*snap* “Quiet soldier!” hushed the man with green eyes and a large scar across his right eye. “Sorry lieutenant.”

The lieutenant continued “Remember, this is stealth mission is high priority, we fail it’ll mean the deaths of all the people in colony 64. Once we infiltrate the facility we have 20 minutes before they detect us even with this new stealth technology. So, we have 20 minutes to destroy their production plant.”

The time was 3 am, our path was cold and wet. Our boots sunk into the muddy earth, we were on a suicide mission to destroy their production facility. We were running out of time because with each passing minute their numbers grow and they get closer and closer to breaching the colony.

If we fail, thousands will die- “Stop!” said the lieutenant with a hushed but audible voice.

… we waited and waited until the lieutenant permitted us to move forward again.

Then the lieutenant spoke “I think we are in clea-” *BOOM* Instantly a shell was dropped on our unit, the only things I could see and hear were the roaring sounds of the explosives and the sudden bright red and yellow flare blinding me. The explosion sent me flying far from my unit; I tumbled and tumbled until I was stopped by a large pile of mud. My limp body unable to move from the shock slowly become submerged with only the right side of my body sticking out.

“Arrgghh…” I groaned in pain and felt sore all over but my wounds only seemed superficial, I was lucky. I looked around to see if I could find anyone from my unit and my eyes stopped on a man who seemed to be in his mid-twenties. His leg was blown off with a large metal spike impaling his chest and the entire left side of his body was charred and deformed due to the intense heat. I don’t quite remember what came out of my mouth but it opened regardless and my eyes could only look in horror.

=========

I opened my eyes as the morning light greeted me, I could feel the cold sweat roll down my face. “Did you have a nightmare Big Brother?” Rose asked as she watched me from my bedside, why was Rose in my room? As if knowing what I was thinking Rose replied “I woke up early and was bored waiting for everyone to wake up, so I came to watch you. Hehe!” She innocently giggled as if she didn't know that it would be creepy if it wasn't her.

‘Ah’ I’m surprised I didn't notice it right away.

“It seems my mana has finally manifested.” Everything has mana, humans included but children don't manifest all their mana until they reach a certain age. The manifestation age ranges from 11 to 12 years of age.

Now that my mana reservoir has increased tremendously I’ll finally be able to use more complex magic and for longer!

“What does that mean?” Curiously asked Rose.

“It means I have more mana now. So I can use more magic for longer periods”

“Ooh, congratulations Big Brother!” She exclaimed but she didn't seem to entirely understand.

“Ahhhh-hhaaaaaa!” Rose stretch her arms out while letting out a high pitched yawn, her eyes began to water showing her tiredness. “When did you wake up?” I asked while looking at my clock and noticing it was still quite early in the morning.

“I don't know, maybe a few hours ago?” A few what?!

“Argh!” I hop out of bed and lean down to carry Rose out of her wheelchair, she reflexively put her arms around my neck and I walked her over to my bed. “What are you doing Big Brother?”

“Sleep is important! If you don't get enough sleep it can endanger your health.” I then place her down and pull the blanket over her. “Now sleep or no chocolate later.” She pouted her lip in annoyance while reluctantly closing her eyes.

Wouldnt this be a perfect opportunity to try that magic?

I begin casting an array that makes someone really drowsy and eventually puts them to sleep. As the array was constructed in the air above Rose it glowed and sparked in a pinkish purple colour, watching arrays was marvellous to me. If one had to explain it, it would be like watching a system of cogs complexly interconnecting; each cog with its own function big or small all working in complete harmony.

If an array didn't work in harmony then it would rebound. When a spell rebounds there are three outcomes, one the spell just fails and dissipates. Two, it can cause internal injury to the caster, or three, it causes a mana explosion.

It only took me a second to complete the array and once it activated it glowed brighter as it turned into a cloud of glowing purple dust and absorbed itself into Rose. “Good night, Rose.” And so she fell asleep ever so soundlessly.

——————————————

After putting Rose to sleep Arthur walked to his closet to find something to wear. As he was skimming through his large collection of clothes for about one-quarter of an hour he decided on something.

Arthur wasn't in the mood for extravagant clothing so he chose a simple grey coloured tunic with silver lining and decorative patterns, he wore a leather belt with a pair of pants that had a dull brown colour to them. And lastly, Arthur picked a pair of black indoor shoes.

As Arthur looked in the mirror he felt satisfied with his outerwear. But, when he looked at his long dark vermilion hair he felt it was getting long and unruly. Arthur quietly called Amber into his room as to try and not wake Rose.

“Go and fetch me some hair ties.” He asked Amber as he didn't have any in his room.

“Of course Young Master.” Amber bowed and proceeded to walk out of the room but not before noticing Rose sleeping in the room. She giggled to herself in response to her master's doting streak that seemingly grew out of nowhere, she was amused at how it was a complete contrast to his usual personality.

**

Arthur thought that his hair might be a tad too long and wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to cut it. He contemplated this until Amber returned with some silver in colour hair ties.

He pulled the majority of his hair back and tied it with his newly acquired hair ties and checked the mirror to see if it suited him.

The majority of his hair was pulled back and tied into a low ponytail with a few loose hairs hanging to the sides which in his opinion looked better than having it all loose. He decided to keep his new hairstyle instead of cutting it short.

*knock* *knock* Arthur turned his head to the knocking of his chamber doors; after the servant knocked he was ushered in by Arthur to which he relayed “Young Master! The duke requires your presence at this moment.” Arthur sighed but followed the servant out of his room after glancing at Rose who was still soundlessly sleeping.

**

He always hated how large but quiet the mansion was. This was because each time Arthur made a step against the polished wooden floor you would hear the creaking of the floorboards reverberate against the walls until the sound dissipated. He looked at the servant’s back as they guided him to his father. He didn't notice it before because he hadn’t manifested his mana, but now that he had become stronger he could tell. The duke's direct servants were powerful.

*knock* *knock* Before Arthur realised it he was already at the duke's study. “Duke, Young Master Arthur has arrived!” Declared the servant before walking off to complete his other tasks. Arthur entered at the duke's order and stood a few feet from his father's desk.

The duke looked Arthur up and down as he could sense that his mana had manifested. “You should be ten years of age, correct?” Inquired the duke as children usually only manifested from eleven to twelve years old. “Yes, Father.” Replied Arthur with a stiff and unchanging face that showed no emotion. The duke was impressed that Arthur had already manifested. “It seems you are blessed by mana seeing as you have already manifested.” Arthur didn't respond as he didn't have anything to say in response.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“You know, Arthur. If you wanted, I could make you my heir. But it won't be easy.” Arthur's ears perked in interest as the duke said this in his deep crackling voice that seemed to hold a tad bit of interest in how his youngest would respond. “Duke, I have no interest in your seat. Why would I aim for something that would cause elder brother to act against me again?” Replied Arthur in his usual monotone voice, but he was interested in his father's sudden change in attitude.

“But you will be interested. And do you know why? Because you have something you need to protect. It seems that you have been caring for a certain pair of individuals recently. If I so wanted to I could have your sister married off to some countryside noble the moment she comes of age. And if I don’t do it, I wouldn't be surprised if that brother of yours does the moment he succeeds me.” At the mention of his sister, Arthur looked his father directly in the eyes. Arthur's eyes had a hint of anger but he kept his emotionless expression. “What would I need to do to become the successor?”

The duke looked at Arthur and pondered for a second, he was fair, he didn't want the conditions to be impossible to meet but he didn't want it to be too easy either. “Well… for starters, how about graduating from the imperial academy with perfect scores?”

“I don’t enter the academy for another two years. What am I supposed to do in the meantime?” Asked Arthur slightly annoyed that he had to wait another two years to begin aiming for the duke's title. “There are currently no wars going on so you can’t gain military achievements, even if there were you are too young to participate in war. So the academy is your only option for now.”

“...is that all?” Arthur questioned whether this was the only reason he was called by his father.

“Yes. You may leave now.” Arthur bowed as he took his leave but just as his hand was on the door the Duke called out and added “I forgot to mention. Those two can join us in the dining hall for meals from now on.”

Arthur paused with his hand on the door and looked back at the duke wondering what he was thinking. He then opened the door and left down the hall. As the door shut behind him it echoed through the halls as Arthur ticked his tongue in annoyance. This was because he couldn't use Rose and Elizabeth as excuses to skip dining with the rest of the family anymore.

When Arthur got back to his room in his slightly worsened mood he was hoping to find Rose. But when he got there she was nowhere to be seen as she had already woken up and left before he came back.

——————————————

*splash* I looked down at myself and the new dress big brother brought me was soaked, the maids that had poured the bucket of freezing cold water snickered to each other. “H-How c-c-could y- chu” *sniff* “hic…”

“Aww~ is the poor bastard crying?~” They continued to laugh and mock me while I shivered because of the freezing water clinging to my skin and clothes. “Heuk… big brother…”

*bang* “KYA!” The middle maid frighteningly slammed her hands and clamped down on the armrests of my wheelchair. She leaned down and looked me dead in the face no longer laughing. “Ptui! Now you look better!”

I lifted my trembling hand and touched my face, she spat on me! I quickly wiped the disgusting saliva strewn across my face with the ends of my sleeves and did not stop until the fabric started burning my skin. “Ha… haa… ha- hic” Why? Why do they treat me so horribly? What did I ever do to them..?

*snap* I looked towards the sound of a snapping twig and what greeted me was my ever so lovely big brother. ‘Ah… he’s mad.’ I thought to myself. His usual half-closed eyes were wide open and pure rage was drawn across his face. After he noticed me looking at him his expression turned calm again but you could still feel the rage hiding behind his monotone expression.

“Hic… B-Big Brother…” I couldn't stop my tears from streaming down my face.

Big brother silently walked up to me, he then looked at the three maids who were frozen in fear as they never expected their young master to show up. “How. Dare. You.” Big brother didn't raise his voice or shout but instead spoke quietly but his words carried enough intimidation to scare a beast.

“Y-Young M-Master! T-This isn't what it looks like!” Said the maid on the left. The maid on the right simply collapsed to her knees and the one in the middle. The one who spat in my face simply started crying with her eyes wide in horror.

“Kneel.” Ordered brother in his once again quiet but intimidating voice. But the maids seemingly too shocked to move, simply stared.

“I. Said. KNEEL!” This time brother raised his voice which made even me want to cover my ears. “O-Of course!” The two maids who weren't already on their knees instantly collapsed to the ground. They fell so fast you could hear the thud when their bones hit the stone pathway.

Brother slowly walked up to the middle one as he saw her spit in my face.

He looked down at her for about ten seconds before blue static lightning erupted and covered his right arm. *snap* *crack* The lighting snapping and crackling like it was alive up and down brother's arms was rather beautiful.

“Y-Y-Young Master! P-Please, forgive this lowly servant for offending you!” Cried the maid in the middle while clasping her hands together in a prayer while bowing to brother.

“That was a mistake, I’m not the one you should be begging for forgiveness from.”

The maid then turned to me with tears and snot streaming down her face and pleaded to me.

My brother turned to me and asked “What do you want me to do with her? She's yours to punish.”

——————————————

‘Rose needs to stop being timid, she needs to set an example so that this doesn't happen again. But I can't force her. She needs to choose for herself.’ This is what was going through Arthur's mind when he asked her this question. Rose was too kind, she needed to stop letting people step all over her. If it wasn't an important lesson for Rose to learn he would’ve killed these maids immediately himself.

Rose looked at the maid begging at her feet, Arthur leaned to his sister's ear and told her “You are the daughter of a duke. You are my sister and if anyone disrespects you like this again. No matter their status, you can punish them, you can beat them, you can even kill them. You can do this because no matter what I will take responsibility for it.”

The maids looked in horror at Arthur fearing they would lose their lives. Rose looked up to her ever so sweetly smiling brother, she thought his smile was blindingly pleasing to the eyes. The maid who was just harassing and spitting on her was now crawling at her feet begging for forgiveness. Rose felt an indescribable feeling rush over her at the thought she could finally pay them back for all they did to her over the years.

Rose had long since stopped crying, her eyes cold as winter stared at the three maids. She clenched her armrests while declaring “The two back maids… have them beat and sold as slaves. And for you…” Rose leaned closer to look at the maid in the middle. The one who harassed her the most over the years and the one who instigated it; she who was the ring leader. A devilish smirk ran across Rose’s mouth as she looked at her. “Kill her.”

Arthur looked at Rose and then looked at the mortified maid, her already streaming tears poured even more down her cheeks. He smiled “If that is what you want.” Arthur's right arm still cracking with a fierce blue static erupted even brighter. He stepped in front of the maid.

The maid looked at Arthur pleading with him not to kill her, but all she saw looking down at her was a demon in the form of a child. He grabbed her by the throat lifting her knees slightly off the ground, the other two maids screamed in fear and her body began convulsing due to the electricity rampaging through her body. Arthur squeezed her neck until a loud blood-curdling pop resounded through the courtyard.

The maid's limp body dropped to the floor and the rampaging blue lightning dissipated from Arthur's arm leaving the sleeve of his shirt charred. “Ethan.” As soon as Arthur said this a man who seemed to be in his 20s seemingly appeared out of thin air.

Ethan had white hair and was about six foot one in height. He wore a classy black and white butler's uniform. Ethan was one of the four butlers that worked at the duke's manor and like all of the duke's direct servants. He was a powerful mage. “Clean this mess up” Ordered Arthur while he wiped his hands with a handkerchief as if he was disgusted by the thought that he touched the maid. “Right away Young Master!” Ethan bowed and threw the corpse that was just recently one of the maids over his shoulder. “Ah, I almost forgot. Have the other two receive 50 plank beatings and have them sold to the slave market.”

Arthur looked back to his sister who simply stared at him, it seemed she was in shock. It wasn't like she had never seen someone die before, she did live in the slums some years ago. But, it was her first time directly causing someone to die. So, of course, she's a little shocked. Arthur walked up to his little sister and patted her head “You did well.” Rose felt her warm brother's hand stroking her head which gave her a comforting and warm fuzzy feeling. “Hehe.” She giggled as she looked up at her doting brother with an innocently wide smile that reached from one ear to the other. If anyone saw this they wouldn’t believe such a cute child had just ordered someone to death only seconds ago.

To Be Continued.