Another year has passed since I was 'born' in this new world. My name is Julian Leywin.
Somehow this name sounds very odd. Perhaps because of how bad it goes with the surname 'Leywin.' I suppose this is what happens when you are an unplanned child. But at the same time, it feels right, to me personally, at least.
That said, I have turned 2 years old. I have accomplished a lot in the past 1 year. While I surpassed Arthur—my older brother—in terms of getting on my feet and running around the house, he spoke his first words way before me.
It was not because I did not want to—well, I didn't want to speak too much—but it was mostly because my tongue felt too heavy at that time, due to which I was unable to speak at a much earlier time.
Putting that aside, for the past 1 year, I have been reading the same books Arthur used to read to me and at the same time, I have been trying to copy him.
This world operates on mana and mana operates in the presence of a mana core. Awakening of mana core is a natural process, and not a single human has achieved awakening mana core via artificial means.
But from what I could see, or well, take a wild guess—Arthur is trying to awaken his mana core artificially. There are still some doubts, but I am pretty much certain that he is a reincarnated individual as well. Because if I were to measure him by normal human meterics—even according to this world's standards, nothing warrants how fast he started to read books, and is now trying to awaken his mana core artificially.
Slowly crawling towards him, I sat in front of him.
Arthur was sitting in a lotus position, beads of sweat lining his entire face as he struggled to maintain focus.
Suddenly, one of his eye snapped open. "What?"
"Watching." I replied.
There was no need to overly justify myself. And I was curious as well. No, it wasn't just curiosity. It was regret. Regret of wasting my past life to my rigid persuit of living a mundane life. It was exactly that which made me want to observe him closely. However, everytime I did, he'd push me away, making me stand a good distance away.
Leaning forward, he held both my cheeks and stretched them. "Awhh—is little baby Julian trying to copy his handsome, and brave and strong brothe--"
Before he could babble any further, I let myself fall back and kicked his chin.
He recoiled back, breaking his lotus position. However, I am not sure if I did any damage, seeing how my own foot looked like the bone inside it almost shattered.
"Ugh—you and your somersaulting kicks..." He complained, rubbing his chin.
I tilted my head. "What's a somersault?"
He clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk- you dwell on too many trivial things, little brother~ Now go and drink your milk or something, let your older brother work."
I plopped back down and leaned forward, putting my hands between my legs, indicating I am not going to move.
Arthur let out a heavy sigh. "Julian...fine...just don't blame me if something happens."
As he sat back down and closed his eyes, I did the same. I crossed my legs and closed my eyes.
Honestly, I was in the dark. Literally.
However, something striked me after a while. Instead of focusing things around me, I focused on myself. Inside me. I am not sure if it was even possible, but after a few seconds, I could see it. A plethora of white shards all over my body, like debris after a plane crash.
And behind each shard was a purple mote, slowly, painfully moving towards my solax plexus. My eyes opened suddenly as I felt a shiver run down my spine.
It had never happened before—my concentration breaking, I mean. In front of me, Arthur was still sitting cross-legged, his body levitating just a few inches over the floor. A dense traslucent layer of something pulsated around him, gradually building up and expanding.
Goosebumps rose all over my body as I took a step towards him. The swirling build up—what I assumed was mana—was swishing loudly. I closed my eyes and I tried to focus. On myself, inside me, and on himself as well.
I am not sure how humans in this world—or maybe just me—are able to do this, but it ws a reality. It felt like I could see the innermost layer of Arthur—white shards coalescing around his solar plexus and merging into one big black ball.
That was when it clicked...
Reynolds POV:
I was so happy we had a son . And while we were not planning for another one so soon, he was a pleasant addition to our little family.
Looking back at it now, it was probably for the best. Since now when I see both of them, inseperable, it is good that Arthur has someone of his age around him. Well, inseperable would be a stretch since it's Julian who just follows Arthur around but never really gets so close.
That curious little thing, haha!
I wonder when can babies start training?When did I start training again? Man, I can't wait to teach my baby boys allabout magic! I hope they turns out to be an augmenter like their old pops .
Imay know the basics of conjuring, but I can't do anything practical with itexcept use it as a form of mental exercise .Alice, on the other hand, is one of the most talented people I've ever seen .Even as an Emitter, she's exceptional .
Back then, after she agreed to dateme, she joined my party and we went on missions together . Her restorativepowers were amazing in and of itself, but what shocked me the most waswhen she used an area of effect spell, which healed all allies inside .
Talkabout one of a kind! And I'm her husband!
Hehe... I still don't get tired of saying that .
Yes, I have already thought about it!
Aas soon as they awaken, I'm going to train them . If he ends upbecoming a conjurer, I think I can get them a tutor from the main town sinceAlice and I aren't adept enough to be teaching him...
. . . Is what I said but...
*BOOM!*
Currently, 3/4th of the house is gone...
What happened?
Luckily, I was with Alice in the front yard for a bit after dinner, but . . .Art and Julian... . my little boys were still in the house . . .
"ARTHUR!"Alice's face drained of all blood as I saw her go pale, eyes wide in disbeliefand worry . "JULIAN"
I nudged my wife down while covering her with a temporaryshield that would last for a few minutes .
I rushed towards the direction of the explosion, shielding my body with alayer of mana over my skin . The debris was constantly thrown towards meas I reached deeper into the source of the explosion . After fighting my waythrough the scraps of what was left of my house and several pieces of rocks,I saw it .
Arthur had the all but noticeable translucent barrier flickering around him .Better yet, the repulsion of his awakened powers was what caused thisexplosion . He was floating in the center of a crater that cleared 3/4th of ourhouse, as well as our entire backyard .
My legs gave out and I just landed on my knees while my jaw hung loose .Arthur awakened at merely three years old... Only three...I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Reynolds! Honey!"
As Alice came rushing in, a sudden realisation sat on me.
"Julian...JULIAN!" I cried out and started to look around frantically.
"R-Rey..." Alice's frightened voice made me look back.
Right in front of where Arthur was facing, there was our second son - Julian. His whole body was covered in blood. I tried to run after him, but something stopped me.
Despite the blood covering his tiny body, and the cacophony of noises, I still saw his lips move, saying something. I heard him, faintly, but I could swear it was a hallucination. Because there was no way...
"I understand it now." He said as he closed his eyes.
The following moment, all of the debris that had been thrown in our direction started to rattle and was suddenly sucked in. The shimmering translucent barrier formed around him, and unlike Arthur's which repelled everything, Julian's started to have a strong pulling effect.
The barrier expanded, and collided with Arthur's. Even at a distance, I saw their expressions grow strained.
The area where their barriers had met exploded, tearing the space apart as every material object started to splinter in a hundred different pieces.
I covered Alice, placing her head against my chest as I crouched down. The flying sharpnels of glass from the tempestous effects of their barriers colliding dug into my skin as I bit on my lip, trying to suppress the pain while I augmented my skin with mana.
After a few moments, the flying debris suddenly fell down. Standing up from Alice, I made sure she was ok, before running back to where both my sons were.
I hope they are alive...I hope they are alive...
As I reached the place where they were, I saw Arthur gracefully step down from his bubble, stretching his body all over.
Julian on the other hand...he was lying there amidst the debris, motionless. His skin was pale, like a corpse...no....
***THE END***
Thanks for reading.