It has been two years and 364 days since my mother told me that I was going to the Vainst institute. In that time, my body has gotten alot stronger. I was about 5'6 right now, so I was a decent height for my age. I had gotten better control over my mana, yet I still had learned no spells. I learned the language of Braille, which is basically reading for the blind.
I had learned something extremely painful over my course of training. My body, since I had no mana core, used my brain as a medium to send mana into it. I tried using mana like you see in manga, and gathered as much of it as I could. I ended up with a fever that left me in a near comatose state for about a month. I learned a valuable lesson, that is I may have a near limitless Mana core, but since I am using my brain as a medium, no massive one shot spells. Body strengthening is the most I can do right now.
I was currently packing everything I needed for my trip. I had four ten pound ankle weights on, two on each of my legs. Ever since I got a body that can handle normal life, I have been exerting myself in any way possible. Since I had never felt the energy rush adrenaline can bring a man due to my weak body, I have been training like crazy to get that feeling. Unfortunately, there is only so much energy rush training can bring someone.
I am currently stuck on a big problem. If I am taken to a martial arts training academy, how much power should I use? I trained for centuries in martial arts in the void. I am positive that in technique nobody could match me in this world. But in strength, due to my body I would most likely get my ass kicked. I decided that I would deal with the situation when it comes up.
Once I finish packing I go to sleep.
When I woke up, the castle was busy with movement. “Young master Aizen, Good luck at the Vainst Institute!” A maid named Helen said.
“Thank you, Helen.” I said in a suave voice. My mother said that I was getting to be extremely beautiful. Apparently it was true, as I heard Helen’s voice start to get a little heavy. During the two years I had been waiting I learned that Mana could not only enhance my ears, but also my other senses as well. I could enhance my taste buds, my sense of touch and even my sense of smell. I used this in full effect. At first I had considered keeping these on at all times, but after hearing in full detail-and smell, the sound and scent of your parents having sex is nearly impossible to get out of your brain.
I walked into the dining room to see my parents and my bodyguard Clayde standing their. I hid around the corner, hoping to hear their conversation. Even without pouring magic into my ears, my ears could hear extremely well.
“Remember Clayde. You must keep him safe at all costs no matter the price!” my mother said in a stern voice.
“I will, my lady.” Clayde had been with us for four years and is a pretty decent swordsman, if I was any judge. With my mother's insistence, he has been teaching me martial arts. While he was no match for me, I never won a fight. Every single fight was valuable experience. I had to learn about how to fight without seeing my opponent. At first I wanted to use Mana to enhance my hearing, but Oliver strictly told me not to.
“If you rely on mana in everyone of your fights, there will come a day when you can’t use it. What will you do then?” He made a sound argument. Since then I have practiced fighting without magic every day. Even when I don’t fight, I constantly strain my ears as to increase my hearing. I have learned to “Hear the wind” when fighting. What I mean is that when a person swings a sword, their blade brings wind resistance. I strain my ears in order to hear that path of resistance. It is a hard path to follow, but with it I am sure that I can become stronger.
I can tell that my parents do not think I can pass the academy. Who can blame them? Being blind, without a doubt, is a massive disability. I am guessing that they only intend to show me how foolish it is to continue training and have me take over as the next heir. The current heir is my brother, Claude. He adamantly refuses to be the heir, and has tried multiple times to convince me to become the heir. I replied with one simple sentence. “I am blind.”
It was finally time for me to go. My suitcase was pack full of weights and clothes. Other than that, their wasn’t much that I needed. My mother gave me a constraining hug.
“Remember, if you ever wish to come home, just let me know. I will come get it immediately.”
“Okay mom, geez. Not in front of the servants” I whined. This made most of them laugh. It was my dad’s turn to wish me off. I heard the swoosh of air as he threw out his forearm. I snapped my fingers to make sure, then clasped his hand.My ability to detect sounds with snapping my fingers has greatly increased.
“Stay strong son. No matter your decision to stay or leave, I will always be proud of you.”
“Thanks dad” I said.
I hopped into the carriage and my mother told the driver to leave. I waved goodbye as they shouted to me. Clayde was accompanying me outside the carriage. He had four soldiers with him that surrounded the carriage. While i was inside the carriage I closed the small blinds and began to meditate. About a year back to my surprise, I was doing some training with bone control and noticed that my bones were turning black, most likely do to the magic I was pumping them with. The bones were extremely strong, and I don’t know of anything that could break them. This was also a problem. If a person were to strike my arm, there is no way that their sword would go farther than my bone.
“Deal with it when it happens” I told myself.
It would take us about a month to get to the Vainst Institute. During that time I knew we would have to make a couple of pit stops, so I was extremely happy that I would be able to explore.
It took us six more hours until we decided to make a pit stop. We passed three villages along the way and stopped at the fourth. The second I got outside I grabbed the stick Clayde handed me. My mother made me this stick to show that I was disabled. It was a pure black stick that seemed pretty tough. I snapped my fingers, listening to the way the sound bounced off the walls and made a mental map in my head of where everything is.
“Eidetic memory is really helpful” I told myself. Clayde guided me to the Inn we were staying at. When I entered the room, an assortment of smells and sounds hit me like a cannonball. I took a gasp and instantly went back outside.
“Young master?” Clayde asked questioningly.
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“Sorry. First time I have ever been to a place with that many sounds and smells.” I said
“I understand. If you want my advice, I would plug either your nose or your ears until you get used to one, then switch, then use them both at the same time.”
“Thank you for the advice Clayde, but I think I will be fine.” Walking in again, the senses hit me hard, but not as hard as the first time.
“The best room for the young master” I heard Clayde say. The currency for this world, which name is Mordal, is the same as common manga. 100 bronze is one silver, and goes up until platinum.
“Of course, that will be 4 silvers.” After haggling it down to one silver, Clayde guided me upstairs. The whole time they were talking. I was snapping my fingers, getting a mental image of the building. I had learned that with a small amount of mana, it is possible to direct the direction you want to sound to travel in. I already knew the layout of the upstairs. When Clayde brought me to my room, I asked him if he could bring me some food.
“Of course, young master. It will be just a moment. I will ask some servants to bring you some food.”
“Thank you, Clayde.”
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Clayde’s Pov
After telling the young master I would get him some food, I went downstairs and told some servants to bring him food. The kid was paying for it after all, so i told them to bring him a lot. That kid seemed to have no end to his stomach. After doing this, I told my men not to get too drunk, then left to get drunk myself. The young master’s mother and father told us to use their money when buying rooms, so we did just that.
“That kid is an odd one” I thought to myself. Forget the fact that he is blind, his swordsmanship alone held limitless potential. Even when I trained with him, I could tell he was holding back. How much he was holding back, I do not know. He was an extremely effeminate child, and I was positive that he would get picked on for it. Not my fault though when they get their ass’s kicked.
It was about twelve when I finally headed back to the inn. I was going to order some food when I heard a loud thud upstairs. At first, I thought it was just a wild couple having sex. However, four more thumps and the loud crash of a vase changed my mind. Instantly I thought of the young master. I rushed upstairs and ran to the end of the hall to see a sight that shocked me immensly. Standing their in a pool of blood was young master. His bright red eyes looked at me. I felt like a creature in a cage, feeling like he could kill me if I just breathed in his presence wrong.
“Aaaah Clayde. Good thing you are here. Can you take care of these bodies?” he said with a smile. I noticed that they all died in extremely gruesome ways. I looked at the young master again, but saw no weapon on him.
“Clayde?” he asked again.
“Of course, young master.”
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Aizen’s Pov
The servants brought me up some delicious stew and warm bread. After devouring that, I decided to meditate. I learned that by meditating, I could slowly but surely increase the amount of power my brain could handle. I was deep in meditation when i heard footsteps outside my door. This was another skill that I had mastered during my break. I could now recognize people by footsteps. To my surprise, each and everyone of them were different when you pay attention to them.
“Who is it” I said loud enough so they could hear me.
“It’s your servant, Clayde, Young master.” the voice said. I see now. They are bandits.
“Come In!” I said. The door opened to reveal four men who looked to be in leather and fur armor.
“Hello, young master!” Said a voice that was most definitely not Clayde’s.
“Who are you!!” I shouted, feigning fear. All pretense of disguise off, the bandit said
“We are Shadowfang Young master. There is a price on your head, and we are going to claim it.” The man walked up to me in an arrogant way.
“Too much weight in the back of your heels, your weight isn’t shifted properly, you haven’t even drawn your weapon out.” I said aloud.
“Huh? Why would I need to draw my weapon against a brat li--” Before he could finish I shot two of my fingertip bones straight at his throat. It crushed his throat, and before he could back away I pulled out a sharpened ribcage bone and rushed at him, slicing his throat in a perfect slash.
“I haven’t yet got a chance to test my strength in this world” I say. Looks of fear were on all of their faces. I rushed at the next man, stabbing his heart with a perfect thrust. The other two snapped out of their daze then pulled out their swords. Forming a spiral of bones around my hand and wrist, I narrowly dodged the blade that was swung from above, then slashed at the man’s throat. The other man had dropped his sword and kneeled on the ground.
“Spare me demon, please!!” He cried. I decided to test something out. Making my hand ethereal, I thrust it into his brain. The effect was gruesome. When my hand materialized again, it was inside of his brain. I shot spikes of bone out of my wrist and hand, completely pulverizing everything inside. His whole head exploded with force, drenching me in blood. I pulled out my hand, wanting to see if my experiment was true or not. I was wondering if when I make my body ethereal then corporeal again if my body would absorb the foreign substance with it. Luckily, it didn’t.I was wondering on how to deal with this when I heard Clayde’s footsteps running of the stairs. He rounded the corner and looked at me with wide eyes. I was considering killing him but decided against it. Clayde was helpful to me in many ways. I was still ignorant of this world and needed a guide.
“Aaaah Clayde. Good thing you are here. Can you take care of these bodies?” I asked. He was obviously shocked, as he didn’t respond.
“Clayde?” I said softly
“Of course, Young master.”
“And Clayde” I said
“Yes young master?”
“Don’t speak of this to anyone. I would hate for an… Unfortunate accident to happen.” I let my meaning get across.
“Of course, Young master.”
After this, nothing eventful happened. Of course, Clayde watched me almost twenty four seven now.I could tell he was analyzing every move I made. Not that I really cared. As long as he was good to me, I would be good to him. A month passed and in the blink of an eye I was at the Vainst institute.