Elias Leywin POV
"Mum, I'm hungry," I groaned out as I followed the crowd of people outside.
"Elias, you can eat later," she reprimanded, her hand still firmly gripping the back of my brother's shirt as she dragged him outside.
"But Mum..." I whined as the baby not-quite-a-cat flew up and landed on top of my head
"Sylvie?" I asked as I lowered her from atop my head and held her close to my chest.
"Oh my... What a lovely mana beast. I assume it is your contracted beast, Arthur?" the older woman asked my brother inquisitively. She knelt to get a closer view of Sylvie.
"She is and hatched a few months ago. Her name is Sylvie." Art nodded as our mother was dragging him.
I held Sylvie at arm's length towards the older woman, allowing her to inspect the creature. Sylvie squirmed under the Director's observation, jumping away towards my sister.
"I have to say, while it is common for nobles to buy beasts to contract, I have never seen a mana beast like yours," said the Director as she rose to her full height once more.
"I'm not exactly sure what she is either." Art shrugged. "Her mother seemed to be some sort of scaled, wolf-like creature. She was already gravely wounded when I stumbled into her nest. She was protecting her egg."
"I see. Well, enough about her. Let us see if what Vincent said wasn't just an exaggeration. He didn't tell me much except that you're an augmenter, saying the rest would be a surprise." She let out a wry smile, making Uncle Vincent blush slightly.
We had arrived in the backyard. Everyone took a seat, giving them enough space for the demonstration. Sylvie struggled to escape my sister's grasp as they sat beside me.
"You got this, Big Bro!" I shouted as I jumped off the step I was sitting on.
Arthur stomped his foot into the ground, and a chunk of earth the size of his own body jolted upward. He casually kept his hands in his pockets and launched the rock toward Director Cynthia with a swift kick.
Before it even got close, a shimmer of wind snapped into place in front of her. The boulder veered off course, shooting up into the air.
I squealed slightly as the display before me only ramped up.
Cynthia raised her eyebrow. She looked surprised, but not mad.
Arthur jumped high into the air. Wind swirled under him like a little twister of wind. He used the flying rock as a step and whooshed right at Cynthia's shield. The collision sounded a shockwave that sent the wind ruffling across the field and everyone's clothes and hair.
Director Goodsky didn't fall over. She didn't even move. She was like a tree. A magic tree. She made four big twisters of wind and sent them flying at Arthur. They ripped up the grass and made whistling sounds as they flew towards him.
Arthur spun around and made his own big twisters. He danced with them, almost as if he were playing a game of tag. But his game was sharp. When the swirling winds crashed, they tore a big hole in the ground. Dust went everywhere, causing me to have to squint to see anything.
"Wow..." I whispered.
Arthur came out of the dust. He looked a little wobbly but okay.
There was a sound. Not like thunder. Not like yelling. Just... a big "thump" in the air. Arthur stumbled and rubbed his ears.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Sound magic," Dad muttered behind me, sounding nervous as he stood up slightly.
"That should be enough for a demonstration, right, Director?" My brother asked, still kneeling before the older woman.
"Yes... That is quite sufficient," she muttered. There was a long pause before she began studying him with a newfound interest.
She regained her senses and made her way towards him.
"A-Arthur... You know how to use Earth and wind attribute spells as well?" Dad called from behind me.
"What do you mean, 'as well'?" Director Cynthia interrupted, her composed expression turning to confusion.
My mother continued for my baffled father.
"H-he, my son, we thought he was a fire elemental. He's a deviant as well who can use lightning magic!"
I could hear Director Cynthia's breath turn short, and for the first time, her expression showed someone truly in shock.
"S-surely you jest... You mean to say that he is capable of controlling three elements?"
"Four, actually. " I can control all four," he cut in. "Earth and wind are my weakest elements." I'm a lot more adept at controlling fire and water. I also happen to be a deviant in both those elements, although I had just begun training in them." He stated, standing up shakily.
---
"No! Absolutely no way!" Mum's voice rang out loudly. "Arthur! Do you know how dangerous it is to become an Adventurer? You've just gotten back after we all thought you were dead, and now you're saying you want to get yourself killed out there? No way! Absolutely not!"
Mum's eyes were all shiny, like she was about to cry. She always cried when she got upset, even when she tried not to. El held onto her leg, hiding her face in Mum's dress.
"Mum, don't be angry. Big Brother is not a bad person! Uuu... Mum, don't cry," she sniffled as her tears began to well in the corners of her eyes.
I sat on the floor near the bed, hugging my knees and blinking really hard.
Director Goodsky had already left. I saw her walk out, after Arthur told everyone he wanted to be an Adventurer.
We were in Mother and Father's room now. It was quiet except for Mum's anger. Arthur just stood there as he faced our mother's onslaught.
Dad wasn't yelling either. He just looked really tired. He looked at Arthur, then at Mum, and rubbed his neck. I could tell he didn't like the idea either, but he wasn't saying "no" like she was.
Arthur didn't say anything for a while. He just stood there and looked at Mum, even though she was crying. I thought he might be sad too, but he didn't show it the way I would. If I were that sad, I'd be crying already.
Finally, Dad spoke up. "Honey, let's hear Arthur out at least. I'm not saying I agree with him becoming an Adventurer, but don't you think we should at least listen to what he has to say?"
"How can you still say that after what happened that day?" Mum shouted. She covered her face and began to cry harder.
I didn't know what 'that day' meant, but when I looked at Father as if to ask. He shook his head really slowly, so I didn't say anything. He just wrapped his arms around his wife and let her cry into his shoulder.
It felt like forever before Mum stopped crying. Until the room was quiet again, except for both her and Ellie sniffling. I didn't like this kind of quiet. It made my tummy feel weird.
Arthur stepped forward and took our Mother's hands, as she had done to him on the day he came home.
"Mom," he started softly. "I wasn't planning on leaving tomorrow. I was looking forward to spending a few months at home with you guys."
Mum didn't say anything, but she didn't pull her hands away either. Her face didn't look so stormy anymore. Just... tired.
Sylvie climbed up and licked her hand.
Arthur kept talking. "What I meant by becoming an adventurer was that I could get some experience. After being in the Elven Kingdom for three years, I missed a lot about what I should know about this world of ours. I just thought that becoming an adventurer would be the best way to gain some practical experience."
I didn't really understand everything he said, but I could tell that Arthur was really trying to explain. He wanted Mum to stop being sad. I wanted that too.
Dad nodded along in support. "I understand where you're coming from, Arthur. Although I was a bit older, I was also itching to get some real-life experience in fighting as soon as I awakened as a mage," he said. "But your mother is also right. It is dangerous... and unpredictable."
Mother nodded really fast at that. Her lips were pressed tight.
Arthur was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "Dad. Mom. What if I had a guard or supervisor with me? Would that make you feel a bit more at ease with this whole idea?"
Nobody answered right away. It was the quiet where everyone was thinking.
Dad broke the silence. "Hmm... You know, that's not a bad idea."
I saw his eyebrows wiggle, a trait he always expressed when he actually, but rarely, thought. Maybe he already had a list, and that was him mentally picking people.
Our Mother frowned again. "B-but... I still won't be able to see you for three years!"
Arthur shook his head. "Mom, I'm not going to go on long trips or dangerous missions far away. I'll try to come back every few months, maybe even more than that, depending on what I do."
My eyes went wide. "Big Bro, are you leaving?" I asked, my voice squeaky. It felt like I swallowed a rock.
Eleanor gasped and looked up, too. Her face crumpled as, like me, she realised what was going on. "You... you... d-don't go, Brother!"
Arthur knelt really fast and waved his hands. "Nono, Ellie, Lias, I'm staying here. You'll be seeing your Big brother a lot from now on, okay?"
"I see." I still didn't like the idea of him going somewhere dangerous.
'What if he didn't come back again?'
'What if he got hurt?'
Mum and Dad had told us a bunch of bedtime stories about Arthur. How he saved Mum and Me from mean people on a cliff, and how he was the strongest Big Brother ever.
A sharp exhale left my Mum. She smiled at the sight of my brother scrabbling. Quietly, she asked, wanting context. "Why did you want to be an Adventurer before even going to school, anyway? Wasn't it usually the opposite?"
Arthur smiled a little. "Dad's reason was part of it. I want to test my skills in real-life situations. Also, Mom, I want to try at least to fit in with everyone when I go to school. It would be much harder to fit in if I had started school at age eight. I don't think I'll be able to make many friends with such a big age difference."
My mother went quiet at his words, tears welling in her eyes once again. Though this time was due to her likely imagining her son being picked on.
'I'll have to use that myself, thanks, Bro.'
Despite this, my fists tighten. I agreed with Mum. I didn't want him to leave, even if he was coming back. I walked over and hugged his leg. I looked up at him with as serious a face as I could manage. "Okay, Big Bro... but you have to come back lots, 'kay?"
Arthur looked down at me and patted my head. "I promise, Elias."
---
'Damn you, Big Bro, throwing me to these Evil Demons.'
I dragged my tired body through the doorway and sat on the floor.
'Why was I the only one who needed to go this time?'
Vincent came running into the room. His face was red, and he had this goofy slime on his face that stretched between both of his ears.
"You guys are finally here!" he said loudly, scooping up Big Sis Lilia and squishing her face with kisses.
He looked a little... weird. His eyes were all watery, and his hair was a bit messy, too.
Auntie Tabitha blinked at him and tilted her head. "Honey, why are you so flustered? Have you been crying? What is going on?"
Uncle Vincent turned to him and grinned like he had a secret. "You didn't tell them yet, Arthur?"
Arthur chuckled. "I just got down as well. I was about to tell them."
My ears perked up.
'I liked surprises, only the good kind though, not the ones where Evil Demons drag me into eternal damnation...'
I shivered at the thought.
"Tell us what, baby?" Mum asked, sounding worried, which wasn't too surprising.
Arthur looked serious. He stood straight and let out a cough. "I discussed with Mr Vincent about teaching Ellie, Lias and Lilia mana manipulation starting today. Of course, only if Lady Tabitha was okay with it."
I blinked.
'Mana... manipa-lation?'
'Wait like...'
I perked up after piecing everything together.
Aunt Tabitha stared at her husband. "W-wait, hold on. Is this some sort of prank? If it is, it's not funny."
Arthur shook his head. "No ma'am. I know both you and Sir Vincent aren't mages, but it is possible for Lilia to become one."
I didn't really get why that was such a big deal, but everyone was really surprised.
"N-no way," Auntie Tabitha said. "I've never heard of a method for teaching someone mana manipulation. I was taught that it was up to the child's innate talent to awaken on its own. Why haven't I heard anyone else teaching kids then?"
Art nodded, like he expected her to say that. "Mom, you all know how I awakened at the age of three, right? I still remember what happened and why. I'm going to do what I did to myself to them."
He looked at Aunt Tabitha again. "I'll have to test them first, but for Ellie and Lias, I'm 100% sure they'll awaken. And for Lilia, around 70%."
Auntie Tabitha looked like she might fall over. "Heavens... T-this is... Give me a minute. I need to sit down," she whispered, holding onto the couch.
"It won't happen instantly," Arthur said quickly. "It'll take years for them to awaken on their own after I teach them."
He glanced towards me, a slight smirk growing on the corner of his mouth after seeing my face.
Arthur then turned toward us and smiled.
"Ellie, Lilia, can you guys sit down on the floor over by the fireplace?" he asked, walking us over. "Sit however you're most comfortable. Leave some space so I can sit between you."
Ellie looked kinda confused, but she plopped down with her legs sticking out like she always did. Lilia sat properly as one would expect of someone of her station, tucking her legs to the side.
I stayed nearby and watched closely.
"What about me, Big Bro...?" I asked nervously. Everyone else was staring too. Aunt Tabitha, Uncle Vincent, and Mother all had their eyes glued to Arthur, they were looking at him the same way I look at my secret stash of shiny coins.
He sat between the girls. "Lias, sit down like the girls, I want you to try something special."
'Special?'
I quickly sat down, crossing my legs as I faced my brother, "'Kay."
"Before I do anything, I want you guys to close your eyes and concentrate," Arthur said gently.
We all closed our eyes. I sat there, rocking slightly, a mix of excitement and nerves.
"If you try really hard, you'll be able to see some spots of light. Do you see it? And when you do pull them towards you," he said calmly.
I let out a heavy exhale as I focused.
'Light...'
'oh Lights'
'Where are... you...'
'Huh...'
I held my metaphysical arms out to the Golden stars surrounding my form, inviting them to meet at that shiny gold thing inside me.'=
As I began to gather and comprehend the sight before me, Big Sis' voice cut through my concentration.
"N-no... I don't really see anything."
Hearing this, El too chirped in, "Big Brother, I think I see a small, pretty light!"
Lias?" Art questioned from his position in front of me.
"Yes?" I replied, my attention drawn back to the Golden twisty tube of light that orbited that Golden thing inside me.
"Do you see any lights?" he asked, leaning slightly closer.
"I do Big Bro", I answered, a smile growing on my face "There are so many of them! They're all so Shiny and spinning around me."
"Spinning? Shiny?" he muttered, confused.
I heard him stand up and kneel behind me. "Lias, I'm going to put my hand on your back to see your lights, okay?"
"'Kay", I cheerfully replied, excited to show my lights to Big Bro.
I felt his hand fall between my shoulder blades, and his breath on the back of my neck.
I let out a groan as I held my head. I watched the world spin around me with my eyes closed.
'What's happening...?'
Unable to bear the sensation any longer, my eyes snapped open. Slowly, they adjusted to the light filtering through the air. Instinctively, I raised a hand to shield myself as I sat up.
'It's quiet...too quiet.'
I pressed my palm against the ground and pushed myself up, feeling the unnervingly still blades of grass beneath my fingers. Standing now, I took in the endless meadow before me. An ocean of flowers stretched as far as the world allowed.
'What- Where-?'
---
Hello everyone, Rius here,
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. See you tomorrow for Chapter 4.
Thank you to Lancelot Dragonroad for beta-reading and editing.
Rius Out.