"You weren't half bad~ Not everyone can block one of my attacks at such an young age, you know? Even when I'm holding back!" My father laughed after giving me a few merciless beatdowns consecutively. I tiredly lifted my head in regret since I couldn't even defend against anything after his first attack.
I thought I'd be able to follow up and counter the second time he rushed at me... Who could have thought that after defending the first strike father telegraphed just like before, he would have the time to swiftly follow up it up with a second perfectly executed strike? I was powerless against him...
After experiencing my father's mighty battle prowess for myself, I couldn't help but feel a little suspicious about my father's current mindset towards this 'training'. Why is it that I feel that my father's willpower was unshaken after striking me down even though I'm his son? Is Father good at controlling his emotions or is he just a battle maniac?
"By the way, when did you learn Aura Manifestation? I'm sure I didn't teach you that" My father abruptly stopped his victorious laugh and asked with a curious light shining in his eyes.
"I copied the uncles who usually train here." I answered Father truthfully.
"Amazing...! Your talent for martial arts is incredible! It's only a pity that you only have a mere Rank F Magical Talent. If you had Rank D Magical Talent or even a Rank E Magical Talent, you would have been able to learn my personal and unique form of Earth Style swordsmanship. Today was just to test your reaction time and battle senses.
I would have beaten you down tomorrow as well if you had failed this little test and weren't able to live up to my standards." Father spoke his thoughts ruthlessly. Mother, was watching at the side, just sighed in our direction after hearing his scary words.
Mother kindly helped me up and patted the dust off my clothes. She then let me nod off for a while and have a good rest so that I could recuperate. When I awoke, I found myself laying on the bed in my room.
"That was so intense!" I muttered to myself. I also felt my life was going to be more chaotic in the future. I got up and stretched before walking out. Coincidentally, this was also the same time my mother wanted to meet me.
"Oh Simon, you're awake? Good timing! I was just about to wake you up." My mother said before grabbing my hand. She showed me a book after dragging me to her and father's room.
It was a strange grimiore I had never seen before. It's exterior looked quite magical with all the Mana that seemed to have been infused into it. I would have been excited to read from something so precious-looking if it weren't for the title written on top.
"What is this 'Introduction to using Magic for Dummies'? It sounds so suspicious...!" I stared at mother with gloomy eyes. Although I was interested in the prospect of learning how to use magic since birth, there's no way I'll learn from such a suspicious book that calls me a dummy... This is not going to happen! I'd rather stay ignorant!
Hah... Since when did I become such a child? I don't remember having such an easily triggered personality in my past life. Well, I did have such a volatile temperament in the youth of that life. If my brothers were here I'm sure they'd calm me down...
"It's something that was written by a good friend of mine. Although her wording is a little eccentric, there's no need to doubt its contents. Let's just read it and try it out. You've already found the benefits of learning how to use Aura Manifestation, so learning some knowledge about magic won't be detrimental to your growth." My mother answered with a confident look on her face. I looked at her with an expression of doubt.
Even if I was interested, there's no way someone with a low ranked magical talent could use magic. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out. The difference between Rank F Magical Talents and Rank E Magical Talents was more than just how much of their body could be covered using the Aura Manifestation technique.
What was different between the two ranks was that Rank E Magical Talents were able to use simple magical Spells. The 'Fireball' Spell that's usually fantasised by some people of Earth was actually pretty commonly used to light up fires and the works.
Elemental Spells that couldn't be used for anything other than small chores like cleaning were called Common Spells. Actual Combat Spells that could be used in battle were something only Rank E Magical Talents or above could use.
"Who said Rank F Magical Talents couldn't use Combat Spells? It doesn't matter how large your spells are so long as they are useful in battles." My mother comforted after seeing the doubtful expression on my face, one I made no attempt to even hide. Her words shocked me for a moment but also filled my heart with hope...
"Then let's read it." I said in excitement and opened the book on the desk. In this world, books were scarcer than the ones on Earth. Especially books related to magic. This was due to the rarity of true mages on Sphera... That and adding the fact that Mages usually didn't spread their secrets to success...
{Greetings, my dear dummy reader, and congratulations~ If you're currently reading this grimoire... then you've just admitted to being a dummy! Hahaha~!} My mother stopped me from throwing the book on the ground and calmed my surging anger.
I have to thank you for stopping me, Mother. However, if I ever meet the writer of this in the future, I'll beat him within an inch of his life!
Hah... breath in and out... I must stay calm! I hadn't even bothered to hide my emotions these last few years since there's no need for me to be so disciplined towards myself in this life.
Huh...? Why do I feel like my mind is being affected by an external force? Am I imagining it? Meh, that can't be the case. I'm definitely just imagining it... That... can't be... the case...
Let's just move on to reading...
{But let's not focus on the fact that you're a dummy. Because it's time to learn about Magic! What is the art of magic you ask? Well, let's just say that it's different from 'Arts' of the modern age. A dummy like you probably never understood the difference between Arts and Spells so I'll make sure to properly explain.} The scorn in the writers words seems to be bottomless, but I didn't react the same way as before. Instead I continued to read in order to learn from the writer's advice. However, if I meet this abnormally arrogant in the future, I'll break his legs! (Joking.)
{Arts are magical abilities that use Internal Energy (Mana) to effect the world around them. They are able to affect the user and in various ways in order to increase the user's battle prowess. It is essential for a Martial Artist to have many kinds of Arts other than the Aura Manifestation in order to react to different scenarios.} I felt enlightened by the detailed explanation that came after that eccentric start.
Now it seems this arrogant guy is able to get down to business when talking about something intellectual! I thank the writer by deciding to only break one his legs after giving him a light beating as a sign of respect. (Dead serious... Nah~ I'm just joking again.)
If anyone asks, I'm no longer angry. It's best to not take note of the bulging vein on my forehead nor the flames in my eyes. My heart's just warm... that's all...
{Spells are the true form of magic that only the smartest and most imaginative are able to use. They best ones only use External Energy (Ether) in their surroundings rather than Internal Energy (Mana) for activation. The types of magic one can use depends on the user's Ether Affinity and Magical Talent.}
{Even a Rank F Magical Talent would be able to use some degree of actual Magic, but that doesn't mean they will be able to use Combat Spells since most Modern Spells created nowadays consume a lot of Mana to manipulate the Ether.} This part of the detailed explanation made me feel disappointed for obvious reasons... but even so, it wasn't like I hadn't predicted such an answer after experimenting with my own Mana along with its Attributes.
So from what this guy's saying: One's Mana is like a 'Wand' that manipulates the omnipresent Ether existing in the atmosphere. I remember being told about Ether before but never got around to sensing it like Mages. In fact, this explanation seems to be better than the one I'd originally thought of since it was written so that intelligent people had a chance in using Spells. A former eighty year old soldier like myself is definitely smarter than the average youth! Though I wonder if I could keep up with others my age in the whole 'imagination' department?
{To find out what Ether Affinities you have, the first thing you need to do is manipulate your Mana and insert it into the black ink dot on the other side of this page. Once you do, something interesting will happen, so give it a shot~!} I followed the eccentric writer's instructions and turned the page. Only to find that the two pages on the other side were completely blank. The only thing on the page the writer indicated was a single tiny stain made by ink.
Why does this feel like a trap? Could it be one of those prank Magic Circles where it electrocutes the finger of whoever imbues Mana into it? The writer of this seems like the type to pretend to be serious before playing a prank... My eyes shifted to Mother.
"Don't worry. That person wouldn't prank someone in this situation." My mother noticed my hesitation and comforted me. Oh yeah, she's actually met the writer of this. I nodded my head, following the instructions written previously and focused some of the Mana within me into the dot of ink.
The dot of ink expanded and turned into drawings of red flames, purple streaks of lightning, droplets of water, spiralling winds and mountainous stones of earth. Paragraphs of information appeared on the other page next to it:
{Congratulations~ You have now used my own unique Spell Circle to find out your own Ether Affinities. Have pride as it a special creation for those who read this book. If you want more specialised Spell Circles customised for different uses in the future. Be sure to visit Hilda's Magic Circle Workshop!
The location and address are on the back. Also, to find what the picture drawn on the side represents, just match what you see with this list:
Affinity to Earth Ether represent your love for stability and structure.
Affinity to Wind Ether represent your free heart and love for innocent tricks.
Affinity to Fire Ether represent your love for violent battles and conflicts.
Affinity to Water Ether represent your love for eternal peace and prosperity.
And last but not least, the affinity to Lightning Ether... Actually, I don't exactly know what it represents. Maybe it just means your an eccentric...?}
{Meh! Who cares anyway? I myself have a Lightning Affinity but don't seem to find anything bad about my personality. It's probably nothing~}
{Although your affinity doesn't determine your personality, some people like to use this as their horoscope. Just go and some have fun with this 'horoscope'. Those who have one element affinity are ordinary but those with two or higher are extremely talented and might one day have many achievements in magic. However, don't get your hopes up if you're a Rank F Magical Talent because there's no way you'll be 'outstanding' in magic without higher Magical Talent.} I looked at the advertisement written in there and noted down the address on the back.
Now I know where you are now! You insufferable, crazy, eccentric witch!
Get ready to be beaten and have your leg broken after I've grow up! How dare you show me the light of hope before destroying my dreams!!! (I'm still joking, but wow~ I'm such a melodramatic guy, aren't I...?)
Ahem, well, it seems I really am quite a violent guy on the inside. However after thinking things through, I realised that I was just overreacting about it. Her opinion isn't everything.
There was no point in losing my cool for such a stupid reason like this, so I decided forgive and forget. It definitely had nothing to do with the fact that I just remembered that Hilda is the name of my grandmother. Why didn't Mother tell me about her sooner?! Grandma is the scariest!
I never want to make an enemy out of my father's mother in my lifetime. It's not because I respect her but due to the fact that I sincerely fear her...
Merilin won't ever shut up about how awesome our grandmother is after Father mentioned that she was a powerful Lightning Archmage recognised by many. I might as well pretend to be the calm type of person who doesn't get angered much...