My eyes widened as I watched the thin line of smoke rise from the remains of the tree I had blasted. I could feel a thin line of snot run from my nose when I slowly turned towards my dad, cautiously asking, “Um... Lavi?” My dad turned his head towards me, giving me the same expression I was wearing, just quietly looking at me.

'What the hell is going on!?' We both slowly turned, seeing my mother standing with the front door wide open, an angry expression directed at both of us. “I... uh,” my dad started, “What do you think you are doing, blowing something up so close to our house!? I thought you said you were going to teach Elias!” She said, interrupting my dad.

“No, I... that wasn't me” he said, stuttering as he tried to get the words out. “Then who?” she asked, crossing her arms. My dad slowly turned his head towards me, just looking at me with the same expression. I had finally managed to regain my composure, looking back and forth between my dad and mother. “Sorry...” I said quietly.

——

After the initial shock. “That was very good, Eli!” My dad said with a bright smile. My mom just looked at my dad with a deadpan expression. Apparently, Elias didn't have any huge talent for magic, he could cast some spells and did enjoy training with his dad but never seemed to improve. This was, however, something he had never been able to pulled off.

“How are you feeling? Any dizziness, or are you feeling tired?” My mom asked. I took a moment to feel my body before responding, “I think I'm fine. Maybe a bit more tired? Why?” I asked.

“When inexperienced mages cast a spell, they tend to force out too much mana into that spell to create the desire effect . That's why experienced mages can cast more complex spells without a massive mana drain, they understand how to shape it and imagine the outcome for the best effect, that's also why I wanted to start us out easy” my dad explained.

”in other words,” my mom said, stepping closer, “you did something really amazing.” I could feel my face redden. The hell, why do I feel so embarrassed from a compliment? Come on Elias, get a grip! I thought to myself in vain as Elias emotions took over, I did enjoy the praise after all.

I looked towards the now ashen remains of the tree. “So if I can correctly imagine the spell and have the mana for it, I could cast whatever I think of?” I asked. “Well, yes and no,” my dad answered.

“It is a bit complicated, Some things are just simply impossible. If you don't understand what is supposed to happen or how it works, then you waste too much mana trying to compensate for the effect. And you expell all your mana,” he explained. “I only have a basic understanding of magic myself, you see, so I don't know the details. But mana can help and compensate for what you don't understand if you can wield enough of it.

”So if I managed to get even more mana, I can do more or less whatever I imagine if I understand how and why? I took a moment and thought to myself. I want to fly. The thought struck me like lightning. I want to fly, I definitely want to try flying. Starting... Now!

I closed my eyes, held both my hands out, and imagined myself being pushed into the air and floating there. I led the mana I felt in my stomach throughout my body, letting the warmth from my stomach flow and let it explode out to coat my body. I opened my eyes in anticipation. Saw the blue-green mana leave my body in a silent “Poof” of mist and then nothing. “Oh, what the shieee” I started as my vision turned sideways as I passed out.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

——

I was above the clouds, coated in magic that lifted me with incredible speed, I could feel the wind going through my hair and flapping the clothes I wore, I screamed out loud in excitement! until.

I woke up with my whole body feeling sore. Guess that's what spending your mana feels like. Shit... I sat up and stretched. I could hear voices from the other side of my door including a voice I did not recognize. Sounds like we have a guest.

The door suddenly opened, and I could see my parents with an older woman behind them. She has the appearance of someone who would definitely stand out in a crowd.

Compared to me and my parent with our dirt-blond hair and blue eyes, she stood there with her sapphire hair with the occasional line of grey, with the same vibrant blue eyes. I took in her full appearance without saying a word or looking away. “Elias, how are you feeling? When did you wake up?” My mom asked, breaking my staring. I jerked at the sudden question. “Oh, I just got up. I'm okay, just a bit stiff. Who is this?” I asked, nodding at the older woman.

“This is Doctor Isabelle, I went and brought her the moment we knew she was back in town,” my dad explained. So, this is the town healer my dad mentioned. “Wait, how long was I out for?” I asked hastily. “All night and most of the day, but that's not unusual when draining your mana like that,” Isabelle answered calmly. “I will explain, but for now, take off your shirt.” I reflexively covered myself with both arms and said, “But I'm only eight!”

——

After all three of them had stopped laughing at my embarrassed pouting face, she began examining me. It was uncomfortable and took a while, but eventually, she stopped and nodded. “He is perfectly fine,” she said, turning to my parents. “You did well with treatment and how you applied the potion,” she said with a relaxed tone. “What about his memories? Will they come back?” My mom asked.

“I don't know, Anna. I checked everything I could, and nothing indicates any remaining damage from the fall. Even if he doesn't remember anything, try and be happy that he is alright,” she said with a warm smile toward my mother, who took a second before nodding firmly.

——

"And that was that; I got cleared as a fully healthy kid with a grown adult's memories and mind. Ahhh... yeah, it doesn't make it sound any better, no matter how I spin it, I thought to myself as I sat down at the kitchen table. Isabelle was still with us and was invited to join us for dinner; she and my parents seemed to be drinking some type of wine, while I received a similar cup of fruit juice. It was sweet and tart with a nice fruity flavour, I did prefer my drinks sweet anyway.

"So out of curiosity, what were you trying to do?" Isabelle asked, turning to me. "Yeah, we are curious too, we just saw that mist of mana around you, and then you fell over," my dad said.

Looking down into my cup for a moment, I quietly answered, "I tried flying." Isabelle's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Really now? And what was your idea to make yourself fly?" she asked amusingly I took a moment to respond

"Well, my idea was to wrap myself in mana and then, well, lift myself up, but I only got to the part of releasing it around my body before I ran out," I explained.

"Hmm, interesting idea, not a bad one but costly. If you had more mana and more control, it could be possible," she said musingly before turning back to my parents. "How did you teach him to try that one out?" After a quiet moment of both of them looking at me, my mom answered,

"We didn't. Lavi was teaching him how to create a mana orb first but instead..." They both looked out the window towards the exploded tree that they had cleaned up. "He did that," my dad continued.

She turned her head around and looked out to see what they were looking at, and her eyebrows rose slightly more before looking at me.

"Well now..." she started. "Elias, how would you feel about me teaching you magic?"