A new rival

What is magic? A desire? A dream? Or maybe an illusion? Sirius had read many versions of stories about that fantastic power back on Earth, but it was undoubtedly a natural phenomenon in this place. He could feel that invisible energy from the very first time he arrived here, even detecting its existence in the air, in the water, in the ground. 

"I know what you are thinking, but it doesn't exist everywhere, and the energy isn't inexhaustible either. You probably shouldn't have noticed yet since you haven't left the village, but when you enter someday inside the forest, you might feel that it starts to thin out. It is also possible to consume the entire magic of an area, though it should refill again soon. Although finding a place with no magic at all is rare, places where that energy is scarce still exist, so you should be careful and not depend on it wholeheartedly." The Great Shaman lectured the boy with a stern voice. He honestly didn't want Sirius to learn magic yet since he was still weak and skinny. Having caught him, though, one day trying to tame that chaotic power recklessly, he decided it might have been safer for him to have some basic knowledge than leaving him in the darkness with the possibility of trying again because of his ignorance. 

"How can I use it? Is it difficult?" The boy could hardly contain his excitement. It had been almost a year since the day he had arrived in this world, but the Great Shaman would refuse to teach him no matter how many times he had asked. 

"Let me ask you something first," the man cleared his throat while his gaze became sharper, forcing the boy to straight his back nervously. 

"Why are you trying to learn about magic so desperately?" 

Sirius hesitated to answer. It wasn't because of pure curiosity for a newfound toy he had just discovered, nor because of excitement for the possibility of using a miracle power that had been only a product of imagination until now. Every day in his old world had been a struggle for him to survive; the frosty reality wouldn't give him leeway to indulge in fantastical stories and fairy tales. He wouldn't even have known what they were if his mother hadn't forced him to read about them. What he truly needed was that power's potential might. The confidence to crush the walls of desperation that his inextricable future had created and finally find hope for happiness and peace.  

"I... I want to become strong!" Sirius shouted while staring at the man with determination.

In the boy's black eyes, the Great Shaman could discern his fiery resolution, his desire to obtain something he didn't have. These eyes were vastly different than the dead ones he had met one year ago. He couldn't help than recall all these times the boy would try to eat only to throw up all the food he had just digested, how difficult it had been for him to regain his health slowly back. However, his cheeks had become now rosy; his black hair had obtained brightness. Step by step, the boy had recovered not only physically but also mentally. 

"But you know, Astar, although you have become healthier, you are still as thin as a scarecrow. Before thinking of trying something unknown, shouldn't you have trained your body a little first? You have the right to seek additional power only after you have attempted everything you could to enhance your strength on your own." 

"You are kidding. This body is not enough. I need something greater," Sirius muttered as his head turned to his fragile hands that seemed like they were about to break by the first strong breeze that would hit them. 

"I don't like the way of your thinking. At this point, your body will collapse in your first attempt to use magic. You were so weak before that you couldn't even breathe when you came in contact with that power unconsciously when you arrived here. Alright, let's do it that way! From tomorrow onwards, you'll go every morning to the Chief's house. I'll ask him to train you personally. When I judge that you are ready, then we can talk about using magic."

"But..."

"End of the conversation. Go out now. I want some silence to cook for lunch." 

Sirius lowered his head dejectedly as he proceeded to exit the hut. Before leaving, though, he seemed to remember something as he turned to look at the Great Shaman again. 

"I have been telling you day after day! My name is not Astar! It's Sirius!

...

...

"Isn't it a good thing then? You'll finally start becoming a man," Nerida commented with a mocking smile as she continued striking the air with her sword. The two of them were sitting on a slope a little outside of the village, a place Nerida often used when she wanted to train with silence. 

"No, it will take too much time becoming strong this way. Please help me, Nerida. How can I persuade that stubborn geezer to teach me finally?" 

"I don't understand your rush. My father has always been telling me that there are no shortcuts in training. I also think that you have bigger problems to worry about now." 

"Problems?" 

Before she even had the chance to answer, the sound of steps sounded suddenly, interfering with their conversation. The two of them looked at the children's group, the three boys and two girls that were approaching them slowly. 

"See, Ajamu? I told you these two would be flirting somewhere around here," one of the girls said with a giggle.  

"Ha! He is a man that is hiding behind a woman! I wonder how he has the face to walk around without shame." A boy that had almost the same characteristics as the girl that spoke previously also commented. 

"Drayce, Melly, are you that desperate to die?" Nerida's icy glare, however, made them instantly regret their words. 

Seeing Sirius and Nerida in front of him together, Ajamu could hardly contain his anger. Taking a deep breath to calm down, he started to speak softly. 

"Don't forget your position, Nerida. Not only is my destiny greater than yours, but I am also the one who'll become your man one day. Do you think I'll let you continue to humiliate me like that?" 

"What I do is my business. As long as you can't win me in a fight, you don't have the right to order me around," the girl replied with a nonchalant voice as if she didn't care at all about his words. 

"You..." Ajamu gritted his teeth, his eyes becoming red, before turning his attention to Sirius. 

"You bastard! It's your fault. If you have the guts, then fight me! I'll give you the chance to regain your honor." 

By this time, Sirius had also started to become annoyed. He was used to be the recipient of feelings like hatred or anger but being mistreated for something useless like honor? More so, he hadn't done anything purposefully to insult the opposite party. 

"If you wish to fight someone..."

"Alright, as you wish."

Nerida was dumbfounded when she heard the boy beside her. She was about to protect him, but he decisively interjected, stating his will to accept the challenge. Although witnessing his courage changed somewhat her opinion for him, agreeing to watch her friend being beaten without a chance of winning was another matter altogether. 

"Listen, idiot! As you are now, there is no way for you to defeat..."

"If I say I'll fight, then I'll fight," Sirius interjected her again before glaring at Ajamu, his eyes resembling these of a beast. 

"Forget it. This was how you should have reacted since then... Take care," Nerida muttered with a sigh as she took a few steps backward. 

The two boys stared at each other in silence for a few seconds as if they were trying to estimate each other's strength. 

"I like your face somewhat better now," Ajamu said as he threw his sword on the ground.

"You look down on me too much."

"Am I? We'll see about that. Come, I'll let you attack first." 

Sirius began to run, charging towards Ajamu and trying to throw him a punch. However, before he had the chance to touch his opponent's face, a hand grabbed his fist, neutralizing his punch's force. A small mocking smile appeared on Ajamu's face, but as he was about to strike back, he suddenly felt his feet hovering before being thrown on the ground. This move caught off guard not only Ajamu but also the surrounding spectators. The boy didn't stop there, though. He rushed towards his fallen enemy in a try to finish him off. Unfortunately for Sirius, however, Ajamu awakened quickly from his shock. Putting strength in his hands and pushing the ground, he took advantage of the force to hit Sirius's chest with a flying kick. The impact was so strong that it made the boy fly backward for at least two meters before landing down. Sirius didn't have the time to process how a supernatural phenomenon like that was possible, as he could hardly breathe, coughing unstoppably. Ajamu, though, didn't plan on showing mercy. He began approaching him with a cruel smile.  

"You are better than I expected, but that is all. The difference in our power isn't something that you can cover with technique," the boy said as he kicked Sirius in the stomach, sending him again a few meters away. 

At this point, Sirius's face was covered with blood, while the pain of the several broken bones he felt was intolerable. 

"That's enough. Are you trying to kill him?" Nerida, who couldn't endure it anymore, started running towards Sirius while glaring at Ajamu, ready to attack him if it was necessary. 

"It's not my fault that he is too weak, not even being able to take a single kick from me," Ajamu humphed before turning around as if he had finished with his business. He couldn't take it further, not only because he was afraid of Nerida's retaliation but also because it was a crime to murder someone from the same tribe. Although his opponent came from a foreign land, the boy had already become one of them when the Great Shaman adopted him. Seeing, though, such a weak person being a member of his tribe made Ajamu truly feel irritated. 

At least, he isn't a coward, he thought as he looked back at the boy. His face had become pale, carrying a pained expression, but his eyes hadn't lost the will to fight as they kept staring at Ajamu. 

...

...

"Are you feeling better?" Nerida asked with a smile at the fallen boy whose expression had started to soften. Her face was calm, but Sirius could discern small drops of sweat on her temple. 

"Is this healing magic?" Sirius asked with some difficulty, having witnessed the bright light again. 

"You are lucky, you know it? Not only because you are with me, one of the few in the tribe that can use it, but also because your injuries were less severe than I thought. It seems that Ajamu held back." 

"That was him holding back?" Sirius asked, not being able to believe it. 

"Haha, we are dragons. what did you expect?" Nerida burst out laughing upon seeing his reaction. 

"I am proud of you, though. I didn't expect you even to touch him, much less throwing him to the ground." 

"But he is too strong. Maybe I should hide until I can give a better fight?" The boy joked, but his smile disappeared upon hearing his friend's reply. 

"Now that you reminded me, do you remember when I told you that had bigger problems to worry about? Ajamu is the Chief's second son, so you'll probably meet him regularly from tomorrow onwards."