Caught flat-footed by his mother's unannounced arrival, Nathan's initial surprise morphed into the guileless expression of a teenager caught in the act.
A wide smile stretched across Nathan's face as he glanced at Beatrice. "Uh... I was just, uh... curious about something," he stammered.
Beatrice returned the smile, leaning forward to boop Nathan's nose with her finger. "I know you're a smart and curious boy," she said gently."Don't worry, you'll learn all these things eventually."
Her tone softened with a hint of seriousness. "But it's important to have someone guide you. It can be dangerous to explore these things alone, and I wouldn't want my good son to get hurt."
The thoughtful moment that followed Beatrice's words was disrupted by a sudden rumble from Nathan's stomach, leaving him slightly flustered.
Before he could respond, his mother's voice, gentle and caring, filled the air. "Hungry, my love? Come, let's head to the dining hall. Your father's waiting for us, and I'm sure the food is ready."
A hint of a blush lingered on Nathan's cheeks as he nodded. His mother's presence was a comforting warmth, a steady beacon guiding him through in his newfound life which he longed for in his previous one.
The dining room bustled with familial energy. The grand lignum vitae table, a masterpiece of craftsmanship, dominated the center. Seven cushioned chairs adorned the scene, three on each side with a prominent seat at the head reserved for Rodrick.
The table overflowed with a banquet of culinary delights, a feast that set Nathan's taste buds dancing.
Conversations flowed like a gentle stream amidst the indulgence. Rodrick's voice, laced with responsibility, echoed in the room.
"Nathan, you've reached the age of Six. It is Time to begin your studies in Royal etiquette. By Ten then, we'll commence your physical and combat training, be it in the realm of mana or aura."
Yet, within Nathan's heart, a different desire burned – the desire to delve in the magic and sword as soon as he can.
With quiet determination, he spoke up, "Father, if I may request..."Rodrick's brows lifted in interest, his full attention on his son. "Speak, Nathan."Taking a breath, Nathan voiced his desire, "Could I begin my mana or aura training sooner, if I excel in my etiquette studies?"
The request hung in the air, a bold proposition that spoke of Nathan's determination. Rodrick's initial surprise gave way to contemplation.
He understood the depth of his son's yearning, but in his eyes, a child mastering etiquette in a shorter timeframe seemed unlikely.
As King Rodrick pondered, his fingers gently stroked his chin. "Very well," he conceded the weight of decision in his voice. "If you can complete your etiquette training ahead of schedule, then I agree to initiate your mana training earlier."
The agreement held an undertone of challenge, an opportunity that beckoned Nathan towards the goal he craved.
But for him the fusion of his modern-era education and his unique circumstances made the task seem feasible. His determination to serve his kingdom fueled his desire to excel in all areas.
Time flowed, and soon the feast concluded. With the promise of an early start to his magical training, Nathan stepped out of the dining room, his heart light and hopeful.
Two days later, Nathan's training in Royal etiquette commenced, orchestrated under the guidance of an appointed teacher from King Rodrick. From the annals of knowledge, a special book titled 'Act Like a Prince' became Nathan's guide.
Its chapters, like markers in his progression, held advice for various scenarios:
1. Meeting and Greetings.
2. In Conversation.
3. At the Table.
4. Of Hospitality.
5. Of Friends and Companions.
6. Manners and the Ladies.
7. In Love, Marriage, and Divorce.
8. Of Enemies and Conflict.
9. A Prince in the World.
Each chapter unveiled a tapestry of wisdom, offering insights into the intricate dance of etiquette that adorned a prince's life.
With every turn of the page, Nathan immersed himself in these lessons, equipping himself to stand as a worthy heir to the throne. He felt the weight of responsibility alongside the excitement of the journey, knowing that every piece of knowledge he gathered would be used in his path.
Nathan's days unfolded in a rhythm of etiquette lessons, dedicated reading, and secret night-time training unknowing to his parents.
The library's embrace became his sanctuary, an arena of boundless knowledge where his curiosity thrived.
But within the shroud of night, an audacious experiment took root—one that would strain the delicate balance of his very existence.
Fueled by his insatiable curiosity, at the end of the second year of his studies and etiquette training, Nathan dared to tread the path of aura core-making, a realm separate from his chosen path of magic.
The aura's currents embraced his intentions, swirling in circles in his body and converging, weaving a core within his dantian just below his navel.
After an hour of circulating the mana in his body, and using the breathing technique, his core quickly began forming little by little, and with each minute his breathing became more proficient taking in more amounts of mana and refining it.
The very air seemed to tremble with the violence of the collision, the wind howling like a tempest.
Amidst the practice, a desperate idea blossomed within Nathan's mind – an attempt to harmonize the opposing force of magic, like the balance of yin and yang.
The notion was as perilous as it was profound, an endeavor that had claimed lives before him whoever tried it before.
Nathan was poised at the nexus of choice, a precipice between success and catastrophe, making up his mind and decision.
Steeling his mind, he started diverting half the mana intake from the breathing toward his heart, to start forming his mana heart, simultaneously with aura core.
as the mana heart started taking shape, the forces of the aura and magic started their battle for victory.
The moment the energies began their dance, an unprecedented clash erupted within him.
Veins bulged like serpentine pathways on his skin, his face flushed crimson. His body bore the burden of the clashing energies, pressure mounting as if his skull would implode.
With grim determination, he sought equilibrium, a delicate dance between the clashing energies. But the path he trod was fraught with peril, a tightrope walk where the slightest misstep could result in his death or life being in bed.
Keeping all the dangers in mind, Nathan smiled with determination and excitement, muttering "Haha, this much is nothing, I am a reincarnator who has experienced death itself I will definitely succeed and be at the top of this world."
Nathan's toiling to equilibrium had been perilous, fraught with pain, internal chaos, and a brush with death itself. The aftermath found him sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath, the echoes of his labored exhales filling the air.
His torn skin areas bore splurging droplets of blood the wounds of his endeavor, a testament to the struggle that had unfolded within him.
Coughs tore through him, his strength sapped, and yet, a burst of triumphant laughter bubbled forth.
"Huff, huff, huff," Nathan panted, his chest heaving with the effort.
Amidst the breathlessness, amidst the pain, a profound sense of accomplishment swelled within him. Through sheer determination, he had orchestrated a harmony between the clashing forces within.
"The Equilibrium this... the world has said to be impossible to have, I made it possible, ahh..haha, but fuck that was painful," he said with excitement and accomplishment which was bigger than the pain he was feeling.
"heh heh heh, Cough, cough.... Seems laughter's a bit too much these days." he laughed, his mouth tainted by the taste of his blood.
Lying on the floor like a broken egg splattered on the floor, basking in this moment of victory, suddenly got a realization in his mind.
Making an effort in trying to move, he mumbled in pain with a silent scream "Ahh, I can't let everyone see me in this state tomorrow, they will think someone came to assassinate me, I should take that Exilir father gave me for a life-threatening moment on my fourth birthday."
With renewed focus, he crawled to the shelf near his bed and drank the blood red, potion in one gulp.
the next second after he drank, his outer wounds started glowing a little with a green shade, followed by the regeneration of flesh and skin on there.
As soon as his wound healed, he crashed onto his bed "Ahh, it seems some of the internal not got healed yet, I should just rest now"
The incident and his decision had marked a pivotal turning point for him, a foundation built upon the convergence of mana and aura.
In the shadowy hours of secrecy, Nathan had sculpted the beginnings of his power—a mana heart and aura core that stood at an astounding 90% completion, a testament to his dedication and resolve to make the impossible possible.
Though the real training was yet to begin, Nathan's silent endeavors had already propelled him toward mastery, toward the fulfillment of his ambition to become a beacon of strength for his kingdom.