Favored by God

The dining hall buzzed with morning energy, but my mind remained clouded by the previous night's haunting dream. Maya called out to me, and I sat at their table, picking at my food more than eating it.

My thoughts drifted to the mysterious past of this body—Ryan, a name that echoed with tragedy. His parents, brutally murdered. A life cut short at just eight years old. These fragments were all I knew, like scattered pieces of a puzzle I couldn't yet complete.

While I was lost in thought, the other children finished their meal. Ms. Clemintine's voice pulled me back to reality, calling me over for our private lesson.

I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind. Focus was crucial if I wanted to understand this new world.

"Today," she began, "we'll discuss magic."

Magic in this world was fascinatingly simple. Every person is born with mana, a mystical energy that naturally replenishes within their body. However, there was a catch—children under 10 typically couldn't generate enough mana to use magic effectively.

"Most children develop their magical abilities around age 10," Ms. Clemintine explained. "But there are rare exceptions." Her eyes twinkled. "Like our young prodigy Maya, who gained magical abilities at just seven years old. She's a one-in-a-million talent."

Each person develops a specific elemental magic when their powers emerge. Maya's fire magic, Micah's earth magic, and others like air and water magic were common. There have been rumors of other elements… rarer ones, but according to her rumors is all they were.

"Some children take longer," she continued. "Some might not develop their powers until they're 16, but everyone gets them eventually." She looked directly at me. "You'll get yours too, Kai."

My imagination ran wild. What kind of magic will I get? Visions of spectacular spells danced in my mind—shooting fireballs, controlling earth, summoning winds.

Ms. Clemintine's voice cut through my daydream. "While everyone can use magic, most people's mana capacity is too small for anything beyond simple tasks. Combat magic or fantastical spells are beyond most people's capabilities."

Curiosity bubbled up. "What kind of magic do you have, Miss?" I asked.

She smiled softly. "I use a rare subcategory called healing magic. Though my mana capacity is so low, I can barely heal cuts and bruises." A light chuckle escaped her lips.

Our lesson ended when the main class arrived. I attend class still not understanding most of what was taught, eventually clas ended and As I was walking out, Ms. Clemintine called me back.

"Kai, come here for a second."

I approached hesitantly. "Yeah?"

"Tomorrow, Micah, Maya, and Rowan are going into town to grab supplies for the orphanage. I want you to go with them and try to get along better with Micah."

Shock froze me in place. "B-but I don't think that's a good idea. Micah seems to hate me, and I don't know my way around town. I'll be dead weight."

Her hand patted my head reassuringly. "You'll have to go into town sometime, silly. Micah doesn't hate you; he just doesn't know you. Plus, if he gets out of hand, Maya will be there to help."

Reluctantly, I agreed.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of play and laughter. As darkness fell, I prepared for bed, my mind still wrestling with thoughts of the mysterious dream. Would it return tonight?

Exhaustion eventually claimed me, and I drifted into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, I stared at the ceiling, still amazed by my new reality. Today, I would venture into town—nervous, yet excited to see this world from a different perspective.

A new adventure awaited.