Chapter 4: The Beginnings of an Adventure Believed
Young Ruthar, merely three years old, hurriedly ascended the stairs that were nearly knee-high to him, necessitating a swift climb.
His motivation was straightforward:
"I must learn magic ASAP!"
This ambition had driven him since the day he tumbled from a wooden table and struck his head on the floor. Though he shed a few tears—should anyone care to remember that detail—what followed sparked his fascination.
Kimara, who attended to his injuries, healed him with a seemingly boundless magic.
'Though this feels like the novel I once read, experiencing magic firsthand is utterly different. I could conjure whores... No, focus, Ruthar!'
'Magic is limitless; I could fly, create elements with my fingertips... Damn, I'm thrilled!'
Having reached the top of the castle platform, Ruthar moved steadily toward the room at the far end.
Thankfully, the castle's builders had been considerate.
Ruthar lived in a separate wing from the main Horus family, relegated to the outskirts of the castle for reasons unknown.
This isolation allowed him privacy for his secret training sessions.
Despite his unpopular bloodline, his scholarly achievements—like mastering advanced languages at three—had made him well-known throughout the kingdom.
Kimara had even arranged for a sword art tutor for him, though his small, frail body wasn't yet up to wielding a sword properly.
According to the novel, his elder sister could slice through trees with a wooden sword at his age—a true prodigy.
'I must surpass that genius in both swordsmanship and magic.'
This was another reason why Ruthar pursued magic. Not merely for the thrill, but to outshine Rotexa.
In this world, magical abilities typically manifested between the ages of five and ten. Rotexa had unlocked hers spectacularly just before turning five, as described in the novel, and her powers had grown immensely over the next five years.
'If I start now, at three, I could surpass her and become a magical prodigy even sooner. Fortunately, I remember some tips from her in the novel on how to enhance magical power.'
Ruthar silently opened the door and slipped inside. Secrecy was essential; his plans would be ruined if discovered.
He tiptoed to a shelf and, after a brief search, found a book titled Magic for Royal Beginners. It seemed an appropriate starting point.
Settling by the nearest window, he opened the book and began to read.
'History of magic! Back on Earth, I ignored history unless necessary, but here, my life might depend on it.'
He struggled to open the hefty tome, finally gaining a view of its contents.
To his surprise, the history section was shorter than anticipated.
'Magic is life, existing since the universe's creation and enduring until its end. Use magic as if it were your very breath.'
Ruthar scoffed. Was this meant to discourage selfish use of magic?
He flipped to the next page, which discussed magic cores and how to cultivate them.
He memorized the text and followed the instructions: sitting with legs crossed and palms together, concentrating on channeling magic into his core and letting it flow throughout his body.
However, lacking inherent magic, Ruthar adapted the technique.
The novel mentioned that someone typically forged a magic core at age ten, a feat no one else considered remarkable. But for Ruthar, this was a monumental challenge.
'Like in cultivation mangas and novels, I must draw energy from the surroundings into my core. But how? Humans can't naturally sense the environment's energy...'
Stumped, he continued pondering, struggling to visualize the author's descriptions.
'The author might describe a mana orb in one shape, while I'm picturing another entirely.'
Unable to find a novel-based reference, Ruthar reflected on the last three years.
Still no trace of magical influence... except...
'How did Aunt Kimara heal me?'
She had closed her eyes, murmured a few words, and exuded peace.
'Healing magic thrives on tranquility; perhaps my core's formation needs a similar emotional catalyst.'
Hours passed without success. Frustrated, Ruthar challenged himself to rethink everything he knew about magic.
It took him what the believed as hours in thought and conflicted meditation up until...
Suddenly, he had a breakthrough, connecting the dots between the book's explanation and his own theories.
Wasting no time, he closed his eyes and applied his new understanding. Soon, he felt an overwhelming surge of energy in his chest.
'Is this magic? It feels so surreal, so potent.'
He opened his eyes—a hint of anxiety breaking through—and saw his body aglow with a mysterious dark purple energy.
At just three years old, he had achieved the unthinkable: he was the youngest magic user in history.
'Which spell should I learn first?' He flipped eagerly through the textbook, bypassing pages in search of something advanced.
Upon reaching the final page, expecting to find powerful spells, he found a mocking note instead.
(You're impatient! That's why the advanced spell can only be found by reading the entire textbook.)
'Curse it! Why remove the fun from learning?'
"M-master R... Ruthar?"
He spun around, startled by the voice. A maid stood there, trembling, a tray in her hands, her eyes wide at the sight of the magical aura surrounding him.
Ruthar realized he had been caught. Had he mentioned that such unauthorized magic use or core activation at such a young age could lead to severe penalties?
'I guess this is it.'