The sun rose slowly in the sky.
The light touched the city buildings.
People started walking on the streets.
Cars moved. Shops opened.
It was a normal morning.
But for Haru, today was different.
He walked quietly through the city.
His black hoodie covered his head.
His eyes looked down.
His hands stayed in his pockets.
He felt calm.
He felt strong.
Inside his chest, the magic circles were quiet, but alive.
He could feel their power.
It was like ten small suns waiting to rise.
---
First, he went to the bakery.
It was warm inside.
The smell of bread filled the air.
The old man, Mr. Goro, smiled.
"Good morning, Haru! You're early."
Haru gave a small bow.
"Good morning, sir."
He took off his apron and placed it on the table.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Goro. I have to quit."
Mr. Goro's eyes widened.
"Quit? Why?"
"I found a new path," Haru said.
"I can't work here anymore."
The old man was quiet.
Then he smiled softly.
"You were a good worker.
You always came on time.
You were kind.
Go follow your path. I hope it brings you light."
Haru bowed again.
"Thank you for everything."
---
Next, Haru went to the cleaning company.
He gave back the gloves and uniform.
The manager frowned.
"You're quitting too? You just started this job."
"I'm sorry," Haru said.
"I can't continue."
"Whatever," the man said.
"Good luck."
---
Haru walked to the other jobs.
He stopped by the shopee delivery shop.
He returned the bag and the cap.
He visited the warehouse.
He gave back the boots and keycard.
He went to the small café.
He gave the manager a note.
One by one, he let them go.
His hands felt lighter.
His back felt straighter.
He had worked hard for so long.
But now, he didn't need to anymore.
He had power now.
Real power.
---
At sunset, Haru stood in front of the hospital.
He looked up at the windows.
His little sister was in one of those rooms.
Still sleeping.
Still waiting.
The hospital bills were heavy.
That's why he worked five jobs.
That's why he never complained.
But now—
He had a better way.
A stronger way.
"I will save you," he said softly.
"I promise."
He placed his hand on his chest.
The magic circles pulsed inside.
Warm. Silent. Powerful.
---
Haru turned and walked into the night.
He had no job now.
No money.
But he had something better—
Magic.
His old life was over.
A new life was beginning.
And he was ready.
The next morning, Haru woke up early.
The sky was still dark.
The air was cold.
He wore simple clothes.
A jacket, black pants, and strong shoes.
He left his small apartment quietly.
No one saw him.
He walked to the forest outside the city.
It was quiet there.
Only the sound of birds and wind.
No people.
No noise.
It was the perfect place to train.
---
Haru stood in the forest.
He took a deep breath.
He closed his eyes.
He placed his hand on his chest.
The ten magic circles inside his heart were calm.
But he could feel them.
Like a soft fire waiting to rise.
"I need to learn," he said softly.
"I need to start."
---
He opened his eyes.
He raised one hand.
"Fire," he whispered.
Nothing happened.
He frowned.
Maybe he needed to feel it—
Not just say it.
He remembered the feeling from the cave.
The warmth.
The power.
The light.
He breathed in slowly.
He imagined the first circle—
The one for fire.
He felt the heat inside him.
Not burning—but warm.
"Fire," he said again.
This time, a small red light appeared on his palm.
It danced like a tiny flame.
Haru smiled.
"I did it."
---
He tried again.
"Fire."
The flame appeared again.
A little stronger.
It did not hurt.
It listened to him.
He moved his hand.
The flame followed.
He closed his fingers.
The flame disappeared.
He opened his hand.
The flame came back.
He laughed quietly.
This was magic.
His magic.
---
Next, he tried the second circle.
Water.
He thought of rivers.
Rain.
Calm blue waves.
"Water," he whispered.
Blue mist appeared in the air.
Then small drops of water formed above his palm.
They floated like bubbles.
He moved his hand.
The water followed.
He closed his hand—
The water became a small ball.
He opened his hand—
The ball splashed on the ground.
---
He trained for hours.
He tried fire again.
Then water.
Then wind.
The wind circle made air spin around his fingers.
It felt cool and fast.
The earth circle made small stones float.
They moved slowly, but strong.
He smiled more and more.
---
By the time the sun rose, Haru was tired.
But he was happy.
His clothes were dirty.
His hands were sore.
But his heart felt full.
This was only the beginning.
He sat under a tree.
He breathed slowly.
"I can really use magic," he said.
"Not dreams. Not fake. Real magic."
He looked at his hands.
They glowed a little.
"I have to get better.
Stronger.
Faster.
If I want to protect her…"
He stood up again.
"Tomorrow, I train more."
---
The path was long.
But Haru was ready.
He was not just a worker anymore.
He was a mage.
And this was the start of his journey.
The next day, Haru returned to the forest.
The ground was still wet from rain.
The leaves smelled fresh.
Birds sang in the trees.
Haru stood in the same place.
His hands were warm.
His heart was calm.
But today, he wanted more than simple spells.
"I need to learn mana control," he said.
"I need to understand the power inside me."
---
Haru sat on the ground.
He crossed his legs and closed his eyes.
He took a deep breath.
In… and out.
Slow and soft.
He put his hand on his chest.
Inside, the ten circles were quiet.
But he could feel something.
Mana.
It was like a river inside his body.
It moved slowly.
It was soft but strong.
---
"I will try to move it," Haru said.
He imagined his mana like light.
Flowing from his heart
To his arms.
To his hands.
He breathed in again.
Then he focused hard.
The mana moved.
Just a little.
Like a small stream.
His fingers started to feel warm.
He opened his eyes.
Blue light glowed on his hand.
"It's working…"
---
But then—
The mana moved too fast.
It rushed from his heart to his arms.
The light became bright—
Too bright.
His hand burned.
"Ah!" he cried.
He stopped.
The light disappeared.
His hand turned red.
It hurt a little.
He took deep breaths.
"It's too wild," he said.
"I need to be calm.
I need control."
---
Haru tried again.
This time slower.
He let the mana flow like soft wind.
Not like fire.
Not like a storm.
He guided it with his breath.
With his thoughts.
In his mind, he spoke to it.
"Easy… slow… follow me."
The mana listened.
It flowed from his heart—
Down to his hand—
And stopped there.
No burn.
No pain.
Just light.
Soft and warm.
---
He moved his hand.
The light stayed.
He made a small ball of fire.
It floated in the air.
He made it spin.
Then disappear.
"I can do it now," he whispered.
"I can control it."
---
He stood up.
He focused mana in his legs.
Then—he jumped.
He jumped high.
Higher than normal.
He landed with a smile.
Then he tried again.
Jump.
Run.
Punch.
With mana in his body, he was stronger.
Faster.
Better.
---
He trained all morning.
His shirt was full of sweat.
His breath was heavy.
But he was happy.
Now, he understood.
Magic was not just about spells.
Magic was about mana.
Mana was life.
And life needed balance.
---
Haru sat under the tree again.
He drank water.
He looked at the sky.
"Today, I learned a new step," he said.
"A small step.
But an important one."
He looked at his hands.
They did not shake.
They were steady.
Ready.
"I'll keep going.
One day at a time."
---
This was not the end.
This was still the beginning.
But now Haru had control.
And with control—
He could do anything.
The sun was low in the sky.
Orange light touched the streets.
The wind was cool.
Leaves moved slowly on the ground.
Haru walked home.
His bag was light.
He carried no books.
No work clothes.
Only a water bottle and a small notebook.
His feet felt tired from training.
But his heart felt full.
---
When Haru reached his house, he opened the door quietly.
"I'm home," he said softly.
No one answered.
It was always quiet here.
Only one other person lived with him now.
He brought his sister home from the hospital.
---
Haru walked to her room.
He pushed the door open slowly.
Inside, the room was clean and simple.
White walls.
A small desk.
A bed near the window.
On that bed lay a girl.
She looked about sixteen.
Her hair was long and black.
Her skin was pale.
She did not move.
Her eyes stayed closed.
She was sleeping.
Not a normal sleep.
A deep sleep.
A coma.
---
Haru pulled a chair next to her bed.
He sat down.
He looked at her face.
"So quiet… so still," he whispered.
His hand touched hers.
Cold.
Soft.
"She used to smile every day," he said.
"She used to sing while cooking… do you remember?"
He smiled a little.
Then his smile faded.
---
"I worked five jobs," he said.
"Day and night.
Cleaning, lifting, running.
I was so tired every day.
But I kept going… for you."
He looked out the window.
The sky was turning dark.
Stars began to appear.
---
Haru looked back at her.
"But now… something changed.
I touched that book.
I saw my past life.
I remembered the truth."
"I was a mage.
The strongest mage."
He touched his chest.
"I still have the power.
I still have the magic."
---
He stood up.
He looked down at his sister.
"I'm done working small jobs.
I'm done hiding."
He took her hand again.
This time, he held it tight.
"I will train.
I will grow stronger."
"I will find a way to wake you up."
"I promise."
---
His voice was soft, but full of power.
A silent promise.
No one else heard it.
No one else needed to.
Only Haru.
And the girl he loved most in the world.
His little sister.
---
He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
Then he turned to the door.
Before leaving, he looked back one more time.
His eyes did not look tired.
They looked sharp.
Ready.
Strong.
"I'll protect you," he said.
"No matter what."
Then he left the room.
And the stars outside shined a little brighter.