Since Arthur had awakened his core, I was sure that I would soon follow. We had begun roughly the same time, but as days turned to weeks and weeks to months it was beginning to seem like it wasn't the case. Our third birthday came and went, and with it came basic lessons with mom and basic trainings with dad. We were each gifted a wooden sword for our birthday and since I hadn't awakened my core eyes I decided to dive into that.
Only I didn't suddenly awake as some sword prodigy. Arthur was a natural and I wondered if it had something to do with him being a king but the memories of the one time I watched that episode were no longer clear. Now I was behind my brother in both magic and swordsmanship and it was tough to not let it bother me.
Everyday I would read back over the beginner mana manipulation book to make sure I didn't miss anything, but no matter what the words stayed the same. I meditated whenever I wasn't training, studying or eating to the point our parents were becoming worried. While I was just surprised that I had found something that I wanted to put such an effort into. Nothing in my past life had every sparked such an obsession in me.
But despite it all I kept up with everything. I made sure I studied and was smarter than Arthur. I trained so that I was at least physically faster and stronger than he was when he wasn't augmenting his body with mana. I incorporated workouts and stretches I remembered from my physical education courses in highschool. I even admit I even tried to find a way to make wrist and ankle weights but I couldn't figure out an efficient way to do so.
Regardless anything that could be achieved through effort I could proud of being better than Arthur at. Though I still found myself jealous of his ability with the sword and magic. I was slowly falling behind that sense and for some reason I hated it. I couldn't remember the last time I had ever felt so intensely about something.
Like that another year passed.
"Honey, I think it's time we get Arthur a proper mentor." Father spoke up one day at dinner.
"What? Reynolds! Arthur isn't even four yet! No! Besides, you said if our sons were augmenters you'd be able to teach them!" Mother responded vehemently, seeming more scared than outright angry.
"I also never expected our son to be this much of a prodigy in mana manipulation. Who has ever heard of an awakening at the age of three?" He replied. And it was true, from all the books I read, the typical age of awakening was around 13. A fact that I dreaded as I worried I would I have to wait that long.
"But that means he'll have to leave home! He's not even four, Reynolds! And what about Roland? You want to separate them? We can't have our baby leave home at such an early age!" Alice spoke with panic creeping in to her voice.
I wasn't entirely sure of the problem that was happening here. Did we have to send Arthur by himself to be tutored? Couldn't we just pay them to come here or we go there? After reading about the cities of Sapin I knew that Ashber was quite a ways away from other big cities, but surely with the gates it wouldn't be that big of a deal?
"Of course I don't want to separate them. Even Roland is special in his own way, I'm sure he would be right alongside Arthur if he had awakened his core already. And I think that proves my point even more. Think of how well Roland does in his studies and physical training, and even he hasn't awakened yet." Reynolds responded.
Ouch. Why am I catching a stray here? Though I guess it was meant as compliment, but I still want to be a mage too! I eventually tuned them out as I ate my food. Watching as Arthur played with his food, peas versus carrots. I could only watch and wonder if this kid had really been a king in his past life. If it wasn't for everything else he does I would seriously think he was just a genius.
I loaded a few peas on to my spoon and aimed at him, a smile building on my face as I lined up the shot. With a snap the spoon shot the peas straight towards his face, scoring a direct hit. The slimy peas sliding down his face as he was startled out his own world and looked at me with his mouth hanging open. Before he realized I had already reloaded and launched another volley straight into his mouth.
He gulped down the projectiles before a mischievous smile spread across his face and copied my action. Before I knew it we were both sending volley of peas back and forth at each other. Our food war was interrupted by the voice of our mother, which froze us both in place. Peas and other vegetables splattered across our face and shirt, some even ending up in our hair.
"Art, this is concerning you, so you have a say in this as well. How—.. Just what are you two doing?" He worried voice changed instantly to the one she used whenever we were in trouble. A chill settled over the table as her gaze narrowed on the two of us, so I figured I would try to change the subject.
"Uh does Arthur have to leave alone? Couldn't we go with him?" I asked and thankfully my plan worked as our parents looked between each other. Me and Arthur hurriedly cleaned the remnants of our food fight from our bodies.
"We'll at least formally have his mana core and channels tested. We can figure out what to do from there." She and father nodded as they began planning the journey.
It seemed we now had a three week long journey ahead of us to the magical floating city of Xyrus. A city that had fascinated me since I read about it in the books. It was hard to imagine something so large just floating in the air and people living on it.
"Boys. You both get to clean all the dishes and wipe down the floors and table. Don't think I forgot you both playing with your food." Mother's voice cut through my thoughts.
"Yes mom." Me and Arthur replied in unison and quickly began cleaning up the kitchen. A small price to pay I figured. Though I thought for sure I had dodged that bullet.
Things went by quickly after that. Mom and Dad's old adventuring party happened to be in town and it would be safer to travel with them than alone, so everyone began packing and preparing everything. Me and Arthur packed a few books along with our wooden swords while our parents packed clothes and other necessities for the journey.
By late morning the next day we were ready and all we had to do was make the trip into town to the inn were their party, the Twin Horns, were staying. We had seen them around the house several times as they helped our parents fix up the house after Arthur blew it up. They were a good if not a bit eccentric group of people.
A giant of a man that was even taller than Reynolds, but he was a conjurer, not an augmenter like I expected. Durden was his name, an Earth mage. The other and final conjurer in the group was Angela, she specialized in wind magic. The leader and archer of the group was Helen, an augmenter that used a bow and arrow rather than a melee weapon. Adam was the only other male in the group and he was a spear wielding augmenter. And last but not least was the woman of few words, Jasmine, a wind attribute augmenter that used two daggers as her weapons.
Before long I could see the two wagons parked outside the inn, large lizards called Skitters, a D class mana beast that were better than horses especially for a mountainous terrain. The first person we saw was Adam, his fiery read hairs standing out as he spotted us and waved us on.
Let the journey begin! I can't wait to see even more of this world.