"Jared is definitely worth teaching!" Alphonse declared, smiling at me.
I beamed in response. That was definitely a close call. If I hadn't resorted to using my Magic Pressure, I wonder what his decision would have been.
"So, let me ask you a question, Jared…"
I looked at the old man, our eyes interlocked, and I didn't turn away. Instead I boldly stared at him.
"Why do you want to study magic? Why do you pursue it? Your mother mentioned to me in her letter that you've always been enthusiastic about it as a kid… why?"
'Um, Mister Tutor, those are already three questions. Didn't you say you wanted to ask me one?' I thought to myself.
Still, those three only required one answer from me. There has only ever been one reason for any endeavor in magic, ever since my last life and even now.
It was so simple, that anyone could say it. But, to me… it was reason enough.
"I love Magic. That's all there is to it."
Silence pervaded our midst, as both Anabelle and Alphonse smiled at me. They looked at each other and nodded.
"Very well, Jared. I respect your resolve."
Alphonse stood to his feet and approached me. I wondered if I was supposed to stand in situations like this, but before I could come to a decision, he was already before me.
Placing his hand on my shoulder, this man spoke.
"Now, I shall officially take the position of tutor, training and guiding you in the way of magic. I shall be your tutor, and you shall be my pupil. I hope you have no problem with that."
I shook my head, standing up as well.
"I wouldn't have it any other way!"
My mother who was still seated, watched the two of us. She seemed pleased by the newfound bond between me and my new tutor. Meanwhile, I was still confused about the relationship she had with Alphonse.
"Now then, let us begin."
His voice cut through my thoughts, and my eyes bulged.
"H-hold up, you mean now?" I was definitely caught by surprise.
"Of course. Or would you prefer another time? Is that what all your love for magic amounts to?" He grinned in a teasing fashion.
'This old man… he dares to look down on me and question my love for magic?' I gritted my teeth.
From my perspective, he was my junior. The only reason I accorded him with respect was due to the knowledge he possessed, as well as his ability to use magic to a degree I never could.
Still, he was my teacher. So I would have to endure the humiliation I was going to be receiving, hoping to surpass him one day and then give him a taste of his medicine.
"Bring it on!" I grinned.
_________________
"What do you know about magic?"
Alphonse and I were on the massive field of our manor when he asked me this question.
Anabelle excused herself, saying she had other matters to attend to, and left me all alone with Alphonse. Of course, she whispered some words of warning to his ears before leaving.
I couldn't hear anything she said since her tone was hushed, but from the paled expression Alphonse gave, it couldn't be good.
The field was located in the backyard, filled with nothing but mowed grass.
I remember there used to be quite a number of beautiful flowers, a garden for butterflies and pretty insects
'Mother must have had them removed in preparation for my training…'
Now, with nothing but short grass which served as warm cushions for our feet, the vast field was empty.
"Magic is the ability to cause supernatural phenomena by using the laws of the world," I answered.
"What fuels magic?" He further asked.
"Mana!" I responded.
"Where is mana found?"
The correct answer would be 'everywhere'. Since mana existed in everything and everyone, it could be said that the whole world was filled with mana. But, I had to restrict how I answered his questions since I wasn't a scholar, but a seven-year-old.
"Mana is found in our bodies."
Upon hearing this, Alphonse let out a huge amount of laughter.
"Hahahahahaha!" His voice echoed through the field.
I felt embarrassed, like the man was mocking me. It sucked being a kid, but as a patient man with the wisdom of many years stacked up, humiliation was something that I could endure.
"What a funny kid. Well, I can't fault you. You're still only a brat, after all." He said, still letting out small bursts of laughter.
'Keep laughing. We'll see who the brat is…'
"Well, you're only half-right. Mana exists all around us. In the air, the waters, the lands… this entire world is brimming with mana."
'I already knew that, genius.' My eyes rolled.
But, I still had to act my age and give my dear teacher the respect and awe he expected.
"W-whaoh! Really?! That's amazing!!!"
Alphonse made a proud expression as soon as I beamed. Bathing himself in the words of a child, Just how petty was this guy?
"Hehe, of course. Mana is all around us. However, even though it's all around us, as Magic-users, we can only use the mana that's inside of us to cast spells."
Of course, he was wrong. However, I wasn't going to expose the results of my research to him.
"That's why we have to form our mana core before we become able to use magic. Drawing power from the core, we emit mana and transform them to magic through the use of spells!" He explained.
"Wow! Amazing!" Was what I replied with.
Everything this man was saying were already things I knew. I was impatient, wanting to be thrust into the advanced realm of magic I had no clue about.
Still, it was unavoidable that as a kid, I would need to be taught the basics.
"Now then, it's time to tell you more about the relationship between magic, mana, and spells. Pay attention, okay? I'm only going to say this once!"
My mind was already zoning out. It wasn't even up to an hour and I was bored already. My tutor's voice faded little by little, vanishing into the background.
'Ah, how much more do I have to endure? When do we get to the interesting part?'
And thus, day one of magic training with my Tutor kicked off in such a manner. My expectations were not met, at least not yet.
Still, I had hope. It might take a while, but I wasn't giving up.
Magic, everything there was to know about it, would be mine! And now, with my ability to use mana, I would be able to rise above anything I ever achieved in my past life.