Chapter 4: Chapter 4 "The Forest Clan"
Two days later, they finally arrived in town, and Wade had never been more excited to see humans in his entire life – well, elves. The town was a vibrant mixture of colors and sounds, a stark difference from their home in the forest. On each side of the town, stalls of various shapes and sizes were adorned with different wares, creating a bustling marketplace that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. The air was thick with the intoxicating aroma of exotic spices, and the sounds of lively conversations filled the atmosphere. Wade wasn't sure what to expect, but this wasn't it.
"Dad will buy you hawthorn candies. How many do you want?" Zaos asked, grinning stupidly. It was a stark difference from the warrior that had fought the tiger back in the forest
"He can only have one. Remember he just recovered. Candies are not-" Before Idril could complete her words, Zaos disappeared, winking at Wade.
"Eei" Wade shuddered. Although he was in a child of a body, he was still twenty-five years old mentally. A few minutes later, Zaos was back with a handful of different goodies, dumping it all on Wade. "Here have this." He said. "You used to like this," Zaos said. Wade picked one, smelling it before chewing. Fortunately, it tasted like apples, and Wade was fine with eating it.
"Oh look at his cheeks." Idril swooned, nibbling on his left cheek.
"Although he's our son. He's so cute." Zaos joined in, nibbling his right cheek.
"I don't know if I like this," Wade muttered beneath his breath, trying to keep his expression from showing. As they went further into town, Wade couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the elves race who moved gracefully through the bustling streets. They all possessed an ethereal allure, their features exuding a timeless elegance. They all looked handsome and beautiful, radiating an inner vitality that added to their captivating presence. Young elves darted and weaved through the crowd, their eyes sparkling with the same striking shade of blonde hair that adorned their heads. A thought suddenly struck Wade. He hadn't seen his own reflection since arriving in this fantasy world. "Do I look the same?" he wondered aloud, turning to his newfound parents. "Do you have a mirror?"
Idril looked at him with a curious expression before reaching into a bag and producing a mirror. "Here you go, honey," she said, offering it to him. Anxiety coursed through Wade as he accepted the mirror. His experiences in this unfamiliar world had been far from reassuring, and he wasn't sure what to expect. Slowly, he raised the mirror to gaze upon his own reflection. His eyes widened as he took in the sight.
"Is something wrong?" Zaos inquired, concern etched across his face.
Wade said nothing but returned the mirror to Idril, He pretended to look at his feet, trying hard not to let his insidious grin show. Internally, he couldn't help but giggle with delight. "Hehehe, the system actually did something right this time," he thought, his fingers gripping the sides of his cheeks. Although Wade wasn't ugly back on earth, it was nothing compared to his face in this world. It was simply a sight to behold. His blonde hair cascaded like liquid sunshine, framing his face in a golden halo. His eyes were a vibrant blue, the same color as Zaos. His features were a harmonious blend of Zaos and Idril's beauty, and he couldn't help but feel grateful. "Mom, Dad, thank you for the good genes," he cried internally, blinking back tears of happiness.
(STARTED FROM HERE) Zaos and Idril shared a look, and although it was fleeting, Wade's eyes darted between them, catching the quick exchange. "Is something wrong?" He asked between each bite of his candy.
Zaos cleared his throat, his hand unconsciously scratching the nape of his neck. He struggled to find the right words, causing Wade's frown to grow deeper. "Dad has to go buy some things for the house," Zaos finally said. "Do you want to come with me, or do you want to check the market with your mom?" Although his dad attempted to hide it, Wade could see the worry etched in his expression. It was a burden he didn't want to impose on his son.
"That wasn't so hard to say," Wade mumbled. "I'll just stay here with mom," He replied out loud, his face carrying a deadpan expression.
Zaos sighed, an odd mixture of relief and melancholy. He leaned in and said, "Oh, I'll miss you," he said, rubbing his cheek affectionately against Wade's. However, Wade was not impressed by his father's affectionate display. Without a second thought, he pushed against Zaos' face, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Just go, go," Wade muttered through gritted teeth, trying not to let out a curse. 'What's with Elves and rubbing cheeks!' Wade couldn't fathom why a grown man was acting this way.
As Zaos turned to leave, his broad shoulders slumped ever so slightly, a tinge of sadness clinging to his every movement. He paused for a moment, trying to reach for Wade's face. "Just a lil peck." Zaos bargained.
"Hell to the no." Wade thought, while actively pushing his face away. "There was no way he was allowing an old man to kiss his cheeks. Although he was now eleven years old, mentally he was still twenty-five.
"Wade doesn't want to spend time with me." Zaon sniffled, tear streaming down his face. By now, everyone walking around the market was looking at them, and Wade wished he could disappear at that moment. He turned to Idril for help, but it looked like she was also about to join in.
"I'll spend time with you when you come back!" Wade rushed out, quickly reassuring his father. This was the only way to diffuse the situation at the moment.
"Kisses and Huggins?" Zaos asked, casting a doe-eye his way.
"Don't push it, old man."
"Hugs?"
Wade remained silent, trying to look at everything but Zaos.
"Hugs?" Zaos pressed on.
"Fine, fine. Hug." Wade replied reluctantly, giving out a resigned sigh.
"Yeah?" Zaos replied, his tears vanishing as if by magic.
"Son of a -" Wade muttered under his breath.
"Dad will be back before you know it, okay?" Zaos said, waving goodbye, before disappearing into the crowd, leaving Wade and Idril behind.
"Your father just loves you a lot," Idril said.
"..."
"Don't worry, you're going to have so much fun with mom," Idril chimed in, holding Wade's hand in hers, her demeanor transformed from the warrior-like figure he had known in the forest.
Wade tilted his head to the side, studying the wide smile on his mom's face. Her aura was so different, and he wondered if she was even the same person. As Wade walked alongside his mother through the bustling market, his mind was consumed with thoughts of his current situation. He had witnessed the incredible abilities of both his parents during the fight in the forest, and now he yearned to understand his own abilities. "Can you tell me about how you got your power?" Wade asked, thinking back to the way she manipulated the plants around.
"Power? Ah, mana," Idril replied, her voice filled with warmth and patience. She glanced down at her son, a loving smile gracing her lips. "Every Elf is born with the ability to use mana, and by the time you reach the age of eighteen, you go to the temple to manifest the form of your mana."
Wade's eyes widened with curiosity as he listened to Idril's explanation. The concept of mana was fascinating, and he couldn't help but envision the possibilities that lay dormant within him. Idril continued her explanation, her voice carrying a sense of pride and nostalgia. "My mana manifested in the form of nature, allowing me to manipulate the forces of the earth and the elements. Your dad's mana, on the other hand, manifested in the form of light, granting him incredible fighting abilities." His mind raced with excitement as he imagined what his own mana form could be. He envisioned himself wielding a mighty sword, the embodiment of strength and courage. Or perhaps he would possess the power of fire, capable of igniting the world around him. The possibilities seemed endless, and he couldn't wait to discover his own unique manifestation.
Wade realized that he still had eleven long years to wait before he could even begin to unlock his mana form. "Freaking nine years!" he cursed silently. "Nine years before he could manifest his mana form." As he looked up, his thoughts were interrupted by the holographic screen that refused to disappear. "Ah right, how can I forget - kekekekekeke." He began to laugh evilly, covering his face with one hand.
[SKILL WINDOW- LOCKED]
>CONDITION: System only works when player is a guild master of an adventure guild.
Idril's expression shifted to confusion as she noticed her son's peculiar behavior. "Are you alright?" she asked with concern.
"Yeah, I'm absolutely fine," Wade replied in a small voice, trying to hide his seething rage and the torrent of profanities behind a façade of cheerfulness. How could he forget that he had been reincarnated into a body with mana curse, not only that- he couldn't use any of the system's skills due to a stupid condition. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he closed his eyes - they were simply tears of anger. Young Wade had murder on his mind.
"Cirdan!!!" Idril exclaimed, her concern growing, not understanding the true source of his distress. "Are you alright? Do you want to meet your dad? You want more snacks, books! You love books. Do you want me to get magic books for you?" She bombarded him with questions, her motherly instincts kicking in.
The mention of magic books seemed to snap Wade out of his self-destruction. "Magic...books?" Wade asked, looking at his mom, his interest piqued.
"Yeah, you loved magic books," Idril confirmed, her face lighting up as she realized she had found a way to make him happy.
"Fine, I want magic books," Wade mumbled, a mix of resignation and curiosity in his voice. "What difference would it make," he thought.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
mickro
mickro Read advanced Chapters: www patreon com / Blink360
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone