"Sever L. Valtorin stepped forward."
Sever did as he was instructed and climbed the wooden platform, which was filled with a crowd of spectators attending the coronation ceremony.He walked toward an elderly man dressed in royal clothes, holding a crown in his hands.Sever bowed his head so the old man could place what he held upon it.The moment the crown was placed, the spectators screamed in unison, chanting:"Long live King Sever – Long live King Sever!"A fake smile appeared on Sever's face — a sign of dissatisfaction.
A groan? Whose voice is that? What's happening? I feel like my body just left its soul…
Sever opened his eyes with effort, trying to see who the groaning belonged to.As he opened his eyes, he found himself lying in his room on his cotton bed, with his parents beside him and the maid standing by his feet.The groaning was coming from Sever's mother, Maria L. Valtorin, who was shedding tears and holding Sever's small hand.
Sever smiled at the scene.He felt something moving below his chest — like cold water — and within that water, there was something heavier.He slowly shifted his gaze toward his chest.On top of it was placed a stone, pumping mana into the body it touched.Sever remembered what that stone did and its purpose — it was used for people on the brink of death due to severe mana depletion.
Upon seeing that stone, Sever made a sound that alerted his parents.
"Wah—"
Both parents turned their attention to him and embraced him in a way that stirred Sever's cold heart.
"Sever, don't do this to your mother again… If you can't handle training, then please, don't do it," she said in a sad tone, tears falling from her eyes.
"What are you talking about?"
Elric let go of his son, and Maria did the same, but she grabbed Sever by the shoulders, staring into his violet eyes.Sever couldn't look into his mother's eyes — which matched his own — so he looked away out of embarrassment.
Sever tried to ease the tension in the room and decided to act dumb.
"Waaah – where are my clothes?! Why am I naked?!"Damn this situation... I'm embarrassed because of my reaction, and I'm only wearing light clothes.
With muffled laughs, both of Sever's parents and the maid, Elina, smiled.Sever looked at them, his head tilted with a smile.
"So, Sever... about your training—"
His father broke the light mood, trying to speak seriously about what had happened earlier.But Sever interrupted him before he could finish.
"I'll continue."
"But you're in no condition to do that," Maria said with concern.Sever chuckled lightly.
"Hah – do you really think so, Mom? I'm Sever, the son of Maria and Elric Valtorin."
Sever formed a glowing, stable blue mana orb in his hand — this was water mana, one of the eight elements.
"How did you do that?!"
Everyone in the room was stunned, their eyes fixed on the precisely formed mana orb.
"Because I'm a genius."
"I knew it! How could I ever stop my son from training?!"Elric hugged Sever tightly without warning, swinging him around here and there.
"Wait, Elric! Sever hasn't recovered yet!" Maria said again, her tone worried.
If you're going to stop me from training, Elric…
"Then we'll let you rest. Get some good rest.""I appreciate that. Thank you."
Sever's parents left the room, and Elina stayed behind, staring at Sever.He felt awkward from the strange atmosphere she gave off.
"Elina, aren't you leaving with them?""I'm sorry, young master Sever, but it's my duty to stay by your side in times like this — especially at your age."If only you knew I'm older than everyone here…
"So, when will you leave?" I said it directly without realizing."When you regain your health."
Sever stood up on his bed and said:
"I've regained my health, so you may leave."
Elina looked at his trembling legs, then slowly turned her gaze back to him.
"What's wrong with your legs?""Ah – my legs? I'm dancing from joy!"
She replied coldly again:
"Dancing so hard you're bending to the other side?""Y-yeah.""…""I'm sorry, but I can't do that. So I'll stay to take care of you."
Damn it, Elina. Why are you so strict?! Guess I'll go back to sleep until I fully recover and return to training…
Days went by... and Sever's condition didn't change. Elina refused to leave him alone unless one of his parents called for her.
Until that happened, and Maria called for Elina.
He would jump off his bed, bend down to search under it for the magic guidebook he had found in the castle library.He pulled it out and placed it on the ground.But this time, he wanted to try magic again after reactivating his mana from previous training.
I'll fetch a cup of water to train with…
Attracted to the water element, Sever wanted to finish the four stages of the element quickly so he could move on to the next.He stood up from the ground, left his room, closed the door behind him, and went downstairs toward the kitchen to fill a cup of water.
He found one of the maids there — the head maid whom he called "the old lady."
"Old lady, could you fill a cup of water for me?""Of course, young master Sever."
Sever respected her for her deep sympathy toward him — especially Elina, who cared for him greatly.In his previous life, the servants didn't treat him the way they do in this life.Back then, they always had obvious smiles on their faces, treated him with excessive kindness.But in this life, they treated him like a real person — not a thing.
"Thanks for the cup."
Sever ran to his room, closed the door, placed the cup on the ground, and the book beside it.He took a deep breath, focused the mana inside him, and released it from where it was stored.
"Step one: control the element.Step two: release the element.Step three: develop the element's abilities.Final step: control the element's density and motion."
Step one wasn't hard for Sever.He managed to control the water inside the cup, spinning it counterclockwise and compressing it.
Step two was a bit tricky.It took Sever a long time — raising his hand multiple times trying to release the water from it.
"Damn, the mana is forming… but the water won't launch. I hate repeating things!"
Sever tried… and tried… until he failed.
"Damn it!"
I have to keep trying… or I won't be able to protect those I love.
Sever pointed his hand toward the door, gathering mana into a water orb.Just as he felt joy after all his efforts… Elina entered his room suddenly, startling him, and he accidentally launched the water orb at her.
Elina got soaked from the impact.With cold eyes, she stared at Sever.He responded with a goofy smile.
She walked up to him, knelt down to see what he was doing.
"Young master, were you practicing magic in your condition?""Hehe – who, me?"
Her cold stare remained locked on him.Nervous, Sever bowed his head in apology.
"I'm sorry.""…""It's fine. I'll keep it secret from your parents."
Sever lifted his head toward her as she walked away to bring a towel to clean up the mess.But before she left the room, she slightly turned toward Sever, a soft smile forming on her face.
"You know, young master Sever… I had a brother who was just like you.He loved magic and causing trouble… but sadly, I lost him."
She then continued on her way — cold as ever.