Haist, as always, was dressed impeccably in sleek leather armor with shoulder and chest plates. His ash-blond hair, styled in a sharp 3:7 cut, stood in contrast to Verdi's and my golden-blonde hues. Despite his composed demeanor, he didn't seem older than thirty-five.
Without greetings or preamble, he said indifferently, "You'll be sparring with Mizuki this time. Same rules as before—falling means you lose."
Seriously? Where's the courtesy? A simple greeting wouldn't hurt. I'm still the young lord of this estate, for crying out loud!
Hmm, sparring with Mizuki? This should be easier than I thought.
"Eh? I don't want to bully my little brother," Mizuki quipped, setting her training routine aside. She raised her wooden sword with a teasing grin and added, "But I won't go easy on you, Arai!"
Mizuki looked as fierce as ever with her jet-black hair tied back in a high ponytail and wearing proper training attire.
"Please, show mercy," I muttered, gripping my wooden sword tighter.
"Take your positions," Haist commanded without missing a beat.
After ensuring we were ready, he nodded. "Begin!"
The moment his voice fell, Mizuki charged forward with an explosive burst of speed, her stance direct and aggressive.
I instinctively stepped back, whispering:"<Analyze: Simulate>."
Why was I so confident I could win against Mizuki? Simply, my unique ability.
This ability came with various subskills, including the ability to simulate incoming attacks by analyzing an opponent's combat stance and body language. It was almost like glimpsing into the immediate future. However, it wasn't perfectly accurate, only around 55-60% reliable, and focused purely on physical movement.
It was practically useless against sorcerers since I lacked the necessary data to predict their spells and techniques. This wasn't clairvoyance, after all! Still, if I observed their magic and gathered enough data during the fight, I might be able to simulate their combat patterns. In theory, I could even create a mental simulation of the battle.
For now, it was enough against Mizuki, or so I thought.
An invisible blue scanner emerged, running over Mizuki's form. Moments later, her upcoming moves were rendered as a 3D projection in my mind.
Clenching the wooden sword in my hand, I intercepted Mizuki's initial attack with a swift counterstrike, pivoting my stance to launch an immediate thrust.
"Clang!"
Mizuki reacted quickly, shifting her stance to parry my strike, her blade raised defensively. The crash forced both of us to retreat momentarily.
Without giving her a chance to recover, I leaped forward, launching an aggressive frontal assault.
Mizuki was momentarily surprised but quickly adapted. She raised her sword horizontally, blocking my attack effectively.
Both Haist and Mizuki seemed genuinely surprised by the exchange.
"Arai, I'll have to take this seriously now..." Mizuki declared, adjusting her stance.
Isn't that what villains say after getting cornered? I sighed internally. Her line felt oddly cliché.
Mizuki readied her sword, her grip tightening, before charging at me once again.
A straightforward charge? Easy to predict.
"Eh...?"
Mizuki vanished from my view like a specter. When she reappeared, the simulation exploded into chaos—multiple projected attack paths appeared simultaneously. I couldn't discern which was real.
Her movements were fluid, almost elusive. If I reacted to one trajectory, she'd instantly shift to another, countering effortlessly.
Damn it! I can't predict her strikes!
Unlike before, where a 1 blue line depicted her sword's trajectory, now there were at least 13 overlapping paths.
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
Her wooden sword struck me repeatedly. I couldn't even muster a proper defense.
'At this rate...' I retreated to create some space for a counterattack.
However, a sudden shadow loomed over me, and the next thing I knew, I was sprawled on the ground in utter defeat.
...
"How did you do that, Mizuki?" I asked in disbelief. I'd heard Verdi mention that Haist once said Mizuki had exceptional talent in swordsmanship, something about ghostly movements and ambiguous attack patterns.
"Isn't it obvious? If you react to one move, I'll switch to another. And if you try to predict my attacks, I'll make my movements ambiguous, leaving you open to counterattacks," Mizuki replied, wiping sweat from her brow with an air of calm confidence.
"What?" Her explanation sounded like gibberish to me.
Counter what I expect? She's just a little girl, why does she sound like a seasoned swordmaster?
Haist stepped in, shaking his head. "That's the difference between sorcerers and enhancers. Sorcerers rely on logic and calculations, while enhancers depend more on instinct. That's why I said you're more suited to being a sorcerer. You think too much. Enhancers who aren't instinctive have a much harder time."
Oh, so that's what he meant.
In my previous life, I read something similar in a manga: "If you predict my attack, I'll switch to another, and I'll keep doing that until I land a hit."
It was something like that.
Wow... I must've overestimated myself. Mizuki, who couldn't even enhance her body with mana yet, had utterly dominated me.
If this had been a real sword fight, I'd be dead by now.
I might have this fancy ability, but it doesn't mean I can win against raw skill. I was too cocky.
"But wow, if my big sister is this strong, I won't have to worry about being bullied!" I teased.
Mizuki's face turned red with embarrassment. "Don't mock me! If you train properly, you can be stronger than me."
"Until then, I'll rely on you."
Haist chimed in, "Alright. Your performance was better than before. I'll agree to train you, but what you gain depends on your effort."
"And you fought with more seriousness this time. You even managed to land a hit on Mizuki."
"Yes!" I exclaimed, delighted. Haist was a rank-four enhancer, after all. His teachings were incredibly valuable.
What would I learn first? Aura? Battle qi? Or perhaps the legendary Sword Intent? Just imagining it got me excited.
"Alright, start with 50 laps around the courtyard, followed by 100 push-ups, then..."
"..."
"Huh? You're not teaching me sword techniques?"
"Hah?" Haist shot me a disdainful look. "You want to swing a sword with that frail body of yours? We'll start sword training after 6 months of basic exercises!"
"Can I start tomorrow? My arms hurt..." I winced, recalling the beating Mizuki had given me earlier. She hadn't shown her little brother any mercy.
"No!"
I felt wronged.
Did I set my expectations too high?
"Ha ha ha..."
I glanced at Mizuki. That girl was laughing!
She must've expected Haist to say that.
...
Three days had passed.
I found myself gazing at the raven-haired beauty before me, her pale face serene under the moonlight streaming through the window, giving her an ethereal, otherworldly allure.
This was my mother in this life - Kuyomi.
One of the maids had informed me that my mother had awakened, so without hesitation, I came rushing here. The same went for Father and Mizuki.
"Arai, you've grown so much since the last time I saw you," she said with a warm smile.
An inexplicable sadness stirred within me. The last time Mother was awake was nearly seven months ago. It had been so long.
"Mizuki, you too. You've grown into a beautiful young lady."
Mizuki stepped forward, quietly hugging Mother. Mother extended her arms toward me as well, pulling me into her warm and comforting embrace.
"Mizuki… Arai… I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice tender. "Mama can't stay to watch over you both."
"Verdi, I'm sorry too. Instead of being here for the children, I've left everything to you."
Then, turning her attention back to me, she stroked my hair gently and said, "Arai… you're five years old now, aren't you? That means you've completed your awakening ceremony…"
"How did it go?"
Without a word, I raised my hand and summoned my grimoire.
"Mm…" Mother didn't show much reaction. Instead, she smiled brightly and said, "Arai, since you've gained strength now, it's your duty to protect your big sister."
"Mother! I'm not weak! I can defend myself perfectly fine with my sword!" Mizuki protested vehemently, puffing herself up as if to appear stronger even in this moment.
Still holding on to her pride, huh? This girl never changes.
Mizuki then launched into an animated retelling of how she had "heroically" and "utterly" defeated me during Haist's test.
"Oh? My little princess has grown strong, hasn't she?" Mother chuckled softly, patting Mizuki's head. "That reassures me."
Taking both our hands, she pressed them to her forehead and said, "Now, promise me you'll protect each other no matter what happens."
"I will!" Mizuki declared with determination.
"I will," I echoed.
"What obedient children," Mother whispered, pulling us both into another hug. This time, Mizuki let out a quiet sob. Even I felt a wave of sorrow wash over me. But I held it in, refusing to let it take over.
What exactly was going on with her? What secrets lay hidden within my mother? Unfortunately, I wasn't in a position to uncover them.
Though I hadn't spent much time with her, the year and a half we shared was enough for me to accept her as my mother. It went against my initial plans, but it didn't matter—human emotions were fickle and unpredictable.
"Verdi…"
"It's fine," Father interjected, shrugging with a helpless smile.
"Why are you all so gloomy? It's not like I'm dying," Mother said, her gaze drifting to the window. "It's just… I'm dealing with a somewhat unique condition."
From the look on her face, it was clear she understood her situation but had chosen not to disclose it.
"Verdi, there's no need to bring anyone else for treatment anymore. It's pointless, and I think you realize that too, don't you?" Her voice softened as she cast a serious glance at Father. "I'll return to normal in a few years."
Nodding, I took Mizuki by the arm and led her out of the room, giving them some space.
As soon as we left, Mizuki clung to me tightly, bursting into tears.
"Arai…"
"Yes?"
"Will Mother be okay? Will she wake up soon?" Mizuki asked between sobs, lifting her tear-streaked face to look at me.
Her shimmering, tear-filled eyes filled me with a profound sense of pity.
Not wanting to crush her hopes, I smiled confidently and said, "Of course!"
I'm an adult, I can live without parents. I can endure having Mother in a coma.
Mizuki, however, is just a little girl, barely eight years old. The fact that she's held out this long is a testament to her strength. She's inherited the best traits from both our parents or rather, this girl is simply strong in her own right.
She's managed to overcome the shock of being unable to use mana and has remained resilient despite Mother's prolonged absence.
I turned my gaze to the crimson moon outside the window, silently wishing for things to get better.
...
Three months had passed.
I lay sprawled on the usual tree in the courtyard, gazing at the grand manor through one of its sturdy branches. The warm spring sun kissed my skin, and the cheerful chirping of birds filled the air. It was the season of renewal, yet I felt anything but revitalized.
I hadn't managed to open my grimoire, and I still wasn't even a rank one sorcerer. That cursed book remained firmly sealed despite all my attempts to pry it open.
The only consolation I had was that the so-called teacher Verdi promised still hadn't shown up.
Between physical training and my mysterious grimoire, I was sinking deeper into a pit of frustration and despair.
My daily routine was enough to drive anyone mad. Mornings were spent enduring grueling physical training under Haist's relentless supervision, running, push-ups, squats, jumps, and more. Even my meals were drastically reduced in portions, making the entire experience torturous.
At night, I sat through private lessons on the management of the duchy, handling documents, courtly etiquette, and other tedious formalities.
My dreary schedule for the next ten years had already been mapped out: in five years, I'd enter the royal academy; three years later, I'd join the military; and five years after that, I'd be married, and ready to inherit the title of duke.
The mere thought of this timeline ignited a smoldering anger within me, a black flame fueled by frustration and resentment.
I didn't even have time to analyze the magical artifacts or that ancient relic in my possession!
Haist's training left my body aching constantly. During the first month, there were days I could barely move due to the intense strain on my muscles.
"I feel sick today. Can I take a break?" I'd try my luck.
"No," Haist would reply coldly. "If you're that ill, drink a healing potion. Your father's a duke, so I'm sure he has plenty lying around."
What did this guy have against me?
Sometimes, I couldn't help but wonder if he bore some personal grudge. The disparity between how he treated Mizuki and me was like night and day.
On the brighter side, I managed to learn three level zero spells: Fireball, Light Bomb, and Fire Bullet—including a modified version of Fireball.
Truthfully, I could have learned more, possibly even the entire beginner's spellbook. But I held back. I wasn't even a rank one sorcerer yet, and learning these basic, practically useless spells was just a way to console myself.
At least, with the Laska Ring, these spells had the strength of a level one sorcerer's magic.
Now, I have confirmed a few peculiar details about this world.
The moon.
The moon in this world had three distinct phases; not in the sense of crescents and full moons, but in its very color.
Every three years, its hue shifted. Initially, it was silver. Three years later, it turned blue. After six years, it became red.
One moon, three colors.
I first noticed the red moon when I turned three and found it fascinating. After reading about it and asking Verdi, I learned about its three phases.
No, these weren't separate moons; it was the same celestial body transforming.
Observing the sun revealed another anomaly.
It seemed closer and smaller than Earth's sun—yet summer temperatures here were still normal, peaking at an estimated 30 degrees Celsius.
In my studies, I also came to understand the fundamental differences between enhancers and sorcerers.
First, mana reservees.
Sorcerers had far larger mana reserves than enhancers, though it was more accurate to say that enhancers' reserves were significantly reduced.
Sorcerers used mana from their core to unleash powerful spells with precision and efficiency. On the other hand, enhancers utilized roughly 50–60% of their available mana to continuously augment their physical bodies. This enhancement transformed their cells and veins, making their bodies tougher than metal and brimming with raw power.
Although enhancers could use magic, their spellcasting was limited to straightforward, non-weapon-based attacks. They were fearsome in their own right, trading the versatility of sorcery for sheer brute strength.
One more thing I learned: a sorcerer's power isn't always determined by their rank.