Andsplashed against a treewith a satisfying smack.

Echojumped in excitement."Did you see that?!"

Rilan chuckled."I did. Keep practicing, and one day, that little splash will be strong enough to knock down a tree."

Echo’s heart pounded. He wasone step closerto becoming truly strong.

---

A full year had passed since Echo first learned to control mana.

The daysblurred together in warmth and happiness.

For the first time, in what felt like forever, he trulyloved his life.

This world—his new home—was nothing like the ones before.

It wasn’t full of pain. It wasn’t full of loss.

Here, he hadEileen and Rilan. He had a family.

Arealfamily.

Theycared for him. Theylaughed with him. Theyprotected him.

And in return, Echo gave themhis full heart.

He no longer thought about the past.

He only cared aboutthis world—this life.

A Year of Training

Over the past year, Echo’s progress had beenimmense.

His control over mana had sharpened, his understanding of energy had deepened, and his body had grownstronger.

Where before he could only control water, now he could freelymanipulate wind, fire, and water.

This wasn’t unusual in this world.

Anyone with a mana affinity could wield any element.

But even so, Echo’stalentwas undeniable.

He could nowsummon strong gusts of windthat could shake the trees.

He could createstreams of firethat flickered wildly in his hands.

And his water magic?Far more powerful than a year ago.

One time, he had evenblasted a rock into piecesusing water pressure alone.

Rilan had beenimpressed.

Eileen had beenworried.

And Echo?

He had beenthrilled.

Each new breakthrough, each new spell—it was all exciting.

He wanted to push himselffurther.

To seehow strong he could really become.

But today, he hadsomething else on his mind.

"I Want to Go to the Market."

Echo looked up at Rilan, determination in his eyes.

"I want to go to the market."

Rilan, who had been practicing sword swings in the yard, paused mid-motion.

He turned to Echo, his expression unreadable.

Then, with a chuckle, he lowered his blade.

"The market, huh?"

Echo nodded."I’ve never been before."

Rilan smirked."I suppose you haven’t."

Eileen, who had been listening from the doorway,crossed her arms playfully.

"Why the sudden interest, Echo?"

Echo shrugged."I just want to see what it’s like."

And he did.

For the past year, he had beentraining, training, training.

It was time toexperience the world beyond their home.

Rilan exchanged a glance with Eileen.

Then, with a grin, he ruffled Echo’s hair.

"Alright, let’s go to the market."

Echo’seyes lit up.

He was finallygoing to see the world beyond their home.

And he couldn’t wait.

---

The sunhung highin the sky as Echo, Rilan, and Eileen stepped into thebustling heart of the market.

It wasnothing like Echo had ever seen before.

The air was filled with thelively chatterof merchants shouting their prices, customers haggling over goods, and the distant sound of a street performer playing a lively tune on a flute.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com