Pam sighed. "Why did I even call you?" Anna moaned and shook her head.
My mother seemed to know what this man's test was. I even had a faint guess.
"Haha. Well, I had to be sure. After receiving a letter from you, asking me to be his tutor, I still had to ascertain whether he was worthy of tutoring," Alphonse replied.
"Ah—it hurts..."
"You mean my words weren't enough for you?" My mother responded almost immediately.
"I'm bound by my own rules, you know? Besides, he's your son, of course, there's going to be a bias in your words." He spoke again, maintaining a gentle smile the whole time.
I could understand his point. I'd only woken up at seven, quite late by normal standards. Besides, it wasn't as if I had any real aptitude to begin with.
"I don't know what Annabel's letter contained, but being my mother, she may have boosted my abilities to a certain extent.
And? After the test, what do you think now?" My mother's voice suddenly cut through my thoughts.
I looked at the man, Alphonse, and at my mother, who smiled rather subtly.
He was not only able to withstand my magical pressure, but also created his own pressure to counter it. I had never seen such an extraordinary magic user at such a young age. I had no doubt about that now. Your message was in the right place."
Oh? I was rather pleased to hear him say that. It seemed I hadn't been as bad after all that I thought.
Besides, logically speaking, an immature awakener couldn't have learned how to create magical pressure immediately. But I had years of experience and practice in mana manipulation to thank for that.
Alphonse looked at me and nodded in approval.
"Jared is definitely worth teaching!"
Jared certainly deserves to be taught!" Alphonse announced, smiling at me.
I smiled back. That was definitely a close call. If I hadn't resorted to using my magical pressure, I wonder what his decision would have been.
"So, allow me to ask you a question, Jared..."
I looked at the old man, our eyes met, and I didn't turn away. Instead, I looked at him boldly.
"Why do you want to study magic? Why do you pursue it? Your mother mentioned in her letter that you were always excited about it when you were a child... Why?"
"Master, that's three questions already. Didn't you say you wanted to ask me?" I said to myself.
However, these three asked me for only one answer. There had been only one reason for any pursuit of magic, from my last life until now.
It was so simple, anyone could have said that. But for me... it was reason enough.
"I love magic. That's all there is to it."
Silence fell between us, as Annabel and Alphonse smiled at me. They looked at each other and nodded.
"Very well, Jared. I respect your resolve."
Alphonse stood up and approached me. I wondered if I was supposed to stand in situations like this, but before I could decide, he was already in front of me.
This man spoke, placing his hand on my shoulder.
"Now, I will officially assume the role of Master, and train and guide you in the way of magic. I will be your Master, and you will be my disciple. I hope you have no problem with that."
I shook my head and stood up as well.
"I wouldn't have it any other way!"
My mother, who had still been sitting, was watching the two of us. She seemed pleased with the new bond between me and my new Master. Meanwhile, I was still puzzled as to what her relationship with Alphonse was.
"Now, let's begin."
His voice cut through my thoughts, and my eyes puffed out.
H - Wait, you mean now?" I was certainly surprised.
"Of course. Or would you prefer another time? Is this what your love of magic means?" He smiled seductively.
"This old man... does he dare look at me and question my love of magic?" I gritted my teeth.
From my point of view, he was younger than I. The only reason I gave him respect was the knowledge he possessed, as well as his ability to use magic to a degree I could never attain.
Yet, he was my teacher. So I had to endure the humiliation I would receive, hoping that one day I would surpass him and then give him a taste of his own medicine.
"Bring him!" I smiled.
What do you know about magic?
Alphonse and I were in the vast field of our manor when he asked me this question.
Annabel excused herself, saying she had other things to attend to, and left me alone with Alphonse. Of course, I whispered a few words of warning in his ear before leaving.
I couldn't hear anything she said because her tone was muffled, but from Alphonse's pale expression, it couldn't be good.
The field was in the backyard, and it was filled with nothing but cut grass.
I remember there used to be quite a few pretty flowers and a garden of lovely butterflies and insects.
"My mother must have cleared them away in preparation for my training..."
Now, with nothing but the short grass that had served as warm cushions for our feet, the vast field was empty.
"Magic is the ability to create supernatural phenomena using the laws of the world," I answered.
"What fuels magic?" he asked as well.
"Mana," I replied.
"Where is mana found?"
"The correct answer would be everywhere." And since mana is in everything and everyone, it could be said that the whole world was filled with mana. But I had to limit how I answered his questions because I wasn't a scientist,
But I was seven years old.
Mana was found in our bodies.
Hearing this, Alphonse let out a great deal of laughter.
'Hahahaha!' His voice echoed across the field.
I felt embarrassed, as if the man were mocking me. It had been annoying when I was a child, but as a patient man with the wisdom of many years, the humiliation was something I could bear.
'What a funny kid. Well, I can't blame you. You're still just a naughty kid, after all,' he said, still letting out small bursts of laughter.
'Keep laughing. We'll see who the naughty one is...'
'Well, you're just right. Mana is all around us. In the air, the water, the land... This whole world is full of mana.'
'I already knew that, genius.' I rolled my eyes.
But, I still had to act my age and give my dear master the respect and awe he expected.
"Wow! Really?! That's amazing!!!"
Alphonse made a proud expression as soon as I shone.
Bathed in childish words. How petty this man was!
"Hehe, of course mana is all around us."
"However, even though it's all around us, as users of magic, we can only use the mana within us to cast spells."
Of course, he was wrong. However, I had no intention of revealing the results of my research to him.
"That's why we have to form our own mana core before we can be able to use magic."
"We draw power from the core, release the mana, and convert it into magic through the use of spells," he explained.
"Wow, amazing!" was my reply.
Everything this man was saying was things I already knew. I was impatient and wanted to enter the advanced world of magic, which I had no idea about.
However, it was unavoidable that, as a child, I would need to learn the basics
Now it's time to tell you more about the relationship between.
However, it was unavoidable that as a child, I would need to learn the basics.
Now it's time for me to tell you more about the relationship between magic, mana, and spells. Pay attention, okay? I'll only say this once!
My mind was already split. It hadn't even been an hour, and I was already bored. My teacher's voice gradually faded, disappearing into the background.
Ah, how much longer must I endure? When will we get to the interesting part?
And so, the first day of my magic training with my teacher began in this way. My expectations were not being met, at least not yet.
However, I had hope. It might take some time, but I didn't give up.
Magic, everything that could be known about it, would be mine, and now, with my ability to use mana, I would be able to rise above anything I had achieved in my past life...