The sun was no longer seen on the horizon. Lanius told his knights to light up their lamps as darkness loomed over the road ahead. It was very dark, but he knew they were getting closer towards the warm air of the mansion's hearth.
Snow fell. It had sprinkled Damian's dark hair, and some are even on his nose. The air was getting colder by the minute, but it never bothered him. When he and his brother were just newborns, Lanius would wrap them up in a cocoon of cotton blanket and leave them outside in the snow. From morning to midday. It was to build resistance from harsh cold winters that lasts for four months or six. It's the way of the North as they say.
Finally, there were flickering lights.
As they headed towards the mansion's gate, the guards took notice and opened it for them. Lanius stepped off his horse, and carried Ivan afterwards. The rest of his party swung down from their mounts. The servants hurriedly took the reins and led their tired mounts towards the thick-walled stables. To be rested on their beddings of deep straws.
Sir Robin brushed off Damian's hair that was full of snow.
"Your hair looked like an ice sludge. There's even some on your nose." Sir Robin said. "Arent you going to catch a cold for that?"
"I won't catch a cold that easily, sir." Damian replied. "I don't think I would catch one at all even in this freezing weather."
They stepped inside the mansion.
Warmth finally touched their skin. Lanius told his knights and his boys to gather at the dinner table for supper. About time they fill their stomachs with hot food and refreshments. Lanius sat at the center of the table, with Sir Robin and Sir Elric on his left, while Ivan and Damian were on his right. Lady Catherine entered the dining room at last and sat beside Damian.
The lead maid, Beatrice, balanced two massive metal plates on her hands, carrying the main dishes: beef ribs, mutton chops, and five roasted fowl. Her round eyeglasses gleamed as she leaned forward and served the food with fine grace.
She used to be scary. He remembered when he was three, how every time he tried to enter the library, Beatrice would pop up behind and lift him like he's a lost kitten. Her stern gaze, the gleam on her eyeglasses passing through the lens as her eyes stared at him, gave Damian a weird chill on his spine.
It wasn't until she saw him trying to read an encyclopedia the other day when she discovered the boy's genuine interest to learn. Damian spoke clearly. Though silent, he was aware; from age one and three, he had listened to the conversations of his parents and the people around him. He was able to learn how to speak because of that, strangely beyond his age with the way his tongue uttered his words without stammering. With the help of his lady mother, and the lady's maid, Beatrice, they both taught him how to read and write.
Beatrice gestured to the other servants to come. Two maids carried pitchers of wine and chilled grape drinks for their young masters.
Damian, seeing all of this, nudged his mother's arm and asked her. "Mother, who's birthday is it today?"
"Little one, this dinner is to celebrate Sir Elric's pledge of service to our household." Lady Catherine's lips curved into a flowery smile. "He'll be part of our family now, just like Sir Robin."
Two big feasts in a single day. The first was way back in the Redford manor for the betrothal of Ivan and Agnes. And this time, at the Vermillion mansion, was for Sir Elric's pledge of service to Lanius and his household. Damian ate so much meat and juice from the previous dinner, a single plate of mutton chops should be enough for his supper.
On the other side of the table, Sir Elric raised his silver goblet.
"I, first and foremost, would like to thank the Vermillions for offering me a truly welcoming dinner." Sir Elric said. "I can already feel that I will prosper under Lord Lanius's wing." He took a long sip from his goblet.
Lanius upon hearing this, only let out a quiet humph to Sir Elric. "If you really want me to train you myself, then expect even more grueling exercises than what Sir Roger and your father already taught you."
On the other side of the table, Sir Robin suppressed a chuckle. His head turned sideways from both Sir Elric and Lanius.
"Sir Robin here even passed out for an hour after finishing the warm-up exercise."
"That excites me even more!" Sir Elric realized by the way his voice came off a bit too loudly, that everyone in the room fell silent. "Oh right, my lord, I am looking forward to your ways of training that will make me even stronger." He corrected his tone.
Lanius let out a sigh. He took a sip of his wine. "Since you are so eager and full of energy, put them to good use by training at sunrise tomorrow." His lip curved slightly into a smile. "Sir Robin will have to drag you into the snowy training yard, lest you don't wake up at the exact time."
"Yes, my lord." Sir Elric nodded. "I will do as you instructed me to."
Meanwhile, Damian's plate was only half-finished when he felt like going to his bedroom already. Not because his stomach was full, but because of a certain excitement to finally read the book hidden on his jacket. A pocket-sized book with years worth of magical knowledge from an experienced mage. Damian hoped the time he spent from the libraries, learning various teachings would let him easily learn the contents of this book.
Slowly, he stepped out from his seat. His small hands tapped his mother's sleeve. "I'm going to bed early, mother." Damian said and feigned a yawn.
"Sure, sweet one." Lady Catherine's lips landed on his forehead. "You had quite a long day in Kolberg and at the Redfords. You may take your rest now." She said and gave him a warm smile before Damian jumped from his seat.
Damian bolted for the upper staircase. His feet dashed forward so quickly that he hadn't realized his coin pouch fell on the floor. All he cared about was to read the contents of the book he bought. Nevermind if Ivan somehow picks it up later so he can use them to wish at the Kolberg plaza fountain, all about winning every swordfight they will have.
Wasting no time, Damian closed the doors of his bedroom shut. He jumped himself to bed and looked at the ceiling for a few moments. The perfect timing. This is how he describes today's events. A new knight came into his family's service while here he is, about to take a different path. The path of spells and incantations. In his heart, he always wanted to be a mage just like his mother. He pulled the pocket-sized magic textbook from his jacket, fingers tracing the aged cover. Damian read the title: [The Fundamentals of Mana Manipulation].
He flipped the first page, what he saw was an introduction.
"Mana is the main source of magical energy that mages use in order to cast spells with various effects." Damian said as he read the first page.
"...To become a mage and cast spells, one must be awakened. And that draws from how much willpower a person has. If one can't imagine themselves casting a spell, then they are not simply fit to be a mage."
Damian flipped another page.
"...In some cases, a child may awaken early. As opposed to children ages twelve and above whose mana radiance had already developed enough to awaken. That implies that they have magical gifts and talents given by their bloodline."
This means I can awaken before reaching adolescence... Damian thought. My mother is a mage herself, a master of healing magic for the many years she spent practicing at the Eastern magic university.
"...A person who is awakened, has a translucent light surrounding their body called the mana radiance. Through deep and focused meditation, a person is certain to awaken their magic abilities. This way, you will be able to draw your mana from the world and within. On the other hand, the amount of mana one can hold is already set from the day they were born. But it can also be increased through training."
After reading the whole introduction, Damian flipped the next page for the detailed guide on how to awaken one's mana radiance.
"Mana is found in the air, and can be absorbed by your body to develop and awaken your mana radiance. Practice by drawing the mana particles through meditation, it's most effective to do so at dawn or any quiet space."
Flip.
"One should feel the mana particles going through their veins, and now it's spread in your body. It expands like a surge of energy coming out of your body in a form of translucent light."
Damian took a moment to absorb all the information he gathered through reading the magic textbook. Meditation, huh? Damian thought. Which means it will be longer than I expected until I'm able to cast spells…
Still, he decided to start tonight. Damian stood, his feet planted on the floor and his eyes closed. For a moment it was only darkness that came to his mind. Memories when he was three years old began to show in his mind, reminiscing the times when he would show up at his mother's garden just so he could see her do magic. The light emitting from her hands, the way withered plants grow and be full of life as she casts her spell. Damian wanted to do the same thing, but more.
He can feel it, the mana particles running on his veins. The energy slowly spreads through his small body as he tries so hard to form his mana radiance. Gathering enough mana in a single day is going to cost the little boy his own stamina. Damian's breathing came in short paces; his tiny body tries its hardest to maintain composure. Sweat dropped. His legs stiffened. He couldn't hold it any longer and at last, he fell on his knees.
Damian took as much air as he could to steady his breathing.
…
…
Tap tap tap.
"H-huh?!" Damian's heart skipped a beat. "Yes– who is it?"
"It's me, sweetie." A gentle voice escaped through the door. "You forgot your pouch, it fell when you ran upstairs like a nightcat."
"Oh…"
Damian rose to his feet and headed towards the door. His hand cautiously opened the doorknob as he peeked on the small opening; he saw his mother clutching the coin pouch with both hands. Her smile made his head even fuzzier.
"You look…out of breath?" Catherine said with a soft voice and slid in the doorway to enter his room. "And sweating…" Her head tilted.
Damian stepped back. He jumped on the bed to cover his magic textbook.
"Ah– well– I've been…working out, yes." Damian said, a nervous chuckle followed. A silly little lie. "I thought maybe I should start doing basic exercises to strengthen my body, yes."
This was out of character for Damian to be doing physical exercises. He is mostly in the library all day, having more interest in putting as many words from books in his head than pushing his own weight against the floor. If reading as many books as you possibly could— from age three to six— would make your head bigger, then his head would have grown twice its own size.
"Hm, does that book you're hiding under your belly tell you the exact exercises to practice?" Catherine's smirk grew.
"Y-yes! It- it's exactly like that." Damian stammered.
"So you want to be as strong as your big brother now?"
"Indeed, and then beat his loud-mouthed butt off."
"I see, in that case…" Catherine sat on his bed, placing his coin pouch under the pillows. "Can I see this exercise booklet for myself?" She ran her fingers through his soft, dark hair.
There was a long pause. Damian's reply was only a long sigh. Though he enjoyed getting his head patted by his mother, he still wouldn't give in and show her his magic textbook.
"Uhmm…I…uhm…" Damian muttered. "...no."
"Why not?"
"You'll just take it away, perhaps even lock it away and out of my reach."
"If it's something your father mustn't know, then you can trust me not to tell him about it." Catherine leaned her head closer to him. "You see, I'm just as curious as you are, sweetie." She smiled.
It's that sweet and flowery smile again. Every time she does that, Damian's heart would just compel him to do what his mother says. From small favors, to getting him generally clean his bedroom every week, and helping her tend the garden. The boy loves his mother so much, and he'll do everything not to make her frown.
Damian reluctantly shifted from one side of his bed. The magic textbook about mana manipulation showed. He fiddled his fingers as he slowly looked up at her.
"I bought this at the marketplace." Damian said, he grabbed the booklet with both hands, its aged cover facing first. "I wanted to learn magic and become a mage like you." He muttered, his eyes glistened like a puppy.
"Damian," Catherine said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "With your current age, I don't think it's the right time to start practicing magic.." Her fingers tightening its grip on his shoulder, not meant to hurt, but to give caution with the toll magic takes to a person; much less, a child's body wouldn't be fit enough to practice it. "Your limbs will easily tire itself out, your mind exhausted with each time you try to form your mana radiance."
"Mom," Damian uttered. "Please, didn't you also practice magic when you were young?"
"That was different." Catherine replied. "I was taught magic at a monastic school at a young age, yes, but I was thirteen at that time. Which means my body had developed enough to withstand the pressure." Her other hand was placed on his empty shoulder.
The boy pleaded to his mother even more. Damian's arms sprang out and encircled into his mother's body. "Mom…please," He muttered under her green dress, he could feel the softness of her belly touching his cheek. "I wanted to impress you, prove to you that I really am your genius son."
"Damian, my dear…"
"I wanted to help you water the plants with the water that comes out of my palm, not the sprinkler you always told me to bring. And to give the withered leaves its former green color, to bloom the flowers of spring, just like the way your magic does."
Damian sniffled. He held back his tears, trying not to look weak in front of his mother. Though his voice had already cracked the moment those words came out of his mouth.
"You know I can't refuse you," Catherine gently pulled his head so he could face her. "Not with that adorable face of yours, when you plead like a desperate cub." She giggled softly.
"Really?" Damian's face lit up with joy. "You'll teach me magic so I can become a mage?" He said, his tone replaced the desperate pleading earlier with sheer excitement. If the boy had a tail, it would have wagged quickly until it formed a blurring shape of a fan.
"Indeed," His mother said. She raised her index finger. "On one condition."
"Hm?"
"You'll listen to everything I tell you to do, and what not to do." Catherine raised her pointing finger. "You must sleep early this time. No more sneaking in the library to read whatever book you may find during or past bed time. You must not push yourself too hard once your training has begun. And lastly, eat your vegetables during meal time."
"I agree on those terms." Damian smiled. "Though the last one… I don't think I'll eat as many as I can."
"You must!" She blurted, and booped his nose. "Sweetie, your little body will need so much nutrients from vegetables for them to develop quicker."
"Ugh, fine…" Damian grumbled. "I still don't think they taste good at all."
…
The morning sun gave light to Damian's bedroom. Windows were opened wide to let all the sunshine in as the boy stood against it. He had slept earlier, his mother strictly told him to do so. This was the best time to gather mana particles into his veins.
Catherine had also read the contents of his mana manipulation booklet; not only does it teach you to harness mana and awaken your mana radiance, it also teaches elemental magic at basic level for beginner mages. The way the book was written felt more like a personal journal of a mage-in-training during their junior years at the magic university. Easier to follow. Fitting for a soon-to-be-mage like Damian.
"Feel them in your veins running through your body like a fire burning inside you." Catherine said. She stood behind Damian as he meditated. "You will feel a sudden burst of energy at this point. Hold it for as long as you can."
Damian stood still, keeping the built up mana inside him together. Moments passed and he could feel his legs trembling, sweat pouring in his skin, and his head.
Damian did all of this training in the past few days. Just him inside his bedroom, gathering mana particles for his body to absorb. Each morning he could feel them building up in his core, the mana energy vital for a mage's spellcasting. The boy had also read about the basic elemental magic and their spells after his focused meditation was done for the day.
And on the fifth day, the mana particles he had gathered through focused meditation turned his body into a radiant glow; from head to toe, this translucent aura gave him the ability to sense the energy responsible for casting spells. Mana. The boy had formed his mana radiance.
Damian stood still, he was stern and expressionless for one moment. Until he opened his eyes, his mana radiance gave his body a translucent light-blue aura.
"W-woah!" Damian jumped from sheer excitement. "Mother, I did it! My mana radiance– I can cast spells now!" He said with a voice loud enough to be heard outside his bedroom door.
Catherine chuckled softly. "Now, think of a spell you wanted to cast," She said. "It can be any element like fire, earth, water and wind."
Damian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His hands formed a ball-shaped pattern as he opened his eyes. "...Fireball." Energy ran through his veins and exited his palms. In a split second, sparks lit up his hands as if they were stone crashed against stone. The small fireball danced around his hands.
"I really did it…" Damian said. "My first spell, I made a fireball." His eyes lit up just as the small fireball reflected on his eyes.
"Well done, my sweet boy," Cathrine said. "It's small for now, but today, you went above my expectations…" She paused, " …because I'm more impressed by the fact that you awakened in just five days."
She knelt down beside him so she can be on his eye level. "With that tiny body of yours too." Catherine gave him a warm smile before pinching his soft cheeks.
"Mhm– Mom!" Damian squirmed, his hands flailed and curled into tight fists. The fireball dissipated into thin air. "I'm not a baby anymore, stop doing that…" He puffed his cheeks.
…
A few days after he awakened, Damian had been on the clearing outside the mansion's fence. Already feeling accustomed to using basic level spells; most notably, fireball.
His mother taught him just enough of the basic elemental magic spells, the ones his tiny body can handle. One doesn't simply move from basic to intermediate level in a matter of days, even for a gifted child like Damian. But with the rapid growth of his magic, which is only going to develop quicker with each passing day, he is expected to learn elemental magic at intermediate level within two months or five.
Damian casted an earth spell and formed piles of rocks; he made three stacks to use as his target practice. He extended his right arm and aimed it on the first stack. "Fireball." He chanted. The fireball, almost twice the size of his hand, shot out of his palm and knocked the first stack of rocks. "Alright, one down." He gestured with his hand.
He knocked the remaining two stacks, letting them fall on the snow.
A tall and familiar shadow loomed over his small frame. Damian stiffened, for he knew already what was coming. He saw me… Damian thought as his legs stiffened.
"Boy," Lanius uttered. "Whatever book taught you what you just did, you're giving it to me."
Damian slowly turned back to face him. Though his eyes sunk low on the snowy ground, and made no attempt to look up at his father's face.