It's been three days since Bel told me about getting a magic instructor. Apparently, he's not really an instructor—he's Bel's personal guard, Zeirs. Usually, he never leaves Bel's side, but he's been away on some business for the royal family.
We've decided to keep the fact that I was summoned to this world a secret. So far, only three people know: Bel, Zeirs, and Sylvie, my personal maid. I'm still not used to having a maid, especially one as creepy and strange as Sylvie. She has an unsettling habit of appearing out of thin air, asking if I need food, a drink, or something random. And it doesn't help that I've never seen a single emotion on her face—it's always cold and stoic.
Not too long after Bel and I had our conversation, I returned to my room and was just looking through my window when I got a strange feeling I was being watched. Turning around, I practically fell on my bottom. Sylvie was just standing there, staring at me like she was studying my presence, holding a plate of snacks and water.
I didn't even hear the door open.
Each encounter with Sylvie only intensified my feeling of isolation. This world, with its magic and mysteries, was already overwhelming. Now, with Sylvie's eerie presence, I couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider—constantly watched, yet utterly alone. Back home, my mother and sisters always filled our house with warmth and noise. Here, the silence was deafening, broken only by the unnerving appearances of my maid.
The next person who knew of my summoning was none other than the one who did it, Bel Xyrus.
At first, I resented him for ripping me away from my world and family, but as time has gone on, he has shown that he's truly sorry for what he did to me and is trying everything in his power to get me back home, which I appreciate a lot.
Bel is a very busy man, which makes sense—he is a prince, after all. Aside from his royal duties, I've learned a good amount about him. For one, he is fascinated with magic, hence his search for ancient magic. He reminds me of a mad scientist sometimes with how excited he gets when it comes to some topics. Bel has also been very interested in my world, from how we have developed to the fact that we don't have magic like his.
I've told him a good amount about my world, but I've left out a lot as well. I'm very appreciative of his hospitality and the fact that he is trying to get me back home, but there's this feeling I get every time I talk to him that I shouldn't trust him completely or that he has some strange motive.
I like to think I'm pretty observant and I trust my intuition, so for now, I'll trust Bel but not completely. I'll keep a part of me distant.
And finally, Zeirs, whom I was about to meet right now.
Standing at the entrance of the palace filled with luminescent flowers and the warm sun beating down on me, alongside Bel and Sylvie, we looked a few feet away at the front gate. A tall man appeared, walking in an unhurried yet powerful manner. He had broad, powerful shoulders and a well-built physique that was evident through his black military uniform with crimson trim. He was quite tall—taller than both me and Bel.
He had a well-groomed beard, sharp features, and a dark complexion. His brown cropped hair was slicked back, and his piercing almond eyes seemed to see right through me. As he approached, the air felt as if it was getting thinner, making it harder to breathe. My heart began to race, my palms clammy, and my knees felt weak, like they were going to buckle under the pressure of his presence.
Approaching Bel, Zeirs bowed respectfully and then met my eyes, having to slightly look up at him. I almost forgot to breathe when he spoke to me.
"So you are the summoned."
His deep, raspy voice pierced through the air, making the hair on the back of my neck stand.
"Yea that's me, I'm Ezra Cyprus. Nice to meet you."
His cold, calculating eyes seemed to study everything about me. Without even responding to me, he shifted his attention to Bel.
"Why exactly do you want me to show this boy the fundamentals of magic? What makes you even think he has the aptitude?"
Puffing his chest, Bel almost seemed proud to tell his trusted subordinate my precarious situation.
"Well, you see, our new friend Ezra is special in many ways, not just the fact that he was summoned, but in fact, in the entire biological change. Without augmenting your strength with mana, he might even rival you."
Slightly put on edge by Bel's statement, I met Zeirs' eyes, which were already staring at me. I gave him a slight smile and a nervous laugh.
Zeirs then offered his hand to me to shake.
"Show me."
Hesitating slightly, I took his hand. Suddenly, my hand felt like it was about to be shattered. With a pained yelp, I squeezed as hard as I could in return, and the pain subsided. Looking at Zeirs' eyes, I could see his expression change from calm to an almost pained wince. As his eyebrows furrowed, he released my hand. His eyes drifted towards his now slightly purplish hand. His eyes narrowed while he studied it, then he spoke without meeting my eyes.
"Perhaps you won't be a waste of my time."
Bel had a bright smile on his face, clearly happy with Zeirs's words. Sylvie also gave a light bow in acceptance of his words.
'What did I get myself into?'
***
Just about two weeks have passed now since Zeirs returned to the royal palace, and I've developed a routine since then. Starting my days, I meditate for about an hour. Zeirs says that since I have no experience in meditating, it's crucial.
Considering that my world did not have anything like mana. This has not been an easy task for me. I always thought that meditating was just sitting cross-legged and closing your eyes. Turns out I was very wrong. So far, all Zeirs has had me do while meditating is focusing on my breathing and the rising and falling of my chest, along with focusing on each muscle and body part in my body.
He says this will help in the long run for eventually trying to feel the external energy of ambient mana and the mana that lies within me.
Once I'm done with my meditation, Sylvie brings me my breakfast. She never fails to enter my room right as I finish, and I never hear her come in. She should have been an assassin instead of a maid.
After I eat, I head to train with Zeirs. He's been teaching me the principles of using a sword, which also has not been easy. I never did anything like this in my old world. I usually just did my homework and played video games—nothing like what Zeirs has been making me do.
The reason he's been teaching me how to use a sword is that alongside people using magic, there are Archetypes. These consist of melee users and casters. Melee users use close-quarter weapons like swords, maces, spears, and so on. Casters either use wands, large staffs, or other weapons that allow them to use their magic for long-distance fighting.
Zeirs has shown me some of these weapons. Some of them look like guns from my world. Since Zeirs himself is a melee user and specializes in the sword, that's why I've been learning. My new body, along with its paranormal strength, has enhanced senses and agility, which has been helping me learn a bit faster. But I still wake up sore every day.
Along with learning about Archetypes, Zeirs has told me that those who have magical aptitude have what are called Thresholds. From what I've been told, the strongest magic users have only reached the fifth threshold, and very few have gone beyond it in history.
Each threshold has a title. The order goes: Aspirant, Awakened, Gilded, Transcendent, Exalted. The few in history who went beyond the fifth threshold were called Celestials. Each one of these thresholds has three phases: Emerging, Adept, Master.
One progresses through a phase with intense meditation and better understanding the fundamentals of magic and the way mana flows through your body.
When I finish my training, I tend to just go to the library and learn more about this world, but I've also ventured out into town and looked at some shops.
The people here seem to be no different from people in my world. Knowing that does not change my feeling of being an outsider. Even though they smile the same, laugh the same, talk the same, I always remind myself that these people are not mine. I'm an outcast here.
***
Waking up today was like no different than how it's been. I showered and looked at myself in the mirror still trying to get used to my new body, putting on only my black tunic. I sit on the floor of my room and start my meditation.
Foucing on the compressing and expanding of my lungs, feeling every twitch of my muscles, feeling for every extremity, I felt a little ambition today and decided to focus more within me, I narrowed my focus to the center of my chest trying to feel for anything or see anything.
'Nope still nothing. Damnit, maybe Bel was wrong and I dont have the aptitude'
Suddenly I saw it, only faintly barely perceivable, a floating white orb. It was mana.
The corners of my mouth rose into a wide smile.
'Finally!'