The soft sizzling of burning pages echoed crisply and what I had just done quickly set in. The blaze of smoke which erupted soon after and the roar of flames drowned out any hope I had of salvaging the situation.
Suddenly, the door to my right flung open, bringing a fierce gale with it from the sheer velocity the door opened with.
Water ball!
A perfectly round ball of water flew out towards the bookshelf and Silvia's familiar figure followed. My saviour had a shocked expression but a quick and helpful reaction nonetheless. She'd reacted before she had even fully digested the situation.
"Reno are you okay?" Silvia asked warmly. I found myself in her embrace - even more shocked than her at what had just happened. "Reno what happened?"
"Oh I'm okay mama...I uhm...I used magic..."
"Magic!?"
It was only then that she looked down at the magic textbook besides us and realised what that really meant. She began to scrutinize and observe me closely. My posture as she walked in, the lingering warmth of my right hand - in that moment it all clicked for her.
I could feel her heartbeat accelerate slightly and her eyes light up. A smile naturally blossomed and anyone with eyes could tell what she was thinking. She just had to be thinking something like 'my son is a—
"Genius! Reno you're a genius!" Yep - something like that. Silvia was practically jumping for joy. I guess she was just going to ignore the fact I literally just set the house on fire. I guess every cloud has a silver lining.
"Uhm mama, shouldn't you double check to make sure the fire doesn't spread?"
"Oh yes the books I almost forgot," she replied earnestly, removing me from her embrace and getting a closer look at the books from afar. Now I could clearly see the area my fireball effected.
The book most affected had lost the latter half of its title. It now read, 'The Heroic Ta-'. I could feel my body tense up slightly. I knew exactly why I had that reaction. That book was supposed to be The Heroic Tales of The Paladin Hero. And it was also—
"Glyffe's favourite!" we both exclaimed at the same time, only to look at each other somewhat awkwardly after.
Well, that wasn't good. At this point in time Glyffe was still out working, so I guess we had some time to analyse the situation. Surely the damage wasn't too bad...
"Reno it's completely burnt. Completely. Just how strong of a fireball did you use!" Silvia exclaimed half joyfully half exasperatedly. She almost seemed... happy?
"Normal? I think?" I replied uncertainly. I mean it wasn't like I had anything to compare it with but if I was to guess I'd think it was a below average fireball. Its outward appearance was quite tame and fluffy. It wasn't a ball at all. The impact damage surprised me considering how weak it looked.
"No three year olds can even use magic - so how is this normal, Reno?" Silvia said in disbelief. I was speechless. She was right it definitely wasn't normal for a three year old to use magic - even in another world.
"Reno from now on - no more magic in the house!" Silvia said assertively. That was something we could both agree on after that fiery mess. "I'll think of something to explain the situation to Glyffe. He should only be here much later so it'll be fine." Silvia said reassuringly.
"Silvia, Reno - I'm home!" Glyffe greeted us from the downstairs floor. I flinched and instinctively looked up at Silvia whose countenance had similarly stiffened. She spoke too soon.
Clearly, even Silvia didn't expect Glyffe to have such comedic timing. Everything had happened so fast that I had to say I was still in shock too. I can only imagine how shocked she was to see her kid sat before a wall of flames.
"Honey we're upstairs in the study. Reno's had a little accident here so it'd be nice if you could come upstairs soon." Silvia shouted down the stairs.
"An accident?" Glyffe asked surprised.
"Yes - an accident." She looked straight down at me. Guilty as charged.
"Alright honey I'll come up in a minute." Glyffe responded apprehensively. His ascent up the flight of stairs seemed particularly slow today. Each and every step was crisp and notably clear. The noise of his footsteps grew louder and louder, until they were just outside the door.
"Alright what's the fuss about?" A deep but smooth voice came from outside the room and Glyffe's familiar muscular figure with it. Instantly his expression turned to one of shock. Anyone could tell what the fuss was about.
He looked around - probably looking for an answer - but I turned away as soon as I met his gaze. I instead chose to look at Silvia for some sort of protection. Silvia smiled down at me then proceeded to explain everything in an almost professional manner.
"So, I was sweeping the floor downstairs when I could hear Reno shout 'Fireball! Fireball! Fireball!' From upstairs. I thought he was just messing around - after all it wouldn't make sense for a five-year old to use magic, right?." Reaching the end of her sentence, she puffed up her chest and looked at Glyffe smugly.
"Magic?" Glyffe raised an eyebrow at her.
"Yes magic! Fire magic! Our boy is a genius!" Silvia exclaimed excitedly.
"You think Reno is a... genius?" This time it was Glyffe's turn to scrutinize me. He looked at me like he could see through me and actually determine whether I was a genius or not. His discerning eye was eventually blocked out by Silvia's figure coming between us.
"Glyffe he's only five years old! Do any five year olds you know use magic?" Silvia asked quite assuredly.
"Most bright kids learn magic at around seven to eight years old." Glyffe responded quite fairly.
"Right? That's what I'm saying he's a genius Glyffe - a genius!"
"Silvia if Reno really was a genius then why would he use fire magic indoors? In a library no less? Everyone knows the number one rule of fire magic is to never use it indoors."
I hated to admit it but, he did have a point. In hindsight, just why did I do that?
Silvia paused for a moment as if she really was questioning if I was a genius or not, but her reply came quickly. "Isn't it our fault he doesn't know the dangers? It's not like Reno has really seen fire before or its effects so how could he have known! In fact, Reno hasn't seen any magic before!" Silvia said quite logically.
Well, it was true Reno had never seen fire before but Akio certainly had. But it wasn't like Silvia would know that her little boy had actually lived a short life in another world prior to this.
Hearing this Glyffe also paused slightly. "You're right, it is our fault as parents that this happened. We haven't shown him any sort of magic yet or told him the dangers. It's amazing he even managed to read the textbook by himself." Thinking up to here, Glyffe had a strange expression when he looked at me past Silvia. He was being converted.
"Right? I told you the reading lessons were working Glyffe—Reno has always been a quick learner. Which is why," Silvia smiled at Glyffe and turned around to face me extending both her arms out extravagantly. "From now on me and Glyffe will teach you how to use magic Reno!"
My eyes widened in surprise. Huh?
"This way an accident like this won't ever happen again!" She added as Glyffe approvingly nodded along.
"You really didn't teach him any magic at all Silvia?" Glyffe asked pensively, it seems this is what was holding him back from admitting my genius.
"Nope. All him. From a magic textbook no less." Silvia bragged, almost as if it was her that had done it.
"You're right Silvia. Reno is a genius. A true genius. Most kids don't even learn to read until about five never mind cast a spell. Well, he is our son so of course he would be this talented!" Glyffe bellowed heartily. His grand gesture earning himself an eye roll from Silvia and a giggle from me.
That switch up was crazy. He was quite sceptical initially, but a little bit of convincing was all it took.
"Hmm?"
Glyffe looked closer at the surrounding damage, noticing a certain book - a very important book - was slightly different today.
A wet and mangled mess of burnt pages and flowy ink. Blurred pictures and missing pages. The only thing which could be made out was half the title. 'The Heroic Ta-'. Glyffe's expression instantly turned solemn.
"Sorry dad!" I took the initiative to apologise - striking while the iron was still hot. Glyffe's expression portrayed his mixed emotions but he came to a solid conclusion rather quickly. He took a deep breath in.
"It's okay, Reno. Accidents like these happen. Just make sure not to use fire magic indoors – because accidents like these happen and it can be very dangerous." He paused. "In fact, it's better to not use any magic in the house." Glyffe suggested quite maturely - his reaction much tamer then what me or clearly Silvia was expecting.
It was rare to see dad's serious side, but it was a welcomed. Evidently, his joy from me being talented was greater than his disappointment from his favourite book being destroyed.
"How about this - why don't we head into Butter Town as a family tomorrow and look for a new book for Glyffe?" Silvia suggested reasonably.
"Butter town?" I asked inquisitively. Who would give a place such a ridiculous name?
"Yes Butter Town—wait. Have you taken Reno outside yet Glyffe?" At first Silvia was looking at me, but by the end her gaze was directed straight at Glyffe.
"Oh. Right, yeah. I think I forgot." Glyffe said nonchalantly.
Great. So the reason I haven't seen the outside world for the past five years is that Glyffe forgot.
"GLY-FFE. I asked you to take Reno out with you at least once and you're telling me you forgot? You're telling me Reno hasn't seen the outside world at all!? Not even the garden?" Silvia was starting to heat up. She was going to crash out if she dwelt on this any further.
"Yeah, not even the garden..." Glyffe said while scratching the back of his head and coughing not so subtly."...sorry, honey?"
All that response earned was a disappointed sigh.
"Hmph I'll deal with you later Glyffe. You'll be sleeping on the couch tonight!" She harrumphed angrily returning back downstairs to finish sweeping the floor before she got any angrier, leaving me and a stunned Glyffe in the study.
When she had gone, Glyffe crouched down and analysed my condition. He was making sure I was okay and didn't get hurt earlier.
"Oh, the things I do for your mother Reno. Oh the things I do..." Glyffe lamented to me slightly too loudly.
I'd love to take your side Glyffe but it was your fault I'd never seen the light of day. And something told me Silvia asked you to take me out more than once. Oh, the thing you didn't do for me Glyffe. Oh the thing you didn't do...
"Glyffe!"
An angry shout rang out from downstairs, and Glyffe flashed me a smirk. With a thumbs up, he replied "Sorry Silvia, I'll make it up to you..." in an apologetic tone which clearly betrayed his actual expression.
These two are really something else.
"I'll start teaching you magic tomorrow so something like this won't happen again." Glyffe said reassuringly.
Wind Breeze.
Glyffe outstretched his palm and the couple of books left out flew back to their rightful position. Those that were destroyed lined up before him in an orderly manner. He proceeded to lift them up - probably to bin them. His face cringed seeing "The Heroic Ta-" on top of them all.
"Didn't you say no magic in the house?" I saw my chance and ran with it.
"Not you too Reno, give me a break!" Glyffe lamented again, but this time in a quieter tone so no one downstairs could possibly hear it.
"I heard that." She heard it.
.
.
.
Later that day when I was reading the rest of the magic textbook.
"By the way, there's something I forgot to mention. Only because I thought it was common sense until my own kid Syndra did this. Whatever you do, obviously do not use fire magic indoors. Only a complete idiot would use fire magic indoors. Like only a total dumbass. The number one rule of fire magic is as follows: do not use it indoors."