I am still working on chapter 7. I am working so i have little time except weekends.
I also plan to make a short side chapter from the tutor's POV.
I delay releasing chapters to avoid inconsistencies.
Again, any suggestions or critic is welcomed.
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Chapter 3: Tutor
I spent my second year practicing my dad in the morning, reading my mom’s copied manuscripts after that though I soon run out of manuscripts, and then practicing my skills and meditating.
My parent hasn’t taught me any magic since they want to have proper magic tutor for me. They don’t want me to get hurt while doing magic.
My sister turns 6 today and she is having a status and aptitude test. The result is as expected; she has a wis of 8 and have a high aptitude for holy magic. She will go to capital soon to study in one of the famous school in the capital.
She will be staying with my aunt and her husband, their eldest daughter also turn 6 last month and qualified to study fire magic. My sister and our cousin will be attending the same school.
Several months after my sister left for capital, I had my second birthday and finally have my tutor come to our house as a surprise present from my parent.
It is quite rare for one of the good magicians to accept a job offer in a small village while my parent insist to find me the best magician to tutor me since they already consider me as a prodigy.
One week after my birthday, my tutor finally come to my house, she is a cute young wood elf who just graduated from a famous magic university at age of 18. Usually magic university graduates after around 6 years of study so around 21 years old.
The requirement of graduating is actually quite simple, someone needs to be able to use advance magic and wis over 40. An 18 years old able to graduate but willing to work in a small village is quite suspicious.
I would never forget the day she came to my house.
We were having dinner when she knocked our house. There were thunderstorm outside and she is drenched all over.
Serin = “Ah, hi, my name is Serin, sorry I am late, there were, uh, some things on the road.”
Mom = “Ah, welcome to my house, my name is lisa, my husband name is simon, these are our sons, chald and Bryson, and this is our maid, linea. Our daughter, merline is currently learning at Sivijaya School at Capital. Thank you for travelling all the way to our humble village.”
Serin = “It is my pleasure, I always like teaching and children and since I just graduated, I think I better start as a home tutor somewhere remote.”
At that point my dad, chald and me are staring at her almost see-through shirt.
Well, what can I say, she has a C cup and petite body for an elf, only 160 cm, she has a green skin so I guess she is a wood elf.
Mom = “Please dry yourself in the bathroom. We are having dinner so it would be great if you can join us. Linea, please prepare one more chair for serin.”
Linea = “Yes, mam. Nice to meet you, Serin. Please follow me, i will show your bathroom.”
Serin = “Likewise linea. Thank you very much mrs lisa.”
After Serin left for bathroom, mom stare daggers to my dad.
Realizing his mistake, dad lowers his gaze to the floor.
His look is very much similar to a scolded puppy.
It is quite funny actually.
Well, I guess no probability for baby brother or sister tonight.
Mom and Serin talk quite a bit during dinner but she quickly asks her for rest after dinner.
It is obvious she is still very tired.
The day after they talk quite a bit before settling to trust her reason and background are genuine.
I was there the entire time in my mom lap.
Serin = “So am I going to teach chald?”
Apparently my parent leaves out my detail due to fear attracting dangerous attention.
Mom = “Miss Serin, you would understand that we request an absolute secrecy regarding your job, right?"
Serin (confused) = “I can’t understand why a tutoring a boy is a secret but I guess you might have your reason. I agree.”
Dad = “You will understand soon. This is our son, Bryson.”
Serin = “Yes, you introduced him yesterday.”
Mom = “No, you don’t understand, he is the one that needs tutoring.”
There is a silence in the room. Things started to get uncomfortable so I decided to break the silence.
Me = “Hi Serin, we met yesterday. I just turned 2 years old last week.”
It seems Serin has managed to get over her surprise.
Serin = “Well I don’t expect this, you realize that I am not allowed to teach magic to children with wis under 6 for healthy reason, right? Does any of you good enough in identifying to see his wis?”
Mom (smiling) = “Better show her your status dear.”
Name : Bryson Alastair Valdemar SkysingerRaceSunElfClassN/ATitleN/AAge2 yearsProfessionN/ALevel1Experience0%Strength4Agility4Wisdom7Intelligence16
Serin = “An intelligent of 16? A wis of 7 at 2 years old. This must be a world record! Other than that you have a strength and agi of 4. Those are very high stats for 2 years old.”
Dad = “Now you understand why we require utmost secrecy from you. I already emphasize my children and linea to keep this matter a secret.”
Serin = “Yes, I can imagine assassins and recruiter to crowd this village as soon as the news spread. I would pretend to be a tutor for chald instead if anyone asking.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Me = “Assassins?”
Serin = “You haven’t told him yet?"
Mom (clearly unhappy) = “He is only 2 years old; I think he doesn’t need to understand how serious is the situation right now.”
Serin = “I guess with an int of 16 he would be able to understand his situation perfectly.”
Mom = “He is still too young!”
Me = “Mom, I understand your concern but knowledge won’t hurt me. It is the not knowing that might hurt me.”
Mom is still pouting but makes no more protest so we get it as her acceptance.
Serin = “Should I explain it to him?”
Dad = “No, I will do that. Son, you know that you are considered a prodigy, right?”
Me = “Yes, dad.”
Dad = “Well, right now kingdoms and races are competing over talent. Everyone would try to recruit you to their cause. Should you accept any of the offers, they would bring you to the palace on the pretext of protecting you and brainwashing you to be a loyal follower of the kingdom.”
Me = “And the assassins?”
Dad = “Competing kingdoms will send their best assassin to try to kidnap you or kill you if you accept any of the kingdom’s offer.”
Me = “So it is better not to accept any offer right?”
Dad = “Yes, but you shouldn’t offend them or giving an impression of not going to join them or they might decide to kill you instead. Orcs are a whole different matter, they would make no offer, they will kill you on sight.”
Serin = “I need to teach you how to manipulate your status so you can show a “normal” status and avoiding attention. Aptitude test is also important; I need to write a letter to my friend for a safe crystal for aptitude test.”
Me = “Safe?”
Serin = “All official crystals are linked to the kingdom’s archive. The staffs will pay attention to any outstanding talent in their kingdom to make sure they will be able to recruit promising people.”
Mom = “That is also why we don’t want you to take aptitude test by the village official assessor.”
Serin = “Then I will need you to teach you meditation and if you have talent then you can learn mana perception.”
Me = “I already know them.”
Serin = “Your mom teach them to you?”
Me = “No, I learned it from books in the library.”
Serin (sighing) = “I guess you really are a genius. Then you need to keep practicing them. I would also teach you status manipulation.”
Me = “But we can hide them, can’t we?”
Serin = “Yes, but hiding them will make people suspicious and demand you to show it. On the other hand, status manipulation will avoid unnecessary trouble. You need to keep in mind not to use it to powerful people though since they can see your manipulation if your manipulation level isn’t high enough.”
Me = “What about you sensei? How did you avoid them? An 18 years old graduate from magic academy must be quite rare.”
Serin = “Let’s just say my condition is quite… unusual. Actually I have declared my affiliation long ago but I manage to make a deal to keep me free unless there is a very important issue. Let’s just say I never agree how the kingdoms and guilds competing for talents.”
For the next month, I spent morning training with dad and the rest of the day practicing meditation, mana perception and status manipulation until the “safe crystal” arrive in our house.
The result is very surprising, my element is … none. My teacher is very confused and resulting in her friend, an elder lady from mage guild to visit me personally to check my aptitude. Her name is Zephira and she is a dark elf, she is extremely sensitive with mana and one of few people who can conduct aptitude test without a crystal.
One night, filled with thunder outside, Zephira knock our house. Unlike Serin, despite the heavy rain, she is not wet at all.
She is very tall about 190cm I think.
It is obvious that she is an old lady or at least having a lot of experiences from the deep blue eyes that she has.
It seems that she held infinite wisdom in her.
Her next word, however, send chill to my spine.
Zephira = “Serin, where is the victim that you told me in your letters. Even going to length to make me swear secrecy in the first letter. Me, the guild head.”
Serin = “Forgive me Zephira, this is the boy. I believe he is worth your attention and secrecy. Please remember your promise not to harm him.”
With that I feel her gaze upon me. At that moment I felt to be a rabbit in front of a wolf. Or even worse.
Zephira = “Ok, your pupil then. Let me observe you some more boy.”
The result is the same, I don’t have any element.
That would mean I will have difficulties in learning any elemental magic but she theorize that I can theoretically able to use all 6 elements if I am diligent enough or i can't use magic at all. I say theoretically because I am one of a kind. She never sees a person who has no element.
She invites me to study in her school in Avalon, reputed the best in the world, free of charge, in return she want to see how I develop my magic capability and she will write a book on that. Of course she won’t mention any name.
Her exact words actually more like “Come to me when you are older boy. No need to worry about the fee and living cost. I always treat my subjects well.”
No need to say I am too afraid to say no.
Even my protective mother don't make any protest.
Later i found out that my mom knows that Zephira can kill everyone in our village easily which add to my fear to her.
Aptitude seems to be the element of the mana inside of your body. If you want to cast other element than natural element of the mana of your body, you would need to convert your mana into that element first.
Converting mana cost you mana and if you are trying to cast an opposite elemental than your natural mana, it can cause conflict with your own natural element and can cause injury or even kill yourself.