Melee Mage

The howling northern wind, mixed with swirling snowflakes, ravaged the wilderness of this northern land, merging the heavens and earth into one. No boundary could be found as bare trees screamed in the harsh wind, resembling a girl facing . The once bustling alleyways now appeared desolate and forsaken. Pedestrians were scarce, and when someone did pass by, they were fully armed, covered from head to toe, with only two dark, hollow eyes exposed. Like mysterious masked assassins, the contrast between their bulky padded coats and their agile killer instincts was evident. The winter in the north made people feel especially bleak, as if all living creatures were in hibernation. The days where water drops froze turned people's thoughts sluggish. If there was nothing necessary to do, most people would stay at home, rarely venturing outside, becoming even lazier. Inside a low thatched cottage, Adrian sat quietly on a wooden bed, deftly flipping his hands. A thin stream of water, as thick as a thumb, continuously shuttled between his hands. This was his only toy and his closest companion. Cough, cough... A few suppressed coughs resounded from the neighboring room. Although they were clearly stifled, Adrian's keen ears didn't miss them. With a slight movement of his hands, the long stream of water, like a miracle, retracted swiftly between Adrian's palms, disappearing without a trace. Gracefully jumping off the wooden bed, Adrian quickly walked out of the room and poured a cup of hot water from the iron kettle on the stove. He carefully held it and headed towards the neighboring room... Inside the room, a weak woman leaned powerlessly against the pillow, her right hand pressed against her tender chest. Her brows were tightly furrowed, and her face was filled with an expression of pain. However, in the instant when Adrian pushed open the door, all of this quickly dissipated. The pain on her face vanished in an instant, and her expression and posture were as if waking from a peaceful sleep. Walking gently to the bedside, Adrian asked, "Mom... Are you feeling better? Should we call a doctor? These past few days, it seems like your cough has gotten worse." The woman tenderly reached out her right hand, gently caressing her son's dark hair, and lovingly replied, "No need, it's alright, Mom will be fine in a few days." Furrowing his brow, Adrian looked at his mother with doubt. He pressed his left hand against the cup, testing its temperature, and then brought the cup closer to the woman's face. "Drink some water, Mom. After you finish drinking, I want to hear you tell me Dad's story again." Gratefully accepting the cup, the woman took a gentle sip, moistening her throat, and smiled. "You want to hear Dad's story, huh? No problem... But you have to show Mom how well you've practiced your abilities. If you've practiced well, Mom will tell you." Adrian's eyes sparkled with excitement. With both hands outstretched to the sides, his body began to rotate, and a wrist-thick stream of water, nearly ten meters long, quickly appeared around Adrian's body, miraculously swirling around him. The woman nodded and looked at her beloved son expectantly. "Alright, you can start performing now. Let Mom see what level of control you have achieved with the water flow!" Nodding in response, Adrian's hands gracefully danced as he confidently controlled the water flow around his body, which extended nearly ten meters. It moved like a circus act. Adrian had absolute confidence in controlling water flow. Ever since his fifth birthday when his mother taught him this game, he had been practicing every day. And now, after three whole years, the water flow and he had become one, obeying his every command. After a while, Adrian brought his hands together, and the long, pale blue water flow retracted into his palms, disappearing without a trace. Proudly looking at his mother, Adrian firmly declared, "Don't worry, Mom. Adrian will definitely become the greatest warrior, just like Dad!" Hearing her son's words, the woman nodded with a bitter smile. A warrior? Could a water manipulator truly become a powerful warrior? Apologetically gazing at her son, the woman knew that he was more suited to become a mage as a water manipulator. It would be difficult to achieve success aiming to be a warrior. Feeble water flow could not harm an enemy, not even when solidified into ice. It was impossible to contend with a fire-controlling warrior. Approaching the bed, Adrian took off his shoes and climbed onto his mother's bed, snuggling in her fragrant and warm embrace, and coquettishly said, "Alright, Mom, now... Can you tell me Dad's story?" Sighing inwardly, the woman knew that her son's desire to become a warrior stemmed from her frequent storytelling about his father. The child's father was indeed a mighty fire-element warrior, but unfortunately... the child inherited abilities not from his father but from his mother—an ability to control water. Looking at her son nestled in her embrace, the woman tightened her arms, holding him even more securely. She began to tell a melodious and enchanting story. As the residual light of the sunset softly poured in from the window, the story had come to an end. Adrian gazed dreamily at the dimly lit window and murmured, "Mom... Why hasn't Dad come back yet? When will he return? I want to see him!" The son's words made the woman's nose tingle, and she almost shed tears. As the strongest warrior in the vicinity, on the sixth day of their marriage, the father of her child left with his companions. It has been nine years since then, and he doesn't even know that he has a son. The son is already eight years old. Perhaps... not only the son, but even this wife has been forgotten! The woman held her son even tighter. Now... they only have each other for support, but the son is already eight years old and it's time for him to go to school. The woman's face became serious. She lowered her head and looked at her son in her arms, furrowing her brow with worry. In a few days, it would be the time for academy admissions. Although she didn't want her son to leave her side, she couldn't be selfish and keep him with her for the sake of his future. But that's not the biggest problem. The most difficult part for her is that her son, as a water controller, is determined to become the strongest warrior. Setting aside whether this choice is good or not, the academy definitely won't accept it! The woman tentatively looked at her son and said, "Adrian, listen to Mom. Isn't it better to not become a warrior? Let's become noble mages instead. You should know that there are many beautiful girls among water mages. In the future, you won't be alone anymore!" "No! I don't want to!" Upon hearing his mother's words, Adrian decisively shook his head and said firmly, "Adrian has already made up his mind. Adrian wants to become the strongest warrior on the continent. I absolutely don't want to be a mage. Only little girls become mages." You! Hearing her son's words, the woman couldn't help but furrow her brow in anxiety. A water controller wanting to become a warrior? The academy would never accept that. Even though children who are eight years old have a chance to enter the academy, the standards for admission are extremely strict. Within the population of millions, there are only a hundred spots available each year. Looking at her son in distress, the woman knew that in the thousands of years before this, no water controller had ever become a powerful warrior. Based on this alone, regardless of how talented her son may be, the academy wouldn't accept him. The woman knew that her son's talent was not particularly outstanding. He was only proficient in water control due to practicing since childhood. She had never seen anyone who could manipulate water so miraculously, not even the greatest water mage. Although her son had only trained for three years, these three years were the period of his fastest growth. The level of mastery he had achieved in these three years would be impossible to attain even with thirty years of effort. If he missed this period, he would never be able to control water with such finesse. __________ Finally, a new book has started. To be honest, I'm quite scared. I'm afraid that people won't accept it or support it. My hands are trembling. I haven't felt this way in a long time. I hope everyone can support this book. Remember, the sky belongs to all of us, and we rely on everyone to uphold it!