Fray POV
"Using this technique, one can use mana to accelerate its physical training effectiveness."
I learned this technique from the same book that contained the mana gathering method. I better store this technique in the depths of my brain and, when my core is formed, use it wisely.
Seems like this book is actually a divine treasure that contains many useful methods that will help me in my goal of ascension.
*Bam*
It sounded like a cannonball blazing its projectile somewhere nearby. Strange.
*Baaamm*
This time, it seemed louder.
After a few minutes of continued bombardment, it felt like something—a barrier, to be exact—had collapsed.
*BANG*
Now, I could clearly see who it was.
It seemed like he was coming in our direction.
I sprinted all the way to my mom's room to inform her; Beatrice recited there as well.
The moment I entered her room, I realized she was already alarmed but couldn't do much due to her condition. It seemed like the time had come. The baby was going to be born any minute.
"My lady, everything will be alright!" "For now, you need to focus on the baby!" – Beatrice was doing everything that was within her capabilities to calm my mother down.
Unfortunately, Beatrice doesn't possess the ability to control mana, so she wouldn't be much help in defense.
The situation is troubling. I couldn't do much as of now. So I figured the only possible way was to use my brain to create a strategy. The moment I began exploring my thoughts in search of ways to get out of here safely with my mother and Beatrice, someone knocked down the door of our house.
I grabbed a dagger, which I found near the staircase, and rushed downstairs.
I spotted the intruder; he was dressed in rugged, worn-out clothing that allows him to move quickly and quietly. He had a mask to conceal his identity. His body was covered with scars and tattoos that indicated his allegiance to a particular gang, so who did we trigger to send his underlings? Just by glancing at him, you could see that he's dirty and unkempt, probably often lives on the fringes of society, and does not have regular access to hygiene facilities.
"Hey, what is your problem?" "Why did you barge into our house?" – Without a single understanding of why I shouted something of this sort at someone who clearly looked like he wasn't here to negotiate, I got into my battle position.
I don't possess immaculate mastery over daggers, but I can use a trick or two.
"A boy fighting for his family in danger is indeed brave. But unfortunately for the boy, he met me, hahahaaha!" He either tried to provoke me with those words of his or he was simply playing.
The second guess seems more reasonable.
"Why don't you quietly wait and keep both of us out of trouble, till I finish my business with your mother?" As he said that, he pulled out his tongue and licked his blackened lips with it.
It was clear as day what he wanted. His filthy aura could be sensed from miles away. Scumbags like him don't deserve to live; death is the only present that awaits them.
"Whatever." he said, as he noticed that I wasn't going to back down willingly.
"Fire spear!"
Suddenly, I could sense mana colliding in his body, gaining the fire attribute in the process, and forming the shape of a spear, which was launched at me in a matter of seconds.
I tried to avoid the attack completely, but the speed was too fast for me to dodge fully. My hand was completely pierced with a spear made of fire.
The unimaginable pain hit me; my eyesight was fading away. This body was too weak to handle such a shock...
Maid Beatrice's POV
"My lady, it's almost done; just a few more pushes!"
Then suddenly, I felt chills running through my skin; someone had casted a spell.
From birth, I was always terrified of magic and mages. Seeing their capabilities and realizing that they possessed this much power made me completely horrified of them. Then I realized something.
Fray rushed downstairs when the door was knocked.
This means that the spell casted earlier was aimed at him. Even though he's a brilliant boy, there's not much he can do against the terrifying power of magic.
*CRACK*
Someone knocked down the door of the room. I took a glance to see who it was and saw a man, whose appearance resembled that of a bandit.
"Two frail, beautiful ladies waiting for me in the bedroom; how nice of you two," the man said, with a filthy tone and the eyes of a predator.
I turned around and looked at my lady and realized that, due to my shock, I didn't notice the baby was born.
"Now, who should I start my feast with?"
P-please, a-anyone help us, I beg you please s-save us...