Siegfried Fors
The day has finally come.
Today, I will finally learn which Arcana and elements I was born with.
Mother had been fussing over me since dawn, humming softly as she adjusted my collar for what felt like the tenth time.
"All done," she said at last, stepping back to admire her handiwork.
I looked down at the clothes she'd chosen.
A long white coat lined with soft teal that brushed lightly against my legs when I moved. Gold patterns ran along the edges. Beneath it, a fitted black and teal shirt rested neatly under a white belt. A pendant trimmed with gold sat against my chest, glinting faintly when I breathed. My gloves were snug. My boots polished. One shoulder gleamed under a golden pauldron, and the black eyepatch sealed everything together—the finishing touch she insisted made me "look heroic."
"Aww, you look so cute," Mother said suddenly, clasping her hands before swooping in to hug me. "My Sieg, my cute little Sieg."
"Mother… enough," I mumbled, struggling as her arms tightened like steel.
The door swung open just as I finally managed to pry myself free. Uncle Erik stood there, arms crossed, his expression one of disbelief.
"Just what are you doing? Pa and Ma are waiting at the front door."
Mother turned instantly, beaming like she'd been waiting for an audience. "Just look at him, Erik. Isn't he handsome?"
Uncle sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Yes, yes. He looks dazzling. Can we go now?"
Mother pouted, clearly unimpressed by his lack of enthusiasm.
I couldn't help but glance at Uncle. He still looked slightly stiff, probably still holding onto yesterday's little teasing. Mother had told me he was easy to fluster. I had wanted to test that… and apparently, I succeeded a little too well.
Uncle caught my stare. "What?"
"Nothing," I said, suppressing the urge to smile. "Let's go."
We left Mother's room and made our way to the entrance hall. Morning light streamed through the high windows, bathing the polished floors in gold. The air felt alive, like the whole manor was quietly holding its breath for this moment.
At the front, Grandpa and Granny stood waiting. Grandpa looked proud even while pretending to check the time, and Granny's smile softened the entire room.
"My dear Sieg, you look so charming." Her hand brushed my cheek, gentle as the passing breeze.
I smiled in return. "Granny also looks great today."
"Oh." She looked surprised for a second, then chuckled.
I noticed a member of our family was missing. "Where is James?"
"He... told me he wasn't feeling well, so he is resting. Some maids, along with Faux and Baloo, are with him."
"I see."
So he is still avoiding me. I had been a little too harsh with him the last time we went out, and he had been like this ever since. I know I shouldn't have snapped, but just because he could survive by sitting in the library all day didn't mean it was the same for me... I will talk to him later about this.
"Now, why don't we capture this moment," Grandpa said, his voice carrying both command and affection. He gestured toward the main door.
Outside, a man stood beside a peculiar contraption, something that reminded me faintly of the old cameras from my past life. A bulky box on a tripod, a cloth draped behind it. He bowed as we approached.
"Now everyone stand together," Grandpa said.
"We're taking a picture?" I asked, surprised.
"It's an important day," he replied. "One that should be remembered."
Mother smiled and patted my back. "Come on, Sieg."
We gathered close — Mother knelt beside me, her hands resting gently on my shoulders. Granny and Grandpa stood behind us. Uncle took his place beside Granny.
The cameraman disappeared behind the black cloth. A brief silence filled the air, then came the flash, bright and sudden, painting the moment in white.
He lifted the cloth and gave a thumbs-up.
"When will it be ready?" Grandpa asked.
"By tomorrow, my lord."
"Good," Grandpa said with a small nod. Then he turned to me. With a laugh, he hoisted me onto his shoulders as he always did when I was little.
"Let's go to the church now."
I rested my hands on his head, feeling the warmth through his hair, and as we stepped out, surrounded by the people I loved, I wished this moment could last forever.
The streets felt alive that morning. The air carried a hush of reverence, as though the whole town breathed in time with our steps. Many stopped to greet us — bakers, merchants, guards, even children. Each offered warm smiles and words of blessing, wishing me luck for the ritual. Their voices blended into a soft chorus of affection and faith.
When the church came into view, its tall spire glinting beneath the sun, my heart began to race. The staff stood assembled at the grand entrance, dressed in ceremonial robes, their heads bowed. At the front stood Father Kaelen, his expression serene, his hands open in welcome.
"Welcome, Lord Fors, Lady Valka. We have been waiting," he said, his voice echoing softly against the marble walls.
"...Is everything ready?" Mother asked, ignoring his greeting.
"Of course," Kaelen replied, a courteous smile tugging at his lips. "Everything has been prepared." He gestured inward.
Grandpa gently set me down, his large hand brushing my shoulder. Together, we stepped inside.
A floral scent filled the air, sweet and heavy, wrapping the hall in solemnity. The church looked the same as always.
At the far end stood the towering golden tree. Its leaves shimmered faintly even without wind, like sunlight trapped in eternal stillness.
"This way, young lord," Kaelen said softly, guiding us down the aisle until we stood before the radiant tree.
A nun stood nearby, her head bowed, holding a silver tray lined with pristine sheets of white paper.
"Young lord," Kaelen stepped beside me. "Do you know the ritual?"
"I do. I'm supposed to press this white paper against the tree and chant."
"That's correct, young lord," he said with a slight nod. "Do you know the chant?"
"Hmm… sort of."
"Then please go ahead."
At his words, the nun stepped forward and lowered the tray toward me. I reached out and picked one of the papers. It felt smooth, almost fragile, like holding a fragment of purity itself.
I glanced back.
Mother's eyes shone with quiet excitement. Grandpa gave a small nod, his arms crossed but his lips curved faintly. Granny's hands were clasped together, her smile tender. Uncle Erik stood beside her... For some reason, he looked very nervous, as if he were the one supposed to go through a trial.
Their faces steadied my heart. I turned back toward the golden tree. Its glow seemed to pulse, as if responding to me even before I took a step closer.
I pressed the paper gently against its trunk and began to chant, the words leaving my lips like a quiet prayer:
"O Aethelhum, First Root, Eternal Crown,
Let your sap flow through my soul.
Reveal the color of my breath,
The song that sleeps within my veins.
By leaf and light, by root and shade—
Awaken the truth that I was made."
The air stirred. Golden ripples spread from where my hand met the tree, and the light above deepened into a soft, living green.
The paper beneath my hand began to shift, lines forming and bending like veins tracing across a leaf. Then it stretched, growing larger in my grasp, its surface blooming with faint words that pulsed with quiet rhythm.
For a heartbeat, the entire hall was filled with radiance. Then the light dimmed, falling away like petals in still air.
"Oh… to think the paper expanded," Kaelen said, his voice trembling with excitement. "Please check it now, young lord."
I pulled the paper gently from the tree and looked at it. Golden letters shimmered across the surface, forming words with quiet grace:
Name: Siegfried Fors
Age: 8
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Elements:
Basic:
Wind 100/100
Earth 100/100
Water 100/100
Advanced:
Force 101/100
Flower 100/100
White
So, I don't have all the elements. I was expecting to have them all, being reincarnated and all, but this was still far more than most people ever got. Mostly people have one or two elements, so having six was a rare among rare thing.
Still wind, looks like I will finally be able to fly.
Before I could think further, voices drifted from behind.
"So it's wind, earth, and water in the basics."
"No fire, that'll make some things tricky."
"Good thing Force is there."
"Wasn't that a given, Pa? You've been training him for days now."
I turned around to find my whole family gathered close, their eyes fixed on the paper like it was something sacred. Each expression carried something different—pride, wonder, quiet relief.
"What are these numbers next to the elements?" I asked, looking up at Mother.
"The numbers show your affinity for each element," she explained. "It means how naturally your mana aligns with that element, how much control you have over it."
"Then what's this 101 out of 100?" I asked, pointing at the strange number.
Mother's eyes brightened, her lips curving into a proud smile. "That means your affinity with Force can't be measured properly. It goes beyond the normal scale. It was the same for me."
Grandpa chuckled, rubbing his chin. "I had a ninety-three back in my day. And Erik had ninety-nine, right?"
"Right," Uncle said glancing at the paper again. "But what's this 'White' magic supposed to be?"
"I was wondering the same," Granny said, stepping closer. "It doesn't even have an affinity number. I've never heard of 'White' even among the variation elements."
Almost every existing element has a variant version of itself. Mages capable of using these are referred to as 'Variant Users.' Some known examples are:
Water → Ice, Wind → Sound, Earth + Fire → Magma (Composite Variant or Fusion Element), Earth → Metal
And so on.
"Father Kaelen," Grandpa said, turning toward the priest. "Do you know about this?"
Kaelen stepped forward, adjusting his robe as he leaned in to look at the glowing paper. His brows furrowed in thought.
"White…" he murmured. "Perhaps it's related to Aethel magic?"
"Aethel magic?" I repeated.
He nodded slowly. "It's the magic of the faithful. The divine art used by those blessed by the Great Lord Aethelhum… or, as most call it, holy magic."
"I doubt that's the case," Granny said, her tone cool, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Please, Lady Elara, we can at least check." He turned toward me before she could respond, holding out a medallion. "Please pour your mana into the this."
The pendant shimmered faintly, a work of both beauty and reverence. A silver tree of life stretched across a silver disk, its roots etched with delicate runes. Just looking at it filled the air with a calm, sacred warmth.
Even though the medallion was beautiful, I didn't like how he—a mere priest—was undermining the authority of the Lady of the Barony. My eyes moved to Granny. "Should I, Granny?"
Her lips curved into a smirk. "Well," she said, casting a brief glance at Kaelen, "I suppose, as the lords of this land, we can do Father Kaelen a favor."
Kaelen's face remained serene, though there was a spark of frustration behind his calm. "Thank you for your kindness, Lady Elara."
I nodded and placed my hand on the pendant, letting my mana flow.
At first, the medallion shimmered faintly, then, all at once, the light burst forth in radiant gold. It filled every corner of the room, brighter and purer than before, wrapping us all in its warmth.
The golden glow lingered for a heartbeat before slowly fading, leaving a soft afterimage dancing in the air.
Kaelen's hands trembled slightly as he lowered the medallion, his voice hushed. "Such brilliance…"
"Uh… so?" I asked carefully, not sure if that was good or bad.
His eyes widened, and suddenly his calm shattered. "Unbelievable!" he shouted, lifting his arms high toward the ceiling. "Such brilliance! It equals the High Priests, no, even the Cardinals themselves! O, Great Aethelhum, what miracle have you sent us!" His voice echoed through the hall, half-prayer, half-laughter, wild with awe.
I took an instinctive step back as his excitement swelled. Granny's arm came around me, pulling me closer to her side.
"Father, please calm down," one of the nuns whispered, tugging gently at his sleeve.
Kaelen froze, his expression faltering as if realizing what he'd just done. A moment later, he straightened and cleared his throat. "I… apologize for that display, my lord."
"I-it's alright," Grandpa said, his tone hesitant, unsure whether it was alright or not.
Kaelen composed himself with effort, though the glow in his eyes hadn't faded. "Still, this is joyous news," he said, turning to me with unrestrained delight. "The young lord possesses potential. With such radiance, he could become one of the chosen, a follower of Aethelhum's path. With his prowess, he could rise even among the Order itself."
His words hung heavy, brimming with reverence.
Granny's hand settled more firmly on my shoulder. Her smile was gentle, but her tone left no room for argument. "We don't wish for Sieg to walk that path. And Sieg doesn't wish it either."
Kaelen's enthusiasm faltered. "But Lady Elara, this kind of talent is beyond rare. To turn from it would be—"
"That's for him to decide," Mother interrupted, stepping forward. "He will choose his own future when the time comes. For now, let us finish what we came here to do."
Kaelen bowed his head, the light of protest dimming in his expression. "…As you wish, Lady Valka."
Mother's gaze shifted to me. "Now… that the elements are out of the way, Sieg, check what Arcana you have."
Right. The Arcana. The most important part. Blake made me promise to tell him if I got something like Swordmaster.
I glanced down at the paper again, excitement bubbling in my chest. My eyes scanned every line carefully—name, age, elements… but there was nothing beyond that.
"I don't see it here," I said, frowning a little.
Granny's soft laugh lingered in the air. "It's always on the back, dear."
I turned the page, eager and unprepared, and instinctively my eyes fell on the end of the page.
"What the hell?"