Author's Note: I don't know if anyone had notice but if you exchange the "U" to an "H" in "AUO" it becomes "AHO". For those who are manga and anime otakus would know what "AHO" mean (idiot).
I personally just realized it. I seriously did NOT give Auo that name on purpose...0.0 though surprisingly his personality ended up like that...haha.
Well here is the fourth chapter enjoy!!
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Chapter 4 - Friends
---Naulo’s POV---
It has been a year since the magical test. Nothing much has changed and nothing unusual has happened. Mother started to teach me how to write and read in her free time saying that it will be useful in the future. Not many people in this world know how to read and write, usually only leaders or nobles know.
Though seriously? You’re going to teach a 2 year old how to read and write? A 2 year old who hasn’t talked yet?
Yes, yes...it appears I still have some problems voicing out words. I’m working on it! There is nothing wrong with my vocal chords so I conclude that it is psychological. As if I’ve never done so before.
Hmm...was I a mute before?
Mother’s job for this village was to teach the children how to read, write, and all of the basic information. There are not many children in the village, but there are three who are close to my age, 3 years older. The children all gathered in my living room for the lectures though. Since there were only about 6 children total, including me. There was one child that was conceived this year, though I do not know if it will be a successful birth.
**BAM**
The front door of my home swung open loudly and a boy with crimson colored messy hair came in with a creepy smile on his face. Behind him were two platinum hair colored girls who were twins, extremely rare in our tribe.
Guh!!
I suddenly felt a chill and it’s not from the cold breeze that was entering from the doorway. Goosebumps appeared on my body and I can feel cold sweat running down my back. I can see a menacing dark red light coming from the kitchen area and covering the entire house. As the light reach the three 5 year olds in the doorway they froze in place with fear showing in their eyes, well except for the idiot who slammed the door open.
**SMACK**
A fist came out of nowhere and hit the kid with the crimson colored hair in the head. It must have contained a lot of force because the kid’s face smacked onto the floor...hard.
W-what is this child abuse?!! I thought with wide eyes seeing this brutal scene. Though I’m surprised there was no blood.
“GYAAAAAAA!!!! It hurts!!!” the crimson hair kid cried as he miraculously sat up and grabbed his head as if to protect it.
“XAAAARO, how many times have I told you to not break down my door when you come here?” mother said very slowly. Her aura light around her seems to have taken on the form of a demon.
“Ehe.” Xaro made a cute face sticking out his tongue, only to invite another smack in the head from mother. This time with a little less force.
**PAK**
“Don’t act cute!”
“Gah!! I-I’m sorry, Teacher Emy!!” Xaro hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply to mother.
**Sigh**
Mother gave a sigh that seem to have the meaning that she gave up on pursuing this matter, for now. Right after apologizing Xaro looked right at me with a stupid looking smile on his face and his eyes shining.
“NAULO!!” he called loudly as he rushed at me to give me a death hug.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
He was about 2 feet away from me when he lunged at me. I gracefully did a side step and his head slammed against the wall behind me.
Hmm….I wonder if this is also child abuse? Though no, it’s just Xaro so it’s fine.
“Naulo” he cried, “that was mean. Why did you avoid my hug?”
Oi, oi. That would be me slamming into the wall if I didn’t avoid. Do you want to kill me?!
I couldn’t say it so I just expressed my words onto my face. I made a complicated face, shook my head, gave an audible sigh, and pointed at the wall that Xaro head-butted.
**Pffff**
The two girls that arrived with Xaro tried to hold back a laugh.
“Xaro is Xaro. I think he can be a race of his own!” said one of the girls with short platinum colored hair and cat-shaped dark green eyes. She seems to be a bit proud stating that as well.
Twins were really rare in our tribe. Though somehow the villagers thought that it would be a great idea to give them similar sounding names. I really don’t understand the trend with giving twins similar things, such as names.
These twins were named Mila and Mili. Mila was the older twin and more of a tomboy while the younger twin, Mili, was more quiet and graceful.
“Big sister Mila, you are not helping the situation.” Mili said quietly. Her voice blended into the atmosphere so no one really heard it. I was only able to hear it because I had good hearing. Perhaps having no mana caused my senses to be greatly enhanced?!!
OH!! My eyes lit up. I see, I see. This can be useful. If my senses are higher than normal then perhaps I can use it to not die and perhaps grow stronger?!! YAY!
Xaro noticed my brief excitement and seems to want to ask but was interrupted when the front door open yet again, normally this time. One kid came in. He had dark brown hair color and same colored eyes. Pretty bland compared to all of the other people in this tribe. He was 9 years old.
“The lecture did not start yet?” he asked calmly while looking at all four of us. His view settled on me and I shook my head. He then went and took one of the sitting pillows stacked up in the corner and sat down in the center of the living room. There were only enough for the amount of children in the village.
Soon mother came in with a few wooden blocks and a small bowl of water for each of us. We don’t use papers and have never seen a book before. Most of the villagers do not know how to read or write but the Elder said it was a good idea to teach the children this skill. Apparently only the Elder and mother know how to read and write. Lessons were usually done with us learning how to write by using water on a dry wooden block. Reading was much more difficult. Since mother would write the words on her wooden block and let us read it aloud before it dries. Well I think you get the point.
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I’m not sure how much time has passed, but probably over 8 hours. Xaro has collapsed onto the floor with his bottom in the air. I can see his soul trying to leave his body….
Mila has already been crying in frustration for a while. I can see she is getting agitated. Mili is trying to act okay but she seems exhausted. Well, my mother’s teaching is very strict and pressuring. So I don’t blame them.
Well, there is always a weird one in a group. The brown haired guy is completely calm, similarly to when he came in. It’s a bit creepy. Mother asked all of us questions on reading and writing and even some simple math calculation since it is useful. Except for me since I’m too young for the lessons but since all of the kids are here she allowed me to tag along. Well, she does teach me as well not expecting much. Anyway, she asked him a lot of questions compared to the other three but he answered them all swiftly, accurately, and calmly.
“Alright, that would be all for today. Come again next week.” mother said to the students.
**URRRGH**
“I’ll be dead by then.” cried Xaro after mother left for the kitchen to make dinner for us.
“You shouldn’t say that Xaro!” Mila yelled with dread on her face.
The front door open and father came in. Where was he all day I wonder.
“Oh? You kids haven’t left yet? This is rare.” he said feigning surprise. He knows the horrors of mom’s lessons.
“I shall excuse myself now.” the kid with the brown hair said aloud as he stood up and bowed slightly. I suppose a bow indicate respect to an elder person.
“Oh, Kan? You are still here? Usually, you would leave the lesson early. Got free time today?”
Ah, so his name was Kan. Well, don’t blame me for not knowing it, since you never really come here for lessons every week anyway. Actually, I never really see you around at all! Isn’t it weird? It’s a small village.
“Yes. I was able to complete my tasks earlier than expected allowing me to come here today and stay longer.” Kan replied as he returned his seat cushion to the corner and stacked the wooden block to the side.
Tasks?
“Alright, I’ll see you next week then?” father asked him.
“Actually, I’m being sent out with the others.”
“Ahh, alright. See you around then, Kan.”
Kan bowed once more and left.
“AHHHH~~ can I also get out of the village?! I wanna escape the torture lessons…” Xaro said, though his last sentence was in a volume lower than normal.
“Haha, wait another 2 years!” father said with a laugh.
“Hmmph! Who needs 2 years! All three of us are more advance than the usual 7 year olds of the past! With Xaro as tank, Mili’s healing, and my attack powers we can decimate all our foes!!” Mila stated proudly.
“It’s nice to have confidence but it is not good to underestimate one’s opponent.” father said seriously, but still with a small smile. “It’s time for you kids to go home and sleep now. It’s late. I shall see you all next time.”
“Bye!!” the three of them said with a smile and ran out. It seems as they are still treated as kids so etiquette was not yet taught to them. Though I say all three, Mili is more reserved.
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Dinner.
“You have nice friends, Naulo.” father said to me.
Despite me not having mana. Despite me not being able to talk yet. Despite all of that, my parents treat me normally and love me unconditionally. The villagers also treat me normally but they don’t seem to really take much notice of me. Only the kids seem to pay some attention to me, Xaro the most out of them.
I nodded to my dad’s statement.
“They will help you grow.” father said solemnly. I looked at my father and saw a scary smile his face for a few seconds before his usual smile returned.
Ehh? Ehh? What was that? Huh?
I look towards mother and she had an all-knowing smile on her face as well.
Ehh? What have they planned? Am I missing something? I guess I don’t understand my parents as much as I thought I did.