Somewhere, a time long forgotten
A young woman knelt, her kneecaps scraping the asphalt road yet she was insensitive to the bleeding. Hushed whispers between adults and children surrounded. Parents nearby covered the eyes of their children and others directly left.
A kindhearted woman dressed in a reflective yellow coat had walked forward to hold the shoulders of the young mother. Cars detoured around her and the world kept moving, yet in her mind, in the small bubble she had created, laid only silence and sorrow.
The blaring of sirens echoed and shattered the shell that was her trance. Men and women alighted from the various deafening vehicles, some approached her while others cordoned off the area. A pair, perhaps a couple with friendly faces spoke to her though only received her unresponsiveness. The woman of the pair showed her a compassionate smile before she returned to help her partner.
As they walked back towards their vehicle, a vehicle distinctly red and white, the young woman trudged in their direction, her arms reaching out and her breath hurried. Towards the one who accompanied her in her bubble, towards the person who gave her light in her life, towards her son whom she gave life to.
...
Unbeknownst to the woman, a figure ran beside her, calling, shouting, yet no one showed any sign of acknowledging his presence.
"MUM!!! Mum! Don't cry mum! Please don't cry mum! I'm right here! Please!"
As he choked and sobbed, the boy had yet to realize that his mother's crystal tears slowly ran red down her cheeks.
---
There would be an 'awakening' ceremony for every child who turned 16 in age. Blake, having turned 16 one month ago, had his awakening scheduled 2 months later. Since then, a month had passed. This ceremony was the main event that had booked his trip to Central. Something else was also supposed to occur during his visit, though Blake had yet to be fully informed.
"Dad, what quintessence did you acquire?"
Count Quills chuckled as he heard this question.
"Remember this Blake, quintessence is not any topic to be discussed with anyone other than the ones you trust. Though I'd imagine you needn't require my warning. Regardless, since your sister has heard from me before, I shall show and explain my ability to you brothers now rather than explain once more when Harry comes to age"
The count moved his rigid gaze to each of his children in turn.
"But before that, let's not waste our food"
The count's family ate in relative silence, a first in a long time.
Harry, Blake's younger brother of 5 years showed a healthy and babyish complexion. If dressed suitably, he could perhaps masquerade as the opposite gender as children seem more androgenous the younger they look. His fringe rocked from side to side as he ate excitedly, contrary to his brother's slightly messy hairdo and detached expression.
Joanne, on the contrary, struggled to keep her lips shut, her mouth moving unnaturally even while she was chewing a rough piece of bread. 'The more you talk, the more you try and provoke others, yet the moment your lips are sealed, you're agitated enough that your lips start to tremble' Penelope, the mother of the trio shook her head witnessing her children's antics. The couple at the table shared a look of delight before finishing their meal.
---
Led on a path heading to the back of the mansion, Blake reserved a meeting with his maid later that day, before he entered the private yard of the Count's estate. The location was rather large, some would say that it was comparable in size to a running track.
Training tools and weaponry littered the perimeter closest to the manor.
"As we will be discussing secretive matters, we shall be using this training location rather than the shared grounds with our family's guards. If you don't remember the way, ask Joanne. I want you all to train here in the future. Including you Harry"
"I remember the way dad"
Count Quills responded with a nod and a wry grin. 'How will the nobles react if you call me dad here and there instead of father, what troublesome sons' Thought the count, though his glare singled out his eldest son.
Since the mood lightened, the count continued more informally.
"My quintessence, or rather my quintessences are both in the manipulation category of the enchantment, manipulation, and binding trinity. All abilities fall into one of the three categories, the majority of humans having one of the first two or sometimes both"
He then stretched out his hand in a grasping motion.
Suddenly, with a *Crack* a shard shot out from a nearby wooden dummy, growing out into a staff-like object until it nestled in the outstretched palm.
"One of the quintessence I own, I call wood manipulation"
He lifted the rod before swiftly swinging it downwards. It contorted like a whip before disappearing from their sight.
*Thwap!*
The wooden staff appeared again, indented in the hardened soil. The speed was certainly fast enough that the human eye wouldn't be able to witness it if such an attack was swung towards them, let alone react.
"The simplest strength you can obtain from a manipulation type quintessence is changing the physical properties of the material you manipulate"
*Chik!*
The rod was pinned on the ground as he waited for the boys to slowly digest his actions.
Blake could understand that something had changed when his father held the staff. No, even before he held the staff, the wood was 'manipulated' in midair. Sometime later, in the process of swinging the weapon, the elasticity and toughness of the wood been altered.
"Show us another attack dad!"
His sibling shouted without hiding his thrill. Showing his assent, their father pointed his palms towards the ground.
Immediately after, Harry noticed that his brother had turned his eyes towards a spot 5 meters away, where a forest of sharp wooden spikes had silently erupted from the ground. The spikes towered a meter tall and were spaced in an array-like pattern.
"Very well spotted. As you can see, there are different ways to use a quintessence in battle. These are generally called skills. As a universal rule, the more skills you have, the more directions you can attack from, and that goes for your opponents as well of course"
Blake didn't spend time ruminating before he spoke.
"I have an assumption and a question dad"
"Go ahead"
"If I'm not wrong, those spikes should be attached to the end of this rod based on the fact that you have a 'manipulation' type quintessence"
Count Quills raised his brows in appreciation and expectation as he answered.
"You are only half correct, kid, but I'll give you a hint. Battle also depends on external factors, one such being location"
"..."
"If you can correct your assumption, then you'll be taking a step towards overtaking your sister before you even awaken"
This of course 'awakened' Joanne.
"Hey! Why are you comparing him to me?"
"Why? Have you already accepted your loss, Joanne?"
"No father! It's just unfair -towards him of course!"
"Yes, Yes, Let's see just how wide the gap is before Blake catches up, you can show me over there whilst your brothers can stay here and watch"
"Hmm...Understood father. No, wait what did..."
The sun gradually peeked over the manor as four shadows moved around within the training grounds of the family home.