Rudeus's first few days on the job
He'll visit a friend as well.
And a proposal. Can't forget that.
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9000 words! I almost can't believe my eyes! Hahaha!
Anyway, this'll be the last chapter I post for a while. School starts in a week, so I have to get ready. I'm really hoping that Covid gets a re-run.
So, enjoy this crappy chapter I put together.
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It had been a month since I became Eris's tutor.
Just as I thought, the little gremlin wouldn't listen to me. Eris would get it together-barely, just barely-for magic lessons, but reading, writing, and arithmetic? Hehehehe... Let's say she wouldn't show her face until it was time for sword practice and leave it at that.
Luckily, magic lessons are the exception. She had stars in her eyes when she produced her first fireball. Because of her destructive spirit, she had to point it toward the curtain. Of course-being the responsible, literal man-child I am-I put the flames out and warned her not to use fire magic when I wasn't around.
Eris beamed at the half-burned curtain, satisfied with herself. It was like a chipmunk looking proudly at a chewed-up fence-cute but disturbing in an I-can't-quite-place-it way. At least she had motivation, I thought.
Hahaha... How wrong I was.
I thought she understood the importance of arithmetic and literacy. She must have really hated those subjects. Not that I blame her. They were a chore, even for me. Luckily, Ghislaine attended all her lectures and took them seriously enough. I guess time allowed her to really mature. Or perhaps she understood how much of a struggle living without learning basic requirements was.
Now, back to the red-haired gremlin. Eris would often hide away in some corner of the manor. She lived there her entire life. So she knew the best hiding spots. But I had Celestial Eyes. I could easily see the trails of Mana left behind by her. Each person's Mana was unique, so locating her was simple. What wasn't, however, was getting her to come back quietly. Admonishing her wouldn't work as she would run away again. If I used force, she would punch me and then run. And I couldn't use Chains of Heaven as I couldn't hurt her too much.
The tutors who came before me also faced the same problems. Or so I've been told. Sometimes they would find her. Though the premises of the manor was large, it was still a manor, not a patch of infinite space. Those who did, however, were beaten to a bloody pulp...
Hah... Why was her temper like this? If she was a bit milder! She could have been the perfect woman!
Whatever. I'm a student of a Lord! If anyone can make it work, I can! Although I may or may not be running out of steam. Since I have my teaching job during the day, I could only act freely under the watchful eyes of my brethren and the moon. That made my days exhausting. Sleep was now a luxury I rarely could get.
With the help of the stars, I combed through the memories implanted in my brain. I sorted out those immediately necessary, such as those required for building the seven bodies and the Rings of Light. Here's what I know so far.
The seven bodies were essentially soulless homunculi infused with True Ether and something else, making them possible for spirit possession. To make them, I had to smash the gem in my forehead into seven shards and implant them into the developing bodies at the right time. If I do it too early, the shard will overload the homunculi with too much True Ether, destroying it. Too late, the body will reject the jewel as a foreign substance, thereby making the body a regular and useless homunculi.
By the way, if you're wondering. Yes. The stars gave me that divine body and the gem on my forehead. They called me their "Chosen One" or something.
Anyway, the Rings of Light were more problematic. In truth, they would be impossible to create. The Rings of Light was a conceptual weapon that used real planetary rings as an anchor to manifest. Needless to say, one human couldn't gather enough space debris to create rings around a planet. And the sheer amount of energy it would take for the conceptual weapon to manifest! Burning every life form from three thousand years ago to now wouldn't be enough. Luckily, the Celestials said they would actively send comets and asteroids my way. And they used teleportation, not their gravity. So it wouldn't take trillions of years for the packages to arrive. So that takes care of the physical problem. The energy problem, on the other hand...
Argh! This is so frustrating! I already have my hands tied, preventing the forming rings from falling from the sky and wiping out all life in this world. And I also have to worry about making homunculi, gathering Mana, and planning lessons for Sylphie and Eris?! Sure, I was blessed by the stars, but still!
...
That night, I stood beside my bed with my window open. The cool night air sent breezes into my room, slightly, only slightly, calming my raging mind. The scent was grass was dominant but not so strong it was unpleasant. It was also accompanied by the sweet smell of wildflowers and yellowing paper. The room was without so much as a lit candle to emit light. Making my Celestial Eyes and the gem on my forehead the prominent light sources.
I didn't bother changing clothes. It was a waste of time, and my cloak was more comfortable anyway. The golden glow of my eyes danced upon the ivory-white fabrics in a complex display as the wind ruffled them. I was almost mesmerized.
Treading lightly at the open window, I stared at the night sky. The stars seemed brighter than ever, and I felt so connected to them that I didn't require spells to read the future anymore. What they saw is what I see.
"Brothers. Sisters. Why was I chosen to bare this task?"
I didn't expect an answer, of course. I knew why already. My Mystic Eyes were gifted to me by the stars. I was bound to them by fate. It was inevitable I meet them eventually. It's just that it happened sooner rather than later. The telepathic link was silent, as it should be. The Celestials were using their wills to send me what I needed. They didn't even have a moment to spare.
The moon shone brightly, perhaps even brighter than my siblings. It was a silver disk of light. In Chinese poems, poets thought that by telling the moon their feelings, their loved ones far away could hear them. Because no matter where you are, the moon you gaze upon will always be the same.
"Sylphie, Roxy. I hope my regards reach you."
Closing my eyes and clasping my hands, I offered up my prayers.
"The moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it?"
...
...
Regarding Eris' lack of enthusiasm, I went to Ghislaine for help. Paul said the woman had muscles for brains, but I learned to take what my dear'ol dad said with a grain of salt. If she told Eris why she wanted to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic, surely it would resonate with her. The girl was sure to listen to whatever Ghislaine said. Or so I hoped.
At first, Ghislaine told me to figure it out myself, but some tears made using water magic did wonders!
...
'Right, then. Show me what you've got!'
I didn't plan anything out. If it was too complicated, the chances of failure were higher. So I let Ghislaine handle everything while I stood quietly like a good tutor. She chose to start during the break period of our magic lesson. As that was when Eris was most rowdy and moody.
"A long time ago, I thought a sword was all I needed."
Unbidden, she began telling Eris about her past. The story was long, from when her swordsmanship instructor accepted her as a student to today. I quietly stood a distance away, catching a few words as I tried to solve my energy problem.
'What about that relic made by the Second Magician? The Gem Blade? No...what was it-Ah! The Jeweled Sword.'
From the few words I got, it was mainly a tale of her own struggles. All in all, it was a simple story. But not a monotonous one.
"When I was an adventurer, the others did everything for me. The buying and selling of weapons, food, supplies, and daily necessities. As well as reading contracts, maps, and signs. After we parted, I learned the importance of many things: the weight of a filled canteen, the necessity of getting coals t build a fire, and the inconvenience of being unable to use your left hand when you carry a torch."
Her party disbanded seven years ago. And guess which two decided to get hitched and caused it? That's right! My mom and pops! It wasn't all that difficult to figure out.
"Those of us who remained talked about staying together, but Paul, our hit-and-run attacker, and Zenith, our group's only healer, had left. Even if we hadn't disbanded then, we would have eventually."
A warrior, a swordsman, a swordswoman, a magician, a priest, and a thief. A balanced group, for sure. No wonder they became pretty famous. I'm guessing "thief" was a general term for someone who did odd jobs, from picking locks, spotting traps, and constructing a tent, to dealing with merchants. It was a position reserved for those who could read well, had a sharp mind, and were agile.
"Couldn't you have called them merchants?"
Ghisliane's nostrils flared. "Thief is fitting for someone who always swiped our money and gambled it away."
"Didn't you guys gang up on them when you found out?"
"Nope. They were skilled, so they usually returned with more than they took. They rarely came back with less than half. They also restrained themselves when we were tight on cash."
Still, why'd they let them get away with it? Then again, if they had a womanizer like Paul in their party, they probably weren't concerned about the morality of their members.
"What's the difference between a warrior and a swordsman?"
If both professions were part of the vanguard, there didn't seem to be a reason to distinguish between them.
"If you use a sword and one of the three primary styles, then you are a swordsman. You use a different style but still use a sword: you are a warrior. The same goes for those who don't use a sword.
"What about a knight?"
"A knight is a knight. They are appointed by the King or liege lords. They are educated in reading and arithmetic. Some of them can use simple magic. Since many of them are nobles, they're also full of pride."
They were educated because they attended school. If they had the choice, I'm sure most would be chasing skirts like my father.
Eris's eyes lit up as she listened to the conversation. I hoped she won't drag Ghislaine or me to the closest labyrinth. It made me anxious. That wasn't the kind of way I'd want to spend my life. Nope. One hundred percent denied. I'd be much more comfortable tucked away in some corner of a magical workshop.
'Shoot. I was supposed to have Ghislaine talk about the importance of learning, not this.'
I screwed up, like usual. The one small mercy was that Eris attended all her classes the following day. All thanks to Ghislaine, I guess. After that, any time something happened, Ghislaine would begin recounting her struggles as an adventurer. I nearly threw up each time it happened, but Eris finally understood the importance of my lessons.
Or she found Ghislaine's stories interesting. I didn't care either way. As long as she studied.
...
Now, onto magic lessons. The very first thing I did was set the correct atmosphere. Without it, it wouldn't be as effective for the teacher and the student.
The room they allowed me to use as the classroom had a single table. It would have worked had it been longer and thinner. I used Alteration to make it longer. Then I moved it so the students faced me when they sat.
Then came the decorations. I ensured they weren't too flashy. Lest they draw Eris's attention elsewhere. When I was done, the walls were covered with different magic circles and other symbols I drew. They would come in handy for future lessons and added a nice touch of mystery to the room.
Finally, I spent a few hours designing a podium and stand. I didn't need to buy them, as projecting and reinforcing them would be enough. The same goes for the blackboard and chalk. Not to mention it saves me time in clean up.
In the end, I was left with a bastardized version of the El-Melloi classroom. Even though it was far from perfect, it would do. It took me a few days to get everything right, so I taught them in another room.
And that's how I ended up standing on a projected podium, chalk in hand, while I wrote on the blackboard. My two students sat quietly in their chairs, waiting for magic lessons to begin.
"Alright..." I let the piece of chalk vanish and projected a long pointing stick. "Good morning, students! This will be your first official lesson in magic by me, Lord Animusphere II. It will be my pleasure to pass on the secrets of the Arcane Arts to you."
Eris looked at me like she was creeped out, while Ghislaine had a what-in-the-world-are-you-doing look on her face.
"Rudeus!" My apprentice energetically thrust her hand into the air.
"Yes?"
"Why are you speaking like that?"
"That was my best 'strict teacher' impersonation. Also, refer to me as 'Lord Animusphere II' in class."
"Your voice is weird. Stop that."
I sighed as my shoulders hunched over. Fine. I'll only be wasting time arguing about this trivial matter. I'll stop impersonating Lord El-Melloi II. I'll admit: I did a pretty horrible job at it. If he could see me, my teacher would probably grip my face and throw me against a wall.
"Fine, fine. Anyway. Today, we'll be covering the basics of magic. The Four Major Elements."
I pointed at the four words I wrote on the blackboard.
"Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. These are the Magical Elements, not to be confused with the Scientific Elements. Together with your Origin, they define what spells you'll find easy to use. I'm sure you remember your elemental affinities. We discovered them during our last lesson."
Eris leaned into Fire-obviously, while Ghislaine seemed best with Earth. I didn't even have to use the ritual to know what spells Eris'd be good at. As for Ghislaine, her affinity was more hidden. Nothing I couldn't figure out, but more time-consuming than Eris.
"Our previous lessons were merely for practice. I also took the liberty of planning future classes from the information gathered. Eris," I pointed my pointer stick toward her vague direction. My back was pressed lightly on the blackboard. "You're inclined to Fire."
"Uh-huh. What are you talking about again?" She tilted her head and asked as if I hadn't discussed this topic over five times.
My eyebrow twitched. I should have been used to this by now, yet this girl still surprises me. Not a compliment, by the way. Facing the blackboard so as not to let my "smile" show, I projected another piece of chalk. "Alright. I'll go over it one last time. So listen. An Origin-" I finished writing the word in bold characters. "-is the starting point that defines one's existence and directs one's actions throughout life. Such actions are more along the lines of an inherent compulsion that could be called a person's instinct rather than a conscious decision. For example, my Origin, for lack of a better word, is 'Foresight.'"
"That sounds awesome! Does it mean you can predict the future?"
"Yes, to a limited degree. It's more of an instinctive feeling guiding my actions rather than seeing with my eyes."
"So what's mine?"
"I...don't know." I huffed. There were two reasons behind that, of course. "Like I said before, no one but yourself can know your Origin's true nature. You'll have to discover that yourself. Of course, I'm not sure you'd want to know that. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Awakening your Origin is like becoming a slave to it. I'd rather not uncover a hidden can of worms."
"But what if it's something useful like your own?" Eris pouted with her head on her hands.
"That's a risk I'm not willing to take. Do you at least remember the first thing I drilled into your heads in my first lecture?"
"Uh...Um-You will have to walk to become a mage?"
"To be a mage is to walk with death," Ghislaine answered after Eris's botched reply. I'm glad I still have one hardworking student. But that's her life experience at work.
"Exactly. Awakening one's Origin prematurely is especially dangerous. It's like a ticking time bomb ready to explode at the slightest touch. Let's see, maybe an example would help you understand..." I didn't know anyone with awful experiences with Origin Awakenings, so I'll have to make one up! "Let's say your Origin is 'to Sever.' Simple enough, right? If you awakened it, you'd unconsciously sever everything in your life. The simple act of fighting with your parents could lead you to cut ties with them on the spot. Or accidentally throwing a rock could separate someone's head from their body. You get why it's dangerous now, right?"
Judging by Eris's expression, no. She did not understand the danger of it. Quite the opposite, it looked like she was even more eager to uncover her Origin. She opened her mouth to speak.
"No." I cut her off before she could make a sound. "It is not cool. And even though I know how I will not awaken your Origin for you. Besides, you won't need to learn it unless you dedicate your life to magical studies." I let the stern look slip from my face, replacing it with a warmer smile. "It'll unveil itself with time, so don't worry."
Eris calmed down a little. Not by much, but even a little was progress. Improve a little every day, and you'd be shocked at the result after a few years.
"As for your Element, this is something you must know. It'll still affect your life. Even if you're not a mage. Your Element works with your Origin, defining your very existence and, more importantly right now, what spells you're good at." I drew a mountain. "Think of it like rainfall on a mountainside. Origin is where the rain falls the heaviest." I chose a random spot and added some clouds and rainfall. "Element is the path the waters travel down the mountain." I outlined some rivers and streams, filling them in with color when I was done. Then, I replaced the chalk in my hand with a different colored one. "And all the spells you can use are the places the water hydrates as it makes its way down the mountain." Roughly guessing the spots the water would seep through the land, I ran my chalk along the blackboard. I took a small step back to take in my work when I was done. I did a pretty good job. If I were to say so myself! Hahahaha!
"You're a good artist." Eris complimented.
"Yes, yes. I'm sure I-Hey! Don't change the subject!"
She was trying one of those tricks kids use. Keep a teacher talking about random subjects so they won't have to have class. Well, too bad. I used that trick often as a child, so I won't fall for it!
"With that done. Eris, your affinity is Fire. Ghislaine, yours is Earth. With those facts in mind, I planned your training and lecture regimen." I took out a few pieces of paper from my cloak. I worked all night for these, so you'd better be grateful! "First, I'll have both of you master Elementry-rank spells of all classes. Then we'll move on to your specialized plans. Ideally, I want to make both of you Advanced-Rank mages at the end of it all, but I understand that might not be possible. Any objections?"
"Nope!"
"None here."
"Perfect. Then let's get this practice round started." With a barely constrained smile, I wrote the chant for the first spell I learned-Waterball-on the blackboard. "Continuously use this spell until your Mana runs dry."
"B-but that's boring!"
"This, even if it doesn't look like it, is a school! School isn't supposed to be fun!"
"I don't wanna-"
"Do it, or no stories before bed."
Eris ceased her quibbling. Hehehe... Telling her stories before her bedtime. I suppose it started because of my habit with Sylphie, but it worked just as well with Eris. At least now I had an edge when she refused to do what I said.
"Alright. You may begin. Don't worry about the fact that there aren't any buckets to catch the water. I'll control the water you summon and send it outside."
Things were progressing...albeit gradually.
...
As for my lessons in the art of the sword...I made progress? Ghislaine made for an excellent teacher, so there's that. Unlike a certain bastard I call father, she would point out my faults in explicit detail and give advice on how to improve.
Today she gave Eris and me a sword and made us practice fighting while she gave tips. I'll admit, I haven't been as tight with sword training as usual, but I have a lot on my mind, okay?! I know it's no risk, all reward, but I'm a mage! We don't usually use swords unless it's a Mystic Code.
"Remember your attack stance, and watch your opponent closely."
Eris repelled my wooden sword with a dull thunk.
"If you can move faster than your opponent, read their movements and aim your sword. If you're slower than them, shift your body to avoid their blade's trajectory."
Unable to do either, I took a direct smack from Eris's sword. My cloak made the strike feel like cotton, though it still hurt in another way.
"Watch your opponent's toes and predict their movement!"
I took another blow. Yep! I'm a coward! I'll just up and say it! Why else would I hide in a hidden bunker for over ten years?! I directed my Od into my cloak's defensive functions.
"Rudeus! Stop using your head! Just focus on moving in before your opponent and swinging your sword!"
'Oh, I'm sorry. I kinda need my brain for breathing and heartbeat!'
"Eris! Don't stop your attacks! Your opponent hasn't surrendered yet!"
"Yes!"
The difference between us was clear. Eris had the freedom to respond where I didn't. That freedom allowed her to keep smacking me until Ghislaine told her to stop. She held nothing back. I'm starting to think this was her revenge for those classes.
Dammit...
...
Within a month, however, I saw a dramatic improvement. I was glad to have a partner like Eris, who had similar abilities. Like in any other field, being around someone of equal skill spurred your growth.
Though Eris was a little better than me, at least I still knew what she was doing. If I could understand what she was doing, I could learn from it. That sort of thinking was only possible if both your opponent and you were on equal footing.
When Paul trained me, the void between us was so large I couldn't even understand what he was doing, let alone counter him. Most of the time, I spent my time picking up bits and tidbits of what he did and fashioned them into my own style.
Ghislaine was good at teaching, so she was a different story. Unfortunately for me, I was a total scaredy-cat. So my flinching couldn't be gotten rid of in a single lesson.
Despite all that, it was good having a rival. We took turns getting ahead of each other, and by the end, there were huge improvements. Before you know it, progress built up, and we became much more powerful. Unfortunately, because of the simple factor known as talent, Eris was still better than me.
What a bitter reality this was.
...
"Rudeus has a long way to go, huh?!" Eris crossed her arms and looked down at me, who collapsed on the ground.
Ghislaine scolded her. "Don't get conceited, Eris. You've been holding a sword for longer than he has, and you're older." Ghislaine only dropped the "Miss" during sword practice. She said it was necessary.
"I know that! Besides, he has magic!"
'And magecraft, but hey.'
"That's right."
My magical abilities were the only thing I prided myself on besides my Mystic Codes. Speaking of which, I haven't been crafting as many of them recently. Huh. Better get started, then. Else my wallet'll run dry before I know it. Goodbye, my sole remaining three hours of sleep.
"Though it is strange that he only slows down when he gets attacked," Ghislaine noted.
"That's because it's scary facing an opponent who's attacking you for real."
As soon as I said that, Eris bonked me on the head. "What the heck was that?! How pathetic! That's why people look down on you!"
"No, he's simply a magician. And that's fine."
Eris nodded arrogantly. "Oh really? Then I guess I can't blame him!"
'Excuse me?! How will you compensate me for this bump on my noggen?!'
"Sorry, but I don't know how to fix your cowering. Fix that yourself." Ghislaine said.
"Okay." When it came to swordplay, it didn't matter who my opponent was: I just froze up. I still had a long road ahead, huh? "But at least I feel like I have gotten much stronger since you started teaching me."
"That's 'cause Paul's the instinctive type. Doesn't make for a good teacher."
"What's that, ''instinctive type?'" Eris asked.
"The type of person who can just do things without being able to explain how they learned to do it."
"You mean like your foresight thing?"
"Kinda?"
"Is there something wrong with that?"
I wasn't sure how to answer. Since I have someone else, I'll leave the problem in her capable hands. I directed my gaze at Ghislaine.
"There isn't. But it doesn't matter how much talent you have. You won't get stronger if you don't use your head, and you won't be able to teach well, either."
"Why won't you be able to teach people well?"
"Because you don't understand what you're doing. Besides, if you can't understand the entirety of it, then you won't improve."
It wasn't an awful decision to follow one's instinct. But once you do so, you'd better get a deep understanding of what you did. Diligent work and talent were the deciding factors to success.
'Of course, it doesn't matter how much work you put in if you don't have talent.'
"I used to be the instinctive type as well, but once I started using my head and thinking logically, I became King-rank," Ghislaine said.
"That's amazing."
"You're a Saint-rank water mage yourself, Rudeus."
'God-rank, but who cares.'
"I'm the instinctive type, as well. But magic is different from swordplay. For me, it's like... 'as long as I can imagine it, I can do it.' Basically, I can do almost anything if you have enough Mana."
"Hm. If you say so. But either way, the basics are important, understand?" Ghislaine pressed on.
"I understand."
As I've said before, I haven't been working on any new spells or anything fancy. The most I did was experiment with my Mana and its properties when I had free time during lessons. The "Rings of Light" were my top priority.
I've already begun constructing the homunculi bodies in a room I hid using magecraft. Or "body," singular, is the more appropriate term. The human body was easy enough to make. The beast and demon ones were also pretty common. But what the heck am I supposed to do about the dragon, sky, and sea races?! The only dragon race I know of is Perugius, and I doubt I can waltz into his throne room in his floating palace and be all like, "Hey, the world's ending. Give me a bit of your blood, and I'll have a chance at saving the damn thing." The sea and sky races weren't much better. Simply traveling to where they lived would be a danger!
Thankfully, Eris shook me out of my spiraling hole of despair before I could completely sink.
"Well, I'm not worried about becoming that strong, so it has nothing to do with me." Eris declared proudly.
I smiled wryly at her words. I sometimes used that same line to excuse my laziness.
"But I will do my best to be as good as the two of you!"
Good. I won't have to reprimand her, then. She had a goal to work towards.
...
...
...
We had free time after our morning lessons and afternoon sword practice. Any normal person would wander around the manor, maybe go to the library to check out a few books. But I wasn't a normal person, was I?
No. No, I was not. Under the guise of checking out the markets below, I flew through the sky with speeds rivaling commercial airplanes. With a large piece of paper tucked in my shirt, I wondered why I didn't use my dimensional pouch.
The paper had Sylphie's training plan. It's been about a month since I became Eris's tutor, and I haven't taken the chance to visit yet. Add on the few weeks spent preparing for the trial, and it was a considerable time I spent away from my adorable little Fae. I preferred to come home once a week but with my busy schedule? It was all but impossible.
With all that in mind, I put together a detailed practice plan for Sylphie. Its effectiveness would only last a month, but I'll have another one ready by then.
The second reason was, of course, my house. It was in the middle of the flipping woods. Considering how many Phantasmals called the forest home, there was no way Sylphie could make her way there. I hope I taught her better than going there alone...
I slapped myself for thinking such stupid thoughts. Sylphie is a smart, understanding girl. Of course, she wouldn't do something so stupid. And I definitely wasn't flying faster. Nope.
...
"Hah... My home."
It was a familiar sight. A birdseye view of my home as I flew through the sky. I've always liked flying as it made me feel like I could go anywhere. Everything was a lush shade of green. The grass looked supple and full. Fields upon fields of wheat and grain gave me a medieval feeling. Though I am in a medieval time. The feel wasn't far off.
The mountain range in the distance was kissed with snow, reminding me of the winter twilight sky behind me when I killed those Red Wyrms. The sky was blue and clear, with only a few clouds hanging lazily. Warm winds caressed my face, complementing the sun rays shining on me.
I followed the familiar dirt path we always took when coming home. It led to the tallest tree around-our meeting place. Other trees were growing randomly, as nature planned, but none were as old-or stunning-as the one we "owned."
"I forgot how beautiful this place is."
I'm sure there were other places in this cube-shaped world many times more majestic than my hometown, but it was the place I was born and raised. It had a special place in my heart.
"Let's see. Sylphie, where are you...?"
My eyes glowed a shade of gold.
"Ah. Of course. Under our tree."
Increasing my speed, I made my way to our tree. I wanted to surprise her and get a cute reaction. Using a silencing spell, I hid among the tree's leaves and peeked at what Sylphie was doing. She held the staff I gave her in one hand while the other supported the magic guidebook in my parent's attic. She was practicing the Advanced-rank spell "Icicle Field" repeatedly.
I frowned. The basics were essential, and Sylphie was messing up a small detail. This was the first Advanced-rank spell I taught her, so she should have gotten the hang of it by now. Oh, well. This was a good time to make my entrance as any other.
After I was certain no one was watching, I spread my cloak and subtly floated down from my perching branch. I strolled to my apprentice casually, as if I hadn't been away for over a month, and snatched the staff I gave her straight out of her hand.
"Eep!"
"You're doing it wrong." I waved the wand around like I was clearing spiderwebs from a basement. "The icicles are supposed to come first, not the cold air. If you make too much cold air, a skilled enough enemy will predict your next move. Concentrate cold air where you want the icicles to form. If you can't prevent the cold air from spreading, keep it around you using wind magic."
Ice crystals grew to half as tall as the tree we stood under in less than five seconds. "Only after all the icicles have formed should you spread the cold air. Either to give enemies frostbite or to act as a catalyst for the following spell."
I placed the wand in Sylphie's hand and closed her fingers around it for her. She was in shock, as her wide eyes and open mouth showed. There was a small shakiness in her stance, and her arms quivered when the staff was placed in her hands.
"Try it again. Keep the cold air concentrated this time."
Sometime when I was speaking, Sylphie had cast her gaze toward my feet, refusing to meet my gaze. This caused her face to be shadowed, and I couldn't make out what expression she was making.
"...liar."
"Hmm? What?"
I didn't have time to process information as Sylphie threw herself onto me. It was like when she begged me not to leave her. I couldn't see her face as she buried it into my cloak, but judging from her trembling shoulders, she was crying. Well, letting out her pent-up emotions were good.
"Liar! Rudy is a liar! You're a big, mean liar!"
She sobbed into my chest, the multiple teardrops rolling off my cloak and onto the ground.
I said nothing, simply patting her back while stroking her hair.
"Y-you said you wouldn't leave me! No matter what!"
"I did. I'm sorry."
"I-I-I know your dad did it for our future. Th-that's why I'll work hard! I-I'll get strong enough to protect Rudy. B-B-But i-it was so lonely without you, and-and-and... Waah!"
"Shh... I'm here. Let it out. Let it out."
I couldn't blame her for crying. I mean, I disappeared one day without telling her why. I'd be sad too if my best friend did that to me. Granted, my father should have explained everything to her, but it's still difficult to accept. Right now, I'll make sure Sylphie calms down first. Then we can move on to other things.
...
"Hic... Sniff..."
"You okay? Want some more water?"
"N-no... I'm fine."
We fell into a comfortable silence. I continued to pat Sylphie's head as she lay on my lap. A light breeze brought the scent of fresh flowers into my nose.
"What have you been doing these days?" I asked. I wanted to make some small talk. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted, I didn't have all day. I needed to go back before sunset.
"Um... Miss Lilia started teaching me manners and cooking recently."
"Oh? Why'd you want to learn that?"
"Um... You know."
Sylphie reached over, grabbed a loose end of my cloak, and covered her face. I know she was blushing furiously underneath. I could have stopped there as I knew why, but I wanted to tease her more.
"No, I don't. Care to tell me?"
"Geez..." Sylphie pounded her tiny fists on my chest. "Stop teasing me...!"
"Ahahaha. Sorry, couldn't resist. You were just too cute."
"Hmph." Sylphie pouted and let the piece of my cloak fall from her face.
I laughed again at her expression, resuming patting her head as an apology.
"Sorry, I left so suddenly."
"It's fine." Sylphie grabbed another section of my cloak. "Your dad was the one who sent you away."
"Still, he didn't have to knock me out. He should have at least let me tell you."
"Don't blame him too much. My dad explained it to me after Miss Beastwoman took you."
Sylphie reached up and twirled my hair.
"I don't suppose you can stay with me every day?"
"No. But I promise to visit once a month."
"I-I understand."
I cringed, looking at Sylphie's disappointed expression. Come on, stop being so cute.
"...can I show you something?"
And here comes the part I'm dreading. I wanted to show Sylphie my new form, I really did, but my body is now so much more different than the one I had before. Will she even accept me?
...what a stupid question, me. Of course, Sylphie'll continue being my friend. She's the kindest girl I know. She wouldn't abandon me because of some change in appearance.
"Huh? Yeah, okay."
Moment of truth, I suppose.
"Alright, then." I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Please don't hate me after this, Sylphie."
"Huh? What did you say?"
The last part was in a whisper, but I guess she still caught some of it.
"N-nothing! Just me rambling."
I could have chosen to keep her in the dark about my current predicament, but I decided against it. Eris and the others were a different matter. Eris herself was too rash and would unknowingly reveal my secrets to the world. It wasn't her fault, of course. It was simply her personality. The others... I'll be frank. I didn't trust them with any secrets I held. I'll only be turned into a political bargaining chip.
With silent acquiescence, I shattered the spell concealing my true body.
There wasn't much change around me when the spell unraveled, but Sylphie subconsciously tensed. She was a mage. All mages could sense the ambient Mana in the air, but only a few could do it consciously without aid. My spell not only shrouded my actual appearance, but also kept the Mana I constantly radiated in a tight formation around me. And let me tell you, I emitted a lot of Mana.
My true look had changed somewhat since it was first shoved upon me, like a newborn growing up. My facial structure didn't change from "Rudeus Greyrat," but my eyes were pure gold, even when my Celestial Eyes were inactive. One of them-my right eye-began developing traces of purple. My white hair, which had started changing into a pale gold reminiscent of my previous hair color, now had a streak of black with a purple tint. It ran from the base of my cowlick-I still can't seem to get that stubborn strand to settle down-to the bottom of my right ear. It wasn't coloration, as it never changed position, even when I ruffled my hair. A thousand flakes of glitter seemed scattered on the black streak, some small while others were large. They formed clusters akin to nebulae and galaxies. And lastly, the gem embedded in my forehead had cleared up. Like cloudy water becoming see-through as the gunk sank to the bottom. The golden cracks weren't visible anymore, but I knew they were still there...somehow.
My body glowed a white-ish gold light non-stop. It wasn't limited to my eyes anymore. From my hair to my nails, they all let off a pale golden glow. If I were to compare it to something, I would say it was starlight.
I stook in the field awkwardly, rubbing my hand on my neck. I refused to meet Sylphie's eyes. Suddenly the grass seemed very entertaining.
"Rudy...are you using the disguise spell when we went on that field trip?"
Sylphie was the first to break the tense silence.
"Nope... This is how I actually look. Something happened while I was away, and now I'm like this."
I fidgeted with the sleeves of my cloak in my nervousness, pushing the fabric into my nails and pulling it out again.
"Um...I didn't always look like this. I don't know what made me like this, but..." I trailed off at the end. God, this was difficult. I was never a social person. I only made connections and all that other crap because I had to. "Please don't hate me."
I managed to squeeze out that last line through sheer force.
"Eh?" Sylphie looked genuinely confused. Her head was tilted, and her eyes had a questioning light. "Why would I hate you?"
"I mean-I changed so much. And with this...thing in my forehead, I barely look human!" I tapped the gem with my fingernail, forgetting it was a third eye. I hissed in pain, covering it with my palm.
Sylphie was beside me in an instant, worrying over me like an over-protective parent.
"What's wrong? I'll cast a healing spell."
Emerald green washed over me, and the pain somewhat subsided.
"Sorry. Hit my third eye." My arms fell to my side. "Anyway, you don't think this form is weird?"
"Well...a little. But Rudy is still Rudy, so It's fine. You didn't change much, anyway. And look!" She held up a bunch of her own hair. It was tinted green under the sun, barely noticeable but still there. "Now we match!"
I processed what she said with a blank look. "Rudy is Rudy." The logic was absurd, showing her innocence. But that's what made children so adorable, right?
Yes. I felt relieved. Why did I think Sylphie would hate me, anyway? Oh, well. Humans and our anxiety, though I wasn't a human anymore.
"Rudy? D-Did I say something wrong?"
Oh, dear. My long silence worried Sylphie. How cute!
"No, I'm just...relieved. I'm happy you don't hate this new look."
"I'll never hate you! I promised I'll be by your side forever, right?"
So cute! That innocence is gonna break me soon! I guess that was what made me make such a rash decision. I mean. I planned on doing it later in life anyway, so a little earlier wouldn't hurt. Besides, it'll only be a harmless promise.
"You know why I left, right?"
"Yeah." Sylphie looked at me gratefully. "You didn't have to. I was happy the way things were."
"Well, what's done is done. How about this, the day I come home permanently-" 'And after I save the world.' "-we get married."
Before any of you people say anything, I wasn't one of those people, okay? It was my child-like body affecting my mentality!
"H-huh?!" Sylphie shot up from her position on my lap with steam coming from her ears. "M-marriage?!" She stared at me with round eyes.
"Yeah. So? How about it? I mean, it's only a promise, but..."
Sylphie furiously bobbed her head up and down. "O-okay! I accept!"
I laughed at her enthusiasm. "Okay, great! That takes a weight off my chest." The sky seemed just a little clearer, the grass a smidge greener. I took one of the Asura copper coins from my pocket and used Alteration. It turned into a small ring.
"Sylphie, your hand."
"Oh! Um. Here."
I slipped the small ring onto her ring finger.
"It's but a placeholder, but this signifies our promise. I'll make you something when I have time."
Sylphie furiously shook her head. "No, Don't worry about it. I like this, so don't replace it."
"You sure? It wouldn't be any trouble at all."
"I-I'm sure."
"Okay, then."
By now, Sylphie's face was the shade of a tomato. Judging from the steam coming from her ears, she wouldn't be able to continue talking calmly for long.
"Hehehe..." I giggled at her overloaded expression. I pinched her cheeks to get Sylphie back to the realm of the living and began leading her to the woods. "Come on. Let's take a walk to my house. I'll explain why I'm here on the way."
...
It was cooler inside the forest. The shading from all the trees and the evaporation of the water within their leaves served well to cool the air around us. Sunlight still managed to peek through, creating blotches of light that danced as the wind blew.
As I walked, the forest changed behind me. Uneven dirt and grass became a path of smooth white stone. Twisting branches weaved together to form an arched pathway. I left some spots uncovered to let sunlight through. Bounded Field after Bounded Field was put up. Their functions varied from discouraging people from discovering this path to zapping Phantasmals with lightning should they get too close.
"...and that's how I got the violent mistress to actually listen to what I say."
I told Sylphie how I taught Eris the importance of learning as we walked. I wanted to tell her some stories before we got to the serious parts. It's been more than a month, and I wanted us to catch up.
"That sounded like an awful position to be in. It's amazing you could deal with the mistress so calmly."
"Hehe..." I scratched my cheek at the praise. "It's nothing. She has her quirks, just like you do, Sylphie."
"You haven't been pushing yourself too hard, have you?" I could feel Sylphie's piercing gaze on my back, judging me. Geez, this girl already acts like an over-worried wife. I'm not gonna sweat the details. I'll just be happy she cares about me so much.
"No, at least not with dealing with Eris."
"So you have been pushing yourself in other areas?"
I stopped walking, turning to my side where Sylphie walked. She held my hand while doing so, and, right now, her grip was unusually tight. I ruffed her pure white hair, running a hand along the hairclip I gave her.
"Don't worry. I can tell you've been working hard as well. I'm not pushing myself too much."
"Okay..."
She didn't seem completely convinced. Well, I haven't even convinced myself yet, so...
"But if I find out you haven't slept for seven days, I'll slap you."
Ah, what a good wife I found myself with.
"Of course, dear Sylphie." I silently burned the image of her blushing face into my mind. "On another note, what do you think of this pathway? Anything you want me to change? Oh, and feel free to add anything you wish to yourself."
"No, it looks perfect. But you didn't have to do this. I could have settled with everything I already have."
"Nonsense. The books in my house will help improve your magic greatly. Since I won't be here most of the time, you should be able to get them yourself." I absentmindedly manipulated a protruding branch away. "So until you can fly, you'll use this pathway."
"But won't people find this?"
"Nope. I've set barriers to prevent humans and monsters from finding this place." I scattered another set of Runestones using wind magic to prove my point. A barrier lit up for a moment before vanishing.
"You make it look so easy." Sylphie looked at the Runestones being carried away by wind magic.
"Practice makes perfect. Don't worry. I'm sure you'll catch up to me in no time."
The walk from the forest's edge to my house took around an hour. Which means I'll have to leave as soon as we get there.
"Oh, before I forget. Here." I handed Sylphie the folded piece of paper. "Your training plan for the next month."
"Thank you." Sylphie took the paper and stuck it in her dress's pocket.
We continued the walk, exchanging words as we did. The conversation was peaceful, the forest adding a hint of life as we talked about our days apart.
...
A while later, we got to the lake my house was on. Sylphie and I walked over to the water's edge. I subtly flicked my wrist, and a slab of grey rock appeared on the lakeside. I dropped a Runestone on the slab, and the Magic Circle on the Runestone got transferred to the slab.
"Pass Mana through this rock," I told Sylphie.
"Alright."
She did so, and a thin path of ice slowly formed along the lake's surface.
"This will form the bridge for you to cross. When you get to the other side, the ice will automatically melt. And don't worry about it cracking when you're walking across. It's strong enough to withstand a tree falling on it."
"You're amazing, Rudy," Sylphie muttered.
"Hehehe..."
Seriously. Stop inflating my ego too much. I'll end up in a real bad situation if you don't.
"Oh! Right, almost forgot. Here." I put a small metal object in Sylphie's hand.
"What is it?"
"The spare key to the door's lock. Don't lose it, alright?"
"I promise to take care of it!"
I smiled, ruffling her hair. "That's my girl." I sighed, huffing in disappointment. Sol really set too soon. Or this planet was rotating too fast. I could slow its rotation with Astromancy, but that would mess all sorts of things up. "Welp, I guess it's time to leave."
Sylphie looked down sadly, her ears drooping like unwatered plants. She didn't protest as she understood I couldn't stay with her forever, but she was still upset about it.
Damn it. Now I feel like I just kicked a puppy. "Don't be sad, okay? I'll see you in a month. And I promise to write letters every day."
Sylphie looked up, nodding in understanding. "Okay. And don't push yourself too much. I was serious about slapping you!"
I nodded and said in a mocking tone. "Of course, my lady."
"Geez. You're so carefree, Rudy."
"Well, I wouldn't say that. I like to look on the bright side of life, that's all." I winked at her, my cloak unfolding into wings to stabilize me in flight. "Well, see you next month."
"Be careful!"
"I will. Bye!"
"See you!"
With my brother shining on my back and my unofficial wife sending me off, I flew back to Roa.
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...
I wiped the sweat off my forehead as I looked at the figure on my desk. Making miniature figures of people I know helps me focus on the more daunting tasks. As such, it became part of my nightly routine even before I was reincarnated. I was somewhat of a craftsman, so I wanted every figure to be no less than perfect.
And I was able to achieve that with this figure. Thanks to the fact I'd spied on the subject many times while she was bathing. I included everything, from the amulet hidden in her clothes to the mole under her armpit. My one-eighth figure of Roxy was the best one I've made yet! Now, if only I had enough time today to finish Sylphie and Eris.
My eyes wandered regretfully to my desktop, where a glass bottle was placed. Or the remains of a glass bottle murder scene. Pieces of the see-through material were scattered everywhere on my desk. It was like the bottle had just inexplicably exploded. Okay, it did explode, but not inexplicably.
I was experimenting with pocket dimensions and Reality Marbles a few minutes prior. My thought process was this: "If my grandfather could make a Reality Marble, why can't I?" Besides, doing so would allow me to better understand the World's Textures. Thereby making it that much easier to repair them and save the world.
I wanted to make a pocket dimension within a glass bottle and then manipulate its Reality and turn it into a Reality Marble. I succeeded with the pocket dimension in a bottle, but when I tried changing its Reality, it couldn't handle the stress and shattered. I resorted to creating a figure of Roxy to calm myself.
"It's a bit too hot in here. Maybe some fresh air'll help."
With my shoulders hunched, I strolled over to the window and opened it.
"Ah... Yep, this feels nice."
I closed my eyes and felt a cool breeze rush into my room. When I opened them, my eyes drifted to the star-filled sky. It was beautiful as always. No matter how much I look, the stars always capture my attention. Subconsciously, I began counting each constellation.
"The Big Dipper's there. Leo... There's that crab named after a deadly illness. And that's the dragon with too many heads. And that's..." My gaze lingered on a red "star." Wait, I don't remember a star being that large and dim. My Celestial Eyes glowed a shade of gold as they analyzed the red "star." "What is that?"
It was a red orb floating about a kilometer in the sky. Two rings surrounded the gem, like planetary rings. It might have been a trick of the light, but I caught a glimpse of something moving within. My Celestial Eyes saw that its Mana density was incredible.
"Whatever it is, I must go see."
Balls of compressed wind lifted me to the skies. Before I knew it, I was hovering beside the red jewel.
"Okay. First, let me use a spell to see what this thing is."
"Analyze."
Information flooded into my brain. Along with what my Celestial Eyes told me, I knew what this orb was. Pure Mana, and of incredible density, too. That wasn't even the craziest thing. There was a miniature pocket dimension within the red gem. A flipping universe within the jewel that was storing unimaginable amounts of Mana. I don't know how it got that much Magical Energy, but I didn't care. What I'm worried about is what this...thing was for.
"Could this thing be..." The cause of the calamity that will happen after my tenth birthday?
It was certainly possible, but there could be other factors I don't know about. Nonetheless, it was too dangerous to be left alone. Judging from the amount of Mana it was gathering, it wasn't some Elementry-rank nonsense. Even calling this God-ranked magic wouldn't be a stretch.
I couldn't destroy this thing easily. If I did, all the Mana stored within would explode, reducing everything in a large area to atoms. I don't know how large the area of effect was, but Roa would be wiped off the map.
Which means I'll have to gradually drain all the Mana within.
"What am I going to do with...all this...Mana! This is basically an infinite Mana source!"
Let's rewind to the Rings of Light that I need to stabilize the World's Textures. As I said before: they need a ridiculous amount of energy to manifest. And what do I have before me? An infinite Mana glitch.
I knew how to crystallize Mana into gems, so if I started creating jewels from Mana and sending them into the currently forming ring system, that would solve all my problems! I would be draining this ticking time bomb, thereby averting whatever disaster this was made to perform. And I'd be forming the Rings of Light, preventing the end of the World's Texture! I'd be killing two calamities with one stone!
"Yes, my genius surprises even me."
With all that in mind, I swiftly cast an invisibility spell on me. Getting into a comfortable position, I started concentrating the Mana into jewels. Then, using Astromancy, I sent the Mana crystals into the planet's orbit with all the asteroids and comets the Celestials gathered for me.
It was tiring and boring, but it gave me a sliver of hope. This took care of both my energy and matter problems. Now all I had to do was slave away in the dead of night, and I'll be able to form the Rings of Light before my tenth birthday.
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What do yall think? Not too sloppy, I hope. Also, the marriage proposal to Sylphie is...I-don't-know-how-many-years earlier. I'm not sure if I made the right choice or not, but, hey. As long as I enjoyed writing it.
Also, I plan for Rudeus to meet Zanoba earlier than expected. Is that okay with yall?
Anyways, Please like, share, follow, and comment.
As always, good luck with your game of life͘.
P.S.: I changed something in the chapter "Druid's House" in the first volume. The name of the mysterious Druid has finally been revealed. Go check it out. It's important.