"I really hope they didn't tell anyone else." I murmur aloud to myself, standing at the riverbank. My practice for the day being that of combining elements, although not into a singular spell. The idea was to dual cast a fire spell in my hand and then use wind magic to make them even stronger.
The purpose behind it not really being destructive power, but instead a wider attack range. The book didn't have any spells beyond the basic elements and healing magic, so I'd need to improvise if I wanted more power.
I already tried to meld my spells together, but I just ended up with wasted mana and a migraine. Dual casting on the other hand was something I could do, then there was tri casting.
Taking inspiration from the very anime my supposed reward was so supposed to come from, I wanted to try and cast wind magic from my mouth. Wind magic was one that I still couldn't reliably cast silently and It felt like it'd be easier than the other elements either way. We exhale air when we speak so following the same logic we might be able to cast wind magic through our mouth.
I had plenty of reason to suspect this being possible, the main one being that spells didn't have to be cast via your own body. There were plenty of spells that had the effect be focused just about anywhere else. Big AOE ones that used the environment being the most obvious example.
Those were much more advanced than what I currently knew however, but that was how learning went. I'd have to practice with the same concept eventually, so why not start now in my own way. Practice for later.
Backing away from the theocraticals however; I hadn't quite been able to follow through with my planned spell combo. Having trouble changing the shape of my firebolts, now more accurately looking like fire balls. Really I just wanted something akin to a wall of fire or even a flamethrower, but this magic stuff wasn't as easy as I first thought. Something that's really making me realize that Rudeus either got really lucky or was stupidly smart. Scratch that, I know he's just really smart.
I'd broken from my thoughts by three approaching figures. My eyes going wide at the sight of a rather tall elf dressed in a maid's outfit and carrying two wooden swords. This being who I assumed was the twins' head maid, "Ms. Anne".
She wore the average maid outfit, but rocked it pretty well, looking like the epitome of refined beauty. Her light blue hair and icy blue almost white eyes only further accentuating that.
I'd quickly fumble my way into a bow as they approached, my bow hiding the light blush on my face. I really hoped this "Ms. Anne" wasn't hateful toward me, although perhaps I'd be fine with it if she-
"I'm assuming you're the peasant boy that they've told me about? I'll have you know I find it quite unlikely that you know how to use magic, much less know how to read. I suppose you wouldn't be averse to giving me a demonstration?"
The elf maid's voice was kind, but carried a dignified undertone. It was clear she took her role as the twins' caretaker seriously. I already loved her, I was glad to show off my skills and win her over.
"Of course! I'll start off by saying that I can cast fire magic without an incantation, but still need incantations for the others. Alright, here you go." I'd say, moving from my bowed position and facing toward the river.
I hold my hand before me, a baseball sized ball of fire appearing in hand. The ball of fire shoots toward the water and slamming into its surface, creating a large splash before fizzling out.
I turn back toward the maid and twins, all of them wearing an expression of shock. The maid looking much more surprised than the twins however, both of the younger girls sporting an excited smile.
"Well, will that be enough for you Ms.?" I ask, giving her a confident grin. Ms. Anne's face eventually moved from an expression of shock and allowing the smallest traces of an amused smile on her pretty face.
"That was more than enough, I'd be glad to help teach you. Of course, in exchange for you assisting these young ones in learning magic that is. Teach them for some time and I will make a plan on how to best train you." She says in response, walking over to a tree and setting down the two wooden swords.
That left me with teaching both Mira and Lillian about the most basic fundamentals of magic. One thing became very clear as I discussed it and showed them examples. I was no Rudeus and they were no Sylphy.
They weren't bad per say, it was only the first lesson after all. It was mainly my own inexperience combined with their youth. They weren't a genius like Sylphy was, I assumed they'd be a bit above average however.
I'd continue on with teaching this until eventually I had them try to memorize the incantation for a water bullet, something I'd have to personally make sure they were doing right. It was really turning out to be a hassle with them not knowing how to read yet. They knew some words, but they sadly couldn't just read the incantation and practice it at home. I'd have to ask Ms. Anne to start them early with their reading lessons.
This did prove to be an effective tool to tease them with however, my smug superiority over them being an excellent source of motivation. Lillian especially got quite angry at me gloating over them.
After making sure that they were say the incantation right, I walked over to the head maid. It had been about an hour and a half at this point, quite a while for her to simply wait.
"I was wondering if you could perhaps allow them to start their reading and writing practice early? They definitely have the drive for it as you can see and it'd seriously cut down on time. I doubt you'd like to wait this long every time" I say to her, the sky blue haired elf girl nodding along with my words.
"Indeed, I'd be glad to personally start teaching them. I'm sure their father wouldn't be adverse to it either. Very well, they will start when we return home. For now however, let us proceed with your training."
Ms. Anne would stand up and hand me a sword, casually walking a bit aways. She didn't say anything, but I got the idea that she wanted me to follow. The beautiful elf woman stops and quickly turns around to face me, her simple movement looking surprisingly fluid.
"I am advanced in North God and intermediate in Water God style of swordsmanship. I suppose you could also call me a beginner in Sword God style, although I've never been formally taught in it. For now you will be taught the very basics of swordsmanship until the time I deem you ready to learn the North God style."
I enthusiastically nod along with her words, a smile on my face. I was just glad to finally be learning from someone that knew how to properly wield a sword. My enthusiasm would quickly be curbed when we started sparring however.
It turns out that all of my prior sword swinging wasn't for nothing. All that time swinging and doing practice movements had resulted in me already having decent foot work and proper swinging posture. This also had some downsides however…
I lay broken on the river bank, a weak groan escaping me. Ms. Anna was a harsh teacher, beating her lessons into me thoroughly, bruises covering my body from places she'd hit me during our "spar". Truthfully, it felt more like a beating. If this hadn't awoken my sharingan then I worried about what exactly would.
It was enlightening however, my mind thinking over the criticism she'd given during and after our series of spars. Or at least I'd try to if I didn't have two annoyances giggling at me. "You're pretty talented in magic, but not so much with a sword are you Erebus. What kind of a boy sucks at doing physical stuff." Lillian says, hand over her mouth as she laughs at me.
I supposed she saw this as revenge for me gloating over the fact I could read earlier, but right now I didn't care. My eyes narrow at the smug girl, her sister looking nervously between her sister and I. Oh but don't let her trick you, because Mira was laughing at me too! No matter how hard she tried to hide the fact, I could tell she was enjoying my suffering like her sister was!
"I'd say young Erebus is quite talented actually, Mistress. It's rare to find someone so quickly get the basics down, I'd say you might even have a fair bit of muscle memory built up."
The smug smile from earlier once more crosses my face, glad to receive the praise from such a beautiful woman as Ms. Anne. I'd of course use her words to once more gloat over the twins, they deserved it.
That day of training had been perhaps the best day of my life so far, pain aside of course. I'd wave the twins and maid off again as they head back to their manor, leaving me alone to tend to my bruises.
I was glad for healing magic, it saved me from an awkward conversation with my parents that night. My basic healing spell eventually was able to mostly heal up my bruises. The pain and lesson remaining, but the actual visual not.
These lessons would continue on, the twins growing in their magical ability and me in swordsmanship. That didn't mean I slacked off in my own magic training however, quite the opposite.
I assumed that the spells I was capable of now could be classified as intermediate level, perhaps even advanced level when combining certain elements. I even succeeded with my idea of using my mouth to cast spells, being pretty much a human flamethrower at this point.
Three years had passed since I initially started training with the Mira, Lillian and Ms. Anne. The twins now knew how to read and write, something that made teaching them way easier. More or less we were even now in terms of actual base spells learned, well except for my larger storage of mana, potency of spells and creative usage.
Truthfully I didn't have anything else to teach them, having no teacher of my own to progress with and my own techniques not really clicking with them. Our training sessions essentially turning into a group self study and experimentation, Ms. Anne being the dutiful overseer of it all.
Ms. Anne has been an immense help as well, I also think I had a crush on her. That crush was mitigated by the fact that she was a brutal teacher, but equally as effective. She may have not been a Paul or Ghislaine, but she did the best she could for me. I'd like to think that I've grown on her as well.
She still had way more experience than me and we never spared with all of our ability, but I could very much contend with her now. She says I'd be allowed to call myself an advanced North God swordsman, but that hardly meant I could actually beat her. In terms of skill I was there, but there was more than technique to a fight.
My body was still very young and I'd yet to be able to fully utilize my fighting spirit, pretty much just having whatever my physical condition allowed me to do most of the time. She assured me that I was at least in the beginning steps of being able to properly keep its form up whenever I wanted, so luckily I wouldn't have to worry about not having it forever.
I found that I enjoyed swordplay, about as much magic in all honesty. I enjoyed each for different reasons though. Swordplay was exhilarating and I loved the high speed veritable dance it was, magic on the other hand was more like a fun game. The trials and experiments, the visual appeal of it couldn't be denied either.
These are what took up my daily life, finally feeling like I was getting properly strong. So strong that at times the twins would get a bit too excited, apparently Ms. Anne had been saving my ass by making sure they didn't spill the beans back at their manor.
I was glad that my training spot was so well hidden as… although I do wonder how it was exactly that the twins' had seen me practicing in the first place. It wasn't like I was in direct sight of the manor. I never asked them however, deciding that it was likely they themselves were exploring and just happened to have found me. They were naturally a lot more curious than other kids I'd seen so far.
My parents had occasionally wondered what I was constantly doing and why I was always coming back acting like I was beat or really just looking exhausted. I would give them excuses such as that I was exploring or that I had helped out someone in town. which be fair, that is what I was doing sometimes.
I didn't dare to lie and say I was playing with kids, mother and father weren't isolated from the other parents and were even friends with them. At least that means they don't think I'm a bully or something, or even being bullied.
Life had been good, too good. Something would change that one day, something that would break me out of my naivety and remind me what the point of all this training was even for.
It had been on one of my free days, it being free due to the fact that it was my Mother's birthday. She turned 25 today and we wanted to do a bit of celebration for her. My father had tried to get today off, but was currently being employed by the shitty noble to repair a bit of the fence surrounding his manor.
Mother and I had been waiting in town, having ordered a cake from the local baker. Something that I had helped out in, doing jobs for the baker off and on for months to afford it. In the end my father had to pitch in some money to pay it off, but he was still very proud of the work I'd done.
We were currently waiting outside the baker's place, waiting for the cake to cool down enough to carry home. In the meantime we'd simply wait in the town square, watching the various things others did throughout the day, a few even wishing my mother a happy birthday. A rather peaceful day to be honest.
That was when it happened. We spotted my father walking into the town square, but not alone. He was being escorted by the soldiers, twisted smirks on their faces. A worried look comes across my face, that mainly being because I saw the whip held in Rodrick's hand. An obvious sign toward what was about to happen with my father.
I'd be shocked out of my focused trance by my mother, feeling her quickly grab on to me and lean down to talk to me.
"Hurry on into the baker's and stay there for a bit, honey, don't come out until I tell you to." My mother whispered into my ear, holding me tight before pushing me off toward the baker's.
I reluctantly go inside, heart racing at the insinuation that my father was about to be flogged for some reason. Luckily I could still see through the window and hear what was going on in the town square, my father being walked toward the center. A place that had seen much use throughout the years.
I stand at the window, my hand clenching tightly against the frame. The baker says something, but it doesn't process in my mind. I faintly hear him walk over and grab my shoulder firmly before suddenly stopping and joining me in staring out the window.
"Oh, oh I'm so sorry young lad." He says aloud, standing beside me and keeping his hand on my shoulder. He seemed to have got the gist of what happened and understood that I was likely sent into here by mother. Him and my mom locking eyes and seeming to nonverbally communicate. I didn't pay attention to that however. My eyes were locked on to the scene that was about to transpire.
A soldier orders my father to take his tunic off, leaving him shirtless. My father looking stone faced as he's forced on his knees. Another soldier ties his hands to a post, his back facing the man with a whip.
Rodrick raises his voice and addresses the crowd that had now gathered around, none of them daring to try and argue what was going on.
"This man is guilty of damaging the property of Lord Steelheart! He was hired to put his lowly skills to use and fix the fencing surrounding the Lord's manor, but seemed to have been in a hurry. Such a simple task, but it seems the laziness and idiocy of peasants like he and yourselves is not to be underestimated."
Those words did not settle well with the crowd, but no one dared to go against what was said. They knew they risked being put in the same situation as my father and everyone else that had been used a message before him.
"Due to this act of laziness, he has also caused even more damage to the fencing and cost our lord even more money! One might even dare to think that perhaps this was on purpose! Perhaps this hay-brained fool wanted to trick the lord so that he could return at a later date and repair the fence again for even more money! This simply won't do!"
It was clear that Rodrick enjoyed the theatrics of it all, treating this as if he wasn't about to perform a cruel punishment. It pissed me off how little he took this seriously. My hands tightly gripping down on the window sill, feeling the wood creak a bit from the pressure being on it.
Rodrick stops addressing the crowd and instead faces my father, whip in hand. "25 lashes will do! As well as docked pay for work on our Lord's fence!" was the sentence my father was given.
Those words left Rodrick's mouth and immediately I tried to move, emotions blinding me. I did not go jumping through the window however, mainly because I was being held. The baker was holding his arms tightly around me and clamping a hand tightly down on my mouth. He was fast, likely anticipating that i was going to do something like this,
I tried to yell and tell him to let me go, that I could take them and free my father. That this was unfair and not at all deserved, that my father would never do something like that. He was just a husband trying to get home early and celebrate his wife's birthday.
I knew it and everyone else most likely did as well. The peasants in this town had been trained to not do anything, too scared or used to dare to raise and raise a ruckus when something unfair happens. Through years of punishment and shows of strength, they'd been morally and mentally defeated.
I could've attacked and used my magic on the soldiers, but what about afterward? Would I actually be able to win? What about the bystanders and the potential damage. I was strong for my age, but these were hardened fighters that had been used to violence. I was but a kid with talent, nowhere near enough talent to solve this though.
I'd be forced to watch with tears in my eyes as my father was whipped by the foul guard, his screams loud and clear. Tears blur my vision as it goes on and on, feeling more powerless than I ever had before.
It was unfair, this wasn't justice. This was just a plain display of power by a sick sadist, yet here I was just forced to simply grit my teeth and let it happen.
In the midst of the immense inner pain I felt, I noticed something. Despite the tears, my eyes saw clearer than they ever had before. More than that I could see a faint core of energy in people, the soldiers' cores being denser than the others.
It almost felt like It was in slow motion as I saw the whip towards my father's back, the moment being burned into my memory. I realized what had happened, it finally unlocked. The ability I'd asked for when being reborn had been unlocked and all it took was one of the most mentally scarring moments of this life and the last.
I look downward and go slack in the baker's arms, closing my eyes and letting the tears flow. I didn't want anymore of the sight of my father being tortured seared into my mind, I felt like his yells of pain would be enough. I wouldn't be forgetting that and the sound of a whip hitting his back for a long time.
By the time it was finished the crowd had mainly dispersed, people needing to go back to their daily lives. Rodrick unties my father and gives one last kick to my father's stomach. The soldiers would then throw some more taunts and share laughs at my father's expense before walking away, acting as if they had just gone out for some everyday entertainment.
My mother walks over and tries to comfort my father, helping him up and guiding him home. My father hunched over and occasionally letting out weak groans of pain, his back red and with bloody marks scattered throughout.
It was only then that the baker finally let me go, resting a much gentler hand on my shoulder and telling me it would all be okay. I merely nodded at his word, my mind racing with emotions and ideas.
Thankfully, it was quite easy to shut my newly acquired eyes off. A simple mental command being all it took before my sight returned to normal, blinking rapidly to adjust to the sudden change.
I was sure that no one had noticed my eyes, what with them being closed and cast down while it all happened. People taking notice of them would've been very bad, I needed them to be a secret for now.
I was sad and angry, but also elated. Why? Because I had just acquired the perfect tool to get my revenge on those that had hurt my family and this village so badly. It was time I began putting my plans into motion and actually did something. After I got accustomed to these new eyes, I'd go on the offense.
I meekly stand up and accept the cake from the baker, his deep voice wishing me well before I head out. The walk back home being quite awkward to say the least, pitying stares from numerous people that weren't even trying to hide what they were doing.
I knock on my house's door, my mother opening it and welcoming me inside. I place the cake down on the table before almost immediately being rushed into a hug by my mother. I remain wordless as she tears up and hugs me tightly, feeling like I'd exhausted my sadness for the day. It wasn't sadness I felt anymore, but a resolute determination.
"Ah, is that you Erebus? Sorry for worrying you, guess I got a bit too into a hurry. I'll definitely make sure to not be so reckless next time." My father speaks up, trying to ease the mood with a joke. His light winces of pain did not go unnoticed however, no matter how much he tried to hide them.
He was currently laying down on his stomach in bed, a clean cloth covering the wounds on his back. My mother lets me out of her tight hug and I walk over to my dad, "It's okay Pa… You don't need to act tough with me. It's their fault you're like this, their fault you barely get enough pay and its their fault you had to rush in the first place. You just wanted to come celebrate Ma's birthday." I say, both their faces sporting a shocked expression.
"H-Here, let me show you something. Please just trust me." I say, reaching to take off the cloth covering my dad's back. My mom moves to stop me, but my dad stops her. "It's okay, You know our little shadow wouldn't do anything he didn't think was right." He says, putting full trust in his son.
"Thank you." I say simply, a grateful smile on my face. I reach my hands out and over them over my father's back. "Healing." I murmur aloud, a greenish glow emitting from my hand and covering my dad's back.
A gasp is heard from my parents as they witness their son perform magic, but I wasn't done yet. My father's back healed a bit from that one spell, but it mainly just reduced the red marks. There were still proper wounds that needed to be healed.
I couldn't heal them fully, but I could definitely help out and quicken the process. I'd cast at least 10 healing spells, eventually getting to a point where my spells made no difference.
"Sorry, but that's all I can do for now. I only know this spell and the book doesn't have any more-" I'd be cut off by a hug from my mother once more, that seems to be a favorite of hers.
"Why didn't you tell us you could do magic?! Oh I'm so proud of you! Thank you, thank you!" She yells out almost right into my ear. She'd start saying some other things, but it'd be lost on me. My mom apparently being just so happy and proud for me and grateful that I could heal dad.
"I-I uh I-" I'd be cut off as my dad simply places his hand on my head, having moved from his bed and standing back up again. I was at a loss for words, moments like these seeming to be my weak point. I didn't know what to do, but I didn't want to make them feel bad either so I just replied with what I really thought. "I-It's ok- You're welcome. Just thank you for taking care of me for all these years."
My dad would move in for a hug, the whole family just having a big group hug at this moment. The family moment feeling,,, nice. I may not have had the best living conditions in this new world, but with a family like this? Things felt much easier than they really were.
Time would pass like this, but It'd eventually end. My mother yelling at my father when she backs away, finally realizing that he was out of bed. "What are you doing! Don't you know what kind of work your son put in to help heal you? What if your wounds open again!"
My father's reaction would be to merely laugh it off and head back into bed, "Ah my bad my bad, but could you really expect me to sit out of the family group hug?" he jokes, things calming back down once more.
By this point it was getting dark out and we still hadn't the cake, something we fully rectified. It wasn't as sugary as cakes back on Earth, but it was still all the sweet. Eating it with my mother and father made it better than it really was.
During this time I explained to them how I had self taught myself to read, a lie, and how I'd been practicing for years at this point. I also explained the twins and the maid that taught me. They were apprehensive at first since the twins were related to the shitty noble, but they accepted it and allowed me to keep on training with them.
We talked for some hours, my parents learning just how mature I really was. My father had originally planned on putting me to work soon apparently, but said that he wanted me to keep up the practice and become the adventurer I wanted to be. My new "magical eyes" being what truly sealed the deal.
I explained the general abilities that I'd gotten with the Sharingan, activating it and allowing my parents to see it. I wondered if perhaps there was someone in the family long ago that had them as well, but their confusion told me everything. My dad joking with my mom about whether she cheated on him and I was actually part demon. She didn't think it was very funny, an added knot on dads head clearly indicating that.
Needless to say they were impressed it's abilities and they only knew the very basics, not even about the whole perfectly copying techniques thing. They were already suffering from a pretty big information overload, so I didn't bother going on.
I also learnt that I was still in the lowest stage of the Sharingan, only having one tomoe in each eye. I didn't mind, it'd grow stronger with practice,
Night would come and I got into bed, more exhausted than any training had ever gotten me before. I was feeling just as satisfied however; feeling like today, despite all the pain that came with it, was a successful and good day.
Thank you reading again! Hope the pacing has been alright. I feel as if I rush things, but have trouble thinking of anything that doesn't just feel forced in. Hope my writing's improved, Criticism is always welcome!