Chapter 1: The Dreamer

Eleven-year-old Kael lay on the floor in an alley, staring at the scraps of metal he'd used to erect a shelter around himself. He lived in the slums of Lumeria's capital city, where the murky air reeked of hopelessness and desperation. Yet, in his dreams, he soared through skyscrapers and flew across oceans.

"What the hell was that?" Kael thought to himself, his mind racing. "Why do I remember a life that's not mine? No that was definitely a dream but why did feel so real?"

Last night's dream had been different. Vivid. Real. He'd woken up with a start, his heart racing, as memories of that life flooded his mind. A life where he'd ridden cars and not carriages, well not that he'd ever had the luxury of using one in the life. He had used strange devices called phones, and eaten food from packets.

Kael's mind reeled as he tried to make sense of it all. "Am I going crazy? Did the priest's stories of the gods playing tricks on mortals come true?"

He tossed off his tattered blanket and swung his legs over the side of the cot, his bare feet dangling in the air. The church bells tolled in the distance, signaling the start of another day. Time to face the harsh realities of his life in Lumeria.

"I need to focus on survival, not dreams," Kael told himself, standing up and beginning his daily routine which just involves packing up the scraps of metal and hiding them in a corner.

As Kael walked through the winding streets, the church's towering spires came into view, their intricate stone carvings seeming to shimmer in the morning light. He pushed open the heavy wooden doors, and a warm, golden glow enveloped him. The air inside was thick with the scent of incense and old parchment.

Father Arin, a wise-eyed priest with a long white beard, greeted Kael with a gentle smile. "Ah, young one, welcome back. The chores await, but first, a blessing." He traced a symbol in the air, and a soft, ethereal light danced across Kael's forehead.

Kael felt a strange tingling sensation, as if the light had awakened a hidden part of him. He shrugged it off, focusing on the tasks at hand. Together, they tended to the sacred gardens, where rare, glowing plants seemed to hum with an otherworldly energy. The sound of soft chanting and the soft clinking of tiny, crystal-like objects filled the air.

As they worked, Kael noticed that his movements seemed almost... graceful, as if his body was responding to some unseen rhythm. His senses felt heightened, and he could swear he saw faint, shimmering threads connecting every living thing in the garden.

Father Arin noticed his wonder and nodded knowingly. "This entire church is blessed by the grace of our goddess, Lumeria. It's why the magi can be felt even by a cripple like you"

Kael frowned at this but he couldn't refute what the priest had said. Magi was the energy source with which the entire continent of Lumeria ran, even beyond.

When a child reaches the age of 10 in Lumeria, they typically awaken their senses to be able to sense the magi in their surroundings and those who weren't able to, were labeled 'cripple' no different from having a major disability.

This was why Kael could only rely on the church for his daily survival, for no one else had use for a child who couldn't use magi.

Kael couldn't help but smile at himself. 'According to my knowledge of earth, isn't this totally a fantasy world?'

"Magi, huh? It's like... have you ever heard of 'magic'? No, of course not. But seriously, it feels like a total ripoff. 'Oh, we have this special energy that makes things happen!' I mean, come on, Author, get some originality!"

Father Arin raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "Ah, Kael, you amuse me. But remember, the magi is a sacred force, not some fictional concept."

Kael shrugged, grinning. "Hey, just saying. It feels like someone's been reading too many fantasy novels..."

"You seem to be in a spectacular mood today, young Kael"

Both Kael and the priest turned their heads to the source of the voice, Kael's jaw dropping open in shock.

'Holy shit'