Wind, fire, earth, and water, the fundamental elements that formed the entire magical world. Also called the common elementals or simply the 'elemental'. This magic is the foundation of the very existence of the physical nonliving things such as the air, the lands and many nonliving material that exist in this world.
Centuries ago, another magic was discovered and founded by the human ancestors. It is called 'origin magic' that controls the physical, mental, and spiritual forces of the human body such as mana arts and healing magic. After finding out that this magic is the last piece of the puzzle to attain an even greater level of power, wizards from different races started practicing and learning how to use this magic at the greatest extent.
As the results of several experiments, day and night, learning the nature mana. The great wizard ancestors founded the 'Arcane attributes', the highest form of elemental wizardry. Through mutation or by fusing two or more elements from origin, common elements or both, arcane attributes were formed, dominating and changing the entire green continent.
However, the chances of someone having the ability to wield this powerful arcane attributes are heaven and earth for a child since this elements can only be awakened through intensive training. That is why Jurgen couldn't even believe that his five years old grandson was able to possess the precious lightning element at such a young age.
The old man's body was drowning in the electrified water, lightnings keeps shocking his nerves as he came back from his thoughts and unconsciously released mana from his spirit mark, creating a powerful forcefield around him that pushes the water away.
"I don't intend to lose!" Jurgen stubbornly uttered while releasing a massive amount of mana to stop the water from coming in contact with his body.
Just the moment when Grey was about to win the old man managed to stood back. This actions surprised Grey causing him to back off a bit. 'He stopped that?' He asked himself while dumbfounded from the scene. Although he had used zect to replenish his mana, using many elements at once pushed his premature body to the limit. His nerves and muscle are like crumbling for every movement he makes.
'I guess I won't last longer, and so as this old man.' He held in his mind before getting into the stance, trying to endure the pain on his nerves.
From his position, he can clearly see the old man's mark glowing with purple aura. Grey quickly recognized his mark as the dual-caster mark but moreover, he also figured out that the old man was also approaching his limit after glancing at his mark.
'So that's his spirit mark huh?' Grey smirked uncontrollably. He knew what's going on. He read it from the books his parents lent him that a spiritual fusion is simply not a process of awakening the soul just like he thought, but simply the first process to access a forbidden place called "spiritual domain". A wizard can access this domain after a mana spirit has already fused and spirit mark has already been attached to a host, this mark acts as a ticket to access the domain's abundant heavenly mana reserves and the never ending magic that fills this infinite place.
Grey knew about it and it's limits, the fact that the mark acts as a ticket and also a limiter to how much a person can draw power from the spiritual domain is always been in his mind ever since this fight began. Due to the domain's heavenly mana having a violent nature, the more Jurgen draw power from that domain, the more his body will weaken from too much mana frequency exposure from that domain. His spirit mark will soon forcibly stop his mana circulation as a defensive measure to protect his old body.
"So this is the limit of that mana spirit or whatever... Well... not that I'm the one to talk." Grey spoke with an uncontrolled smile and increased the amount of mana he was pouring on the water to strengthen it push to break through the old man's forcefield barrier.
"That's it, you passed." As soon as the old man said those words, all the water around him turned white.
The wind suddenly got colder before Grey realized that the mass of water has been frozen in place. In fact, it literally turned into a cold mass of ice, causing him a dumbfounded face.
'What's going on?' He uttered astonishingly. 'Ice magic?... Are you kidding me?' His mind was filled with questions as the old man approached him with a grin painted on his face.
"Why look so disappointed?" Jurgen asked with a satisfied look on his face. "Do you really think that you're the only arcane wielder in the family?" He said before throwing his head back, covering his face with his palm and laughed hysterically.
Causing Grey too look at him with more interest. 'This man can also use arcane magic. I think I can learn more things if I stick and train with him.' He thought.
"That was awesome son." Edward said, standing beside Grey with a proud smile. "I didn't know that you've gone beyond being an average wizard and mastered all the four common elements with one arcane level magic." He stated, patting his head.
"That was supposed to be a secret until I master iron and some origin magics." Grey replied, embarrassingly gazing away from his parents.
Jurgen's ears twitched after hearing his statement. He widened his eyes, "Iron magic and origin magic?" he asked for clarification.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Grey nodded his response. "In fact, I plan on learning different attributes from now on." He added.
"What the... I've never heard of anyone in the world who plans on learning that much magic and the fact that you're a quadro-elemental wizard is already driving me insane." Jurgen responded to the absurd statement, crossing his arms while constantly tapping the ground with his foot.
"You can do whatever you want." Emily interrupted, wiping her son's forehead woth a dry cloth. "But please, be more cautious. Magic is harmful when you wield them too recklessly." She said as she worriedly looked onto his eyes, lifting his shirt and wiping the sweat from his young body.
For a worried mother, although knowing the fact that her son wasn't a naive one after finding out that his consciousness is that of an adult one, Emily couldn't simply forget the fact that her son possesses a young and premature body that cannot just recklessly use magic to the greatest extent.
On the other hand, the elderly Jurgen stood a bit far away from them as he gaze fixedly at the child. Fighting against him got his knees really warmed up, but once thing keeps crossing his mind...
'How the hell is an B-rank wizard was able to pull a quadro-element and one arcane without having the sufficient mana required for such spells?' He thought before a memory from earlier played on his mind.
A picture of Grey in lotus position suddenly popped in his mind, "That's right, it might've been that.", that's the only thing he could reason as it is the only thing that the young wizard did before the sparring happens. As much as he wanted to ask questions, the old man decided to pry no more to avoid pressuring his new student.
He then walked near Grey and said, "You're training will start in a surprising way." , looking at the child with prideful smile.
"Hmmm? That's cool." Grey pondered with his hand on his chin. "I think it should be settled later though. First, I need something from uncle Reynold." He said, gazing away from the old man and looking for his middle-aged uncle.
Reynold suddenly popped out of nowhere, "Did I just heard my name?", startling Grey.
"O-Oh... uncle Reynold... I wanted to show you something." Grey replied with excitement. He then walked towards the house and entered from the backdoor.
Reynold who's already curious, he immediately followed him inside, rubbing his head as he walked.
"What is it?" He curiously asked with furrowed brows, narrowing his gaze.
He stood there and watched Grey stuck his hand inside his backpack, causing Reynold with even more confusion.
The puzzled look on his face instantly changed once Grey draw his hand from the bag, holding a large blue orb with his tiny hands.
"Look uncle..." Grey confidently flaunted the spherical object in his hand, carefully holding it with his hands.
"Is that a rain toad's core?" Jurgen came barging in the conversation, eyes are fixedly staring at the object Grey was holding.
"That's definitely it." Reynold replied, gazing at the old man and then back at the young wizard.
"Even us were surprised when he first brought that thing in front of us." Emily also entered the house with a proud-looking expression.
Followed hy her tall husband who almost bumped his head on the doorway. "And that's not the only thing he brought inside that backpack." Edward said, causing the old geezer and the uncle to be more intrigued.
"Ahh... you mean this?" Grey spoke, taking out a smaller black orb that fits nicely in his small hand. "I don't think this has any use though." He added, rubbing his head.
"What are you saying...it no use?... that thing can sell for 500 silvers at most in the potion shop." Jurgen said before swiftly snatching the black orb and analyzing it. "This thing is the real deal." He said, putting it back to it's owner.
"You mean that's a real shadow panther core?" Reynold asked, raising one eyebrow.
"Seems like it." Jurgen replied, letting out a long sigh. "Seriously, how did you slay that damn thing?"
"I'm just lucky to encounter a weak one." Grey responded, putting the black orb back to his bag. "If this thing really worth five hundred silvers, then I guess I'll keep it." He said, before handing the bigger blue orb to his uncle Reynold.
"And for this larger one, I would like to ask uncle to forge a specified weapon for me using its essence. If that's okay with you?" Grey politely asked, looking at Reynold with his innocent eyes.
"Yeah, sure..." He said and paused for a moment. "... But my ember crystals that I use for melting rune metals has run out though." He regretfully added.
"I see, then how can we get one of these crystals?" Grey curiously asked. "We can just grab some or maybe we can just use regular fire?" He suggested.
"I'm afraid that's not the case," Reynold slowly sat down as he speak. ", The mining tunnel where ember crystals were located is currently being monitored by the Wild beast guild after a monster dungeon has been discovered deep down the tunnel." He slowly explained. "Also, we can't use any substitute minerals or regular fire since the amount of heat needed to melt the metal should be atleast as hot as a red colored fire element and–"
"Wait... there's a dungeon near this village?" Edward suddenly butted in with his question, anxiously looking at Emily and then back at Reynold.
"Unfortunately... yes. It's deep down the sleeping Mt. Vermont." Reynold replied closing his eyes in a calm manner. "But don't worry as long as the guild in here, there's nothing to worry about. They plan on raiding it this afternoon and finishing it before the queen visit tomorrow." He explained, leaning his back on the soft couch.
"That was obviously a show off to impress the Queen. Youngsters these days are really eager to show off what they're good at... with their less experience." Jurgen bitterly shook his head with his comment.
'Shut up old man, you also said those words to me ten years ago.' Emily thought, directing her piercing gaze at her old father.
"Well, that's maybe the case." Reynold slightly agreed with him, However...
"Even so, the fact that they're going to clear that dungeon is more like fulfilling their duty to protect the Hotstone village." Reynolds added before throwing his head, and started gazing at the ceiling.
Grey got tired listening to this serious discussion, and more importantly, he felt a faint feeling of disappointment knowing that his blade won't be forge sooner than he expected. But still, hearing about the guild and the dungeon inside that mining tunnel got him really worked up.
'A dungeon full of monsters huh? I wonder how it looks like.' He asked himself before looking at Reynold. "Then I guess I have nothing to do since my weapon cannot be forged." He whined, his boredom quickly escalated to the point that he felt sleepiness.
"Well, the day is still long and since we're all busy preparing for the Queen's arrival. You can help us..." Jurgen stood up exhaling shortly. "We're planting trees." He persuaded his grandson with his sketchy smile.
"Surely he won't fall for th—"
"Sure!"
Before Emily can even make a comment about it, Grey already stated his consent, running barefooted before he swung the front door wide open and stepped outside.