Magic is a very complicated concept. Not only is it highly volatile, but it is also progressive.
Having been gone for over five hundred years, this concept has taken leaps and bounds from where I left off, making me stranded with only old information.
But, this would all change in a few days. As a seven-year-old child, I wasn't granted access to the main household Library, since I was always watched.
Since my mother realized I loved books, she made a separate library for me, filling it with easy-to-understand books that were deemed fit for my age. Of course, I easily exhausted these and demanded more tasking materials, but my stubborn mother insisted on sticking to the childish pieces of paper she called books.
It was thanks to this that I couldn't progress much in my study of modern-day magic. Still, I wasn't too frustrated since I had still not formed my Mana Core. However, that time is over. The deal I made with my mother was finally going to take effect.
Books were important, however, this deal was something that would be even better than literature. A Magic-User who had experience in both practice and education, capable of imparting their knowledge into others… A Magic Tutor!
Finally, I was going to have one!
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*
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>CLACK<
>CLACK<
>CLACK<
I heard the sounds of horse hooves marching on the hard ground in my family's compound.
This sound distracted my reading, but awakened the curiosity I had.
'Are they finally here?' I thought to myself.
I looked down from my study, which I intentionally requested to be close to the window, and saw a carriage making a turn at the flower garden, close to the main gate.
A broad smile formed on my face, and I closed the book I was engrossed in just seconds ago.
"I should go welcome them, no?"
Jumping from my seat, I hurriedly dashed from the room and charged straight for the main door downstairs.
I didn't need to change the attire I wore, since it was already a perfectly decent one.
'Since a few days ago, after Anabelle sent a letter, requesting for my tutor, I have been wearing presentable attires in anticipation for when they would come!'
I saw a few maids rushing to inform my mother of the presence of whoever descended from the carriage, but I totally ignored them. In a flash, even before my Anabelle could be told of my tutor's arrival, I was already behind the door.
"Let's see who it'll be!"
A grin formed on my face as I clasped the doorknob.
"Welcome to the Leonar-" I spoke while opening the door to see our dear guest.
Suddenly, a sharp surge coursed through my body, causing it to nearly go numb.
'W-wha-…?! This is…'
My eyes bulged and every hair of my skin stood as I felt the intense pressure emanating from a single location. With all of my strength, I raised my head and looked in the direction of the person who stood before me, directly in front of the main entrance.
"Y-you are…?!" I managed to whisper, staring at the overwhelming figure.
The man, appearing to be in his late fifties, stared at me blankly. His body was limp, and he had a somewhat skinny outlook, yet the presence he emitted was that of a well-seasoned expert.
The pressure felt enough to crush me.
'Incredible… what a dense mana signature!' I thought to myself while sweating profusely.
"Are you… Jared Leonard?" The man suddenly spoke, causing me to stiffen in response.
His eyes were fixated on me, narrowing them as though he was intrigued by something I wasn't aware of.
"Y-yes…" I stuttered.
However, I wasn't done. No matter how incredible this person was, what he was currently doing was wrong. For him to carelessly release his magic pressure, what was he hoping to achieve?
"I-if you don't mind… could you retract your magic pressure?"
His eyes narrowed even more as I asked this, causing me to gulp. The man suddenly moved closer, one foot already past the door, and drew his face closer to me.
"Interesting…" He mumbled, stroking his short, white beard.
"Eeek…" I squeaked, feeling like an ant before him.
"Are you sure you're Jared Leonard?" He asked me once again.
I could smell his breath from our distance. It wasn't terrible, just very musty, like a combination of spicy herbs and alcohol.
This time, I didn't answer. I had had enough of this man's insolence. Perhaps I had forgotten earlier, but as the son of a Duke, and his employer, he had no right to treat me in such a manner.
Magic Pressure was something Magic-Users used to greet each other, displaying their level of power. For him to do such a thing before a seven-year-old like me, who just awakened… was extremely inappropriate.
Still, I was done with words. If his language was going to be Magic Pressure, I was just going to give him the response he wanted.
>SHUUUUUUU<
I instantly opened my magic veins, causing my mana to leak out and generated my own magic pressure.
>BOOOMMMMMM<
Our distinct energies clashed with each other, causing a quake across the room.
I winced a little, noticing that my Pressure was nothing compared to his. Still, I wasn't about to give up due to this little setback.
I pushed more of my mana out to compensate, gritting my teeth as I glared at him. The man didn't even seem fazed by my Pressure. From his demeanor, he wasn't even serious from what he emitted.
'Tch, don't look down on me!'
Even if I was weaker in terms of the quality of mana, it wasn't everything. The room was currently brimming with mana thanks to both of our pressures, and mine was directly clashing with his, as well as touching the surrounding mana.
The conditions were perfect for SPELLCRAFT.
"Hold it right there!" A voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts.
My eyes bulged as I recognized who it was. I looked back and saw an annoyed glare on her face.
'Anabelle?!'
The man standing before me quickly withdrew his Magic pressure for some reason, leaving mine the only one evident.
I turned to look at him, only to be shocked by what I saw. His intimidating aura had gone, instead, his eyes were exhibiting an emotion that I had not long ago… FEAR.
What the hell was happening here?!
"You've crossed the line this time, Alphonse!" Anabelle, my mother growled, moving closer.
"A-Ana, hold on, I can explain-"
Before the man could finish speaking, my mother vanished from her location, appearing behind the man she called Alphonse.
'A-amazing… I couldn't even see her move!' My thoughts rang as I witnessed her standing in front of me, but behind the man in our midst.
"W-wait!" He pleaded.
However, before he could struggle or move, my mother interlocked her arms around his, dragging him up with her might and bent backward, crashing him into the ground.
A mighty SUPLEX!
Jared's mother is something
>BAM!<
Were my eyes deceiving me? Absolutely not!
I had no idea how my prim and proper mother was able to achieve such a feat, even with the long gown she wore and her seemingly slender arms. She had never displayed such monstrous strength and agility the whole time I have known her.
Dragging the stranger she called Alphonse, she bent backward and flung him to the ground in a mighty suplex, causing a loud noise to reverberate in my ears.
"W-wha-?!" I could only mutter, seeing as my eyes barely followed her movements.
The man's head was planted to the ground, and his eyes had turned white while his mouth foamed. It appeared that her sudden action had sent him into a state of unconsciousness instantly.
'My mother… sure is scary!'
———————
After the incident, mother ordered the maids to carry the unconscious man to the guest lounge, where she told me to come as well.
Of course, she had paused to ask how I was doing and if it hurt anywhere, but I was more concerned about her proximity to me than any other thing.
'Don't try feigning affection to me now, you brute!' My mind rang, unable to separate the current image I had of my mother at the moment.
Still, as a master of acting, an art I had cultivated for the seven years of my life, I reverted to my childish nature and gave her a sweet and warm smile.
"I'm okay, mum."
Of course, this did the trick as she tightly embraced me, suffocating me with her enormous chest.
'Just break all my bones, will you!'
After the maids began taking Alphonse up, mother followed behind them, while I followed behind her.
I swear, I was gulping the whole time. It wasn't a pleasant experience.
After we settled in the Lounge, a verandah-like area, with an open view of the garden, which was filled with lush breeze and a pleasant aura, I was unable to enjoy any of these thanks to the woman I called my mother.
"Alphonse, you can wake up now." My mother spoke calmly, lightly tapping the unconscious man who was already placed on the chair.
For a man appearing to be in his fifties, he sure looked miserable now. He should have known who he was messing with.
'Hehehe, I guess he has learned his lesson now.'
Alphonse did not budge, most likely due to being immersed in the unconscious state my mother had put him in. It hadn't been very long since her assault, so patience was a given in situations like this… or so I thought.
"Oi, Alphonse! Don't keep me waiting!" My mother yelled, using her elbow to hit his stomach.
"Guarkkkk!!!" The man sprung back to life in recoil to that attack.
'A-ah!' Even though I wasn't the one that was hit, I tightly gripped my guts in reaction to the display of violence exhibited by my mother.
'Anabelle, take it easy!'
The man groaned, mumbling some curses to himself.
"Oh, what was that?"
He instantly froze the instant my mother asked, drawing her face near his. Her scary smile and chilly aura made even me tremble.
'What happened to the warm and kind mother I know and love?!'
"A kid is here, Alphonse. No swearing." She stared firmly.
"Alright, alright. Jeez…" He mumbled, rubbing his neck which appeared to be sore from the suplex he received.
"Sorry about that…"
It appeared that he had just made an apology, but I was confused about who it was directed to. Me, or my mother?
"Ahem!" She coughed, sending him into another state of shock.
It was amazing how my mother, who looked like she was barely even 25 years old, was able to command the actions of a man over twice her age.
"I mean, Jared… I would like to apologize for my earlier behavior… that was uncalled for." He smiled, finally looking in my direction.
A small smile formed on my face since he was paying attention to me at long last.
"It's fine… I'm just curious as to why you did that. Magic Pressure is dangerous, sir."
I made sure to speak in a respectful tone, showing the etiquettes I had grown to learn.
It appeared learning it in my past life as well as my new one would not be a waste, after all.
"Oh? You're a fine young lad, aren't you? Polite as well… are you sure you're Ana's son-?!"
Before he could complete his sentence, my mother jerked him in the gut once again, causing him to bowl over and groan while holding his stomach.
"A-ah, you never change, do you?"
"Shut it, Alphonse!"
At this point, I was getting curious. Just what was the relationship between my mother and this weirdo?!
"Answer the kid! I'm also curious…" My mother gave a menacing smile.
A bead of sweat fell from his forehead as he slightly coughed, pretending to clear his throat.
"W-well… simply put, it was a test."
A test? Now that was somewhat unexpected, but at the same time, it started to make sense to me.
"So that's what it was. >Sigh<, why did I even call for you?" Ana groaned, shaking her head.
It appeared my mother knew what this man's test was all about. Even I was already having a faint guess.
"Haha. Well, I had to make sure. After getting a letter from you, requesting me to be his tutor, I still had to confirm if he was worth teaching." Alphonse answered.
'Ouch, that hurt…'
"You mean, my words weren't enough for you?" My mother responded almost immediately.
"I am bound to my personal code, you know? Besides, he's your son. Of course, there would be bias in your words." He spoke back, maintaining a gentle smile throughout.
I could understand his perspective. I only awakened at the age of seven, way behind by normal standards. Plus, it wasn't as though I had a high aptitude, to begin with.
'I don't know what the content of Anabelle's letter stated, but she being my mother, might have somewhat embellished my capabilities…'
"And? After your test, what do you think now?" My mother's voice suddenly cut into my thoughts.
I looked at the man, Alphonse, and at my mother, who gave a somewhat knowing smile.
"Not only was he able to withstand my Magic Pressure, but he also made his own to counter it. I have never seen such an exceptional Magic-User at such a young age. I have no doubt about it now. Your letter was spot on!"
Oh? I was somewhat happy to hear him say that. It appeared I wasn't as bad as I thought.
Plus, rationally speaking, an immature Awakened couldn't learn how to create Magic Pressure instantly. But I had my years of experience and practice in mana manipulation to thank for that.
Alphonse looked at me, nodding his head in approval.
"Jared is definitely worth teaching!"
Next chapter, Jared begins his magic lessons. How will he fare?
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