The next day, I woke up to the loud and explosive "clock" of City Hall at 6 a.m. to apply the new training method that my mother had explained to me.
The effects were not long in coming. No sooner had I closed my eyes and imagined a field of ether surrounding me and the molecules composing the air interacting together, than I felt an intense sensation similar to heat invade my whole body.
No doubt due to my excitement disturbing me, I lost this feeling and had to repeat the exercise several times before being able to feel the ether again.
(There must be a connection between the cerebral rune, the imagination, and the perception of the ether.)
(I wonder if there are limits to what can reverberate in reality if we imagine certain phenomena in their finest detail.)
I then got used to the feeling and controlled the ether of my body to expel it from me and finally succeeded in moving the surrounding air.
I stopped after several hours and headed for the library as usual when I met my father on the way there
"Dad! you are finally back! How was this business trip?"
"Hahaha! You have grown up well my little boy. As far as my trip is concerned, it was very fruitful and it was once again thanks to your mother's runes. I did well to listen to her in the end, but it's not like I had a choice anyway, because she always gets what she wants ha ha ha." said Lawrence while carrying me.
"Dad, I always wondered how you could marry a mage like mom, would you care to tell me?"
"Of course, if I remember correctly, the first time I met her was when my caravan and I were attacked by a wild gryphon at the threshold of Greywitch Forest. She had appeared out of nowhere like a valiant knight-errant, mowing down the huge beast after a fierce fight. At the time she was still only a level 2 mage, but it was more than enough to protect us during the rest of the journey during which we created bonds of friendship. After that, we continued to exchange around alchemy and runes, which happened to be one of my many hobbies, then ended up falling in love and getting married after being together for more than 10 years. he said, dropping me off in front of the dining room.
"I can hear people talking about me, may our union last forever my love." said Laore who had also just arrived.
"How about you all eat together since everyone seems to be free." said Marie, one of our servants taking care of the cooking for all the employees of the city.
"It's a very good idea, Marie, I have to tell you all about the outside news as well." Lawrence explained
By sitting around the table where there was a chair adapted to my small size, we were served sumptuous dishes that I did not hesitate to devour.
After all, although this world was in a more or less stagnant state. This was not the case with gastronomy, which had a history as long as the Kalmalean Empire.
"It's so good Mary! I could never live without your cooking ever!" I said euphorically.
"Although you tell me that every day, I am no less happy to hear it."
We then warmly discussed about everything and nothing until I talked about my progress in magic.
"What?! You have already unlocked etherization!" exclaimed my father
"No wonder he is my son after all." retorted my mother
"Hahaha! indeed, if you look at it that way nothing is surprising, but let's move on, and come back to what I wanted to talk about. said Lawrence in a more serious tone
"It seems that the wave of ether has officially entered our country and therefore mass migration will only increase. Migrant riots are already breaking out all over the walls of several cities including ours to get the lords to let them in and crime is following a similar trend. Laore, the contract I have just gotten would allow us to settle more safely north of the mountain range separating this place from the second capital of Aritlas, would you allow us to go there?"
"Why not. I was born there and what is more, our Mayron will always be able to learn from Laore. I will take care of convincing her to move there. However, I want all our servants to accompany us. It is out of the question to abandon them as the Count of Trienne did recently with the city of Shernat, fleeing with the treasury of the city."
"It goes without saying, perfect, we will leave in two weeks at most"
"Dad, Mom, can't we do anything about it? All these people are going to die?" I said, perplexed by their indifference to the danger that the inhabitants of this county would have to face.
"My darling, know that you are our priority and that we do not have the power to face an ether wave of this magnitude, so we have no choice" explained Lucie
"I see…"
(Damn it! Are we just going to run away from this threat? I refuse to sit idly by when human life is in danger!) I thought naively while clenching my fists.
Noticing my glum expression, Lawrence tells me. "My little one, don't worry, we will eventually find a solution as we always have. What's more, you'll finally be able to make friends and go out in secure custody once there, what do you say?
"Fine…"
After finishing the meal I headed straight to the library and after a short reading session, I went to bed to join the arms of Morpheus while trying to forget the misery that proliferated only a few kilometers from here.
…
…
…
I managed over these 4 days to control my flow of bodily ether in such a way as to indirectly manipulate the mass of air surrounding me. Today was the day of the arrival of Master Lucy who did not make me wait this time.
"Well, congratulations kid. I heard you unlocked etherization in just a day of effort. Which will soon make you the youngest apprentice magician in the entire county. At least if you manage to keep the same pace under my tutoring."
"I have a question Master Lucy, when is someone considered an apprentice?"
"Why are you in such a hurry? Would you by any chance want to be mobilized on the front and go to battle with the enemy?"
"Definitely not master, I'm much more interested in the research and understanding part of magic."
"Good answer, to answer your question, it's about passing a test on your ability to cast a level 1 mage spell. Now let's move on to the rest of the air control exercise..."
As the magician spoke, I demonstrated my mastery of the second exercise by compressing all the ether in my body into my palm. Then, expelled it at high speed with a single blow in the direction of master Lucy who today wore a red hat.
Realizing what the young child was planning to do, she belatedly tried to warn him. "I strongly advise against continuing what you are about to do." A shrill hiss followed by a sound of impact resounded throughout the house and its surroundings.
"…You won't say that I didn't warn you." said Lucy who was surrounded by five bluish layers, two of which were pierced.
"So? Am I qualified enough to be an apprentice now?" I said with a sarcastic tone and a smug smile.
"*sigh*. Surely not. One of the minimum skills required is to retain at least half of your ether after using level 1 magic. I estimate at least 6 seconds before you collapse due to your impetuosity and arrogance."
"What are you telling me again, I'm fi..." These were my last words before collapsing with an intense pain spreading throughout my body after the announced 6 seconds.