I Was Reborn in Another World, but Hold On – No Parents? Was I Abandoned? - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Magical Affinity?! Foreshadowing Turbulence

Today is surprisingly quiet.

Despite my usual routine of training and studying, my mother declared today a day for play, stating,

“Even kids like you need a break sometimes! Arus, you’re still a child, you know… If we don’t let you play, you might get grumpy, right? Isn’t that so, Arus?”

Indeed, now that I think about it, I’m just a seven-year-old child.

Even though my memories from my past life are only faintly present, it’s hard to avoid the perception that appearing too mature for my age could be seen as unhealthy.

But now, without the usual emphasis on training and studying, I find myself unsure of what to do.

After some thought, I decided to ask my beloved younger sister.

“Hey, Mel. Is there something you want to play with me?”

“Any game is fun when I’m with my big brother.”

Mel smiles happily… but that doesn’t exactly answer my question.

She’s cute, so I can’t really get irritated, but…

“Hmm, calling it play is a bit tricky. Ah, I got it! How about exploring inside the castle?”

“Exploring!!!??? Let’s do it! I’ll explore with Big Brother Arus!”

Mel’s eyes sparkle with excitement… Alright, today will be the day of exploration!

Now, l will introduce our home.

Our house is a three-story structure, commonly referred to as a castle.

On the first floor, there’s my father’s reception room, a large living room with a view of the courtyard, an adjacent kitchen, a party room I’ve never used, five guest rooms, and five rooms for the servants.

On the second floor, there is a dining hall for guests, next to which is a kitchen exclusively for cooks who provide cuisine on par with a high-end restaurant.

There’s also a large bath, my parents’ bedroom, my bedroom, Mel’s bedroom, and a few empty rooms.

I haven’t ventured much on the third floor, but there’s my father’s study, my mother’s study, a book repository with a collection rivaling a library, a room with an unopened safe, a few rooms that seem to belong to my father’s subordinates, a mysterious laboratory of unknown use, and a couple of other rooms whose purposes I’m unsure of.

If we’re exploring, it has to be the third floor!

The mysterious rooms… it truly ignites the spirit of exploration.

I let my mother know that Mel and I will be exploring the castle and head up to the third floor with Mel by my side.

The hallway, like the other floors, is adorned with expensive-looking red and gold carpets, while the walls showcase numerous paintings that I can’t fully grasp but appear magnificent.

There are also suits of armor holding swords, spears, shields, and axes, similar to those on the other floors.

“Wow, this is incredible! Such a vast number…”

Upon reaching the book room, I was utterly amazed by the extensive collection of books.

In this world, I’ve heard that books are highly valuable and scarce, so owning such a vast number already speaks volumes about our household’s wealth.

“Do you like books, big brother?”

“Hmm? Oh yeah, I love them! Knowledge is a treasure.”

“What’s a treasure in knowledge?”

“Well, it means having knowledge about various things is valuable and never a loss!”

“Wow! Big brother is amazing!”

After getting permission from my father later, I’ll borrow a few books that catch my interest! Hmm, there are so many different kinds.

Even the titles alone are quite interesting. For now, I’ll borrow,

“Major Countries of the World and Their Histories” by Rhodes Bankwood
“Ecology and History of Dragons” by Luna Logline
“Races and Gods” by Rhodes Bankwood
“Types and Acquisition of Magic” by Iren Raetted
“Monster Encyclopedia 1” and “Monster Encyclopedia 2” by Luna Logline
“Successive Demon Kings and Demon Nations” by Arif Loraide
“Traveling the World” by Reynaldo Urius
“Adventure is Exploration” by Reynaldo Urius

Let’s stop around here!

Alright, I won’t have trouble finding books for a while! I’m getting excited just thinking about reading them.

“Big brother, are you borrowing those?”

“Yeah! I’ll get permission from Dad later, so it should be fine.”

“Then, I will borrow this one too!”

Mel held a picture book titled “The Hero and the Princess of a Fallen Nation.”

“Oh, that’s great! I’ll read it to you sometime.”

“Really? Yay! I love you, big brother!”

Mel hugs me… yeah, little sisters are the best.

However, a problematic situation arises here.

Since the books are all very thick, no matter how confident I am in my strength, physically carrying them is quite challenging.

“Big brother… how are we going to carry these?”

“Yeah… I’m thinking about that right now…”

Lifting and carrying them with telekinesis would be easy, but I haven’t used my inherent magic, telekinesis, since I started living here.

Moreover, I completely forgot to mention having inherent magic at all.

Besides, I wasn’t sure if having inherent magic at this age was normal in this world.

However, I’ll figure it out eventually, and for now, it’s just my sister, so it should be okay.

“Alright, let’s use big brother’s magic to carry them.”

“Huh? Big brother can use magic??”

My sister looks at me with sparkling eyes. I can’t help but feel a bit proud.

“Yeah! Watch this!”

I activated telekinesis after such a long time.

It’s a magic I’ve been using for a long time. It’s a magic I’ve been using for quite a while.

I’ve become so accustomed to it that I can easily control fine movements, like adjusting the range, position, height, and direction, just like moving my limbs.

A bit of magical energy escapes from my body, and I steadily lift the books in front of me.

“Alright, let’s start by taking these to the room.”

“The books are floating!!!!”

My sister exclaimed, blinking her eyes as she observed the floating books.

As I descended from the third floor to the second, carrying the books, my mother rushed up the stairs from below.

“What, Arus! And Mel. Huh? The books are floating, huh?”

Panicking, my mother reached us, astonished by the floating books, and then looked at me again.

“Um, can I borrow a few books? There’s something I want to read!”

“Huh? Oh, that’s fine! But, wait, why are they floating?? I sensed magical activity and thought something happened, so I came to look for you two. Is this the cause? Arus, can you use magic?”

My mother grabbed my shoulders, looking straight into my eyes.

Wait, am I in trouble??

Maybe it was better not to use magic after all.

“I didn’t mean to hide it, but there wasn’t a good time to say that… I can use magic.”

Bracing myself for scolding, I looked at my mother, but for some reason, she had a triumphant smile.

“I knew it!! Arus, you’re a genius! Using magic at seven years old! And it’s non-attributed, right? I don’t think it’s wind magic. Handling non-attributed magic isn’t easy, you know? Even non-attribute inherent magic users struggle to master or even activate one in their lifetime! And to use it so delicately, that’s amazing! Arus!”

Somehow, my mother seemed very pleased.

Wait, she isn’t mad?

“Huh? You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be mad! This is incredible! Having talent in magic is amazing! I had half given up, thinking you were just exceptionally skilled in martial arts and swordsmanship!”

“Um, is having talent in both really that amazing?”

“Firstly, being able to use magic at your age without any instruction is already quite remarkable! But having talent in magic like that usually means not much can be expected in other areas like martial arts, and vice versa. Children with exceptional swordsmanship skills often lack magical talent… Of course, there are people who excel in both! Your father, for example, is skilled not only in swordsmanship but also in three different types of magic. That’s why he is respected by those around him.”

“Three types?”

“In magic, there are what we call ‘attributes.’ There are seven in total: Fire, Water, Wind, Lightning, Darkness, Light, and Non-Attributed. It’s determined by aptitude which attributes one can handle, and generally, most people can handle only one or two! But there are rare cases where someone has an aptitude for three or more. Those individuals are recognized for their magical talent! Court mages usually handle four attributes. Well, yours is an inherent talent, so even having an aptitude for one is remarkable, in my opinion.”

Wait… if I remember correctly, wasn’t my aptitude for all of them?

I cautiously ask my mother.

“Um, is it a big deal if someone can handle all of them?”

“All of them? All seven attributes? Well, if someone could master all of them, they could become a Grand Mage or even a Sage.”

My mother laughed, saying she hadn’t seen anyone like that, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something outrageous was about to happen.

And my unpleasant premonition quickly came true.

“Oh, right! Let’s take this opportunity! Let’s check Arus’s aptitude!”

Excited, my mother grabs my arm and leads me to the living room, where maids bring a crystal used to examine magical aptitude, something rare even in noble houses.

“All right, preparations complete! Arus! Place your hand here… You can determine aptitude by the color that appears on this crystal! Red for fire, blue for water, green for wind, yellow for lightning, black for darkness, white for light, and non-attributed emits a gray light! If you have multiple attributes, they’ll shine simultaneously, making it easy to see. The brightness also reveals the amount of magical power!”

My mother enthusiastically explains, my sister stares at me with anticipation, and the maids and butlers gather, expecting something interesting to happen.

There has never been a moment when I wanted to avoid placing my hand on something more than now. Damn… is this really happening!?

Reluctantly, I place my hand on the crystal.

Suddenly, an incredible light envelops the room.

First, a red light, followed by blue, green, yellow, then black, white…

Everyone watching opens their eyes wide, holding their breath… and gray.

The living room shines in seven colors, the light so bright that it feels like staring at the sun up close. In a panic, I quickly removed my hand from the crystal.

Silence filled the room.

“W-was that seven colors!?”

Breaking the silence, my mother turns her gaze towards the maids and butlers.

“It certainly seemed to be seven colors…”

The butler responds to my mother’s question.

“All attributes…”

The head maid, with trembling cheeks, expresses her astonishment.

The other maids and butlers exchange glances, trying to comprehend the situation.

“Big brother is amazing!!”

Smiling as always, my sister hugs me.

Sweating nervously, I manage a wry smile.

“Um, Mom. Th-this is…”

Fearfully, I look at my mother.

“T-this is incredible!! Beyond incredible!! It’s like the legendary sage!! Having all attributes was thought to be a fairy tale!! Amazing, Arus!”

My mother embraces me with joy, seeming genuinely pleased.

And then, applause echoes in the living room. The butlers and maids gaze at me with respect.

“As expected of Lord Arus.”

“Lord Arus’s talent has reached this level…”

“Swordsmanship and martial arts were just the beginning.”

“I don’t really understand, but tears are welling up…”

“Thank you, thank you!”

While listening to their various comments, I couldn’t shake the feeling of another unpleasant premonition.

In this way, our adventure, mine and Mel’s, came to an abrupt end.

Later in the evening, when my father returns and Triden, our guest, joins us for dinner, my mother shares the news with him.

“W-what!? Magic aptitude in all seven attributes? Is that even possible!?”

“Yes! Everyone witnessed it, so there’s no doubt about it! Besides, Arus can already handle non-attributed inherent magic!”

Father’s eyes widen in surprise, and Mother, thrilled, narrates the tale to him.

I eat my dinner in silence, feeling awkward.

“But to have all seven attributes… I thought Arus would become a military officer because of his talent in swordsmanship and martial arts. The court mages won’t stay quiet about this.”

Triden gazes at father, his expression troubled as if anticipating a challenging situation.

“You truly have remarkable talent… No, it’s more than just talent; it’s as if you’re under the protection of some divine force.”

Father looks at me, a profound emotion in his eyes, a trace of pride evident.

“We can’t allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by emotions at this moment! We must consider your future carefully!

First, you need to begin studying and practicing magic diligently.

“Well, you can leave that to me.”

“What? Mom?”

“Hey, didn’t I mention it to Arus?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you! Arus, you know, I used to be a court mage!”

Now it’s my turn to be surprised.

Based on the information I received from my father earlier, court mages are an elite force directly under the king, separate from the general army of magic users.

Only about 1% of elite soldiers with magical abilities can join this prestigious unit.

Court mages hold a level of authority comparable to military generals.

Since commoners can attain the position based on their abilities, it’s considered the most promising career path for any civilian.

Many admire and revere court mages as symbols of respect and aspiration.

“Moreover, your mother held the position of the top court mage, a position given to only the top 10 court mages.”

For some reason, my father proudly announced this.

“Indeed, Lady Marie was a formidable individual, standing out among her peers. Unbelievable strength, immense magical power, and the versatility to manipulate four attributes of magic. I’ve heard she had many fans, not only among the common folk but also within the military and the court mages.”

Triden enlightens me about my mother’s past.

This was beyond my imagination. Not only my father but my mother was also an extraordinary person.

It wasn’t evident at all, and I hadn’t even checked her status.

However, thinking back, when I used magic today, my mother rushed to me immediately; it was probably because she had knowledge of magic.

I decided to take a look at my mother’s status.

――――――――――――――――――――

Name: Marie

House: Reynard

Age: 29

Race: Human

Occupation: Mage

Title: Bewitching Sorceress

Level: 86

HP: 5,300 (5,300)

MP: 23,000 (23,000)

Attack Power: 20,000

Defense Power: 8,000

Agility: 5,100

Dexterity: 8,200

Luck: 56

Magic Affinity: Fire, Water, Wind, Light

inherent Magic: [Illusionary Veil Level MAX]

Attack Magic: [Fireball Level MAX] [Flame Bullet Level MAX] [Water Bullet Level MAX] [Wind Bullet Level MAX] [Scythe Weasel Level MAX] [Great Wave Level MAX] [Wind Slash Level MAX] [Flame Cannon Level MAX] [Storm Level MAX] [Light Bullet Level MAX] [Illusion Level MAX] [Wind Pressure Strike/ Level MAX] [Steam Explosion Level MAX] [Mirage Level MAX] [Water Dragon Cannon Level 3] [Inferno Dance Level 4]

Defense Magic: [Wind Barrier Level MAX] [Flame Barrier Level MAX] [Water Barrier Level MAX] [Wind Flame Defense Wall Level MAX] [Antidote Level MAX] [Healing Level MAX] [Healing Zone Level MAX]

Inherent Skill: [Multiple Chanting Level MAX]

Resistance Skill: [Physical Attack Resistance Level MAX] [Illusion Resistance Level MAX]

Divine Skill: [Goddess’s Blessing]

―――――――――――――――――――

This is quite an absurdly powerful status.

When it comes to raw strength, Dad is stronger, but in a magical battle, Mom might be stronger.

In the first place, it’s dubious how accurately magical attacks reflect in the status’s attack power.

Although I haven’t actually seen it, the levels are high, and considering that most magical levels are maxed out, it’s undeniable that she’s quite skilled.

And since coming to town, I’ve seen various other people’s status, and the amount of magic they can use is no joke.

I can only deduce the nature of the magic from its names, but even so, in long-range combat, Mom might be unbeatable.

Close-range Dad, long-range Mom.

What a family.

Mom’s truly amazing!!!

I tried to hide my astonishment while gazing at Mom.

“For now, let’s ease up a bit on sword training and delve into magic! In another two years, you can enroll in the Royal Officer Academy! At the Royal Academy, you can study not just swordsmanship and combat but also magic, and the educational standards are quite high. It’s a tough competition, but I believe Arus will do well!”

School?

Oh, there must be one in this world too…

Can you enter at the age of 9?

Mom seems quite excited about it…

When she mentioned reducing sword training, Dad had a protesting look like, “Huh? Seriously? Why?” but she didn’t even catch it.

With all this, I have even less time to play, but Mom hasn’t noticed that.

Magic, huh…?

Magic sounds fun! So why not!