(7 years after Reincarnation)
[Kyrielle's POV]
Before long, years has passed since then. Gondur has became a good tutor to me, and someone who I can reliably trust to teach me all that I have questions about regarding magic.
But the drawback is ever since I stared to learn magic at the age of 3, I stopped practising swordsmanship with dad. I don't have the energy to do so, and there's nothing that can be done about it.
Why? That's because the shop has grown ever so more busy after Ghyse finished her internship and left. Mom is handling all of the alchemy by herself, which means I have to do many of the chores around the house.
Even though the weekends are when dad is free and I have no magic lessons, I just couldn't find the energy to continue learning swordsmanship.
My sister had grown into a 4 year old girl... She's very loud and talks a lot even though she's not exceptionally well at it.
"Big sis! Look at this, it's you!" She said as she showed me a drawing of me... Her drawing looked oddly similar to manga style drawings back on Earth.
"Oh, this is very cute. Thank you, Marie."
"Yay!"
She likes to draw. And apparently, she also likes to watch dad practising his swordsmanship in the backyard....
But more importantly.....
"....Mom, I think sister might be a genius."
"That is a bit much coming from you, an actual genius.... Why do you think so?"
"Well.... She's too smart for her age. She didn't need me to teach her any mathematics at all, and although she is still bad at speaking, she learns everything very fast."
"That is... Hahaha, that is a lot like you!"
"Really?... But Marie is just too unusual...."
"Don't worry about it, your dad and I already got used to your unusualness so Marie is rather tame compared to you.... But more importantly, have you threw away the trash yet?"
"Oh shi-... I forgot...."
"Kyrie! No swearing!"
"S-sorry! I'll take the trash out now!" Sometimes, my 20 year old self slips out and starts to cuss out loud....
I grabbed the winter coat that mom sewn for me, and then took the trash bin with the two of my hands.
"I'll be going."
"Okay. Take care!"
With the trash bin in hand, I headed out of the front door and walked down the bustling street, towards the large trash center at the end of the street.
A familiar aunty greeted me as I passes down the street. "Good morning, Kyrielle. I see you are helping your mom with the garbage."
"Mmm. She's a bit busy making potions so I'll have to do it myself haha...."
"Mhm. You are a good girl, helping out your mother like that.... I guess that is why your house doesn't need any maids huh?"
"Hahaha, thank you! Anyway, I'll have to go so see you, Aunt May."
"Okay. Take care, Kyrielle."
As I continued to walk down the street, snow starts to leak into my shoes, freezing up my legs.
"Urgh.... Ember." With chantless casting, I lighted a small fire in front of my feet to melt any ice that comes into contact with it.
Today is the first day of Spring after winter, that is why there is still so much snow..... This also means that I'm officially a 7 year old now, the age that I will finally attend the magic school known as Zoward's Magic Academy.
I'm very excited about the school.... During these past four years, I've spent a lot of time studying and practising magic to the point that I can consistently score A's on every single class of magic.
Well... Every one except miracles. For some stupid reasons, I can't cast any miracles at all no matter how simple it is.
Gondur said that I'm a faithless little brat who don't believe in divinity and miracles, that is why my miracles sucks..... And honestly, I don't disagree. I've never been someone with faith after all.
I took my trash bin to one of the buildings where there are people who will take the bin. One of the staff took the bin in my hand, and then gave me an empty one.
With the empty bin in hand I started to walk back home. My mind starts to wander again.
...While I get aces in every single subject except miracles, I'm not exceptionally good at using those magic.... Fire magic is literally the only magic that I'm talented at.
"Sigh.... And here I thought I was talented at all magic...."
Suddenly, a familiar voice of an old man sounded from besides me. "What did you say, my apprentice?"
"Eh?! Sir Gondur!"
"I heard that you thought you were special."
"Not really... It was just a random mumbling haha..."
"Is that so?"
"Mmm. I just thought that I might be exceptionally talented at magic but fire magic is all that I am good at...."
"Don't be discouraged though, not a lot of people get to say that they are even good at a single sub-class of magic."
"Of course.... I know that many people can't even cast a single magic... It's just that all other spells of mine is extremely weak compared to my fire magic."
"Well, you don't need so much power in other spells, right?"
"I guess that is true...."
"Either way, it is almost time for your final lesson. Let's take this back to your home, and then we'll head to the school."
"Okay."
_______________
(4 hours later, afternoon)
Soon, my session with Gondur has ended. He is escorting me back home as we walk back to home from school.
As we were walking, Gondur put his hand on my head. "....By the way Kyrielle."
"Hmm?"
"Is there anything you'd like to buy?"
"Hmm... Why are you asking all of a sudden?"
"You're 7 today. It's your graduation gift."
"So you remember.... I don't really have anything I like though.... If so, I want a magic textbook!"
"That's not it, I can't give you something so boring, even an old man like me knows that!"
"Eh?... I don't really care about stuffs like this though.... Besides, I don't know what I want either...." As I said that, my eyes glanced to the sides where I saw a stall with a few plush toys selling on it.
One of the plush is a fat and squishy looking seal with white colored fur. It looks really cute and fluffy.
Yep. That is the one. "....I want that...."
"Mmm? So you want stuffed animals huh? Haha, that suits you better." Gondur said as he whips out a coin pouch and headed off towards that stall.
_________________
With a squishy seal in hand, I made it to the street where our house is at. There, I saw Marielle outside the street, playing with a bunch of childrens about her age.
That's impossible.... Mom normally doesn't allow her to go out!
"Marielle!"
"-Oh, big sis. Sir Gondur."
"What are you doing? Mom'll get really angry if you run outside like that!"
"Hehehe, don't worry about it!"
"Huh?"
"You'll understand when you head back into the house. But more importantly, that thing looks so cute! Did you buy it for yourself?"
"Hmm, this? It's a seal."
"It's so chubby! Can I have it?"
This girl... She has the audacity to greedily eye the stuffed toy that I had gotten just minutes ago. There's no way I'm giving her this seal.
"No. It's a gift from my mentor, big sis can't let you have it."
"Eh? No fair!"
"Come on now, Marielle, Kyrielle, don't fight. It's a gift for your sister, you aren't my student so you won't get one."
"Hmm.... I understand though. I was just playing with big sis!"
"Huh?" (2x)
She was joking?...
"Did you seriously think I'd get jealous over something like that? Haha, big sis is such a baby!"
"O... Oh...."
I'm dumbfounded.... This girl could joke at the age of 4.... When I was 4, I was still sucking on my thumb you know?
"Anyway, let's head back inside! Sir Gondur, you should come as well!" Marielle said as she gives Gondur a wink.
"Oh? Very well."
"What are you two planning?..."
"Nothing. Let's go big sis!" She says as she forcibly hugged my arm from the sides and then pulled me towards the direction of the house with her body.
I struggle to balance myself when she did so.... Why is she so strong?
We walked through the street, until we are right in front of our house. I see that the alchemy shop is closed, so mom is probably cooking dinner right now.
Marielle finally let go of my arm.
"Now wait here, big sis. No coming in! Lil' sis will get angry if you do so!"
"Okay...."
Marielle headed into our house and then closed the door after she entered.
"....What is that girl planning?" I said after I turned to look at Gondur.
"Who knows?"
"Come on! Tell me what secret you are all keeping-"
A muffled voice of my younger sister was heard from the door. "You can come in now big sis!"
"Oh... Then excuse me-" 'Cha chank.'
As I opened the door....
'Pop!' (3x) Loud popping sounds were heard, and strands of shining confettis flew at my face.
"Happy birth anniversary!" (3x)
Thomas, Katherine and Marielle is there to greet me with a surprise. My family....
"Wha...." I turned around to look at Gondur instead.
A small smile appeared on his face as he looks back at me. "Hmpt. Happy birth anniversary, Kyrielle."
"I... I'm so shocked..."
"Hahaha, that's a natural reaction. Come on in, we've prepared a party for you already." Mom said as she walks behind me and then with one hand, pushes me towards the dining table.
"Marielle...." As I walked I glanced at my little sister again.
"Hehe, did we take you by surprise, big sis?"
Yes. Yes you did, little mischievous devil.
_____________
It seems that in this world, people don't celebrate birthdays. What they do celebrate is birth anniversaries, there is one for each stage of your life until adulthood.
The first one happens at the age of 7, when you are a grade schooler. The second one happens at the age of 12, when you are a teenager. The final one happens when you are 16, which is the age that you are considered as a young adult in this world.
My anniversary party is a small one, with only the members of our family to join us, but it was still really fun. I received toys and some other kid things as presents from my parents, but.... I don't play with toys, I'm technically an adult already. Their gift sucks compared to Gondur, my master's.
But regardless, it is their intention that counts. I still accepted their gifts with a big smile on my face.
My sister didn't give me anything, but that is fine because she's a kid who doesn't have any money to buy presents or even be allowed out of the house.
The party is a simple steak dinner with a cake. Your usual european cruisine. This IS the first time I got to eat a cake in this world though.
The party ended after we finished eating.
_____________
(40 minutes later...)
"-it was fun having this party with your family, but I really should head home now. My wife is waiting for me." Said Gondur as he stands up from his seat and gathers his things and prepared to leave.
"But before I go.... It is customary to give a farewell in these anniversaries party."
"Hmm?" I looked up at Gondur in confusion...
"Come here, apprentice."
"Okay?..."
As I approached him, he kneeled down in front of me to look at my face clearly. He grabbed my face with the two of his hands, and plants his mouth onto my forehead.
'Smooch!'
"Wha-?!" This old man just kissed me on the forehead! Normally only dad is allowed to do that!
"Haha, don't be surprised. This is what we do around these parts. Regardless, I want you to listen to me clearly Kyrielle."
"Mmm."
"You are 7 now, that means it is time for you to head to the school. While you are only talented at fire magic, the rest of your magic is not terrible either except miracles of course. If you remember what I taught you, I'm very sure that you'll be amongst the top of your grade."
"Mhm."
"But I want you to listen to my warnings clearly as well... DO NOT use your spells in full power if you are practicing with a partner."
"...But aren't you the one to teach me to go all out in whatever magic that I cast?"
"That is as practise. In reality, your fire magic is beyond normal talent.... it is too dangerous to use in practise against friendly opponents. Fire magic is a really dangerous school of magic, and you have trouble holding back. I don't want you to accidentally injure someone, and at worst... kill them."
"I... I understand."
I know more than well enough how guilty I'll feel if I accidentally hurt someone with my spells.... My encounter with those kidnappers taught me that much. I will keep his words in my mind.
"Good girl. Well then, it is time for your mentor to go now. Goodbye, Kyrielle. Goodbye, miss and mister Buffet."
"You too, Gondur. You have been a great tutor to my daughter, I thank you for that!" Said dad as he walked up to us to escort Gondur out as well.
"It was just my responsibility." Said Gondur as he opens the door and started walking outside. Dad and I followed him closely to see him off.
"Goodbye, Gondur grandpa!"
"Hahaha, maybe having grandkids doesn't sound so bad after all! Goodbye then, Kyrielle." Saying one last sentence, he walks away and off to the streets until he disappeared around the corner.
"....Will you miss him?"
"No. He was just a random old man in the end who teaches me magic."
"Harsh.... But anyway, I guess now that we two are alone it is the ripe time to tell you. Tomorrow, we'll be going to the church to register documents for you."
"Hmm? Documents?"
"Identity cards! The archive of the church records all the citizens of this city and grants identity cards to every citizen. You'll need it to enter the school."
"Oh... Okay then, but why is dad the one that is telling me this?"
"That's because your mother will be busy tomorrow. I will be the one to bring you to the church, little princess."
"Oh... Also, can you stop calling me a little princess? It's embarrassing!"
"Hahaha, you are too young to be embarrassed by that!"
"There's not a specified age for that!"
"Is that so? But in my heart, you'll always be dad's little princess."
"Hmm."
"It is customary to say a good wish after a birth anniversary party ends, but this is genuine.... Daddy loves you. No one can replace you, not even Marielle."
"....I love you too! And Marielle is a good girl, she won't be jealous of me."
"I see. Well then, let's head back inside shall we? You'll catch a cold if we stayed here any longer."
"Okie!"
(Chapter end)