THE PATH TO SUPREMACY

The days passed slowly, then turned into months. Each one blending into the next as Rui continued to immerse himself in the study of mana. He was now over four years old, and while his understanding of the energy that flowed through the world deepened, his life at the Kirean estate had begun to take on a new rhythm. Despite his dedication (addiction) to magic, Rui wasn't isolated from the world around him. The Kirean estate was a place teeming with servants, guards, and other noble children. While they were few in number, they were more than enough to keep him company during his hours away from study.

Though many of the noble children had already begun their formal training, they were all older than him, often engrossed in their own lessons. Still, there were moments when Rui found himself in the company of others. He'd run across the sprawling gardens or sit beside the fountains, talking with the children who played in the sunlit patches. Sometimes, they would make up games to pass the time. Rui would join in, eager to interact, even if the games weren't his preferred type of challenge. He often watched them with a curious eye, observing their behavior, trying to figure out how they connected with the world around them.

One particular morning, while exploring one of the many courtyards, Rui came across a small group of children—about his age. They were running and laughing, chasing one another across the cobblestone path. Rui hesitated for a moment, then decided to join them.

He had learned that in this world, being too distant from others wasn't always the best path, no matter how much time he devoted to his studies.

"Hey!" Rui called out, a bit shy but determined. "Can I play too?"

The children stopped, eyeing him with curiosity. One of the older boys, perhaps five or six, squinted at him. "Aren't you the one always reading those scrolls? You don't look like the playing type."

Rui puffed out his chest a little. "I can play. I'm just learning more about... other things."

The boy shrugged and then grinned. "Alright then. We're playing tag. You're it!"

And just like that, Rui was swept into their world of simple joy. He ran and laughed, trying his best to catch the others, though his legs were still small and uncoordinated. But with each passing moment, he felt a growing sense of connection to these children—his peers, who were innocent and carefree in a way that seemed impossible to him at times. They didn't think about mana or magic, but they still found wonder in the simplest things. It was something Rui admired, something he had yet to fully experience himself.

As days turned into weeks, Rui's interactions with the other children became more frequent. They taught him how to play hide-and-seek, a game he initially struggled with because his mind was often too occupied with his magical studies. But in their world, magic wasn't the center of everything. The physical world—running, climbing trees, or jumping over small fences—was just as important, if not more so. Rui found himself developing a deeper understanding of balance, learning how to combine the focus of magic with the unpredictability of the physical world.

One afternoon, as Rui sat with his new friends under the shade of a great oak tree, a girl around his age named Lyra nudged him gently. "Do you ever wonder what it's like outside the estate? I've heard there's a forest, with animals and hidden paths."

Rui nodded, his thoughts wandering. "I do wonder. But I'm not sure if I'm ready to leave here. There's so much to learn."

Lyra giggled. "There's always something to learn. You can't stay here forever, though. One day, you'll want to see the world for yourself."

Rui smiled at her, intrigued by the thought. "Maybe I will. But for now, I'm happy here."

As Rui's time at the estate continued, he found a balance between the world of magic and the world of childhood. The children his age helped him grow in ways that studying alone could never provide. Their laughter, their freedom, their simple games of hide-and-seek and tag—all of it grounded him. It reminded him that while magic was powerful, there were other aspects of life that were equally important.

And with each passing day, his thoughts turned more toward his father's words, about strength, wisdom, and balance. His mother's advice, too, echoed in his mind. Rui knew he was growing, not just in power, but in understanding. The connection to mana still called to him, but so did the world around him—the people, the children, the lessons in patience and joy.

As the seasons changed and Rui grew older, a quiet shift began within him. It wasn't just about magic anymore—it was about everything. The small lessons he learned from the other children, the times he pushed himself to grow stronger, and the moments of stillness when he sat alone and let his thoughts wander, had all begun to shape him into someone different—someone who was starting to understand what it meant to balance the magical and the physical, the inner world and the outer.

And so, his journey continued, with each day offering a new challenge, a new opportunity for growth.