My instincts kicked in. I turned and bolted toward the carriage. “Mom, help! Dad’s trying to beat me because I’m better than him!” I dove behind my mother, peeking out with my best puppy-dog eyes.

  She turned toward my father, her voice smooth yet oddly threatening. “Looks like we have an adventurer for a son, sweetie?” The way my father stiffened told me all I needed to know—I won

  The rest of the trip passed without much happening. I kept to myself, quietly cultivating my mana daily, determined to grow even stronger.

  Eventually, we arrived at Ironvale City, our destination. It is famous for its cavern, which is a tourist hotspot. We arrived at the city gates, where the lines extended with groups after groups of people. “One week. That's all the time I have, I need more power, more answers.” I mumbled to myself, clenching my fist.

  We entered through the gates, stopping at an inn. “We've arrived,” the man driving the carriage said. We left the carriage, bringing our luggage with us into the inn. We pushed through the doors, and the bustling place went silent, examining the foreigners before going back to being filled with chatter. I focused on one conversation, two men seemed to be talking about a mana storm dwelling in the cavern. I perked up at this, if a mana storm came, the mana in the air would increase at least 5-fold. If there were a mana storm, I would be able to stabilize my pure mana body.

  My father walked to the counter and rang the bell as a worker came to the counter. “Room for 4, please.”

  “For how long,g sir?” the worker replied with a soft smile

  “Just one week,” my father answered

  “That'll be 1 silver.” The cashier showed a bright smile

  “Here, two, we’ll have a meal as well.” We stored our things in our room, returning downstairs for the meal that was ready for us on a table that a waitress guided us to. We sat at the table while everyone was eating. I was lost in thought on how I could secure a mana source.

  “Ash, if you don't start eating, I'll make us turn back.” My mother gave me a stern look, holding a spoon full of food near my face.

  I accepted the food and started eating, still tuned out from the rest of the world. How much time has passed since my past life? Who was the person I was with? Why was I with them? My thinking was interrupted by my dad, “Hey son, you wanna weapon shopping? It's time you get your first weapon.”

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  “What! Ash is still too young! I don't want him to become a violent beast! He needs to be a gentleman for his wife.” My mom stood from her seat, slamming her hands on the table and screaming her thoughts through the building. She slowly sat back down with a layer of blush across her face.

  “I'm gonna go to our room. I need some sleep, bye.” I walked towards our room, hoping to get some rest from my “active” family. I lay on my bed holding my watch above my head, looking into it, hoping for it to somehow give me answers. I sigh, getting up from my bed and walking to an open window. “I need something to do.” I climb onto the ledge of the window, walking from roof to roof, looking for something to do as the city gets closer to midnight.

  I sit on the top of a roof that has great ridges in sight, with the moonlight illuminating the city. The flow of mana around my shift was an obvious shift. If someone even tried hiding from me, I wouldn't be able to sense it yet. I turn around slowly on guard, ready for whoever it may be. I scan the figure for any useful information. .it can't be someone older than me, by the shape of their body, it seems to be a girl. “Who are you and what do you want?” I backed up slowly from the figure.

  “I should be asking that, this is my spot where I run to relax.” The figure steps forward, revealing her golden eyes and black ruffled hair that glisten in the moonlight. She sits on the edge of the roof.

  “My apologies, I didn't know this was your spot. I'll move now.” I lowered my guard and started walking away from her.

  “Hey, why are you being so formal, and you don't need to leave anyway? I don't believe in nobles manipulating people. Freedom is the best, but nobles steal it from the common people.” She swings her feet on the roof, swaying her head back and forth.

  I stopped and faced her back, “Aren't you a noble? Besides, without restrictions, there is no order; it's better to restrict people's lives than throw them away for freedom.”

  “You have a point, but I won't change how I think. Living in a moment like this is all I could ever ask for.” She lies on the roof, her feet still dangling, staring at the moon as if yearning to be closer to it.

  “What's your name?” I sit near her, relaxing in the midnight breeze

  “Selena, my father is the duke that controls this city, Duke Velracour, I'm seven. What about you?” she smiled, getting back up with a playful blush on her face. “What's yours?”

  “Ashen hollow, my family calls me ash. I happen to be seven, too,” I replied, basking in the moonlight.

  The midnight breeze carried the distant chatter of the city below, but up here, it was just the two of them-until the peace shattered.

  A sudden shift in the air. Steps coming from behind.

  Selena tensed before I even noticed, her golden eyes narrowing. Then, from the shadows, dark figures leaped onto the roof.

  "There she is! The duke’s brat!" one of them growled.