Elias Leywin POV
"Mama, 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 Mama", I whined as the baby not-quite-a-cat flew up and landed on top of my head "Sylvie?" I said as I lowered her and held her close to my chest.
"Oh my... What a lovely mana beast. I assume it is your contracted beast, Arthur?" she asked my brother inquisitively while kneeling down to get a closer view of Sylvie.
"Yeah, she hatched a few months ago. Her name is Sylvie." Art responds as he is still being dragged by our mother
I held the definitely-not-a-cat at arm's reach towards the older woman, allowing her to inspect the creature. Sylvie squirms 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 he rose to her full height once more.
Shrugging his shoulders, Big Bro began to explain, "I'm not exactly sure what she is either. 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 at the backyard and everyone took seats, giving us enough space, Sylvie struggling to escape the grasp of my sister.
I joined them, practically bouncing.
"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 didn't even raise his hands, just casually kept them in his pockets and launched the rock toward Director Cynthia with a swift kick.
I tensed, watching the stone hurtle forward, but 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.
Magic is so cool.
I squealed slightly as the display before me only ramped up.
Cynthia raised her eyebrow. She looked surprised, but not mad. Grown-ups made that face a lot.
Then Arthur jumped high into the air. Wind swirled under him like a little tornado. He used the flying rock like a step and whooshed right at Cynthia's shield. His punch made a big BOOM, and the wind rushed over the field, ruffling everyone's clothes and hair.
But Cynthia didn't fall over. She didn't even move. She was like a tree. A magic tree.
Then she made four big twisty tubes 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 twisty tubes. He danced with them, almost as if he was playing a game of tag. But his game was sharp, fast and made the wind slice the other twisty things. When the swirling winds crashed, it made a loud WHOOSH and 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," Papa 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 newly found interest.
She regained her senses and made her way towards him, then I heard my father's voice call out from behind me.
"A-Arthur... You know how to use Earth and wind attribute spells as well?"
"What do you mean, 'as well'?" Director Cynthia interrupted, her composed look turning into a look of confusion.
My mother continued on 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 of 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 cuts 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 deviants in both those elements, although I had just begun training in them." He states, standing up shakily.
~~~
"No! Absolutely no way!" Mama'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 go get yourself killed out there? No way! Absolutely not!"
Mama'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 Mama's dress.
"Mama, don't be angry. Big Brother is not a bad person! Uuu... Mama, 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. I didn't like yelling. And I especially didn't like it when Mother cried.
Director Goodsky had left already. I saw her walk out, real serious-like, after Arthur told everyone he wanted to be an Adventurer. We were in Mother and Father's room now. It was quiet except for Mother being mad and sad at the same time. Arthur just stood there as he faced our mother's onslaught.
Father wasn't yelling either. He just looked really tired. Like when he worked too long outside. He looked at Arthur and then at Mother and rubbed his neck. I could tell he didn't like the idea either, but he wasn't saying "no" like Mother was.
Arthur didn't say anything for a while. He just stood there and looked at Mother, even though she was crying. I thought he was maybe sad too, but he didn't show it like I would. If I were that sad, I'd be crying already.
Father finally talked. "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?" Mother shouted, clearly angry. Then 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 Mother and let her cry into his shoulder.
It felt like forever before Mama stopped crying. The room was quiet again, except for sniffling. I didn't like this kind of quiet. It made my tummy feel weird.
Then Arthur stepped forward and held Mother's hands.
"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."
Mother 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 Mother's hand.
Arthur kept talking. "What I meant by becoming an adventurer was so that I can 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 all the big words, but I could tell Arthur was trying really hard to explain. He wanted Mama to stop being sad. I wanted that too.
Father nodded a little. "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 were to have some sort of 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 kind of quiet where everyone was thinking.
Father finally spoke. "Hmm... You know, that's not a bad idea."
I saw Father's eyebrows do their thinking-wiggle. That meant he was imagining something. Probably him picking people in his head.
But 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 like she was about to cry. "You... you... d-don't go, Brother!"
Arthur knelt down 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 felt a little better, but 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?
Mother and Father had told us a bunch of bedtime stories about Arthur. How he saved Mother from mean people on a cliff, and how he was the strongest Big Brother ever. I thought Arthur was kinda like a prince from those storybooks, brave and smart and shiny... I like shiny...
A gleeful look appeared on my face at the thought... I remember asking for those shiny things I later found out was money— No Elias! Not the time nor place to have those thoughts, you can think about shiny things later! Think about Arthur now!
Mother looked a little calmer now. I think she believed him. Her shoulders weren't so tight anymore.
Then she asked, kind of quietly, "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 out in real-life situations. Also, Mom, I want to at least try to fit in with everyone when I go to school. It would be a lot harder to fit in if I began school at the age of eight. I don't think I'll be able to make many friends with such a big age difference."
I blinked. I didn't really get it all, but I understood that Arthur didn't want to be alone. I didn't want that either.
So I walked over and hugged his leg.
"Okay, Big Bro... but you have to come back lots, 'kay?"
Arthur looked down at me and patted my head. "I promise, Elias."
~~~
We made our way in through the front door.
Damn you Big Bro throwing me to these Evil Demons.
I dragged my tired body through the doorway and sat on the floor.
I heard a bunch of feet stomping fast, thump thump thump!, Uncle Vincent came running into the room. His face was red, and he had this big, silly smile like he just ate a whole cake and wasn't supposed to.
"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 shiny like Mother's, 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?" she asked.
I peeked around Mother's skirt and looked at Arthur. 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 like 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?" Mother asked, sounding worried now. She didn't like secrets.
Arthur looked serious now, but not in a scary way. He stood straight like when he's about to teach something. "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 perk up after piecing everything together.
Auntie 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 it was up to the child's innate talent to awaken by themselves. Why haven't I heard anyone else teaching kids then?"
Her voice was all wobbly, and I could tell she didn't know if she should be happy or nervous.
Arthur 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 Auntie 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 glances towards me, a slight smirk growing on the corner of his mouth after seeing my face.
Everyone was quiet again. I wanted to ask something, but I didn't want to interrupt. My heart was doing tiny jumps in my chest.
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 all proper, 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. Auntie 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 sits 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 face my brother, "'Kay"
"Before I do anything, I want you guys to close your eyes and concentrate," Arthur said gently.
We all close our eyes. I sit there rocking slightly in 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 says calmly.
I let out a heavy exhale as I focus.
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 begin to gather and comprehend the sight before me, Big Sis' voice cuts through my concentration.
"N-no... I don't really see anything."
Hearing this, El too chirps 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 Cyclone of light that orbits me, and 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 mutters, confused.
I heard him stand up and kneel down behind me "Lias, I'm going to put my hand on your back to see your lights, okay?"
"'Kay", I chipperly 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.
What happened...?
I opened my eyes and slowly they began to adjust 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 stretching as far as the world allows.
Where... am I?
OMAKE - As Shiny as he.
Made by Lancelotdragonroad
March 7th of the 1001st cycle (approximately 10 months before Sylvie hatched)
Xyrus City, noble district, Helstea household.
In the confines of this house was one Elias Leywin, younger brother to Arthur Leywin. Elias was a quiet kid since birth, who, unlike his sister, is yet to utter his first words.
This fact frustrated his mother greatly, so she made it a point to always read him different story books each night. But today she decided to try something different, instead of reading him a story like she always did, she was going to tell him the story of his big brother Arthur.
"Ok Lias, today mummy is going to tell you a real story that happened to her." Alice's voice was chipper, but her eyes were dark, almost as if a dark shadow had loomed over her.
"We were going to Xyrus City to meet up with your Uncle Vincent, it was supposed to be an easy journey, but the bad guys attacked! hrawrr!" started Alice with her story telling, gesturing animatedly as she explained, hoping to get a reaction out of her son.
"Then, your smart, cool, brave, handsome and shiny big brother Arthur pushed mama out of harm's way!" Her face tensed, seemingly reliving that moment.
"Arthur?" Said Elias, almost as if testing the word, like it was a magical word that could summon a hero, excitement evident in his tone, eyes sparkling.
"Arthur!" Exclaimed Elias, pumping his fists and throwing them in the air.
"Eeep!" Squealed Alice in excitement at the fact that her son spoke his first word, she would have been announcing it to the whole world if it wasn't so late.
"Arthur is Shiny!" Lias spoke again, clearly more enthusiastic.
"Yes, Arthur is shin-... WAIT, you can speak properly?! If so, then why didn't you talk with us?" asked Alice, voice a little downcast.
"Because you were not Arthur enough!"
"Do you want to know more about Arthur sweetie?"
"Mhm!"
And so, Elias began a single minded obsession with his big brother Arthur... and shiny things apparently , listening to the stories his mother would tell him about his Big Brother. This, unsurprisingly, made Elias an outspoken person who thinks logically, or as logically as a person his age could.
WC – 3035 (3416 with omake)
Thanks for reading this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. 😊
All Criticism and feedback are welcome. Any suggestions for the story or plot are also more than welcome.
Finally able to write some original stuff in this fic. I needed to set up an understanding of Elias and his relationships with those he loves before I attempted anything like this so enjoy his journey to the 'Garden' next chapter.
Special thanks to LancelotDragonroad for editing this chapter
The next chapter is out at 10 Likes or Wednesday.
Rius out.