The next day arrived with a gentle late-morning breeze.
Onnie and I were back under our usual tree on the hill, the same spot we'd claimed for the past three months. The grass felt warm beneath us, and the golden wheat fields stretched out below like a rippling sea. Sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead, casting soft, shifting patterns on the ground between us.
We were in the middle of another chess game.
"Check," Onnie said softly, sliding her bishop forward with calm precision.
I stared at the board, eyebrows furrowed. I'd been practicing every night with Dad, but somehow she still saw moves I didn't. My knight was trapped. My queen was exposed. Again. With a quiet sigh, I moved my king out of danger, but I already knew it was hopeless.
Three moves later, she delivered the final blow.
"Checkmate," she announced, her voice gentle but undeniably satisfied.
I leaned back against the tree trunk and let out a long, defeated breath. "...I give up. You win again."
Onnie tilted her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "You were getting better. Almost had me for a second there."
"Almost doesn't count," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "Give me a break. My brain needs a minute."
She nodded without argument, folding her hands neatly in her lap. "Okay."
I reached into the small pouch at my side and pulled out my journal—a simple, leather-bound notebook I'd started keeping yesterday's evening. It's notebook from my parent's room, and I figured it was empty and unused, I might as well keep it. The pages were already half-filled with scribbled notes, diagrams, and observations about mana.
Onnie's head tilted curiously as she leaned a little closer. Even with her eyes closed, I could tell she was focusing on it with her mana sense.
"What's that?" she asked, voice soft with genuine interest.
I flipped the journal open to a fresh page, the one where I'd started sketching ideas last night.
"It's… kind of like my research notebook," I explained. "I've been writing down everything I notice about mana. How it feels when I cast, how much I use up, what happens when I push too hard. I've been trying to treat it like… well, like a science."
Onnie leaned in even more, her gloved fingers hovering just above the page as if she could "see" the ink through her mana.
"Science?" she repeated, sounding intrigued.
"Yeah." I tapped the page with my finger. "Erm, science is.." I paused, looking at her. I cleared my throat, "From what I understood, it is both a systematic process of discovery and the organized body of knowledge gained through that process." I looked at her. "Science is complex."
Back home, we were basically playing on "Hard Mode." Almost every other race had us beat—better lifespans, better perks, you name it. Take Fairies, for example: they only live about 50 years, but they're born with wings that can outrun a car. Comparing humanity to everyone else, it felt like we started with the worst base stats in the game. To top it off, magic wasn't even a thing where I'm from. It was all just cold, hard science. Honestly, finally being in a world where magic is real? It's completely wild to experience.
I cleared my throat and continued aloud, keeping my explanation lighter.
"Basically, I'm trying to understand the rules behind mana the same way people once figured out how fire works or how plants grow. If I can find patterns—like how much mana a spell actually consumes, or why some spells feel easier in the morning than at night—maybe I can get better at using it without burning myself out every time."
Onnie was quiet for a moment, her head still tilted as she processed my words. Then she asked softly, "So… you're treating mana like something you can study? Like herbs or the weather?"
"Exactly." I nodded, feeling that familiar spark of excitement. "For example, when I cast wordlessly, it uses less mana than chanting, but it drains me faster if I'm not precise. It's like concentrating a solution—too much focus, and it burns out quicker. Too little, and nothing happens."
I turned to the side. The Book of Power lay there on the grass beside us. I picked it up lightly, running my fingers over the worn red leather.
"Book of Power is great and all. I learned most of my spells from it, but the information is limited, and the scratched and damaged pages didn't help. So I figured I might as well start my own research to enhance the way I use my mana."
Onnie's expression shifted with quiet interest. She reached out, her gloved fingers gently brushing the edge of the journal as if she were trying to feel the words themselves.
"Can I… see what you've written?" she asked hesitantly.
I hesitated for half a second, then slid the journal closer to her.
"Sure."
She didn't open her eyes, but I could tell she's "reading" the pages through her sensing.
"I do not recognize anything written in it," she said after a moment, her voice soft with curiosity.
"Heh, sorry," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck. "I wanted to keep my notes private… just in case someone found the journal. It felt safer writing in a language no one here would understand."
Onnie tilted her head slightly, her brows furrowing in quiet confusion as she focused her sensing back on the open pages.
"Language?" she murmured. "What language is this?"
I scratched my cheek, buying myself a second to think.
"Ehh… it's Japanese," I said with a light laugh, trying to sound casual. "It's from a far eastern region. My mom's from the Demon Continent, since… well, she's a barbarian. I picked it up from her side of the family."
That was a lie.
The words lowkey tasted bitter the moment they left my mouth. Mom had never taught me Japanese—she doesn't know it herself. But it was the easiest, cleanest lie I could think of instead of just telling her that I learned it from my previous life. I don't want her to think I'm crazy. Saying I learned it from "her side" made sense, bet no one would question it.
Onnie's expression softened into a small, genuine smile.
"Really?" she said, sounding pleasantly surprised. "That's interesting. It feels… intricate. Like many small pieces fitting together perfectly. The symbols are so compact, yet they carry so much meaning."
She paused, then added softly, almost shyly, "It must be nice… having a connection to something from so far away."
"It is," I said quietly. "Sometimes it helps me organize my thoughts better."
I turned to her, a small smile tugging at my lips. "You're so observant. I've never had a friend like you."
Onnie giggled, the sound light and genuine. "I'm the same as you are." She turned her face toward the farm below. "I've… never had a friend like you too."
I followed her gaze. The gentle wind brushed around us, carrying the faint scent of earth and harvested wheat. From up here, the farm looked stunning — golden fields mostly cleared, with farmers already plowing and planting for the next season. I could see them chatting, smiling, laughing as they worked. Regular people living regular lives.
Meanwhile, I was sitting here in the shade, watching them from a distance.
I glanced at Onnie again.
At least I'm not alone anymore.
Tomorrow I'd be leaving for the Demon Continent with Lyra and Grann. I still hadn't told her. I didn't want to drop bad news on such a peaceful afternoon, but knowing my sister and grandfather, they weren't going to give me much choice. They'd probably drag me along whether I liked it or not.
So… there goes.
"I—"
"I—"
Both of us spoke at the exact same time.
I froze. Onnie did too.
A beat of awkward silence passed before I let out a frantic, nervous laugh. "Y-you go first."
Onnie's cheeks turned a faint pink. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress for a second, then reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, elegant violet box. It was wrapped with delicate circular patterns, like someone had taken extra care to make it look like a proper gift.
"I have a gift for you!" she said, her voice brightening with shy excitement.
"A gift? For me?"
"Mhm!" She held it out with both hands. "Here!"
I took the box carefully, turning it over in my palms. It felt surprisingly light. I hummed curiously before gently pulling off the wrapping and lifting the lid.
Inside was a small, intricately carved sculpture of… me.
My eyes widened.
It was detailed—my white hair, the shape of my face, even the way I usually sat with my shoulders slightly hunched when I was thinking. It was tiny, no bigger than my palm, but unmistakably me.
"It's a lucky charm," Onnie said softly. "Keep it with you, okay?"
"Oh, Onnie…!" My throat tightened. I felt my eyes sting a little. "This is… this is the best gift I've ever gotten!"
I turned to her, blinking quickly to push back the unexpected tears. "Thank you!"
Onnie's smile grew wider, though she still looked a little embarrassed. "I'm glad you like it. I asked my sister to help me make it. She's really good with her hands."
I carefully closed the box and slipped it into my pouch, right next to my journal. The weight of it felt strangely comforting.
For a moment, the awkwardness from earlier completely vanished. We just sat there, side by side, the gentle wind rustling the leaves above us.
Then I remembered what I'd been trying to say.
"Actually… there's something I need to tell you," I started, rubbing the back of my neck. "Tomorrow I'm… going away for a few weeks. My grandpa showed up yesterday and he's taking Lyra and me to the Demon Continent for my uncle's wedding. I won't be able to come here for a while."
Onnie's expression shifted. She didn't look upset exactly, but her shoulders dropped just a little.
"Oh…" she said quietly. "That's… far away, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Really far." I let out a small, awkward laugh. "I tried to say no, but my sister and grandpa kind of… steamrolled me. You know how Lyra is. Once she decides something, it's basically law."
Onnie giggled softly, though there was a hint of disappointment in it. "She does seem very… energetic."
"Understatement of the year," I muttered. "But I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise. And I'll bring you something from the trip—maybe a weird rock or some exotic herb we don't have here. Something you can 'see' with your sensing."
Her smile returned, warmer this time.
"I'd like that," she said. "Just… be careful, okay? The Demon Continent sounds dangerous."
"I will," I replied, nudging her shoulder lightly with mine. "And hey—when I get back, we can pick up right where we left off. More chess losses for me, more mana experiments for us."
Onnie laughed again, the sound light and relieved.
"Deal."
***
"KYRO!"
Lyra's voice boomed up the stairs like a war horn, easily cutting through the wooden walls.
"I'M ALMOST DONE!! JUST WAIT UP!"
I shoved the last of my spare clothes into the leather backpack, cinching the straps tight. My hands were moving on autopilot, but my mind was somewhere else — already wondering how many days this trip would take, what the Demon Continent would actually look like, and whether I'd regret not bringing more notebooks.
I slung the pack over my shoulder, opened the door, and headed downstairs.
The moment I reached the bottom step, Lyra appeared right beside me like she'd been waiting to ambush me.
"Ah—!"
"Kyro, what took you so long?!" she demanded, hands on her hips, blue hair still slightly messy from whatever whirlwind she'd been in all morning.
I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to calm my racing heart. "I was preparing my stuff!" I sighed, adjusting the strap of my backpack. "Where's Grandpa?"
"He's outside," she scoffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. "He's been waiting, you know. Gramps said if you take any longer he's gonna come up here and carry you down himself."
I groaned. "Please tell me you're joking."
"Nope!" Lyra grinned, clearly enjoying my suffering. "He already threatened to toss you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Said it'd be good training for you."
Of course he did.
I rubbed my face with one hand. "Great. Just great. The last thing I need is to be carried out of my own house like a misbehaving kid."
Lyra laughed and gave my shoulder a light shove. "Then hurry up, slowpoke! We're already late because of you."
"I literally just finished packing," I muttered, following her toward the front door. "You're the one who spent half the morning deciding which sword to bring. You even tried to steal Dad's sword."
"That's different! Swords are important!"
"So is underwear!"
She stuck her tongue out at me. "You're such a nitwit."
We stepped outside into the bright morning light. Grann was already standing by the gate, arms crossed over his broad chest, looking every bit the towering barbarian he was. His white mullet hair caught the sunlight, and the massive scar across his chest seemed even more intimidating in the daylight.
Mom and Dad were there too, standing close to Grann. They appeared to be having one last quiet conversation with him — Mom's hand resting gently on her belly while Dad nodded along, looking a mix of amused and slightly concerned.
Grann spotted us immediately and broke into a wide, toothy grin.
"There you are!" he boomed, his voice carrying across the yard like thunder. "I was about to come drag you down myself, boy. Thought maybe you got lost in your own room."
I winced. "Sorry, Grandpa. I was just making sure I didn't forget anything important."
Mom turned toward us with a soft smile, though her eyes looked a little misty. "You two be careful, alright? And listen to your grandfather."
"I will, Mom," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
Lyra puffed out her chest beside me. "Don't worry! I'll protect Kyro if anything happens."
Grann let out a deep, chesty laugh and clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder, nearly knocking me forward a step. "That's the spirit! Though with me around, you won't need much protection. I've got enough muscle for the three of us."
Dad stepped forward and ruffled my hair gently, his usual calm smile in place. "Take care of yourself out there, son. And try not to let these two talk you into too much trouble."
"Too late for that," I muttered under my breath.
Mom pulled Lyra into a quick hug, then turned to me and did the same, her embrace warm and careful. "Write if you can. And come back safe."
"I will," I promised, hugging her back.
Grann watched the whole exchange with an approving nod, then waved a massive hand toward the road.
"Alright, enough of the sappy stuff. The road won't walk itself. Let's get moving before the sun gets too high. The sooner we reach the port, the better our chances of catching a good ship."
Lyra cheered and immediately started marching ahead, practically skipping with excitement. "Come on, slowpokes!"
I adjusted the strap of my backpack one more time and fell into step behind her, with Grann's heavy footsteps thudding beside me.
As we left the yard, I glanced back once. Mom and Dad were still standing by the gate, watching us go. Mom waved with one hand while the other rested protectively on her belly. Dad gave a small, reassuring nod, the kind that said "you've got this" even when I wasn't entirely sure I did.
I raised my hand in a weak wave back at them.
See you soon… I hope.
Then I turned forward again, the familiar dirt path stretching out ahead of us. Lyra was already chattering away at Grann about all the fights she hoped to see at the wedding, while Grann laughed and egged her on with exaggerated stories.
I walked between the two loudest people I knew, feeling very small — and very much like the odd one out once again.
This is going to be a long trip…
[End]