TRAINING STARTS NOW

The next day, as Zak made his way to an open field, the sun barely peeking through the canopy of trees in the distance by the town lake. He felt weary but determined, eager to meet with the old man, Master Yu. As he walked, he passed by the town's residents—monsters that bore a striking resemblance to humans, yet retained their animalistic traits. Some had features reminiscent of pigs, others of bulls, and a few resembled foxes. Zak’s heart raced with questions—what were they, and why was the old man the only human in this peculiar town?

“Master Yu doesn't appreciate lateness,” a voice cut through his thoughts. A lady with fox ears and a bushy tail breezed past him, her pace quickening as she headed in the same direction. Zak sighed, wishing he could match her speed, but exhaustion weighed heavily on him.

“Ah, you’ve finally arrived,” Master Yu said, his voice calm and steady, not even glancing away from the scene before him.

Zak settled beside the fox lady, who regarded him with a curious tilt of her head.

“Ah, you must be wondering why she looks almost human,” the old man continued, his tone unfazed by the tension in the air. “That’s because she’s a Kitsura, half human, half fox. They are monsters, yes, but like the magical beasts, they have evolved. We refer to those with heightened intelligence as demi-humans.”

As the old man spoke, Zak felt a spark of intrigue flicker within him. The world around him pulsed with hidden stories, and he was determined to uncover them all.

The old man continued, “In this town, four distinct species of demi-humans coexist in harmony. First, we have the Kitsura, like Arika here beside you. Then there are the Tauren, who have more bull-like features, and the Garruk, resembling orcs with their own unique traits. Lastly, we have the Centurion, with their horse-like characteristics. Each species possesses different types of mana, contributing to the balance of our community.”

Zak listened intently, intrigued by the diversity around him. “So, everyone here has their own strengths?” he asked, glancing at the lively demi-humans mingling nearby.

“Exactly,” Master Yu replied with a knowing smile. “Each one plays a vital role in maintaining our way of life. Understanding their abilities will be essential for you, Zak.”

With newfound curiosity, Zak felt a sense of belonging among these fascinating beings.

“Am I learning how to use Mana from you?” Zak questioned, his curiosity building.

“No, unfortunately, I can't use Mana for reasons I prefer to keep to myself,” Master Yu replied, his tone steady. “But I am a master of Qi, and I will teach you how to harness yours. You’ll be my third student. My second is Akira, and my first was over 500 years ago.”

Zak’s mind raced. Just how old is this man?

“Today, I will teach you how to access, release, and control your Qi,” Master Yu announced, finally turning his gaze to Zak and Arika. “While Arika will focus on using her Qi in battle.”

“That sounds simple enough,” Zak replied, though his thoughts wandered. Once I’m done, I need to find a place to trade my items and get some new clothes. I’m really sticking out here, especially as the second human in town.

He paused, then turned to Master Yu with enthusiasm. “So, what do I do, Sensei?”

The old man urged Zak to be patient, yet he couldn’t help but admire the young man’s burning desire to learn. “Follow me,” he said, leading Zak to a serene stretch of the river, where imposing rocks jutted out along the banks like ancient guardians. Master Yu effortlessly climbed to the highest rock, while Zak chose a sturdy one nearby.

“Now, sit down, fold your legs, and straighten your back,” Master Yu instructed, his voice calm and steady. Zak mirrored him, settling into the position. He placed his arms on his lap, cupping his palms and resting one gently atop the other at the level of his lower abdomen.

“This is the foundational position,” the old man said, closing his eyes and exuding a sense of tranquility. “Keep your palms here, level with your abdomen. Let the world around you fade.”

“Once you begin to access more Qi, I will introduce you to ancient hand symbols,” he continued, a glimmer of excitement in his voice. “These will help you release and control your mana flow. They say these symbols also aid in meditation for mana, though I can't speak from experience.”

With each word, Zak felt a growing anticipation, ready to embrace the teachings of the wise old man.

With a few steady breaths, Zak closed his eyes, letting the world fade into silence as Master Yu’s calm voice anchored him. "First, clear your mind. Let go of everything—your thoughts, your fears. Then, look inward, feel the energy coursing through your body. Trace it, follow its path to the very core," the old man said, his voice almost a whisper.

Suddenly, Zak’s eyes shot open. "I think I’ve found it!"

Master Yu gave a knowing nod, a glint of pride in his eyes. "Good. You’ve realized the source lies near your heart. Now, gaze deep into that vast ocean of energy within. Draw from it. Let it surge through every fiber of your being," the old man urged, his gaze sharp as he watched Zak’s every movement.

Farther down by the river, Arika, lost in her own training, suddenly felt the weight of a massive aura pressing down on her. Her senses scrambled to locate its origin. This wasn’t Master Yu’s familiar presence—this was different, overwhelming. Only those capable of wielding Qi could sense such force, and the realization hit her like lightning—this power was Zak’s.

Master Yu’s eyes widened, his calm exterior cracking for a moment as he felt the sheer intensity of Zak’s Qi flooding the area uncontrollably. In all his centuries, only one had ever shown such raw potential—his first student. Yet, Zak’s flow seemed even stronger.

Master Yu suddenly yelled, "Now! Don’t just let it flow unchecked. Limit how much Qi circulates through your body, and suppress the excess! Keep it tight, like a thin layer around you." But Zak was already too deep in concentration, his energy spiraling out of control. Finally, after a struggle, Zak managed to grab hold of his Qi, controlling it just enough to suppress the wild flow.

Arika rushed over, eyes wide. "Master, is that...?"

Before she could finish, the old man cut her off. "Yes, it is."

Later that day, after their training ended, Zak turned to Arika as they walked through the town. "How did you know I was going to meet the old man earlier?"

"Master told me a human would be joining us," Arika replied with a sly smile, tilting her head slightly. "And seeing as you're the only other human..." She left the rest for him to piece together.

"This is the shop," Arika said as they arrived at the entrance of a modest building.

"Six Gorehorns' horns, ten jade snakes’ emerald eyes, and the crystal hooves of an Aerocorn," the Centurion shopkeeper listed meticulously, his eyes gleaming with interest as he carefully sifted through Zak's bag.

"AeroCorns, huh? Oh, those goat-like beasts. Yeah, that was a tough one to get. Had to jump around a lot," Zak said, frustration lacing his words. "So, how much are these worth?"

The Centurion shopkeeper glanced at the items spread out, mentally tallying the value. "Let's see... six Gorehorn horns, that's two silver Terrion coins each. Ten jade snakes with emerald eyes, one silver coin for each pair, and as for the AeroCorn hooves—four gold pieces for the lot."

Zak nodded as the exchange was settled, pocketing the coins. Once finished, he and Arika made their way back to Master Yu’s house, the weight of the day beginning to settle in.

At the old man's house, Master Yu tended to his plants with the utmost care and compassion, his focus unwavering. Zak and Arika sat a little ways off, giving the old man his space as they lounged in the backyard. The silence hung between them until Arika broke it, her voice laced with curiosity.

"How did you do that?" she finally asked, the question clearly weighing on her mind.

"Do what?" Zak responded, glancing at her.

"Most people take months, even years, to reach that level of control," Arika explained, still perplexed by Zak's sudden mastery of Qi.

Zak shrugged, thinking back. "Well, I guess I was in a similar state back in my old world. Not through meditation, though—it was while I was playing digital games."

"Digital games?" Arika repeated quietly to herself, unsure what he meant, but choosing not to ask.

"Yeah, I think it’s called the flow state, where I'm from. It's when you're not really focusing, but somehow you're incredibly focused at the same time. Kind of hard to explain," Zak added, sensing her confusion.

Arika shifted slightly, still not fully grasping what he meant, but she decided to let it go, her curiosity only half-satisfied.

"Huh? Where am I?" Miyumi muttered, her voice shaky with worry and fear. She stood in a vast room, the floor beneath her feet inscribed with strange symbols. The only light source was a glowing rock in the center of the room, casting just enough light to illuminate the area around it, leaving the edges shrouded in darkness.

"Transfer complete," a mysterious voice echoed, the same voice she had heard earlier.

"Who are you?" Miyumi shouted, panic rising as she scrambled to her feet.

Five figures, all cloaked, stepped out from the shadows, their faces hidden in the dim light. "Welcome, hero," one of them said as he pulled back his hood, revealing a stern but composed face. "Please come with us. Her Majesty, the Queen of Christonia, awaits your presence."

"Her Majesty?" Miyumi repeated, her face contorted with confusion. She didn't know whether to trust them or run.

The man, now clearly the leader, introduced himself as the head of the holy mages. With a gentle nod, he motioned for her to follow. They led her down a long, echoing hall toward a grand throne room.

"What is this place?" Miyumi wondered, her mind racing. "Am I dead?" The thought hit her like a wave, making her release a small, involuntary gasp.

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