Chapter 1

~Textbook of Magic~

"Elysia! Where are you?!"

I strode around the house, stealthily covering my tracks and whereabouts in the large home I came to inhabit. Hiding away from the woman who gave life to my entire existence, of course I respect her and my reasons for hiding were nothing of a bad case. Not like I would attempt to escape, this isn't such a bad place for that bizarre decision.

Six months had passed from the day of my birth as the spring season from my birth ended and the soon awaited fall season approaches as summer ends with the comings of chilly breezes. Now, as to why I am in escape mode. My target is to scavenge my home of new intelligence that may linger around in developing my mindset even further.

I came to grasp the language in this household within two months and understand some of the literature writing in three months. Took me a while but the hard work paid off, even more as I dealt with drowsy eyes from all the reading that came during bedtime. Pushed myself to my limits to read along and know the writings of my own home language.

My given name is Elysia, and alongside my parents I harbor a family name which the maid and butler seem to not possess. So my full legal name in this world is Elysia Latreia, kinda fancy if I say so myself.

"Jeez, just where did that kid rummage to?"

Great! Now's my chance!

Mother moved out from the second floor and went downstairs to the first floor leaving the door wide open to my targeted room. I hurriedly crawled my way into the small creaked open door sliding it swiftly to the side and shutting it closed though not all the way to avoid locking myself in. Sighing away I clapped my small hands and looked at the room in astonishment.

Books, weaponry, grimoires, staffs and so much more were stored in this small room. Swords of silver, wood, mythril, and other artifacts were stored on the walls. Staffs bearing different stones were locked on different pedestals almost as to be more as decoration than of any physical use. Grimoires were put in their separate bookcase from the informative books of history and learning as those contained advanced spells of different categories.

Yes, through those six months that passed down so far, I came to understand the basis of this new world that gave life to me. Magic was a principal and comment element in this world, in which majority of the worlds population has a certain amount of mana capacity.

Mother and father played a role in my understanding in this subject, after all I remained witness to fathers inability to conjure any form or types of spells. Which in turn mother would hysterically laugh loudly as she was highly advanced in different area of magic. Though I haven't yet seen her expertise in any other than healing magic which she'd used on a small cut I received from my daily crawling activities.

Father on the other hand was an expert in the sword, as he would often be outside swinging around a silver or wooden sword. Sometimes the butler of the house would conjure a golem to life as a test subject to fathers strength which only proved fathers immense strength when it comes to anything physical. Even then, his bodily physique is something to admire. Nothing much of too much muscle just a little above average with its own healthy looks as the sweat doesn't just stay but drips down altogether without him even needing to clear it off with a towel.

Just want to develop my own muscles like that already.

Now then..

It is time to gather further knowledge into the functioning ways of magic and society in this world. I say that but my main and only purpose right now is the use of magic rather than anything political. I shouldn't waste all my infancy in learning a little too much into the world just yet. Its best to leave that for my older self.

Examining the bookshelf, I coursed through different books but barely any seemed to have any relevance to magic. There were historical records of magic, but that wouldn't exactly introduce me to magic considering it's audience is intended for more advanced magic users or anyone seeking research in ancient and past magic techniques.

The shelves were filled with bizarre titles, which I can't exactly admit if they are fictional writings or some historical figures from the past. Continuing on my path, there was one book different from the others that remained cleaner than the others and closer to my reach. I crawled onward to that specific book and removed it from the shelf into the floor opening to the very first page.

Textbook of Magic...

Interesting, could this be the book I was looking for?

I flipped the page again as the beginners tab took my sight from the very moment I examined through the entire page. There were images as well, consisting of different positions, some to figure out ones potential elemental attribute and others in advancing their skill further and for anything entry level. So my main focus will be to figure out just exactly which attributes I may be able to handle and support myself with in the future.

After that I would venture into expanding my mana, otherwise awakening the possibility of using any type of magic attribute.

Woah!

I flipped through several pages, and it seems as even more steps are needed for an entree level magic user. Sorcerer would be a better name right?

Footsteps headed up from the door which meant someone was coming upstairs already. I have gotten enough information out of this book for now, and I should be able to commence myself at some point now. For now though, its best to return the book to where it was and pretend to be lost in the room to avoid any unnecessary suspicion.

Huh?

A foul smell reached my nose bringing me teary eyes in just seconds after putting away the book into the shelf. I began to cry uncontrollably bringing the footsteps to a halt and the door opening wide open revealing my position in the floor laid down to my abdomen. Normally I would had sat myself comfortably, but in this emergency case, I would like to avoid any unnecessary exposure to my back body.

"Oh dear."

Mother reached down to me holding her nose before picking me up and checking the diaper in my lower body letting out more of the horrid smell. She smiled nervously and took me away for a diaper change which unintentionally exited my behind.

Yes, I did in fact release the food source provided to me that I had eaten just hours ago. Which meant that it had completed its cycle and unbeknown to me had left the only place I wanted to avoid at the present time.

It's embarrassing to have myself cleaned by mother or the maid, but I will need to deal with this for the time being.

Can't wait to just grow up now.

Like any common day now, I still can't grow accustomed to the daily process of getting my buttocks cleaned by my own mother even the maid. It just feels odd, much more when my thinking far exceeds that of other babies I witnessed enter this house countless of times.

They all seemed to have the same characteristics, clumsy to even move much even to just sit up in a more comfortable position. Laying down abdomen to the ground as if inviting bacteria to disperse through their unprotected bodies. Which I seemed to notice, infant bodies are far less developed to that of an adult individual. We seem to be incapable of standing for ourselves or avoiding any serious injuries once falling to our demise.

I had attempted to stand in two feet, but my limit so far in standing for a mere two seconds. The goal of walking in my two useless legs is still too far ahead, almost damaging my commitment in continuing further into them. But I must not falter, as this is only the early development of a humans body there will be much more later on to venture upon.

Now that I think about it, I notice another common thing that I share to father but not mother. In a certain middle area I have a miniature sized worm-like thing, and I say miniature due to fathers quite larger difference. While mother seems to have a completely different thing, there is no worm dangling around and instead a hole that almost seem to have no end. Perhaps I may see the end if I take a closer inspection, though for some reason I want to avoid ever doing that.

"All done! You sure did a few this time."

Great, now I have to hear if its one or a few that came out from the excrement I exerted out of my body.

I pouted to mother, embarrassed to hear anything related to dirty things like poop or pee, even my infant vomit takes place in the disgusting sections in my mind.

She threw away the diaper as she finished tying up the new one allowing me to sit right up thereafter. Nothing like sitting more comfortably right after laying down for just a brief moment.

The light of the outside world entered the room from the glass window that stuck tightly onto the wooden walls. I could only glare at the light, it reminded me of the lonely place as light produced sight into the darkness. Though at this time and place it was just a thing called daytime from a daily cycle of night and day.

"Seems someones just curious of going outside. Can't wait to find out how it looks huh?"

Mother blurted out hysterically staring into my eyes leaving me with a instant smile and laughter which seemed to occur on its own. My own feelings can't truly function properly into my infant body, will need to fix that at some point or perhaps this is a type of normal infant reaction? The other babies seemed to laugh and cry nonstop, even into nontrivial things.

I faced the window again, and she was a hundred percent right, the more I looked into it the more my curiosity increased and my imagination grew boundless.

"Is Lady Saire heading out this afternoon?"

The butler entered the room, wearing a pair of circular glasses the left having a brief shattered piece still holding together. His outfit consisted of a black suit a bit ragged out in some areas, almost as if he couldn't maintain it himself. He had a noticeable black tie hanging from under his neck attached to his shirt, and a waistcoat right under the whole outer jacket. Today though, no white gloves seem to be engulfed in his hands.

With a close look, he appears to be almost a typical nobody but under all that outfit is a well-taken care deep scarred old man. Makes me fear the idea of ever getting him mad to the point of killing me in the process. I hear he also duels with father every so often.

"Yes! And little Elysia is tagging along today!"

Mother was overjoyed, but the butler had a different attitude to her proposition as he sighed and only lifted his head to the window I so often glare at. From his point, perhaps whatever is out there is much more clearer since I can only see to the sky rather than peek into the lower angles.

"Madam, I would very much likely want Elysia to see the village and all there is to enjoy. But you must remember to-"

"Otto."

Ah, so that's his name.

Mother brought silence to the room as Otto cleared his throat and turned around to exit the bedroom saying nothing else. Seems like mothers determination was far superior to whatever he wanted her to avoid. Just hope it's not something monster related, I hear those dreadful things are problematic and come in all shapes and sizes. At least that's what I have heard from father.

And so a change to my looks was made, a little outfit was placed atop my bodily material leaving almost no trace to majority of my skin. Its not everyday that I get a massive change of clothes, usually its just a shirt or a pair of cotton pants that are really comfortable.

Now its sorta a fashionable attire, though I have doubts that this is anything high class and more so and the common grounds. Since I mostly just wore a brown shirt with dark brown pants that matched perfectly with the shirt alongside a pair of socks and gray leather shoes.

"Going out, huh."

Father entered through the main home entrance filled of sweat and bruises, which didn't exactly happen from any intense fight to the death. Its become frequent and obvious as time passed on that I have come to realize that my own father is determined to exceed his human capabilities. He hasn't once mentioned any reason stating why, but every time he caught me staring into the abyss or otherwise his constant training regime. He always gives a smile and serious tone of voice stating that he will be the greatest swordsman known to man.

Lione, the maid, brought a towel immediately proving the same and usual activity occurs very often for so many days and months that go by.

She thereafter gets the towel back and takes her exit from the room as she continues her duties elsewhere in the house. Come to think about it, this is exactly a two story house with multiple rooms to clean and many collecting more dust than others. Isn't that too much for a single maid alone, or does the butler also partake on that job as well?

"Who was it this time? Looks like they put up an actual effort in beating you, they even left a scratch on your neck. Don't tell me... Were they trying to have you killed!?"

"No!? It was just little Sauro, seems putting his favorite treat on the line of victory rewards got him all fired up."

"Did he win?"

"Still far behind on developing any form of technique to defeat me. Give him five years and he'll land just a single blow that's for sure."

Father glared at me for a second with a mischievous smile forming as he gently rubbed my forehead, in which I on the other hand felt it gripping tightly striking me in fear almost unable to move for some reason. He gave off a sinister giggle as his breathing got heavier by the second.

"Suppose with the right training, Elysia may one day surpass and greatly wound me?!"

"Now, just hold it there. We agreed to let Elysia decide what he want to be once he's older. Don't go choosing around for him."

They quarreled right then after, which only led me to the question that I should hold off for later. What do I want to do, or what do I want to be? Sure I may find myself figuring it out along the way, but as of now I mainly put my mind to focus on developing my bodily functions. Sorcerer, swordsman, those are the only I know as of now but just what is there to look upon that is just as interesting as those two?

I'll find out eventually.

"Look at this, isn't it just beautiful."

Mother took a step out of the house as the wind thrusted by blowing our hair from side to side. I looked ahead, broad fields filled with wheat and vegetables of all kinds. Through brick layered concrete walls, we had a large portion of land that filled with our home and a stable for five horses and our own small plot of field for crops.

Majority of the rest was empty, but had blooming flowers and well taken care of trees prospering in a fine natural color. This was our home, one I will hold memories for the remainder of my life however long that will last.

We were out of the village main border walls, but inside the outer walls that stood higher than the ones keeping the center protected. Must be to keep monsters out of the village, but perhaps some monsters may find different ways inside?

"Lets go, wouldn't want it to get dark anytime soon."