The core

"You only escaped one out of three traps, Kevin Paragus..."

I felt my heart beat fast. Who is this guy? How did he know? Would I have to drop out of the academy now?

"Calm down boy, you're not gonna leave the academy. Remove your mask and get inside for some tea"

Those words seemed to calm me down and I followed him because I felt like whether I stayed or left the academy was in his hands.

Wait a minute!? Will he blackmail me?

Inside the house, I couldn't help but open my mouth at the sight. There were different artifacts and artworks hung on the cream wooden walls.

He led me to what looked like a living room. It was just a room with a short legged table on it. He motioned for me to sit and I sat crosslegged in front of the table. I removed my mask and for the first time in a long time I felt fresh air on my face.

My nostrils happily welcomed the fresh air because I had only been breathing through the mask's eye slits. The mask didn't have any other holes.

~BREATH IN~ ~AAAH~

As I sucked in air, the smell of green tea entered my nostrils and I opened my eyes to see the 'old' man holding a cup that steamed.

He dropped it on the table for me and sat accross me bringing out a bottle and chugging down what looked like alcohol.

After he was done, he wiped some drops of alcohol on his lips and spoke.

"Okay, let's start class"

"What? Now?"

"Yes. Oh by the way, I am Shi Feng, Principal of Grafit academy and martial arts teacher."

Wow. His personality is quite different from the rumors I heard. He's quite... the fun type?

~WACK!~

Okay, I take that back. He's crazy!

Out of nowhere he hit me on the head with his walking stick and it hurts!

"Hmm... You're tougher than I thought"

Did he forget I'm a five year old!

"What was that for!?"

"Come here"

"Yes sir"

"Call me master"

"Yes master"

I stood up and sat down closer to him and he spoke.

"Have you ever wondered where we get our mana from?"

"Of course- Wait a minute.... I haven't."

"Think about it. Draw out mana. Where do you feel it coming from?"

I did as he asked and drew out mana. Wait a minute, draw out? From where? I jumped drew it out... from where?

Those two words kept echoing in my mind and my eyes snapped open making me realize that I had closed them at some point. I was drenched in sweat.

'From where?'

Those words echoed again. I 'drew' put mana again but I couldn't think of it. I couldn't feel anything. It just came.

"Kevin, most of our history in this world is a lie" master said with a grim look on his face. "There are greater forces than we know of in this world, people we think are dead are secretly controlling us to do their bidding. Remolding us for something bad"

Uh?

"With research, I have finally found that source. The crystalization of mana in the body to form something unique. Something pure. Something refined. I have found it. I have named this crystalization of mana in the body... the core"

"There is also something else, something evil and mysterious. A seal placed on each and every human, angel in this forsaken world. The mana seal."

What is this old man saying? Has he gotten a few screws lose?

"It has locked everyone's potential!" He shouted. "Every being has the potential to use mana and they locked it! They sealed every human! every angel! everyone!"

~PANT~ ~PANT~

Ok, this is getting creepy.

"I'm sorry for my outburst. Let's get started"

"What?"

"I'm going to unseal your core"