Void space

Master said, "Are you ready to go to the city tomorrow as I told you?"

I replied, "Yeah, I'm ready now."

Master raised one of his hands and drew a large circle in the thin air, the size of his height, using his source and mana. As he completed the circle, the surrounding air grew warm. Surprised by the sudden warmth, I watched as the circle began to glow, flaring white with red sparkles.

I asked the master, "What are those red sparkles in the milky-white glow?"

He answered, "The red objects are sources. We use sources to coordinate the location we want to go to."

I then asked, "What about the transportation gates on the continent? Do the magicians who build transportation gates also know how to use sources?"

Master gently placed his hand on my head and replied, "Brat, didn't I tell you humans don't use sources? It's pure mana that's used in artifacts. They imbue mana into two artifacts to create a single transportation gate—one at the starting position and another where they want to transport. After placing the artifacts in their respective locations, they activate them, and Tada! the transportation gate is ready."

He chuckled softly before continuing, "It's a long process to create one, and only mages of the translucent stage can make it. It also takes a lot of time."

He then ruffled my hair a little before withdrawing his hand.

We entered the transportation gate, and with a single step, we were outside the forest.

Master said, "The city is just a mile away from here."

Turning around, I saw the forest behind me and a rising sun in front of me, giving off warmth.

We started moving forward, and after some time, we arrived at the city. I hadn't seen humans for three months. The city was bustling with a crowd.

Master took me to a shop to find clothes suitable for training.

He stopped in front of a shop that looked like a weapon shop. 'Why did he stop at a shop that looks like a weapon shop from the outside?'

As we entered, a woman greeted us with a soft voice. Without paying her any attention, Master led me to the counter. There, a woman with brown hair and coffee-colored eyes smiled at the master and said, "Oh! Long time no see, Agius. How have you been?"

He replied in a flat tone, "I'm fine."

Suddenly, she turned toward me and said in a playful voice, "Look what we have here. Looks like you've finally accepted one of the proposals."

Master replied, slightly irritated, "I never accepted any proposal. He is just my apprentice."

She laughed and said, "Oh! Sorry, after seeing him, as handsome as you, I thought he was your son. You two look good together. Now, tell me why you've come to this mixed cloth and weapon shop."

Master answered, "I need two sets of clothes for him and a wooden sword."

She called over one of the workers to take me upstairs to find the clothes while they continued talking. After some time, I chose both sets of clothes and returned downstairs. In the meantime, Master had also selected a wooden sword for me without wasting time.

After buying the clothes and sword, we headed to a restaurant to eat something. Finally, after such a long time, I was going to eat something good, not just beast meat.

After eating, we headed back to the forest to return to the center. Once again, Master drew a circle in the air with his hand, and a portal formed. We stepped through it and were back in the forest. Master went off to do his own practice, and I headed to my room to rest.

There, I saw the egg of the supreme being. It had fallen, and a small crack had appeared on its surface. I quickly ran over, picked it up, and worried about the crack.

As I entered my room, another crack appeared on the egg, and after a short time, a small, dark black limb emerged from the shell. Could this limb belong to the supreme being?

"kee"

"kee"

Then the egg split in half, and a small creature emerged. It had four limbs and looked like a small feline, with two tiny wings on its back. It also had scales like a dragon. It was about twice the size of my palm.

It was adorable.

I quickly ran toward my master, holding the creature in my hand. The little beast was glaring and making sounds.

"kee"

I couldn't understand what it was saying. When Master saw the creature in my hand, he asked, "Did the egg crack?"

I replied, "Yes, as I entered the room, the egg started cracking, and this little beast came out. It's making some noises."

He looked at it and said, "It's a female. Black Cyteris are female, and white ones are male. Now, place your hand on its head and imbue a little mana."

As I did, a mark appeared on my right wrist. The symbol resembled the beast.

Master said, "She accepts you as her familiar. Now, you can understand her voice."As I looked at the beast, a voice entered my mind."kee" 'Papa'

I was shocked and said, "Hey, I'm not your papa or anything, okay?"Master laughed and asked, "You little brat, did she just call you what I think she did?"

I nodded and replied, "Yeah, I don't know why she's calling me Papa."

"kee" 'Papa'

I said, "Stop calling me that."

Master spoke softly, "Kid, become her guardian. She is the last one remaining, as far as I know. She's alone, you know. Accept her as your daughter, and help her grow well."

When Master mentioned that she was alone, memories of my own loneliness flashed in my mind, just like hers. I smirked slightly and agreed to Master's words.

Master continued, "She can also take a human form when she grows enough."

I looked at the little creature and said, "Your name will be Aurora. How does that sound?"

"kee"

Master added, "Prepare yourself. Your training will resume tomorrow."