…
…
A spark, a minuscule one at that but it was a spark nonetheless. The spark then began to branch out. Growing into a small cackling storm. Then as suddenly as it appeared it was gone.
- Notice -
- Magical Aptitude identified. Recalculating stats -
"Well, it looks like your son is in tune with the lightning element. Since he is so young he holds little magical essence and power but it will naturally increase as he grows up and uses magic more. That'll be 10 copper coins ma'am."
"Of course." my mother responds by handing the clerk the coins.
- Notice -
- Stats recalculated -
[Magic Power] - 1
[Magic Essence] - 1
- New [Magic Stats] tab unlocked -
It's not too high but I can deal with this. Anyway what did the clerk mean by me being in tune with lightning. In my old world you could use whichever spell you pleased no matter the element. Just so long as you had enough magic power. I guess magic works a bit differently in this world.
Even though I've spent five years here, I still have so much to learn.
"Mom. How do I learn magic like you?" I ask.
"Well Eleos, you can't exactly use it like me because I'm in tune with the wind element. But I'll buy you a book about basic lighting spells." turning to the clerk she asks, "How much would that be?"
"1 gold coin ma'am" he responds.
'Expensive' I think to myself.
In this world money is separated into five different tiers. Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Crystalite. Advancing to the next level requires 100 of the lower level currency. For example one silver is 100 Coppers while one gold is 100 Silvers and so on.
So for a basic elemental spell book to cost this much. Well, it's certainly surprising to say the least. I guess I'll have to figure out the spells myself.
"That's not too bad, here you go." My mother says as she hands the clerk a gold coin.
My mouth drops to the floor as I gawk at the coin.
"Thank you. Let me go retrieve the book." the clerk says as he goes into the backroom.
"You're so rich mom. How'd you get that?" then I whisper, "Did you steal it?"
"Well a little bit after you were born your father was offered the job of head guard. So we're pretty well off now. It was actually after you were born that our bad luck streak ended."
"Wait. What was that you just whispered?" She asked as she raised her arm to smack me.
Just in the nock of time though the clerk came out from the backroom holding a thick blue tinted tome.
"Here is your purchase ma'am"
My mother swiftly changes her smacking motion into a receiving one as she takes the book from the clerk.
"Thank you" she says and we begin to leave the magic tower.
"Hey mom. Thank you for buying this for me…"
"You're welcome. But Eleos this is just what we parents do"
We then travel back on the wild road back to our quaint house. When we reach the door I notice a smokey aroma.
My mother goes ahead and opens the door. The house is completely dark. Confused I step in past my mother. When I am complete my step the lights suddenly flash on and I hear people yell:
"Surprise!"
"What? Who? When? Where?" I say completely befuddled.
"Eleos congratulations for unlocking your innate skill" says Mister Kaine as he walks out with my father holding a large cake covered in candles.
"Come son, blow out the candles. It's tradition." Says my father as he puts on a smile.
Slowly I walk over to where the two men are and I deeply inhale. When my lungs are filled to capacity I let out a stream of air. Seconds later and every candle's flame has disappeared.
"Only one breath, that's a good omen!" Says one of the villagers on the side. I think he was a butcher or something.
The two set the cake down on a table and begin to cut it into even slices.
"You get first pick Eleos. Which piece do you want?"
"I think I'll take a corner piece."
With tears in his eyes, "You truly are my son!"
My father serves me the cake then invites me by his side to help him serve cake to the numerous guests. Many congratulate me on my achievement but I don't know many of them. One guest however stood out.
"Congratulations Eleos, I remember when you were a baby. Your parents had me check for your innate skill but you didn't have one yet."
I remember her because she was the first person I had ever seen in this world. It was Mera. I remember she didn't make my parents pay to birth me. I'll have to do something nice for her at some point in time.
"Thank you miss." Obviously I can't let anyone know I remember my birth. There's no way I would forget it, it was probably the most difficult thing I've done. I'm surprised I forgot my first birth ever.
After I finished helping serve cake to the guests my father offered up a toast. I think it was something about nurturing the younger generation and helping us to surpass them. It was a pretty generic speech if I'm being honest. But it still meant a lot to me coming from my father.
Later in the night we danced, we talked, we told stories, we laughed. At one point my father climbed up the wall to show something he did when he was younger. And they say I'm the five year old.
After awhile the party died down and people started to file out of our house.
"Thanks for coming!" My mother would say to the guests as they left.
Eventually all that was left was my parents and I.
"Now that everyone is gone Eleos I wanted to give you your gift."
'Seems they really take the awakening of an innate skill very seriously.' I think to myself.
My father pulls a long box out from god knows where and presents it to me. I open it and only one word could describe my expression at the time: amazement.
In the box lay a delicately decorated rapier. The handle was wrapped in a red leather while the metal of the hand guard was pure golden in design. The blade was a shimmering silver that seemed to glow as I held it.
Tears started to form in my eyes.
"Mom… Dad…"
"I love you so much"
Then I began to cry in happiness. These times were the greatest I had ever had in my entire lifetime, including my previous life. What I wouldn't give to return to them…
End of chapter thirteen.