Hey guys, sorry for the late chapter. I didn't have enough time yesterday to finish the chapter. This chapter is longer than usual. There will be a chapter tomorrow for SURE. Anyway, Enjoy!!
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Selina dragged Ryu into a room before he could even speak. She threw him into the room and Ryu fell onto a soft pillow. Ryu sat up and looked around. The room had a board towards the front. There was a big desk/table and chair in front of the board. Then came a smaller desk and chair that looked the perfect size for Ryu. Ryu looked up at his mom like he wanted to say something. Selina stopped him, "First, go sit down. Then we will talk."
Hearing this, Ryu knew his mom was serious. So, he held in all the questions that he had and went and took a seat. After Ryu took a seat, Selina went to the front of the room[going to start calling it a classroom from now on]. Selina permitted him to ask, "Alright I know you have a lot of questions. Ask, but ask one question at a time."
Ryu asked, "Before you said that I didn’t have to train until I was 5 years old or even 6 years old. Why am I suddenly starting to train now?"
Selina asked him seriously, "Haa. Those girls, what do you think of them?"
Ryu mumbled, "They are super cute. Fufufufu, I’m going to keep them forever. HAHAHAHA."
Selina thought He’s catching my personality and started snickering. Fufufu.
Ryu remembered what his father had told him and thought, 'Wait no if I keep doing this, they might be scared of me'. Ryu snapped out of his aura and looked at his mother.
Selina was confused and was thinking, 'Wait, why did he stop? Argh, I’ll convert you. Fufufu.'
Ryu looked back at his mother and asked, "Mom, so why did you bring up the girls when I asked you about my training?"
Selina said seriously, "Because those girls have a very troubling past."
Ryu looked at his mother with worry on his face, "Troubling past?"
Selina said, "If you don’t become strong, then someone is going to take them away from you."
Ryu's face turned ice cold and an evil and dark aura came out from him, "WHO DARES, I WILL KILL-"
Selina interrupted him, "CALM DOWN."
Ryu snapped out of it and looked down in shame, "…...Sorry."
Selina said softly, "Fufu, that was nice."
Ryu looked at his mother in confusion. Selina said, "Never mind. You still have time, but you have limited time. So we are going to train you to become strong."
Ryu acknowledged this, "Alright."
Ryu turned serious. Selina had sparked his seriousness and set a goal for him. Although the goal was somewhat vague, it was still the first goal Ryu had set for himself. Selina asked, "Alright. By the way you know that those girls are sisters, twins in fact right?"
Ryu looked at Selina in shock, "Really!! But they are two different races!"
Selina explained, "Their Parents are different races."
Ryu began to become excited, "Oh!! Who, Who, Who?"
Selina cut off his excitement, "I’ll tell you once you reach a certain strength. Even if you know right now, it won’t help you."
Ryu stayed silent.
Selina reminded him, "Focus on your training for now Ryu."
Ryu reluctantly agreed, "Alright ……"
Selina asked, "Good, now do you want to start now or do you want some time?"
Ryu looked with determination at Selina, "Now, I don’t want to waste time."
Selina smiled and became happy at her son’s resolution, "Good, let’s start first with History. The two empires-"
Ryu interrupted, "Mom."
Selina asked nicely, "Yes?"
Ryu asked, "Can we start with a different topic?"
Selina wondered what he wanted to learn first, "Hmm? Fine what do you want to learn about first?"
Ryu requested, "Can you tell me about the elemental affinities first? Yesterday you told me that you would tell me later."
Selina thought about it, "Hmmmm, that could work. Alright listen up."
Ryu focused, "Ok."
Selina began, "The world is made up of the basic elements. They are; Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Light, Dark, and Lightning. "
Ryu asked, "Basic? Does that mean there are other elements?"
Selina answered, "Yes. There are fused elements and True elements."
Ryu was confused, "Fused? True?"
Selina responded patiently. "Yes. Fused elements are a fusion of two different elements. For example, Magma is a fusion element of Fire and Earth Elements."
Ryu grew excited, "Woah!! What else can you fuse."
Selina listed, "Some other standard fusion elements are Ice, Thunder, Holy, Evil, and Metal."
Ryu questioned, "Standard?"
Selina answered his question, "Yes. Standard fusion elements are those that basically have an universal formula."
Ryu asked another question, "Formula? Does that mean there are fusion elements that don’t have a formula?"
Selina kept going patiently, "Yes. Fusion elements are special because if you understand your elements perfectly and you have an idea for what you want as a result, then you can create your own fusion elements. For example, I have high affinities toward Wind and Dark elements. I fused them into the Phantom element."
Ryu looked at his mom, "Woah!!"
Selina continued, "Fused elements can be achieved through fusions of various elements. For example, you can get Ice by fusing wind and water or dark and water. How powerful your fusion element is depends on your affinity with the element. "
Ryu went on to his other question, "Uh, what then what are True elements."
Selina replied, "Those are elements that stand alone by themselves and can not be made through fusion. They are like laws. That's why they are called True elements"
Ryu thought, "Laws?"
Selina continued, "Yes. For example, Space is an True element. "
Ryu asked, "Are there any more??"
Selina listed some, "Yes. There is Time, Aura, Nature, Runes/Arcane, and Chaos."
Ryu looked in awe, "Woah. Can I get True elements, please please, please?"
Selina rolled her eyes, "You don’t chose elemental affinities, Ryu. You are born with them."
Ryu slumped over, "Awwwwwwwww."
Selina reassured him, "It’s alright Ryu. You will have elemental affinities though. You can always fuse them."
Ryu looked up again, "HAHAHA, then I’m going to get the strongest fused element. Can I start fusing right now please???"
Selina said bluntly "No."
Ryu asked, "Haah? But why not?"
Selina explained, "You will undergo the affinity test on your 6th birthday. So you can start training your elements after that."
Ryu sighed, "Haah, fine."
Selina looked at him, "Good. You will also start cultivation after your 6th birthday."
Ryu looked at his mom and asked, "Is it related to the affinity test?"
Selina shook her head back and forth, "Yes and no. We will tell you on your 6th birthday. "
Ryu sighed," fine. Ooh then what’s the difference between mages and warriors??"
Selina raised and eyebrow, "Good question. Warriors use their qi to strengthen their body and weapons. Mages or Magi, can manipulate their mana farther from their body than warriors. They can cast spells because they can manipulate it in free space. Most warriors need a medium like their body or a weapon to utilize their qi. Mages can manipulate mana in air or water. They don’t need a fixed medium. Do you understand?"
Ryu tilted his head, "Hmm. I think so. But what’s the difference between qi and mana? And what’s the difference between Magi and Mages? And-"
Selina interrupted his rant, "One question at a time."
Ryu apologized, "Sorry."
Selina said, "It’s fine. There really is no difference between qi and mana."
Ryu looked in confusion, "Ehhh?"
Selina stared at him, "You know what a dantian is right?"
Ryu nodded, "Yeah. It’s the place beneath the navel where warriors store their qi."
Selina nodded, "You are both right and wrong."
Ryu looked at her in confusion, "Hmm? But that’s what it said in the books."
Selina smiled, "Fufu, a dantian is the space in which you create your cultivation. Warriors create their dantian in the navel space because that is where warriors draw their power from. Their dantian is technically called a lower dantian."
Ryu started rambling on again, "Does that mean that there is a middle dantian? Or an upper dantian?"
Selina stopped him, "Let me finish."
Ryu apologized again, "Sorry….. Again."
Selina sighed, "It’s fine just listen carefully this time."
Ryu nodded, "Ok"
Selina started writing on the board as she explained, "Mages establish their dantian in their skulls. This is because they need to keep their mental prowess strong."
Ryu asked, "Why?"
Selina explained as she pointed to the board, "Because controlling spells requires more mental power than augmenting your body and so they use their mana to continually and slowly refine their mental energy."
Ryu shouted as he understood, "Oooh!"
Selina continued, "Their dantian is called the upper dantian."
Ryu tilted his head as he began to think, "Huh?"
Selina looked at him, "What’s confusing."
Ryu asked, "Then who has middle dantian?"
Selina said bluntly, "There is no such thing as a middle dantian."
Ryu confused asked, "But there is an upper and a lower-"
Selina interrupted, "It is technically called true dantian."
Ryu repeated his question, "So who has it? Special warriors? Elite Mages?"
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Selina said, "Nobody."
Ryu shouted, "EHHH?"
Selina: That is because the techniques for creating it has either been lost a long time ago or has never been made."
Ryu mumbled, "But then….."
Selina said, "Don’t worry about it. There is nothing you can do anyway."
Ryu stayed silent as he thought about it.
Selina asked, "Didn’t you have another question?"
Ryu looked up, "I did? ………… Oh yeah! What’s the differences between mages and magi?"
Selina said bluntly, "No difference."
Ryu asked, "Then why the different names?"
Selina replied, "Different races use different names."
Ryu stared in confusion.
Selina built on what she said previously, "Most humans say mages, while most Fey and demi-humans say Magus or Magi."
Ryu clapped his hands together, "Oh! So you can tell what race they are from by their chosen name!"
Selina nodded, "Yup! Good job. Now any other questions?"
Ryu shook his head, "Not for now."
Selina smiled, "Good. Then let’s start on history."
Ryu shouted, "WHAT! No break??"
Selina snickered, "Fufufufu, you will have your lunch break right??"
Ryu stammered, " But..But-"
Selina smiled, "Fufu, now it’s time for some history."
Ryu lamented, "CAN’T I HAVE A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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Lunchtime
Ryu lay collapsed on the table. Selina sat on the opposite side calmly sipping tea. Lunch was ready on the table, the dishes steaming. Zaenor walked into the dining room with the girls. As they walked in, they saw Ryu collapsed on the table. The girls ran to Ryu’s side and started patting him to make sure that he was okay. Zaenor just looked at Selina. Selina didn’t change expressions and continued to sip her tea.
Yuki asked anxiously, "Ryu, Ryu, are you okay?"
Sylphie said softly, "Ryu...Ok?"
As they shook Ryu, he just lay there not moving. Zaenor turned towards Selina, a vein was twitching on his forehead. Zaenor shouted, "Selina, WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM????"
Selina said slowly, "Nothing dangerous. He’ll be fine, he’s just processing all the information that I taught him."
Zaenor asked angrily, "HOW much did you teach him?"
Selina said with a light tone, "Pretty much everything~". Selina said with a light voice as if she had just gone for a walk.
Zaenor shouted in surprise and anger, "ARE YOU CRAZY?? YOU TRIED TO TEACH HIM MORE THAN 12,000 YEARS OF HISTORY!!!"
Selina said, "It’s not THAT bad. He’ll wake up soon."
As the girls stood over Ryu, watching him with worried faces, Selina turned towards them, "Dears, sit down and start eating. Ryu will be fine."
Yuki tilted her head, "We’re not waiting for Ryu?"
Both Yuki and Sylphie tilted their heads and stared at Selina. Selina seeing this chuckled and said, "No, it’s fine. We can start. Ryu will join us(in spirit) after he is done with his work."
Yuki and Sylphie just sat there and didn’t speak. However, by their actions Selina understood that they wished to wait for Ryu. She simply sighed and let them be. There is no use in forcing them to eat. Since no one else was eating, Zaenor refrained from doing so as well. After a few minutes, Ryu stirred. He slowly lifted his head and looked around, Hmmm? Why am I at the dining room? Is the cramming done?"
As he looked around confusedly, the girls and Zaenor looked at him with a hint of worry in their eyes. Zaenor turned towards his wife and said, "Selina, I swear if you go this far again…."
Selina asked flippantly, "Oh what will you do?"
Zaenor said seriously, "I will stop you from teaching him until he is 6 years old."
Selina rolled her eyes, "Please, like you would do that."
Zaenor said with a serious face as if he hadn't heard what Selina just said, "I remember that there was a home-tutor that Doran told me about."
Selina looked him in the eyes, "Oy, you’re serious aren’t you?"
Zaenor just sat there with a serious face and didn’t say a word. Selina sighed, "Fine I won’t go this far again. Geeze."
Zaenor just nodded, "Good."
While they were talking, the girls had made sure that Ryu was okay. Ryu had finally shook off the dizziness and sat up straight. He looked at lunch and as he was looking, his stomach growled. The girls giggled at the unexpected sound. Ryu flushed in embarrassment. As the girls were giggling, their stomachs also growled. This time it was their turn to blush while Ryu laughed. Selina and Zaenor watched this comical scene and smiled. As they began eating, Zaenor looked over at Ryu and asked him a question, "So Ryu, what did you learn in the morning."
Ryu replied excitedly, "Oh! I learnt about elemental affinities and magic and history."
Zaenor asked, "Oh, what did you learn about history."
Ryu replied, "I learnt that our current era is called the New Kingdoms Era and it has been 12,000 years since it began."
Zaenor continued to question, "Why is it called New Kingdoms?"
Ryu tilted his head as began to remember, "Umm, it’s because the old kingdoms fell. For example, in the Human Continent the old empire which had united almost the entire continent fell and splintered into 6 kingdoms. Afterwards the Imperial Kingdom conquered the Dryland Kingdom and the Nylor Kingdom to form the Imperial Empire. And the Zoltor Kingdom formed an alliance with the Molgor Kingdom and the Vane Kingdom."
Zaenor asked, "Then why is it called the Zoltor Empire if it's an alliance?"
Ryu replied quickly, "Because the Zoltor Ancestor was stronger than those from the Molgor and Vane families and was made into the leader of the Alliance."
Zaenor nodded his head, "Good. But why is it called New Kingdom Era in all of Eternia if it only happened in the Human Continent."
Ryu took time to remember the answer, "Uhhhhh…… Isn’t it because the leaders of the other Continents changed?"
Zaenor nodded but kept asking, "Yes, but why did they change?"
Ryu stammered a while before he finally shook his head, "Uhhhh? No idea??"
Zaenor nodded his head, "Good job."
Ryu looked up in confusion, "Huh?"
Zaenor said clearly, "It’s not necessary for you to know why they changed yet. That will come later. It's good that you admitted you didn't know rather than make something up."
Ryu tilted his head, "Ok, I guess??"
Zaenor ignored it and said, "Alright now eat, you have stuff to do after lunch."
Ryu cringed, "More??? "
Ryu kept cringing and started eating. He began talking with the girls while Selina and Zaenor began talking. Selina asked Zaenor, "Are you going to train him after lunch?"
Zaenor nodded, "Yeah."
Selina questioned, "What are you going to do?"
Zaenor replied, "Basic swordsmanship drills. Swinging a sword, learning the form etc. No muscle training until he is 5."
Selina kept asking the details, "How long are you going to train him for?"
Zaenor looked at her and said, "Not too long. Maybe 2-3 hours. Not like you who trained him for almost 7 hours straight."
Selina stuck out her tongue, "Pbb.."
Selina stuck out her tongue and giggled. Zaenor just sighed when he was watching this. After they finished eating lunch, Zaenor turned to Ryu, "Ryu!"
Ryu sat up straight, "Yes!"
Zaenor continued, "After lunch I’m going to train you in the sword."
Ryu said, "Yes!"
Hearing this Yuki’s ears drooped and Sylphie looked sad. Seeing this Zaenor’s gaze softened and he said to Ryu, "You have two hours to relax or play. Then you have to meet me in the dojo to train."
Hearing this all three of the kids looked up, their faces shining. Zaenor rolled his eyes, "Just hurry up and go play. Or do you want to sit here all day?"
They all stood up in a hurry and looked at Zaenor and thanked him "Thank you !", "Thanks.", "T..Th..Thank You!"
They all said quickly and ran off. Zaenor poured himself a cup of tea and began drinking. He looked at Selina and gestured to the pot of tea. Selina nodded and Zaenor refilled her cup. As they sat there sipping tea and enjoying the peace, Selina suddenly spoke, "You are such a big softie."
Zaenor smiled, "I may be a softie, but you don’t have a right to call me that."
Selina raised and eyebrow and said, "Ohoho, I wonder what you mean by that?"
Zaenor looked at her teasingly, "If I hadn’t given him some playtime today, you would have given him the entire morning off tomorrow. Don’t act around me."
Selina pouted, "Hmmm. It’s not fun when you can see through my actions."
Zaenor just smiled, "If I still couldn’t understand you, then I wouldn’t have the right to call myself a man."
Selina just kept pouting, "Hmmph."
Selina snorted and sat there sipping her tea. Suddenly Zaenor felt something leaning against him. He looked over his shoulder and saw Selina. Selina had finished her tea and was leaning against Zaenor and sleeping. Zaenor just smiled teasingly, "Fufu, why tire yourself out as well by using your ability to help him? You could have him learn the normal way. Who is a softie now?"
Selina closed her eyes, "Shut up and let me recharge."
Zaenor just smiled and and sat there and continued drinking his tea.