The mage's name is Merlin.

The battle was over. Yun Jin observed the subdued goblins scattered across the battlefield. With their shaman defeated, the chaos began to settle, and villagers slowly emerged from their hiding places, peering cautiously from behind broken doors and crumbled walls.

Seeing him, they rushed forward, their voices rising in jubilant cries.

“The hero has returned!” one shouted.

“Praise the gods for sending a savior!” another cried, dropping to their knees.

Before Yun Jin could react, more villagers knelt, their hands clasped in prayer. “Hero of the heavens, we are saved!”

Yun Jin’s expression darkened. He stepped forward, raising a hand. “Stop,” he said firmly. The villagers froze, their reverent whispers silenced by the commanding tone.

“I am no hero,” Yun Jin continued, his voice calm yet unyielding. Inside, he felt a pang of bitterness. A hero? That title belongs only to my master—the one who ended the Blood Age and brought peace to the world. I’ve done nothing compared to him.

Still, confusion lingered in his mind. He didn’t even know where he was, let alone why this village had been attacked. Yun Jin folded his arms and addressed the crowd. “Explain what happened here. Why was your village attacked, and where exactly am I?”

An older man stepped forward, his posture humble but resolute. “I am Harun, the village elder,” he said, bowing slightly. “This is a small village within the Kingdom of Velmire. Just days ago, the goblins began their raid, led by a shaman. We were hopeless... until the boy mage summoned you.”

“The boy mage?” Yun Jin muttered, his mind flashing back to the golden-haired child he’d seen unconscious in the church when he first arrived. His gaze sharpened. “Where is he now?”

The elder gestured for Yun Jin to follow, leading him back to the church. Inside, the faint light filtering through the cracked stained-glass windows cast an ethereal glow over the sleeping boy. Yun Jin approached quietly, his eyes narrowing as he took in the boy’s features.

The child’s golden hair framed a delicate face, his skin pale but unblemished. His breathing was shallow, his chest rising and falling unevenly. He seemed to radiate an otherworldly beauty, as if carved from light itself.

Yun Jin knelt beside him, his sharp senses honing in on the strange energy he had noticed before. That’s not qi, he thought. It’s mana... but it’s fluctuating wildly.

Focusing his qi sense, Yun Jin delved deeper. Within moments, he saw the truth—a phenomenon he had only read about in ancient texts. “A Divine Death Star,” he murmured under his breath.

It was an extremely rare and deadly condition, where one’s dantian was small but their energy veins were unnaturally large, allowing them to draw infinite energy from nature. However, the cost was their life—it would burn them out in a short time. This boy’s condition appeared to be a magical equivalent, with his mana circuits vastly outpacing his reserves.

The boy’s mana reserves were significantly smaller than his circuits, yet his body continuously pulled far more mana than it could handle. This imbalance had left him drained and on the brink of collapse.

Elder Harun spoke, his voice breaking the silence. “The boy tried to cast a spell—Summon Lesser Celestial. He meant to bring forth a guardian, but something went wrong. Still, it brought you here, hero from the heavens.”

Yun Jin scratched the back of his head, frustration flickering across his face. “Hero from the heavens, huh?” He glanced at the boy again. “I don’t have expertise with magic circuits, so I can’t help with that. But...”

Yun Jin trailed off, his gaze sharpening as he considered the boy’s fragile state. While repairing magic circuits was beyond him, he could at least stabilize the damage. Drawing upon his mastery of qi, Yun Jin synchronized his breathing with the boy’s, channeling a gentle flow of qi into his fragile body.

The qi pulsed in harmony with the boy’s erratic fluctuations, bolstering his vitality and easing the strain. Slowly, the boy’s breathing steadied, and a faint flush returned to his pale cheeks.

Moments later, the boy’s eyes fluttered open, revealing irises of a vibrant, piercing blue. He gasped for air, his gaze darting around the room in a panic. Then his eyes locked onto Yun Jin’s calm, serene face.

The panic melted into confusion, then something else entirely. A blush crept across the boy’s cheeks as he stared at Yun Jin, wide-eyed and speechless.

Yun Jin raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanging but inwardly bemused. “Feeling better?” he asked, his tone steady.

The boy stammered, his voice barely a whisper. “Y-you... saved me...”

“There, there, kid. You’re stable now, but you still need some fresh air to fully recover,” Yun Jin said, his tone calm but firm. He leaned forward and hoisted the boy onto his back with practiced ease.

“Hold on tight.” Without waiting for a response, Yun Jin leaped out of the church, his movement fluid and effortless, leaving the stunned villagers in awe.

--

The boy screamed in alarm as they soared through the air, his voice carrying across the village. “W-wait! What are you doing?! Put me down!”

Yun Jin landed gracefully in a clearing just outside the forest, the fresh breeze sweeping past them. He crouched slightly to let the boy down before standing upright and stretching.

“See? That wasn’t so bad,” Yun Jin said with a small grin. He turned to the boy, whose face was pale from the sudden leap. “Now, take a deep breath. Your vitality’s only been jump-started. You’ll need some time to refresh before you’re back to normal.”

The boy hesitated, then reluctantly inhaled the crisp air, his cheeks regaining a faint flush.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Good. While you’re at it, why not introduce yourself?” Yun Jin said, sitting cross-legged on a nearby rock. “My name is Yun Jin. Thanks to you, I’m here, apparently.”

The boy shifted awkwardly, clutching his staff tightly. “I’m Merlin. Merlin Junior,” he said, his voice soft. “I’m a level 25 mage.”

Yun Jin raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. “Level 25? That’s impressive. Your level’s five times higher than the goblin shaman I fought.”

He paused, his curiosity growing. “Wait... how do I even see my own level?”

As if responding to his thoughts, a glowing panel appeared before him, hovering in the air. Yun Jin’s sharp eyes scanned the text, his expression shifting as he took in the details.

--

Status Window

Name: Yun Jin

Level: 12

Title:

The First Forerunner (Rank EX)

The system’s chosen for a new world, granting a higher chance to encounter special events

Energy Systems:

Qi Realm: Core Qi Mastery (Rank C+)

Highly refined and condensed qi, supporting advanced martial techniques, external projection, and body reinforcement

Mana Circuit: Initialized (Rank E-)

A foundational mana circuit, enabling basic mana manipulation. Efficiency and reserves are limited

Affinities:

Light (Rank E-)

Basic attunement to the light element, enabling introductory light-based magical principles

Skills:

Weapon Mind (Rank B)

Establishes a connection with weapons, unlocking hidden potential and enhancing combat synergy

Aura Blade (Rank D-)

Combines qi and mana to enhance a weapon, increasing sharpness, durability, and energy output

Mana Manipulation (Rank E-)

Basic control of mana, supporting light-element techniques

Completion Points:

Remaining: 15

--

Yun Jin’s eyes widened slightly. “Level 12...” he muttered, his gaze flicking back to Merlin. “Wait a minute... your level’s even twice as high as mine!”

Merlin’s cheeks flushed, and he hugged his staff tightly, avoiding eye contact. “It’s because of my condition,” he said hesitantly. “That’s the only reason my level is so high... but in reality, I’m probably no better than level 3 at most.”

Yun Jin studied the boy for a moment, noting the way Merlin clutched his staff tightly and avoided his gaze. His lack of confidence was clear.

With a quiet exhale, Yun Jin gestured for Merlin to sit down. “Take a seat,” he said calmly, his tone gentle but firm.

Merlin hesitated before sinking onto the grass beside Yun Jin, still clutching his staff as though it were a lifeline.

“There’s too much blood in the village right now,” Yun Jin continued, glancing toward the distant lights of the village. “The smell lingers, and it’ll make it hard to breathe. Tonight, we’ll stay here. It’s quieter, and we’ve got a lot to talk about.”

He rose to his feet, his movements fluid and deliberate, and walked toward a nearby tree. In a swift motion, he cut a sturdy branch with a single strike of his sword. Returning to their makeshift camp, he snapped it into smaller pieces before gathering another branch.

Kneeling down, Yun Jin rubbed the sticks together with practiced ease. Sparks caught, and soon a small fire flickered to life, its warm glow illuminating the clearing.

Yun Jin leaned back slightly, resting his arms on his knees as he looked at Merlin. “Since you’re the one responsible for summoning me, I’m hoping you can fill in some details. What exactly happened?”

Merlin looked at the fire, his expression conflicted. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice soft. “I was trying to summon a Lesser Celestial Guardian,” he admitted, his hands tightening around his staff. “It was supposed to protect the village... but something went wrong.”

He glanced at Yun Jin nervously. “Instead, the spell brought you here.”

Yun Jin leaned back slightly, his gaze thoughtful. “I don’t know much about spells,” he admitted with a faint shrug. “Actually, I don’t know anything about them. Hell, I don’t even know what counts as a spell.”

He raised his hand, channeling mana through his circuit. A surge of energy built in his palm, and suddenly, a burst of blinding light flared into existence, as if a miniature sun had risen in the clearing. Merlin flinched, covering his eyes with a startled yelp.

“Is this a spell?” Yun Jin asked, tilting his head, oblivious to the boy’s reaction.

Merlin blinked rapidly, lowering his hand cautiously as his vision returned. “No, that’s not a spell!” he said, his tone incredulous. “That’s just channeled magical energy. But... it’s light energy.”

His eyes widened, a spark of amazement lighting up his expression. “Affinity for light magic is really rare. That’s incredible.”

Yun Jin closed his hand, extinguishing the overwhelming glow with ease. “Rare, huh? I guess that’s good.” He paused, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

Then, gripping the hilt of his sword, Yun Jin channeled his energy. The blade glowed faintly before a brilliant aura engulfed it, radiating light and energy like a blazing star.

“Is this a spell?” Yun Jin asked, holding the blade out for Merlin to inspect.

Merlin tilted his head, his gaze intense as he studied the weapon. “Yes...? It does feel and look like a spell, but there’s something more to it that I can’t quite place.” He stepped closer, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. “Hmm... the condensing aura within the blade acts like a conduit, radiating mana outward in a constant flow. It’s almost like... an organ of a magical beast. Fascinating.”

Yun Jin’s brow lifted in awe at the boy’s keen observation. “That’s correct. And more,” he said, impressed by Merlin’s perception. “You sure know a lot about spells.”

Merlin looked up, a small blush creeping across his face. “T-thank you...” he stammered, then hesitated.

Encouraged by the boy’s insight, Yun Jin sheathed his blade and folded his arms. “If you’re this knowledgeable, could you show me a spell? I want to see what more advanced magic looks like.”

“Actually, no,” Yun Jin said quickly, waving a hand. “Forget I said that. Better not risk it with your condition.”

Merlin frowned but then offered a small smile. “If it’s just a minor spell, I can manage.”

Before Yun Jin could protest further, Merlin raised his staff. He murmured a few quiet words, and a tiny spark of magic flared at its tip. Moments later, a small firefly-like construct of light hovered in the air, gently illuminating the clearing with a warm glow.

Yun Jin stared, captivated. His qi sense allowed him to feel the precise, intricate construct of the spell, each thread of mana woven together seamlessly. “So that’s a spell...” he muttered under his breath, awe evident in his tone.

--

Without thinking, Yun Jin extended his hand and focused. He tried to replicate what he had sensed, guiding his mana as he had seen Merlin do.

After several long moments of intense concentration, a glowing butterfly of light emerged, fluttering delicately in the air.

[You have learned: Minor Light Conjuring (Rank E-): Control and shape luminous small constructs.]

“This... is E- rank?” Yun Jin asked, more to himself than to Merlin. “The lowest level of magic?” He clenched his fist, dispelling the butterfly as his thoughts raced. If even a spell like this takes this much focus, I’ve got a long way to go to compete with this kid.

But as Yun Jin lost himself in thought, Merlin’s firefly flickered and disappeared. The boy’s face paled, and he began coughing violently, his small frame trembling under the strain.

“Hey, deep breaths!” Yun Jin said, immediately kneeling beside him. Placing a steady hand on Merlin’s back, he infused the boy with qi, guiding the energy to stabilize his weakened body.

The qi pulsed through Merlin’s veins, bolstering his vitality and bringing a flush of color back to his pale cheeks. Within moments, the coughing subsided, and Merlin’s breathing evened out.

Merlin looked up at Yun Jin, his wide blue eyes filled with wonder. “What... what did you just do?” he asked between breaths.

“It’s a basic breathing technique,” Yun Jin replied, his tone calm but encouraging. “It aligns your energy with your body’s rhythm and keeps you balanced. I can teach it to you if you want.”

Merlin’s eyes lit up with excitement, the previous weariness momentarily forgotten. “Really? Yes, please!”

Yun Jin held up a hand, halting the boy’s enthusiasm. He pointed a finger directly at Merlin’s nose, his expression steady but mischievous. “But in return, you have to teach me magic. Deal?”

Merlin blinked, then broke into a small smile. “Deal!”