Maria stood in front of the desk. The ragged, bloody clothes of the slums had been replaced by a simple navy shirt and comfortable trousers suitable for training. Although her nine-year-old frame was small, she stood as if receiving a mission report: spine straight, chin up, gaze direct.
Edward observed Maria out of the corner of his eye while reading the file on the desk. He closed the file, leaned back in his chair, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Well, Maria, now that you've said goodbye to the past, it's time to say hello to the future. The arrangements are made. The King has approved your admission to the Academy, albeit as a 'scholarship student recommended by the Royal Guard.' This means everyone will be watching you. If you screw up, my reputation takes a hit too."
Maria replied in a serious tone:
"I won't screw up."
Edward pulled a paper forward.
"By law, the entry age for the 'Alverin Royal Military Academy' is a full ten years. The new term starts in exactly six months. That means you have six months to transform from a 'talented street kid' into someone who can survive among the nobility."
Edward interlaced his fingers.
"That Academy is full of noble kids who have been learning swordsmanship, horsemanship, and history since they could walk. You... well, until yesterday, your only concern was finding food. If you go there now, you'll be crushed. Not physically, but mentally. They will see you as an insect."
Maria smirked.
"Let them look. Insects sometimes have painful stings."
Edward laughed.
"I like this confidence of yours. But arrogance without knowledge is stupidity. You are illiterate. You don't know etiquette. And most importantly, you know nothing about 'Mana Flow'."
Maria’s ears perked up. Mana Flow?
"So, what are we going to do?"
Edward rang the bell on his desk.
"I’ve hired a private tutor for you. A retired court scholar who had no patience for politics and became a recluse. He is the only one who can fill your brain in this short time."
The door opened, and a thin old man in loose gray robes, with thick-lensed glasses slipping down his nose and an armful of books, entered.
Edward introduced him:
"Maria, this is Master Simon. From today, he is in charge of your training."
***
The smell of parchment and ink filled the library.
Master Simon tapped the blackboard with a piece of chalk in his hand.
"The alphabet of the Continent's Common Tongue has 32 letters. Today, we will learn the first 5 letters. Repeat: Aleph, Bet..."
Maria sighed. This pace was torture for her.
I lived for 31 years, was fluent in two major languages, and annually studied hundreds of files and memorized their key points. What kind of kindergarten lesson is this?
Maria picked up a second piece of chalk from the desk. She stood on her tiptoes to reach the board.
With a quick and fluid motion, she wrote all 32 letters she had seen in the open book on the desk, in order, on the board. Her handwriting was still a bit crooked due to her weak hand muscles, but it was perfectly legible.
"Aleph, Bet, Gim, Dal... to the end. I’ve memorized them all, Master."
Simon adjusted his glasses on his nose and stared at the board with his mouth open.
"H... How is this possible? It takes noble children months to... You hadn't even held a pen before!"
Maria shrugged and sat back in her seat.
"I have a good memory, Master. Time is short. Please, let's move on to the more important parts."
***
A month passed in this manner, learning reading, writing, and etiquette...
Master Simon had now emerged from the shock of his student's genius and was teaching with indescribable excitement. He realized Maria was not a normal child; he was dealing with a child whose mind devoured information like a black hole.
Simon spread a large leather map on the table.
"Alright. Listen well. Our world is like a four-player chessboard."
He placed his pointer on the center of the map.
"This is us. The Kingdom of Alverin. A fertile, ancient land that believes in the nobility of blood. Here, nobles enjoy high social status and can attain rank and office."
Maria sneered in her mind.
Alverin... a corrupt, class-based system. A place where 'good genes' are more important than skill. No wonder they were ambushed in the forest like that. When your commanders are chosen just because of their father's name, national security falls apart.
Simon moved the pointer to the north. Dark red color.
"And here... our ancient enemy, the Empire of Seragonia."
"The ones who attacked the Prince?"
"Not proven yet, but highly probable. Seragonia is a cold, mountainous land. They are savages who want to conquer the whole continent."
Maria looked carefully at the mountainous borders.
"Savages? Or just hungry?"
"They believe 'Might makes Right.' In Seragonia, even a slave can become a general if he is strong. They fight for survival."
Maria raised an eyebrow.
So Seragonia isn't evil, it's a brutal meritocracy. They are dangerous because they have motivation. A soldier fighting for food and rank is ten times more dangerous than a soldier fighting because his lord forced him to.
Simon pointed to the east. Golden color.
"In the east lies the Xenia Trade Federation. They have no king. A 'Council of Merchants' runs the country. They have declared neutrality and only trade; they have many craftsmen and scientists, and most magical technologies originate from there."
Maria smirked.
Neutral? Heh. In my world, they called these guys 'Mafia' or 'Sanctions Profiteers.' They love the war between us and Seragonia because they sell weapons to both sides. Profitable neutrality... the dirtiest kind of politics.
And finally, the south. White color and the symbol of the sun.
"The south is the Holy Kingdom of Solareth. Zealous religious pacifists. They have the best healers in the world. They build free hospitals, and their priests are present in all other countries to help people and hear their confessions."
Maria narrowed her eyes.
Hear confessions? Interesting. So that means they have the world's biggest spy agency. When people tell their sins to a priest, it means Solareth monitors the Kings' bedrooms too. The most dangerous enemy is the one who smiles and has a dagger under his robe.
And the west... a black stain.
"The West, the Cursed Lands. Home to monsters and magical creatures. A great wall separates us from them."
Maria shivered.
"Monsters?"
"Yes. But we don't have much information about there. Since the monsters rebelled fifty years ago, there hasn't been much news from them."
Maria archived the map in her mind.
Hungry North, greedy East, spying South, and monster West. And helpless me stuck in the middle of this minefield. Great.
"Master, which one are they preparing us to fight at the Academy?"
Simon took off his glasses and cleaned them.
"To fight all of them, Maria. But most of all... to fight ourselves. The internal politics of Alverin are more dangerous than the war with Seragonia."
***
Maria was sitting cross-legged on the grass. A cool breeze was blowing. Edward had also come today to see her progress.
Simon held a glowing white stone in his hand.
"I've been teaching you for about two months; now it's time to talk about something that is the lifeblood of this world: Mana."
Maria leaned forward eagerly. This was the moment she had been waiting for. The secret of the power with which she could protect anyone.
"Mana is life energy that flows through everything. Both in nature and in our bodies."
Simon held up two fingers.
"Using mana has two main branches:
- External (Magic): Performed by mages. They expel mana from the body and turn it into fire, ice, or wind... which requires accumulated mana reserves. Usually, nobles are born with such mana volume.
- Internal (Aura): Mostly performed by knights. They don't expel mana but wrap it around their bodies or weapons, enhancing them."
Maria’s eyes sparkled, remembering the scene in the forest where Edward’s sword effortlessly cleaved through that man’s body.
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Maria turned to Edward and said:
"Edward... did you use 'Aura' that day in the forest?"
Edward, leaning against a tree, smiled.
"That's right. I condensed my body's mana onto the blade of the sword. It's called 'Mana Edge'; it cuts through anything easily."
Maria looked at her small hands.
"Master Simon, which one can I perform?"
Simon gave the glowing stone he held to Maria.
"This is an Appraisal Stone. When this stone is in contact with your body, it glows according to your mana reserves."
The stone... barely flickered. A pale, weak light.
Simon sighed and glanced at Edward.
"Just as I guessed. Maria's mana capacity... is very low. On the level of an ordinary soldier, maybe even less."
Maria frowned.
"Does that mean I can't become a mage?"
"With this amount of mana? Make one fireball and you'll pass out. You also have limitations for body enhancement (Aura). You can't cover your whole body in aura like Edward."
A heavy silence reigned. It was as if all of Maria's dreams were going up in smoke.
Edward came forward and knelt to be at eye level with Maria.
"Disappointed?"
Maria raised her head. In her eyes, there was no disappointment, but a cold fire blazing.
"No. I'm just changing my strategy."
"What do you mean?"
Maria put the stone on the ground.
"If I have low mana, then I shouldn't waste it. Mages spread mana to create explosions. Knights wrap mana around their entire bodies. That means energy waste."
Maria raised her index finger.
"What if I gather all of this small amount of mana into just one point... for example, the tip of my finger or the edge of a knife?"
Simon and Edward looked at each other. Simon said hesitantly:
"That requires 'Mana Control' on the level of Grandmasters! Condensing mana into a tiny point requires exhausting focus and drains the mind. Children can't..."
Maria smiled. A smile that didn't belong to a child.
Mental focus? I spent half my life learning breath control and focus under the pressure of machine-gun fire. If it's just a matter of 'mind'... then I'm ahead of all of them.
"Master... teach me how to feel the mana."
***
Maria sat cross-legged on the bed. Her eyes were closed.
Deep breath... inhale... exhale...
Simon had said mana is like blood flow, but warmer.
Over the past weeks, she had tried and failed many times. Her body was weak, and her mana channels were narrow.
But her mind... her mind commanded her body like a field commander.
Find it. Find that heat.
Suddenly, she felt a faint sensation below her navel. Like a small ember of fire.
Maria didn't lose focus. With her iron will, she grabbed that ember and tried to guide it.
Not outward... but toward her right hand.
Sweat beaded on her forehead. pain crept through her veins.
Move!
Slowly, the heat moved from her shoulder to her elbow, and from her elbow to her wrist.
Maria opened her eyes.
In the darkness of the room, her right hand had a very faint, weak blue glow. Just for a second, and then it extinguished.
Maria fell onto the bed, panting. She was soaked in sweat, but she was laughing.
"Gotcha..."
She didn't have much mana. Maybe a glass of water compared to Edward's ocean of mana.
But... she had managed to do in two months what noble children practiced for years: Mana Control.
She held up her fist and looked at it in the moonlight.
"The amount doesn't matter... what matters is how you use it. Even with this small amount, I can target vital points."
***
The royal carriage with drawn curtains moved through the cobblestone streets of the capital.
Maria looked out through the gap in the curtains.
The capital of "Alverin" was completely different from the slums where she grew up. Tall stone buildings, flashy shops, and people dressed in colorful clothes. But Maria's sharp eyes saw other things too: beggars being driven into back alleys by the City Guard and the disdainful looks of nobles toward commoners.
Edward, sitting opposite her, said:
"Less than a week remains until Academy classes start. To go to the Academy, you need a weapon. There are wooden practice swords at the Academy, but every student must have their own personal weapon."
Maria asked:
"Are we going to the Royal Armory?"
"No. The weapons there are 'decorative' and ceremonial. Good for parades, not real combat. I'm taking you where real knights shop."
The carriage stopped in the Blacksmiths' District. The sound of hammers striking anvils and the smell of molten metal filled the air.
They entered an old shop whose walls were blackened with soot.
A burly old man with a dirty leather apron was polishing a shield.
"Hello, 'Goren'."
The old man looked up and grinned upon seeing Edward. His yellow teeth showed.
"Well, well... Commander Edward. Dulled your sword again?"
"No. Today I came for this young lady."
Goren glanced at ten-year-old Maria and burst out laughing. His voice was like a bear's roar.
"You joking? This kid should still be playing with dolls. A sword is taller than her!"
Maria stepped forward. Her gaze was cold and serious.
"I'm done playing with dolls, sir! I want a weapon that won't throw off my balance."
Goren raised an eyebrow. His laughter cut off.
"Hmm... sharp tongue. Let's see what suits your hand."
Goren placed several Short Swords on the table.
Maria picked one up. Swung it. Shook her head negatively.
"Heavy. Center of gravity is forward. It'll tire my wrist."
She picked up the second one.
"This one is light, but the blade is long. Gets stuck in close quarters."
Goren looked at Edward with surprise.
"Who is this kid? Where did she learn this talk?"
Edward smiled.
"Just give her what she wants."
Maria's gaze fell on the corner of the workshop. Where a few strange blades were hanging.
She went and picked up two matte black daggers. The blades were slightly curved, and the handles were covered in rough leather so they wouldn't slip in the hand.
She spun them in her small hands.
Whoosh... whoosh...
The sound of cutting the air was delightful.
"These are perfect. Light, fast, and easy to conceal."
Goren frowned.
"Those are 'Shadow Daggers'. Weapons for thieves and assassins. Knights don't use these. A knight must fight face-to-face."
Maria put the daggers into their waist sheaths and hid them under her shirt.
"History is written by the victors, not those who died 'honorably'. I want a weapon that keeps me alive, not a weapon that looks pretty."
Goren was silent for a while. Then he smirked.
"I like it. Your logic is scary, kid. They're yours."
Edward placed a bag of coins on the table.
"Thanks, Goren. Give her the best light armor and leather boots in her size, too."
When they came out of Goren's warm, smoky workshop, the cool street air hit their faces.
Maria suddenly stopped. Her gaze quickly shifted toward the rooftops of the buildings opposite and the passing crowd. A familiar feeling, like an itch on the back of her neck; a feeling that said "You are not alone."
Edward, noticing her sudden stop, asked:
"What's wrong? Did you leave something?"
Maria paused slightly. She narrowed her eyes, but she wasn't sure yet. Maybe it's just paranoia. No need to make a fuss.
She shook her head and normalized her expression.
"Nothing. Let's go."
They got into the carriage.
Edward said:
"Your Academy uniform is ready too. We need to go for a fitting. You also need a few sets of casual clothes for the dormitory."
The carriage dropped them off in front of a luxurious tailor shop on the capital's fashion avenue.
Inside the shop, it smelled of lavender perfume and expensive fabrics. The tailor bowed upon seeing Edward and brought the prepared outfit.
Maria put on the uniform. A navy jacket with delicate gold trim and the Royal Lion emblem on the chest, along with a short-pleated skirt and tall leather boots.
The outfit was simple, but the fabric quality and the stitching clearly belonged to the nobility.
Maria stood in front of the full-length mirror. The image in the mirror no longer resembled that muddy slum girl. She now looked like a little noblewoman.
Edward stood behind her. Unconsciously, he bent down and straightened the collar of Maria’s jacket. He brushed her shoulder, and a faint, warm smile settled on his lips; a look that fathers usually have when they see their child in school uniform for the first time. A feeling he perhaps didn't even realize himself yet.
"It suits you. You look like a real knight."
After that, they chose several sets of comfortable cotton clothes for the dormitory. Edward checked the clothes with particular obsessiveness to ensure they weren't rough or that the stitching wouldn't irritate the child's sensitive skin. Maria just watched, and a warm feeling, similar to having a father, grew in her chest.
When they came out of the shop and handed the shopping bags to the servants, Maria suddenly stopped again.
She fixed her gaze on the end of the street. In the shadow of a building, the same black carriage she had seen in front of the smithy had stopped here too, keeping a specific distance.
She smirked in her mind. My gut was right. We are being followed.
"Edward."
Her tone was completely serious, cold, and different from a few moments ago.
Edward quickly noticed the change in tone. His hand unconsciously went to his sword.
"What is it?"
"Since we left the palace, a black carriage with the 'Silver Viper' emblem has been following us. It was in front of the smithy, and now it's at the corner of the street."
Edward looked out of the corner of his eye with surprise but without turning his head.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. The man inside... Something about him feels wrong"
Edward’s face became serious.
"The 'Silver Viper' emblem belongs to the House of 'Duke Von Taurus'. One of the most powerful nobles opposing the King. They aren't happy about a slum kid entering the Academy."
Maria touched her new daggers under her clothes.
"So the war has started before I even entered the Academy."
Edward put his hand on Maria's shoulder.
"Don't worry. As long as you're with me, they won't dare make a move. But in the Academy... that is their territory. The Duke's son, 'Damian', is your age and is entering the Academy this year. He is dangerous."
Maria smirked.
"Damian... I'll remember his name."
They got into the carriage.
Maria looked out the window. She was no longer just a little girl with a dream; she was armed, she knew her enemies, and she was ready for the hunt.
***
The palace grounds were slowly taking on the feel of autumn. The air was cool and smelled of damp earth.
Maria stood facing a thick oak log with a wooden training knife.
Six months of grueling training had to pay off today.
She closed her eyes.
Condense the mana into a razor-thin edge.
She pulled the weak stream of mana from her core. She passed it like a thin thread through her shoulder, reached her elbow, and finally sent it to the tip of the wooden knife.
Instead of letting the energy disperse, she drew her mind like a wall around the mana.
The pressure in her head was unbearable. The vein in her temple throbbed. Her nose started to bleed.
Just... the sharp edge...
For a moment, the edge of the wooden knife glowed with a blue, linear light, as thin as a hair.
Maria opened her eyes.
Haya!
Her hand moved like a whip.
She struck.
The wooden knife, which should have shattered upon impact with the hard oak wood, sank into the tree trunk up to the hilt without a sound.
Maria fell to her knees, panting, and wiped the blood from her nose.
"I succeeded... 'Mana Edge'."
"I can't believe it..."
A trembling voice was heard from behind her.
Maria sprang to her feet instantly and took a guard stance. The wooden knife was still in the tree, so she clenched her fists.
A little boy in crimson velvet clothes and shiny golden hair stood behind the rose bushes.
Prince Arthur.
He was no longer that muddy, crying boy from the forest, but his blue eyes still held that same gleam of innocence.
Arthur looked at the knife embedded in the tree with disbelief and a mix of fear and excitement, then said to Maria:
"You are very talented, Maria."
Maria lowered her guard and gave a short bow (which Master Simon had taught her).
"Your Highness. What are you doing here?"
Arthur took a step forward. He had locked his hands behind his back to hide their trembling.
"I came to see you. Before you go to the Academy."
Maria remained silent.
Arthur stared at the ground.
"That day... in the forest... you saved me... in that moment, you were the only one by my side."
He raised his head. His look became serious.
"I will never forget, Maria."
Maria shrugged.
"I just did what was necessary."
Arthur smiled and reached into his pocket, pulling something out.
A small silver brooch in the shape of a lion's head.
"This is my personal crest. At the Academy... it might be useful to you. If anyone bothers you, show it to them."
Maria took the brooch. It was cold and heavy.
"I don't think it will be necessary to hide behind your name, Your Highness. But... thank you."
Arthur laughed.
"I know it won't be necessary. But keep it as a... friend."
Maria put the brooch in her pocket.
Friend...
A word that tasted of blood and betrayal to Maria. She remembered Lucy.
Her gaze turned cold.
"I am not your friend, Your Highness. I am just a... future soldier."
She turned back and pulled the wooden knife out of the tree.
Arthur was a little hurt, but he didn't retreat.
"See you tomorrow at the Academy, Soldier Maria."
The Prince turned and left.
Maria looked at the empty space he left and whispered under her breath:
"Keep your distance, Maria... you don't want to get hurt again..."
She spun the wooden knife in her hand.
"From tomorrow, the real battle begins."