Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

Kael wasn't quite sure how he had ended up in this situation. One moment, he was in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his mother's obsessive protection, and now he was in a clearing in the middle of an enchanted forest, cornered by the sharp gaze of his grandmother, Eleonor. The Queen of Witches, as she liked to call herself, stood with her arms crossed, her expression a mix of impatience and amusement.

"Alright, brat, today we're going to work on something that will determine whether you're worthy of the blood in your veins or just a waste," she said, wearing a smile that didn't exactly inspire confidence.

Kael sighed, crossing his arms. "You really know how to make someone feel special, huh, Grandma?"

Eleonor laughed, her laughter echoing through the clearing like sinister bells. "Oh, darling, I'm not here to inflate your ego. I'm here to teach you magic—something your mother is probably too scared to teach. By the way, why does she do that?"

"Because she's overprotective and thinks everything is going to kill me," Kael replied with a shrug. "But since I'm here, let's get on with it. What do I have to do?"

Eleonor narrowed her eyes at him, assessing him from head to toe. "First, let's see what natural talent you have. Close your eyes."

Kael obeyed, albeit reluctantly. He felt the air around him shift slightly, as if an invisible breeze was brushing against his skin.

"Take a deep breath and try to feel the energy around you. The world is made of mana, and this energy sustains life, spells, and existence itself. Let's see if you can pick up on at least some of it. How far can you sense it?"

He frowned, concentrating. For a few seconds, all he could feel was the sound of leaves rustling and the distant chirping of birds. But then, something changed. A warm, pulsating sensation began to spread through his body, as if invisible threads were connecting him to the environment around him. He opened his eyes, surprised—not by the mana, but by how far he could feel it...

"I can feel everything," he said in awe. "I can feel... the entire forest, even the city and the river beyond it."

"Oh, congratulations, you managed to grasp the bare minimum," Eleonor said, rolling her eyes dramatically.

'You old witch!' Kael screamed internally. But...

'Incredible... his potential surpasses mine...' she thought to herself.

"Now we'll work on control. Sensing mana is one thing; manipulating it is an entirely different challenge. Don't worry, though—it takes years to master. Or weeks, if you're not completely incompetent."

Kael huffed. "Are you always like this with your students?"

"Sweetheart, you're my first student in decades. And patience has never been my strong suit. Now stop whining and try this."

Eleonor raised a hand, and a small sphere of golden light formed above her fingers. It pulsed gently, radiating a comforting warmth. "See this? This is a simple way to channel mana. I want you to try creating something similar. Nothing too complicated. Just focus on the energy you sense around you and pull it into your hands."

Kael frowned and lifted his palms, mimicking his grandmother's gesture. He closed his eyes again, concentrating on the sensation he'd felt earlier. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, he felt the same warm energy gathering in his hands. When he opened his eyes, he saw a massive ball of spinning wind...

"Easy," he said, looking at his grandmother, who was slightly startled but quickly composed herself.

"You managed?" Eleonor repeated, tilting her head. With a quick motion, she blew lightly, and Kael's creation dissolved into the air. "That? That's nothing. You made a spark that couldn't even light a candle. Try again, and this time, put a little more intention into it."

Kael sighed deeply but didn't give up. He closed his eyes again, focusing harder this time. This time, he didn't just gather the energy—he tried to shape it into something more concrete. He felt the mana pulsing in his hands, and when he opened his eyes, a sphere of wind floated above his fingers. It was unstable and flickering, but it was there.

Eleonor narrowed her eyes, analyzing her grandson's creation. "Better. Still weak, but at least it's something I wouldn't destroy with a single breath. Now we work on stability."

"Stability? How do I do that?"

"By controlling your emotions and intentions. Magic is as much about focus as it is about will. If you hesitate, your creation will hesitate. If you doubt yourself, the mana will respond with the same weakness. Magic is an extension of who you are, Kael. Don't forget that."

Kael took a deep breath, absorbing his grandmother's words. He tried again, closing his eyes and channeling the energy. This time, he focused not just on creating the sphere but on keeping it steady, like a flame protected from the wind. When he opened his eyes, the sphere was brighter and more stable, floating calmly above his palm.

Eleonor smiled, this time with a genuine hint of pride. "Not bad for a beginner. But we still have a long way to go. Are you ready for the next step?"

Kael returned her smile. "What's next?"

Eleonor raised an eyebrow, her grin turning mischievous, a mix of challenge and amusement lighting her face. "Controlling mana is a good start, but magic isn't just about finesse. There will be times when you need raw power. I want to see how far you can push yourself without destroying yourself in the process."

"And what exactly am I supposed to do?" Kael asked, trying to mask the anxiety in his voice.

"Focus your mana into the sphere and give it an intention," Eleonor explained, gesturing toward the empty space ahead. "Turn the wind into a spinning force and hurl the sphere with enough power to cause damage. Let's see what you're capable of."

'There's no way he'll pull this off...' she thought with a sly smile, confident that it was far too advanced for him.

Kael took a deep breath and replied firmly, "Alright." This time, however, he decided not to hold back. Instead of limiting what he felt, Kael unleashed everything he had learned during his months of solitary study. He channeled his energy with precision, forming a compact sphere of wind, about the size of an orange, pulsing with intense rotation. 

Eleonor, observing closely, raised her eyebrows as she sensed the density of magic he had gathered. Before she could comment, Kael raised his hand, displaying the sphere with confidence. 

"Grandma, stop underestimating me," he said, his gaze steady. 

Without hesitation, Kael hurled the wind sphere. The moment it left his hand, the air around it roared. The small sphere tore through the clearing like a bullet, devastating everything in its path. The impact was so powerful that more than twenty trees were sliced clean through in a straight line, their upper halves crashing down with thunderous echoes through the forest. 

Eleonor stood silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on the destruction her grandson had caused. Then, she let out a low laugh, full of admiration and surprise. 

"HAHAHA! YOU LITTLE BRAT, I KNEW YOU WERE UP TO SOMETHING! YOU SNEAKY DEVIL!" she shouted, laughing loudly. 

Still laughing, Eleonor looked at Kael with a mix of pride and astonishment in her eyes. "Not bad... not bad at all. It seems you have way more potential than I gave you credit for." She broke into a satisfied smile. "Well, at least I'm not the only crazy one in the family." 

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