In front of the matriarch's chamber, Vonn's tutor bowed, ready to report on the second young master's progress. His task was simple and it was to gauge Vonn's worth.
With a respectful expression, he entered the chamber at her signal and knelt on one knee in greeting. "All hail the Great Matriarch."
"Hmm… If I recall correctly, you're the tutor of the second boy?" Diana's cold voice loomed, sending chills through the old man. His composed expression faltered as he felt a touch of dread at the nape of his neck.
He steadied himself and answered, "I am, my Lady."
"Hmm… So? What purpose brings you here?"
"The second young master, Vonn, is displaying notable talent—especially in strategy. Even at age five, he can devise complex strategies, each step backed by reasonable cause, as if he has already lived through the battles he describes. If I may speak honestly, I believe he is a one-in-a-million talent. If nurtured, he could become a supporting pillar for the future generation."
Diana's cold gaze rested on him. She bit her lower lip, grinning. "You think he could be a pillar for the future generation? Did I ask for your opinion? I only want your report."
The old man swallowed. "I am simply basing my report on observations, my Lady. Of course, those are my conclusions, but they support my assessment of his talent."
"Talent…? So you say he's not useless. I see."
The air in the chamber seemed to thin as the tutor felt the weight of her scrutiny. Who wouldn't feel the pressure? One misstep could mean death—such was the ruthlessness of the matriarch of the Silverfein family, the Brutal Cold Lady of the North.
But thinking of Vonn's potential, he refused to let fear consume him. As a teacher at heart, he wanted to see Vonn's talent fully realized.
"No, my Lady. While he lacks mana and possibly has a weaker constitution because of it, he has other strengths. His intelligence could serve the family. I believe that even without mana, he could prove invaluable. He may have inherited that quality from you, my Lady."
Diana shook her head dismissively. "Tsk. Of course, he would inherit that from me. The second consort was known only for his physical prowess, not his mind." She paused. "Alright. Since you believe he has some potential, test him to see if he's inherited his father's physical attributes. I'll provide three mana pills, each with a decade's worth of mana. Teach him how to absorb them, and we'll see if he has that unique power from his father. After that, report back."
The old tutor nodded, lowering his head. "I will, my Lady."
'This is the reward! It seems the Great Matriarch recognized the second young master's potential all along, just choosing to be lenient. Could it be due to the second consort—his father—a descendant of a neighboring family? Could it be because of that?'
***
'Fire, water, wind, and earth—the core elements in exorcism,' Vonn mused as he balanced on one hand, his body upside down. Veins bulged slightly on his forearms and neck as he held his form steady. 'They're also the primary elements in magic… the connection between the two is striking.'
He considered, 'Unlike other common novels I read before, spells in this world don't require fixed chants. They can be activated by phrases that fit the spell's purpose, not limited to textbook formulas.'
'The same applies to exorcism spells and techniques. They don't need to be rigid.'
Vonn felt a surge of confidence. 'I won't have to worry about power. I can slowly regain my exorcism abilities and also learn unorthodox magic. In five years at most, I'll be able to protect myself.'
Even while training, he used his time wisely, reflecting on his progress and reassessing his condition to avoid risks. He wouldn't overlook any detail that might indicate a gift he hadn't yet uncovered.
'This extra character… he probably died due to a lack of any natural talent. Without this fortunate reincarnation with two other sets of memories, I wouldn't have had a chance of survival here.'
'So… is this really an anomaly in the storyline? A single soul reincarnated with three memories?'
It had become a habit for him to collect his thoughts to keep his training productive. He felt that without continuous reflection, he'd overlook something crucial.
Focused on his physical training and deep in thought, he failed to notice a shadowed figure watching him from a distance. Its eyes, cat-like and elegant, gleamed softly under the cloak of night.
The observer's gaze was fixed on Vonn, drawn by an unusual vibration of energy around him. In particular, the mana seemed chaotic, almost repelled by his body, as though he couldn't absorb it properly.
The figure pondered, 'Does he lack a Mana Heart? What a pity… A rare case—one in a million. The child appears to rely purely on physical strength. At such a young age, he's already accepted this reality.'
Curious, it wondered what could drive a young mind to accept such limitations so resolutely.
'Did Diana assign him to this kind of training? Could that ice-hearted woman actually hold out hope for him?' The feline eyes blinked thoughtfully. 'Unlikely. The kid must have realized by now he's being secluded from the estate's main grounds. Smart one—not wallowing, even without power.'
The figure stepped forward, emerging from the shadows—a humanoid form nearly human, save for white, cat-like ears and a long, agile tail.
Meanwhile, Vonn finished his physical exercises and moved on to practice his exorcism techniques. He sat cross-legged, mumbling a few words before flicking his fingers.
A blue flame ignited, fueled not by mana but by an internal reserve called espera, pulling faint energy from his surroundings.
The feline observer's eyes widened in shock. "H-how is that possible?" It blinked, activating a special vision to clearly trace the mana flow. "I can't see any abnormal flow. It's as similar as before."
At a loss for words, the humanoid creature's gaze remained fixed on Vonn, grappling with the sight of a mana-less child conjuring fire.
"Has he mastered the art of manipulating external mana without possessing any?" it murmured, intrigued. "Interesting…"