In a world brimming with magic, where its essence flows through every creature, every land, and every experience, chaos prevails. Kingdoms clash, races wage war, and the land is marred by endless conflict. Amidst this turmoil, Rethrus Milo is born—a child of unfortunate fate, trapped in a turbulent era.  

"Ahhh, is this truly my fate? Why this world, God?" Rethrus Milo laments, his young mind burdened by despair.  

Though his body remains that of a mere two-year-old, Rethrus possesses a remarkable awareness of his surroundings. Unable to articulate his thoughts fully, he contemplates deeply, sensing something extraordinary within himself—a glimmer of what is called Mana.  

"Ahh, I might indeed be lucky," he muses, the spark of hope igniting amidst his thoughts.  

The orphanage assembles its children for the ceremonial assessment of magical abilities. Out of thirty children, only twelve possess the rare gift of Magic—Rina, Jack, Jestus, Rethrus Milo, Hans, Lumine, Terra, Suryu, Celeste, Elizabeth, Haldrin, and the most blessed among them, Aethra, whose immense Mana astonishes all.  

These twelve children are deemed treasures of the kingdom, destined to aid in the ongoing war. Yet, for now, they are left unburdened by responsibility, allowed to play and embrace their innocence.  

One day, while playing with Elizabeth, a flood of memories overwhelms Rethrus. Sakura blossoms, the serene beach, and Eska—they come rushing back to him. His long-forgotten dream reawakens, and for a moment, amidst the joy of play, he forgets the weight of his second chance.  

"Rethrus, wanna play?" Elizabeth inquires, her voice filled with cheer.  

"Uhm, no, I have something to do," Rethrus replies, slipping away from the group.  

Determined to strengthen his gift, Rethrus sneaks into the library.  

"But how?" he wonders, recalling the awe surrounding Aethra's powerful Mana. Understanding that greater Mana would mean greater freedom, he begins his search for answers. Finally, he discovers a book on Mana and its secrets.  

Rethrus focuses entirely on mastering Mana.  

"Ah, so this is how it works… Wait, how do I meditate… Where's the book about it… Argh, I should've read about it back in my world," he grumbles.  

Rethrus learns the basics of meditation. While the other children play, he remains focused—connecting with nature and visualizing his Mana as a glowing orb, attempting to make it larger. Days pass, yet his progress remains elusive.  

"Ah, what am I doing wrong?" he mutters, frustration building.  

Seeking peace and clarity, he meditates by the riverside.  

"Peace and quiet, peace and quiet. Ball of Mana, ball of Mana. Getting bigger, getting bigger… Getting burger, getting burger, Argh!" he exclaims in irritation.  

"Milo, don't get upset," he consoles himself.  

"Maybe I don't need to be near water. What about… dark places?" he ponders.  

Rethrus ventures into a small, dim cave at the edge of the forest.  

Fear grips his fragile five-year-old body, but he pushes forward. Closing his eyes, he recalls Eska's smile—a comforting memory—and suddenly, light appears. This time, the Mana doesn't form an orb; instead, it blossoms into a small, luminous flower.  

"So this is my Mana," he whispers, smiling for the first time.  

"Rethrus! Rethrus!" Sister Mary's voice breaks his trance.  

"Huh?" He opens his eyes, startled.  

"There you are, Rethrus. What are you doing here?" she asks, worry etched across her face.  

Rethrus simply smiles, unable to contain his excitement.  

"If that's how it is, I can feel it. Ha, it's so addicting. Yes," he laughs to himself as they walk back to the orphanage.  

**Narrator:**  

Later that night, after dinner and once the other children have fallen asleep, Rethrus sneaks out of bed to rekindle the sensation from the cave.  

Closing his eyes, he visualizes the green petals of his Mana flower falling one by one. Only one petal remains, signaling the next stage of progress. Suddenly, he's jolted back to reality by the snores of a nearby child.  

"Oh, food. Mommy," the child mumbles in their sleep.  

Rethrus loses focus and sighs.  

"I guess I should go back to the cave," he concludes.  

"At least I'm still advancing," he reassures himself before drifting off to sleep.  

The next day, he hides in the cave once again. Hours pass, and the last petal of the flower falls. The Mana transforms into a larger, radiant blue flower. As Rethrus emerges from the cave, he encounters an Emberfox—a cunning and agile creature with fur flickering like flames.  

They lock eyes, the fox's fiery tail flicking back and forth. Rethrus freezes, his mind racing.  

"What should this five-year-old body do? How do I react?"  

Before he can decide, the Emberfox lights its paws with fire and lunges. Instinct kicks in, but his body lags behind his mind. The fox's claws graze his arm, leaving a painful scratch.  

"Damn it, it hurts," Rethrus gasps, clutching his arm.  

"That's right… Mana on my body. Put Mana on my body," he mutters through gritted teeth. Summoning his power, he begins to manifest his defense.  

When the Emberfox attacks again, a black aura envelops Rethrus’s body.  

The surge of Mana drains him rapidly, his small frame struggling under the immense strain. Weakened but desperate, he braces himself as the Emberfox lights its tail and lunges toward him.  

His instincts take over, and he dodges out of sheer desperation, his fear fueling his survival.  

Scrambling in the dirt, he spots a stick nearby. Crawling toward it with all his remaining strength, his arm burns with pain as the Emberfox claws his cheek, leaving a fiery wound.  

His voice breaks in a mix of agony and panic,  

"Help, think, someone help me, please."  

His hands claw at the dirt, his will forcing him closer to the stick.  

"I can't die here. I can't die here."  

Blood streams down his young face as his desperation peaks.  

The fox lunges for another attack, but Rethrus's resolve hardens.  

"I'm not going to die here," he screams in his mind.  

In that moment of pure determination, he pours all his Mana into the stick. The blue petals of his Mana flower fall entirely, their ethereal light fading as they turn into silver.  

With newfound strength, Rethrus swings the stick, striking the Emberfox's head. The creature freezes, its body immobilized despite being very much alive.  

Rethrus slowly approaches the Emberfox, its eyes reflecting fear and pleading for mercy. It whimpers softly, its defenses stripped away, its cunning no longer a threat. And he… smiles.  

His small body shakes with emotion, and his mind roars with his inner voice. He raises the stick once again. With the strength he has left, he delivers blow after blow, striking the Emberfox down.  

"I did it," his voice trembles as the words escape his lips. And then, his body gives out. He collapses to the ground, exhausted, his energy utterly drained.  

To be continued…