Teodor was asleep. No, to be precise, Eryk made him fall asleep with a spell. Eryk just couldn't calm down at all. He couldn't calmly face his son that what Teodor had hoped for was a dead end. He went down to the forge in the basement and sat on the floor doing nothing for an hour.
"I can't be doing nothing and moping around."
Eryk encouraged himself. He went to a nearby desk and took out all the books about magic. It didn't matter if it was factual, folklore, myths, or legends. As long as the book was about magic, he would read it. He just needed information. Hope that can he give to his son for his future.
Manas was the essence of life. Hence, it was also called the 'Light of Life'. Lifespan varied from the amount of manas an individual has. The larger the capacity for manas one had, the longer the lifespan. That was why the strong live longer than most. This was the most shocking thing about Teodor. People die when they are extracted from manas. That was why he had once described Teodor as, illogical; an absurdity. Because he existed without manas. He was a lie told by hundreds of thousands of truth.
At first, he had been worried if he would grow well in the future but after seven years, that worry faded. He was living fine, healthy, and happy. And; he was going to keep that happiness.
Several tens of books were read in one sitting that night. It wasn't the first time but still; he was tired and sleepy but he didn't stop. Ever since he found out that Teodor couldn't gather manas during his first day of training, he couldn't help but read books for clues to help Teodor pass this hardship.
He moved his arms and neck back and forth to relieve the fatigue from not moving all night. He couldn't find a clue. Of course, he couldn't. Several nights weren't enough. If that was the case, he wouldn't be troubled this much.
"If I were to..." He slowly stood from his chair. He reached out for his chest with one arm. He closed his eyes to focus on feeling his beating heart. He did have something. Something that may have changed this predicament but he was unsure. Unsure of an outcome. And; worry. Worry that his decision would be detrimental to his son.
'Even so-' He thought. He would make sure that the outcome he wanted to come true. 'No matter the price.'
He opened his eyes filled with decisiveness. He was going to give the child a 'gift'. A gift; so the child had a choice.
He silently went back to their bedroom. Teodor was still asleep with his mouth open drooling. He smiled at the scene presented to him. 'Still cute as always.' He thought.
He cast another sleeping spell so that Teodor wouldn't wake with what he was about to do. He gently took Teodor into his harm went down the forge again. There, there was enough space for the ritual. He took out a futon from his magic ring and laid Teodor aside for now.
He walked to the open space in the forge and took out another thing from his magic ring, a knife. He open a gaping wound in his fourth finger with the knife and started drawing a magic circle on the ground. He needed blood essence, especially those from the heart. That's why he had drawn blood to his fourth finger. It was because it was said to be the finger closest to one's heart.
After an hour of writing, the magic circle was complete. His face was pale. He was weakened. Of course, one would if blood was drawn. Not to say the amount he needed to draw the circle. He walked slowly to Teodor's side to pick him up and place him in the middle of the magic circle.
"Everything's going to be fine." He muttered. He didn't know who he had told it to. It may be to his son or maybe, it was an encouragement to himself. Maybe; Even both. "Let's start."
He gently placed Teodor in the circle and unbuttoned his pajama shirt to reveal his chest. After that was done, he started spouting words, the incantation for the ritual. It was indescribable when heard and gave the feeling of passing eons. Soon, the red blood that was used to draw the magic circle started to glow and moved about like it was a series of furious waves crashing into each other. The scene continued until he finished the incantation. The red blood floated up, gathered, and formed into a small ball just above Teodor's chest.
"Titans are great beings who know no fear. Titans will face any challenges head-on. No matter the difficulty; no matter the consequences. Titans will forge through without any shame or regrets. To you, who I've witnessed grown; To you, who I've seen how you walk. I deem you worthy of my strength. So I give you my blood and my heart, a 'Titan's Heart'. With my heart housed in your shell called 'body', you are qualified to be one us, a Titan. Prove, that you are worthy of the name. Prove, that you are one of us." He uttered in a tired and hoarse voice.
The ball of blood started pouring out blood as if someone had turned on a faucet. It poured down on his chest and passed through Teodor's skin as if he had none. Soon, the small floating ball of blood turned into droplets and then into nothing as all the blood had been poured into Teodor.
He knelt and reached out his hand to Teodor's chest to feel out the situation. He felt it. Although minuscule, Teodor had it. He had manas. This means that Teodor wouldn't be rejected by manas anymore. In the future, as long he had proven his worth, he would develop talent closer to a titan and earn their blessings.
A gratifying smile revealed on his tired face. He erased all evidence of the ritual, picked up Teodor, and walked out of the forge with lightness of heart.