"That's enough you two." An imposing and commanding voice spoke out.
"Hmph, you sure took your time." I said as I looked at the figure in front of me.
"He only threw me a disgruntled glance before looking towards his wife with a somewhat rueful look."
"D-Dear? What are you doing?"
"Get back to you business and act your age and position Melanie. Both you and I are of noble descent and it wouldn't do you good to tarnish our families. What would someone say if they saw you losing your composure to a fiver year old?"
"Why are you taking his side?! I'm only teaching this brat some manners. Since you saw the whole thing how could you let him talk to your wife like that!?"
"That's right! Mother only did what was right! Trash should stay quiet, how can you allow him to talk back to us?"
I inwardly grinned as a somewhat annoyed expression grew up on his face. As he was put in a difficult spot I looked forward to see how he would solve this situation.
I already knew that he highly valued my cooperation, especially after seeing my 'talent' during the spar and magic lesson. Thus, when I noticed his presence around the corner I guessed he would intervene if things got out of hand.
His aura suddenly grew as the mood turned grim. Small flares of fire sparked form his body as he looked at his wife and children with admonishing look which slightly startled them.
"This matter is settled. Understood?" Although it was a question, it sounded more like a threat and it seemed like even Melanie didn't dare to question Thomas authority.
"Tch, let's go. You guys have lesson to attend to." She only clicked her tongue in annoyance as she dragged her kids along the way.
I also started walking as I held my chin high with an aloof and arrogant manner, and just before we crossed each other I threw them a mocking smirk which further aggravated them as their expression turned sour.
Thomas could only sigh as he knew this would disrupt the balance in the family.
*** Melanie Mercer POV ***
How dare he!?
This son of a b*tch dares to rebuke me? I ought to teach him a lesson so why?
Why did Thomas have to intervene?
We've been constantly harassing and tormenting those scums and Thomas never batted an eye.
But now? Why? I don't understand...
I could feel my blood boiling as questions and thoughts rapidly ran through my mind, but no matter what I couldn't seem to find any peace.
Has Thomas discovered some talent in him? Sure, he was completely different today...
He's usually quiet, reserved cowards who's pitiful pathetic. No, matter what we said or did he never rebuked or defend himself. Quite opposite of his headstrong wh*re mother...
But today, he sure had a 180 degree change. He was almost like a completely different person.
However, as I was deep in thought after Thomas intervention my face turned completely red as I crossed him.
HE DARES?!
An annoyingly smug smile was plastered on his face as he looked me dead in the eye.
Just you wait. I will make you and your mother leave this house. Dead or alive...
*** Kayn Gaillon POV ***
As I entered my room a somewhat exhausted sigh left my mouse.
Well I have to admit. This day was pretty exciting, and it felt wonderful to teach those Mercers a lesson, both kids and parent.
As I remembered the furiously red face of Melanie I couldn't help but chuckle.
Since I came here it felt like I've been merely living in simulator.
Sure, it was nice to be showered in love, to experience what it means to have a parent and to be a child and to learn about this new magical world, but still. Life sure gets boring when you bottle up your feelings and plans. However, today shall my true journey start.
I locked the door as I went to my bed and sat down in a lotus position. Once again, I replicated the meditative state which I first used when I awakened as a mage.
With a calm and stable breathing pattern, I started pondering as I focused on my core.
Thomas said that the mana you absorb is neutral and as a result, your core has to refine it to be compatible with your mana affinity, whether that is an elemental or unique affinity.
But why? Why can't I feel any particular affinity? From Thomas words it should have been easy to identify your own affinity, almost as if it was instinctual, but that wasn't the case for me.
It almost felt like I had to forcefully or rather manually refine the mana to utilize it in the form of fire. Only after that, did something click in me and I no longer had to go through such a process. I could now feel my core automatically refine the mana to be compatible with fire and it only took a thought to utilize it.
That leads me to the question. Am I able to 'learn' other affinities? And is it limited to elemental affinities? What about uniques?
Without pondering further I tried to remember Melanie. Well not exactly her b*tchy face, but her water affinity.
Water just like fire, has many sides and characterizations. It can be considered as a catalyst of life. It fuels, renews and cleanses. However, it also has an immense and potentially dangerous power.
It can be tranquil, but also destructive. It can be a pond, river or ocean. It can be as harmless as the autumn rain, but also as catastrophic as a tsunami. However most of all. It flows, whether that is freely or guided by the wind or rivers doesn't matter. Regardless of the circumstances it always goes with the flow without resisting...
With a completely calm state of mind I let the mana run from my core to my right hand which rested on my knee with the palm facing up. I didn't think, nor force anything, I just let my mana go with the flow, almost as if it was a stream of water flowing in a river. I felt a prickling sensation on my palm and fingertips, but ignored it as I kept a meditative state of mind. However, a lukewarm feeling suddenly hit my palm and as I opened my eyes a smile grew on my face.
Above my palm a sphere- no, a blob of water floated as water occasionally dripped on my palm. I could see that it tried to maintain a sphere like shape, but it continuously jiggled as my mana control was lacking.
Nonetheless, I couldn't help but smile. This...
This more or less confirms my theory.
I'm somehow able to learn elemental affinities after gaining a rough understanding of the said element. But why?
Two answers arose in my mind.
(1) Since the surrounding mana is neutral, I'm able to absorb and refine this mana how I see fit. Whether that is in the form of fire, water, earth etc. I'm capable of learning my core to refine it to whatever element I like. And why is that? Because I may be affinity-less. Since the mana absorbed is neutral and I don't have any particular affinity my body is like an empty canvas ready to be painted. And to make that paint I have to learn the basics of the elements, almost as if I have to know the color combinations to get the color I want. And after my core understands how to make this paint it will automatically produce it by refining the mana to whatever element I like.
(2) I have a unique affinity which allows me to learn other affinities.
I wanted to experiment more and try to comprehend and learn other elements, and also check if I could learn unique affinities, but a sudden knock brought me out of my thoughts.
*Knock* *Knock*
Kayn, are you inside dear?
A lovely voice echoed behind the door which brought warmth to my heart.
"Yes, I was merely resting, let me open the door for you mother." I said as I hopped of the bed and ran to the door.
No matter what, I'll always have time for my one and only mother. Magic can wait. What's the point of power if you don't have anyone to use it for?