The rhythm of their days shifted dramatically. The quiet hum of the Haven, once punctuated by the chatter of customers, was now replaced by the rhythmic thud of Adrian's feet hitting the worn wooden floor as he practiced the basic flow exercises Morris had taught him. Sunlight, filtering through the dusty windows, illuminated the determined set of his young face. Even though Uncle says the basic seal isn't the end, a small part of me still feels… less. I have to work harder. Much harder.
Every morning, before the sun fully crested the horizon, Morris would rouse Adrian. Their training began not with mystical gestures or channeling energy, but with rigorous physical conditioning. Laps around the small clearing behind their home became a daily routine, Adrian's breath coming in ragged gasps as he pushed his small legs to keep pace with Morris's steady stride. My legs ache, but I can't stop. Uncle is counting on me. I need to be strong.
After running, Morris introduced Adrian to simple weight training, using heavy stones he'd carefully selected. Adrian would strain, his muscles trembling, to lift and lower the stones, his silver eyes fixed with unwavering focus on Morris's instructions. "Endurance, Adrian," Morris would say, his voice firm but encouraging. "You must build a strong foundation. Your body is the vessel for your zin energy." My energy feels… big. Uncle said so. Maybe if I can control it well enough, the 'basic' part won't matter so much.
Alongside physical strength and stamina, Morris emphasized the importance of mental discipline. He would have Adrian hold difficult poses for extended periods, demanding unwavering concentration. "Focus your mind, Adrian," Morris would instruct, his gaze intense. "Control your thoughts as you control your breath. The awakening of your first seal requires not just energy, but a will that will not waver." Sometimes my mind wanders back to that misty space, that white sphere. It felt so… plain. I hope unlocking the seal feels like more.
One particularly sweltering afternoon, as Adrian diligently practiced his flow exercises in the relative coolness of their home, the familiar quiet of the Haven was broken by a voice from beyond the locked doors.
"Morris? Morris, it's me, Zidan."
Morris, who had been meticulously cleaning the dust-laden shelves of the tavern, his brow furrowed in thought, froze. Chief Zidan? What could bring him here? It was highly unusual for the chief to visit the Haven, especially with the doors barred. A sense of unease mixed with curiosity washed over him.
He hurried to the heavy wooden door and pulled it open, the hinges groaning in protest. Chief Zidan stood on the threshold, a warm, if slightly expectant, smile on his elderly face.
"Zidan! What brings you all the way here?" Morris asked, a note of surprise in his voice.
"Just checking in on an old friend," Zidan replied, his gaze flicking towards the interior of the Haven, as if hoping to catch a glimpse of Adrian. "And, of course," he added, his smile widening, "I'm rather eager to hear how Adrian's seal awakening went. You know how curious I am to see what kind of Seal type the boy possesses."
Morris's smile faltered slightly. His gaze flickered downwards for a brief moment, a shadow crossing his features. He hadn't anticipated such immediate and enthusiastic interest from the chief. Zidan's high expectations, based on Adrian's quick entry into his Seal Space, now felt like an added weight to the reality of Adrian's basic seal.
Morris offered a polite, if somewhat strained, smile. "Of course, Chief. Please, come in and make yourself comfortable." He stepped aside, allowing Zidan to enter the quiet of the Haven. The dim light within contrasted with the bright afternoon sun outside.
Zidan stepped inside, his eyes immediately drawn to a corner of the common room where Adrian, oblivious to their conversation, continued his flow exercises. The boy moved with a surprising degree of focus for his age, a faint sheen of sweat on his brow. Morris quickly finished wiping down a section of the bar, his movements more deliberate than usual, before turning his attention back to the chief.
He found Zidan standing near where Adrian was training, his elderly eyes alight with an almost childlike excitement. A wide smile stretched across his face as he watched Adrian's earnest efforts. Morris approached him cautiously.
"Zidan," Morris began, his voice hushed, unsure how to broach the topic of Adrian's seal.
Before Morris could continue, Chief Zidan gently placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip surprisingly firm. "Morris," he said, his voice carrying a note of knowing that made Morris pause. "I know what you were about to say."
Morris's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise in their depths. He hadn't expected Zidan to be so perceptive. He focused his attention on the chief, waiting for him to elaborate.
Zidan's gaze remained fixed on Adrian for a moment longer, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You may think that having a basic seal is a curse, a significant disadvantage. But I believe Adrian's case is… different."
Morris's confusion deepened. He watched Adrian, trying to see what Zidan saw.
"Look at him, Morris," Zidan continued, turning his gaze back to his old friend. "The amount of Zin energy the boy possesses is remarkable. It's abundant, truly abundant, rivaling that of many powerful Seal Users within the Heaven's Boundary. Normally, yes, every basic seal user we've encountered has had a meager reserve of Zin energy. But look at Adrian! I'd wager his current capacity is double, perhaps even triple, what a typical basic seal user holds."
Zidan's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "I have a strong feeling, Morris, that with such an unusual foundation, Adrian can pull off something… extraordinary. And yes," he emphasized, his gaze softening slightly, "in the end, it will be his hard work and dedication that will truly make him stand out and grow stronger."
Morris's gaze softened as he looked at Adrian, a renewed sense of hope stirring within him. He turned back to Zidan, a small smile touching his lips. "Maybe… maybe you're right. Perhaps he can pull it off. He is my nephew, after all."
Zidan chuckled, a hearty sound that filled the quiet room. "Hah! There's the old Morris I know. I was beginning to wonder where that unwavering confidence had gone. Aging surely does funny things to people, doesn't it?"
After several more minutes of focused practice, Adrian finally completed his current set of flow exercises. He stood, catching his breath, his silver eyes blinking away the sweat. He noticed Chief Zidan standing a short distance away, watching him with an unreadable expression.
"You are...?" Adrian asked, tilting his head slightly, a polite curiosity in his voice. Uncle seemed a little down after my awakening. I wonder if Chief Zidan will be disappointed too.
Morris stepped forward. "Adrian, this is Chief Zidan. The city chief I've told you about."
Understanding dawned on Adrian's face. "Ah! Sorry for not recognizing you, Chief Zidan. Uncle Morris has said a lot about you."
Zidan chuckled softly. "Is that so? I certainly hope he only shared the flattering stories." He then turned his attention fully to Adrian, a warm smile returning to his lips. "And you must be the young Adrian. My sudden visit, yes, it is indeed related to your seal awakening."
Adrian tilted his head slightly. "Is it? What about it, Chief?"
Zidan gently patted Adrian's hair. "I was quite eager to hear about your seal type and how the awakening process went. And I must say, young man, your case seems to be one of the most unusual I have witnessed in my life."
Adrian looked up at the chief, a hint of confusion in his silver eyes. "Unusual?" he echoed, not quite understanding the implication. Unusual good? Or unusual bad?
Zidan nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "Yes, quite unusual. I will explain it to you, Adrian, but before that, allow me to have a private word with your Uncle Morris." He gestured slightly towards Morris, his smile fading into a more serious expression.
Zidan turned to Morris, his previous warm demeanor shifting to a more serious, almost probing expression. "Morris," he began, his voice lower now, "what exactly are you doing? Why hasn't Adrian unlocked his first seal yet?"
Morris blinked, taken aback by the directness of the question. "What do you mean, Chief? We've only just begun his training. It usually takes weeks, sometimes months, for a novice to awaken their first seal."
Zidan sighed, a hint of impatience in his tone. "No, Morris, it's not that. Adrian is already capable enough to unlock his first seal. I realized it the moment I patted his hair and briefly looked into his seal space. The Zin energy contained within him is stable enough."
Morris frowned, his confusion evident. "You can see that just by touching his hair?"
Zidan nodded. "A practiced eye, Morris. A practiced eye. When I touched him, I could sense the flow of his Zin energy. The white sphere's energy, the basic seal's core, was flowing with a stability it didn't have when you first described it. A stable Zin energy flow is a clear sign that the first seal is ready to be awakened."
Morris's eyes widened in disbelief. "It can't be. It's only been a week. He must have put in an incredible amount of effort."
Zidan's eyes shone with a mixture of excitement and concern. "Your nephew has potential, Morris, despite being a basic seal user. With his hard work, he might even achieve things that others with more 'gifted' seals couldn't. It's a shame he won't be joining an Academy. Lately, none of the top academies readily accept basic seal users. However," Zidan paused, a thoughtful look on his face, "I do know some instructors within the academies. Perhaps I could try to secure a seat for Adrian with a letter of recommendation."
Morris's expression turned somber. "Zidan, I appreciate your concern for Adrian, and the thought of him attending an academy is… sudden. It's not a bad idea in principle, but I worry about him, being targeted by his classmates simply for having a basic seal. They might see him as easy prey, a rabbit amongst wolves. I don't want him to suffer that kind of prejudice."
Zidan's expression softened, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Hmm, you're right, Morris. I hadn't fully considered the social dynamics. Forgive me for not thinking it through more deeply."
Morris offered a small, reassuring smile. "There's no need for apologies, Zidan. Your intentions were purely to help Adrian."
Zidan then tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Wait… I might know someone else who could teach Adrian. Someone who could potentially be his mentor. From what I've heard, he doesn't currently have a disciple, and I'm not entirely sure if he'll take Adrian on. He's… quite eccentric, a bit of a freak, perhaps, but undeniably trustworthy and possesses a vast knowledge of Seal Users. Maybe he can help Adrian with his unusual case."
Morris raised an eyebrow, a familiar weariness creeping into his voice. "Ah, here we go again, Zidan. Always with the unconventional solutions. But alright, who is this… freak?"
Zidan spelled out the name carefully. "Yohan Rosen. He's around thirty years old, I believe, but incredibly talented in his own way. He's deeply involved in various experiments and has accumulated a significant understanding of Seals, particularly the more… unorthodox aspects. He might be the key to navigating Adrian's unique situation."
Morris sighed. "Give me some time to think about it, Zidan."
"Of course, but don't take too long, Morris. The sooner Adrian has proper guidance, the better. And I really must be going. I have a meeting this evening. Tell Adrian I said goodbye and to keep training hard."
"Alright then, Zidan. See you again, Chief," Morris replied.
Zidan nodded and headed towards the door. Morris watched him leave, then turned to Adrian. "The Chief has gone, lad."
Adrian looked up, a question in his silver eyes. "Why did he leave so suddenly, Uncle?"
"He had a meeting to attend," Morris replied, his mind already racing with the implications of Zidan's words and the potential of this Yohan Rosen. He then looked at Adrian, a new resolve hardening his gaze. "Adrian," he said, his voice firm, "tomorrow, we are going to unlock your first seal."
A flicker of both nervous anticipation and a thrill of excitement crossed Adrian's silver eyes at the news. Tomorrow… finally. Maybe then I'll really understand what it means to be a Seal User. Maybe then I won't just feel like… potential, but something more. A mix of emotions swirling within him as the reality of finally taking that next step sunk in.