Chapter 8: Testing The Waters

When I woke in the morning, I was immediately disturbed by the 'chirping' of 'bird's' it was more like a screech if anything. Anyways I got out of bed and headed downstairs to freshen up. I opened the bathroom door and took a ladle, I gurgled water and spit it out. I slicked my hair back and my cow lick's came back down.

It had been three day's since that deer appeared in my dream's, I still don't know what she did though. For all I know she could've cursed me with eternal life or something, 'wait aren't I like already am immortal?' , well in a sense I can't die on my own. She explained that my blue flame should burn forever, and since normal flame's burn out only when the person reaches old age, then does that mean people with blue flame's can live forever? That doesn't mean that I can't age. In my previous life I aged normally, I wonder where's the threshold where you just stop aging indefinitely...

I stared at the handle of the ladle before standing up and gazing into the sunlight peeking through the small window on the wall near the ceiling. My daily life these past three day's weren't that cumbersome. In the first day, we gathered timber from a nearby forest, South from our house. I saw a few kid's glance at me like some kind of stranger but I can't blame em. On the way there he told me a lot of what this world was. The creature's that inhibit this world were called Krimmin's and had a unique food chain. Human's were at the 4th level.

A lot of them were goblin's, orc's and elves are very rare. Dragon's were also real, I even read the anatomy of one in a book called 'The Incredible Dissection Of A Dragon.' it's not that it was easy to kill, the book described the dragon to have been killed by natural events and it was found deep in permafrost. At first I didn't believe it, like I just assumed the book's that I read we're all just fantasy novel's that my father had bought. It wasn't until we almost were done picking up timber that I witnessed my first Krimmin. He called it a devourer. I called it an overgrown worm.

It truly was a spectacle, It bore short but sharp fang's all around it's mouth which looked like it dilated when it breathed. It's body was halfway underground and it's skin was dark and brown. It lunged forward digging itself into the ground and making it's way to us underground like a mole, huge bump's were left in it's trail. I dropped my timber and fell on my butt. My father dashed in front of me and pulled out his sword. He chanted something but I couldn't make it out. A huge spike appeared above his head and it was launched to the ground where the worm was, hitting it accurately in its mouth. It recoiled out of the ground and squirmed in pain while having a spike that looked like stone shoved deep in it's throat. It died down and he burned the carcass, apparently he didn't wield a sword, It was a thin staff. He asked me if I was interested in magic and I accepted the offer.

The second day, we did just that. He approached me to a 'magic table' which was in the attic that I didn't even knew existed at the time but there was a sly trapdoor above the corner of the second floor. It was overall wooden and was only waist-high, it had various runes etched onto it's side and a single circle slab of stone in the middle. It's purpose was to tell the affinity of the user. Basically what type of magic do you have a knack for. I pressed my open palm onto the stone circle and it glowed a blueish purple albeit dimly. After a few second's the light was gone and I took my hand off it, I stared at the empty slab and glanced at him like 'Well? Am I special?' but didn't seem to be the case because he made me do it multiple time's. I stopped counting at 50. His face seemed gloomy and stared at me with pity, and so he came to one conclusion. I don't have a knack for anything. After the test it was supposed to display the affinity's crest on the slab, but nothing appeared in mine. We gave up for the day.

It didn't mean that I was unable to learn magic, I'll just have to work extra hard than the other's. George's affinity was earth and it was their family's affinity. He also said I had the affinity of earth before I possessed this body but now I had none.

The third day, He mentioned something about a merchant coming to the village today and that we should come to him immediately because he sold 'magic scrolls'. They were scrolls that taught you spells and could be used as a spell. He was over-joyed when I said I'll come and picked me up. We went to the edge of the village and waited patiently, our village was called Funade Village and is surprisingly self sustaining for the time being, all the villager's have a different way of living from one another, as long as you had the house well you've just become a villager. The area wasn't particularly big either, our house was just a bit in the middle though. After yawning for some time, I looked in the distance and a hooded person approached quietly, his robe had a green tone and was dirty.

My father waved at the man and smiled. Upon further inspection, he did have a backpack full of scrolls that they were peeking out of the top. He zoomed on the man and asked for three thing's, I listened dearly, the first was a 'Wind' scroll, one 'Water' scroll and an 'Earth' scroll. He glanced at me and asked for another thing but at this point I was enough with eavesdropping. The man gave him four scrolls which filled his arm's plenty, and Father gave him the money which looked like gold coin's, ten of them. I still don't understand the currency of this place, I can guess it's somewhat similar to my old home which did use some set of coins. Otherwise we finished up and headed home. Once night arrived, we finished dinner and we went outside again. He said if I can pour 'mana' into the scroll's then that should be a catalyst to activate my affinity or something.

Uhh... But how do I do that exactly?

Something's not adding up here. How am I supposed to pour 'mana' into something if I don't know what it feels like. Is it like a muscle tensing up? or for all I know it could be like peeing. He noticed my confusion quickly and gave me a guide by gesturing with his finger's. I touched the scroll with both of my hand's on the ground pressing on the pattern of the scroll. Now I had to imagine a liquid or a bodily fluid flow through my arms. Of course I didn't think of that fluid, I thought of the dark ocean that engulfed me when I died. I imagined the sorrow and stoic wave's of black water flow through my vein's, through my arm's, palm's and each and every individual finger and release it. The pattern on the scroll glowed under my two hands.

Yes! this is it!

Just as I though that though, the 'Wind' scroll erupted in a blaze, spark's could be found within it but it was a failure. My hand's experienced minor injuries and I had it wrapped by mother which rightfully scolded father. I couldn't believe I did magic, well if you could consider that even a proper execution of one then I'd feel pretty proud. I slept that night a bit disappointed myself. Also no deer with white antler's interrupted my dream's that night.

Back to the present. Once I was up and going in the morning, I decided to explore the village for a bit. I headed outside, and took in a large stroke of air while gazing into the sun... Or should I say two sun's? Yes this world had two sun's, apparently it was better to have two instead of one. The one in the middle glowed fiercely while to it's side was a small red star. Well considering this place had extraordinary quirk's and monster's, I can't be surprised if we had two moon's as well but there was only one surprisingly.

This world was separated into four continent's some are smaller than others but are still pretty large. We were on the Humanis continent, A vast majority of life is you guessed it Human's and below this large continent was a smaller but important continent. It was the Humanis Arealis continent, a kingdom called Arealis conquered this entire continent. It served as refuge for human's and intelligent creature's in their own respective area. It was all founded by a single person and his group, that person then went on to pass down an important title that had the power to command an entire continent. The title that I had wore in my previous life. A king, a person with great power and responsibility with a combined spirit of a leader.

The two next continent's were ragged and isolated. It was big and had a deserted land. I was told that these two connected with a piece of land that's shaped like a dagger. The one at the left was the mountainous Dendzen continent. The one at it's right was the lesser Dedren continent. From the witnessed that wrote to books, to novel's and telltales of old, people feared these two continent's and their oppressive might, they could destroy the world at any given time. People probably exaggerated this story the more it bounced around though. All I know is that only monster's and dumb Krimmin's lived on that place. I wonder if I could visit it and they might be some nice folk. That said, that Arealis continent did quite pique my interest. I wonder who's the current king.

Well after strolling around the village which had a central park with a fountain in the middle. Stone brick's laid on it's circumference and reached a fence, which had benches near them. I planned to at least meet some of the other kid's since I'm a kid myself but I guess I have no luck. I slumped there on the bench staring endlessly into the warm sun's. I sighed.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Umm... Are you okay?" A girl's voice.

"huh-" Startled I jumped.

"Sorry... You just looked a bit red." Upon closer notice she had short blonde hair and wore quite the luxurious dress. Speaking of attire I didn't wear anything too flashy it's simple clothing with short's.

"Oh... I appreciate your concern, but I assure you that I am perfectly fine." I straightened myself up.

"Wow... You talk like the maid's at home." Wait is this kid royalty? I could take advantag What am I monster? I punched myself in the face, "Are you seriously okay?"

"Yeah, yeah... Well did you need something from me?" I wiped the blood from my nose.

"Oh... So you forgot..." She put her hand's together and glanced away. Did I meet her before? What's with this reaction? She also added:

"It can't be helped... Your hair changed and you talk different now..." She gazed back at me. I wonder if Richard was close friend's with this kid.

"Oh right... Sorry, What was your name again?" I have a terrible memory of remembering name's. Someone in the past was probably the reason for that.

"Hmm... Let's play a game first." She sat next to me and pointed a finger to the sky. She's a little witty isn't she?

"It's called Truth or Dare. And you go first." She pointed at me. Startled I believe it's fine to play along so sure, "Truth or Dare?"

"Uuu... Truth!" She barked. Question's question's I have a bundle of them, but I'll ask the most important question for now.

"Uhh... Tell me your name then." Almost immediately after I said that she said in a sharp tone, "Nope."

"Why?!" I protested This is treason! You cant just rebuff my rightful order! "Because. Now it's my turn." She's quite the little devil eating up my kingly pride.

"Truth or Dare~" She put her finger to her lips and winked, while my jaw dropped being absolutely dumbfounded, 'Who in the living hell taught her that? Was it her maid's?' My eyebrow twitched.

"D-d-dare..." I was shaking and my soul was leaving me. She clasped her hand's together and smiled.

"Hee hee... Then I dare you to kiss me!" This was my breaking point. The sinful offer had made me lose my soul. I melted on the side of the bench 'puhhhh...' I whispered.

Wait a silly second. I stared at her eye's, I'm pretty forgetful for people's faces but I know that shade of blue. Also weren't her eye's almond brown just a moment ago? But now her eye's turned a shade of sky blue... That demon! "Healva. I know that's you. Get off the kid."

"Ohh... Was I caught? Come on just a teeny weeny bit longer?" She narrowed her eye's and pinched the air, "No. That's enough. Also why?"

"Aww but you were clearly enjoying yourself!" She pouted and shook her fists up and down.

After recalling just a few bit's of what happened I don't think I was visibly happy in any way. I'm unsure what's her motive for possessing a little girl though but it's definitely malicious.

"...I don't know where you got that idea." I protested and for the first time she gazed at me seriously and looked rather sad. But immediately after she saw me looking she brightened up.

"W-well what about this world that I put you in? Have you awakened any abilities?" She excitedly threw her hand's up but I looked disconcerted. I crossed my arm's and stoically replied.

'Not at all. It seems I don't even have much 'mana' or talent for 'magic' at that matter." I gazed at the fountain and the kid's circling around it.

"I-I see... It didn't seem like I could do anything for you in the end. I'm sorry." She glanced away and gazed downwards. Just then I thought I heard sob's, I turned her shoulder and I saw her face. Her eye's changed back to an almond brown.

"H-huh? Richard? Wait... Why am I crying?" She brushed her mysterious tear's away. It look's like she already left her body.

"O-oh it's nothing, my bad... I'll leave now." I stood up and began to walk away. She called out to me in a hurry, "Wait! My name's Fukitsu Arthur!"

I heard it of course but I kept walking. I don't know why but my leg's just kept on moving. Eventually I reached my house again. I saw father with 2 scroll's laid out on the yard. And he called out to me when I entered the front gate. I feel kind of dozy right now.

"Oh Richard! You're right on time! Come here for a bit." He waved at me and I approached slowly.

"What's wrong? You look gloomy." He asked me but I couldn't answer 'I mean what could I possibly say?' I can't just say that I got concerned about an omnipotent deer.

"It's nothing. Anyway what's that?" I murmured and crouched down.

"Well. Remember that fourth scroll I bought?" He pointed to a scroll in a bag next to him.

After juggling my memory a bit, he did get a fourth one. But I don't know what it was, just assuming but I think it's just another scroll spell.

"Hmm. Yeah what about it?" I put my hand to my chin.

"This one's called a repair spell." He opened the scroll.

A repair spell? Like does it summon forth a dwarf and it'll fix any of your problem's? 'That sound's pretty convenient 10/10' , Jokes aside I've no clue what that could mean.

"Err... But what does it do?" I glanced at him.

"Ahh... Great question." He rubbed his chin while staring at the scroll.

How do you not know?! You're the one who bought it! ,Sometimes I question the capability of this father of mine.

"Haa... Give it to me." I took the scroll from his hand and slyly read the pattern.

I could decipher basic connection's and their uses of pattern's because of the many book's I read at night. So if I can just get the general idea then that form's the spell.

"This does that...And that.. I get it." I closed the scroll and gave it to him.

So what I learned was, that was some kind of spell that can pry blocked path's of mana open in the body.

"And that's all." I told him what I just said.

"Hmm... I already knew that, that's why I bought it." He smiled and went to the scroll.

This man was unbelievable. But I guess it's only fair since he's the only one who fully knows who I am and my past. If that get's out then this world would probably come crashing down. He held the scroll with his one hand and the other pointed at me. I was apparently the guinea pig this time. I closed my eye's.

"There!" His hand jolted forward and I felt a shiver down my body before a crushing force was put on me. It felt like gravity was heavier somehow. I stayed like that for a while and I laid down because of the heaviness.

"aaa-aaa-...." It felt like I was being massaged all over. Before I knew it, it ended abruptly. I feel noticeably lighter and flexible.

"Now try one of the spell scrolls cmon, cmon!" He rushed me and I obeyed. I pressed my two palm's over the said 'Earth' scroll and it glowed an authentic brown color. After a short while I saw something that looked like spark's of lightning form just above the scroll. A growing blob of light in the middle sparked and electrocuted father near me. But it didn't affect me the slightest. The blob of light grew and the sparks that came out of it became bolt's that struck the ground occasionally. After it was around the size of a cannon ball it stopped and the spark's weren't being produced anymore. The light immediately faded and was replaced by a rock the size of said cannonball that fell on my hand's.

"Gah!" I pulled my hand's away and blew on it.

"You cant be serious..." Taken aback he glared at me, "Lightning magic?!"

I'm not sure myself. All I did was pour mana into the scroll and did a bunch of that. I stared at the rock and picked it up.

"Well, this is still a rock right?" I juggled it around.

"You're right. But the process in which you made it was extraordinary" He crossed his leg's and rambled.

"When the affinity of a person is used for spells that aren't related to the affinity itself. It uses the affinity of that person to create spell's. If you had a fire affinity and tried earth magic, then the process would combust into flames and in the end create said spell." He explained.

He managed to squeeze the word affinity 4 time's while he explained. But I got all of it though. So it all depends what affinity you have that make's the process. And if my head work's then that mean's only one thing. I have a lightning affinity.

"Are you familiar with lightning affinities?" I asked him while I threw the rock to the side.

"No not at all. I've only seen your mother's fire affinity and my affinity." He grumbled.

So he's only seen fire and earth huh? Make's sense since I figured this village didn't have many magician's or witches for that sake. I could digress and take it to another day. But I'm so optimistic right now that I just wanna go back to that table and check myself. I huffed and puffed to the attic with my father.

There it was, covered in a dirty cloth I pulled it away. The table looked pristine and at the same dilapidated. I pressed my palm one last time onto the circular slab. It glowed a dirty gold and enveloped my hand's in light. I grabbed my hand with my other to prevent myself from pulling away and applied more force. The light was then compressed under my palm and darkness pursued the room.

"It's done." I pulled my hand away. An emblem of light is clearly etched into the stone.

"Hmm... I've never seen it before." He murmured beside me.

Somehow I'm getting some kind of feeling that I know this emblem. It's thick and meticulous lines are far too complex, but the question stands. Where did I see this emblem?

I jogged my memory and I eventually figured it out. It was the war that I lead it to it's certain death. Their brave roar's and submissiveness to me was music to my ear's. They obeyed me at a moment's notice. Yet I betrayed their trust. And yet did they swear loyalty to me one last time?

It was the emblem of the Dardihaldt Legion.