Later that day, as they prepare to go to where they were instructed to.

  “Before I forget, Sky—here in Alonaya, you don’t need to wear thick jackets. Just put on anything comfortable,” he said. Then, with a faint smile, he added, “Also… be ready to get wet.”

  Sky blinked. “Oh, alright then, Mr. Zeto. But what do you mean by ‘be ready to get wet’? Are we… taking a bath later?”

  Zeto let out a laugh. “Ha ha. Just be prepared, okay? You’ll understand later.”

  Not long after, they set out toward the place King Maelyo had instructed them to go.

  As they walked, Sky caught his first true glimpse of the outside of the kingdom.

  “…Woah.”

  He stopped in his tracks.

  The scenery before him was breathtaking—endless stretches of clear water reflecting the sky, gentle currents flowing like living veins through the city. A cool breeze brushed against his face, carrying with it the scent of fresh water.

  Memories surged into his mind.

  Sky slowly closed his eyes, letting the wind pass through his hair as he inhaled deeply.

  Zeto noticed and stopped as well. Watching the boy quietly, he spoke with a gentle tone.

  “See? I told you. If you wore thick jackets, you wouldn’t be able to feel the cool breeze here.”

  Sky opened his eyes and smiled faintly.

  “You’re right, Mr. Zeto. The snow and clouds in the empire amazed me… but this is really something else.”

  A hint of nostalgia crossed his face as he paused briefly, then his voice softened as he continued.

  “I grew up in a place surrounded by water too. Our home was near the seashore. So everything here reminds me of my home… and my parents.”

  His gaze softened as he looked around once more.

  “I didn’t expect to see a place this beautiful in another world. I really love it here.”

  Zeto nodded. “I see. That’s good to hear. I’m glad you’re loving this place.”

  But inwardly, his thoughts stirred.

  He grew up near water…

  If his intuition was correct, then Sky might be blessed by the element of water.

  And if that were true—

  There is no better place than Alonaya for him to awaken his power.

  They continued walking until a familiar figure came into view. King Maelyo stood ahead, surrounded by his royal guards. The moment he noticed them, his booming voice echoed across the area.

  “Sky! Zeto! Over here! Come quickly!”

  Sky straightened. “It’s King Maelyo—we’re close.”

  As they approached, the king’s expression suddenly changed.

  Beneath the pathway Sky walked upon, fish swam in gentle circles—following his steps.

  King Maelyo narrowed his eyes, intrigue flashing within them.

  “…Hmm. Interesting.”

  A smile slowly crept onto his face.

  “We haven’t even begun awakening his power, and yet there are already signs of his power leaking out.”

  When Sky and Zeto reached him, they bowed respectfully.

  “Enough with the formalities,” the king said with a laugh. “Let’s begin.”

  Sky looked around—then suddenly froze.

  “…W–woaaah.”

  There was no land beneath them.

  Only water.

  Endless, clear water supporting everything.

  “Wait… I thought we were on the shore, but—this is real? The entire castle is floating on water?!”

  “Ha ha ha!” King Maelyo laughed heartily.

  “Your eyes aren’t deceiving you! My castle floats upon water. Magnificent, isn’t it?”

  The king then handed Sky a strange platform-like object.

  “Here, Sky. We’ll use this to awaken your power.”

  He placed it gently on the water and sat atop it, completely unfazed.

  “Like this. Sit here, then close your eyes,” the king instructed.

  “Imagine yourself moving together with the water. Believe—truly believe—that you and the water are one.”

  Sky listened intently.

  “This platform will sink,” the king continued. “But it will stop only when you release your power. If you can make it float—and keep it floating—it means you’re using your power. Lose focus, and you’ll sink again.”

  Sky stared in amazement.

  He’s not sinking at all…

  Excited, he immediately tried it himself.

  —Splash.

  The platform sank.

  Again.

  And again.

  W–wait!! What’s happening?!” Sky cried, panic rising in his voice.

  "Does this mean I don’t have any magical powers?!”

  “Ha ha ha,” King Maelyo chuckled, his laughter calm and reassuring.

  “You’ve only just begun. Focus. Believe—with your mind and your heart—that you and the water are one.”

  Assuming it would take a while, the king turned slightly and gave a quiet order.

  “Zeto and I will be over there. Sky, continue your training. My royal guards will watch over you.”

  “Yes, Your Highness! I will!” Sky replied quickly.

  He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes.

  Focus…

  Believe…

  Slowly—

  Just as the king and Zeto were about to step away, the platform beneath Sky began to rise.

  King Maelyo’s eyes widened.

  I knew it… This boy is truly blessed by the element of water.

  Beside him, Zeto watched in stunned silence.

  So my suspicion was correct…

  The royal guards gasped among themselves.

  “Woah… it took me weeks to do that,” one muttered.

  “Same here. And he did it in minutes?” another whispered in disbelief.

  King Maelyo burst into hearty laughter.

  “That’s incredibly fast! I expected it would take at least a day or two.”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “W–wait—WHAT?!” Sky shouted, eyes flying open. “I did it?! Seriously?!”

  His excitement broke his concentration—

  —and the platform slowly began to sink.

  “Ha ha ha! Focus, young man! Focus!” the king called out, clearly amused.

  “A-Alright!”

  The king smiled and waved a hand.

  “We’ll leave you here for a while. Continue concentrating so your mind and body can adapt. We’ll return when it’s time to stop.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty!” Sky answered firmly.

  With that, the king and Zeto stepped back, leaving several knights to stand guard.

  From a short distance away, King Maelyo spoke in a quieter tone.

  “Zeto, this confirms it. Sky is blessed with the Water Element.”

  “I suspected as much,” Zeto replied. “Earlier, he mentioned this place reminded him of his hometown. He said he grew up near the water.”

  The king nodded.

  “That explains everything. Even the fish that followed him earlier were proof. They can sense those with an affinity for water.”

  He chuckled softly.

  “To be honest, what we did wasn’t to awaken his power—only to confirm it.”

  Zeto’s eyes widened slightly. “Then…?”

  “Ha ha ha!” the king laughed again.

  “Now that I’m certain, I already know how to awaken his true power.”

  His gaze sharpened, carrying a hint of resolve.

  “Zeto, do nothing unless I instruct you. From this point on, everything is to shape him into the hero the Empire needs.”

  “What do you mean, Your Majesty?” Zeto asked carefully.

  “You know as well as I do,” the king explained, “some people awaken their magic at birth, others through rigorous training, and some in life-and-death situations. In Sky’s case, the holy crystal confirmed he possesses magic when he was summoned—yet we still didn’t know what kind.”

  He folded his arms.

  “That’s why he’s here. To discover the nature of his power. And as we just witnessed, being able to float that platform proves his affinity for water. I expected confirmation would take longer, but it happened today.”

  A small smile tugged at his lips.

  “Now that we know… We can finally awaken his true power.”

  “The Empress entrusted him to me, after all.”

  “…Understood, Your Highness,” Zeto replied.

  Hours passed without Sky noticing.

  He continued training with unwavering focus, repeating the same motion again and again. At first, his movements were stiff and uncertain—but gradually they became smooth and natural. His body began to move instinctively, as if it had learned the rhythm of the water.

  Time lost all meaning.

  When King Maelyo and Zeto finally returned, they stopped in their tracks.

  What greeted them was a sight neither had expected.

  Sky stood calmly atop the water’s surface, his posture steady and relaxed. His eyes were closed, his breathing slow and controlled. Around him, several fishes of different sizes swam in gentle circles, as though drawn to him by an unseen force.

  King Maelyo burst into laughter.

  “Haha! You’re doing great, young man! That’s enough for now. You may rest.”

  Sky heard the king’s voice and slowly opened his eyes.

  “…Huh?”

  Only then did he notice the fishes surrounding him.

  “W–Whoa…!”

  King Maelyo laughed even harder.

  “Hahaha! See? I told you—you’re doing well. Those fishes are reacting to your magical presence. Now, stand up slowly and come back here while maintaining your float.”

  Sky stared at the shimmering water and the colorful fishes, his eyes sparkling.

  “Wow… that’s so beautiful.”

  He then nodded eagerly.

  “Alright, Your Majesty!”

  Carefully, Sky stood up. One step at a time, he moved forward, keeping his balance perfectly. The water supported him as if it were solid ground. When he reached the edge, he turned back toward the fishes and smiled, giving them a small wave.

  Not long after, at the king’s command, preparations for their meal began.

  As they ate, King Maelyo spoke proudly of Sky’s achievement.

  “What you’ve done today is extraordinary. An average citizen of Alonaya would take a week—sometimes months—just to reach this stage. Yet you achieved it in mere hours… and even mastered it.”

  Sky scratched his cheek, embarrassed.

  “Thank you, Your Highness. But honestly, I just listened to your instructions. At first, I was really confused—I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. But then I remembered what you said… to become one with the water.”

  He looked down at his hands.

  “Once I imagined that, everything just felt… natural. I didn’t even realize I was already floating.”

  “Ha ha!” King Maelyo laughed heartily. “You really are something else, young man. I wonder what else you’re capable of.”

  Though he laughed, a different thought crossed the king’s mind.

  What is this boy’s true power…?

  Zeto smiled faintly.

  “Excellent work, Sky. I suspected you had an affinity for the water element. When you mentioned that you lived near the sea in your homeland, it made sense. I wasn’t certain at first—but now it’s confirmed.”

  He folded his arms.

  “We’ll continue your training later. For now, eat well and get some rest.”

  Sky’s eyes widened.

  “Wooow! So my power is related to water? That’s sooo cool!”

  He leaned forward excitedly.

  “And yeah, our home is really close to the shore, but… why does that matter, Mr. Zeto?”

  Zeto nodded.

  “There are many ways a person gains magical power. Some are born with it—it’s inherited through bloodlines. Others awaken it later through training or special circumstances.”

  He glanced at Sky.

  “In many cases, the environment plays a role. You grew up surrounded by water, so your magic naturally resonated with it.”

  Sky’s face lit up.

  “Niceee! That makes so much sense! So magic adapts to where you live too.”

  “Yes,” Zeto replied. “Exactly.”

  King Maelyo leaned back in his chair.

  “In addition, we use the Holy Crystal to determine magical potential—just like the one you touched before. Most newborns here are tested shortly after birth.”

  He continued calmly.

  “However, some awaken their powers later in life—through training, or even life-and-death situations. When that happens, their magic usually adapts to their surroundings.”

  Sky listened intently.

  “And then,” the king added, “there are those who possess no magic at all.”

  Sky blinked.

  “Eh?”

  “Instead,” King Maelyo said, smiling, “they gain superhuman physical strength.”

  He turned toward Zeto.

  “And we have a perfect example sitting right here—the Star of Luwalhatiya.”

  Sky’s jaw dropped.

  “M–Mr. Zeto?!”

  Zeto sighed.

  “I really wish you wouldn’t call me that, Your Highness…”

  King Maelyo laughed.

  “Zeto has no magical power. He never underwent an awakening ritual because even at a young age, his physical strength was already beyond human limits. He defeated several high-ranking magic users with pure strength alone.”

  Sky leaned closer, eyes shining.

  “That’s incredible…!”

  “That’s why,” the king continued, “he was chosen to move to the Grand Holy Empire of Banalaya and serve as vice-captain of the Holy Knights.”

  “Woooaaahhh!” Sky nearly jumped out of his seat. “That’s sooo amazing! Thank you, Your Highness!”

  He turned to Zeto, practically vibrating with excitement.

  “Mr. Zeto, I didn’t know you were THAT cool! Can I see your strength sometime?!”

  King Maelyo burst into laughter.

  “Ha ha ha! You’ll be even more amazed when you see it in person! When I first witnessed it, I couldn’t resist challenging him myself!”

  “Oh, please,” Zeto said, rubbing the back of his neck. “You’re exaggerating. And besides, I know I could never beat you, Your Majesty.”

  King Maelyo’s grin widened.

  “Oh? Are you sure about that? Perhaps now would be a good time to test it. Ha ha ha!”

  “N–No!” Zeto quickly replied. “I must decline your majesty. We should focus on Sky’s training, shouldn’t we?”

  King Maelyo laughed again.

  “Well, I suppose you’re right. Very well—another time then. Perhaps tomorrow. Ha ha ha!”

  Zeto could only scratch his head helplessly.

  Sky, meanwhile, looked more excited than ever at the thought of witnessing Zeto’s strength someday.

  After finishing their meal and taking a short rest, they returned to the training grounds.

  King Maelyo clapped his hands together.

  “Alright, Sky. Let’s continue.”

  He smiled—wide and slightly unsettling.

  “Just remember this… whatever happens, do everything you can to survive. Ha ha ha.”

  “…Okay,” Sky replied hesitantly.

  For some reason, he had a very bad feeling about what was coming next.

  King Maelyo said "Put these on, Sky. With these, your power will surely awaken.”

  Sky obediently strapped the cold metal shackles around his ankles. They were heavier than they looked, sinking slightly into his skin.

  He tilted his head.

  “Um… Your Majesty? What are these for—”

  Before he could finish—

  Splash!

  King Maelyo shoved him forward.

  “W–WAIT!?”

  Sky hit the water hard.

  “WHAT IS THIS!? King Maelyo! Mr. Zeto—HELP!!”

  His body was dragged down instantly. The shackles pulled at his legs like anchors, robbing him of balance. He tried to kick, to swim, but every movement only made him sink faster.

  Above him, King Maelyo’s booming laughter echoed.

  “Remember what I told you! Survive, young man! Survive! Ha ha ha!”

  S..sur..vive…?

  Water filled Sky’s mouth. Panic clawed at his chest.

  I could swim… I know I could!

  If only these shackles weren’t here…!

  His arms flailed, his lungs burned—and then, at the edge of despair, something inside him snapped.

  No… struggling won’t help.

  He forced himself to stop moving.

  The water around him grew still. The chaos faded. With his eyes shut, the world became quiet—eerily so. All he could hear now was his heartbeat.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Strong. Steady.

  Then—

  Warmth.

  It bloomed from deep within his chest, spreading through his veins like flowing water. It didn’t hurt. It felt… comforting.

  Zeto took a sharp step forward.

  “Your Majesty—!”

  King Maelyo raised an arm, stopping him.

  “Relax, Zeto. He is doing great”

  "I can hear his heartbeat, Instead of weakening, it’s growing stronger.”

  The king smiled. “We’re about to witness something special.”

  A faint blue glow shimmered beneath the water’s surface.

  Slowly, Sky’s sinking body stopped.

  Then—he began to rise.

  The glow intensified, wrapping around him like liquid light as he floated upward, breaking the surface without a splash.

  Zeto’s eyes widened.

  “…Incredible.”

  “Ha ha ha!” King Maelyo roared with laughter.

  “I told you, Zeto! The young man is doing great!”

  He leaned forward.

  “You may open your eyes now, young man!”

  Sky slowly did as he was told.

  “Eh…?”

  He was floating.

  Above the water.

  A bright blue aura wrapped around his body, shimmering like gentle waves.

  “W–WOOAAAH!?”

  “I’m—floating!? On water!? And what is this light!?”

  “Hahaha! Relax, or you’ll drown again,” King Maelyo said cheerfully.

  “And congratulations, young man. You’ve awakened your magical power.”

  “My… power?”

  “That is your aura—the power of the Water Element.”

  The king folded his arms proudly.

  “I knew you have it.”

  Suddenly—

  SPLASH!

  Two massive shadows burst from the water.

  Sharks.

  Zeto moved before Sky could even scream.

  In an instant, he was in front of Sky—his fist slammed forward.

  BOOM!

  The shark was sent flying, crashing far into the distance.

  Sky’s mouth fell open.

  H–He punched it…!?

  Behind him, the second shark lunged—

  King Maelyo clenched his hand.

  A gigantic fist of water formed midair and smashed down with overwhelming force, blasting the creature away as if it were nothing.

  Sky wasn’t scared.

  He was stunned.

  They’re… incredible.

  He had known they were strong—but not this strong.

  His heart raced, not with fear, but excitement.

  This world… is amazing.

  A few moments later, Sky stepped out of the water, his clothes dripping.

  “Woah… that was SO COOL!!”

  He rushed toward them, eyes shining.

  “King Maelyo! Mr. Zeto! Will I ever be able to do that too!?”

  “Teach me! I wanna do that toooo!!”

  “Hahaha!” King Maelyo laughed.

  “That’s enough for today. You’ve done well for your first day of training.”

  He patted Sky’s shoulder.

  “Rest well. Tomorrow, we continue.”

  “Yes! Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty!” Sky beamed.

  “I’ll do even more tomorrow—I can’t wait!”

  He turned to Zeto.

  “I wanna do that super punch too, Mr. Zeto!”

  Then to the king—

  “And that super cool water fist!”

  He laughed excitedly.

  “I don’t think I’ll even be able to sleep tonight! Hahaha!”

  The three of them laughed together.

  And thus, Sky’s first day of training came to an end—

  marking the beginning of a power that would one day shake the world.