The alarm rings. It's 6 a.m. Theodoro gets up, gets ready, without enthusiasm, to go to the doctor. It was a routine check-up, and the doctor had requested some additional tests, as he was suspicious of something.
Theodoro doesn't show much energy and looks at his test results, always downcast.
The secretary calls him, and he goes to the doctor's office. After analyzing the results, the doctor confirms what had been weighing on him. A brain tumor, already starting to reach an advanced stage.
He should undergo treatment, the doctor explained, but the chances were not high.
He agrees to the treatment, and thus begins his fight to survive.
His family was from the countryside, and only his sister could accompany him. His treatment was not going well, and he had to be hospitalized.
After a few weeks, he could no longer endure the treatments and had to go to the ICU. His thoughts were:
— What a miserable life. I did everything to be well and stable, and the moment I finally got a great job, this disgrace happens to me. I was a fool not to enjoy life.
He closes his eyes and enters a deep darkness. Then, suddenly, a light appears. He opens his eyes and hears:
— Zeno... Zeno, wake up. It's time to get up.
Theodoro looks around, startled, and then looks at himself. He realizes he is in a child's body. A woman inside a hut is with him and says:
— You must have had another nightmare. Later, we'll take you to the elder so he can pray for you.
A man enters the hut, kisses the woman, and then greets Theodoro:
— Did you sleep well, my son?
The man's name was Marduk, his father—a tall man with blonde hair and a short beard, appearing to be around 1.80m tall and about 40 years old. The woman's name was Semiramis, his mother—a woman with long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a medium height, reaching about 1.70m, appearing to be in her 30s.
At that moment, Theodoro understands that he is in another body. He leaves the hut and finds a tribe living in a settlement. He notices that everyone is blonde, but what impresses him the most is seeing water appearing from the outstretched hands of some people. Was this magic? He suspects he is in another dimension, like in some stories he had read in his former world.
— Come, Zeno! His mother calls him, holding his hand.
Theodoro observes everything around him. From the lack of advanced tools, he concludes that this place lacks technology, unlike the world he knew.
He spends the day with other children, not getting too involved, just observing. He looks at their hair, their tunics, their magic. But one thing feels familiar—the appearance of an ordinary human from his old world.
He understands the words people are saying and has memories of having been with them for some time. Gradually, his childhood memories as Zeno merge with those of Theodoro.
He is now 4 years old and knows who his people are. They are called the Nibiras, a nomadic people of the Epiria continent. They must live as nomads because the rulers of this land hunt and enslave them.
Zeno remembers people calling him the "Gift of God." Placing his hand on his hair, he murmurs:
— My hair is gray, different from theirs.
He moves away from the children to observe more and try to remember more about this place.
There were many huts in the settlement—he estimated there were over 1,000 people there. As he walked, trying to understand this new world better, he stopped to look at a large hut used as a dining hall for hunters and warriors, though it was empty at the moment. Behind the hut, a group of teenagers was having lessons.
The instructor said:
— Your generation will be the one to have a great opportunity to free us from the misfortune of wandering the land. Remember that our tribe has something no other tribe has had before—the ability to create a star. Therefore, strive and fight bravely for our people.
A student raised his hand and commented:
— Sir, is Zeno really that special? He hasn't even performed any Light Magic yet. I thought he would already have extraordinary abilities.
The instructor replied, — Everything in its time, Baltar. That is just a small detail in the journey of a Light Mage. His time will come.
— That's right. I must fight for my people. Zeno says, recalling the words of his parents and the others in the tribe. — But… will I be able to? he wonders.
Further ahead, Zeno finds an elderly woman with long blonde hair—not white, as was common for elderly people in his old world. She was drying cloths using wind from a circle with geometric symbols near her outstretched hands.
Zeno approaches her and asks:
— Hello, ma'am.
— Oh, if it isn't our dear Zeno. How can I help you?
— How do you use magic? I want to know so I can try, too.
— Well, this is the responsibility of the tutors, but since you're asking me, I'll only tell you this—we visualize the formula in our minds and say the magic's name to activate it.
Zeno then remembers his father trying to teach him some formulas and that he had already tried before. He thanks her:
— Oh, okay! Thank you. And says goodbye.
Returning to where the children were, Zeno saw some using wind magic. A small ball of wind formed in their hands. Those who hadn't yet learned magic watched in awe and asked how to do it. Some tried but couldn't. Zeno watched, thinking: My time will come, I'm sure of it.
Night was falling, and Zeno returned to his hut with his parents. His mother bathed him using magic as a form of purification before bedtime.
His father called Zeno and his wife for prayer and said:
— Son, I want you to know that I will always be here to give you strength. As an envoy of Eassed, you need to stay focused on defeating all disciples of Dev-rah.
— Disciples of Dev-rah… You mean the rulers, right? Zeno remembers his people's religion, which speaks of a god of light and a god of darkness—Eassed and Dev-rah.
— Yes. Over time, you will learn more important things, but you are still young, so focus on learning to use magic first, okay?
— Yes, I'll do my best.
Then, Marduk prays:
— Eassed, bearer of light and creator, dispel all darkness that plagues your creation, and may the people chosen by you, the Nibiras, never lose their light. May the arrival of your salvation be swift, the one who will redeem the pains caused by Dev-rah. Many pursue us, but we shall be blessed through your power. Dev-rah will no longer spread his darkness and destruction. We will exalt Eassed's victory and Dev-rah's fall.
After the prayer, Marduk pats Zeno on the shoulder and proudly says, — We believe in you, Zeno.
Days pass, and Zeno is still unable to use magic. People whisper about him, suspecting he might be a "vain person"—one born without mana, thus unable to perform magic.
— Maybe I can't visualize the spells properly? Or is it because I reincarnated that I lack the ability to use magic?
— It's too soon to give up. I'll keep trying. Maybe my memories of the old world are interfering—I need to align my mind with this universe.
Every day, Zeno watched people using magic, focusing on the magical circle that appeared before them. Since it was difficult to obtain parchment for Zeno to take notes, he repeatedly drew the symbols on the ground and tried to visualize them.
Mental visualization of magic was fundamental for it to be executed. Day after day, Zeno meditated, creating images of the symbols in his mind. But when it came time to execute, nothing happened. He concluded:
—Something is wrong. Maybe I'm using the wrong magic. If only I could read something about magic, it would be better.
After years of failure, Zeno was becoming old enough to take lessons like any other child in the tribe.
Finally, Zeno had reached the age to receive instruction from the tribe's tutors—he was now seven years old.
Just as his hair was mysterious, the fact that Zeno couldn't perform magic was something no one could understand. The occurrence of a Níbira being born as a "vain person"—someone without mana and, therefore, incapable of using magic—was extremely rare, even more so than for an Epírio.
One day, Zeno went to the hut of the tribal leader, Bell, an elderly man with long blond hair and beard who walked with a staff—an artifact symbolizing his position as the elder leader of the tribe. Zeno had learned that his parents had been summoned for a meeting. The leader's hut stood out among the others, a massive structure made of fine materials, from the wood to the fabric covering it. Inside were his parents, Elder Bell, and the most skilled magicians of the tribe.
Zeno stayed behind the hut, trying to avoid being discovered.
—Mardok, regarding your son, we have our doubts. It is rare for someone to reach the age of seven without performing magic. All the children of his age are already prepared for the lessons that will begin soon, but your son will not be able to participate if he has not yet awakened his magical power. I hope you understand, —said the tribal leader with regret.
—I know, and I will not force you to place Zeno in the class. But neither my wife nor I have given up on him. He must be special even in this regard; perhaps he should not be treated as just another child. I ask that, if it is within your grace, you place a little more faith in my son's abilities. I know Eassed did this for a purpose. Let us not give up, —Mardok firmly defended his son.
—Very well! We will do what we can, but we will not dwell too long on this matter. There are other things to be done, and we cannot waste time. So, do not raise too many hopes. If we must wait, then let us hope your son awakens his powers soon.
—Thank you for your consideration, —Mardok said with some relief as he thanked Bell.
After hearing part of the conversation, Zeno returned to his hut, knelt, and prayed to Eassed, asking him to meet the expectations of his tribe and grant him the power to face his enemies.
At the beginning of the lessons, Zeno would receive additional training to help him perform magic.
His mother reassured him:
—Son, I know it has been difficult for you to deal with people's comments about the fact that you still cannot use magic, but I am praying for Eassed to bless you. I believe that, in the end, everything will turn out fine.
—Mother, don't worry. I will work hard, and I will manage to use magic. If I train enough, it will happen. I will try every possible method before giving up.
Zeno's lessons began, and he was prepared to endure the comments from his classmates—even the instructor's skepticism—but none of that would distract him from his goal of performing magic. Zeno went to class with determination.