"Pops, how are you doing this? There's something weird with your hand," Jody had reached out to hold the hand that was interfacing with the little silver-pink magic mirror, but a strange air current prevented him from approaching.
How could there be any wind here?
He didn't believe in things like magic from a logical standpoint. Of course, many things had suggested that he reconsider this viewpoint.
Superpowers? Maybe. He had seen this before in his last life.
Highly advanced technology? Obviously. Such a thing wasn't difficult to accept in any world since the Earth he knew was a science-based planet.
But magic?
Despite the questions and doubts in his mind, Jody still had his youthful optimism in check.
Osiris laughed out loud in his heroic and boisterous manner. Seeing his son listening so intently delighted him. He couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's enthusiasm and focus. He hadn't expected this level of attention from his other children, and he thought it was worth far more than all the crystal coins in the world. The boy was this focused at one. What about ten? Twenty?
Of course, Osiris never faulted the other kids for being short-sighted; they were merely children. But still, he was taken aback by this boy's ability to retain information - something that neither Horus nor Kamila had ever been able to match.
Even so, something seemed off about this boy's eagerness that the Lord could not ignore.
This boy in his lap was far more abnormal. If he was just a genius, that was fine. More than satisfactory, in fact. But could there be another issue here? As the Lord pondered over this, Lylian seductively approached him and seemed to whisper in his ear.
But really, she was sending a message through the spiritual energy, "My Lord, perhaps we should test him. He is a fallen. This could all be an act! Have you seen how the little bugger looks at this lady? If there is any doubt about his true intentions, we can easily dispose of him."
She batted her eyelashes, hoping the Lord would agree.
Osiris glared at Lylian with a mixture of disdain and amusement. This woman was indeed too much at times. He could never understand why she thought he would ever murder his son, even if he turned out to be a fallen.
"Lylian, my love, do you not understand? This is my flesh and blood. His soul's disposition would not change this fact. I would never harm him, no matter what happens. Besides, not all who fall do so by choice. Who knows what great things Jody can accomplish in the future?" Lord Osiris replied through his spiritual energy with a soft smile.
Lylian pouted, but she knew better than to argue with the Lord. After all, it was only her suspicions that the boy was similar to his mother. Instead, she nodded and stepped back, watching Jody stare wonderfully at the magic mirror.
With everything they had at stake in recent years, Osiris could not help but worry as well. But something deep in his heart told him that Jody was his own.
Jody suddenly had a good impression of this new world, as well as of this father of his. Not everyone would teach a child so seriously out of fear of wasted time or a simple lack of interest.
Osiris was obviously not everyone.
He was flexible. The more intelligence Jody showed, the more knowledge the Lord would give him. Besides, being a rich kid was fun for the ex-playboy operative. He was getting used to it.
Without taking more than half a breath, Jody rampaged through more questions, "What are these serenity crystals you spoke of? I haven't heard of this yet. Can you make more than talking and beeping glass with it? Oh yeah, and what's an array? Can I have a serenity crystal? No, a bunch! Like dozens! NO, an array AND serenity crystals."
As Jody continued, the Lord chuckled heartily, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "How curious… Your little brain is quite impressive. It's amazing how much information you can store despite your age."
The Lord leaned forward and lowered his voice as if sharing a secret. "This world holds many wonders that even adults struggle to understand. And yes, Josiah, this world is one of magic."
Jody's face lit up with wonder and amazement as he tried to process everything being said. He looked like he was about to burst with excitement or confusion, maybe both.
"Peril may hide in plain sight," continued the Lord cryptically, "but wonder never reveals itself so easily."
Jody asked again, "But…like…what IS magic, Pops? Like, are there mages, witches, and wizards or sorcerers who wield wands to cast spells and fight the forces of darkness in the name of justice and the American way?"
Jody was waving his hands as if he was casting spells.
"The American, what now? Where on Gaea did you hear any of this, kid?" Osiris was tickled by what his son had asked but also astounded.
The kid spoke of many things that most mortals are unaware of, in detail, as if he had grown up in a mortal household with years of misconceptions. And what the hell was an America? It sounded like something a kid made up. Or could it be something else entirely?
Lord Osiris couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's questions and thoughts. He was growing paranoid, it seems.
"Well, Josiah, magic is a force that exists within all things. The energy flows through the world and can be harnessed by those with the knowledge and skill to do so. And while some may call themselves mages or witches, the true power of magic lies within the individual and their connection to the world around them. What dog butt witch or sorcerer, wands and spells? I, your daddy, disdain such cowards who attack from the shadows."
Jody's eyes widened with wonder and excitement. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Magic was real, and he wanted to learn everything about it.
"Can you teach me, Pops? Can you teach me how to use magic?" Jody asked eagerly.
Lord Osiris smiled at his son's enthusiasm. "Of course, Josiah. But first, we need to start with the basics. Let's begin with the magical arrays."
Jody nodded, eager to learn everything he could about magic and the world around him.
Jody's father briefly talked about the complexities of arrays before giving up in relief when he saw the supreme confusion in his son's eyes.
'I started to fear he'd be some reincarnated old monster...but these complex matters left him clueless. It is fine either way like this...' Lord Osiris mused silently.
His son had proven to be either ignorant or a legendary actor for the ages. The Lord cleared his throat and continued to act as the wise teacher.
"Though I respect any man who can comprehend the complexities of supernatural life force, these forces pale compared to the might of true Sages. As I explained, magical force arrays compound forces in a complex way that gives birth to wonders. Sages are capable of building such force arrays within their energy channels. This is called force formulation."
"Sage? Force forming?" asked Jody as if in thought.
His father had mentioned Sages to him before.
A sage was the master of a myriad of powerful forces, using their pure life force as a medium between the rules of mortal and mystic. This was one of the paths of humanity's warriors, the Sage Path of the Truth of Origin!
Whatever all that meant.
Jody would often eavesdrop on his mother teaching her alchemy apprentice, Emilee Shu. He would be hunched behind the door, peering through the crack as his mother fervently tutored her alchemy apprentice. His ears perked up, and his eyes widened when he heard mentions of the Heavenly Truth, especially the two grand paths created from celestial fragments that elevated humanity to a higher level of existence!
"Wands," his mother's voice echoed through the hall. She seemed to be the only one who dared to speak while the Lord spoke, "Maybe mighty and even terrifying. But such objects are so rare, it'd be like finding a fortune in your shoe. Wands are natural treasures from thousands of natural mana arrays working together in harmony. Even I have only seen one once in my lifetime! And it was located in the central ward."
The voice of Jody's father trailed off, then suddenly swelled with a golden light, recapturing the boy's wandering attention, "The Mage rank Sage Truists should not be trifled with either! Anyone who dares to wear the title of Mage or Elite should be met with caution. As for Wizards, they are far more powerful than you can imagine -so much so that only a Wizard may wear the title Pharaoh."
Jody was surprised to hear such a thing. So his Uncle Saint was both a Pharaoh and a Wizard?
"But Pops, what is all that stuff about Saints and Sages, Mages and Wizards? I thought the Pharaoh were gods!" Jody felt like his head was spinning a bit.
His father had spoken briefly about things he didn't completely understand. How was this teaching? However, Lord Osiris laughed boisterously again at his son's response. Jody didn't know, but his natural naivety had greatly reassured many of those present.