So I keep on hearing that this fic has potential, thanks but I also keep hearing there aren't enough chapters.
Is that a threat?
*Boom* 4 chapters released in one day.
Also, I made a mistake with the Dragon, once monsters are defeated they are disintegrated into mana particles. So… sorry about that.
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While traveling along the dirt road on the cart, I turned to the ex-priest. "So, what do you even do now?"
He glanced back at me with a calm smile. "Right now? If I had to say, I'm on one last adventure before I retire. So technically… nothing. But I prefer to be called an adventurer."
"So it's the end of your journey," Julian said quietly.
The ex-priest nodded. "Yeah, it's unfortunate, but that's how it is. I'm hoping to go out with a bang, though. One final adventure before I hang up my staff for good."
We kept talking for hours, exchanging stories, jokes, and the occasional philosophical musing. Six hours passed in what felt like minutes. The sun had started to dip below the treetops when the horses suddenly halted, snorting in panic.
"What's going on?" I asked, leaning forward.
The ex-priest narrowed his eyes. "Strange… monsters are usually only drawn to concentrated sources of mana. There must be something nearby."
I turned my gaze toward Julian. "Ahhh, I think I know exactly why," I said, grinning.
Julian stiffened, realizing what I meant.
"Well, forget that fact," I said, hopping off the cart. "This is going to be a good opportunity for him to learn how to fight in a real battle."
A low growl came from the shadows as a beast lunged toward us. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow, saliva dripping from its fanged jaws. I caught it by the head mid-charge, twisting my wrist sharply. The crack echoed through the forest as I tore its head clean from its body. It collapsed with a dull thud.
"Lesson one," I said, brushing my hands together. "Never rely solely on magic to save you."
The beast's corpse shimmered, then disintegrated into scattered mana particles that floated away into the wind.
A chorus of growls followed, dozens of eyes glowing through the dark treeline. Julian stepped back, gripping his trembling hands.
"Lesson two," I said, raising my hand as crimson energy began to swirl at my fingertips. "Never hold back."
The air around me grew heavy. Red light flickered, dancing like flames in a storm. The ground cracked under my feet as I snapped my fingers.
A violent surge of energy burst forward, engulfing the clearing in a blinding flash. Trees shattered, monsters screamed before disintegrating into nothing but streams of glowing mana, leaving only silence in their wake.
Julian stood frozen, eyes wide, the faint red glow reflecting off his face.
"Lesson three," I said, turning to him with a smirk. "If you ever want to stand at the top, don't stop. Power favors those who act first."
"Amazing, Gojo!" the ex-priest shouted, throwing his arms up in excitement. "What was that technique you just used? I don't think I've ever seen a spell like that before! The merchant was right about you. Seeing it in person is something else entirely!" he rambled, barely able to contain his enthusiasm.
"I never did catch your name," I said with a grin. "What was it again?"
He straightened his robe proudly. "Bernard! My friend."
"Bernard, huh? That's a pretty cool name," I replied. I'm guessing everyone here has European-style names. It also meant they said their surname first. Meaning the entire time, they probably think Gojo is my first name. Haha, how amusing.
"So tell me, Gojo," Bernard said eagerly, leaning closer. "How did you do it? That spell felt completely different from any magic I've ever seen!"
I smirked. "That's a trade secret, my friend."
Bernard pouted for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Ah, fair enough! Every great mage needs their mysteries."
After cleaning up the aftermath, we continued our journey.
The scenery along the road was breathtaking. Even with the trees that had been destroyed, the forest still looked alive, lush green leaves swaying gently in the wind, sunlight streaming through in golden rays. The sky above was a deep, endless blue with clouds drifting lazily across it.
I leaned back against the cart, feeling the soft rhythm of the horses' hooves on the dirt road. It was peaceful, almost too peaceful. Compared to the cramped chaos of the modern city, this felt like a dream I didn't want to wake from.
The ride was smooth; the horses were quick and steady, gliding across the road with practiced grace. Julian, who had been tense and quiet before, finally began to loosen up. He laughed at Bernard's stories, asked questions, and even started to smile more freely.
Watching him laugh like that made me laugh too. "Guess he's starting to enjoy this little journey," I muttered under my breath.
By the time night fell, we had reached our first destination. Bernard wore a heavy smile on his face, one that practically screamed nostalgia.
"Any idea where we are?" Julian asked, turning toward me.
I grinned and shrugged. "Ask the guide, Julian."
"Yo, Bernard, where are we?" Julian called out.
Bernard chuckled before striking a silly pose. "Look ahead, Julian! What awaits you is one of the most beautiful places in the Central Lands…"
"The Turk Region!" he announced with pride.
I looked forward, and what met my eyes was nothing short of breathtaking. The landscape opened up into a sweeping view of mountains that seemed to stretch forever, their peaks kissed by the last rays of sunlight. The trees stood tall and healthy, their trunks a warm shade of brown, while the ground was littered with green and golden leaves that shimmered faintly in the fading light. The sky was painted in streaks of orange and purple, casting a soft glow over everything it touched.
Julian stared, his mouth slightly open, eyes wide with awe.
"Someone's enjoying themselves," I teased.
"I-it's incredible," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. I smiled, satisfied by his reaction.
"So, Bernard," I asked, glancing toward the ex-priest. "What are your plans here in this village? Is there anything special besides the scenery?"
He rubbed his chin, pausing in thought. "Well, mostly I want to meet a few people. There's a brilliant herbalist here who's said to create potions that can heal almost anything. Oh, and there's also a statue of the Hero Himmel! You don't see many of those around anymore."
Julian perked up a little at that. "Hero Himmel?"
"Yeah," Bernard said with a grin. "The one who defeated the Demon King all those years ago. The people here still celebrate his legacy. Oh, and there's this rare plant that only grows on the edge of the region."
"Sounds like you've got quite a list," I said, laughing lightly.
Bernard nodded eagerly. "I plan to visit three villages in this region before moving on to the next. The Central Lands have a lot of hidden wonders if you know where to look."
"Alright then," I said, leaning back in the cart. "Guess this trip might turn out to be more interesting than I thought."
The horses slowed as the road dipped into the valley, the soft sound of running water echoing in the distance. Lanterns from the nearby village began to flicker to life, their light dancing across the path ahead.
Apparently, Bernard had been thinking three steps ahead. He already knew an acquaintance who owned a stable and left his horses there for the night. After that, he booked us a room at a local inn. He said we should rest for the day and continue our journey early tomorrow morning.
I turned to Julian, grinning. "You remember what I said while fighting those monsters, right?" I struck a few exaggerated poses. "I sounded so cool, didn't I?"
Julian blinked slowly before replying, "Uh… I guess? I'm still confused about what that magic even was."
I laughed, leaning back on the bed. "You'll learn about it soon enough. Well, maybe not learn it, but I'll explain it to you later." Stretching my legs out, I continued, "For now, I want to introduce you to the basics of magic, what I've discovered so far, anyway."
Julian perked up immediately, his full attention now on me.
"Magic revolves mostly around theory," I said, "but its strength comes from how much you truly understand it."
"I know that already," Julian said confidently.
"Good," I replied with a smirk. "Then let's go deeper. Visualization and the 'science' behind magic are key. For example, if you want to produce a flame, the average person just imagines fire. But someone who understands it imagines how the atoms react, the ignition, the transfer of heat, the oxygen flow. That's where true power comes from."
Julian listened intently, occasionally nodding. His eagerness reminded me of my own students back in the Jujutsu world, though he was far less annoying than most of them.
We spent the rest of the night discussing theory, mana flow, elemental structure, and how thought influences energy. I even scribbled a few diagrams on a torn sheet of parchment to make things clearer. By the time I glanced at the clock, the candles had burned low, and Julian was struggling to keep his eyes open.
"Alright, that's enough for today," I said, blowing out the last candle. "You've done well. Rest up. Tomorrow we'll work on something more practical."
Julian nodded sleepily, curling up on his side of the bed.
I lay back, staring at the wooden ceiling. As much as I enjoyed teaching him, theory could only take someone so far, especially a kid his age. Tomorrow, I'd let him experience what real training felt like.
And then there was Bernard. He acted casual, but I could tell there was more to him than he let on. I didn't know for sure but my gut-feeling was telling me that.
I walked over to the light, turning it off then returned to my bed.
"Guess I'll just have to squeeze the truth out of him," I muttered before drifting into sleep.